Episodes
May 18, 2023
351: A conversation with activist, educator & Tupac Shakur's former manager Leila Steinberg. The power of art, Tupac & Allen Hughes' incredible doc series 'Dear Mama'
When educator and activist Leila Steinberg was 25 years old she met a 17-year-old named Tupac Shakur. Music, poetry and social justice united them. She became involved in his career as his manager until 1993. Christina meets…
May 4, 2023
350: A new survey asked 'what actors will get you to the movie theater?' & the results are fascinating! Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) join us to talk modern movie stardom.
What actors will get you to the theater? A new major survey by the National Research Group asked consumers to name five actors that would make them most interested in seeing a movie in a theater & the results are fascinating…
May 2, 2023
349: Hollywood writers strike! With guest Tom O'Brien
Hollywood writers to strike as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have failed to reach a an agreement. Film critic, writer and WGA member Tom O'Brien (Next …
April 27, 2023
348: 2023 Summer/fall movie preview & discussion with critic Thelma Adams
Gerwig, Scorsese, Nolan! The Flash, Napoleon & Oppenheimer. We have a massive summer & fall ahead of us at the movies. Critic Thelma Adams (Variety, The Wrap) joins us to discuss some of the biggest and buzziest releases com…
April 21, 2023
347: Kylie Rogers ('Beau is Afraid' 'Yellowstone')
We are joined by the talented Kylie Rogers, starring in Ari Aster's much anticipated 'Beau is Afraid' & as young Beth on the mega TV hit 'Yellowstone'. We talk about starting her acting career at age 8, how Dennis Hopper is …
April 20, 2023
346: REVIST: We revisit our conversation with TV Icon Henry Winkler ('Barry')
The critically acclaimed HBO hit 'Barry' just began airing its fourth and final season. We thought it would be fun, and a little bittersweet, to revisit Christina's conversation with TV icon Henry Winkler from season 1 of “B…
April 5, 2023
345: April TV! From Beef to 1980's psychological thrillers. We discuss! With Candice Frederick, Senior Culture Reporter at HuffPost
Candice Frederick, Senior Culture Reporter at HuffPost, joins Christina to talk about April's interesting TV shows & themes. Netflix Beef , Tiny Beautiful Things, Dead Ringers, Fatal Attraction, the return of Yellowjackets a…
April 4, 2023
344: Writer/director Milad Alami 'Opponent'
Iranian/Swedish writer-director Milad Alami ('Opponent') joins the show. Mr Alami, who himself arrived to Sweden as a refugee at age 6, has made a powerful film about a refugees family, masculinity & freedom. 'Opponent' was …
March 30, 2023
343: We discuss Ben Affleck's 'Air', 'Tetris', & movies about the entrepreneurial spirit! With Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film)
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…
March 29, 2023
342: Special episode! A conversation with Brian Cox recorded live on stage. (Succession, HBO Max)
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…
March 25, 2023
341: Justine Lupe ('Willa' Succession)
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…
March 23, 2023
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
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…
March 13, 2023
339: We recap and break down the 2023 Academy Awards. The best, the worst & the historic moments! With Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.
Christina & Ryan McQuade of Awardswatch.com break down and recap Oscars95! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March 10, 2023
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'
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…
March 5, 2023
337: Our Oscar 2023 predictions special with Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch!
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 …
March 1, 2023
336: Lesley Paterson 'All Quiet On the Western Front'. Oscar nominated screenwriter, producer & world champion triathlete!
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.…
Feb. 22, 2023
335: We discuss the Bafta awards! The winners, the shockers and what it all means as the Oscars approach! With Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.
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…
Feb. 18, 2023
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)
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…
Feb. 15, 2023
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
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 …
Feb. 14, 2023
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!
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 '…
Feb. 13, 2023
331: REVISIT: Our conversation with actor Jeremy Strong
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…
Feb. 8, 2023
330: REVISIT Abbott Elementary star Janelle James!
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…
Feb. 6, 2023
329: REVISIT: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy
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…
Jan. 30, 2023
328: Craig Mazin (Creator/Writer/Exec Producer ' The Last of US') Including our talk on the incredible episode 3!
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…