Pop Culture Confidential

Latest Episodes:

431: Harris & Trump's Media Strategies In The Final Weeks & The Political Power Of Pop Culture (with journalist Chris Smith, Vanity Fair) Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

With less than 2 weeks until the US election Christina is joined by journalist Chris Smith, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and best-selling author ofThe Daily Show (the Book), todiscuss Harris and Trump's media strategies. They talk about the candidates many podcast interviews, media appearances and their messaging. If celebrity endorsements move the needle, Elon Musk, SNL, the political power of popular culture this election and much more.

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430: Guest Robert Steen On The Beautiful Story Of His Son Mats (A Norwegian Gamer), What They Learned After Mats Passed Away, The Moving Netflix Doc 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' (Encore) Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

This is an encore episode (previously aired in Feb 2024)

When Robert and Trude Steen's son Mats passed away at age 25 from a degenerative muscular disease they grieved over what they thought had been an isolated and lonely life but what they found out would change everything. Mats, a gamer known as 'Ibelin' in World of Warcraft, had despite his physical disabilities formed strong friendships, fallen in love and was a beloved and vibrant member of his digital community.

Christina was honored to talk to Mat's father Robert Steen about Mats, his story and how it can give us deeper perspectives on gaming, on life and everything in between.

The documentary 'The Remarkable Life Of Ibelin' (dir Benjamin Ree) premieres on Netflix Oct 25th, 2024

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429: 2025 Oscar Predictions! (with Ryan McQuade) Oct 08, 2024

Show notes

It's time for Pop Culture Confidential's first Oscar predictions episode of the season!

Ryan McQuade, (Executive Editor @ AwardsWatch) joins Christina for a huge Academy Awards predictions show. With the Venice, Telluride & Toronto film festivals behind us what is the state of the race? What films are dominating the awards conversation? Ryan & Christina dive into an exciting awards season!

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428. BONUS! A Conversation with Ken Leung, 'Industry'. (This Bonus Episode Includes Talk About The Season Finale!) Sep 30, 2024

Show notes

Christina had the honor of interviewing the brilliant Ken Leung! This bonus episode includes their previously unaired talk about the season finale of 'Industry' now that the episode has aired.

Christina is joined by actor Ken Leung for this wide ranging conversation! Ken Leung is electrifying in his role as Eric on Industry (HBO Max) which takes place in the cutthroat world of finance and is now on it's critically acclaimed third season.

Ken Leung's career includes roles on TV shows like Lost and The Sopranos and in the films Rush Hour, Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the upcoming Joker 2.

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427: Coppola's 'Megalopolis'. SNL's Election Cast & Brady Corbet's 'The Brutalist'. A Conversation With Ryan McQuade. Sep 29, 2024

Show notes

Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) joins Christina to talk about the big film & movie news of the week! They talk about Saturday Night Live season 50's election cast (which includes Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris and Dana Carvey as Joe Biden), Coppola's 'Megalopolis' and 'The Brutalist' written & directed by Brady Corbet.

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426: We Discuss & Review 'The Substance' From Writer/Director Coralie Fargeat & Starring Demi Moore (with Ryan McQuade) Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Ryan McQuade (Executive Editor AwardsWatch) joins Christina to review and discuss the new body horror film 'The Substance' from writer/director Coralie Fargeat. The film stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley & Dennis Quaid. Spoilers!

Plus 'Musical-fishing'! Why are studios hiding the fact that their movies are musicals in their marketing campaigns and trailers?

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425: Alan Zweibel, An Original Saturday Night Live Writer & Five Time Emmy Award Winner! On The Early Years at SNL & The New Movie 'Saturday Night' Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

It's a huge fall season for SNL! Saturday Night Live will be back for its 50th season on September 23rd and Jason Reitman's movie 'Saturday Night', (about the first ever SNL episode in 1975) premieres in October. Christina is honored to have Alan Zweibel on the show. Alan is an original SNL writer and a 5 time Emmy awards winner. (Josh Brener plays Zweibel in 'Saturday Night) Alan talks about seeing a movie about his first episode of SNL and takes us behind the scenes of the American institution that is Saturday Night Live.

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424: AwardsWatch Podcast Telluride Film Festival Roundup (with Special Guest Christina Birro) Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Christina joins The AwardsWatch Podcast to discuss their reactions to the films at the 51st Telluride Film Festival!

On episode 250 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello, and special guest Christina Birro of Pop Culture Confidential come together

The 2024 film festival season has begun and many of the biggest titles of the fall film slate, Oscar season are being released over the last week with both the Venice Film Festival and Telluride Film Festival. Based on our past episode, the Telluride Film Festival announced their line-up with the world premieres of Conclave, Nickel Boys, Saturday Night, The Piano Lesson, The End alongside with several other films, as well as movie that have premiered at other festivals like Anora, The Outrun, Maria, A Real Pain, September 5, Emilia Perez, and more. It made for a great lineup over the Labor Day weekend, and the group break down their time at the festival, talk about all the movies they saw above and more.

You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more.

This podcast runs 2h01m. We will be back next week to discuss Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and talk about our favorite “legacy sequels.” Till then, let’s get into it.

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423: Telluride Film Festival Mini Dispatch 2. 'Nickel Boys' Sep 01, 2024

Show notes

In a new Telluride Film Festival 2024 mini dispatch Christina talks to Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch.com about 'Nickel Boys', RaMell Ross narrative directorial debut.

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422: Our first dispatch from the 51st Telluride Film Festival! The exciting movie line up and more. Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

Our first dispatch from the 51st Telluride Film Festival! Christina is in the mountains of Colorado covering the legendary film festival. Christina talks about the exciting 2024 movie line up that was just announced yesterday. And talks to AwardsWatch Ryan McQuade about why Netflix buying Pablo Larraín's 'Maria', starring Angelina Jolie, sent shock waves through the film community. Stay tuned for more!

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