The Sam Sanders Show

Nia DaCosta: Why is Real Life Scarier Than Horror Films?

Director Nia DaCosta has done it all. Horror, period drama, and even a Marvel blockbuster. Through it all, Nia is always asking: What does it mean to be human? Her latest films Hedda and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple are no different.  She tells Sam about how horror themes mirror the real world, how she found her voice as one of the few Black women directors in the business, and why she’s not interested in teaching white people about race through her films.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. And remember to take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.   The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

Why Are Movie Wigs Still So Bad?!

As awards season grinds on, we're revisiting a topic that really irks Sam – bad wigs on the big screen. Why do sooo many wigs look so wrong? Here to break down what’s going on is Hollywood hairstylist and wigmaker Dawn Dudley. Her work has been seen in A Star is Born, Rob Zombie’s The Munsters, HBO’s Westworld and tons more. She breaks down what’s really happening on Hollywood sets and says it’s often not the hairstylist’s fault.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. And please take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.   The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

How Did Therapy Change Sherry Cola’s Comedy?

Actor and comedian Sherry Cola often finds wild parallels between the characters she plays on screen and her personal life, including her new role in the hit dramedy Shrinking.  She breaks down how the show normalizes therapy with humor, what she’s learned from years of therapy, and why she picks roles that break the stereotype of the model minority. She also shares how playing a queer character in Freeform’s Good Trouble helped her finally come out to her parents.  Plus, how Sherry’s early career on the radio prepared her for the big screen.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. And remember to take our survey! We want to know more about you and what you love about the show.  The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

Can Bad Bunny Save America?

From the Grammys to the Super Bowl, this is Bad Bunny’s world… We’re just lucky to live in it. But his presence goes far beyond music.  Dr. Nate Rodriguez, professor of journalism and media studies at San Diego State University, teaches a course all about Bad Bunny’s influence on media, identity and global culture. Sam and Dr. Nate dive into the contrast of Bad Bunny’s success, while ICE is flooding American cities. They also discuss what the NFL gains from broadcasting his message to the world.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.  

The Millennial Internet, from Buzzfeed Quizzes to Filming ICE

Today we’re sharing Sam’s episode from The Assignment with Audie Cornish. This year marks a milestone for Millennials: the youngest of the cohort finally turns 30. So what comes next for the first generation of true digital natives now that they have achieved “unc” status? Audie talks with Sam Sanders about the generation that watched media transform from Buzzfeed quizzes into AI slop. They also discuss Millennial activism taking over the generation’s Instagram feed as ICE protests continue in Minneapolis.  Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.