Sam Sanders

Sam Sanders appears in the following:

What Happened at the Oscars

Monday, March 11, 2024

Sam Sanders recaps the winners, losers, and culture-defining moments from the 2024 Oscar Awards ceremony.

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Friday, September 30, 2022

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Lizzo playing James Madison's flute, Usher's thirst traps, and more.

Comment

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend listening and viewing

Friday, September 02, 2022

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Horror in the High Desert, Emily the Criminal, and more.

Comment

Joel Kim Booster reflects on the 'Pride and Prejudice' of Fire Island's party scene

Monday, June 27, 2022

Booster's film Fire Island, which he wrote and stars in, was inspired by the Jane Austen novel. The movie is a rom-com about a group of gay friends and explores racism and classism in their community.

Comment

22 tips for 2022: To avoid Sunday scaries, end your weekend on a high note

Saturday, January 15, 2022

A lot of us fall into the trap of saving up work we have to complete over the weekend for Sunday evening. Get catch-up work done earlier, so the last thing you do before Monday is something fun.

Comment

How Janet Jackson's 'Control' shook the room for decades

Wednesday, October 06, 2021

Janet Jackson's Control turns 35 this week. NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Sam Sanders of It's Been A Minute, who investigated the album's making and legacy to commemorate the anniversary.

Comment

It's Been 5 Decades Since 'Soul Train' Was First Nationally Syndicated

Thursday, September 30, 2021

NPR celebrates its 50th anniversary by looking back on moments of 1971. When Don Cornelius created Soul Train 50 years ago, it soon became a cultural institution — showcasing Black music and culture.

Comment

With The New Album 'Dawn,' Yebba Sheds Old Beliefs

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Singer-songwriter Yebba is out with her debut album, Dawn, named after her late mom. She describes the emotional toll she suffered making the album.

Comment

As The TV Industry Praised Michaela Coel, She Says She Felt Like A Misfit

Tuesday, September 07, 2021

Michaela Coel has earned acclaim for her show: I May Destroy You, which explored sexual assault and consent. Her book, Misfits: A Personal Manifesto, details her experiences in TV.

Comment

New Movie 'Zola' Is Based On A Long Series Of Tweets

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

The film Zola is based on a 148-tweet thread from 2015 — involving a 48-hour wild journey of partying, stripping and gangsters. Riley Keough is one of the stars of Zola.

Comment

Cops, Kinksters, Corporations: Sam Sanders And Roxane Gay Discuss Who Pride Is For

Monday, June 28, 2021

When Pride month comes, there's always a debate about who belongs. NPR's Sam Sanders talks with writer and commentator Roxane Gay about the arguments over who pride is for.

Comment

What's Making Us Happy: A Guide For Your Weekend Watching, Listening And Reading

Friday, June 25, 2021

Every Friday, Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts and guests share the shows, movies, books and music that brought them joy. This week: Sexy Beasts, Launchpad shorts, a Hunchback history and Mythic Quest.

Comment

Actor John Boyega On 'Star Wars', 'Small Axe' And Telling 'Stories Of The Untold'

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Boyega has been outspoken about systemic racism in Hollywood. Last year, he talked about how his character in Star Wars was sidelined, along with the other characters played by actors of color.

Comment

Eric Andre's 'Bad Trip' Is Unlike A Lot Of Prank Comedies You Might Have Seen

Friday, April 30, 2021

Sam Sanders, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, talks with comedian Eric Andre about making a prank movie while Black, pranking mostly people of color, and how it differs from, say, Johnny Knoxville.

Comment

'It's Been A Minute' Examines Black Performers On American Culture

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

The NPR podcast explores the reaction to Black artists in America. For example: Early in Whitney Houston's career, white America was enamored with her, while Black America was skeptical.

Comment

Sohla El-Waylly Says There's Still Work To Be Done A Year After Leaving 'Bon Appétit'

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Sohla El-Waylly gained attention for appearing in Bon Appétit's popular "Test Kitchen" videos, then gained more attention for accusing Bon Appétit of unequal pay practices and racial discrimination.

Comment

Seeing Through A Trans Lens: Torrey Peters Pens 'Detransition, Baby'

Monday, March 08, 2021

Torrey Peters' new book features three people who struggle with parenthood and family questions. She says a transgender lens can help everyone understand the limits of how we define gender.

Comment

Spike Lee: A 'Heavenly Light' Shined On Chadwick Boseman In 'Da 5 Bloods'

Monday, February 15, 2021

Lee's heist thriller centers on five Black veterans who return to Vietnam. Lee says one scene with Chadwick Boseman took on particular resonance after the actor's death from cancer in August 2020.

Comment

The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Race

Sunday, January 10, 2021

The insurrection at the Capitol was just the latest chapter in America's ongoing battle over race, writes NPR host Sam Sanders. "Once you see it as such," he says, "it all makes a lot more sense."

Comment

Angela Bassett Draws On Her Love Of Drama And Music In Pixar's 'Soul'

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Bassett plays world-renowned jazz saxophonist Dorothea Williams in Disney/Pixar's latest animated film. She talks about that role, as well as the challenges she's faced as a Black woman in Hollywood.

Comment