What’s Worth Watching (and Skipping) in 2025 So Far?
The Sam Sanders Show
KCRW & Sam Sanders
4.9 • 709 Ratings
🗓️ 18 July 2025
⏱️ 52 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
We’re halfway through the year, so it’s time for a pop culture check-in!
Sam is joined by two of your faves — Linda Holmes (Pop Culture Happy Hour) and Ronald Young Jr. (Leaving the Theater, Weight For It) — to break down the best and worst of the year so far. From Sinners to The Studio to Love Island and the online discourse that kept us all talking. Plus, an epic fix for The White Lotus season four (you’re welcome).
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The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey listeners, it is the season of giving. Get that warm, fuzzy feeling. Make a donation, |
| 0:06.2 | pick out some cozy KCRW merch, or send meals to local food banks. Donate now at kCRW.com |
| 0:13.6 | slash give. |
| 0:20.4 | Hey, y'all, it's the Sam Sanders show from KCRW, where we ask big questions and give hot takes about the pop culture we love. |
| 0:30.9 | This week, the year 2025 is halfway done. |
| 0:35.6 | And a thing I like to do every year is take stock at the midway point. |
| 0:40.1 | Look back at what's been good, what's been bad, |
| 0:43.5 | and there's been a lot so far this year. |
| 0:46.4 | Another season of the White Lotus for all of the internet to pick apart, |
| 0:51.2 | Ryan Coogler's sinners made a bunch of money at the |
| 0:54.1 | box office and kind of upended |
| 0:56.2 | the Hollywood status quo. |
| 0:58.3 | And that's just a little bit. There's so much |
| 1:00.0 | to discuss. And since we |
| 1:02.0 | taped this chat, a lot of the projects |
| 1:04.0 | mentioned in this episode, |
| 1:06.1 | they scored Emmy nominations. |
| 1:08.0 | Congratulations to the Pitt |
| 1:09.5 | and the studio and a whole bunch of others. |
| 1:13.7 | Anywho, this chat, I'm joined by Linda Holmes, pop culture correspondent for NPR and host of |
| 1:20.0 | Pop Culture Happy Hour. Also, Ronald Young Jr. joins us. He's the host of the podcasts, |
| 1:26.8 | leaving the theater and wait for it. |
... |
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