Episodes

Oct. 20, 2023

375: How movies & TV affect everything! Pulitzer prize winning author & data journalist Walt Hickey 'You Are What You Watch'

Popular culture, movies, TV shows & books affect us in profound and surprising ways. Pulitzer prize winning author & data journalist Walt Hickey joins us to talk about his fascinating new book 'YOU ARE WHAT YOU WATCH. Entert…

Oct. 16, 2023

374: Errol Morris, the Academy Award winning filmmaker on his John le Carré doc ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’, and truth & betrayal.

Academy Award winning filmmaker Errol Morris ('The Thin Blue Line', 'The Fog of War') joins Christina to talk about ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’ his captivating documentary & conversations with the late British intelligence officer &…

Oct. 9, 2023

373: Costume Designer Jacqueline West & Osage Wardrobe Consultant Julie O’Keefe 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

Costume designer and 4 time Oscar nominee Jacqueline West (The Revenant, Dune) & lead Osage wardrobe consultant Julie O’Keefe join Christina to talk about Martin Scorsese's epic 'Killers of the Flower Moon', the incredible c…

Sept. 29, 2023

Episode 372. Part 2, the contract! Tom O'Brien (critic/WGA member) is back to talk about the new WGA contract after the strike.

In part 2 of our coverage of the WGA strike, critic/WGA member Tom O'Brien ( nextbestpicture.com ) is back with us to discuss the key issues that have been settled in the tentative agreement between the Writers Guild and the…

Sept. 25, 2023

371: Deal! The Writers Guild has reached a tentative agreement with the studios & streamers. Guest: critic and WGA member Tom O'Brien.

Breaking! After a 146-day long strike the Writers Guild has reached a tentative agreement with the studios & streamers. Critic/writer at nextbestpicture.com and WGA member Tom O'Brien joins us with the news! Learn more about…

Sept. 21, 2023

370: REVISIT our conversation with Milad Alami writer/director 'Opponent', Sweden's Oscar submission.

Congratulations Milad Alami! His film 'Opponent' has been selected as Sweden's International Feature Oscar submission. Revisit Christina's conversation with the writer/director from earlier this year. Iranian/Swedish writer-…

Sept. 15, 2023

369: Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show’ accused of being “toxic workplace” in new report. Drew Barrymore under fire for return amid writer's strike. TV editor Tyler Doster joins us to discuss this weeks breaking TV news.

TV editor Tyler Doster (AwardsWatch.com) joins Christina with insight and perspective on the breaking news out of the TV talk show universe this week: 16 current and former staff members of the Tonight Show spoke to Rolling…

Sept. 8, 2023

368: AwardsWatch & Pop Culture Confidential recap the 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival!

Christina joins forces with The AwardsWatch Podcast (Executive Editor Ryan McQuade, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and AwardsWatch contributor Sophia Ciminello) to give their reactions to the films they saw at the 50th editio…

Aug. 22, 2023

367: A conversation with award-winning casting director John Papsidera. ('Oppenheimer')

Award-winning casting director and a real master of his craft John Papsidera joins Christina on Pop Culture Confidential! Papsidera is one of Hollywood foremost casting directors. He has collaborated with director Christophe…

Aug. 21, 2023

Sharing a special episode from our friends 'The AwardsWatch Podcast.' What Will Be and What We Want to See at the 50th Telluride Film Festival'

Thanks for the invite! Christina had a great time on The AwardsWatch Podcast previewing the upcoming 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival. We are sharing the episode here! You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast whe…

Aug. 9, 2023

366: LA Times film industry reporter Ryan Faughnder joins us to talk about a summer Hollywood won't forget!

Labor strikes, box office hits & misses, Barbenheimer, superhero fatigue, the surprise and controversial hit Sound of Freedom, Hollywood's box office battle in China...it's a lot... Ryan Faughnder, LA Times entertainment ind…

Aug. 4, 2023

365: It's Margot Robbie's world! A deep dive into the career of actor/producer Margot Robbie. With Sophia Ciminello (Oscar Wild podcast, AwardsWatch)

We dive deep into the career of actor/producer Margot Robbie! This just as her film 'Barbie' (which she produced and stars in ) is about to top one billion dollars globally at the box office. Sophia Ciminello (co-host of the…

July 26, 2023

364: The actors strike, an existential battle! We are joined by Kevin E. West, member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee & veteran actor (Lost, Criminal Minds, Bones).

On July 14th, more than 160,000 actors joined the screenwriters, on strike since May, for the first dual strike since the 1960s. We are joined by Kevin E. West, member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating & organizing committees, au…

July 21, 2023

363: Barbenheimer is here! Our Oppenheimer & Barbie discussion. With Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch)

The biggest movie weekend of the summer is here and Ryan McQuade, executive editor AwardsWatch.com, joins us for a huge Barbie & Oppenheimer discussion. Spoilers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 19, 2023

362: Oscar winning composer Ludwig Göransson on scoring Oppenheimer, his awesome process & collaboration with Nolan

Award winning composer/producer Ludwig Göransson joins Christina to break down his journey scoring 'Oppenheimer', his process, influences and close collaboration with director Christopher Nolan. Photo credits: Courtesy of Lu…

July 12, 2023

361: Emmy nomination reactions with Erik Anderson & Tyler Doster, AwardsWatch! Plus, Hollywood braces for the actors' strike.

Editor-in-Chief Erik Anderson & TV editor Tyler Doster of AwardsWatch join Christina to talk about their reactions to the 2023 Emmy nominations. Plus, as the writers' strike continues Hollywood is bracing for the actors to j…

July 5, 2023

360: Summer Encore! Interview with director Sam Feder 'Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen' (Netflix)

Summer encore! Christina's interview with director Sam Feder who joined us to talk about his critically acclaimed documentary 'DISCLOSURE: Trans Lives on Screen', watch it on Netflix! The doc looks at transgender representat…

June 27, 2023

359: Maureen Ryan, journalist & author 'Burn it Down: Power, Complicity and a Call for Change in Hollywood'

Reporter, critic & author Maureen Ryan has been covering the TV & film industry in Hollywood for over three decades. Ms. Ryan joins Christina to talk about her NY Times bestselling book 'Burn it Down: Power, Complicity and a…

June 23, 2023

358: Actor Grace Edwards on her stellar performance in 'Asteroid City' & working with director Wes Anderson.

Eighteen year old Grace Edwards stars in Wes Anderson's new film 'Asteroid City' & joins Christina to talk about working with director Wes Anderson, on what she learned from co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblum and mor…

June 19, 2023

357: REVISIT: Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach on "The Bear', his incredible performance as Richie, chaos, love & found family.

Ahead of the much awaited premiere of season two of 'The Bear' this summer we revisit Christina's conversation with actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach! A conversation about his incredible performance, "cousin" Richie, how a frustratin…

June 14, 2023

356: From the Spider-Verse to Asteroid City! A big month at the movies. Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) joins Christina to talk about some huge June releases.

Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins to Christina to talk about a big month at the movies, June 2023. The big titles, box office, what's going on with the Golden Globes and more. From 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' t…

355: Revisit! Craig Mazin (Creator/Writer/Exec Producer ' The Last of US')

June 7, 2023