Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders

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 th...

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...

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 su...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 megaphone.fm/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 though...

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 peop...

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 Aristoc...

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 unico...

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" m...

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,...

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...

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 megaphone.fm/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 Se...

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...

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 inti...

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. A...

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 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 ha...

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...

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...

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 an...