Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders

Latest Episodes:

'Dahmer' and the Ethics of True Crime (Plus: What's Jay Jurden Into?) Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

Is there a way to make true crime ethically? At the very least, can we stop making serial killers hot? Sam chats with Vulture TV critic Jen Chaney about the criticism behind the hit Netflix show DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and the rise of true crime as the latest IP. We also ask comedian Jay Jurden if he is into the new get-out-the-vote effort from Saucy Santana and Trina. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: David Herskowitz is the Harry Styles of the Miami Boys Choir.

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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Queer Guys for Straight Eyes (Plus: What is Guy Branum Into?) Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Bros has billed itself as the first gay romantic comedy made by a big Hollywood studio for theatrical release. But that billing brings a lot of pressure to represent the "queer community," speak to a straight audience, and make money. Sam chats with comedian Guy Branum, co-producer and co-star of Bros, about the compromises you can accept — and reject — in making a mainstream rom-com.

We also ask if Guy is into Rihanna performing at the next Super Bowl Halftime Show. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Where's the comma in Don't Worry Darling?

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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With Great Power Comes Kim Kardashian (Plus: What is 'Who? Weekly' Into?) Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Kim Kardashian is getting into venture capital, her shapewear company is worth billions, and her family's rebooted show The Kardashians is back for its second season on Hulu. And yet, Sam can't shake the feeling that Kim's power and relevance is fading. MJ Corey, creator of @kardashian_kolloquium, says Kim is in transition — not decline — and that her influence on the media landscape may soon become stronger than ever.

We also ask friends of the show Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber of Who? Weekly if they are into Adam Levine wanting to name his baby after an Instagram model who is not his wife. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Robyn's 2010 cover of Björk's "Hyperballad" is the perfect distillation of two very different artists.

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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Issa Rae Controls the Narrative (BONUS) Sep 20, 2022

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Issa Rae is not just acting — she’s writing, producing, and running a whole media production company. In this live chat from the 2022 Code Conference, Issa talks with Sam Sanders and Kara Swisher about how she’s always known her audience — from her start as an internet creator to inking exclusive multimillion-dollar deals.

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Black Hobbits and the Whiteness of Fantasy (Plus: What Are Abbi Jacobson and Chanté Adams Into?) Sep 15, 2022

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Why does the outrage over people of color cast in fantasies feel so predictable? Sam chats with associate professor Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, author of The Dark Fantastic: Race and Imagination from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games, about how fantasy writing in the Western world has become so entrenched in whiteness that the mere presence of a Black hobbit seems “shocking.”

We also ask Abbi Jacobson and Chante Adams of A League of Their Own if they are into Cher calling Queen Elizabeth II a cow. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Dave Grohl watching Taylor Hawkins' son drumming to "My Hero" at a tribute concert is a scene straight out of a Pixar movie.

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Send us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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Finding Your 'Inner White Girl' in 'A Strange Loop' (Plus: We Discuss 'Don't Worry Darling' Drama) Sep 08, 2022

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A Strange Loopwon this year's Tony Award for Best Musical, starring an all Black cast. But the show itself was partly inspired by three white women: Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, and Liz Phair. Sam visits A Strange Loop on Broadway and sits down with its writer Michael R. Jackson to talk through Jackson's musical Holy Trinity (Joni as the Mother, Liz as the Daughter, and Tori as the Holy Ghost) and how they helped him embrace his own "Inner White Girl."

We also ask Vulture's Rebecca Alter and our own Gaby Grossman if they are into the drama surrounding the Don't Worry Darling press tour. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: If Euphoria won a Creative Arts Emmy for "Holding Out for a Hero" choreo, does that mean Lexi Howard is a Creative Arts Emmy winner, too?

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Send us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, or Kate Bush: Who Had the Song of the Summer? Sep 01, 2022

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Who had the song of the summer? Sam chats with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding and Reanna Cruz about whose song (and album) is in the running: Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Lizzo, or Kate Bush? We also ask Vibe Check co-hosts and friends of the show Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford if they're into J.Lo cutting dancers based on their astrological sign. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: DJ Khaled is a "God Did" wind-up toy.

Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Send us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com.

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Who Has to Hustle in Hollywood? (Plus: We Try Celebrity Liquors) Aug 25, 2022

Show notes

Some celebrities are born into financial safety. Others have to post sponcon. Sam chats with writer Kelsey McKinney about Sydney Sweeney's Instagram and what it means to have (or not have) family money in Hollywood. We also hold a celebrity liquor taste test with the staff of Vulture, which involves moderate to heavy drinking during a workday. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Singing "Somewhere That's Green" from Little Shop of Horrors at karaoke hits a little different when you're an adult living in New York.

We'd love to hear from you. Email us at intoit@vulture.com with any questions, comments, or ideas.

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The Complicated Politics of 'Yellowstone' Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

Sam and New York Times columnist Tressie McMillan Cottom break down the hugely popular show Yellowstone and the ways it reflects our own identity politics. Which is all to say: It's complicated. We also play a game with Dinner Party newsletter writer Tirhakah Love and film critic Angelica Jade Bastien, and hear about the culture that's haunting us: Tessa Thompson is making a meal out of Westworld's hors d'oeuvre writing.

We'd love to hear from you. Email us at intoit@vulture.com with any questions, comments, or ideas.

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Hollywood Endings with Damon Lindelof Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

Can Hollywood ever just end a story? Sam chats with showrunner Damon Lindelof about his experiences on ABC's Lost and HBO's Watchmen and the pressures to keep a good thing going. We also play a game with Today, Explained hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King and hear about the culture that's haunting us: Was Paula Abdul really in a plane crash in the 1990s?

We'd love to hear from you. Email us at intoit@vulture.com with any questions, comments, or ideas.

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