This article discusses initial findings from a study exploring the pedagogical functions of popular culture. The study was framed by a neo-Gramscian theoretical framework which connects adult education and cultural studies, and asserts that culture underpins important informal adult learning. We used two television shows, "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scrubs," to examine cultural portrayals of and messages about work-related learning, specifically with regard to health care professions. Our own analysis of these shows was followed by conversations with undergraduate medical and nursing students in three Canadian centres: Vancouver/Victoria, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; and Toronto, Ontario. In this paper, we discuss the central learning-related themes which guided the study and are emerging in interesting ways in our analysis. These themes are identity, ethics and pedagogy/learning. We close by outlining the implications and contributions of this inquiry to the field of adult education. (Contains 2 notes.)