K-Pop, AI Slop & Ms. Rachel? 2025 Pop Culture Review

Tis’ the season! It’s that time of year when we’re bombarded by gift guides. Something for your partner, your friends, White Elephant gifts, and the always daunting task of getting something for your parents. It seems like every year we’re expected to GIVE so much.  Sam breaks down the gift guide overload with Avery Trufelman, host of the Articles of Interest podcast, a show all about what we wear. Together, they offer some thoughts on how to survive the craze of consumerism this holiday season.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

This year saw some pretty spectacular pop culture moments… but there’s a few we hope to never see again.  We’re breaking down the best and worst of 2025, from blockbuster hits like KPop Demon Hunters and Sinners, to the rebirth of rock with bands like Geese.  Sam takes on this big task with help from Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, and Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List. One thing they all agreed on? Ms. Rachel just might be this year’s unsung hero. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

HBO’s new gay romance series Heated Rivalry has the internet… feeling things. It tells the steamy story of two feuding hockey players who secretly desire (and devour) each other. The series rounds out a long list of queer pop culture moments from 2025. Alex Abad Santos, correspondent at Vox, joins Sam to look back on it all.  From I Love LA to the re-release of Brokeback Mountain, they break down the Year in Queer entertainment, and ask what representation in media can still accomplish today. They also look at the shifting landscape of Hollywood studios. What could it all mean for future queer representation? Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter makes people look good on the big screen — especially Black people.  She’s the mind behind the costumes for countless iconic films including Malcolm X, Do The Right Thing, the Black Panther franchise, and arguably the biggest movie this year… Sinners.  Sam chats with Ruth about the literal blood and sweat that goes into her designs, the first garment she ever made, and working as one of the few Black costume designers in Hollywood.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.  

Solomon Ray is the hottest new voice in Gospel music, but there’s a catch. He’s not real.  Sam chats with Andrew R. Chow, a correspondent for Time where he covers technology. They break down the rise of AI in the music industry and how human artists are fighting back. Are streamers doing anything to filter out tracks made by machines? What can listeners do to avoid AI slop? Plus, why it’s getting harder to identify if a song is human made or not.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we’re sharing a special episode of Your Mama's Kitchen.  In the podcast, host Michele Norris and guests explore how our earliest culinary experiences shape our personal and professional lives. Plus, every guest shares a recipe for a favorite dish from their youth so you can taste a bit of their story. Sam was on the show recently where he took Michele and listeners back to his roots in Texas. Everyone in his house was a cook and there was a local "rabbit" man who sold all kinds of meat from his truck; including possum. Sam also opens up about a special moment he shared with his mom as she was recovering from a stroke, while cooking her special Smothered Chicken Recipe. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Now that Wicked: For Good is finally in theaters, has the industry been changed for the better?  NOTE: This episode contains hot takes and spoilers. Sam breaks it all down with Katey Rich, awards editor at The Ankler, and host of the Prestige Junkie podcast and newsletter. They dive into the memes, the money, and star power that created the biggest Broadway adaptation ever. Plus, what do all the mixed reviews mean for the film’s awards potential (looking at you, Ariana!) and what’s next for the Oz Cinematic Universe? Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Danielle Pinnock got her big break in the wildly popular sitcom Ghosts. But just before she landed that role, she nearly quit acting. She tells Sam how a ton of hard work (and a little bit of lying and scamming) finally got her noticed. Danielle also breaks down why she continues fighting for Black stories and body acceptance in Hollywood. Plus, her latest hot take gets us in the mood for the holiday season. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Sports betting is a billion dollar industry chock full of scandals.  Journalist Baker Machado breaks down how gambling has infiltrated sports from the collegiate to professional level, how players get involved, and how betting companies push fans into spending money they often can’t afford to lose. Spoiler alert: it’s all legal.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Samin Nosrat found a love for cooking through working in acclaimed restaurants and visiting kitchens around the world. She became a star after releasing her hit cookbook Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – which also became a Netflix series. But to her surprise, all that success left her feeling empty.  Sam chatted with Samin in her ‘secret garden,’ surrounded by kumquats, limes and passion fruit. She broke down how hard it was to recover in the spotlight, and how she learned to embrace life’s pleasures. Plus, she dishes on the healing powers of dinner parties and gives advice for pulling them off yourself. Samin Nosrat’s new book is called Good Things. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.