Episodes

From film news to fresh reviews — it’s a packed week on the show. We’re diving into some of the biggest releases of the summer, including 28 Years Later, Jurassic World: Rebirth, F1, The Materialists, and Eddington. Plus, we break down Nolan’s The Odyssey teaser, the latest on the Social Network sequel, and Denis Villeneuve taking on 007. With special guest Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re thrilled to welcome actor Alexej Manvelov to the show. His standout portrayal of Akram in Netflix’s hit Dept. Q has made the character one of this season’s most acclaimed and beloved. In Scott Frank’s adaptation of the bestselling novels, Manvelov plays Akram, a former Syrian police officer and refugee who joins Edinburgh’s cold-case unit alongside Detective Carl Mørck (Matthew Goode). His subtle, magnetic performance has made Akram both a fan favorite and a critical standout. Manvelov s...

Summer may not be the official spooky season, but it’s long been a surprisingly perfect time for horror. From the 1975 release of Jaws—which turns 50 this year!—to Poltergeist, Friday the 13th, and A24’s Hereditary andMidsommar, horror has thrived under the summer sun. Now, summer 2025 is shaping up to be another standout season for the genre, with titles like 28 Years Later, M3GAN 2.0, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Together, Weapons, and more. Film enthusiast and theatre technician (dresser)...

On this episode, Christina is joined by writer and critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for the fun (and difficult!) exercise of ranking their favorite films of the decade so far, from 2020 through 2024. Tune in for passionate picks, tough calls, unexpected choices, a few controversial rankings, and plenty of love for the movies that have defined these first five years! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creator of Andor and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tony Gilroy ( Michael Clayton , The Bourne films) joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about the groundbreaking Star Wars prequel series — a show that’s as politically urgent as it is thrilling. With the second and final season now complete, they look back at the creative journey. They explore the big themes at the heart of Andor : found family, sacrifice, fascism, moral ambiguity, and the question of why good people do bad thi...

Joining Christina is film critic and writer Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch as they wrap up the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. From what it was like covering this year’s festival, to the Palme d’Or winners, major Neon and MUBI acquisitions, standout titles from Joachim Trier and Spike Lee, The Secret Agent , The History of Sound , and more—this episode dives into all the unforgettable moments that made this edition one for the books. Pop Culture Confidential is grateful to be recognized by Feedspot a...

In this special dispatch from the Croisette, Christina is joined by the brilliant and effortlessly cool Stellan Skarsgård, starring in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value —a strong Palme d’Or contender at this year’s festival. Skarsgård plays Gustav, a once-renowned director who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter by casting her in his comeback film. They discuss Sentimental Value , the state of cinema and the world, why Skarsgård often chooses Norwegian films over Swedish ones, the ...

Christina is joined by critic and author John Bleasdale (The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the most talked-about titles at the festival, including The Phoenician Scheme by Wes Anderson, Pillion starring Alexander Skarsgård, and two films directed by actors: Kristen Stewart’s The Chronology of Water and Harris Dickinson’s Urchin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎬 Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025 Christina is joined once again by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the festival’s buzziest titles so far, including Ari Aster’s Eddington , The Plague , Sound of Falling . Plus, thoughts on the latest Mission: Impossible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🎬 Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a dispatch from the Croisette. They break down Christopher McQuarrie’s Q&A—featuring a surprise appearance by Tom Cruise—Neon’s impressive Cannes track record and this year’s contenders, and Robert De Niro’s politically charged moment at the festival. Please note: This episode was recorded on location in Cannes, so the audio is a bit more "festival field mix" than studio :) Learn more about your ad choices. ...

Christina’s first dispatch from Cannes 2025! Highlights from the Opening Press Conference with Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & more—on festival expectations, Trump’s tariffs, and the new red carpet dress rules. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sharing a special episode! Christina joined the AwardsWatch podcast for the 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview . On episode 287 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and special guest Christina Birro of Pop Culture Confidential to preview the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which they will all be attending for the next two weeks. They talk about what it is like going to the festival, the film’s in and o...

We’re just days away from the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and one of the most anticipated moments is the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on May 14 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt in this eighth installment of the legendary action franchise, joined by director Christopher McQuarrie and an all-star cast. In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to break down why this premiere is such a major event — not just for Cannes, but for Mission: Impossible fans around the world. We explore the franchise’s legacy, its cultural impact, and what to expect from this highly anticipated Cannes debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show this week: the exceptionally talented Barbie Ferreira, best known for her breakout role as Kat Hernandez on HBO’s Euphoria. Christina talks with Barbie about her wonderful new film Bob Trevino Likes It, where she plays Lily, a young woman grappling with the pain of a self-centered, absent father. After forming an unexpected bond with a stranger online who shares her dad’s name, Lily finds a path toward healing and self-acceptance. The film is inspired by director and writer Tracie L...

This week, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch, to dive into Sinners—Ryan Coogler’s ambitious, multilayered, and visually stunning new film. They also break down the latest Oscar rule changes and announcements, and discuss what they could mean for the upcoming awards season. Plus, in honor of Michael B. Jordan’s phenomenal dual performance as twins in Sinners, they share their favorite on-screen twins played by the same actor. Learn more about your ad choices....

Emmy-winning editor and co-producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us') joins Christina to break down the episode everyone’s talking about — Season 2, Episode 2, “Through the Valley.” This unforgettable episode took over a year to bring to life, and Timothy takes us deep behind the scenes of its emotional and technical construction. From Joel’s (Pedro Pascal) fate to the extraordinary work behind that scene, Tim unpacks the editing process, his collaboration with Craig Mazin and director Mark Mylod,...

The 2025 Cannes lineup was just announced, and there’s a lot to talk about. Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) joins Christina to break down the buzziest titles heading to the Croisette—including Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Kelly Reichardt, Spike Lee, and yes… Tom Cruise. And the notable names missing from the lineup. They also dive into last week’s surprise announcement at CinemaCon of a Quentin Tarantino–David Fincher collaboration, and share their reactions to the full trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson’...

Christina is honored to speak with the brilliant Christine Tremarco from the powerful, hit series Adolescence. Written by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the show follows a 13-year-old boy named Jamie who is arrested for the murder of a girl from his school. Tremarco plays Jamie’s mother, Manda. Adolescence is a raw, unflinching exploration of internet culture, toxic masculinity, and the online radicalization of young boys. It’s also a story about parenting in an increasingly complex world. ...

On this episode of Pop Culture Confidential, we’re diving deep into the latest TV must-watches! Join us as we break down some of the biggest shows of the moment—Severance, The White Lotus, and The Pitt—all heading into their highly anticipated season finales. Plus, we discuss Adolescence, one of the most impactful TV experiences in recent memory, and look ahead to the upcoming premiere of The Studio. And that’s not all! We also talk about John Mulaney’s new talk show and the buzz surrounding ...

In this episode, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to break down the latest trailers for some of the year’s most anticipated upcoming movies. Some look awesome, some look... questionable — and a few totally surprised us! We talk about Celine Song’s Materialists, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, Pixar’s Elio, the Minecraft movie, Happy Gilmore 2, F1, Spinal Tap II, Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Pop Culture Confidential, Christina chats with actor Taylor Dearden, who delivers an incredible performance as Dr. Mel King in the gripping new medical drama The Pitt—now streaming on Max. From producer John Wells (ER), creator R. Scott Gemill, and actor/writer Noah Wyle, The Pitt follows doctors and nurses over a 15-hour shift and has been praised for its realistic portrayal of emergency medicine. In a wide-ranging conversation, Christina and Ms. Dearden discuss filming the intens...

Sean Baker makes history. Conan triumphs. Christina & Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor, AwardsWatch) react and recap the 97th Academy Awards— the winners, the losers, the surprises, the speeches, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina and Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor of AwardsWatch) go through their final Oscar predictions for the 97th Academy Awards! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a wild few weeks in pop culture! Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor, AwardsWatch) joins Christina for a massive recap—Kendrick, SNL 50, Cher & Costner, Meryl, the BAFTAs, Matt Damon & Nolan, SAG predictions, awards season scandals, and more. It’s a bonanza! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices