The Sam Sanders Show

In early 2020, comedian and actor Rachel Bloom faced life-changing extremes: the birth of her first child and the loss of collaborator Adam Schlesinger to COVID in the same week. In her Netflix special Death, Let Me Do My Special, Bloom processes these losses in a way that caught Sam’s attention, making his favorite comedy special of the last year. Rachel chats with Sam about her process and gives him advice on whether he should become a parent. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

In this insightful discussion, award-winning reporter Sam Sanders shares his personal journey with grief and the lessons it imparts. He reflects on maintaining connections with loved ones even after their passing, highlighting how grief coexists with joy. Sam emphasizes the transformative power of sorrow, echoing the complexities of human emotion in journalism. He also discusses the importance of self-talk and emotional processing as tools for healing, illustrating how memories can deepen over time and encourage personal growth.

Jessica Williams plays a shrink on TV, but we’d pay money to have her be our therapist IRL. From her time on The Daily Show, to playing a therapist on Apple TV+’s Shrinking, and what it was like to freeze her eggs, the comedian and actor shares life lessons with us. And does a cold plunge count as self-care? We play a game to find out.    Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week.   The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Diallo and LUXXURY, hosts of the One Song podcast, help us recap the year in pop music. We talk about Drake’s beef with Universal, the evolution of sampling in the music industry, and the most slept-on artists of 2024. Plus, we discuss why the Grammys rarely get things right and launch The Sammies™ to set the record straight. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff every week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

2024 delivered endless pop culture phenomena from Brat Summer to Wicked’s box office domination. Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, and Franklin Leonard, founder of The Black List, help us reflect on the year's defining moments. We rehash Kendrick and Drake’s beef, discuss Wicked’s cultural impact, and debate if monoculture still exists.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Society places marriage on a pedestal, from Hollywood romcoms to Disney movies, often leaving singlehood overlooked. Journalist Meghan Keane, author of Party of One: Be Your Own Best Life Partner, explores society’s deep-rooted myths about romance and shares her own journey in embracing singlehood as a fulfilling choice. We talk about reclaiming happiness beyond romantic relationships, celebrating personal independence, and the bias against single people.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Get into the Christmas spirit with comedian and actor Matt Rogers! When he’s not co-hosting his hit podcast Las Culturistas, he’s touring the country as the Prince of Christmas. We talk about his iconic holiday comedy album, Have You Heard of Christmas?, and break down the pop culture news of the moment. His holiday tour begins next month with dates across the country.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Comedian Ronny Chieng believes America can survive another Trump administration. We talk about his role in Hulu’s Interior Chinatown, and the complex relationship between identity and humor in Hollywood. Plus, the impact of Asian representation in media, and the challenges— and freedoms — of creating authentic stories that resonate.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Taylor Lorenz, a tech journalist known for her insights on online culture, and Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily, dissect the tech landscape of 2024. They highlight how AI is reshaping creative industries and discuss the evolving role of social media, notably TikTok. The duo explores Elon Musk's controversial impact on online communication, the challenges facing young influencers, and the effects of social media on body image. Additionally, they engage in a playful challenge to distinguish between real and AI-generated tech headlines.

Brian Jordan Alvarez and Stephanie Koenig are the creative force behind the new hit show English Teacher. The show features both him and Koenig as high school teachers in Texas dealing with guns, drag queens, and queer identity, all with a subversive, hilarious twist. We talk about their journey from creating indie comedy videos online to finally breaking through in Hollywood.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.