Episodes

TV editor Tyler Doster (AwardsWatch.com) joins Christina with insight and perspective on the breaking news out of the TV talk show universe this week: 16 current and former staff members of the Tonight Show spoke to Rolling Stone magazine about host Jimmy Fallons alleged erratic and toxic behaviour. Drew Barrymore is under fire for reviving her daytime talk show amid the WGA, SAG strikes. And what is the state of late night in general? Are people still watching in 2023? Listen now X/Twitter:...

Christina joins forces with The AwardsWatch Podcast (Executive Editor Ryan McQuade, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and AwardsWatch contributor Sophia Ciminello) to give their reactions to the films they saw at the 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival. Two weeks ago on the podcast, Ryan, Erik, Sophia and Christina came together to preview the 2023 Telluride Film Festival. Flash forward to now where the gang arrived at the festival and spent five glorious days watching some of the biggest...

Award-winning casting director and a real master of his craft John Papsidera joins Christina on Pop Culture Confidential! Papsidera is one of Hollywood foremost casting directors. He has collaborated with director Christopher Nolan for many years and has cast most of his films including “Memento,” “The Dark Knight"-trilogy, “Interstellar", “Inception" and his latest "Oppenheimer" His long list of credits also includes “Jurassic World,” &“Suicide Squad" and TV series such as “Westworld”, "The O...

Thanks for the invite! Christina had a great time on The AwardsWatch Podcast previewing the upcoming 50th edition of the Telluride Film Festival. We are sharing the episode here! You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. AwardsWatch Podcast #198: What Will Be and What We Want to See at the 50th Telluride Film Festival. From AwardsWatch.com : On episode 198 of The AwardsWatch ...

Labor strikes, box office hits & misses, Barbenheimer, superhero fatigue, the surprise and controversial hit Sound of Freedom, Hollywood's box office battle in China...it's a lot... Ryan Faughnder, LA Times entertainment industry reporter & author of The Wide Shot newsletter, joins us to unpack a summer Hollywood won't forget! Subscribe to The Wide Shot newsletter here: https://www.latimes.com/newsletters/sign-up-for-wide-shot Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive deep into the career of actor/producer Margot Robbie! This just as her film 'Barbie' (which she produced and stars in ) is about to top one billion dollars globally at the box office. Sophia Ciminello (co-host of the Oscar Wild podcast and writer at AwardsWatch.com) joins Christina to talk about Robbie's fearless acting in films like The Wolf of Wall Street, I, Tonya & Birds of Prey. And as producer with films and TV like Promising Young Woman, The Maid, and of course Barbie. Follo...

On July 14th, more than 160,000 actors joined the screenwriters, on strike since May, for the first dual strike since the 1960s. We are joined by Kevin E. West, member of the SAG-AFTRA negotiating & organizing committees, author, and founder of The Actor’s Network. Mr West is a veteran TV actor with roles on shows including CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, Lost, The Righteous Gemstones and more Mr West takes us behind the scenes of the negotiations and talks about what is at stake in what the actor...

The biggest movie weekend of the summer is here and Ryan McQuade, executive editor AwardsWatch.com, joins us for a huge Barbie & Oppenheimer discussion. Spoilers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award winning composer/producer Ludwig Göransson joins Christina to break down his journey scoring 'Oppenheimer', his process, influences and close collaboration with director Christopher Nolan. Photo credits: Courtesy of Ludwig Göransson Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Editor-in-Chief Erik Anderson & TV editor Tyler Doster of AwardsWatch join Christina to talk about their reactions to the 2023 Emmy nominations. Plus, as the writers' strike continues Hollywood is bracing for the actors to join them. We discuss the ramifications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer encore! Christina's interview with director Sam Feder who joined us to talk about his critically acclaimed documentary 'DISCLOSURE: Trans Lives on Screen', watch it on Netflix! The doc looks at transgender representations in film, television and media through interviews with trans actors, artists and activists including Laverne Cox, Lilly Wachowski, Yance Ford, Jen Richards and Chaz Bono. A history filled with with stereotypes, tropes, heartbreak, bravery, and progress. Sam Feder talks to...

Reporter, critic & author Maureen Ryan has been covering the TV & film industry in Hollywood for over three decades. Ms. Ryan joins Christina to talk about her NY Times bestselling book 'Burn it Down: Power, Complicity and a Call for Change in Hollywood', an investigation into patterns of misconduct, abuse and racism in Hollywood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eighteen year old Grace Edwards stars in Wes Anderson's new film 'Asteroid City' & joins Christina to talk about working with director Wes Anderson, on what she learned from co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblum and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of the much awaited premiere of season two of 'The Bear' this summer we revisit Christina's conversation with actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach! A conversation about his incredible performance, "cousin" Richie, how a frustrating character can fill you with compassion and a whole lot more from Mr Moss-Bachrach, who's career includes memorable roles in Girls, The Dropout and the Star Wars series, Andor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins to Christina to talk about a big month at the movies, June 2023. The big titles, box office, what's going on with the Golden Globes and more. From 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' to Pixars latest. 'Elemental'. The tender 'Past Lives', Wes Anderson's 'Asteroid City'. The controversial Flash film & much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revisit! 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 adaptation of the beloved game 'The Last of Us' which fans & critics are already calling -the best tv/film adaptation of a game ever! Join us for this fascinating conversation about the process behind creating 'The Last of Us'. 'The Last of Us' is airing now in HBO...

Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade of Awardswatch.com join Christina to discuss Succession and the masterful series finale! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Succession, one of the best shows in TV history, is coming to an end & with that we present Pop Culture Confidential's complete collection of Succession interviews! Christina's conversations with some of the incredible talent from all 4 season. More than 6 hours of exclusive interviews. Enjoy! 1.Brian Cox 00.01.55 2.Jeremy Strong 01.01.30 3.Arian Moayed Interview 1. 01.46.10 4.Composer Nicholas Britell 02.34.06 5.Producer/Writer Georgia Pritchett 03.00.06 6.Arian Moayed Intervi...

A psychological architect of film, editor Timothy Good! On this special episode, recorded live at the Nordic Media Days Festival in Bergen Norway, we dive into editor Timothy Good's unique work with Craig Mazin's acclaimed series 'The Last of Us'. His process, the emotional depth of the editing and beautiful episode 3 'Long, Long Time' starring Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett as Bill & Frank. Twitter; Timothy Good, ACE @timothygood Nordiske Mediedager @mediedager Learn more about your ad c...

When educator and activist Leila Steinberg was 25 years old she met a 17-year-old named Tupac Shakur. Music, poetry and social justice united them. She became involved in his career as his manager until 1993. Christina meets Leila Steinberg for a conversation about her journey, activism, Tupac and the incredible documentary series, 'Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur' directed by Allen Hughes (FX) in which she is featured & interviewed. Leila Steinberg instagram leila_steinberg https:/...

What actors will get you to the theater? A new major survey by the National Research Group asked consumers to name five actors that would make them most interested in seeing a movie in a theater & the results are fascinating: like that the average age of the top 20 is 58 years old! Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade (awardswatch.com) join Christina for an interesting, fun & occasionally heated :) conversation about the results of the study, todays movie stardom & their own top 5 actors get them int...

Hollywood writers to strike as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have failed to reach a an agreement. Film critic, writer and WGA member Tom O'Brien (Next Best Picture) joins us with the latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gerwig, Scorsese, Nolan! The Flash, Napoleon & Oppenheimer. We have a massive summer & fall ahead of us at the movies. Critic Thelma Adams (Variety, The Wrap) joins us to discuss some of the biggest and buzziest releases coming up in 2023! Twitter @thelmadams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by the talented Kylie Rogers, starring in Ari Aster's much anticipated 'Beau is Afraid' & as young Beth on the mega TV hit 'Yellowstone'. We talk about starting her acting career at age 8, how Dennis Hopper is an inspiration for her character in 'Beau is Afraid', working with Aster & Joaquin Phoenix, her most challenging scene on 'Yellowstone and much more. 'Beau is Afraid' premieres in US theaters on April 21st, 2023 📸 Kristine Canterbury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...