Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders

This week, Sam is joined by comedian Zach Zimmerman. We catch up on the writers' strike and ask for his opinions on the series finale of HBO's Succession, the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max (it's just Max now, thanks), standing ovations at the Cannes Film Festival, and more. We also chat about Zach's new book Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)? and the ways we might lose a religion, but find something better instead ? a deeper relationship with our parents and a deeper understanding of ourselves. Plus: a round of "F*ck, Marry, Kill" with Adam, Eve, and Satan. And we remember the late Tina Turner from a moment in 2004: It was Oprah's birthday, but it was always Tina's party. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Halle Bailey stars as Ariel in the live-action remake of the classic Disney animated film. Casting a Black actress in the role caused quite a splash ? which inspired us to look back at two of Disney?s forays into Black princess movies.  Dr. Aria Halliday studies cultural constructions of Black girlhood and womanhood at The University of Kentucky. She and Sam break down the 1997 made for TV ?Cinderella,? starring Brandy, and 2009?s ?Princess and the Frog.?  Then, Vulture?s baddest film critic Angelica Jade Bastién tells us whether 2023?s ?Little Mermaid? has legs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by comedian and writer Samantha Irby to dive into the week in culture: the latest movie in the Fast and the Furious franchise, Martha Stewart's historic Sports Illustrated cover, and Love Island-inspired British accents. We also chat about her newest book of essays Quietly Hostile and why she'd no longer want a TV show about her life. Exhibit A: her experience writing for And Just Like That... and the backlash to the character of Che Diaz. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: The NBC "Brotherhood of Man" Super Bowl commercial is a rich tapestry of people's souls being sold out in real time. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI is making fake Drake/The Weeknd songs, weird images, and there?s a worry that TV and movie scripts could be written by ChatGPT. But it?s also about to dramatically change the way we consume, share, and obsess over pop culture. Nilay Patel, Editor-in-Chief of The Verge, explains to Sam how pretty much everything we search on the internet is mediated by Google? and how AI is about to disrupt it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by Into It's own Travis Larchuk and Tarkor Zehn. They try to convince Sam of the things they're into: The new Legend of Zelda game is worth your time (and money) and the Tarte makeup controversy actually has meaningful implications. Then we flip the game back around and ask for their thoughts on the end of MTV News, Tucker Carlson moving to Twitter, and more. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Given their career trajectories following the film Just My Luck, did Lindsay Lohan pass her real-life luck to co-star Chris Pine? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As tech companies assure us AI is here to help and not to eradicate humanity, the Peacock series ?Mrs. Davis? explores what happens in a world where AI really does deliver on that promise. Executive producers Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof join Sam to talk about how they combined science fiction and Christianity in a show about a technophobic nun who is literally married to Jesus. Plus, Lindelof reflects on lessons he learned from behind-the-scenes toxicity he says helped create on ?Lost? and reconciling past bad behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Sam is joined by Vulture's Jesse David Fox, host of Good One: A Podcast About Jokes, and Vulture critic Kathryn VanArendonk. We dive into the things they're into (the current season of The Simpsons is somehow among the best ever, and Gwyneth Paltrow's ski crash trial is very much like an episode of The Good Fight) and ask for their opinions on Questlove directing a remake of The Aristocats, a potential new chapter for The Bachelor, and more. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: What crimes are we willing to overlook if Celine Dion indeed had nights of endless pleasure, more than any laws allow? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the heart of two big intellectual property disputes are three titans of pop culture: Black Eyed Peas, Andy Warhol, and Prince. Also: unicorn poop. Both cases could have huge implications when it comes to what constitutes ?fair use? of another artist?s work. Sam talks with Slate?s Supreme Court reporter Mark Joseph Stern about why the Black Eyed Peas are going after a toy company?s dancing unicorn commercial, and why Andy Warhol?s silkscreen of a Prince photograph has made its way to the Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, a game of hosts: We ask NPR's All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro and CNN's The Assignment host Audie Cornish if they're into the return of HBO's Succession, the new NYC tourism campaign, Sofia Coppola's daughter trying to charter a helicopter from New York to Maryland to see a camp friend, and more. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Does "good times, noodle salad" mean nothing to you? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Swarm is about a Beyoncé superfan who defends her idol?s honor to the death... as in, by literally committing murder. (The new Amazon Prime Video show isn?t actually about Beyoncé, it?s about Ni?Jah ? a fictional pop star who also just happens to have a fervent online fandom called ?the Swarm," is married to an incredibly famous rapper, was involved in an elevator incident, once got bit in public, etc. etc.) Janine Nabers created the show with Atlanta?s Donald Glover. Sam and Janine talk about why she was so excited to create a show about a Black female serial killer? and how in the world Amazon?s legal team approved the multitude of similarities to Beyoncé and her fandom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we play our game with Vulture's Anusha Praturu and Morgan Baila and ask if they're into Tom Cruise ghosting the Oscars, Netflix shutting down Nancy Meyers, M3GAN's sartorial debut, and more. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Did you know Semisonic's "Closing Time" is kind of about giving birth to a baby? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber are having TikTok drama. There?s a ?blockbuster? off-camera Vanderpump Rules cheating scandal. If you saw it on your timeline and thought, ?I don?t have time for this,? The Cut?s Danya Issawi and Sex Diaries? Alyssa Shelasky are here to explain what?s going on and why they?re obsessed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who will ? and who should ? win at this year's Oscars? Vulture critics Angelica Jade Bastien and Bilge Ebiri share their predictions with Sam: Will Everything Everywhere All at Once sweep the night? Or will the Oscars show its penchant for surprise and give Top Gun: Maverick the biggest award of the night because of how funny that would be? And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Does Seattle resident and Pacific Northwest native Niles Crane know how to correctly pronounce "Oregon"? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Send us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There?s something different about this crop of Best Picture nominees: A few of them are bonafide blockbusters. Last year?s highest-grossing film Top Gun: Maverick got the nod, along with Avatar: The Way of Water. Vulture contributor and This Had Oscar Buzz podcast host Joe Reid joins Sam to discuss the on-again, off-again relationship between the Oscars and the box office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the Netflix series You, people are ? yes, getting murdered ? but also keeping on a lot more of their clothes. That's partly because of star Penn Badgley's request to participate in fewer intimate scenes out of respect to his marriage. His comments have sparked a viral conversation about the state of sex on screen. Sam chats with Vulture recapper Jessica Goldstein about the trending down of intimate scenes and where all the good sex has gone. We also ask Cocaine Bear screenwriter Jimmy Warden about potential sequel ideas and what famous bears he's into. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Sam Hunt's "House Party" is the soundtrack to the Atlanta BeltLine... and our lives, apparently. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Send us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the last scenes from the TV show The Good Place finds its way into a real-life eulogy. And we hear from series creator Michael Schur about the process of writing it, the process of grieving, and why death doesn't always have to be a bad thing. We also chat with comedians and Adulting podcast co-hosts Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos about how Zocdoc is the Hinge of medical professionals. And we ask them if they are into Ariana DeBose's performance at the BAFTAs. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Send us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO's The Last of Us is critically acclaimed, attracts a huge audience every week, and has all the trappings of prestige TV... but is it any good? Sam debates it all out with Vulture writers Roxana Hadadi and Jackson McHenry who are in two very different camps. We also ask comedian and TikTok star Elsa Majimbo if she is into the MSCHF Big Red Boots. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: What is Netflix's budget for stemware for its reality programming and why is it so low? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do Diana Ross, Dan Aykroyd, and Indiana Jones all have in common? Well, they have ? at one point or another ? performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show ? and one of them flew away in a helicopter! Ahead of Rihanna's Super Bowl performance on Sunday, Sam asks writer and halftime show connoisseur Brian Moylan which headliners have earned their rightful place in the Halftime Hall of Fame. Who had the best choreography? The worst vocals? Which artist had the most impressive pyrotechnics? And whom can we thank for ushering us out of the dad rock era of halftime shows? We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Thanks to social media, we sure do know a lot about Jill Zarin's personal life. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted your for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Grammys weekend and Sam is ready for disappointment! Sam is joined by Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding and Reanna Cruz to break down the Grammys' history of tone deafness when it comes to the night's biggest awards. Will Beyoncé lose Album of the Year again... or will the voting body finally give her her due? We also ask comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery if he is into the Andrea Riseborough Oscars campaign controversy. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: The broom dog in the animated Alice in Wonderland is a Sisyphean metaphor for our modern times. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO Max isn't just canceling shows; it's getting rid of them entirely. Claudia Forestieri experienced it firsthand with her series The Gordita Chronicles. Sam and Claudia chat about what it was like to become one of the dozens of creators whose shows no longer have a home ? at least, below cruising altitude. And she explains how her cancellation factors into a wider industry trend of disappearing Latino programming. We also ask Variety senior entertainment writer Adam B. Vary if he is into this year's Oscar nominations, including a very surprising nod for Andrea Riseborough. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Do people in The Last of Us still eat mushrooms? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is it about the horror genre that makes it so successful at the box office? Sam chats with James Wan, creator of the Saw and The Conjuring universes ? and most recently a producer on M3GAN ? about the enduring appeal of getting scared in a roomful of strangers, the secret sauce of M3GAN, and who would win in a three-way fight: M3GAN, Chucky, or the doll from Poltergeist? We also ask writer and Keep It co-host Ira Madison III if he is into Madonna going on world tour. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Why does Carmelo Soprano call cold pasta "cold pahst"? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was the pettiest thing we learned in Prince Harry's new memoir Spare? The cringiest? The most unbelievable? And what space do Harry and Meghan Markle occupy in our culture now? Sam chats with Royally Obsessed podcast hosts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito about the book and if the limit exists on rehashing H&M's drama with the Royal Family. We also ask comedian Taylor Garron if she is into the horror phenomenon of M3GAN. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: We've overlooked the talent of Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, as evidenced by her performance of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" that far surpasses Madonna's. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hollywood companies that spent years pouring money into content to win the streaming wars are finally looking at their profitability. That?s meant layoffs, hiring freezes, and cost cutting that will continue this year. Yet Sam can?t help but feel Hollywood had it coming. He asks entertainment journalist Matt Beloni why the industry failed to absorb the lessons learned by other fields upended by technology. We also ask Vox senior correspondent Alex Abad-Santos and friend and screenwriter Sam Greisman if they are into the recent TikTok trend of telling family members their favorite celebrity has died. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: I'm Michael Tomorrow, see you Barbaro. 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the end of 2022 fast approaches, we play a supersized version of ?Into It / Not Into It.? Our guests are comedians Jay Jurden and Zach Zimmerman, hosts of the bi-weekly comedy and variety show Pretty Major, presented by Vulture + Union Hall. Topics include: The Slap (not the Zachary Quinto miniseries), The New York Times? purchase of Wordle, pink sauce and more. Sam concludes with the most pressing question of the year: Are they more into Bennifer 2.0, or Heidi Klum dressed as a worm? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Rogers has heard of Christmas, but what are his thoughts on peppermint bark? Elf on the Shelf? That time Beyoncé was on Punk'd and believed she had ruined Christmas for a bunch of underprivileged kids? To celebrate the holiday, we play a special festive edition of our game "Into It/Not Into It." Sam and Matt also chat about his new Showtime special Have You Heard of Christmas? and his journey to become the Prince of Christmas. On this unapologetically Christmas-themed episode, come for the comedy; stay for the close read of the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" It's a lot worse than you remember. Happy holidays! Keep sending us your culturegeists. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Avatar culturally meaningful? Or just ridiculous? Sam and Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri debate James Cameron's decades-in-the-making sequel and whether it's worth the hype (besides the whale part, which we've heard is cool). We also ask comedian Niles Abston if he is into Dave Chappelle bringing Elon Musk on stage as a surprise guest. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: "Sir, sir, sir, I love you. I want to be your best friend. I should probably learn your name." 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look back on some of the best TV shows of the year with Vulture critics Roxana Hadadi and Kathryn VanArendonk: Why did no one watch Pachinko? Why is Reservation Dogs so consistently good? Why does Sam hate The Bear? We also ask Vulture's Morgan Baila and Zoe Haylock for their bets on The White Lotus finale: Who died and who did the killing? Please God may Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza be avenged. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Merry Quismois everybody! 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheryl Lee Ralph won an Emmy for her work on Abbott Elementary as Barbara Howard, a firm yet big-hearted veteran teacher. It was recognition she?d long deserved in a career that?s spanned USO tours, roles alongside Sidney Poitier and Robert De Niro, and an iconic performance in the original Dreamgirls musical. In a live conversation from this year?s Vulture Festival, Sam asks Sheryl about the lessons she?s still learning ? and teaching ? and the wisdom she?s gained along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before his acquisition of Twitter, Elon Musk set his sights on another kind of media company: Thud. A longtime fan of The Onion ? he once called it "the greatest publication in the history of all conscious beings, living or dead" ? Elon helped two former Onion editors build a new satirical startup. But Elon pulled out of the company before its launch and Thud shuttered in 2019. So what happened? Sam chats with The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes about Elon's first foray into building his "intergalactic media empire" and what, if anything, it can reveal about his rule over Twitter. We also ask actress, comedian, and Scam Goddess podcast host Laci Mosley if she is into Meta hosting a Notorious B.I.G. VR concert. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Does will.i.am really believe you can catch amnesia? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This year ? and every year ? we are grateful for family, friends, and celebrity memoirs. On this Thanksgiving, Sam chats with comedian Chelsea Devantez of the podcast Celebrity Book Club about the most memorable memoirs of 2022 ? from Jennette McCurdy to Matthew Perry ? and why the good ones will change your life. We also play a special holiday edition of "Into It/Not Into It" and ask Chelsea if she is into Jane Seymour inviting exes to Thanksgiving. Send us your culturegeist. We know you have one. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? And why? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has to do a lot of things: mourn the real and fictional loss of Chadwick Boseman, introduce a new Black Panther and other characters, move the ever-shifting Marvel Cinematic Universe forward, and ? of course ? be entertaining as an action-adventure movie. So why does it feel almost impossible ? sacrilegious, even ? to say that this sequel... doesn't quite hit? Sam talks it out with two critics who have very different takes: Vulture's Angelica Jade Bastien and The New York Times' Wesley Morris. Angelica says the movie trades on the power of representation while Wesley says its message is one of the most radical acts of mass capitalism he's ever seen. We also ask Angelica if she is into Billy McFarland of Fyre Festival fame trying to plan another event in the Bahamas. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Remember when Lindsay Lohan sent the Snapchat: "RIP John McCain feel better xoxo"? 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 [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Atlanta comes to a close after four seasons, it?s still hard to characterize the series. Was it comedy, drama, horror, satire? Whatever the word, the critically-acclaimed series was always weird, often brilliant, and sometimes divisive. Sam talks with Atlanta?s executive producer Stephen Glover about helping create the show with his brother Donald, the ideas that could only have come from a Black writers? room, and provoking viewers to think about art. We also ask journalist and podcaster Daisy Rosario if she is into Kathy Griffin's late mother telling off Elon Musk on Twitter. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: How can we ever find peace knowing there are a million things to watch, but we will never watch them all? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Also, sign up for Vulture?s Movies Fantasy League by Thursday, Nov. 10, for a chance to support your favorite films, earn rewards, and pit yourself against entertainment journalists, including Vulture staffers, and (people you once considered) friends! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Black Panther is back soon, but what do you actually need to know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be ready? And what if you don't care about the intricacies of Thanos or Dr. Strange's multiverse at all? Vox's Alex Abad-Santos catches Sam up on the MCU and explains that even if you don't care about the plot lines, you should care about Marvel's impact on the entertainment industry: "It's kind of like if you follow politics and you don't follow the Supreme Court. That's how big Marvel has become." We also ask comedian Vinny Thomas if he is into Rihanna's new single. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: What do the casting directors of Love is Blind know that we don't when you have a Shane/Shaina and a Cole/Colleen situation in two consecutive seasons? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at in[email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does seeing abortion on TV and film change the way people feel about it? You could argue that another big social issue ? gay marriage ? was helped by shows like Will & Grace and Ellen. Or that The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Murphy Brown helped normalize the idea of women in the workplace. Ahead of the midterms, Sam is wondering why more depictions of abortion onscreen haven't moved the needle on public opinion or access to abortion itself. Sam chats with Katori Hall about writing an abortion episode for her show P-Valley, which was based on the women's health organization at the heart of the case that overturned Roe v. Wade. Then, he talks with social scientist Steph Herold about the things onscreen abortions get wrong and the limits of representation. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the meaning of Taylor Swift? She's performed damsel in distress, but represents women?s empowerment. She?s a confessional artist, but is careful about how much she reveals. She's an adult, but is often still viewed as the teenager she used to be. On the eve of Midnights, Sam dives into the mythos and craft of Taylor Swift with NPR music critic Ann Powers about her place in history among the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Adele, and Beyoncé. We also hear about the culture that's haunting us: Explain to us again why Bobby Cannavale's character in The Watcher wants to replace a Carrara marble countertop with butcher block? To make red sauce? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After five years, what happened to the #MeToo movement and Time's Up? The Hollywood advocacy group made a splash at the Golden Globes in 2018, but what's happened since? And did it really change anything? Sam chats with The Hollywood Reporter's Rebecca Keegan about the group's initial momentum from A-list actors and a barn burner of a speech from Oprah... and its eventual (inevitable?) implosion. We also ask if writer R. Eric Thomas is into Chris Pratt voicing Mario. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: If Seth Green's neck could suddenly explode in an episode of Grey's Anatomy, what's to stop our necks from exploding at any second, too? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has haunted you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is there a way to make true crime ethically? At the very least, can we stop making serial killers hot? Sam chats with Vulture TV critic Jen Chaney about the criticism behind the hit Netflix show DAHMER ? Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and the rise of true crime as the latest IP. We also ask comedian Jay Jurden if he is into the new get-out-the-vote effort from Saucy Santana and Trina. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: David Herskowitz is the Harry Styles of the Miami Boys Choir. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bros has billed itself as the first gay romantic comedy made by a big Hollywood studio for theatrical release. But that billing brings a lot of pressure to represent the "queer community," speak to a straight audience, and make money. Sam chats with comedian Guy Branum, co-producer and co-star of Bros, about the compromises you can accept ? and reject ? in making a mainstream rom-com. We also ask if Guy is into Rihanna performing at the next Super Bowl Halftime Show. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Where's the comma in Don't Worry Darling? Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kim Kardashian is getting into venture capital, her shapewear company is worth billions, and her family's rebooted show The Kardashians is back for its second season on Hulu. And yet, Sam can't shake the feeling that Kim's power and relevance is fading. MJ Corey, creator of @kardashian_kolloquium, says Kim is in transition ? not decline ? and that her influence on the media landscape may soon become stronger than ever. We also ask friends of the show Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber of Who? Weekly if they are into Adam Levine wanting to name his baby after an Instagram model who is not his wife. And we hear about the culture that's haunting us: Robyn's 2010 cover of Björk's "Hyperballad" is the perfect distillation of two very different artists. Send us your culturegeist. What specific thing in the culture has been haunting you for days, weeks, or even years? Email us a short voice memo at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Issa Rae is not just acting ? she?s writing, producing, and running a whole media production company. In this live chat from the 2022 Code Conference, Issa talks with Sam Sanders and Kara Swisher about how she?s always known her audience ? from her start as an internet creator to inking exclusive multimillion-dollar deals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices