Episodes

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

Things are heating up! Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch, Erik Anderson, joins us with a comprehensive update on the state of the Oscar race! From all the surprises to Anora's sweep last weekend, actor frontrunners, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Ryan, co-host of The Watch, joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about the 2025 TV season. They discuss the new seasons of Severance and The Pitt, the 50th season of SNL, trends, and much more. Don’t miss it! Chris Ryan is the Editorial Director at The Ringer and co-host of The Watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) recap the Oscar nominations 2025. The surprises, the snubs and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan McQaude (Executive Editor, AwardsWatch) joins Christina for a MASSIVE 'Most Anticipated Movies of 2025' episode! Paul Thomas Anderson, Luca Guadagnino, Spike Lee. Cruise, Blanchett, Chalamet. 2025 is shaping up to be a great year at the movies! Plus Oscar nomination predictions ahead of Fridays announcement. Listen now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mona Fastvold talks to Christina about the award-winning epic 'The Brutalist' which she co-wrote with partner and director Brady Corbet! On her writing process & collaboration with Corbet, the filmmakers personal connections to the story and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina is honored to be joined by actor Alessandro Nivola for a wide-ranging conversation about his incredible performances, his role in the critically acclaimed epic 'The Brutalist', how he drew from his own family’s experience shaping the character and much more. Mr. Nivola is a triple threat this season, delivering three incredible performances. He stars in Pedro Almodóvar’s English-language feature debut 'The Room Next Door'. As 'Rhino', the villan in J.C. Chandor’s Spider-Man spinoff mo...

Christina speaks to pop superstar Robbie Williams about his new movie 'Better Man', based om the true story of Robbie's stratospheric rise to fame, his dramatic falls and remarkable comeback as a record-breaking solo artist! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sophia Ciminello & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) join Christina to talk about their immediate reactions to the Golden Globes 2025. The winners, losers, best speeches, surprises, fashion and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina talks to director RaMell Ross & cinematographer Jomo Fray about their brilliant new move 'Nickel Boys'. A conversation about their powerful visual and emotional approach to the Colson Whitehead novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, director, actor Jesse Eisenberg joins Christina to talk about his brilliant film 'A Real Pain', a funny & moving story about two cousins who embark on a trip to Polen to honor their dead grandmother. This episode also includes Christina's live interview with Eisenberg from the Stockholm Film Festival, where he received the Stockholm Achievement Award. Christina talked to Jesse Eisenberg about the very personal nature of 'A Real Pain', dealing with grief, generational trauma, his role ...

Christina is joined by prosthetics and makeup effects designer Pierre Olivier Persin to talk about his work on Coralie Fargeat’s body horror hit The Substance, a dark satire about beauty standards, aging, and the entertainment industry. His sensational work is already receiving awards buzz. The Substance stars Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley. Photos courtesy Pierre Olivier Persin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Skarsgård joins Christina for a conversation about his role as Count Orlok in 'Nosferatu', one of 2024's most anticipated movies! Bill talks about first being introduced to the classic 'Nosferatu' (1922) by his father actor Stellan Skarsgård, his immense preparation for 'Nosferatu', working with director Robert Eggers, creating the voice, why he's attracted to playing villains and much more. Photo: Shane Anthony Sinclair for Universal Pictures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch.com, joins Christina to discuss the Golden Globe nominations, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association & NY Film Critic Circle winners, the AFI list and more. What these jam packed awards season weeks tell us about the Oscars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina is joined by actor and advocate Sean 'Dino' Johnson. Mr. Johnson stars in 'Sing Sing' (also starring Colman Domingo and Paul Raci) which follows a theater production at the maximum security prison Sing Sing. A moving film about the power of art. The film is based on Mr. Johnson's actual RTA participation (Rehabilitation Through The Arts Program). He discovered the theater program while incarcerated at Sing Sing serving a 15 year prison sentence. Mr. Johnson talks to Christina about ...

Christina is thrilled to have writer/director Sean Baker ('Tangerine', 'The Florida Project') on Pop Culture Confidential! His wonderful new movie 'Anora' won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is receiving major awards buzz. In this wide ranging conversation Christina talks to Baker about 'Anora', Mikey Madison's career making performance, exploring the lives of sex workers in several of his films, how his own addiction and recovery factors into his stories, his writing process and ...

We are thrilled to have Ryan McQuade (executive editor, AwardsWatch.com) back for a jam packed episode! After an emotional week we thought it would be fitting to discuss what has made us emotional at the movies. We pick our most emotional scenes in 2024, so far. Plus our reactions to this week's big premiere Gladiator II. And from Ridley to Francis to Clint, we talk about octogenarian (and nonagenarian!) directors who are everywhere right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Karla Sofía Gascón, groundbreaking star of ‘Emilia Pérez’! Catch my subtitled interview on YouTube or listen on Pop Culture Confidential. The trans actress is making history this awards season! She talks to me about the incredible reactions from audiences to ‘Emilia Pérez’, her own difficult and inspiring journey, how she’d love to star in an action film next and much more. (This interview first aired in May 2024) WATCH subtitled on YouTube. Exclusive interview with 'Emilia Pérez star Karl...

With less than 2 weeks until the US election Christina is joined by journalist Chris Smith, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and best-selling author ofThe Daily Show (the Book), to discuss Harris and Trump's media strategies. They talk about the candidates many podcast interviews, media appearances and their messaging. If celebrity endorsements move the needle, Elon Musk, SNL, the political power of popular culture this election and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...