Backrooms is the feature directing debut of Kane Parsons. It is written by Will Soodik and based on Parsons’ YouTube series of the same name, which was inspired by the The Backrooms creepypasta. Backrooms is A24’s highest-grossing movie to date. It is the fifth-highest-grossing independent movie ever made and the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.

And: Obsession is the second feature film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. It was made for a reported $750,000, and it has grossed $443 million at the worldwide box office. It is Focus Features’ highest-grossing movie to date. It is the highest-grossing movie with a budget under $1 million ever made and the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.

GUESTS:
RS Benedict: A writer and bureaucrat whose fiction and non-fiction has been published in the New Haven Review, Fangoria, Current Affairs, and a bunch of other places
Shawn Murray: A stand-up comedian, writer, and the host of the Fantasy Filmball podcast
Carolyn Paine: An actress and comedian; she’s the founder and director of CONNetic Dance and the creative producer and choreographer for The Bushnell’s Digital Institute
Mercy Quaye: Founder and president of The Narrative Project

Backrooms&nbsp;is the feature directing debut of Kane Parsons. It is written by Will Soodik and based on Parsons&rsquo; YouTube series of the same name, which was inspired by the The Backrooms&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creepypasta">creepypasta</a>.&nbsp;Backrooms&nbsp;is A24&rsquo;s highest-grossing movie to date. It is the fifth-highest-grossing independent movie ever made and the second-highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.
And:&nbsp;Obsession&nbsp;is the second feature film written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker. It was made for a reported $750,000, and it has grossed $443 million at the worldwide box office. It is Focus Features&rsquo; highest-grossing movie to date. It is the highest-grossing movie with a budget under $1 million ever made and the highest-grossing horror movie of 2026 so far.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>RS Benedict:&nbsp;A writer and bureaucrat whose fiction and non-fiction has been published in the&nbsp;New Haven Review,&nbsp;Fangoria,&nbsp;Current Affairs, and a bunch of other places</li>
<li>Shawn Murray:&nbsp;A stand-up comedian, writer, and the host of the Fantasy Filmball podcast</li>
<li>Carolyn Paine:&nbsp;An actress and comedian; she&rsquo;s the founder and director of CONNetic Dance and the creative producer and choreographer for The Bushnell&rsquo;s Digital Institute</li>
<li>Mercy Quaye:&nbsp;Founder and president of The Narrative Project</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

The Nose looks at ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.

GUESTS:


Julie Beck: Staff writer at The Atlantic and the creator of “The Friendship Files”


Tricia Wachtendorf: Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11


Daniel Cueto-Villalobos: Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota


Maxwell King: Author of The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers. His new book is Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 4, 2026.

Do you know your neighbors? This hour, we take a look at the role of our neighbors in our lives. We explore the psychological and social benefits of neighbors, hear listener stories, and discuss the role of neighbors in times of crisis. Plus, a look at "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" and how he thought about neighbors and community building.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Julie Beck: Staff writer at <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/author/julie-beck/">The Atlantic</a> and the creator of &ldquo;The Friendship Files&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Tricia Wachtendorf: Director of the Disaster Research Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware. She is also co-author of <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1cc2mvh">American Dunkirk: The Waterborne Evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11</a>
</li>
<li>
Daniel Cueto-Villalobos: Sociologist and doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota
</li>
<li>
Maxwell King: Author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38656999-the-good-neighbor">The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers</a>. His new book is <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Fire-in-the-Night-Sky/Maxwell-King/9781493092291">Fire in the Night Sky: The Steel Mill Paintings of Aaron Gorson</a>
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to&nbsp;The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by&nbsp;The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 4, 2026.

From Mr. Rogers to Minneapolis, what does it mean to be a 'neighbor'?

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.

This hour, the conversation winds around to William Shatner's music career, scouting, Canadians, water snakes, technological materialism... Anything. (Seemingly) everything.

These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.

Music featured (in order):
Brixton Underground – Cory Wong, Joshua Redman
Masks – William Shatner, Brad Paisley
In the Still of the Night – Lauren Henderson
Early One Mornin’ – Ekep Nkwelle
As You Lie There – Paul McCartney
THINK OF YOU – Tyreek McDole
Stuff – Bella White
Feel the Cold – Foy Vance

We&rsquo;ve been doing these shows where we don&rsquo;t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing.
This hour, the conversation winds around to William Shatner's music career, scouting, Canadians, water snakes, technological materialism... Anything. (Seemingly) everything.
These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one.
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/a08j1uZzT90">Brixton Underground</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Cory Wong, Joshua Redman</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQylvEvjTCM">Masks</a>&nbsp;&ndash; William Shatner, Brad Paisley</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/j-IDSXSNxHQ">In the Still of the Night</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Lauren Henderson</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT2_Mm7y1Xg">Early One Mornin&rsquo;</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ekep Nkwelle</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EALDMXQIMB0">As You Lie There</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Paul McCartney</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkDidw7xtj8">THINK OF YOU</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Tyreek McDole</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QZtxsGBTks">Stuff</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Bella White</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wZFJ6GTCbI">Feel the Cold</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Foy Vance</li>
</ul>

All Calls: We hear Colin’s Boy Scout torture story

Billboard

Lost Weekend is Phoebe Bridgers’ third solo studio album and fifth studio album overall. It dropped on August 14, and it’s expected to debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated August 29, which would make it Bridgers’ highest-charting album to date.

And: My Brilliant Career is a Netflix limited series and the second screen adaptation of the 1901 novel by Miles Franklin. It is an Australian production with a largely Australian cast, and it’s set in Australia around the turn of the 20th century. Philippa Northeast stars as Sybylla, a young woman desperate to become a writer as her family tries to find her a husband.

GUESTS:
Rebecca Castellani: Co-founder of Quiet Corner Communications and the director of marketing at Washington Montessori School
Jim Chapdelaine: An Emmy-winning musician and a patient advocate for people with rare cancers
Xandra Ellin: Produces The Global Story for the BBC

Music featured (in order):
The Outside – Phoebe Bridgers
Lost Boys – Phoebe Bridgers
Haunted – Phoebe Bridgers
Still Standing – Phoebe Bridgers
The Outside – Phoebe Bridgers
Lost Weekend (Reprise) – Phoebe Bridgers
Don’t Fence Me In – Amy Hill (My Brilliant Career Original Soundtrack)
Atomic – Beckah Amani (My Brilliant Career Original Soundtrack)
See You On The Radio – Grayson Hugh

Lost Weekend&nbsp;is Phoebe Bridgers&rsquo; third solo studio album and fifth studio album overall. It dropped on August 14, and it&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/talkofthecharts/status/2089823741073088756">expected</a>&nbsp;to debut at No. 2 on the&nbsp;Billboard&nbsp;200 chart dated August 29, which would make it Bridgers&rsquo; highest-charting album to date.
And:&nbsp;My Brilliant Career&nbsp;is a Netflix limited series and the second screen adaptation of the 1901 novel by Miles Franklin. It is an Australian production with a largely Australian cast, and it&rsquo;s set in Australia around the turn of the 20th century. Philippa Northeast stars as Sybylla, a young woman desperate to become a writer as her family tries to find her a husband.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Rebecca Castellani:&nbsp;Co-founder of Quiet Corner Communications and the director of marketing at Washington Montessori School</li>
<li>Jim Chapdelaine:&nbsp;An Emmy-winning musician and a patient advocate for people with rare cancers</li>
<li>Xandra Ellin:&nbsp;Produces&nbsp;The Global Story&nbsp;for the BBC</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwONYYlnBiM">The Outside</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KXnboPN1p4">Lost Boys</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcBmp16b0ek">Haunted</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKKsja8jtTM">Still Standing</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwONYYlnBiM">The Outside</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsMn6nuxRys">Lost Weekend (Reprise)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Phoebe Bridgers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7QNkyBOWbA">Don&rsquo;t Fence Me In</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Amy Hill (My Brilliant Career Original Soundtrack)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScbrOxN6dnI">Atomic</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Beckah Amani (My Brilliant Career Original Soundtrack)</li>
<li><a href="https://soundcloud.com/swampman-1/ill-see-you-on-the-radio">See You On The Radio</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Grayson Hugh</li>
</ul>

The Nose looks at ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’

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