The word basic

basic often gets thrown around to describe anything that's mainstream popular

frictionless or otherwise inoffensive.

But sometimes basic stuff is just what we crave,

whether it's a binge watch, a popular song,

or a pumpkin spice latte.

I'm Linda Holmes.

And I'm Stephen Thompson.

It's fall. So today on NPR's pop culture

happy hour we're talking about what we're calling pop culture pumpkin spice

lattes. Here with us today are our co-hosts. Aisha Harris. Hey Aisha.

Basically reporting for duty. And Glenn Weldon, hey Glenn. Hey you know they call me

Kostik, it's just because I'm so basic I'm so alkaline I'm pH 14 over here

Stephen. Well one thing I want to establish up front when we are talking about pop culture that is basic.

We don't mean it is an insult.

In fact, this entire episode is us talking about basic stuff we love, nor are we besmirching the good name of pumpkin spice

lattes which are popular because they are one seasonal and two delicious.

And three cloying.

Cloying, the cloy!

Some of us like cloying, Gwen.

We also thought it might be interesting to round up stuff we love that isn't typically subject

to deep discourse because it's not a discovery.

...