Bear Hugs Siblings Turn their Love for Dishing on Media into a Podcast Tune in to the recent grads behind Sisters Who Watch—which covers everything from reality TV to the Super Bowl and beyond “Bear Hugs” celebrates heartwarming stories of Cornellians on the Hill and around the world. Have an idea? Email us at cornellians@cornell.edu! By Melissa Newcomb Shelby Holland ’18 and Laura Holland ’22 like to joke that while some parents don’t allow their kids to watch TV, in their household they “probably watched too much of it.” Over family dinners, the sisters would dissect the shows they were viewing. After they grew up and were living in different cities, they’d call each other to chat about all things entertainment-related. In 2023, the duo launched a podcast, Sisters Who Watch, to let the rest of the world listen in on their weekly reviews, banter, and hot takes of the latest shows, movies, reality TV, sports, concerts, and other events. The show boasts more than 125 episodes and thousands of streams on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Their podcast logo. Topics they’ve covered so far in 2025 include the reality dating show “Love Island,” the HBO drama “The White Lotus,” the Marvel movie Thunderbolts*, Super Bowl LIX, and festivals like Coachella and Cannes. They also do round-ups—like the year’s best TV movies and shows or the season’s most anticipated offerings. At an iHeartRadio pitch event. “Our tastes are very diverse, and we try to go between scripted and unscripted content,” says Shelby. “Through it all, we like to bring our perspectives as young Black women; the podcast is warm, funny, and conversational.” Sisters Who Watch sometimes features guests, such as fellow podcasters or TV cast members like Charrisse Jackson Jordan (from “The Real Housewives of Potomac”) and Caress Russell (on the competition show “The Circle,” she played under the fake online profile of her brother, singer Paul Russell ’19). The Hollands started the podcast after both found themselves laid off from their jobs in the same year—Shelby from Netflix, Laura from Google. “It was a blessing in disguise, because it gave us the time to build out the podcast and attend conferences,” says Shelby, who majored in history on the Hill, where she was president of the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. “I like to say I had a season of underemployment, and used that time to get closer to my passion.” Interviewing “The Circle” contestant Caress Russell. Shelby ultimately landed a job at Nice Crowd, a live events company that specializes in film and comedy festivals; Laura works for the federal government as a paralegal while exploring opportunities in the entertainment industry. The sisters belong to a multigenerational Cornellian family—tracing back to their grandfather, Jerome Holland ’39, MS ’41. Known as “Brud,” he was a star football player who went on to be a trustee and University Councilor; his distinguished career included serving as a college president and as U.S. ambassador to Sweden. We like to bring our perspectives as young Black women; the podcast is warm, funny, and conversational. Shelby Holland ’18 Other Cornellian relatives include their dad, Joseph Holland ’78, MA ’79, an author, activist, attorney, and entrepreneur. With Laura based in San Francisco and Shelby in L.A., their podcast is primarily recorded remotely. The majority of their listeners, they say, are also young women—something they lean into. The sisters on the Hill. “Shelby and I have always been close, but we talk even more regularly now, and it’s definitely added a lot of fun to our relationship,” says Laura, an ILR alum who was president of the pre-law fraternity Kappa Alpha Pi. “Whenever we see each other, we always go see movies—and if we’re going to see each other soon, we’ll wait to watch certain things until we’re together.” Top: The Hollands at a Marvel screening. (All photos provided.) Published September 15, 2025 Comments Iristine Evans-Roddy, Class of 1981 18 Sep, 2025 Excellent article! Happy to see alumni starting such a wonderfully fun endeavor. I remember their Dad when I was a student back in the late 70’s. Shout out to Alpha Kappa Alpha! Great read. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Campus & Beyond In the Hill’s Natural Dye Garden, A Rainbow of Color Is in Bloom Chime In Professional Reinventions Can Be Hard—But Also Very Rewarding Bear Hugs Far Across Cayuga’s Waters, Alum Reprises Record Swim