This week, Sam is joined by Jay Jurden, comedian and writer on The Problem with Jon Stewart. We dive into how he's faring during the writers' strike and that time he auditioned for Ryan Murphy's Dahmer. We also ask if he's into looks from the Met Gala, Missy Elliott's Rock Hall induction, and more.And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: If Akon is trying to find the words to describe this girl without being disrespectful and can only come up with "damn, you's a sexy bitch," maybe someone should get him a thesaurus.Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email a short voice memo to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last weekend, 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' passed $1 billion. But another film quietly hit theaters and really defied all expectations. It’s called ‘Polite Society,’ and its director and writer, Nida Manzoor, describes it as “an action comedy about sisterhood” and “a joyful, kung-fu heist Bollywood epic.” Sam and Nida talk about how the success of her acclaimed TV show 'We Are Lady Parts' finally convinced film executives to buy this movie, her breadth of influences from Jackie Chan to Bette Davis, and how she sets herself free from the expectations of the dreaded R-word (representation). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by Sam Taggart and George Civeris, hosts of StraightioLab, a podcast from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network (with new episodes out every Tuesday). We dive into their favorite ways to say hello and if you can still poke someone on Facebook. We also ask if they're into the dual cable news firings of Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon, Marvin Gaye's estate suing Ed Sheeran for copyright infringement, Timothée Chalamet's expanding cinematic universe, and more.And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: There are some problematic things in Shrek 2, but who among us could turn down free food from Friar's Fat Boy?Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email a short voice memo to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. wants the job — and he's ready for it. Sam chats with Roy about guest hosting 'The Daily Show' since Trevor Noah's departure and how hard it is to pitch an idea and find the solace in humor in an increasingly bleak (and fast) news cycle. And they discuss his other upcoming hosting gig — the White House Correspondents' Dinner — and why he'll be sweating it out in our nation's capital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Gondelman isn’t just a comedian and maybe the nicest person on the planet — he’s also an elected council member of the Writers Guild of America-East. Josh talks to Sam about the potential writers’ strike, and then gets his thoughts on AI-produced Drake songs, Kelly Ripa’s new cohost, and Netflix’s botched attempt at live programming.We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Despite airing for several seasons, our cultural memory of 'The Magic School Bus' only allows us to remember two plot lines — going inside a body or going to outer space.Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email a short voice memo to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When did the rise of spoiler culture begin? And what should the modern-day rules of spoiler etiquette be? Sam traces back the evolution of spoilers with Vulture critics Jen Chaney and Kathryn VanArendonk from the days of Charles Dickens to The National Lampoon to ABC's Lost to that very big episode of HBO's Succession. Why do we get so upset about spoilers? How can we embrace them instead? And why did it take Sam a whole second viewing to realize you-know-who was dead the whole time? (Here's your obligatory: There be spoilers ahead.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by Normal Gossip host Kelsey McKinney and producer Alex Sujong Laughlin. We dive into the things they're into (a song by Jess Williamson is perfect for your Sad Girl Playlist, and we explore the cinematic universe of Lofi Girl) and ask for their thoughts on Taylor Swift's breakup with Joe Alwyn, a Baby Shark podcast, and more.We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Did you know there's a drunk driving PSA at the end of the original Broadway cast recording of Hairspray?Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email a short voice memo to intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for the finale of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ season 9 winner Sasha Velour joins Sam to talk about the political push to criminalize drag, the long history of the art form, and her drag transformation from Wicked Witch of the West to Gollum. Her new book is called ‘The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by Vox's Alex Abad-Santos and Rebecca Jennings for the latest on the effort to ban TikTok in the U.S. (and, in the process, break one of The Cut's modern etiquette rules by describing TikToks). We also ask if they're into the new Barbie movie trailer, fading Taylor Swift merch, a Moana remake, and more.And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Have you ever thought about Party Down's proximity to the future of our nation's democracy?Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam can't get enough of HBO's Succession. The phrase "fuck off" has turned into a term of endearment among his friends. But he can't put his finger on why so many love it at a kill-their-first-born level of devotion. As the show draws to a close, Sam chats with writer and Succession scholar Hunter Harris to figure out why a show about miserable white people still resonates so much for so many people.Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at intoit@vulture.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices