The Sam Sanders Show
KCRW & Sam Sanders
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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.
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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.
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Leslie Jones Says Comedy Needs Gatekeepers Again
EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here. Leslie Jones thinks comedy has a problem. The comedian and former 'Saturday Night Live' cast member joins Sam to…
Why So Many People Are Falling In Love With AI Chatbots
Today we’re sharing an episode of 'Apple News In Conversation,' guest hosted by Sam! A medieval-monster slayer. A tiny alien named Roscoe. A talking plate of spaghetti. These are just a few of the…
Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry
EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here Let’s have a life-affirming party with Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro! The longtime friends and journalists join Sam…
Are They a Star, Celebrity or Famous Person? (From Pop Syllabus)
Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode of 'Pop Syllabus'! No matter where you find yourself on the internet, celebrities’ lives are constantly in front of us, but who’s actually a star and who’s just…
Margaret Cho Is Still Hopeful About Comedy
Margaret Cho is a trailblazer and ‘mother’ to your favorite comedians. She burst onto the scene in the 90s performing at night clubs and later starred in the ABC sitcom 'All-American Girl', the first…
Jacob Collier Can Make Anyone Sing
Today we’re sharing Sam’s recent collaboration with 'Switched On Pop.' Jacob Collier is a rare musician. He’s been described as an ambassador of music, known for lushly orchestrated pieces with a…
The Kardashians Are American Icons (Whether You Like It or Not)
The Kardashians are one of the most famous families of our modern era. Since their hit reality TV show first debuted in 2007, the family has become synonymous with American culture. Their celebrity…
The Movies You Should Be Watching This Summer (From Prestige Junkie)
Today we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Prestige Junkie. Sam joins host Katey Rich to look ahead at this summer’s stacked box office lineup. From Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey'…
Will You Be Jimmy O. Yang’s Friend?
Actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang is full of contradictions. On stage, he exudes a party guy vibe, always down for a good time. But in actuality, Jimmy is pretty serious. He edits his own stand-up…
Did Whitney Houston Sing Out Of Tune? w/ Wyclef Jean
We’ve got a very special episode for you today, featuring the legendary rapper and musician Wyclef Jean. Sam teamed up with Justin Richmond of the Broken Record podcast for this live conversation…
Trixie Mattel Wants Us To Slow Down
Trixie Mattel might be one of the busiest women in show business. Since she made a name for herself on 'RuPaul’s Drag Race,' she's starred in multiple TV shows, created a hit podcast, became a…
S110 Is Mariah Carey the Greatest American Songwriter?
Mariah Carey has more No. 1 hits than any other American artist to date. “Fantasy,” “Vision of Love,” and “We Belong Together” have all landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Part of the magic is…
Did the ‘90s Kill Feminism?
Despite everyone’s nostalgic feelings for the ‘90’s, it was undoubtedly a complicated time for women. Feminism was alive and well at the start of the decade, but author Sophie Gilbert explains how…
Is the Met Gala Still Relevant?
Models, designers, celebrities and Anna Wintour will soon gather for fashion’s biggest night: The Met Gala. But this year’s event has already spawned protests and boycotts. Sam breaks it all down…
Is Monoculture Back!? A Pop Culture Check-In w/ ‘Lemme Say This’
There’s no denying 2026 has been chaotic — but what about pop culture? Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix (hosts of Lemme Say This) join Sam to break down the biggest moments of the year so far — and what…
Was Justin Bieber’s Coachella Set Lazy… or Genius?
Justin Bieber headlined Coachella with a stripped down set that quickly divided the internet. While other artists had intricate sets, Justin sang on a mostly empty stage with nothing but a laptop. If…
Why Do We Still Love the ‘90s?
We’re so excited to be featured this month by Apple Podcasts’ Society & Culture. This episode, comedian and TikTok star Rob Anderson brings back the '90s! From 'Boy Meets World’ to 'Baywatch',…
Is Kanye Forgiven?
After years of antisemitic comments, failed business deals and a failed Presidential run, Ye is making a comeback. The artist, formerly known as Kanye West, recently apologized for his past behavior…
Aparna Nancherla: Should We All Ditch the Internet?
Aparna Nancherla is probably the funniest introvert doing comedy. Although Sam is a total extrovert, he’s admired her work for years. She tells Sam how she got comfortable on stage and why stand-up…
S102 Want to Cancel ‘The Drama’? You’re Missing the Point
Note: This episode contains spoilers! A24’s ‘The Drama’ has pissed off many moviegoers. The film, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, follows a newly engaged couple played by Zendaya and Robert…
