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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
Tiktok
Streaming Music
Grief
Comedy
Heated Rivalry
Queer Representation
Youtube
Hip Hop
Movie Stars
Black Music
Bad Bunny
AI Music
Social Media
Beyoncé

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 weeklyEpisodes151Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTV & Film

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Artwork for The Sam Sanders Show

Latest Episodes

We will always love Dolly Parton. Sam unpacks Dolly’s immense legacy with Ann Powers, critic and correspondent for NPR Music. Together they spend time reflecting on her many hit songs, her brilliant roles in Hollywood and her everlasting philanthropi... more

YouTube

Whether it was big sporting events, or big blockbusters, or even celebrity weddings, Summer 2026 had a ton of pop culture that we all consumed together. For the first time in years, we even talked about it all together. But was it actually a return o... more

Comedian Janelle James became a star after playing the selfish, scamming, yet hilarious principal Ava Coleman in 'Abbott Elementary.' She’s since been nominated for five Emmy awards for the role. But Janelle spent years grinding through the standup s... more

YouTube

Sam recently experienced one of the best stage musicals he’s seen in years.  Cats: The Jellicle Ball reimagines the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber story with a ballroom twist. The show is filled with voguing, runway and Black, queer joy. It also won mul... more

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Recent Guests

Janelle James
Actress and comedian known for Ava Coleman on Abbott Elementary
ABC/Hulu
Episode: Janelle James: What’s It Like To Embody A Diva?
Naveen Kumar
Theater critic at large
The New York Times
Episode: Can Mamdani Save Broadway?
Willa Paskin
Host of Decoder Ring, Slate culture podcast
Slate
Episode: Is Culture Stuck? (From Decoder Ring)
Hannah Einbinder
Actor and comedian known for Hacks; star of Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
Actor/Comedian
Episode: Hannah Einbinder on Comedy, Connection & Queer Art
Charlie Harding
Co-host of Switched on Pop
Switched on Pop
Episode: The Cyndi Lauper Conspiracy (From Switched on Pop)
Megan Levengood
Music theory professor
George Mason University
Episode: The Cyndi Lauper Conspiracy (From Switched on Pop)
Dave Smith
Synth designer
Sequential/Prophet 5
Episode: The Cyndi Lauper Conspiracy (From Switched on Pop)
William Whitman
Cyndi Lauper's band member and musical director
Cyndi Lauper Band
Episode: The Cyndi Lauper Conspiracy (From Switched on Pop)
Jessica M. Goldstein
Author of Retro, culture writer
Author of Retro; writer for The New York Times and other outlets
Episode: Are We All Nostalgic For Better Times?

Host

Sam Sanders
Host of The Sam Sanders Show, KCRW. Renowned interviewer with a background in NPR, Vulture, and public radio; known for thoughtful, cosmopolitan conversations across pop culture, politics, and media.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • Melodica influence, Cyndi Lauper and the Hooters

    Enjoyed this episode. What you call an “accordion” sound on that acoustic demo of “All Through The Night” may be an instrument called the Melodica made by Hohner, which local Philly hometown heroes The Hooters used extensively in their own band and recordings. Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman, both members of the Hooters, played on all songs on that album. I wish she recorded more albums with them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luckylily70
    United Statesa month ago
  • Meh.

    I expect more from the great Sam Sanders than an interview with an author who clearly at some level idolises and normalises the corrupt and boring Kardashians, even emulating their laughable vocal fries and lethargic tones (perhaps unconsciously) while also working to pass herself off as a morally neutral academic; it’s difficult to engage with such a boring and disingenuous approach. Her arguments are half-cooked, muddy, and frankly lazy. This “academic” also praises Alfred Adler’s outdated, de... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Shalma M.
    United Statesa month ago
  • 90s Nostalgia

    I had to watch this one on YouTube. So funny. Sadly, agreed with the panel and the audience on the winner.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Noahm22
    United States2 months ago
  • Marvelous podcast!

    Sam Sanders’ excellent, insightful and genuine interviews make for great episodes! Recommended. Kudos to Sam and all involved in making this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SweetGoofyMo
    United States2 months ago
  • Rich people get a free pass!

    I love the conversations. I just feel like when people who don’t fit the dominant power dynamic are on, they are held to a different standard. Then when you have rich folks like yourself on, especially when discussing concert prices, you let these people who make better than $200k chat and act like they’re middle class. Cake eaters make everything terrible and unrelateable.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Hieronymous? Bosh!
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host is praised for smart, funny interviews and strong guests.
Listeners note engaging, insightful cultural commentary with warmth and humor.
Fans report extensive loyalty and cross-show recognition.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Janelle James: What’s It Like To Embody A Diva?
Q: What has playing a character who is so big and outsized taught you about yourself?
She finds it fun and revels in the freedom to be bold on stage, while recognizing the craft of making space for others in an ensemble.
Janelle James: What’s It Like To Embody A Diva?
Q: Would you and Ava get along in real life?
She suggests they might not, and imagines a candid “Come to Jesus” conversation to understand each other's deal.
Janelle James: What’s It Like To Embody A Diva?
Q: Tell me one of the jokes, do you remember?
She recalls a joke about her father's illness and his death, which drew laughs and helped her realize this is what she could do as a performer, even though the subject was heavy.
Is Culture Stuck? (From Decoder Ring)
Q: What could reinvigorate culture according to the guest?
A combination of recognizing fringe innovators, supporting cultural invention as a social good, and intentional interventions rather than relying solely on market-driven virality.
Is Culture Stuck? (From Decoder Ring)
Q: What does it mean to say culture is stuck?
It means looking at how trends cycle, how old catalogs dominate, and how the internet accelerates repetition and makes genuine novelty harder to find, prompting a debate about cultural stagnation vs. rapid surfaces of change.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sam Sanders Show

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

The show centers on pop culture, entertainment, and media trends, with a host who guides conversations through interviews, cultural commentary, and thoughtful questions. Recurring subject matter includes music, film, fashion, celebrity culture, and the evolving media landscape, often tying insights to broader political and social contexts. A standout has been the host's ability to mix sharp analysis with warmth and humor, plus a track record of deep-dive interviews with high-profile guests and creators across entertainment and journalism. Listeners likely value intelligent, cosmopolitan dialogue that stays relevant to current culture and media dynamics, with occasional forays into personal storytelling and design of new projects in the arts... more

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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. Code Switch
5. Culture Study Podcast

How many episodes of The Sam Sanders Show are there?

The Sam Sanders Show launched 2 years ago and published 151 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?

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What guests have appeared on The Sam Sanders Show?

Recent guests on The Sam Sanders Show include:

1. Janelle James
2. Naveen Kumar
3. Willa Paskin
4. Hannah Einbinder
5. Charlie Harding
6. Megan Levengood
7. Dave Smith
8. William Whitman

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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