The State of Movies in 2026 (ft. The Big Picture)
It’s officially awards season in Hollywood – with endless red carpets, secret ballots, snubs, scandals… and vibes that feel increasingly weird. Joining Sam to check-in on the health of the movie indus...
16 Jan 1h 2min
Did Social Media Kill the Dance Floor?
Consumed by a fear of looking bad on camera, dance floors across the country are filled with young people standing still. It suddenly seems everyone is too scared to let loose and move to the rhythm. ...
13 Jan 18min
What Pop Culture Keeps Dan Harris Centered and 10% Happier?
It’s a new year, so how about some timeless pop culture to lift our spirits? Music that heals, TV shows that inspire joy, movies that create everlasting memories. Sam describes these as Modern Scriptu...
9 Jan 51min
Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” (from One Song)
Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from One Song. Is Dreams what it sounds like when personal chaos becomes collective brilliance? Recorded live at On Air Fest at KCRW, Sam joins hosts Diallo and LUXX...
6 Jan 58min
Where Did All The Protest Music Go?
There was a time when popular music was inseparable from civil rights and civil unrest. But today, very few popular songs reflect the grievances seen in the streets. Fela Kuti is an artist who wasn’t...
2 Jan 50min
How To Talk to Contractors (From Slate's How To! Podcast)
Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from the How To! Podcast. Sam is many things: journalist, podcaster, pop-culture obsessive, and a familiar voice from public radio. He’s also “quite possibly the wor...
30 Dec 202547min
How Music Taught Sam Sanders to be Grateful for His Grief (From Life in Seven Songs)
Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from Life in Seven Songs. Sam grew up strictly Pentecostal in Texas. Non-religious music was forbidden in his house – so Sam got resourceful, smuggling CDs into the ...
26 Dec 202537min
Who Can Save Pop Music?
Even though 2025 gave us big albums from artists like Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny, did pop music fall short overall? Sam breaks down the year’s hits and misses with Reanna Cruz, music journalist and prod...
23 Dec 202533min
