Episodes

Join us for this great conversation as we dive deep into this seasons most buzzed about movie Ari Aster’s critically acclaimed ‘Midsommar'. Our guest is the very talented new star Vilhelm Blomgren. This summer Blomgren has starred in two major productions; HBOs ‘Gösta' by writer/director Lukas Moodysson and as the mysterious Pelle in ‘Midsommar’. Vilhelm Blomgren joined us to talk about the making of ‘Midsommar' and his incredible year! We talked about everything from working with the visionary director, Ari Aster, to interesting details about the long days filming in Hungary. We talked about the themes and layers in 'Midsommar’ like grief, immigration and loss. And what it was like for the Swedish actors to film some of the crazy things that go down in the movie. This and so much more. Welcome to Hårga!

Welcome back to PART 2 of our 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' special! This week are joined by the legendary production designer Barbara Ling (The Doors, Batman & Robin, Falling Down, Less Than Zero). Barbara Ling talks to us about her incredible work on 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, turning back to clocks to 1969 and recreating some of LAs most iconic landmarks. From incredibly difficult face lifts on Hollywood Boulevard, to rebuilding Spahn Ranch, to how they used Tarantino’s massive memorabilia collection in their design work and much more.

One of our favorite guests returns to Pop Culture Confidential! Music Supervisor Mary Ramos has spent 27 years working with Quentin Tarantino, on every one of his films. Mary Ramos has expertly and painstakingly helped make Tarantino's soundtracks and epic musical choices a major part of his cinematic legacy. This week she talks to us about the incredible work she has done on his critical acclaimed new film 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood'. As always, in Tarantino’s films, the soundtrack on ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ is meticulously curated. And, as always, Music Supervisor Mary Ramos adds her genius to the mix. Ms Ramos talks to us about Tarantinos musical vision for the movie, his music room where they discuss all the details, her detective-like work tracking down the often forgotten tracks that the director wants and some incredible stories about working on this production!

Ahead of the much awaited second season of Succession, we are thrilled to have actor Jeremy Strong join us to talk about his brilliant performance as Kendall Roy. The critically acclaimed series, also starring Brian Cox as the patriarch Logan Roy, follows a family-owned media conglomerate and the power struggle within. It’s high stakes Shakespearean drama, black comedy and the timeliest of themes of power and greed. Jeremy Strong (Zero Dark Thirty, Selma, The Big Short) talked to us while on location filming season two. We talked about researching media-moguls for the role,  the shakespearian relationship between Kendall and his father Logan, Succession in the age of Trump,  filming the very powerful last scene and how it almost made him quit acting, what's in store for Kendall in season two and so much more  Succession was created by Jesse Armstrong (The Thick Of It, In The Loop) and produced by Adam McKay (Vice and The Big Short). Season 2 of Succession premieres on HBO in August.

We are so happy to have actor, comedian and writer Brett Gelman with us this week to talk about one of the best shows on TV ‘Fleabag’, his great performance on it and so much more.  Brett Gelman is everywhere! No doubt you've seen him on one or more of your favorite shows: The Office, Mad Men, Another Period, Love, Twin Peaks: The Return, Californication, Curb Your Enthusiasm, just to name a few. Brett Gelman will be starring on the upcoming season of Stranger Things and on the Stephen King adaptation Mr. Mercedes. In our interview we talk about the genius of Fleabag and creator/star Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Bringing to life his odious but still relatable character Martin. Also how Gelman in 2016 severed ties with the network Adult Swim over, among other things, the “misogyny of their policies” and the backlash he received after, including death threats. You can watch Fleabag season 1 & 2 on Amazon Prime.

This week on Pop Culture Confidential awarding winning journalist and former CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jessica Yellin. Mr Yellin spent decades covering Capitol Hill, domestic policy, the White House, elections and more  at  MSNBC, ABC, CNN to name a few. Now she is on a mission to change how we receive and process the news. Recently she started a digital platform 'News Not Noise’, and using her instagram feed  @Jessicayellin she reports video updates,  bringing her followers the news “not a panic attack”. She has also just released her debut novel Savage News,  the story of an ambitious journalist on the front lines of the new business and the White House, obviously built on many of her own experiences.  Ms Yellin talks to us about her experiences as Chief White House Correspondent,  misogyny in journalism, Savage News and her goal to bring hard hitting news not alarm to audiences.

This week we are joined by the President of the L…

This week on Pop Culture Confidential actor Jared Harris joins us to talk about his spectacular performance in the new HBO miniseries ‘Chernobyl’. We talk about researching his character, Valery Legasov, the real-life Soviet nuclear physicist who was one of the first to understand the scope of the destruction, the lies and conspiracy that surrounded the disaster, how Harris choses his roles and what he learned from his father, actor Richard Harris. Over the past years Jared Harris has given us some of the most interesting and versatile performances in film and TV, from Lane Pryce (Mad Men) to King George VI (The Crown). He has played Andy Warhol, John Lennon and Ulysses S Grant, opposite Daniel Day-Lewis in Spielberg’s Lincoln. Now he stars in ‘Chernobyl’ a 5 part miniseries that delves into one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history. 'Chernobyl' also stars Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson. Written by Craig Mazin, directed by Johan Renck. ‘Chernobyl’ premieres on HBO May 6th

This week we talk to documentary filmmaker Erin Lee Carr who has written the brutally honest and beautiful memoir 'All That You Leave Behind', about her relationship with her father the celebrated NY Times reporter David Carr, who passed away 4 years ago Erin Lee Carr talks to us about writing the memoir, about the the almost 2000 emails and texts that she and her dad wrote to each other through the years, her childhood, her dads addiction and her own struggles with addiction  And of course David Carrs journalistic legacy and his greatest advice to her as she continues her acclaimed career as a documentary filmmaker.  David Carr wrote the memoir 'The Night of The Gun’  (2009) where he investigated himself; his years as a crack addict, being a single parent to Erin and her twin sister Meagan through addiction and recovery, and his journey to columnist at the  New York Times Some of Erin Lee Carr's work includes the films Mommy Dead and Dearest ( HBO ), Dirty Money: Drug Short (Netflix)…

This week we are so glad to speak to film editor Nicholas Monsour about his work on the innovative, multi-leveled, genre-defying and just flat out terrifying new movie ‘Us'. In this fascinating conversation Mr. Monsour speaks about working with Oscar winner Jordan Peele, his research and influences going into the project (which included the films of David Lynch, Friedkin and Bergman) working with the incredible actors and editing the doppelgänger scenes. We also spoke of the multiple levels of 'Us', the social commentary, the many fan theories, the intersection of comedy and horror, and how Peele and team worked to both entertain, scare and start the many, many conversations audiences and critics are having.

This week on Pop Culture Confidential, Christina talks to one of her personal favorites, author David Sedaris! Sedaris, a contributor to the New Yorker and This American Life, has sold 12 million copies of his books. His personal essays and reflections have entertained, enlightened and sometimes even shocked readers for decades. His latest book of essays ‘Calypso' is hilarious and charming and it beautifully deals with aging, loss and love. In our conversation, while on book tour in Stockholm, Sedaris reflects on his hatred of American service banter, his mothers alcoholism and his mentally ill sister Tiffany's suicide just a few years ago. He talks about his thoughts on his father who is a Trump supporter, how he and long-time love Hugh complement each other after so many years together and much more! ‘Calypso' is available now.  Published in Swedish by Mondial.

This week on Pop Culture Confidential we talk about a legend,  a role model, and a real bad ass, US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. My conversation is with someone who knows her very well, Daniel Stiepleman. Stiepleman is the screenwriter of the movie “On The Basis Of Sex", based on a major part of her life,  and he also happens to be Justice Ginsburgs nephew. We talk about the case at the center of the movie, his aunts first reaction to Mr. Stiepleman wanting to write her story, her notes on his screenplay, and more.  "On The Basis Of Sex "is directed by Mimi Leder (The Leftovers) and stars Felicity Jones as Justice Ginsburg and Armie Hammar as her husband Martin Ginsburg. The film premieres in Sweden on International Women's Day , March 8th , and is out in the theaters in the US.

This week on Pop Culture Confidential journalist …

Welcome to our 2019 Oscar prediction special! We are thrilled to welcome back to the show the New York Times Carpetbagger columnist Kyle Buchanan, who covers every aspect of award season. Join us as we discuss this crazy Oscar season and predict the winners. Follow Mr. Buchanan on twitter @kylebuchanan

This week we are joined by Rachel Leah (writer at Salon.com covering culture, race and criminal justice) for a conversation on some difficult topics but also about what may be the beginnings of a cultural shift. Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, R Kelly, Michael Jackson, Bryan Singer… Recently there’s been a wave of shocking articles, exposés and documentaries about allegations of sexual misconduct by high profile artists and industry titans. Allegations that have dogged them for years, sometimes even for decades. How can it be possible that these allegations have been industry, and even public, knowledge for years and still their careers flourish? But has the #Metoo movement allowed for more survivors to come forward with their stories when the justice system seems to often have failed them? And what does this mean going forward? Rachel Leah has been covering these topics extensively and joins us this week for an in-depth conversation.

Episode 131: Tony McNamara, screenwriter "The Favourite" by Pop Culture Confidential

On the show this week the director and the producer of "Ralph Breaks the Internet”, the Oscar buzzed and critically acclaimed sequel to "Wreck-it Ralph"! Rich Moore (The Simpsons, Futurama, Zootopia) and Clark Spencer (Lilo & Stitch, Zootopia) join us to talk about developing their new movie, what they discovered about the darker side of the internet during their research process, Rich Moore’s legendary work on The Simpsons and what he learned about animation and satire, iconic characters from Lisa Simpsons to Vanellope to Disney princesses and much more. Plus TV and film critic Candice Frederick (The New York Times, The Guardian)on some of her most anticipate shows on TV this spring and some very interesting female protagonists we have coming our way.

A new year, and a new Oscar race! Film critic, wr…

On a very special edition, Pop Culture Confidential went to London to meet the cast and director of the magical new movie “Mary Poppins Returns”! Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw and director Rob Marshall on the making of this sequel, 50 years in the making!

When HBO and David Simon hired an intimacy coordinator/director to choreograph and monitor the on-set sex scenes on his show ‘The Deuce’ it started a lot of interesting conversations. We wanted to know more! On the show this week, one of the co-founders of ‘Intimacy Directors International’, Executive Director Tonia Sina. An intimacy director acts as an advocate for the actors, keeping actors physically and psychologically safe when acting in scenes of an intimate nature. As stunt coordinators have long done for fight scenes.  Tonia Sina is the Executive Director of ‘Intimacy Directors International’ a nonprofit she cofounded in 2016. Ms. Sina has been researching intimacy for the stage and sexual harassment in the industry since 2004 and  she also advises Universities on their curricula to help avoid harassment and abuse in academia.

This week on Pop Culture Confidential it's all about rage! Joining us is Soraya Chemaly, author of the provocative, infuriating and inspiring new book  “Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger.” Ms Chemaly has written for Time magazine, The Guardian and The Atlantic. She is an activist and the director of the Women’s Media Center Speech Project. In our interview we talk about her new book, her research into women’s anger and rage, how women are taught and conditioned by society to suppress anger and how it can be a powerful tool in our lives. We talk about recent events such as how Serena Williams was penalized at the U.S. Open for arguing with the umpire, the Kavanaugh hearings, Jordan Peterson and so much more.

This Halloween week writer and critic Alicia Lutes joins me to dissect some of the new horror hits on film and TV. We cover Jaime Lee Curtis' return for her final confrontation with Michael Myers in ‘Halloween’, Luca Guadagnino's reboot of Dario Argento’s ‘Suspiria' and the Netflix hits ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ and ‘The Haunting of Hill House’. PLUS This week marks the US premiere of  ‘Boy Erased' starring Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Lucas Hedges. We revisit our interview with Garrard Conley, author of the memoir 'Boy Erased’, and survivor of gay conversion therapy.

This week Pop Culture Confidential Oscar nominated screenwriter Luke Davies talks about adapting the addiction memoir ‘Beautiful Boy’ starring Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet. As well as about his own painful and personal journal though a 10-year heroin addiction

This week on Pop Culture Confidential Oscar winning cinematographer Linus Sandgren talks about his incredible work on “First Man” Damien Chazelle’s new movie about Neil Armstrong. And: Gregory Ellwood covers movies and awards on The Playlist.net and is the host of the 4 Quadrant Podcast. Gregory joins us with an update on the Oscar race! From Lady Gaga’s star turn in “A Star is Born”, to Nicole Kidman’s in 2 powerful roles, Spike Lee is back and Christian Bale transforms himself, yet again, playing Dick Cheney in “Vice”… who are the frontrunners?