Podcast Episodes

The Joaquin Phoenix Interview

Joaquin Phoenix is one of the greatest actors of his generation. For three decades, he’s moved seamlessly between auteur-driven films (Her, The Master) and box-office sensations (Gladiator, Joker). 

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Why Myha’la (‘Industry’) is Playing the Long Game

For actor Myha’la, the role of a lifetime arrived less than a year out of college. “Lightning struck,” she says, “and in so many ways I have been preparing my entire life to be here.” In this case ‘h…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Actor Ken Leung (‘Industry’) Enters a New Season

For the past couple decades, actor Ken Leung has played scene-stealing characters in films like Rush Hour, Keeping the Faith, and A.I. Or, prestige TV shows like Lost and The Sopranos.

Today, he join…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Abbi Jacobson Interviews Sam

To commemorate his 30th birthday, Abbi Jacobson interviews Sam!

They talk about Sam's early days in journalism (8:00), his Almost Famous-like experience as a teenage film critic (10:30), making Talk …

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

The First Gen Z Congressman’s Fight for Gun Reform

To start, Sam sits with another week in American life, before returning to our timely conversation with Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10).

At the top, we discuss the five-year aftermath of the horrif…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Filmmaker Lee Daniels (‘The Deliverance’) Finds His Light

This week, our guest is trailblazing filmmaker Lee Daniels.

At the top, we discuss his fifteen-year journey to the new Netflix film The Deliverance (5:00), Daniels’ relationship to spirituality (9:16…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Director Steven Soderbergh: Scene by Scene

Since 1989 (Sex, Lies, and Videotape), filmmaker Steven Soderbergh has been a pioneering voice in American cinema. Part free-wheeling iconoclast, part exacting technician.

Today, we return to our con…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

We Are So Back (at the Movies) with Sean Fennessey (‘The Big Picture’)

We’re so back at the movies… with head of content at The Ringer and co-host of The Big Picture, Sean Fennessey!

At the top, Sam and Sean discuss Sean Wang’s Dìdi (8:52), the father-daughter story at …

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

A Tea with Amelia Dimoldenberg of Chicken Shop Date

What’s the difference between an interview and a first date? For the past decade, Amelia Dimoldenberg has been walking that fine line on her hit YouTube series, Chicken Shop Date. The premise is in t…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Author Vinson Cunningham on our ‘Great Expectations’ for 2024

Vinson Cunningham has been a staff writer at The New Yorker for the past eight years, covering theater, television, and politics. He joins us this week to unpack his personal debut novel Great Expect…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago