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
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.
6 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 25min
Charli xcx, The Moment and What’s Making Us Happy
Travell Anderson, a film-watching journalist who hosts Seated, offers a viewer’s take on The Moment. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, an NPR music reporter who covered Charli XCX’s Brat era, critiques the film’s pacing and publicity. They discuss the mockumentary’s satire of fame, Charli’s performance and cameos, tension between art and commerce, and how the film parodies tour documentaries.
10 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 18min
Wonder Man
Priya Krishna, New York Times food reporter and cookbook author, shares witty reactions to Wonder Man. Kate Young, film and culture critic, offers sharp analysis of its themes. They discuss the series’ buddy-comedy tone, character-first storytelling, the leads’ chemistry, powers as a mental-health metaphor, and its Hollywood-set stakes and pacing in multiple short takes.
12 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 17min
2026 Sundance Film Festival: Best Movies
Monica Castillo, freelance film critic and festival programmer, and Mandalit Del Barco, NPR Culture Desk correspondent, share their Sundance favorites. They discuss a Depression-era thriller with Ethan Hawke, a quiet romance starring Chris Pine, a powerful documentary about Harlem, and films about rebellious artists and queer archival work. Quick, lively festival highlights and top picks.
58 snips
Feb 2, 2026 • 28min
2026 Grammys Recap
Rihanna Cruz, freelance music and culture journalist offering sharp cultural reactions. Hazel Sills, NPR music editor with industry-savvy commentary. They recap historic wins like Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, memorable performances from Lady Gaga to Bruno Mars, chaotic telecast moments, standout new artist moments, and emotional tributes and speeches.
Jan 30, 2026 • 22min
Send Help and What’s Making Us Happy
Kristen Meinzer, co-host of The Nightly, offers sharp, enthusiastic takes on tone and gore. Ronald Young Jr., host of Leaving the Theater, brings thoughtful film analysis and critique. They talk Send Help’s shifting power dynamics, Sam Raimi’s cartoonish gore, performances by Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, the knife motif as a plot device, and who might enjoy this revenge-horror comedy.
11 snips
Jan 29, 2026 • 22min
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Joelle Monique, filmmaker and pop culture critic, shares fandom perspectives. Regina Barber, NPR Shortwave host and reporter, brings a reporter’s ear to the series. They discuss nostalgia and first impressions. They debate character work and pilot bloat. They praise Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti’s turns. They unpack the academy setting, aesthetic choices, and standout performances.
17 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 20min
The Beauty
Roxana Haddadi, a television critic at Vulture, offers sharp analysis of The Beauty. Trebell Anderson, journalist and podcast host, critiques its structure and pacing. They discuss the show’s serum-that-makes-people-perfect premise and its gruesome body-horror. Conversation covers tonal whiplash, crowded ideas, casting choices, and whether the series truly interrogates beauty standards.
26 snips
Jan 26, 2026 • 19min
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Nikki Birch, NPR Music video producer and co-host of A Thousand Eyes and One, offers musical and emotional takes. JC Howard, NPR producer, brings lively commentary and reactions. They talk about the show’s small, grounded humor and the Dunk and Egg friendship. Conversation hits the pared-down score, faithful adaptation choices, accessibility for new viewers, and the show’s warm, character-driven charm.
24 snips
Jan 23, 2026 • 24min
One Battle After Another and What’s Making Us Happy
Monica Castillo, a freelance film critic and programmer, dives into Paul Thomas Anderson's powerful film, One Battle After Another. They discuss Leonardo DiCaprio's role as a troubled ex-revolutionary and Sean Penn's flamboyant villainy that adds urgency to the narrative. With a focus on critiques of white supremacy, they explore the film's timing and potent political messages. Monica also reflects on real-world activism and the complexities of sustaining movements, revealing the film's deeper layers amid thrilling IMAX visuals and stunning cinematography.
