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The Sam Sanders Show

KCRW & Sam Sanders
Climate Change
Mental Health
Christmas
Grief
Comedy
Movies
Monét X Change
Political Comedy
Therapy
Party Of One
Music
Social Media
Beyoncé
Politics
The Daily Show
2024 Election
Humor In Politics
Tiktok
Asian Representation
NPR

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 weeklyEpisodes110Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Sam Sanders Show

Latest Episodes

Note: This episode contains spoilers!  A24’s ‘The Drama’ has pissed off many moviegoers.  The film, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, follows a newly engaged couple played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. The trailer gives rom-com vibes, until a shockin... more

We’re breaking down one of the most important film genres ever on the show today…The classic Romantic Comedy! Because rom-coms always make us feel better, even the ones that haven’t aged well.  Sam is joined by two lovebugs to create a (not quite) de... more

YouTube

Swedish pop star Robyn has just released a new album, after almost eight years since her last one. ‘Sexistential’ mixes themes of motherhood and maturity with classic club beats. Sam breaks it all down with Jia Tolentino, staff writer at ‘The New Yor... more

A great piece of pop culture often includes cheating scandals, obsessed fans and some serious competition. We’re not talking about 'The Real Housewives'… But the NYT Games app! Everdeen Mason leads the Games Team at 'The New York Times.' She tells Sa... more

YouTube

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
Vibe CheckZach Stafford, Saeed Jones
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Culture Study PodcastAnne Helen Petersen
Keep It!
Keep It!Keep It!

Recent Guests

Ryan Mitchell
Entertainment journalist, co-host of the HiKey Podcast
HiKey (iHeart/Rising Media)
Episode: What Are The Best Rom-Coms Ever?
Liz Plank
Author of For The Love Of Men; host of Boy Problems Podcast
Boy Problems / author
Episode: What Are The Best Rom-Coms Ever?
Jia Tolentino
Writer for The New Yorker who profiled Robyn
The New Yorker
Episode: Can Robyn Teach Us To Love Again (and again and again)? w/ Jia Tolentino
Everdeen Mason
Editorial Director of Games at The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: How Did Wordle Become a Pop Culture Icon?
Kathryn VanArendonk
TV critic for Vulture who has covered the scandal
Vulture
Episode: Can Reality TV Survive This?
Chris Fleming
Comedian known for physical, dance-infused stand-up and HBO special
Self/Chris Fleming
Episode: Chris Fleming: Is Comedy His Love Language?
Mark Sonnenblick
Musician and Oscar-winning songwriter, co-writer of the song Golden
KPop Demon Hunters (film project)
Episode: How Did K-Pop Make Hollywood History?
Amy Wang
Writer and director of Slanted, a horror/satire about race and identity
Slanted (Film)
Episode: What If You Could Change Your Race? w/ Amy Wang
Jacqueline Coley
Awards Editor for Rotten Tomatoes and host of Seen on the Screen
Rotten Tomatoes
Episode: Can The Oscars Be Fixed?

Host

Sam Sanders
Host of The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • So happy

    I used to listen to Sam on It’s Been a Minute. Took a break from media during the pandemic to avoid news, when I came back, I couldn’t find him! But I missed his voice, so I was ecstatic when I found out he had a show for his namesake! This is a highlight of 2026!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tg474578687558
    United Statesa month ago
  • Some feedback

    My only gripe with this podcast are the constant big breaths. I love the content of what Sam has to say but the loud breathing is so unbearable that I don’t listen as much as I would want to

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PodObsessed777
    United States2 months ago
  • Sam is the best podcaster

    I’ve followed Sam from podcast to podcast, and will happily continue doing so. I love Sam’s insights on pop culture, and he can truly elevate any podcast he’s apart of. Sam absolutely deserves his flowers! (One note to Sam with love: pleeease stop telling your audience to leave their phones at home, the US is not safe enough for this -and esp for women etc)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Christine2333333
    United States3 months ago
  • One voice

    Sam reaaaaly likes to synthesize what his guests are saying in a way that dilutes the content and leaves you with just a lot of Sam talking.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mooglitz
    United States3 months ago
  • Thank Goodness!

    Oh how I have missed Sam’s voice in my earholes. As a devoted IBAM and Into It listener, I was so stoked to find out Sam was back making podcasts. I already know my 2026 will be more joyful, more informed, and more queer with TSSS in it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Collins3779
    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.

Can Reality TV Survive This?
Q: If you were in charge of the Housewives plank, what would you do first to fix it?
Conduct comprehensive vetting, purge problematic contestants via a clear code of conduct, and reduce reliance on alcohol-fueled drama while implementing stricter safety and ethics measures.
Can Reality TV Survive This?
Q: In a minute or less, can you tell people who Taylor Frankie Paul is?
She rose to prominence via a Mormon Wives reality show, built a messy public persona marked by a high-profile sexual misconduct history, and was cast as The Bachelorette's lead, which intensified scrutiny when new misconduct allegations and viral footage surfaced.
How Did Wordle Become a Pop Culture Icon?
Q: Why is there emphasis on editorial independence and audience inclusion in puzzle design?
Because puzzles reflect culture and values, the team aims to be thoughtful and inclusive, ensuring content is accessible to a broad audience and not alienating while still challenging.
How Did Wordle Become a Pop Culture Icon?
Q: What was the most popular game and how did Wordle compare?
Wordle is the most popular game by a large margin, significantly more so than other NYT games, due in part to its universal shareable experience.
How Did Wordle Become a Pop Culture Icon?
Q: How big is the New York Times game section and its reach?
The NYT game section reaches millions of solvers daily and weekly, with Wordle being the most popular, and some games being free while others are paid, which affects overall reach.

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 110 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.

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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. Ryan Mitchell
2. Liz Plank
3. Jia Tolentino
4. Everdeen Mason
5. Kathryn VanArendonk
6. Chris Fleming
7. Mark Sonnenblick
8. Amy Wang

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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