The Sam Sanders Show

Latest Episodes:

Nia DaCosta: Why is Real Life Scarier Than Horror Films? Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Director Nia DaCosta has done it all. Horror, period drama, and even a Marvel blockbuster. Through it all, Nia is always asking: What does it mean to be human? Her latest films Hedda and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple are no different.

She tells Sam about how horror themes mirror the real world, how she found her voice as one of the few Black women directors in the business, and why she’s not interested in teaching white people about race through her films.

And remember to take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

Why Are Movie Wigs Still So Bad?! Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

As awards season grinds on, we're revisiting a topic that really irks Sam – bad wigs on the big screen. Why do sooo many wigs look so wrong? Here to break down what’s going on is Hollywood hairstylist and wigmaker Dawn Dudley. Her work has been seen in A Star is Born, Rob Zombie’s The Munsters, HBO’s Westworld and tons more. She breaks down what’s really happening on Hollywood sets and says it’s often not the hairstylist’s fault.

And please take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

How Did Therapy Change Sherry Cola’s Comedy? Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Actor and comedian Sherry Cola often finds wild parallels between the characters she plays on screen and her personal life, including her new role in the hit dramedy Shrinking.

She breaks down how the show normalizes therapy with humor, what she’s learned from years of therapy, and why she picks roles that break the stereotype of the model minority. She also shares how playing a queer character in Freeform’s Good Trouble helped her finally come out to her parents.

Plus, how Sherry’s early career on the radio prepared her for the big screen.

And remember to take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

Can Bad Bunny Save America? Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

From the Grammys to the Super Bowl, this is Bad Bunny’s world… We’re just lucky to live in it. But his presence goes far beyond music.

Dr. Nate Rodriguez, professor of journalism and media studies at San Diego State University, teaches a course all about Bad Bunny’s influence on media, identity and global culture.

Sam and Dr. Nate dive into the contrast of Bad Bunny’s success, while ICE is flooding American cities. They also discuss what the NFL gains from broadcasting his message to the world.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

The Millennial Internet, from Buzzfeed Quizzes to Filming ICE Feb 01, 2026

Show notes

Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from The Assignment with Audie Cornish.

This year marks a milestone for Millennials: the youngest of the cohort finally turns 30. So what comes next for the first generation of true digital natives now that they have achieved “unc” status? Audie talks with Sam Sanders about the generation that watched media transform from Buzzfeed quizzes into AI slop. They also discuss Millennial activism taking over the generation’s Instagram feed as ICE protests continue in Minneapolis.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

George Civeris: Is this Gay Millennial Middle Age? Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

Should I have kids? Is there still enough time? Does time even matter? Comedian George Civeris is grappling with a lot of life’s big questions lately.

He explores all of this in his latest standup special A Sense Of Urgency. He also chats with Sam about making jokes when the world is on fire and his own (sort of) immigrant experience as a gay millennial.

Plus, they dive into his hottest takes on The Real Housewives, lost monoculture and gay vacation destinations.

Check out George’s podcast Straightio Lab.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

How 'Heated Rivalry' Even Seduced Russia Jan 27, 2026

Show notes

Everyone is well aware of Heated Rivalry’s immense popularity. The gay hockey romance seduced the masses in ways we haven’t seen in years… Maybe decades? The show even has a following in Russia, where queer media is outlawed.

Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar is familiar with that climate. He was exiled in 2022 when he came out as a gay and married his now husband. Mikhail recently wrote about the parallels between the show and his own life for Vanity Fair. He tells Sam about what it all means for state repression, freedom and hope for LGBTQ+ Russians.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

TikTok Stars on the Politicians Begging Them for Exposure (From Question Everything) Jan 25, 2026

Show notes

Today we’re sharing an episode from KCRW’s Question Everything.

What happens when TikTokers replace TV hosts and interviewers, and presidential candidates start begging to be on their shows?

Question Everything host Brian Reed sits down in a Brooklyn wine shop with four of the internet’s biggest creators: Caleb Simpson, who gets people on the street to take him up to their apartments; Julian Shapiro-Barnum who interviews kids on Recess Therapy; Anania Williams of the LGBTQ quiz show Gaydar; and Jack Coyne, host of the music game show Track Star. Their videos reach more people than many major news outlets. But who gets control over what they run? When is money changing hands? What do they do when politicians like Kamala Harris and RFK Jr. come calling?

A frank conversation about the blurry grey area between this new form of entertainment and journalism.

Check out the Substack, with more reporting on the war over truth, free speech, and tech’s role in it all.

Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory.

What’s Raphael Saadiq’s Golden Rule for Making Music? Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Raphael Saadiq has been influential to the music industry since he burst onto the scene with his group Tony! Toni! Toné! — since then he’s produced hits with artists like Beyoncé and scored countless film and TV projects.

He’s now nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his blues anthem “I Lied To You” from the blockbuster film Sinners. He breaks down what went into creating the song, his connection to director Ryan Coogler and his golden rule for making music for movies.

Plus, Raphael remembers his late friend D’Angelo and shares the story behind their iconic song “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

WTF is up with Spotify? Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

There’s a little trend that’s gaining a lot of traction… Many people are leaving Spotify – and making a fuss on their way out.

They’re angry at the platform and the algorithm. They’re angry with how it pays artists. Some users are very angry about the ads Spotify runs. It’s quite the vibe shift for the world’s largest music streaming service. Sam breaks it all down with Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman who recently reported from Spotify’s headquarters in Stockholm.

The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.