Stephen Thompson appears in the following:
Is there a song of the summer in 2025?
Monday, July 28, 2025
Last year was Brat summer and saw the rise of Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Sabrina Carpenter. But is there a song of the summer for 2025? Today we're talking about the competing songs of this summer from Justin Bieber, Morgan Wallen, KPop Demon Hunters, PinkPantheress, and more.
We'd love to know what you think about Pop Culture Happy Hour. Please help us out by telling us what you like and how we could improve by completing a short, anonymous survey at npr.org/pchhsurvey.
We'd love to know what you think about Pop Culture Happy Hour. Please help us out by telling us what you like and how we could improve by completing a short, anonymous survey at npr.org/pchhsurvey.
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 20
Friday, June 20, 2025
HAIM. Hotline TNT. Yaya Bey. World Cafe's Raina Douris joins Stephen Thompson to give you a quick tour through the best records out this week.
Featured albums:
• HAIM, 'I quit'
• Hotline TNT, 'Raspberry Moon'
• Yaya Bey, 'do it afraid'
• Kelsey Waldon, 'Every Ghost'
• S.G. Goodman, 'Planting by the Signs'
Check out the long list of albums out June 20 and sample more than 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org.
Credits
• Host: Stephen Thompson
• Guest: Raina Douris, WXPN
• Producer: Simon Rentner
• Editor: Otis Hart
• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Featured albums:
• HAIM, 'I quit'
• Hotline TNT, 'Raspberry Moon'
• Yaya Bey, 'do it afraid'
• Kelsey Waldon, 'Every Ghost'
• S.G. Goodman, 'Planting by the Signs'
Check out the long list of albums out June 20 and sample more than 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org.
Credits
• Host: Stephen Thompson
• Guest: Raina Douris, WXPN
• Producer: Simon Rentner
• Editor: Otis Hart
• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
New Music Friday: The best new albums out June 13
Friday, June 13, 2025
Brandee Younger. The Cure. Annahstasia. WRTI's Nate Chinen joins Stephen Thompson to discuss our favorite albums of the week.
Featured albums:
• Annahstasia, 'Tether'
• Mary Halvorson, 'About Ghosts'
• Brandee Younger, 'Gadabout Season'
• Joe Armon-Jones, 'All The Quiet (Part II)'
• The Cure, 'Mixes for a Lost World'
See our long list of albums out June 13 and sample more than 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nate Chinen, WRTI
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins
Featured albums:
• Annahstasia, 'Tether'
• Mary Halvorson, 'About Ghosts'
• Brandee Younger, 'Gadabout Season'
• Joe Armon-Jones, 'All The Quiet (Part II)'
• The Cure, 'Mixes for a Lost World'
See our long list of albums out June 13 and sample more than 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nate Chinen, WRTI
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 2
Friday, May 02, 2025
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best albums released on May 2.
Featured albums:
• Car Seat Headrest, 'The Scholars' (Stream)
• Samantha Crain, 'Gumshoe' (Stream)
• PUP, 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?' (Stream)
• Jenny Hval, 'Iris Silver Mist' (Stream)
• Jolie Laide, 'Creatures' (Stream)
See the long list of albums out May 2 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Julie Bernal, Marfa Public Radio
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins
Featured albums:
• Car Seat Headrest, 'The Scholars' (Stream)
• Samantha Crain, 'Gumshoe' (Stream)
• PUP, 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?' (Stream)
• Jenny Hval, 'Iris Silver Mist' (Stream)
• Jolie Laide, 'Creatures' (Stream)
See the long list of albums out May 2 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Julie Bernal, Marfa Public Radio
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 11
Friday, April 11, 2025
Bon Iver returns. Valerie June branches out. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Erin Wolf of Radio Milwaukee's 88Nine to the show for a quick run-through of the best new albums out April 11.
Featured albums:
• Bon Iver, 'SABLE, fABLE'
• Valerie June, 'Owls, Omens, and Oracles'
• Gerald Clayton, 'Ones & Twos'
• Real Lies, 'We Will Annihilate Our Enemies' (out April 16)
• Kills Birds, 'Crave' EP
Check out our long list of albums out April 11 and stream our New Music Friday sampler playlist of more than 70 songs at npr.org/music.
Credits
• Host: Stephen Thompson
• Guest: Erin Wolf, Radio Milwakee's 88Nine
• Producer: Simon Rentner
• Editor: Otis Hart
• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
• Vice President, Music & Visuals: Keith Jenkins
Featured albums:
• Bon Iver, 'SABLE, fABLE'
• Valerie June, 'Owls, Omens, and Oracles'
• Gerald Clayton, 'Ones & Twos'
• Real Lies, 'We Will Annihilate Our Enemies' (out April 16)
• Kills Birds, 'Crave' EP
Check out our long list of albums out April 11 and stream our New Music Friday sampler playlist of more than 70 songs at npr.org/music.
Credits
• Host: Stephen Thompson
• Guest: Erin Wolf, Radio Milwakee's 88Nine
• Producer: Simon Rentner
• Editor: Otis Hart
• Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
• Vice President, Music & Visuals: Keith Jenkins
Pop culture that changed our minds
Thursday, April 10, 2025
At a certain point, most of us settle into a groove with our pop culture consumption. We know what we love and what we're not into. But sometimes, all it takes is one great outlier or a willingness to step outside our comfort zone to make us reconsider what we don't like. Today we're talking about our pop culture revelations, including Friday Night Lights, Train to Busan, the poetry of Mary Oliver, and Watchmen.
Lady Gaga's 'Mayhem' is a dense and intense pop explosion
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Lady Gaga has kept busy as a singer and actor, but it's been five years since she's released a full-blown pop album. Now, she's back with Mayhem, which has already produced three hits — including the chart-topping Bruno Mars duet "Die With A Smile." It's got bangers, it's got ballads, it's Lady Gaga through and through.
To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.
To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.
Terrible but bingeable TV shows
Thursday, March 06, 2025
What is it about a show that turns you into a bitter-ender, that keeps you dutifully watching every last episode, long after the train has jumped the tracks? Even when you know it's not good, but, for you anyway, it's just good enough to muddle through, all the way to the finale? Today, we're revisiting our conversation about terrible but bingeable TV shows
Our favorite 'SNL' musical moments
Wednesday, March 05, 2025
Perhaps you've heard that Saturday Night Live is celebrating its 50th anniversary — they've mentioned it once or twice. From Lazy Sunday to Domingo to a ton of iconic musical performances, SNL's had a long and fascinating relationship with music. Today, we're talking about some of our favorite SNL musical moments.
Our 2025 Oscars Recap
Monday, March 03, 2025
This year's Oscars was a big night for Sean Baker's Anora, including wins for best picture and director. The film's star Mikey Madison scored one of the night's few upsets, winning best actress. Adrien Brody, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña also took home acting wins. We also recap the hilarious bits from host Conan O'Brien, the long and discursive speeches, and show stopping musical numbers.
To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.
To access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for Pop Culture Happy Hour, subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+ at plus.npr.org/happy.
Our favorite actors who've never been nominated for an Oscar
Monday, February 24, 2025
The standard line for awards season goes: "It's an honor just to be nominated." But when it comes to the Oscars, there's quite a long list of great performers who have never received this honor. Today, we're talking about some of our favorites who should have at least one Oscar on their mantle — including Pam Grier, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, and Regina Hall.
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Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
In 'The Monkey' the goring is never boring
Friday, February 21, 2025
In the new horror-comedy The Monkey, Theo James plays a pair of identical twin brothers who get saddled with a cursed wind-up toy monkey that causes people around them to die freakish, gory deaths. It's based on a Stephen King short story, and directed by Osgood Perkins, who made last year's Longlegs.
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture
We fantasy cast 'The Traitors'
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
The Peacock reality show The Traitors continues to be a delightful mix of treachery, foolishness, and Alan Cumming's outfits. In the United States, the cast is made up exclusively of so-called celebrities. So today on the show we're fantasy casting who we think should be on the next season of The Traitors.
In the run-up to the Oscars, Pop Culture Happy Hour is watching all 10 best picture nominees – and you're invited to join us! Sign up for the NPR Movie Club newsletter series and tell us what you thought of the movies you watched this week.
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
In the run-up to the Oscars, Pop Culture Happy Hour is watching all 10 best picture nominees – and you're invited to join us! Sign up for the NPR Movie Club newsletter series and tell us what you thought of the movies you watched this week.
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
'Paddington in Peru' puts a mild bear in the wild jungle
Monday, February 17, 2025
In the new movie Paddington In Peru, Paddington Bear and the Brown family fly across the globe, into the wilds of Peru, in search of Paddington's Aunt Lucy. Along the way, they meet a not-remotely-suspicious singing nun (Olivia Colman) and a boat captain (Antonio Banderas). The adventure that follows involves lost treasure and narrow escapes — and leads to new revelations about Paddington's past, and a new appreciation for what it means to be home.
In the run-up to the Oscars, Pop Culture Happy Hour is watching all 10 best picture nominees – and you're invited to join us! Sign up for the NPR Movie Club newsletter series and tell us what you thought of the movies you watched this week.
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
In the run-up to the Oscars, Pop Culture Happy Hour is watching all 10 best picture nominees – and you're invited to join us! Sign up for the NPR Movie Club newsletter series and tell us what you thought of the movies you watched this week.
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
There can only be one pope in the delightfully preposterous 'Conclave'
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
The new movie Conclave is a fun and twisty political thriller. Ralph Fiennes plays a cardinal tasked to managing the secretive process in which the pope is replaced. The film offers plenty of scandals, surprises, and dark horses, along with some strong commentary on the state of the Catholic church. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film also stars Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture.
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture.
Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus at plus.npr.org/happyhour
Favorite Family Friendly Movies of 2024, and All Time
Tuesday, August 06, 2024
"Inside Out 2,""Kung Fu Panda 4,""Despicable Me 4," "Harold and the Purple Crayon,""IF,""The Garfield Movie,""The Wild Robot." It has been the summer of family movies. Are any of them...
Rock icon or a victim of exploitation? Examining Amy Winehouse's legacy
Sunday, May 19, 2024
A just-released, fictionalized film looks at the life of British singer Amy Winehouse. The music and career of the real Amy Winehouse still fascinate.
What 'Pop Culture Happy Hour' thinks of Jerry Seinfeld's Pop-Tart movie 'Unfrosted'
Friday, May 10, 2024
The Netflix movie Unfrosted tells a made-up version of Pop-Tarts' origin story. It hasn't been received favorably, including by NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts.
Review: 'Kung Fu Panda 4'
Sunday, March 17, 2024
How does Kung Fu Panda 4 stack up against its predecessors in the popular animated movie franchise? Stephen Thompson from NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour brings a group together to review the new film.
The Oscar nominees for best original film score
Saturday, March 02, 2024
Host Scott Detrow hears about the Academy Award nominees for best original film score.
