Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt mark the Top Five podcast's return after a busy stretch, with Annie sharing recent turbulence at work and Kris mentioning her husband has broken his foot. Continuing their A-to-Z song series, they tackle the letter S with a theme of space-themed songs, trading picks ranging from classic space-adjacent staples to deeper cuts and soundtrack favorites, along with brief side notes on Madonna buzz, Bowie's influence, and personal music memories. They wrap up by recapping their lists and teasing that only three letters—X, Y, and Z—remain for upcoming episodes. OH - and that EPIC playlist?  RIGHT HERE.  Enjoy!

Why We're Fascinated by Con Artists: What They Teach Us About Influence   In this bonus solo episode, host Kris McPeak revisits the podcast's "professionals" series and reframes the con-artist installment through a CliftonStrengths lens to explore why con artists fascinate us and what they reveal about influence.   Using five characters as examples—Bokky (Traveler) on connection, Frank Abagnale Jr. (Catch Me If You Can) on perception, Jonas Nightingale (Leap of Faith) on charismatic influence, Henry Gondorff (The Sting) on strategy, Roy and Lily Dillon (The Grifters) on manipulation through relationship, and Mike Mancuso (House of Games) on psychological control—Kris breaks down how perception, connection, confidence, and intention shape influence.  She argues the difference between a great leader and a con artist isn't talent but intention, and that understanding influence helps listeners become more intentional and harder to manipulate.   Get the FREE "Starting With Strengths" Guide HERE.   00:00 Welcome and Setup 00:50 Why Con Artists Fascinate 01:29 Four Influence Lenses 02:14 Honorable Mention Traveler 03:26 Frank Abagnale Catch Me 05:02 Jonas Nightingale Leap 06:25 Henry Gondor The Sting 07:48 The Grifters Family Con 08:55 House of Games Mastermind 10:44 Leaders Versus Con Men 12:11 Coaching Offer and Wrap-Up

Songs A to Z: W Is for Wedding Songs | Top Five Podcast   Kris McPeak and co-host Annie Pruitt continue their Songs A to Z series with the letter W, counting down their top five picks for songs about weddings (or wedding-themed moments). They discuss how they each approached the theme—pulling from tracks that reference weddings or marriage directly, feel like vows set to music, or are strongly associated with proposals, first dances, and wedding scenes in movies.   The list leans heavily into country and pop, with a few curveballs, and includes an honorable mention from each host. Along the way, they chat about Kansas weather, favorite artists and albums, memorable film moments tied to certain songs, and wrap by noting they're nearing the end of the alphabet and encouraging listeners to share, rate, and review the show.   Oh, and that playlist?  RIGHT HERE.  Enjoy!   00:00 Welcome Back and Banter 01:06 A to Z Series and Wedding Theme 02:41 No 5 Picks Taylor and Shania 04:51 No 4 Picks Chuck Berry and Prince 07:21 No 3 Picks Bruno and Dixie Chicks 09:41 No 2 Picks Wedding Singer and Brad Paisley 12:14 Honorable Mentions First Dance Classics 14:50 No 1 Picks ABBA vs Johnny and June 17:10 Recap Playlist and Wrap Up

Your Bad-Day-Song-Coping-Style (and What It Says About You at Work) Kris McPeak returns with a short solo Top Five follow-up connecting a past episode on "bad day" songs to Gallup strengths coaching and real-world coping patterns. She outlines four coping styles—Externalizer, Validator, Escaper, and Resetter—using songs from his list to illustrate how people manage stress: escaping by numbing or avoiding feelings, deflecting with humor, resetting by reconnecting to positive comfort, externalizing through outward release, validating by normalizing the struggle, and acknowledging the moment without spiraling.   Kris explains that no style is inherently wrong, but each has risks if overused, and your default coping style often mirrors how you handle pressure, conflict, and stress at work. She shares a desire to lean on music instead of stress-eating, offers a free "Starting with Strengths" workbook, and invites listeners to email their own bad day song.   00:00 Solo Show Setup 00:29 Bad Day Song Patterns 01:09 Escaper Coping Style 01:44 Deflector Humor Mode 02:16 Resetter Feel Good Reset 03:20 Externalizer Let It Out 03:53 Validator Feel Seen 04:40 Acknowledger Move Forward 05:23 Real Life Takeaways 06:21 Coaching and Wrap Up

Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt return to the Top Five podcast, inspired by High Fidelity, and continue their nearly five-year A-to-Z series of favorite songs, circling back to the letter G after previously skipping it. They settle on the top five favorite songs from the TV show Glee, discussing what they loved about the series, how it popularized mashups, and where it started to lose them.   Each shares an honorable mention and counts down personal picks, highlighting memorable performances, a standout mashup, guest appearances, and emotional character moments, while also noting songs they avoided because they've appeared on past lists. They wrap by recapping their lists, noting only five letters remain in the series, and thanking listeners for supporting the show.   00:00 Welcome Back to Top Five 00:39 A to Z Series and Glee Pick 02:38 Chris Number Five Somebody to Love 04:10 Annie Number Five Dont Rain 05:49 Chris Number Four White Rap 07:21 Annie Number Four Thriller Mashup 08:51 Chris Number Three Safety Dance 11:17 Annie Number Three Bad Romance 13:12 Chris Number Two Glee Originals 14:39 Annie Number Two Gwyneth Guest 15:10 Crazy Substitute Takes Over 16:11 Honorable Mention River Deep 17:24 Honorable Mention Journey Songs 19:24 Top Pick Mashup Battle 21:28 Emotional Kurt Beatles Cover 23:35 Wrap Up Recap Farewell

Top Five Songs About Vacation Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt return to the Top Five podcast after a short break to discuss their favorite songs about vacation. They reveal their picks for the best tunes that evoke the spirit of getting away from it all, from road trip anthems to beachside ballads. They also reflect on their own vacation memories and the significance of making great memories. Whether it's road tripping or relaxing on a beach, this episode is sure to inspire your next getaway. Tune in for fun, laughter, and some great musical recommendations. 00:00 Welcome Back to the Top Five Podcast 00:21 Catching Up After the Holidays 01:08 Our Epic A to Z Song Series 02:59 Today's Theme: Vacation Songs 04:38 Annie's First Pick: Two Tickets to Paradise 06:40 Chris's First Pick: I've Been Everywhere 10:01 Annie's Second Pick: Route 66 12:12 Chris's Second Pick: Holiday by Madonna 14:24 Annie's Third Pick: Life is a Highway 15:01 Life is a Highway: The Perfect Vacation 15:46 The Laptop Lifestyle and RV Dreams 16:40 Kenny Chesney and Beach Vibes 18:07 Margaritaville and Vacation Anthems 19:59 Memories and Special Moments 22:50 Summer Vacations and Classic Hits 29:45 Top Vacation Songs Recap 30:53 Wrapping Up: The Journey Continues  

Top 5 Rage Songs - Unleashing the Fury   Welcome back to the Penultimate Pop Culture Podcast with hosts Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt. In this week's episode, our dynamic duo tackles the letter 'R' with a focus on the top 5 songs about rage. Expect a mix of rock, punk, and even some country tunes that will fuel your fury.   Each host presents their curated list of heavy hitters, perfect for those days when you just need to let it all out. Tune in for some personal anecdotes, music trivia, and plenty of laughter as Kris and Annie take you through their ultimate rage playlists.  Speaking of playlists - HERE YA GO!     00:00 Welcome Back to the Top Five Podcast 00:54 Introduction to the Episode's Theme: Songs About Rage 02:03 First Song Picks: Smashing Pumpkins and My Chemical Romance 04:43 Diving Deeper: Justin Bieber Cover and Pink's Anthem 09:18 Classic Rage Anthems: Twisted Sister and Papa Roach 11:49 Exploring Lesser-Known Rage Songs 13:37 Introduction to the Brobeck and Carrie Underwood 14:24 Debating Carrie Underwood's Journey 15:03 Taylor Swift's Early Career 16:27 Workout Playlist and Chevelle 18:02 Honorable Mentions and Dixie Chicks 22:01 Miranda Lambert's Rage Anthems 25:31 Recap and Closing Remarks

Join hosts Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt in this episode of the Top Five podcast as they continue their epic A-Z series.   This week, they dive into the letter 'T' and explore their top five songs about time. From rock legends to classic duets, please tune in to discover how they define and interpret this timeless theme. Plus, they share an exciting new category for the playlist and discuss the importance of honoring iconic musicians.   And this week's excellent playlist?  RIGHT HERE.  Enjoy!!   00:00 Welcome to the Top Five Podcast 01:16 Introducing Today's Theme: Songs About Time 02:07 Kris' Number Five Pick: Four Minutes by Madonna and Justin Timberlake 04:37 Annie's Number Five Pick: If I Could Turn Back Time by Cher 06:35 Kris' Number Four Pick: Hard Times by Mare Winningham 08:33 Annie's Number Four Pick: The Times They Are a-Changin' by Bob Dylan 11:30 Kris' Number Three Pick: Too Much Time on My Hands by Styx 12:55 Annie's Number Three Pick: (I've Had) The Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing 14:35 Reflecting on Adulthood and Music 15:37 Brandi Carlisle's Emotional Song 17:11 Green Day's Graduation Anthem 18:57 Rolling Stones and Keith Richards 20:53 Foreigner's Timeless Hits 22:43 Boston's Iconic Song 25:26 Chicago's Songwriting Struggles 27:32 Recap and Playlist Discussion

In this episode of the Top Five podcast, hosts Kris McPeak and her sister Annie Pruitt delve into their favorite songs about the USA, from John Cougar Mellencamp's classics to Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night.   They discuss their personal connections to each song, the artists' quintessentially American vibes, and the joy of discovering new music together. Highlights include a special note on Whitney Houston's iconic performance of the Star-Spangled Banner and a mutual love for Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA. Tune in for a celebration of American music that spans genres and generations.   And that playlist:  RIGHT HERE!!!  ENJOY!!   00:00 Welcome to the Top Five Podcast 00:49 Introducing the Theme: Songs About the USA 01:36 John Cougar Mellencamp's American Anthems 05:08 Madonna's Controversial Covers 06:53 Tom Petty's Iconic American Girl 08:58 Simon & Garfunkel's America 10:25 Neil Diamond's Patriotic Hits 12:27 The Beach Boys' Surfing USA 13:51 Ray Charles' America the Beautiful 14:27 Music Class Memories 15:14 Sugarland's Everyday America 16:24 Kim Wilde's Kids in America 17:58 Brad Paisley's American Saturday Night 20:29 Whitney Houston's Star-Spangled Banner 21:58 Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA 23:42 Recap and Final Thoughts

In this week's episode of the Top Five Podcast, hosts Kris McPeak and Annie Pruitt continue their dive into their epic series, Songs from A to Z.   This episode focuses on the letter 'Q' and features songs about 'quiet.' They share their top picks, including an upbeat dance hit, a hauntingly beautiful cover, and a heartwarming musical number. The duo also provides personal anecdotes and notable mentions, making for a unique and eclectic playlist.   Tune in for a fun and insightful musical journey!   Speaking that playlist:  it's RIGHT HERE. 00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 00:51 Songs About Quiet: The Letter Q 01:31 First Picks: Shut Up and Dance 02:45 Slowing It Down: If These Walls Could Speak 03:49 More Quiet Songs: When You Say Nothing at All 05:39 Honorable Mentions and Final Picks 20:39 Recap and Farewell