The Sam Sanders Show
KCRW & Sam Sanders
The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW is your guide to entertainment. Find out what makes your favorite artists tick, dissect the trends that shape our culture, or just make sense of that random meme you can’t stop thinking about. Join us every week to unpack the pop culture we love.
Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.
Sam Sanders is an award-winning podcast and radio host. He’s been named best podcast host by both The Ambies and the iHeart Podcast Awards. He was one of the founding hosts of The NPR Politics Podcast and the host who launched both It’s Been A Minute from NPR and Into It from Vulture.
Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.
Sam Sanders is an award-winning podcast and radio host. He’s been named best podcast host by both The Ambies and the iHeart Podcast Awards. He was one of the founding hosts of The NPR Politics Podcast and the host who launched both It’s Been A Minute from NPR and Into It from Vulture.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 3, 2026 • 24min
Who is Clavicular?
John Paul Brammer, author and artist who writes on internet culture, breaks down the rise of 'Clavicular' and the new influencer vocabulary. Conversations cover looksmaxxing, mogging, and claimed body modifications. They trace roots to incel subcultures, examine the algorithmic hunger for attention, and discuss what these extreme online performances say about social media today.
Feb 27, 2026 • 45min
Kate Hudson: Who Gets to Be Taken Seriously?
Kate Hudson, actor and singer known for Almost Famous and an Oscar-nominated turn in Song Sung Blue, reflects on finding her voice and taking creative risks. She talks about learning to sing publicly, building a Midwestern character, portraying addiction with empathy, and the lasting value of rom-coms. Short, candid conversations about craft, family, and stepping into new artistic territory.
Feb 24, 2026 • 30min
Would K-Pop Exist Without Black Culture?
Dr. Sarah Olutola, novelist and Lakehead University English professor who studies pop culture, Black culture, and K-pop, explores K-pop’s roots in Cold War US influence and early Black R&B sounds. She traces how a polished industry method globalized those influences, examines examples of cultural borrowing and misuse of AAVE, and highlights how Black creators and fans are marginalized.
Feb 22, 2026 • 33min
Help! My dad is dating a scammer! (From This Is Uncomfortable)
Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from This Is Uncomfortable.
The show is all about life and how money messes with it. Sam joins host Reema Khrais to answer listener questions about finances and dating. They tackle issues with scammers, secret investments, and polyamorous partners.
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Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.
The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.
Feb 20, 2026 • 39min
Ms. Pat: Can Laughter Save Democracy?
Ms. Pat, a stand-up comedian and creator/star of The Ms. Pat Show, blends blunt humor with personal trauma. She discusses using sitcoms to tackle racism, immigration, and sexual assault. She recounts network pushback over an ICE-focused storyline and explains why she refuses to be silenced while mixing politics and family life in her work.
Feb 17, 2026 • 28min
How Did Mormon Moms Take Over Pop Culture?
Bridget Read, journalist and New York Magazine writer who reported on the rise of Mormon women in pop culture. She maps a new “second Mormon moment.” Short takes cover why moms lead this wave, Mormon influencers as entrepreneurs, church encouragement to go online, pandemic-driven virality, and how networks and MLM culture helped propel these personalities.
Feb 13, 2026 • 49min
Nia DaCosta: Why is Real Life Scarier Than Horror Films?
Nia DaCosta, a film director who moves between horror and big-studio work, talks about her films Hedda and The Bone Temple. She explores why real life can feel scarier than movies. Conversations cover gore as emotional truth, moral complexity, set culture and representation, and how she balances brutality with care and craft.
Feb 10, 2026 • 16min
Why Are Movie Wigs Still So Bad?!
Dawn Dudley, Hollywood hairstylist and wigmaker behind A Star Is Born and Westworld, gives a peek into on-set wig realities. She describes custom wig construction, why top-quality pieces take up to 150 hours, and how tight budgets, stock wigs, and decision-makers can ruin the look. She also discusses when mistakes are the wigmaker’s fault and praises flawless movie wigs like Meryl Streep’s.
Feb 6, 2026 • 46min
How Did Therapy Change Sherry Cola’s Comedy?
Sherry Cola, comedian and actor known for Good Trouble, Joyride, and Shrinking, talks about therapy, representation, and coming out. She explains how therapy shifted her comedy and emotional honesty. She reflects on radio roots that taught hustle and on choosing roles that challenge the model minority myth. She also shares how playing a queer character helped her come out to her parents.
Feb 3, 2026 • 28min
Can Bad Bunny Save America?
Dr. Nate Rodriguez, a San Diego State professor who studies media, identity, and global pop culture, explores Bad Bunny's Spanish-first rise and Puerto Rican-rooted influence. He discusses how Bad Bunny reshapes cultural geography, the politics of his massive platform, the NFL’s motives for featuring him, and what his halftime presence signals about identity, language, and authenticity.
