Episodes

343: We discuss Ben Affleck's 'Air', 'Tetris', & movies about the entrepreneurial spirit! With Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film)

March 30, 2023

Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) joins Christina to discuss Ben Affleck's 'Air', 'Tetris', & movies about the entrepreneurial spirit! From the Social Network to Moneyball. The good, the bad and... the Beanie Babies…

342: Special episode! A conversation with Brian Cox recorded live on stage. (Succession, HBO Max)

March 29, 2023

A special episode of Pop Culture Confidential! Christina in conversation with the great Brian Cox, celebrating the premiere of the last season of Succession. Recorded at the premiere event in Stockholm, Sweden. Thanks to HBO…

341: Justine Lupe ('Willa' Succession)

March 25, 2023

The brilliant and talented Justine Lupe joins us. We talk about 'Willa' and the fascinating journey her character has taken with the Roy family. The women of Succession. Willa & Connor's engagement and where they stand as we…

340: Extra episode! A potential strike looms as the Writers Guild of America and studios negotiate. We break down what's at stake. With guest Tom O'Brien

March 23, 2023

As writers and studios negotiate, Hollywood prepares for a possible strike. We break down what's at stake. We are joined by Tom O'Brien, writer Next Best Picture. Contributing writer for GoldDerby. Member of WGA West Recorde…

339: We recap and break down the 2023 Academy Awards. The best, the worst & the historic moments! With Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.

March 13, 2023

Christina & Ryan McQuade of Awardswatch.com break down and recap Oscars95! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

338: The narratives, the scandals, the surprises! The awards season year in review & everything leading up to Oscar 2023! With Mike Barone of 'Mike, Mike, and Oscar'

March 10, 2023

Thrilled to have Michael Barone of the podcast 'Mike, Mike, and Oscar' join us to analyze everything we need to know about this years' exciting Oscar season & how it has led up to Academy Awards 2023. The narratives, the fes…

337: Our Oscar 2023 predictions special with Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch!

March 5, 2023

Michelle or Cate? Brendan or Austin??!! It's finally here! It's our 2023 Oscar predictions special and we are thrilled to have editor-in-chief of AwardsWatch.com Erik Anderson with us again to predict the Oscar winners in a …

336: Lesley Paterson 'All Quiet On the Western Front'. Oscar nominated screenwriter, producer & world champion triathlete!

March 1, 2023

Producer/Screenwriter Lesley Paterson is a powerhouse... yes, she is also a world champion triathlete. Paterson talks to Christina about her 16 year fight to make 'All Quiet on the Western Front', now nominated for 9 Oscars.…

335: We discuss the Bafta awards! The winners, the shockers and what it all means as the Oscars approach! With Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.

Feb. 22, 2023

We did the thing! Executive Editor at AwardsWatch.com Ryan McQuade joins Christina to recap the Baftas 2023. We discuss the winners the shockers, All Quiet on the Western Front taking the night and what it all means as the O…

334: Dispatch 3 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival! With Nina Hoss (TÁR), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) & Angie Wang (MDMA)

Feb. 18, 2023

In a new dispatch from the fest Christina talks to some really incredible women on creating and shaping their characters and their films! Filmmaker and juror Angie Wang talks about her film MDMA (2017) inspired by her own hi…

333. Dispatch 2 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Director Alison Millar on her brilliant doc 'Lyra'- on the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young reporter Lyra McKee

Feb. 15, 2023

Director Alison Millar talks to Christina from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival about her brilliant doc 'Lyra'. The film is about the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young …

332: Dispatch 1 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Interviews with artisans. Director Todd Field 'Tar', composer Ryan Lott 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' and many more!

Feb. 14, 2023

In our first dispatch from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival Christina talks to Oscar nominated artisans and filmmakers ahead of their panels and tributes at the festival! Composer Ryan Lott of the band Son Lux '…

331: REVISIT: Our conversation with actor Jeremy Strong

Feb. 13, 2023

Actor Jeremy Strong (Succession, Armageddon Time) is receiving the prestigious Virtuosos Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2023 later this week. As Christina is visiting the festival we thought we'd revi…

330: REVISIT Abbott Elementary star Janelle James!

Feb. 8, 2023

As Christina is travelling a few days this week we are revisiting some popular episodes 😃. Emmy, Golden Globe & Critics Choice nominated for her role on the ABC hit sitcom 'Abbott Elementary', actor Janelle James on Pop Cult…

329: REVISIT: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy

Feb. 6, 2023

As Christina is travelling a few days this week we are revisiting some popular episodes 😃. First up: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) join Christina to talk about their excellent, dark satire 'The Men…

328: Craig Mazin (Creator/Writer/Exec Producer ' The Last of US') Including our talk on the incredible episode 3!

Jan. 30, 2023

Our conversation with Craig Mazin continues. This is the full episode including our conversation on episode 3 starring Nick Offerman & Murray Bartlett. We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Cr…

327: Our Sundance Film Festival 2023 recap! With Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch, Insession Film

Jan. 29, 2023

Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch and InSession Film joins Christina to talk about what they saw at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Their favorite films, trends and filmmaker discoveries of the year! Learn more about your ad choi…

326: 2023 Oscar nominations! Reactions, surprises, snubs and more with Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.com

Jan. 24, 2023

Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade ( AwardsWatch.com ) join Christina to talk about their reactions to the 2023 Oscar nominations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

325: A podcast special! Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård and producers Rita Wilson & Fredrik Wikström Nicastro. 'A Man Called Otto'

Jan. 21, 2023

A podcast special! In Dec 2022 Christina moderated a live event: 'A Man Called Otto' Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård ('Ove' of the Swedish original 'En Man Som Heter Ove') as well as with producers Rita Wilson & F…

324: Craig Mazin: Creator/Writer/Exec Producer 'The Last of Us'. Part 1

Jan. 19, 2023

We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, HBO)! Last time Mr Mazin was on Pop Culture Confidential we talked about his masterpiece 'Chernobyl'. He's back with the TV a…

323: Abbott Elementary's breakout star Janelle James!

Jan. 9, 2023

Emmy, Golden Globe & Critics Choice nominated for her role on the ABC hit sitcom 'Abbott Elementary', actor Janelle James on Pop Culture Confidential! Ms. James talks to Christina about her incredible performance as Principa…

322: The most anticipated movies/shows premiering the first half of 2023! With Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture)

Jan. 3, 2023

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Cocaine Bear, Oppenheimer, Barbie! The Last of Us & Succession! Christina and Matt Neglia (Editor-in-Chief @ NextBestPicture.com ) talk about some of their most anticipated films & shows releasing the first h…

321: Our Best, and Worst, Films of 2022! With Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch)

Dec. 21, 2022

Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch Erik Anderson joins us for our end of the year best, and worst, film experiences 2022! Happy Holidays! Twitter: @awards_watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

320: The Best of 2022. Dee Wallace, E.T. 40 years!

Dec. 16, 2022

We revisit our episode with icon Dee Wallace & celebrate E.T. 40 years! Ms Wallace talks about her iconic roles, from Cujo to E.T., the Spielberg classic celebrating 40 years this year! Her role as Mary, the kids' mom in E.T…