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Episodes

498: A Conversation with Production Designer Fiona Crombie on Hamnet, Love, Grief, and Shakespeare
Jan. 15, 2026

498: A Conversation with Production Designer Fiona Crombie on Hamnet,…

In this episode of Pop Culture Confidential , Christina sits down with prize-winning production designer Fiona Crombie , whose work has shaped some of the most visually striking films of recent years. They talk in depth about...

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497.  Golden Globes 2026 Reactions! The Wins & the Surprises. (Guest Ryan McQuade)
Jan. 12, 2026

497. Golden Globes 2026 Reactions! The Wins & the Surprises. (Guest …

Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to break down the Golden Globes 2026! The winners, the losers, the speeches, the cringe... and what it all means for the Oscars race. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

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496: Critics Choice Awards Instant Reactions With Christina Birro & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch)
Jan. 5, 2026

496: Critics Choice Awards Instant Reactions With Christina Birro & R…

For the first episode of the year, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to recap the Critics Choice Awards 2026, the first televised awards show of the season! Fresh off attending the ceremony, they break dow...

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495: Counting Down Our 20 Best Movies of 2025 (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
Dec. 16, 2025

495: Counting Down Our 20 Best Movies of 2025 (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

It’s a huge episode! Ryan McQuade ( Executive Editor, AwardsWatch) joins Christina as they countdown their 20 best movies of 2025. What a year of cinema it has been! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

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494: Our Reactions to the Latest Critics Awards, Critics Choice, Globes Nominations & the Road to the Oscars (w/ Ryan McQuade)
Dec. 10, 2025

494: Our Reactions to the Latest Critics Awards, Critics Choice, Glob…

Awards season is officially in full swing! Prizes and nominations are rolling in from critics groups, the Critics Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, and more. It’s been one announcement after another and we’re breaking it all ...

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493: Alexander Skarsgård. Live Interview from the Stockholm International Film Festival
Dec. 6, 2025

493: Alexander Skarsgård. Live Interview from the Stockholm Internati…

This week’s episode is a special one: Christina’s interview with actor/producer Alexander Skarsgård! The interview was recorded live at the Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 2025), where he received the 2025 Stockhol...

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492: The Biggest Pop Culture Moments of 2025! (Guest Ryan McQuade)
Dec. 4, 2025

492: The Biggest Pop Culture Moments of 2025! (Guest Ryan McQuade)

2025 was a year in pop culture like no other! Celebrities “went to space,” Kendrick blew our minds at the Super Bowl, demons were hunted, SNL turned 50, and kiss cams caused chaos. It was a massive year for film and TV, packe...

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491: The Top Movie Performances of 2025 (with Guest Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch)
Nov. 26, 2025

491: The Top Movie Performances of 2025 (with Guest Erik Anderson of …

As we head into the final weeks of the year, we couldn’t resist diving into the incredible performances that have already defined 2025. It’s been an extraordinary year at the movies, full of bold artistic swings, deeply emoti...

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490: A Conversation with Michael Strassner, Writer and Star of ‘The Baltimorons’
Nov. 24, 2025

490: A Conversation with Michael Strassner, Writer and Star of ‘The B…

Christina talks with writer/actor/comedian Michael Strassner about his new film The Baltimorons, directed by Jay Duplass, a story shaped by the spirit of Baltimore and the most personal chapters of Strassner’s own life. They ...

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489: Benny Safdie.  Live Interview from the Stockholm International Film Festival
Nov. 20, 2025

489: Benny Safdie. Live Interview from the Stockholm International F…

This week’s episode is a special one: Christina’s interview with writer and director Benny Safdie at the Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 2025), where he was also honored with the Stockholm Visionary Award . They di...

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488: Coming Attractions: End of the Year Movie Roundup  (Guest Ryan McQuade)
Nov. 14, 2025

488: Coming Attractions: End of the Year Movie Roundup (Guest Ryan M…

It’s preview time! Christina is once again joined by critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to preview the most exciting movie titles coming to theaters and streaming for the rest of the year! From awards hopefuls like Hamnet ...

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487: A Conversation with Rebecca Miller . On 'Mr. Scorsese',  Her Portrait of the Filmmaker
Oct. 30, 2025

487: A Conversation with Rebecca Miller . On 'Mr. Scorsese', Her Por…

Filmmaker Rebecca Miller joins Christina to talk about her remarkable new series Mr. Scorsese , a five-part portrait of Martin Scorsese , now streaming on Apple TV+. The series offers a rare and intimate look at the legendary...

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486: A Conversation With Gustaf Skarsgård ('To Cook A Bear')
Oct. 20, 2025

486: A Conversation With Gustaf Skarsgård ('To Cook A Bear')

In this episode, Christina talks with actor Gustaf Skarsgård, who is powerful in the historical crime drama To Cook a Bear (Hulu/Disney+), based on the bestselling novel by Mikael Niemi. They discuss embodying the Pastor, a f...

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485: Awards Season Heats Up: Contenders & Predictions / Plus: Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
Oct. 15, 2025

485: Awards Season Heats Up: Contenders & Predictions / Plus: Rebecca…

We’re diving into the state of the awards season race! Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins us to break down the latest contenders and predictions. Then, a discussion on Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+), a new five-...

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484: From One Battle After Another and Hamnet to Sentimental Value and Weapons - The 2025 Cinematic Trend: Parenthood on Film (Guest:  Critic J. Don Birnam)
Oct. 8, 2025

484: From One Battle After Another and Hamnet to Sentimental Value an…

From One Battle After Another, Jay Kelly, Hamnet, and Weapons, to Sentimental Value and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and more, filmmakers this year can’t seem to escape one theme: parents. Guilt, loss, and legacy are everywhere...

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483: Becoming Aunt Gladys: The Makeup & Special Effects Behind Weapons (Guests: Artisans Leo Satkovich & Jason Collins)
Oct. 3, 2025

483: Becoming Aunt Gladys: The Makeup & Special Effects Behind Weapon…

We’re pulling back the curtain on one of modern horror’s most unforgettable new icons: Aunt Gladys from Zach Cregger’s smash hit Weapons . Christina is joined by makeup department head Leo Satkovich and special makeup effects...

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482: A Conversation with  Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Breakout Star of 'Sentimental Value'
Sept. 30, 2025

482: A Conversation with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Breakout Star of '…

In this episode, Christina is joined by rising star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, recently named one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, to talk about her role as Agnes in Joachim Trier’s Oscar-contending drama Sentimental Value . Th...

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481: “One Battle After Another” — Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cinematic Knockout (with Guest Ryan McQuade)
Sept. 26, 2025

481: “One Battle After Another” — Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cinematic Kn…

A Modern Masterpiece! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com to dive into Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Chase Infiniti, an...

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480: A Conversation with Writer-Director Joachim Trier, 'Sentimental Value', Family & Relationships
Sept. 23, 2025

480: A Conversation with Writer-Director Joachim Trier, 'Sentimental …

Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is the talk of the season, and Christina sits down with the acclaimed Norwegian director to dig into it. Featuring Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle Fanning...

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479: And the Emmy Goes To… 2025 Emmys Predictions! (Guest Tyler Doster, AwardsWatch)
Sept. 10, 2025

479: And the Emmy Goes To… 2025 Emmys Predictions! (Guest Tyler Doste…

Hollywood turns its spotlight on television’s biggest night this Sunday — the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards! Christina is joined by Tyler Doster, TV Editor at AwardsWatch.com , to predict the major categories and discuss potenti...

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478: Telluride Dispatch: Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia & the Performances to Watch (Guests: The AwardsWatch Team)
Sept. 2, 2025

478: Telluride Dispatch: Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia & the Performance…

All new Pop Culture Confidential: Telluride Dispatch! What a festival! Together with each of the incredible AwardsWatch.com team, we dive into the biggest conversations at Telluride — from Hamnet , Jay Kelly , Bugonia , If I ...

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477: Bruce Springsteen at the Movies: Looking Ahead to the Upcoming Biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere (w/ Ryan McQuade)
Aug. 25, 2025

477: Bruce Springsteen at the Movies: Looking Ahead to the Upcoming B…

This week, Christina welcomes Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen on film — including a look ahead at Deliver Me From Nowhere , the highly anticipated biopic starring Jeremy Allen White. From th...

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Episode 476: Zach Cregger’s Weapons – Review & Deep Dive (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
Aug. 21, 2025

Episode 476: Zach Cregger’s Weapons – Review & Deep Dive (Guest: Ryan…

In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of Weapons , filmmaker Zach Cregger’s latest hit. From the success of Barbarian to this ambitious follow-up, Cregger has quickly become one of the most exciting names in horror. I’...

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475: The State of Cinema, Telluride, 'Weapons',  Nolan Fever, & More with Guest Sean Fennessey, The Big Picture
Aug. 6, 2025

475: The State of Cinema, Telluride, 'Weapons', Nolan Fever, & More …

Christina welcomes back one of the sharpest voices in film — Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture — for a wide ranging conversation on the year in movies so far and what’s next. From Weapons and the horror/genre boom to box offi...

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