The Sam Sanders Show

In this episode, Sam asks: What even is a flop? And if a flop happens to the biggest movie star alive, is it actually something else altogether? 

We’re talking about Tom Cruise and his newest movie ‘Digger.’ Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, this was supposed to be Tom’s ticket to finally win an Oscar…He has long been Hollywood’s biggest brand ambassador after all.

But then, the movie flopped. Hard. Critically and commercially. How did this happen? What does it mean? And what does it say about the state of the movie industry, and the state of the ‘movie star’ as we know it?

Sam dives into all of this with Amy Nicholson, film critic at the ‘Los Angeles Times’ and co-host of the ‘Unspooled’ podcast.

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The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

Ten years ago, 'Moonlight' premiered in theaters with an entirely Black cast and a haunting queer story that captivated audiences. It quickly earned critical acclaim and won three Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

Director Barry Jenkins joins Sam to celebrate the film’s enduring legacy. He also breaks down how the project reflects his own relationship with his mother, and shares a very touching story involving a bootleg 'Moonlight' DVD.

Plus, he reveals his surprising pop culture scriptures…Turns out, even Barry Jenkins can appreciate reality TV!

Also, to celebrate the film’s 10th anniversary, 'Moonlight' has been remastered in 4K, now showing in theaters nationwide.

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.

Sam is feeling sooo nostalgic this episode.

Flashback to 2012. Monoculture is omnipresent. ‘Scandal’ is on every Thursday night. Twitter is ablaze with reactions to the iconic Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington. Sam never misses an episode.

Flash forward to today, and Kerry now has a lot in common with Sam. She just launched a new podcast called Street You Grew Up On. The show revolves around one simple question — Can you tell me about the street you grew up on? Kerry explores the people, places, family stories, and defining moments that made them who they are.

She tells Sam all about launching the show and how interviewing relates to acting.

Plus, they get into all their memories of the Scandal era, today’s political climate and her favorite pop culture scriptures. 

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.

John Cho has portrayed plenty of lovable characters in Hollywood, but never a villain. 

In the new action thriller ‘Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,’ John finally steps into that role as a violent evangelical pastor. His character is equipped with a cowboy hat, gold grills and huge guns. John spoke with Sam about preparing for the role, the importance of connection and how becoming a father changed the way he approaches his craft.

Plus, a decade after the viral #StarringJohnCho online moment, he gets real about diversity and representation in Hollywood today.

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.

Today we’re excited to share a special episode of Reaching Out, a new podcast from Futuro and KCRW.  

Hailed by Ira Glass as the “best new show I’ve heard in years,” Reaching Out is a story about fathers, sons, and the distance between. The story begins on the eve of twin brothers’ Sayre and Connor’s 30th birthday, when they set out to find the biological father who abandoned them before they were born.

Their search pulls them through desert raves, drunken nightclubs, and across borders of time and language, forcing the brothers to confront the truths they’ve hidden from each other and themselves. And it’s not long before the twins discover that their birth father is closer than they ever could have imagined.

Follow Reaching Out on your favorite podcast app. New episodes drop every week. 

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.

From The Real Housewives to The Jerry Springer Show, today’s episode is all about conflict through the lens of pop culture.

Author and conflict facilitator Priya Parker joins Sam to explain why conflict is so vital to building healthy communities and relationships. She also breaks down the tactics we often see in the media, and how they can teach us to fight in healthier ways. Priya even encourages something we do on this show a lot…Sharing and defending Hot Takes!

Priya’s new book The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict is available now.

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.

Orville Peck bares his soul in his music, but chances are you wouldn’t be able to pick him out of a crowd. 

For the entirety of his country music career he has been wearing a literal mask, on and off the stage. For Orville, the mask gives him the strength to be vulnerable. In his new album, Mule, he opens up even more while singing songs about his darkest moments with addiction, his time in rehab, and his path to sobriety. 

Orville tells Sam about hitting rock bottom, how he stays authentic even while wearing a mask, his country music influences, and how he’s queering the genre in his own way.

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.

Books are bringing people together this year in ways Sam has never seen before.

There have been a handful of times in the last few months alone when it felt like he was in one giant book club with his friends, reading the same books, and having deep conversations. It made Sam ask himself … are books actually hot this year? Or should we believe the headlines that Western society is moving toward a post literate society? 

To figure it out, Sam turns to his favorite book people Traci Thomas (The Stacks) and Greta Johnsen (Happy to Be Here). Together they get into the books everybody is reading this year, discuss why reading literacy is in danger, and make a case that there’s a book out there for everyone. 

Plus, Traci and Greta share a few book recommendations to add to your reading list. 

Books mentioned in this episode: 

'John of John' by Douglas Stewart 

'Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage' by Belle Burden

'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke

'Kin' by Tayari Jones

'The Disappearers' by Marlon James 

'The Great Wherever' by Shannon Sanders 

'Sunrise' by Téa Obreht

'Unreasonable Women' by Justine van der Leun

'American Hagwon' by Min Jin Lee

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.

David Archuleta shot to fame while competing on American Idol when he was just 17 years old. 

During his time on the show he was a poster boy for his Mormon faith, but behind the scenes he was forced to hide his sexuality and queerness. He describes all of this in his memoir Devout: Losing My Faith to Find Myself. David talks to Sam about learning to accept himself, why his time on American Idol was terrifying, and the surprising ways he’s found community after leaving his religion. 

David Archuleta’s new holiday album Warm Me Up is out this fall. Check out his website for tour dates.

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.

We gotta admit, this summer felt great for movies!

From all the monoculture surrounding The Odyssey, to the successful sleeper hits like Backrooms and Obsession, the past few months felt like a magical comeback for the industry.

Joining Sam to break it all down is Jacqueline Coley, awards editor at Rotten Tomatoes and host of the Seen On The Screen podcast. Together, they unpack the biggest lessons for Hollywood and also give some movie recommendations for your watchlist.

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.