Apple News In Conversation The best music, movies, and TV of 2025
Dec 18, 2025
Join Sam Sanders, a public radio host known for his sharp cultural insights, and Anne Helen Petersen, a culture critic and author, as they dive into the standout art of 2025. They unpack recurring themes of nostalgia and social regression, celebrate Noah Cyrus's evocative music, and discuss Lizzo’s surprising turn. From analyzing Bad Bunny's global impact to critiquing Netflix's surprises and Hollywood's risk aversion, their lively conversation paints a rich picture of the year's trends and the creative landscape ahead.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Nostalgia Feeds Modern Pop Culture
- Anne Helen Petersen says internet and streaming culture are propelling repetitive nostalgia cycles in 2025.
- She likens it to reheated nachos where most popular content is just the past repackaged.
Catalog Music Dominates Streaming
- Sam Sanders cites Spotify data showing about 70% of streams go to catalog music older than 18 months.
- He uses this to argue audiences keep returning to the same older music instead of new releases.
Noah Cyrus Surprise Pick
- Anne Helen Petersen was surprised and delighted by Noah Cyrus's album I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me.
- She praises its vocals and compares its sound to Neko Case and Gillian Welch.