What is it about the horror genre that makes it so successful at the box office? Sam chats with James Wan, creator of the Saw and The Conjuring universes — and most recently a producer on M3GAN — about the enduring appeal of getting scared in a roomful of strangers, the secret sauce of M3GAN, and who would win in a three-way fight: M3GAN, Chucky, or the doll from Poltergeist?

We also ask writer and Keep It co-host Ira Madison III if he is into Madonna going on world tour. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Why does Carmelo Soprano call cold pasta "cold pahst"?

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices