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.

Artists like Tyler, The Creator and Kaytranada have recently called out their crowds for rigid behavior. Sam breaks it all down with Elias Leight, reporter covering the music business for The Wall Street Journal.

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

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 Scriptures – the stuff that we can return to again and again to help us stay grounded, centered and connected.

Joining Sam for this is meditation and mindfulness expert Dan Harris. He hosts the popular podcast 10% Happier. Dan shares the pop culture that always boosts his mental health and gives advice on how to make your New Year’s resolutions stick. 

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

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 LUXXURY to break down this Fleetwood Mac classic. Together, they dive into the Rumours-era drama and unravel why the magic of Dreams feels both intensely personal and universally resonant.

If you like this episode, be sure to check out One Song on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

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 afraid to make protest music. Known as the father of Afrobeat, his music became the soundtrack for social change in his native Nigeria. 

He’s the focus of the new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man created by Jad Abumrad. He tells Sam about the lasting impact of Kuti’s work, his complicated history, and asks… why are musicians today so afraid to get political? 

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

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 world’s most hesitant homeowner.” Sam wants to fix up the house he recently bought, but three things are holding him back: First, he doesn’t have a clue where to start. Second, he’s not very handy. And third, he’s intimidated by the thought of talking with contractors (who might discover the first two things about him). In the first episode of a two-part series, host Carvell Wallace brings on home improvement expert and bestselling author Mercury Stardust (aka The Trans Handy Ma’am) to guide Sam in conquering his fears.

Mercury’s latest book is Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair. 

Ready for part 2? This conversation continues with How To Take Charge of Home Repair.

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

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 house in his underwear and watching MTV in secret.

At 18 years old, just as he was getting ready to leave for Stanford, Sam’s life was turned upside down. Both of his parents suffered major health crises in the span of a few months, resulting in Sam becoming their caregiver. Years later, Sam would face another devastating double-whammy with the death of his mother followed a month later by a crushing breakup.

Sam opens up about the music that carried him through – from Janet Jackson videos to soaring gospel tunes to revenge-fueled breakup anthems – and why today, he’s savoring the freedom he’s been chasing his whole life.

If you like this episode, be sure to check out Life in Seven Songs wherever you get your podcasts.  

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

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 producer at Switched on Pop. Why does everything sound like it’s stuck in the 2000s? Who are the artists actually pushing boundaries? And is there anything to look forward to in the new year?  

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NOTE: The Sam Sanders team is taking a short break for the holidays. We’ll be back with a new episode January 2. 

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

Grammy winner Samara Joy is a jazz prodigy, but her singing is rooted in gospel music. 

She tells Sam about discovering jazz in high school, her family’s famous Godmobile, and how faith shaped the artist she is today. Plus, why her music will never be touched by AI. 

Samara Joy’s latest album Portrait is out now.

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

Tis’ the season! It’s that time of year when we’re bombarded by gift guides. Something for your partner, your friends, White Elephant gifts, and the always daunting task of getting something for your parents. It seems like every year we’re expected to GIVE so much. 

Sam breaks down the gift guide overload with Avery Trufelman, host of the Articles of Interest podcast, a show all about what we wear. Together, they offer some thoughts on how to survive the craze of consumerism this holiday season. 

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

This year saw some pretty spectacular pop culture moments… but there’s a few we hope to never see again. 

We’re breaking down the best and worst of 2025, from blockbuster hits like KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners, to the rebirth of rock with bands like Geese. 

Sam takes on this big task with help from Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, and Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List. One thing they all agreed on? Ms. Rachel just might be this year’s unsung hero.

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.