The Sam Sanders Show K-Pop, AI Slop & Ms. Rachel? 2025 Pop Culture Review
Dec 12, 2025
Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks, and Franklin Leonard, CEO of The Black List, dive into the biggest pop culture highs and lows of 2025. They discuss the controversy surrounding Diddy and Taylor Swift's latest works, and celebrate Olivia Dean's low-key charm and Cynthia Erivo's rising star. Franklin critiques AI's impact on creativity, while Traci champions Ms. Rachel as this year's unsung hero. Together, they create a pop culture Mount Rushmore, featuring Bad Bunny and the K-Pop phenomenon, among others.
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Battle Against Cultural Homogenization
- The year felt like a battle against cultural homogenization driven by big media and tech consolidation.
- Franklin Leonard says this squeeze threatens artistic variety and rewards extractive winners.
Diddy's Downfall As Cultural Moment
- Traci Thomas described watching Puff Daddy's trial as a cultural comeuppance that defined the year.
- She framed his downfall as pivotal because he helped turn hip hop into mainstream pop culture.
Pop Success Versus Critical Reception
- Taylor Swift's critically panned album still sold millions, showing commercial success can ignore critics.
- Sam Sanders argued her rollout exemplifies late-stage, extractive pop capitalism squeezing fans for sales records.