Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.Make your happy hour even happier with Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus! Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/happyhour
Episodes
Mentioned books
32 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 52min
2026 Oscars Guide and What's Making Us Happy
A lively run-through of the major Oscar contenders, from Best Picture matchups to director and acting races. Hot takes on frontrunners and surprise possibilities keep the predictions tense. The conversation wraps with quick picks for what’s bringing the panel joy this week in music and film.
5 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 22min
What Makes A Great Cast?
They dig into why casting now has its own Oscar and what that recognition means for the industry. Conversations cover casting as a craft: finding the right fit, chemistry, rediscoveries, and scene-stealers. They explore ensemble community casting, how directors and casting pros collaborate, and whether a casting award could shift awards politics.
10 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 25min
Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.
Maria Sherman, AP culture writer who covers albums and industry shifts, and Hazel Sills, NPR Music editor and critic, dig into Harry Styles’ new dance-tinged, post-punk record. They compare mood and mixing choices, debate restraint versus hit-making, discuss standout tracks and club influences, and imagine how the songs might land in live shows.
Mar 9, 2026 • 18min
Hoppers
A lively chat about a new family film where a young woman’s mind can 'hop' into an animatronic beaver to protect a threatened glade. They debate animation, standout voice performances, and how the movie handles activism and youth frustration. There is talk of bittersweet lessons about community, real villains, and the joy of a relatable young woman at the center.
14 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 24min
The Bride! and What's Making Us Happy
Joelle Monique, filmmaker and pop culture critic, shares film reactions and reading picks. Barry Hardiman, NPR investigations editor, offers film commentary and book recommendations. They dive into Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride, praise Jessie Buckley’s performance, debate the film’s messy-yet-delightful tone, compare cinematic influences, and highlight choreography, feminist retelling, and standout cast moments.
16 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 25min
Love Story
Candice Lim, former Slate podcast host and JFK Jr. enthusiast, and Margaret H. Willison, culture writer and critic, break down Love Story. They discuss the show's 90s aesthetic, casting and tone, its focus on paparazzi versus inner life, comparisons to The Crown and Ryan Murphy, and whether Carolyn’s story gets the darker treatment it deserves.
Mar 3, 2026 • 16min
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins
Gene Demby, NPR Code Switch host with a sports-aware take, and Margaret H. Willis, culture writer known for sharp, enthusiastic critique, dig into The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. They talk joke density, Daniel Radcliffe’s committed comedy, Tracy Morgan’s rule-breaking delivery, Bobby Moynihan’s scene-stealing turns, the mockumentary format, and whether the show leans more on heart or gags.
4 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 26min
Industry
Sam Yellowhorse-Kessler, a Planet Money producer and sharp media analyst, and Waylon Wong, co-host of The Indicator, dig into Industry season four. They debate the season’s reset, genre shifts, and expanding world. They unpack Harper and Yasmin’s fraught relationship, Henry Muck’s contained arc, new villains, real-world parallels, and what might come next.
37 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 23min
Scream 7 and What's Making Us Happy
Daisy Rosario, senior supervising producer of audio at Slate; Jordan Cruciola, writer/producer and podcast host. They react to Scream 7, debate whether returning Sidney Prescott restores the franchise, argue about nostalgia versus meta commentary, critique character choices and missed arcs, and imagine fresh directions for the series.
Feb 26, 2026 • 17min
Our Favorite Movies On Tubi
Rihanna Cruz, freelance music and culture writer who loves film discoveries, and Jordan Morris, comedy writer and podcaster, trade Tubi finds. They highlight quirky cult slapstick, Nicolas Cage’s cosmic horror in Color Out of Space, and classic blaxploitation gems like Petey Wheatstraw. Short takes on Tubi’s mix of classics, B-movies, and unexpected delights.
