Episodes
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 Recorded...
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 fest...
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 y...
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 Os...
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 his...
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 r...
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 revis...
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 Cultu...
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 Menu...
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 Cra...
Jan. 29, 2023
327: Our Sundance Film Festival 2023 recap! With Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch, Insession Film
Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch and InSession Film joins Christina to talk about what they saw at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Their favorite films, trends and filmmaker discoveries of the year! Learn more about your ad choic...
Jan. 24, 2023
326: 2023 Oscar nominations! Reactions, surprises, snubs and more with Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.com
Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade ( AwardsWatch.com ) join Christina to talk about their reactions to the 2023 Oscar nominations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 & Fr...
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 ad...
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 Principal...
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 ha...
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 compellin...
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 d...
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, from...