Episodes

Jan. 21, 2023

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

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…
Jan. 19, 2023

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

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…
Jan. 9, 2023

323: Abbott Elementary's breakout star Janelle James!

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…
Jan. 3, 2023

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

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…
Dec. 21, 2022

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

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
Dec. 16, 2022

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

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…
Dec. 6, 2022

319: Actor Sheila McCarthy. On the powerful themes, questions & truths of "Women Talking"

Actor Shelia McCarthy (Greta) joins us to talk about the upcoming 'Women Talking', a powerful new film written/directed by Sarah Polley and based on the novel by Mariam Toews. We talk about McCarthys' emotional and compelli…
Dec. 4, 2022

318: So, what did we think?! Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) is back to discuss Spielberg's The Fabelmans!

A while ago, on episode 304, we dove deep into Steven Spielberg's most personal movies and how his family has so often been a part of his storytelling. Now Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) joins Christina again to …
Nov. 22, 2022

316: Hollywood on Hollywood. 'Babylon' and a deep dive into movies about the industry! With critic Zoë Rose Bryant

Film critic Zoë Rose Bryant joins us to talk about Damien Chazelle's "Babylon", the upcoming epic about 1920's Hollywood starring Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie. Plus a deep dive into the most essential films about Hollywood, fro…
Nov. 15, 2022

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

Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) join us to talk about their excellent, dark satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy. In theatres Nov 18th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit …
Nov. 11, 2022

314: Laura Poitras, director 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed'. On photographer Nan Goldin's life and her fight to 'take down' the billionaire Sackler family.

Academy Award winning director Laura Poitras joins us to talk about her urgent and powerful documentary 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' that portrays the life of groundbreaking photographer & activist Nan Goldin. Godin su…
Nov. 8, 2022

313: Weird Al! We revisit our talk with Weird Al Yankovic, icon & parody king!

‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ , a parody of “based on true story biopics,” has premiered on The Roku Channel and we thought this is was perfect time to revisit our fun conversation with ”Weird Al”! We are thrilled to be joi…
Nov. 1, 2022

312: We deep dive into The Banshees of Inisherin! with Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSessionFilm)

So feckin' good! Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor Awardswatch.com , Editor/Co-Host InSessionFilm ) joins us for a deep-dive into Martin McDonagh's critically acclaimed new feature The Banshees of Inisherin. We talk about the p…
Oct. 28, 2022

311: Actors Tom Hollander & Leo Woodall talk White Lotus 2, the new Italian season and the sexual politics of the 1 %!

The wait is finally over! The second season of The White Lotus , Mike White's Emmy winning, genius satire about wealth, privilege and class premieres soon. We talk to actor Tom Hollander ( Pirates of the Caribbean, In the L…
Oct. 20, 2022

310: Jump scares and spine chillers! A horror deep-dive with film critic William Bibbiani.

Had a fantastic time talking about the horror genre with film critic & podcast host William Bibbiani (The Wrap, The Critically Acclaimed Network)! We talk about how and why 2022 horror is making a killing at the box office, …
Oct. 13, 2022

309: The exciting race towards the Oscars 2023! Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch) is with us to cover it all.

Editor-in-chief Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch.com joins us again to cover the exciting race towards the Oscars 2023! What are this years Oscar-race narratives? We talk Brendan Fraser, Blanchett, Spielberg, love us some Banshe…
Oct. 8, 2022

308: A talk with actor Lane Factor 'Cheese' on the groundbreaking, hit show 'Reservation Dogs',

17 year old Lane Factor is a rising star! He was only 14 when he auditioned and got the part in the groundbreaking, hit show "Reservation Dogs". We talk about his role as 'Cheese', his Native American background, working wit…
Oct. 3, 2022

307: Our 'Blonde' discussion with culture reporter Candice Frederick!

Candice Frederick, Senior Culture Reporter @huffpost joins Christina for a discussion on the film 'Blonde', based on a novel by Joyce Carol Oates, directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe.
Oct. 1, 2022

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

Actor Daisy Edgar-Jones ('Normal People', 'Fresh', 'Under the Banner of Heaven') joins us to talk about her film 'Where the Crawdads Sing', based on the global best seller. Also, on working with producer Reese Witherspoon, p…
Sept. 29, 2022

305 Best of: Our conversation with actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach ("The Bear'.) On his incredible performance as Richie, chaos, love & found family.

Revisit our interview with actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach! He joins Christina for an exclusive deep-dive into this summers' TV hit, 'The Bear'! A conversation about his incredible performance, "cousin" Richie, how a frustrating ch…
Sept. 21, 2022

304: A deep dive into Steven Spielberg's most personal films & stories ahead of 'The Fabelmans'. With Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film)

This was fascinating, fun.... and personal! Ryan McQuade joins me for this deep dive into Steven Spielberg's most personal stories, ahead of his semi-autobiographical new film The Fabelmans. Spielberg has so many times proce…
Sept. 13, 2022

303: A conversation with writer/director Kogonada ('After Yang') on memory, feeling displaced, the love of film & more! (Revisit)

A wonderful conversation with writer/director Kogonada about his film ‘After Yang’, memory, feeling displaced, being in the present, the love of movies, ‘Pachinko’ and much more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph…
Sept. 12, 2022

302: Venice Film Festival 2022 writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski on her very personal film 'Other People’s Children', reimagining the image of the step-mother & female allies.

Writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski joins Christina at the Venice Film Festival 2022 to talk about 'Other People’s Children', her critically acclaimed new film! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sept. 6, 2022

301: Venice Film Festival! 'Don't Worry Darling', 'The Whale' 'The Eternal Daughter' with writer/critic Connor Lightbody

Venice Film Festival dispatch! Writer, critic & film student Connor Lightbody joins Christina in Venice to review and discuss 'Don't Worry Darling', 'The Whale' and 'The Eternal Daughter' Learn more about your ad choices. V…