Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from The Assignment with Audie Cornish.

This year marks a milestone for Millennials: the youngest of the cohort finally turns 30. So what comes next for the first generation of true digital natives now that they have achieved “unc” status? Audie talks with Sam Sanders about the generation that watched media transform from Buzzfeed quizzes into AI slop. They also discuss Millennial activism taking over the generation’s Instagram feed as ICE protests continue in Minneapolis. 

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

Should I have kids? Is there still enough time? Does time even matter? Comedian George Civeris is grappling with a lot of life’s big questions lately. 

He explores all of this in his latest standup special A Sense Of Urgency. He also chats with Sam about making jokes when the world is on fire and his own (sort of) immigrant experience as a gay millennial.

Plus, they dive into his hottest takes on The Real Housewives, lost monoculture and gay vacation destinations.

Check out George’s podcast Straightio Lab.

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

Everyone is well aware of Heated Rivalry’s immense popularity. The gay hockey romance seduced the masses in ways we haven’t seen in years… Maybe decades? The show even has a following in Russia, where queer media is outlawed.

Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar is familiar with that climate. He was exiled in 2022 when he came out as a gay and married his now husband. Mikhail recently wrote about the parallels between the show and his own life for Vanity Fair. He tells Sam about what it all means for state repression, freedom and hope for LGBTQ+ Russians.  

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

Today we’re sharing an episode from KCRW’s Question Everything.

What happens when TikTokers replace TV hosts and interviewers, and presidential candidates start begging to be on their shows?

Question Everything host Brian Reed sits down in a Brooklyn wine shop with four of the internet’s biggest creators: Caleb Simpson, who gets people on the street to take him up to their apartments; Julian Shapiro-Barnum who interviews kids on Recess Therapy; Anania Williams of the LGBTQ quiz show Gaydar; and Jack Coyne, host of the music game show Track Star. Their videos reach more people than many major news outlets. But who gets control over what they run? When is money changing hands? What do they do when politicians like Kamala Harris and RFK Jr. come calling?

A frank conversation about the blurry grey area between this new form of entertainment and journalism.

Check out the Substack, with more reporting on the war over truth, free speech, and tech’s role in it all.

Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory.

Raphael Saadiq has been influential to the music industry since he burst onto the scene with his group Tony! Toni! Toné! — since then he’s produced hits with artists like Beyoncé and scored countless film and TV projects. 

He’s now nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his blues anthem “I Lied To You” from the blockbuster film Sinners. He breaks down what went into creating the song, his connection to director Ryan Coogler and his golden rule for making music for movies. 

Plus, Raphael remembers his late friend D’Angelo and shares the story behind their iconic song “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”

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

There’s a little trend that’s gaining a lot of traction… Many people are leaving Spotify – and making a fuss on their way out. 

They’re angry at the platform and the algorithm. They’re angry with how it pays artists. Some users are very angry about the ads Spotify runs. It’s quite the vibe shift for the world’s largest music streaming service. Sam breaks it all down with Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman who recently reported from Spotify’s headquarters in Stockholm.

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

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 industry are two of the sharpest cinephiles in the game. Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey, hosts of The Big Picture podcast. They unpack the drama shaping this year’s hottest races and break down this era of dramatic mergers, shrinking monoculture, and box office uncertainty. 

Plus, a round of bold predictions for 2026 and a few under-the-radar films you’ll want to catch up on ASAP.

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

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.