Episodes

Feb. 22, 2023

335: We discuss the Bafta awards! The winners, the shockers and what it all means as the Oscars approach! With Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.

We did the thing! Executive Editor at AwardsWatch.com Ryan McQuade joins Christina to recap the Baftas 2023. We discuss the winners the shockers, All Quiet on the Western Front taking the night and what it all means as the Os...

Feb. 18, 2023

334: Dispatch 3 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival! With Nina Hoss (TÁR), Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin) & Angie Wang (MDMA)

In a new dispatch from the fest Christina talks to some really incredible women on creating and shaping their characters and their films! Filmmaker and juror Angie Wang talks about her film MDMA (2017) inspired by her own his...

Feb. 15, 2023

333. Dispatch 2 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Director Alison Millar on her brilliant doc 'Lyra'- on the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young reporter Lyra McKee

Director Alison Millar talks to Christina from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival about her brilliant doc 'Lyra'. The film is about the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young r...

Feb. 14, 2023

332: Dispatch 1 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Interviews with artisans. Director Todd Field 'Tar', composer Ryan Lott 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' and many more!

In our first dispatch from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival Christina talks to Oscar nominated artisans and filmmakers ahead of their panels and tributes at the festival! Composer Ryan Lott of the band Son Lux ' ...

Feb. 13, 2023

331: REVISIT: Our conversation with actor Jeremy Strong

Actor Jeremy Strong (Succession, Armageddon Time) is receiving the prestigious Virtuosos Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2023 later this week. As Christina is visiting the festival we thought we'd revis...

Feb. 8, 2023

330: REVISIT Abbott Elementary star Janelle James!

As Christina is travelling a few days this week we are revisiting some popular episodes 😃. Emmy, Golden Globe & Critics Choice nominated for her role on the ABC hit sitcom 'Abbott Elementary', actor Janelle James on Pop Cultu...

Feb. 6, 2023

329: REVISIT: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy

As Christina is travelling a few days this week we are revisiting some popular episodes 😃. First up: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) join Christina to talk about their excellent, dark satire 'The Menu...

Jan. 30, 2023

328: Craig Mazin (Creator/Writer/Exec Producer ' The Last of US') Including our talk on the incredible episode 3!

Our conversation with Craig Mazin continues. This is the full episode including our conversation on episode 3 starring Nick Offerman & Murray Bartlett. We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Cra...

Jan. 29, 2023

327: Our Sundance Film Festival 2023 recap! With Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch, Insession Film

Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch and InSession Film joins Christina to talk about what they saw at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Their favorite films, trends and filmmaker discoveries of the year! Learn more about your ad choic...

Jan. 24, 2023

326: 2023 Oscar nominations! Reactions, surprises, snubs and more with Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch.com

Erik Anderson & Ryan McQuade ( AwardsWatch.com ) join Christina to talk about their reactions to the 2023 Oscar nominations! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan. 21, 2023

325: A podcast special! Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård and producers Rita Wilson & Fredrik Wikström Nicastro. 'A Man Called Otto'

A podcast special! In Dec 2022 Christina moderated a live event: 'A Man Called Otto' Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård ('Ove' of the Swedish original 'En Man Som Heter Ove') as well as with producers Rita Wilson & Fr...

Jan. 19, 2023

324: Craig Mazin: Creator/Writer/Exec Producer 'The Last of Us'. Part 1

We are thrilled to welcome back creator/writer/director/exec producer Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, HBO)! Last time Mr Mazin was on Pop Culture Confidential we talked about his masterpiece 'Chernobyl'. He's back with the TV ad...

Jan. 9, 2023

323: Abbott Elementary's breakout star Janelle James!

Emmy, Golden Globe & Critics Choice nominated for her role on the ABC hit sitcom 'Abbott Elementary', actor Janelle James on Pop Culture Confidential! Ms. James talks to Christina about her incredible performance as Principal...

Jan. 3, 2023

322: The most anticipated movies/shows premiering the first half of 2023! With Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture)

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Cocaine Bear, Oppenheimer, Barbie! The Last of Us & Succession! Christina and Matt Neglia (Editor-in-Chief @ NextBestPicture.com ) talk about some of their most anticipated films & shows releasing the first ha...

Dec. 21, 2022

321: Our Best, and Worst, Films of 2022! With Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch)

Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch Erik Anderson joins us for our end of the year best, and worst, film experiences 2022! Happy Holidays! Twitter: @awards_watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec. 16, 2022

320: The Best of 2022. Dee Wallace, E.T. 40 years!

We revisit our episode with icon Dee Wallace & celebrate E.T. 40 years! Ms Wallace talks about her iconic roles, from Cujo to E.T., the Spielberg classic celebrating 40 years this year! Her role as Mary, the kids' mom in E.T....

Dec. 6, 2022

319: Actor Sheila McCarthy. On the powerful themes, questions & truths of "Women Talking"

Actor Shelia McCarthy (Greta) joins us to talk about the upcoming 'Women Talking', a powerful new film written/directed by Sarah Polley and based on the novel by Mariam Toews. We talk about McCarthys' emotional and compellin...

Dec. 4, 2022

318: So, what did we think?! Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) is back to discuss Spielberg's The Fabelmans!

A while ago, on episode 304, we dove deep into Steven Spielberg's most personal movies and how his family has so often been a part of his storytelling. Now Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch, InSession Film) joins Christina again to d...

Nov. 22, 2022

316: Hollywood on Hollywood. 'Babylon' and a deep dive into movies about the industry! With critic Zoë Rose Bryant

Film critic Zoë Rose Bryant joins us to talk about Damien Chazelle's "Babylon", the upcoming epic about 1920's Hollywood starring Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie. Plus a deep dive into the most essential films about Hollywood, from...

Nov. 15, 2022

315: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy

Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) join us to talk about their excellent, dark satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy. In theatres Nov 18th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

Nov. 11, 2022

314: Laura Poitras, director 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed'. On photographer Nan Goldin's life and her fight to 'take down' the billionaire Sackler family.

Academy Award winning director Laura Poitras joins us to talk about her urgent and powerful documentary 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' that portrays the life of groundbreaking photographer & activist Nan Goldin. Godin sur...

313: Weird Al! We revisit our talk with Weird Al Yankovic, icon & parody king!

Nov. 8, 2022