Episodes

Jan. 20, 2025

444: A Conversation With Mona Fastvold, Co-Writer of 'The Brutalist'

Mona Fastvold talks to Christina about the award-winning epic 'The Brutalist' which she co-wrote with partner and director Brady Corbet! On her writing process & collaboration with Corbet, the filmmakers personal connections…

Jan. 17, 2025

443: A Conversation With Actor Alessandro Nivola ('The Brutalist')

Christina is honored to be joined by actor Alessandro Nivola for a wide-ranging conversation about his incredible performances, his role in the critically acclaimed epic 'The Brutalist', how he drew from his own family’s exp…

Jan. 9, 2025

442: A Conversation With Pop Superstar Robbie Williams ('Better Man')

Christina speaks to pop superstar Robbie Williams about his new movie 'Better Man', based om the true story of Robbie's stratospheric rise to fame, his dramatic falls and remarkable comeback as a record-breaking solo artist…

Jan. 6, 2025

441: Golden Globes 2025 Recap & Reactions! The Highlights, Surprises, Fashion And Much More. (With Sophia Ciminello & Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)

Sophia Ciminello & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) join Christina to talk about their immediate reactions to the Golden Globes 2025. The winners, losers, best speeches, surprises, fashion and much more. Learn more about your …

Jan. 1, 2025

440: A Conversation with Director RaMell Ross & Cinematographer Jomo Fray ('Nickel Boys') About Their Visionary Adaptation.

Christina talks to director RaMell Ross & cinematographer Jomo Fray about their brilliant new move 'Nickel Boys'. A conversation about their powerful visual and emotional approach to the Colson Whitehead novel. Learn more ab…

Dec. 21, 2024

439: Two Conversations with Jesse Eisenberg ('A Real Pain')

Writer, director, actor Jesse Eisenberg joins Christina to talk about his brilliant film 'A Real Pain', a funny & moving story about two cousins who embark on a trip to Polen to honor their dead grandmother. This episode als…

Dec. 17, 2024

438: Creating The Body Horror In 'The Substance'. Guest: Special Makeup Effects Designer Pierre Olivier Persin

Christina is joined by prosthetics and makeup effects designer Pierre Olivier Persin to talk about his work on Coralie Fargeat’s body horror hit The Substance , a dark satire about beauty standards, aging, and the entertainm…

Dec. 14, 2024

437: A Conversation With Bill Skarsgård ('Nosferatu')

Bill Skarsgård joins Christina for a conversation about his role as Count Orlok in 'Nosferatu', one of 2024's most anticipated movies! Bill talks about first being introduced to the classic 'Nosferatu' (1922) by his father a…

Dec. 9, 2024

436: Our Reactions To The Golden Globe Noms And More Awards Season News! (Guest: Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)

Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch.com, joins Christina to discuss the Golden Globe nominations, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association & NY Film Critic Circle winners, the AFI list and more. What these jam pack…

Nov. 26, 2024

435: Sean 'Dino' Johnson ('Sing Sing') On The Inspirational True Story 'Sing Sing' & Rehabilitation Through Theater.

Christina is joined by actor and advocate Sean 'Dino' Johnson. Mr. Johnson stars in 'Sing Sing' (also starring Colman Domingo and Paul Raci) which follows a theater production at the maximum security prison Sing Sing. A movi…

Nov. 17, 2024

434: A Conversation With Writer/Director Sean Baker ('Anora')

Christina is thrilled to have writer/director Sean Baker ('Tangerine', 'The Florida Project') on Pop Culture Confidential! His wonderful new movie 'Anora' won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and is receiving major…

Nov. 12, 2024

433: The Most Emotional Movie Scenes Of 2024! Plus Gladiator II Reactions. (With Ryan McQuade)

We are thrilled to have Ryan McQuade (executive editor, AwardsWatch.com) back for a jam packed episode! After an emotional week we thought it would be fitting to discuss what has made us emotional at the movies. We pick our…

Oct. 30, 2024

432: The brilliant Karla Sofía Gascón, 'Emilia Pérez'! Audio Interview In Spanish, Subtitled On YouTube (Episode first aired in May)

The brilliant Karla Sofía Gascón, groundbreaking star of ‘Emilia Pérez’! Catch my subtitled interview on YouTube or listen on Pop Culture Confidential. The trans actress is making history this awards season! She talks to me …

Oct. 24, 2024

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

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 of The Daily Show (the Book), to discuss Harris and Trump's media strateg…

Oct. 17, 2024

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)

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 l…

Oct. 8, 2024

429: 2025 Oscar Predictions! (with Ryan McQuade)

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 & …

Sept. 30, 2024

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

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 Ke…

Sept. 29, 2024

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

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 J…

Sept. 19, 2024

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

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. Spo…

Sept. 10, 2024

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'

It's a huge fall 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 honor…

424: AwardsWatch Podcast Telluride Film Festival Roundup (with Special Guest Christina Birro)

Sept. 4, 2024