Conversations at the intersection of movies, television, and pop culture. Hosted by Christina Jeurling Birro, this podcast delivers candid interviews with filmmakers, actors, creators, and cultural tastemakers, plus festival and awards-season coverage, reviews, and in-depth explorations of the stories shaping what we watch and why it matters.
532: The Footballer Who Vanished: Directors Ramiel Petros & Nicholas Freeman on Their Doc 'The Last Guest Of The Holloway Motel'
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel (2026) · Jul 13, 2026
527: Entering the 'Backrooms' with Guests Production Designer Danny Vermette and VFX Supervisor Edward J. Douglas
Backrooms (2026) · Jun 12, 2026
518: Cannes Film Festival Dispatch 4. Gustaf Skarsgård & Peter Birro ('The Cannibal')
Cannibal! The Musical (1996) · May 17, 2026
517: Cannes Film Festival Dispatch 3. Review "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" (Guest Ryan McQuade)
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma (2026) · May 15, 2026
511: A Conversation With Writer/Director Mary Bronstein ('If I Had Legs I'd Kick You')
If I Had Legs I'd Kick You (2025) · Apr 6, 2026
510: 'The Drama,' the Oscars Move, Scorsese & More. A Grab Bag Episode (Guest: Ryan McQuade)
The Drama (2026) · Apr 1, 2026
504. Inside Train Dreams: A Conversation with Writer-Director Clint Bentley
Train Dreams (2025) · Feb 17, 2026
490: A Conversation with Michael Strassner, Writer and Star of ‘The Baltimorons’
The Baltimorons (2025) · Nov 24, 2025
482: A Conversation with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Breakout Star of 'Sentimental Value'
Sentimental Value (2025) · Sep 30, 2025
481: “One Battle After Another” — Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cinematic Knockout (with Guest Ryan McQuade)
One Battle After Another (2025) · Sep 26, 2025
480: A Conversation with Writer-Director Joachim Trier, 'Sentimental Value', Family & Relationships
Sentimental Value (2025) · Sep 23, 2025
475: The State of Cinema, 'Weapons', Nolan Fever, Telluride & More with Guest Sean Fennessey, The Big Picture
Weapons (2025) · Aug 6, 2025
465: Interview: Stellan Skarsgård (‘Sentimental Value’)
Sentimental Value (2025) · May 21, 2025
460: Countdown to Cannes — Mission: Impossible, The Franchise, and The Final Reckoning (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025) · May 9, 2025
444: A Conversation With Mona Fastvold, Co-Writer of 'The Brutalist'
The Brutalist (2024) · Jan 20, 2025
443: A Conversation With Actor Alessandro Nivola! ('The Brutalist')
The Brutalist (2024) · Jan 17, 2025
442: A Conversation With Pop Superstar Robbie Williams ('Better Man')
Better Man (2024) · Jan 9, 2025
440: A Conversation with Director RaMell Ross & Cinematographer Jomo Fray ('Nickel Boys') About Their Visionary Adaptation.
Nickel Boys (2024) · Jan 1, 2025
438: Creating The Body Horror In 'The Substance'. Guest: Special Makeup Effects Designer Pierre Olivier Persin
The Substance (2024) · Dec 17, 2024
437: A Conversation With Bill Skarsgård ('Nosferatu')
Nosferatu (2024) · Dec 14, 2024
435: Sean 'Dino' Johnson ('Sing Sing') On The Inspirational True Story 'Sing Sing' & Rehabilitation Through Theater.
Sing Sing (2024) · Nov 26, 2024
434: A Conversation With Writer/Director Sean Baker ('Anora')
Anora (2024) · Nov 17, 2024
432: A Conversation With Karla Sofía Gascón, 'Emilia Pérez'! Audio Interview In Spanish, Subtitled On YouTube (Episode first aired in May)
Emilia Pérez (2024) · Oct 30, 2024
430: Guest Robert Steen On The Beautiful Story Of His Son Mats (A Norwegian Gamer), What They Learned After Mats Passed Away, The Moving Netflix Doc 'The Remarkable Life of Ibelin' (Encore)
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024) · Oct 17, 2024
426: We Discuss & Review 'The Substance' From Writer/Director Coralie Fargeat & Starring Demi Moore (with Ryan McQuade)
The Substance (2024) · Sep 19, 2024
425: Alan Zweibel, An Original Saturday Night Live Writer & Five Time Emmy Award Winner! On The Early Years at SNL & The New Movie 'Saturday Night'
Saturday Night (2024) · Sep 10, 2024
423: Telluride Film Festival Mini Dispatch 2. 'Nickel Boys'
Nickel Boys (2024) · Sep 1, 2024
417: A conversation with actor Paul Raci about his powerful new movie 'Sing Sing'.
Sing Sing (2024) · Jul 24, 2024
416: The Star of 'Thelma'! A Conversation With 95 Year Old Acting Legend June Squibb
Thelma (2024) · Jul 19, 2024
415: A visit with 'The Watch' co-hosts Chris Ryan & Andy Greenwald!
The Watch (2012) · Jul 13, 2024
413: 'I Am: Celine Dion' & A Countdown of the Most Powerful and Revealing Celebrity Documentaries (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)
I Am: Celine Dion (2024) · Jun 29, 2024
410: Writer/director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel on his Cannes winning, first feature 'Armand', the brilliant Renate Reinsve & his grandfather Ingmar Bergman.
Armand (2024) · Jun 7, 2024
Episode 407: Performances! Dispatch from the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. ('Kinds of Kindness' 'Armand' 'Emilia Perez' 'Limonov: The Ballad')
Kinds of Kindness (2024) · May 20, 2024
406 'Megalopolis'! Highlights from the Cannes 2024 press conference with Francis Ford Coppola and a discussion of the film with critic John Bleasdale ('Writers on Film' podcast)
Megalopolis (2024) · May 18, 2024
402: The brilliant Kathryn Hunter! Working with Coppola on 'Megalopolis', 'The Tragedy of Macbeth', 'Poor Things', 'Andor'.
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) · May 7, 2024
399: 'Shōgun'; A conversation with director Hiromi Kamata
Shogun Assassin (1980) · Apr 23, 2024
377: A conversation with Sofia Coppola ('Priscilla')
Priscilla (2023) · Mar 21, 2024
387: Creating the sounds of evil. "The Zone of Interest' sound designer Johnnie Burn ('Poor Things' 'Nope')
The Zone of Interest (2023) · Mar 4, 2024
390: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy & writer/director Andrew Haigh 'All of Us Strangers'
All of Us Strangers (2023) · Feb 21, 2024
378: 'The writer in crisis'. We explore the many 'writers in crisis' characters in film. With Sean Fennessey (Host of 'The Big Picture', Head of Content at The Ringer)
The Big Picture (1989) · Nov 12, 2023
376: Director & co-writer Mika Gustafson on her award-winning (Venice & London Film Festival) debut feature 'Paradise is Burning'
Paradise Is Burning (2023) · Oct 24, 2023
374: Errol Morris, the Academy Award winning filmmaker on his John le Carré doc ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’, and truth & betrayal.
The Pigeon Tunnel (2023) · Oct 16, 2023
373: Costume Designer Jacqueline West & Osage Wardrobe Consultant Julie O’Keefe 'Killers of the Flower Moon'
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) · Oct 9, 2023
367: A conversation with award-winning casting director John Papsidera. ('Oppenheimer')
Oppenheimer (2023) · Oct 1, 2023
370: REVISIT our conversation with Milad Alami writer/director 'Opponent', Sweden's Oscar submission.
Opponent (2023) · Sep 21, 2023
358: Actor Grace Edwards on her stellar performance in 'Asteroid City' & working with director Wes Anderson.
Asteroid City (2023) · Jun 23, 2023
347: Kylie Rogers ('Beau is Afraid' 'Yellowstone')
Beau Is Afraid (2023) · Apr 21, 2023
344: Writer/director Milad Alami 'Opponent'
Opponent (2023) · Apr 4, 2023
336: Lesley Paterson 'All Quiet On the Western Front'. Oscar nominated screenwriter, producer & world champion triathlete!
All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) · Mar 1, 2023
333. Dispatch 2 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Director Alison Millar on her brilliant doc 'Lyra'- on the life, work and tragic death of her friend, Northern Ireland’s fearless young reporter Lyra McKee
Lyra (2022) · Feb 15, 2023
332: Dispatch 1 from The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Interviews with artisans. Director Todd Field 'Tar', composer Ryan Lott 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' and many more!
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) · Feb 14, 2023
329: REVISIT: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy
The Menu (2022) · Feb 6, 2023
325: A podcast special! Masterclass with Tom Hanks & Rolf Lassgård and producers Rita Wilson & Fredrik Wikström Nicastro. 'A Man Called Otto'
A Man Called Otto (2022) · Jan 21, 2023
319: Actor Sheila McCarthy. On the powerful themes, questions & truths of "Women Talking"
Women Talking (2022) · Dec 6, 2022
315: Writers Will Tracy (Succession) & Seth Reiss (The Onion) on their delicious, new satire 'The Menu', starring Ralph Fiennes & Anya Taylor-Joy
The Menu (2022) · Dec 2, 2022
316: Hollywood on Hollywood. 'Babylon' and a deep dive into movies about the industry! With critic Zoë Rose Bryant
Babylon (2022) · Nov 22, 2022
314: Laura Poitras, director 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed'. On photographer Nan Goldin's life and her fight to 'take down' the billionaire Sackler family.
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) · Nov 11, 2022
307: Our 'Blonde' discussion with culture reporter Candice Frederick!
Blonde (2022) · Oct 3, 2022
306 Best of: It's a Daisy Edgar-Jones year! A conversation with the star of 'Where the Crawdads Sing'.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) · Oct 1, 2022
303: A conversation with writer/director Kogonada ('After Yang') on memory, feeling displaced, the love of film & more! (Revisit)
After Yang (2022) · Sep 13, 2022
302: Venice Film Festival 2022 writer/director Rebecca Zlotowski on her very personal film 'Other People’s Children', reimagining the image of the step-mother & female allies.
Other People (2022) · Sep 12, 2022
300: A conversation with Jared Harris and director Adrian Sibley "The Ghost of Richard Harris" from the Venice Film Festival 2022
The Ghost of Richard Harris (2022) · Sep 5, 2022
299: Venice Film Festival! 'Bones and All' ''All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, 'Monica', 'Master Gardner' with critic Raphael Abraham (Financial Times)
Bones and All (2022) · Sep 4, 2022
298: Venice Film Festival 2022 dispatch! Reviews & first reactions: 'Tár' and 'Bardo'. With critic Tom O'Brien (NextBestPicture.com)
TÁR (2022) · Sep 1, 2022
297: Venice Film Festival 2022 dispatch. Review and first reactions, "White Noise"! With critic John Bleasdale.
White Noise (2022) · Aug 31, 2022
Episode 295: Director Sara Dosa "Fire of Love". Love, passion & volcanos.
Fire of Love (2022) · Aug 25, 2022
293: It's a Daisy Edgar-Jones year! A conversation with the star of 'Where the Crawdads Sing'.
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022) · Aug 17, 2022
292: A conversation with the great Keke Palmer! ('Nope')
Nope (2022) · Aug 10, 2022
290: The cast & creators of the new series 'A League of Their Own'! (Amazon Prime)
A League of Their Own (1992) · Aug 3, 2022
285: A conversation with 4-time Academy Award Winner Catherine Martin ('Elvis')!
Elvis (2022) · Jun 21, 2022
278: We revisit our talk with actor Rick Rossovich! On the legacy of Top Gun, ahead of the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.
Top Gun (1986) · Apr 25, 2022
278: We revisit our talk with actor Rick Rossovich! On the legacy of Top Gun, ahead of the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022) · Apr 25, 2022
277: Actor Billy Magnussen (Barry Levinsons' 'The Survivor' & 'Made for Love' season 2, HBO Max)
The Survivor (2022) · Apr 20, 2022
273: Kyle Buchanan is back! We talk Oscar predictions and his new book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road”
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) · Mar 23, 2022
272: Kogonada "After Yang" "Pachinko"
After Yang (2022) · Mar 16, 2022
267: Writer/director Kenneth Branagh, 'Belfast'
Belfast (2021) · Feb 15, 2022
266: A conversation with Oscar nominee screenwriter/director Eskil Vogt (co-writer 'The Worst Person in The World', writer/director 'The Innocents')
The Worst Person in the World (2021) · Feb 10, 2022
264: A conversation with actor Jamie Dornan, 'Belfast'!
Belfast (2021) · Feb 1, 2022
253: Joachim Trier, director/co-writer 'The Worst Person in the World'
The Worst Person in the World (2021) · Feb 1, 2022
256: A special episode! Kirsten Dunst & Benedict Cumberbatch 'The Power Of The Dog'
The Power of the Dog (2021) · Nov 25, 2021
248: The era of Arian Moayed! On 'Succession' s3, Netflix 'Inventing Anna', 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' & much more.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) · Nov 20, 2021
251: Actor Reed Birney "Mass"
Mass (2021) · Nov 1, 2021
240: Jonas Poher Rasmussen director of the extraordinary, Sundance award winning documentary 'Flee'
Flee (2021) · Aug 15, 2021
234: Summer Revisit! Bo Burnham ('Promising Young Woman')
Promising Young Woman (2020) · Jul 3, 2021
217: Bo Burnham 'Promising Young Woman'
Promising Young Woman (2020) · Mar 23, 2021
213: Scandals & reckonings. We talk Whedon, Carano and 'Framing Britney Spears' with Megan McLachlan
Framing Britney Spears (2021) · Feb 18, 2021
210: Director Edoardo Ponti on 'The Life Ahead', directing his mother Sophia Loren and more
The Life Ahead (2020) · Jan 29, 2021
207: Actor Paul Raci 'Sound of Metal'
Sound of Metal (2020) · Jan 10, 2021
Episode 202: Arliss Howard ("Mank")
Mank (2020) · Nov 13, 2020
Episode 200: Viggo Mortensen ('Falling')
Falling (2020) · Oct 29, 2020
Episode 197: Kirsten Johnson "Dick Johnson is Dead"
Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020) · Oct 7, 2020
Epi 196 Alicia Vikander 'The Glorias', playing icon Gloria Steinem & finding her own voice (Replay)
The Glorias (2020) · Sep 21, 2020
Episode 189: Danny Trejo 'Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo'
Inmate #1: The Rise of Danny Trejo (2019) · Aug 5, 2020
Episode 179: John Turturro "The Jesus Rolls"
The Jesus Rolls (2019) · May 6, 2020
OSCAR WEEK on Pop Culture Confidential: Nominee Regina Graves Set Decortor 'The Irishman'
The Irishman (2019) · Feb 3, 2020
REVISITING: Barbara Ling, Production Designer on Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) · Jan 5, 2020
REVISITING: Mary Ramos, Music Supervisor on Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood'
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) · Jan 5, 2020
Episode 155: Award-winning set decorator Regina Graves 'The Irishman'
The Irishman (2019) · Nov 27, 2019
Episode 154: Director Jay Roach "Bombshell"
Bombshell (2019) · Nov 20, 2019
Episode 150: Writer/Director Levan Akin 'And Then We Danced'
And Then We Danced (2019) · Sep 24, 2019
Episode 146: Vilhelm Blomgren, 'Midsommar'
Midsommar (2019) · Aug 20, 2019
Epi 137 Nicholas Monsour editor "US". On Jordan Peele, editing horror, all those audience theories
Us (2019) · Apr 5, 2019
Epi 135 Writer Daniel Stiepleman 'On The Basis Of Sex', writing his aunt Ruth Bader Ginsburg's story
On the Basis of Sex (2018) · Mar 6, 2019
Episode 131: Tony McNamara, screenwriter "The Favourite"
The Favourite (2018) · Jan 23, 2019
Episode 130: Director Rich Moore, Producer Clark Spencer "Ralph Breaks The Internet" + Spring TV
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) · Jan 17, 2019
128:Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Mortimer, Ben Whishaw,Rob Marshall 'Mary Poppins Returns'
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) · Dec 20, 2018
Episode 125: Garrard Conley, author ‘Boy Erased' + our Halloween movie/TV special
Boy Erased (2018) · Oct 31, 2018
Episode 124: Luke Davies, Screenwriter (‘Lion’ 'Beautiful Boy’)
Beautiful Boy (2018) · Oct 24, 2018
Episode 123: cinematographer Linus Sandgren (“First Man”) + an update on the Oscar race!
First Man (2018) · Oct 19, 2018
Episode 121: Björn Runge, director "The Wife”
The Wife (2017) · Oct 5, 2018
Episode 120: Writer/Director Paul Schrader “First Reformed"
First Reformed (2018) · Sep 26, 2018
Episode 114: “Boy Erased” Garrard Conley
Boy Erased (2018) · Aug 28, 2018
Episode 100: Ruth E. Carter on costuming 'Black Panther' & Liz Shannon Miller of IndieWire
Black Panther (2018) · Jun 6, 2018
Episode 93: Ellen Lewis on casting 'The Post'
The Post (2017) · Jan 18, 2018
Episode 79: Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema - Dunkirk
Dunkirk (2017) · Aug 2, 2017
Episode 64: Damien Chazelle & Mandy Moore – La La Land
La La Land (2016) · Jan 18, 2017
Episode 63: Kirsten Johnson - Director of ‘Cameraperson'
Cameraperson (2016) · Jan 11, 2017
Episode 59: Steven Knight, Screenwriter of ‘Allied’
Allied (2016) · Dec 8, 2016
Episode 58: Dr. Jessica Coon ‘Arrival’ & Vinzenz Kiefer ‘Jason Bourne’
Jason Bourne (2016) · Dec 1, 2016
Episode 57: Morgan Spurlock, director of “Rats”
Rats (2003) · Nov 12, 2016
Episode 54: 'Life, Animated' director Roger Ross Williams and The Playlist’s Jessica Kiang
Life, Animated (2016) · Oct 19, 2016
Episode 31: From Pulp Fiction to Spotlight - Master Class with Music Supervisor Mary Ramos
Pulp Fiction (1994) · Aug 18, 2016
Episode 31: From Pulp Fiction to Spotlight - Master Class with Music Supervisor Mary Ramos
Spotlight (2015) · Aug 18, 2016
Episode 30: The ‘Spotlight’ Special
Spotlight (2015) · Aug 18, 2016
Episode 23: Mad as Hell - The Journalism Genre in Hollywood
Network (1976) · Jan 17, 2016
Episode 20: Listen to Me Marlon
Listen to Me Marlon (2015) · Nov 20, 2015
Episode 19: ‘The Leftovers’ Carrie Coon & the Science of Good TV
Spectre (2015) · Nov 6, 2015