Episodes

Dec. 21, 2021

259: Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor at Variety, on the year in movies!

We are so happy to have Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor at Variety, back on the show! We take a look at some of the incredible achievements behind the scenes, this tumultuous year in cinema. 2021 has been an incredible …
Dec. 15, 2021

258: We are joined by Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch). We talk controversial Golden Globes, awards season news & a 'Succession' finale deep dive!

Editor in Chief of AwardsWatch Erik Anderson is back! We analyze the controversial Hollywood Foreign Press Association and their Golden Globe nominations. We talk about the state of the Oscar awards race. Give our thoughts o…
Dec. 3, 2021

257: We revisit our interview with Jeremy Strong 'Succession'!

This week we revisit our 2019 interview with the great Jeremy Strong! Jeremy Strong talked to us while on location filming season two. We talked about researching media-moguls for the role,  the relationship between Kenda…
Nov. 25, 2021

256: A special episode! Kirsten Dunst & Benedict Cumberbatch 'The Power Of The Dog'

Happy Holidays to all celebrating Thanksgiving this week! As a holiday treat here is is a special episode of Pop Culture Confidential: Kirsten Dunst & Benedict Cumberbatch speak to us about their incredible performances in J…
Nov. 23, 2021

255: Writer/Producer Georgia Pritchett 'Succession', 'Veep', 'The Shrink Next Door'. Author 'My Mess Is A Bit Of A Life'

Thrilled to be joined by the multi-award-winning television writer and producer Georgia Pritchett (In The Thick of It, Veep, Succession) She is currently a writer and co-executive producer on HBO's Succession, now in it's th…
Nov. 20, 2021

248: The era of Arian Moayed! On 'Succession' s3, Netflix 'Inventing Anna', 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' & much more.

One of our favorite guests returns! Actor, writer, director Arian Moayed joins us to talk about the incredible season opener of 'Succession' S3 (HBO Max), Stewy & lots of behind the scenes talk from the show. Plus Moayeds up…
Nov. 18, 2021

254: Kidman, Smith, Gaga & angry fans. AwardsWatch Erik Anderson is back with a report from AFI fest & all the movie and awards news

AwardsWatch Erik Anderson is back with a report for the AFI fest & more! We talk about Will Smith, on his way to Oscar glory as KING RICHARD & Lin Manuel Mirandas excellent directorial debut TICK TICK …BOOM! Nicole Kidman is…
Nov. 10, 2021

252: Executive producer/writer Danny Strong 'Dopesick'

A conversation with Danny Strong (‘Game Change’, ‘Recount’) the creator/writer/director of ‘Dopesick’. Mr Strong talks about making the series & taking on the origins and devastation of the opioid epidemic in the U.S. And…
Nov. 1, 2021

251: Actor Reed Birney "Mass"

Actor Reed Birney (House of Cards, The Blacklist) joins us to talk about his Gotham Award nominated performance in the powerful film ‘Mass’. We spoke about his role (which first time director Fran Kranz wrote specifically fo…
Oct. 28, 2021

250: Erik Anderson, AwardsWatch! All the latest industry news, controversies & Timothée Chalamet heats up the box office

Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief AwardsWatch .com, is back for our regular segment covering all the most important industry & awards news! Dune and Belfast. The Golden Globes, just when we thought we were out they are dragging…
Oct. 22, 2021

249: A conversation with director Yngvild Sve Flikke, 'Ninjababy'

An unwanted pregnancy, an animated fetus and Rakel, a great character at the center, Ninjababy is a hilarious film that packs some powerful punches. We talk to director Yngvild Sve Flikke about the interesting themes, how di…
Oct. 11, 2021

247: An hour with Brian Cox!

At the height of the pandemic lock-down, while waiting to finish season 3, the great Brian Cox sat down with Christina to talk about his incredible portrayal of Logan Roy on HBO’s Succession, who he jokingly calls his “evil …
Oct. 8, 2021

246: Squid Game! Professor Areum Jeong on the cultural, political & artistic impact of the Netflix megahit

This week we talk about the biggest television show in the world, Squid Game! Honored to have Professor Areum Jeong with us to talk about the cultural, political & artistic impact of the Netflix megahit Dr. Jeong, assistant …
Oct. 3, 2021

245: Rick Stanton, one of the lead divers in the Thai soccer team cave rescue. Author 'Aquanaut'.

We are honored to talk to Rick Stanton MBE, one of the lead divers & key players in the 2018 dramatic rescue of the 12 boys and their soccer coach from an underwater cave in Thailand. An incident that, for weeks, was followe…
Sept. 27, 2021

244: The race is on. AwardsWatch Erik Anderson joins us for movie news, hits & misses and a taste of Licorice Pizza!

The stars are out this festival & awards season and Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch.com is back with us! We talk Denzel, Will Smith, Kristen Stewart, Chastain. The state of the oscar race and festival hits & misses. Why musical…
Sept. 16, 2021

243: Emmys 2021 Predictions Special! With critic Thelma Adams

Ted Lasso! The Crown! Get your ballots ready for Emmys 2021! Critic and writer Thelma Adams joins Christina as they predict this exciting year ahead of the Emmys telecast on Sunday the 19th. Learn more about your ad choices.…
Sept. 5, 2021

242: Our Venice Film Festival dispatch part two! On location with critic John Bleasdale

Welcome to part two of our Venice Film Festival dispatch! Critic, writer & host of the ‘Writers on Film’ podcast John Bleasdale joins Christina, in Venice, to talk about the the 2021 festival and review & discuss the films t…
Aug. 26, 2021

241: Ciao Venezia! Critic John Bleasdale joins us to talk about what to expect from the Venice Film Festival 2021!

In part 1 of our Venice Film Festival special writer & critic John Bleasdale (The Guardian, Sight & Sound) talks to Christina about some of the movies, directors and performances they are most looking forward to at the festi…
Aug. 15, 2021

240: Jonas Poher Rasmussen director of the extraordinary, Sundance award winning documentary 'Flee'

Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen joins us to talk about his remarkable animated documentary 'Flee"‘. The Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner ‘FLEE ‘tells the story of Amin, who through a series of interviews with Rasmussen, te…
Aug. 5, 2021

239: The Britney Spears case, #freebritney and Britneys fight for freedom. With culture writer Constance Grady (vox.com)

Culture writer Constance Grady (vox.com) joins us to talk about Britney Spears court case which she has followed closely, the #freebritney movement, how it has started major discussions on reforming conservatorships, the cul…
July 29, 2021

238: Emmys & Venice & Gucci, oh my! Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch) is back with all the latest on movies, festivals & TV!

Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief of AwardsWatch , is BACK! We have a great conversation about the Venice Film Festival line-up, the Cannes winners, early Emmy predictions and those incredible House of Gucci posters. Listen now…
July 23, 2021

237: Summer revisit: 'Allen v. Farrow'. Interview with director Amy Ziering

This week we revisit our interview (from March) with “Allen v. Farrow” director Amy Ziering. Congratulations on getting 7 EMMY nominations including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Directing for …
July 18, 2021

236: Summer Revisit! Composer Nicholas Britell (The Underground Railroad, Succession, Moonlight)

CONGRATS to Nicholas Britell on his Emmy nomination! (score: The Underground Railroad) This week we revisit my interview from a few months ago with award-winning composer Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could…
July 8, 2021

235: Summer Revisit: legend Danny Trejo!

This week we listen back to our interview from last year with legend DANNY TREJO! And don’t miss Mr Trejos new memoir ‘Trejo’ released this week. Mr Trejo talks to us about his story, from a life of crime to hard prison t…