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
Feb 25, 2026 • 25min
The Traitors
Brittany Luse, journalist and podcaster who hosts It's Been a Minute, reacts as a first-time viewer to season four of The Traitors. She and the panel unpack standout players like Rob Roush and Lisa Rinna. They compare the show to workplace dynamics, debate social play versus evidence-based strategy, and savor Alan Cumming's theatrical hosting moments.
Feb 23, 2026 • 19min
Paradise
Ronald Young Jr., host of Leaving the Theater and film/TV critic, joins to unpack Hulu’s Paradise. They dissect Sterling K. Brown’s steady lead and how his performance steadies wild tonal shifts. Conversations jump from flashback structure and bunker world-building to episode seven’s payoff, pacing choices, and whether the show leans into politics or pure escapism.
18 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 19min
Winter Olympics and What’s Making Us Happy
Rachel Treisman, an NPR reporter covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and reporting on figure skating, shares on-the-ground perspectives. Conversations cover live versus at-home viewing, the pressure and psychology of figure skating, the appeal of curling, backstage ice operations, and a fondness for sliding sports like skeleton and luge.
9 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 27min
America’s Next Top Model
Sydney Madden, a music and culture critic, and Shamira Ibrahim, a culture writer focused on race and representation, dig into the Netflix doc on America’s Next Top Model. They explore the show’s handling of race and body image. They discuss controversial shoots, editing that favors scandal, and how narratives and accountability are framed in the documentary.
Feb 17, 2026 • 16min
How To Get To Heaven From Belfast
Greta Johnson, podcast commentator who offers candid reactions; Jeff Yang, cultural critic and author on film and Asian American cinema. They dive into the show’s blend of dark comedy and mystery. They discuss pacing and payoff. They praise the trio’s chemistry, worldbuilding, callbacks to Derry Girls, locations, and soundtrack. They debate the ending and tease the possibility of more.
13 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 17min
Pillion
Rihanna Cruz, freelance music and culture journalist offering enthusiastic cultural perspective; Bob Mandelo, NPR film critic with sharp analysis. They discuss Pillion’s tone and standout performances. They debate character motivations, shifting power dynamics, and how grief and family shape desire. They also weigh the film’s queer authenticity and choices about explicitness and community portrayal.
35 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 27min
“Wuthering Heights” and What’s Making Us Happy
Soraya Nadia McDonald, cultural critic and senior criticism editor, and Barry Hardiman, NPR investigations editor, discuss Emerald Fennell’s feverish Wuthering Heights adaptation. They dissect the film’s bold visual style, star chemistry, tonal shifts from the book, and whether its spectacle softens darker themes. They also share cozy TV and music picks.
8 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 28min
Best Book to Movie Adaptations
Andrew Limbong, NPR culture reporter and Book of the Day host; B.A. Parker, NPR Code Switch host exploring contemporary relevance; Barry Hardyman, NPR investigations editor offering cultural commentary. They spar over Little Women’s modern touches, Blade Runner’s mood-driven translation, the satirical rework of Starship Troopers, and the immersive film take on The Nickel Boys. Short, lively takes and spirited debates.
7 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 25min
The Pop Culture Hill I’ll Die On
Candice Lim, former internet-culture podcaster and Pop Culture Happy Hour producer, stakes bold takes on celebrity trajectories and cultural habits. She argues Jacob Elordi could follow Timothée Chalamet’s rise and even mirror DiCaprio/Cruise career arcs. Conversation jumps to boss battles in games, overplayed songs, and concert etiquette in quick, opinionated turns.
50 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 25min
Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show
Alana Casanova Burgess, La Brega host and Puerto Rican culture expert, and Rihanna Cruz, music critic, join the conversation. They discuss Bad Bunny’s rewatchable Super Bowl halftime show, its Puerto Rican and pan-American imagery, the staged wedding and queer joy, plantation and decolonial references, Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin moments, and the culture-war politics surrounding the performance.
