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Artwork for The Sam Sanders Show

The Sam Sanders Show

KCRW & Sam Sanders
Hollywood
Pop Culture
Oscars
KCRW
Mental Health
Spotify
Streaming Music
Grief
Tiktok
Comedy
Heated Rivalry
Youtube
Hip Hop
Movie Stars
Black Music
Bad Bunny
AI Music
Social Media
Beyoncé
Country Music

The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW is your guide to entertainment. Find out what makes your favorite artists tick, dissect the trends that shape our culture, or just make sense of that random meme you can’t stop thinking about. Join us every week to unpack the pop culture we love.

Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.

Sam Sanders is an award-winn... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes128Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTV & Film

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Artwork for The Sam Sanders Show

Latest Episodes

Today we’re sharing an episode of 'Apple News In Conversation,' guest hosted by Sam!    A medieval-monster slayer. A tiny alien named Roscoe. A talking plate of spaghetti. These are just a few of the customizable companions available through AI-chatb... more

EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here Let’s have a life-affirming party with Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro! The longtime friends and journalists join Sam to explain the latest entry in the pop lexicon: Blu... more

Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode of 'Pop Syllabus'! No matter where you find yourself on the internet, celebrities’ lives are constantly in front of us, but who’s actually a star and who’s just famous? Sam sits down with host Christiana Mbakwe Medin... more

Margaret Cho is a trailblazer and ‘mother’ to your favorite comedians. She burst onto the scene in the 90s performing at night clubs and later starred in the ABC sitcom 'All-American Girl', the first network show to center an Asian American family. M... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Vibe Check
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Culture Study PodcastAnne Helen Petersen
Keep It!
Keep It!Keep It!

Recent Guests

Audie Cornish
Co-host of Engagement Party, veteran journalist
CNN
Episode: Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry
Ari Shapiro
Co-host of Engagement Party, veteran journalist
CNN
Episode: Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry
Margaret Cho
Legendary comedian and actor
Choligarchy tour
Episode: Margaret Cho Is Still Hopeful About Comedy
Jacob Collier
Musician, composer, and educator
Episode: Jacob Collier Can Make Anyone Sing
MJ Corey
Therapist and author of Deconstructing the Kardashians, A New Media Manifesto
Author
Episode: The Kardashians Are American Icons (Whether You Like It or Not)
Katey Rich
Friend of Sam, host of Prestige Junkie
Prestige Junkie
Episode: The Movies You Should Be Watching This Summer (From Prestige Junkie)
Jimmy O. Yang
Comedian and actor known for bilingual performance and Hong Kong roots
Self/Performer
Episode: Will You Be Jimmy O. Yang’s Friend?
Wyclef Jean
Member of the Fugees; musician and producer
Fugees/solo career
Episode: Did Whitney Houston Sing Out Of Tune? w/ Wyclef Jean
Trixie Mattel
Drag performer, musician, author, and entrepreneur
Self-directed career in entertainment and business (Trixie Mattel cosmetics, media projects)
Episode: Trixie Mattel Wants Us To Slow Down

Host

Sam Sanders
Host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Sam!

    I will follow Sam Sanders anywhere! Always so smart and fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Surewitch
    United Statesa month ago
  • Protein problem?

    As a nurse caring for diabetic patients we always tell them to eat protein to stabilize their blood sugar levels…so I was surprised the doctors didn’t mention that?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Cindy Delano
    United States2 months ago
  • I am always interested in what Sam has to say.

    I have been following Sam since he was a political reporter at npr and I really valued his reporting but had a feeling that he was chafing under the role of never saying anything controversial or expressing opinions. I always loved when he would do a guest appearance on Pod Save America and let loose a little. Eventually he left npr and political reporting and since then has had several podcast projects—none have quite showcased the full splendor of this very cosmopolitan gay black man who was r... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisaOtero
    United States2 months ago
  • Fun and entertaining

    Long time Sam Sanders fan. Love his hot takes and great guests

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LindsDeA
    United States3 months ago
  • I will follow Sam Sanders wherever he goes

    I have been a listener since It’s Been A Minute, through Into It to Vibe Check, and now back on public radio with his self-titled. I am grateful for his thoughtful questions and hilarious insights, and will forever tune in to this man.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Explorer-Sitter
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note occasional heavy breathing but still enjoy the core content and guests.
Fans often mention the show as a reliable source for nuanced pop culture and media analysis.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful, insightful interviewing and ability to make complex topics accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry
Q: What is Blue Dot Fever and why does it matter for touring and ticketing economics?
Blue Dot Fever describes unsold tickets in stadiums; the guests discuss how rising touring costs and stagnant artist margins push venues to larger spaces, while fans and middle-market buyers are squeezed, illustrating broader market dynamics rather than a simple decline in demand.
Margaret Cho Is Still Hopeful About Comedy
Q: How did your rehab experience influence your approach to comedy today?
It reinforced the value of honesty in material, helped reframe goals toward writing and mentoring others, and deepened compassion for fellow artists.
Margaret Cho Is Still Hopeful About Comedy
Q: What is the current state of comedy in your view?
Cho discusses the balance of powerful voices pushing for change and the chaos of the moment, with optimism that the pendulum will swing back toward rationality and inclusivity.
Jacob Collier Can Make Anyone Sing
Q: How do you approach audience participation and making rooms sing together?
Lead by demonstrating, not by barking orders; show what's possible, invite participation, and build trust so the room feels safe to explore and improvise together.
Jacob Collier Can Make Anyone Sing
Q: What would you change about how music is taught to children?
Education should be empathetic and individualized, allowing every student to explore, fail, and find their own path, while teachers model curiosity and create space for discovery rather than rigid rules.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Sam Sanders Show

What is The Sam Sanders Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This long-running show centers pop culture and entertainment through thoughtful, interview-driven conversations. Episodes frequently feature industry insiders, directors, actors, journalists, and academics, exploring trends, production details, and cultural impact—from Oscar politics and film craft to media, music, and identity. The host maintains a warm, curious interview style, often weaving political or social angles into cultural topics, which helps attract listeners who want both thoughtful analysis and engaging storytelling. A notable strength is the ability to pair high-profile guests with sharp, accessible dialogue, making industry insights feel relevant to a broad audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Sam Sanders Show?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Sam Sanders Show. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Sam Sanders Show and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Sam Sanders Show get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Sam Sanders Show, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Sam Sanders Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Sam Sanders Show, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Sam Sanders Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Sam Sanders Show has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Sam Sanders Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Sam Sanders Show:

1. Vibe Check
2. It's Been a Minute
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. Culture Study Podcast
5. Keep It!

How many episodes of The Sam Sanders Show are there?

The Sam Sanders Show launched 2 years ago and published 128 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Sam Sanders Show?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Sam Sanders Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Sam Sanders Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Sam Sanders Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Sam Sanders Show. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Sam Sanders Show?

Recent guests on The Sam Sanders Show include:

1. Audie Cornish
2. Ari Shapiro
3. Margaret Cho
4. Jacob Collier
5. MJ Corey
6. Katey Rich
7. Jimmy O. Yang
8. Wyclef Jean

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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