The Sam Sanders Show

KCRW & Sam Sanders•www.kcrw.com

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.

Sam Sanders is an award-winning podcast and radio host. He’s been named best podcast host by both The Ambies and the iHeart Podcast Awards. He was one of the founding hosts of The NPR Politics Podcast and the host who launched both It’s Been A Minute from NPR and Into It from Vulture.

Last refreshed: June 16th, 2026 at 9:25 AM

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Episodes

Inside 2024’s Tech Revolution with journalists Taylor Lorenz & Elise Hu

Technology has reshaped culture in surprising ways this year from Hollywood to social media. Tech journalist Elise Hu , host of TED Talks Daily , and Taylor Lorenz , author of Extremely Online , help us unpack the year’s most significant tech developments. We get into whether the AI hype is worth it, ponder the future of platforms that shape our lives, and discuss Elon Musk’s impact on online communication. Plus, why social media feels less fun than it used to. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to ge...

Nov 08, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig Break Through Hollywood

Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig are the creative force behind the new hit show English Teacher . The show features both him and Koenig as high school teachers in Texas dealing with guns, drag queens, and queer identity, all with a subversive, hilarious twist. We talk about their journey from creating indie comedy videos online to finally breaking through in Hollywood. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders show is a p...

Nov 01, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Roy Wood Jr Says Comedy is Journalism

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. believes comedy is a form of journalism. We talk about his new CNN show Have I Got News For You , his time at The Daily Show , and the challenge of finding laughter amidst absurdity. Plus, we play a game inspired by Roy’s new show. 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....

Oct 25, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Climate Change Needs Hollywood and Hope

What if Regina George cared about climate change? That’s the question from author and marine biologist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Her new book, What If We Get It Right? , offers a refreshing take on the climate crisis imagining a future shaped by Hollywood, pop culture, poetry, and joy. We talk about how creativity and optimism can help us reframe environmental challenges and inspire collective action. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. ...

Oct 18, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Monét X Change: Drag, Politics, and Opera

Monét X Change, co-host of Sibling Rivalry , RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, and opera singer dives into her journey from church kid to drag queen and how it still influences her work. We also talk DRAG PAC, her political action committee fighting for drag and trans rights, and her new foray into performing R&B. Plus, we rate pop culture hot topics in a game of I-CON or I-CAN’T. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders show is a pro...

Oct 11, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Sasheer Zamata on Disney Parks to Disney+

We launched two episodes today! Don’t miss our episode with Joel Kim Booster, also in your feed. Sasheer Zamata stops by to chat about her role in the hit Disney+ series "Agatha All Along," queerness in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and how her time working at Disney parks shaped her career. Plus, artificial intelligence, the band Oasis, and... WHIPPETS! 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 S...

Oct 04, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Joel Kim Booster: Sex, Wealth, and Comedy

Joel Kim Booster dishes on the wardrobe choices on "Loot," his on-screen chemistry with Maya Rudolph, and how the show tackles real-world issues like the unhoused crisis. We also talk about the portrayal of wealth on television and his discomfort with glamorizing billionaires. 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....

Oct 04, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 1

The Sam Sanders Show is out now

The Sam Sanders Show from KCRW asks big questions – and offers hot takes – about the entertainment we’re obsessed with. Like, should the Oscars even exist? Are stadium concerts boring now? Should we be allowed to talk at the movie theater? Join Sam and a bunch of comics, journalists and celebrities as they make sense of the zeitgeist… Or at least make fun of it. Listen to The Sam Sanders Show wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stu...

Sep 27, 2024•1 min

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