A Pause to Go to the Movies

When was the last time you went to the movies—not just watched something at home, but sat in a dark theater and gave your full attention to a story?

In this episode, we're taking a pause to explore why going to the movies still feels so special in a world filled with endless streaming options and constant distractions. We talk about the simple magic of sharing an experience with strangers, the comfort of movie-going rituals, and why a couple of hours without multitasking can feel surprisingly restorative.

We also dive into the nostalgia that movies create, the emotions they help us access, and how the theater may be one of the last places where we're encouraged to simply sit, be present, and let ourselves get lost in a story.

Whether you're a frequent moviegoer or haven't stepped into a theater in years, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful pauses come from the simplest experiences.

So grab your popcorn, settle into your seat, and join us as we celebrate the magic of the movies.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hey everyone, welcome to The Honest Pause. I'm Carol Rothri, actress, intuitive coach, and your co-host for Real Meaningful Conversations.

SPEAKER_00 0:09

And I'm Miriam Tyree, entrepreneur, business strategist, and your partner in navigating life's ups and downs.

SPEAKER_01 0:16

Here we talk about what happens when you hit pause, when we reflect and embrace the messy beauty of life.

SPEAKER_00 0:23

So whether you're here to reflect, recharge, or just have a good laugh, we've got you covered. Let's get started.

SPEAKER_01 0:50

We just started recording, but we started to record, and her little boo-boo, her little daughter, popped in to say hi, and then we started giggling. So anyway, we're starting over. But that was a lovely, actually, this is the perfect segue because we had a moment. We had a moment where both Miriam and I paused because her daughter appeared and we had to stop and say hello and all of that. So we're all about taking that pause and what we do to take those pauses in life. And what about how many of you actually go to the movies and that's your form of pause? Like, what about you?

SPEAKER_00 1:27

I love going to the movies, and I'm one of those people who like I know that most movie theaters reserve seats now, but I still like go like going to the movies for me is a full-on experience, and part of me died a little bit when COVID happened, and like the movies have changed, right? So to me, like going to the movies is an experience. I get there early, I get snacks, I watch all the previews. I love the feeling of being in the theater and the energy and other people reacting. One thing, like right before COVID, I went with like 15 people to go see Star Wars when it was coming out. And it was amazing. And I feel like I don't know, going to the movies isn't the same as it used to be. I think they're trying really hard. Like Barbie made a big push to get people back in theaters and dressed up and having fun. Um, I think there's a big push to get people back into theaters now, but I mean, going to the movies is for sure a way that I pause. It movies are magical.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

They are magical, and you actually do get that pause because I I mean I admit I love going to the movies, but I'm also one that it'll be okay, let's have a movie night in London, and I will sit and pick a movie, you know, and we sit in the comfort of our home, and but it's not really a pause because we'll be watching, and then it it'll be okay, hit pause for a sec, because then we'll go off and do something else, or you have shall it be on her comfort of a pause, you know. So going to the movie, I'm with you on that. I love going early, and it's that whole thing, and the it's the energy and the smell of the popcorn. I have to oh my gosh, and then I don't know about you, but I'll get like this. I like extra popcorn, and I'm really bad. I I get the large because I'll just eat it for days after. I just love it. But then I'll buy a bag of MM peanuts and then I'll throw that in, and then it's like this. Oh, look at this little surprise I've just dug out of my bag.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

Like I've just love. Do you do that? Yeah, and I will say there's so many theaters now that have like food food, like oh, actual good, healthy, yummy food, yes. There is you can get drinks and you can get food, and I have I've done that, but there's this one place that I get truffle parm, like truffle parmesan popcorn.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

Wait a minute, they have a topping for truffle like Parmesan popcorn?

SPEAKER_00 4:12

Truffle oil and parmesan cheese and butter and herbs that they make fresh? No, yes, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_01 4:22

Oh my gosh, I haven't seen that.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

They make like, I think it's like a local theater near me. They have like four or five, so they have like just like regular butter, they have the truffle parmesan, there's a churro one that has like cinnamon and sugar and maple syrup. I haven't tried it. That sounds decorating. I don't know the name. I'm sure these all have like names. Um there's like a there's one that has goldfish in it. And I guess goldfish, the little yeah, and I think there's one that also has like MMs in it, but I love I love movie theater popcorn.

SPEAKER_01 5:00

Yeah, it's the best. And like you, I like to go and watch all of the previews and figure out, like, especially if I go with my daughter, it's like, okay, oh, I can't when is that one coming out again? Mark it down. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 5:13

Yeah, I I'm I mean for me, I love to take a pause and go to the movies because it's this like total immersion. When you're watching a movie at home or a TV show, sometimes I think there's distraction of phones and of course other things. And I've heard even that writers for movies and TV shows are having to rewrite things and make the scripts easier and dumbing them down, knowing people are on their phones. Oh, for in the in television world. And so they know they're distracted from watching the TV, and so they're making the content like I don't know if it's like dumbed down, but I heard that it's like they're filtering for that.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

That makes sense, and there's also there's a it's a different feel. I remember, I mean, you can watch, okay, for instance, saving private rhyme, the first 15-20 minutes of whatever. I'm in the movie theater, you've got that surround sound. It's it's it's like you're right there. The whole visual of it being such a different screen and sensory thing. I was a complete nutter mess. I didn't know if I was gonna be able to make it through. We have in the house this. Oh, I'm gonna pause it. I can't handle it right now, I can't deal with that. And so we just tune out. So you miss that being completely in, and they that movie required that to hit us the way it did. I mean, those that is a moment I've got covered in goosebumps right now that I will never forget. I can still remember that. Um, and that's the difference. That's the difference of actual movie making than being in the home, you know. It's it's a complete, it just affects the body differently, the senses differently.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

And I again like I think I said this earlier, but like this shared experience with everybody in the room when like something happens, you hear like gasps or people crying or everyone's laughing.

SPEAKER_02 7:13

I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 7:14

I love being a part of that. I love experiencing all of those things. For me, that's like really I don't know, that's kind of what it's all about. And I will say there's some really good movies coming out this year in 2026 that I am excited about.

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Tell me about because I'll be honest, I haven't had a chance to even do that. So, what movies are coming out?

SPEAKER_00 7:37

So Disclosure Day with Emily Blunt. I have no idea what I'm saying. Oh I love her, I adore her.

SPEAKER_01 7:43

Love her.

SPEAKER_00 7:44

Um we don't really, I've only seen one trailer. I don't really know what it's about. I just know it's sci-fi's and that there's like UFOs. So I know that that's coming out.

SPEAKER_01 7:55

Um so you don't know what it is, but it's sci-fi and UFOs. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 7:59

Yeah. Um, Toy Story 5 is coming out. I'm not gonna lie.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

No.

SPEAKER_00 8:04

I have You've got a five. I have, I think I've seen one and two, but the big news about this one is that Taylor Swift recorded also a song for it. So I think that's like really big. Um, I'm really excited. In July, in a month or so, the Odyssey is coming out. Oh, yeah, yeah. And it's like Christopher Nolan.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

And I bought a new copy of there's a new translation by a woman of The Odyssey, and I haven't read The Odyssey in a few years, so I'm gonna read it over the next month and then go see it. And the cast is like amazing. It's like Matt Damon and Zendaya and Holland and Anne Hathaway. Oh my gosh. Like all these things and Robert Pattinson, I think, is in it too. Like there's so I'm excited about that. Um I'm sure I'm like missing some. Oh, Dune is coming out, but I think that's at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Who's directing that one?

SPEAKER_00 9:02

I don't know. Oh, I don't know. Oh no, it's the same. I think it's I think it's I don't know if he actually directed the first I think it's the same director, but I could be wrong. I'd have to look it up. Um I think Avengers is coming out at the end of yeah, December, I think Avengers and Dune. I know there's another Hunger Games um Sunrise on the book.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

I could I can do those.

SPEAKER_00 9:29

I just cry. Oh, I just I can't. I'm sure I'm missing like a ton of movies, so if anyone has any other recommendations. Oh I'm pretty sure I'll have to double check. I think Street Fighter's coming out this year too. Mortal Kombat, you know? Like Mortal Kombat. Oh, um I didn't no, not Mortal Kombat, Masters of the Universe is coming out too. Like, okay, I did hear that.

SPEAKER_01 9:55

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:57

Um I think there's a lot of good movies coming out, and I'm really excited. I think movies are just made differently now because of people's attention spans and the things they show up for. I think movies used to also make a lot more money because you would have like DVD sales and BHS sales, and now it's streaming, and I don't think you make the same. Everyone I know, it's like people used to have shows on TV and they were syndicated, and you got residual checks. And yeah, I know a couple people they get like 14 cent residual checks now.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

Um it's less than it takes to for the stamp to mail it.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

I know, I'm just like, okay, but I don't know. I think movies are made differently because of that.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

I do love them, I miss them.

SPEAKER_00 10:49

I also I'm not in the business of movies and TV shows, but I feel strongly that like I appreciate that things are streaming, but I think actors should get paid. Like we pay so much for our streaming services. Why did actors make so much more on like television, which we also paid for and they aren't being paid for the stream? Like, I don't know. There is a big part of me that think that it all needs to get fixed and is like very unfair.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

So many things need to get fixed. Who knows?

SPEAKER_00 11:27

Yeah. Um, but so many movies coming out and really excited about all of them and just the magic of movie theaters.

SPEAKER_01 11:38

Hang on a second. I gotta pull a pickle.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Oh yeah, we didn't pickle before.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

We didn't pickle. I'm gonna pickle.

unknown 11:46

Okay, pickle.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

I got these from Miriam, so pickle says, I am capable of achieving everything I set my mind to because I trust in my hard work and determination.

SPEAKER_00 11:59

I like it.

SPEAKER_01 12:01

Yeah, I think so too. Maybe that'll resolve your issue with everybody getting getting their money for streaming and be determined. It can change.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

Yeah, these are problems that I'm totally gonna solve.

SPEAKER_01 12:13

You're so funny. Uh you are funny, my friend.

SPEAKER_00 12:17

Well, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll find some magic at the movies this year.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

Is it time to go already? I know. Okay, all right. Till next time.

unknown 12:27

Bye.

SPEAKER_01 12:28

Bye. We do hope you're feeling inspired, entertained, or at least get a moment to breathe.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

And if you did enjoy your time with us, do us a little favor, leave a five-star review wherever you're listening, and let the world know what you love about the show.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

We'd really love to connect with you beyond the podcast. So you can find out uh all the details about staying in touch with us in the episode notes.

SPEAKER_00 13:16

And hey, if you're interested in working with us or you just want to chat, all the details are there as well.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

We'll see you next time. And remember, you are never too busy to take a pause.