Episodes

293: It's a Daisy Edgar-Jones year! A conversation with the star of 'Where the Crawdads Sing'.

Aug. 17, 2022

Actor Daisy Edgar-Jones ('Normal People', 'Fresh', 'Under the Banner of Heaven') joins us to talk about her new film 'Where the Crawdads Sing', based on the global best seller. Also, on working with producer Reese Witherspoo…

292: A conversation with the great Keke Palmer! ('Nope')

Aug. 10, 2022

The multi-talented actor Keke Palmer joins us! We talk about her critically acclaimed performance in Jordan Peele's horror-sci fi 'NOPE', how the her 20 year career & experiences growing up as a child star informed her role …

291: 'The Bear' deep dive! With Matt Neglia (NextBestPicture.com)

Aug. 7, 2022

Matt Neglia, editor-in-chief of NextBestPicture.com joins us for an in-depth examination of ' The Bear' the excellent, surprise hit of the summer! The powerful themes, the cast, the filmmaking, we cover it all. Christina wil…

290: The cast & creators of the new series 'A League of Their Own'! (Amazon Prime)

Aug. 3, 2022

This week we are joined by the cast & creators of the new series 'A League of Their Own': co-creator and star Abbi Jacobson, co-creator Will Graham, D’Arcy Carden, Chanté Adams, Roberta Colindrez, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Pris…

REVISIT! A conversation with Rick Stanton, one of the lead divers in the dramatic Thai soccer team cave rescue.

July 29, 2022

Ahead of the premiere of Ron Howards major motion picture ‘Thirteen Lives’ we revisit our interview with Rick Stanton (in the movie played by Viggo Mortensen) one of the lead divers & key players in the 2018 dramatic rescu…

289: Ciao Venezia 2022! Critic John Bleasdale joins us to talk about what to expect from the 2022 Venice Film Festival.

July 27, 2022

In part 1 of our Venice Film Festival special we are joined by writer, critic & host of the podcast 'Writers of Film' John Bleasdale. We talk about the incredible line-up this year at Venice & what we are most looking forwar…

288: From Hell's Kitchen to American Ninja Warrior to Floor is Lava, a conversation with super producer Arthur Smith, a pioneer in non-fiction television.

July 21, 2022

From Hell's Kitchen to American Ninja Warrior to Floor is Lava! With more than 200 shows for over 50 networks Arthur Smith is a pioneer in non-fiction television. He and his company have created and developed some of the big…

REVISIT! Co-directors Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes join us to talk about their excellent, urgent and vital documentary THE JANES (HBOMax)

July 10, 2022

Co-directors Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes join us to talk about their excellent, urgent and vital documentary THE JANES, HBOMax The film is the story of the Jane Collective, a group of women who formed a clandestine network that…

287: A fabulously fun conversation with the great Hugh Bonneville!

June 30, 2022

A fabulously fun conversation with the great Hugh Bonneville! On 'Downton Abbey: A New Era', the Crawley family's new adventures, bringing back the original ensemble, how Lord Grantham has evolved this past decade and so …

286: Summer blockbusters, box office & 2022 movies we are looking forward to! With Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch.

June 25, 2022

Always a blast when Erik Anderson ( AwardsWatch.com ) joins us! We talk about this summer at the movie. From Tom Cruise spectacular box office run, to "Elvis" and Lightyear'. And count down some of the movies we are lookin…

285: A conversation with 4-time Academy Award Winner Catherine Martin ('Elvis')!

June 21, 2022

An interview with legendary costume/production designer Catherine Martin! She has four Oscars to her name (two for Moulin Rouge! in 2002 , 2 for The Great Gatsby in 2014) We talk about creating 'Elvis' with her husband and c…

284: Dee Wallace, actor, author & scream queen! On her iconic roles from Cujo to E.T, the Spielberg classic celebrating 40 years, and much more!

June 7, 2022

We are honored to be joined by actor and author Dee Wallace! We talk 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., is one of the mos…

283. Co-directors Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes join us to talk about their excellent, urgent and vital documentary THE JANES (HBOMax)

June 2, 2022

Co-directors Tia Lessin & Emma Pildes join us to talk about their excellent, urgent and vital documentary THE JANES, premiering on HBOMax June 8th. The film is the story of the Jane Collective, a group of women who formed a …

282: Benita Alexander tells her story. The NBC producer who's fairytale romance with a celebrity surgeon was a scam. Dr Macchiarini is now on trial over experimental windpipe transplants.

May 17, 2022

This week we are joined by Benita Alexander, the former NBC producer who’s fairytale romance with the so called ‘super surgeon’ Dr Paolo Macchiarini turned out to be all lies, a scam. Ms Alexander tells her story, how she fe…

281: Are movies back?! Plus our Cannes Film Festival 2022 preview. With AwardsWatch Erik Anderson

May 14, 2022

Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch.com is back on Pop Culture Confidential! But are movies back? We talk about the buzz around movies like Top Gun: Maverick, Everything Everywhere All at Once and more. Plus our Cannes Film Festiva…

280: Our Spring Television Special! With critic Thelma Adams

May 7, 2022

Dirty cops, scammers, Vikings, mormon detectives, complicated female characters, Netflix setbacks and the state of the TV industry. We cover it all in our spring TV special! We are so happy to welcome back critic, author & f…

279: Hollywood trials & when celebrities take the stand. A conversation with Professor Andrea M McDonnell

April 27, 2022

From the widely publicized trial of silent film star Fatty Arbuckle in 1921, to Weinstein, Cosby, Britney Spears conservatorship battle and the now ongoing Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial, celebrities in court seem …

278: We revisit our talk with actor Rick Rossovich! On the legacy of Top Gun, ahead of the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.

April 25, 2022

We feel the need for speed!! On the show this week actor Rick Rossovich who played Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner, wingman to Val Kilmer’s Iceman, in Top Gun (1986). Mr Rossovich talks about his career, his experiences on Top Gun, the …

277: Actor Billy Magnussen (Barry Levinsons' 'The Survivor' & 'Made for Love' season 2, HBO Max)

April 20, 2022

Actor Billy Magnussen joins us to talk about his versatile career, playing the villain in the latest Bond film 'No Time to Die' and taking on the iconic role of the young Paulie Walnuts in the Sopranos prequel ‘The Many Sain…

276: A conversation with composer Nico Muhly (Pachinko)

April 13, 2022

The great Nico Muhly, composer, joins Christina for a wonderful conversation about how the incredible score for ‘Pachinko’ came together, his early influences, what he learned working for Philip Glass, how being open about h…

REVISIT! Executive producer/writer Danny Strong 'Dopesick'

April 5, 2022

A conversation with Danny Strong (‘Game Change’, ‘Recount’) the creator/writer/director of ‘Dopesick’. Mr Strong talks about making the series & taking on the origins and devastation of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. And…

275: Post-Oscar talk with Ryan McQuade! (AwardsWatch, InSession Film)

March 29, 2022

Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) joins Christina for a post-Oscar conversation. The ceremony, the winners, Will Smith/Chris Rock and more.

274: Writer/Showrunner Liz Hannah "The Dropout" , "The Girl From Plainville"

March 27, 2022

Thrilled to have writer, producer, director Liz Hannah (The Post, Long Shot, Mindhunter) back on Pop Culture Confidential. Liz Hannah is currently involved in two of the most critically acclaimed, true crime series on televi…

273: Kyle Buchanan is back! We talk Oscar predictions and his new book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road”

March 23, 2022

New York Times journalist and awards season columnist Kyle Buchanan is back on Pop Culture Confidential for his yearly visit! We talk about his fantastic new book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome” on the chaotic making of George Mille…