Podcasts · TV & Film

Pop Culture Confidential

Pop Culture Confidential

300 episodes

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.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. 501: Breaking Down the 2026 BAFTA & WGA Nominations (Guest Eoin Daly)

    · 37 min

    Awards season 2026 continues to steamroll ahead. Just days after the Oscar nominations, the BAFTA and WGA nominations have arrived. To help break it all down, Christina is joined by Eoin Daly, co-host of the Shhh, My…

  2. Episode 500: Breaking Down the 2026 Oscar Nominations! (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 28 min

    Christina & Ryan McQuade (of AwardsWatch.com) break down the 2026 Oscar nominations, diving into the biggest surprises, snubs, historic milestones, and what it all means for the race ahead! Learn more about your ad…

  3. 499: Our Most Anticipated Movies 2026 (Guests Jay Ledbetter & Ryan McQuade)

    · 2 h 22 min

    2026 is shaping up to be an incredible year for cinema, from visionary auteurs to indie gems and everything in between. Christina is joined by Jay Ledbetter and Ryan McQuade from the Director Watch Podcast for a…

  4. 498: A Conversation with Production Designer Fiona Crombie on Hamnet, Love, Grief, and Shakespeare

    · 29 min

    In this episode of Pop Culture Confidential, Christina sits down with prize-winning production designer Fiona Crombie, whose work has shaped some of the most visually striking films of recent years. They talk in depth…

  5. 497. Golden Globes 2026 Reactions! The Wins & the Surprises. (Guest Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 08 min

    Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to break down the Golden Globes 2026! The winners, the losers, the speeches, the cringe... and what it all means for the Oscars race. Learn more about your ad…

  6. 496: Critics Choice Awards Instant Reactions With Christina Birro & Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch)

    · 45 min

    For the first episode of the year, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to recap the Critics Choice Awards 2026, the first televised awards show of the season! Fresh off attending the ceremony, they…

  7. 495: Counting Down Our 20 Best Movies of 2025 (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

    · 2 h 31 min

    It’s a huge episode! Ryan McQuade ( Executive Editor, AwardsWatch) joins Christina as they countdown their 20 best movies of 2025. What a year of cinema it has been! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

  8. 494: Our Reactions to the Latest Critics Awards, Critics Choice, Globes Nominations & the Road to the Oscars (w/ Ryan McQuade)

    · 50 min

    Awards season is officially in full swing! Prizes and nominations are rolling in from critics groups, the Critics Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, and more. It’s been one announcement after another and we’re breaking…

  9. 493: Alexander Skarsgård. Live Interview from the Stockholm International Film Festival

    · 26 min

    This week’s episode is a special one: Christina’s interview with actor/producer Alexander Skarsgård! The interview was recorded live at the Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 2025), where he received the 2025…

  10. 492: The Biggest Pop Culture Moments of 2025! (Guest Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 23 min

    2025 was a year in pop culture like no other! Celebrities “went to space,” Kendrick blew our minds at the Super Bowl, demons were hunted, SNL turned 50, and kiss cams caused chaos. It was a massive year for film and…

  11. 491: The Top Movie Performances of 2025 (with Guest Erik Anderson of AwardsWatch)

    · 1 h 02 min

    As we head into the final weeks of the year, we couldn’t resist diving into the incredible performances that have already defined 2025. It’s been an extraordinary year at the movies, full of bold artistic swings,…

  12. 490: A Conversation with Michael Strassner, Writer and Star of ‘The Baltimorons’

    · 28 min

    Christina talks with writer/actor/comedian Michael Strassner about his new film The Baltimorons, directed by Jay Duplass, a story shaped by the spirit of Baltimore and the most personal chapters of Strassner’s own…

  13. 489: Benny Safdie. Live Interview from the Stockholm International Film Festival

    · 37 min

    This week’s episode is a special one: Christina’s interview with writer and director Benny Safdie at the Stockholm International Film Festival (Nov 2025), where he was also honored with the Stockholm Visionary Award.…

  14. 488: Coming Attractions: End of the Year Movie Roundup (Guest Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 19 min

    It’s preview time! Christina is once again joined by critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch.com) to preview the most exciting movie titles coming to theaters and streaming for the rest of the year! From awards hopefuls like…

  15. 487: A Conversation with Rebecca Miller . On 'Mr. Scorsese', Her Portrait of the Filmmaker

    · 18 min

    Filmmaker Rebecca Miller joins Christina to talk about her remarkable new series Mr. Scorsese , a five-part portrait of Martin Scorsese, now streaming on Apple TV+. The series offers a rare and intimate look at the…

  16. 486: A Conversation With Gustaf Skarsgård ('To Cook A Bear')

    · 26 min

    In this episode, Christina talks with actor Gustaf Skarsgård, who is powerful in the historical crime drama To Cook a Bear(Hulu/Disney+), based on the bestselling novel by Mikael Niemi. They discuss embodying the…

  17. 485: Awards Season Heats Up: Contenders & Predictions / Plus: Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 20 min

    We’re diving into the state of the awards season race! Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com joins us to break down the latest contenders and predictions. Then, a discussion on Rebecca Miller’s Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+), a…

  18. 484: From One Battle After Another and Hamnet to Sentimental Value and Weapons - The 2025 Cinematic Trend: Parenthood on Film (Guest: Critic J. Don Birnam)

    · 47 min

    From One Battle After Another, Jay Kelly, Hamnet, and Weapons, to Sentimental Value and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and more, filmmakers this year can’t seem to escape one theme: parents. Guilt, loss, and legacy are…

  19. 483: Becoming Aunt Gladys: The Makeup & Special Effects Behind Weapons (Guests: Artisans Leo Satkovich & Jason Collins)

    · 39 min

    We’re pulling back the curtain on one of modern horror’s most unforgettable new icons: Aunt Gladys from Zach Cregger’s smash hit Weapons. Christina is joined by makeup department head Leo Satkovich and special makeup…

  20. 482: A Conversation with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Breakout Star of 'Sentimental Value'

    · 15 min

    In this episode, Christina is joined by rising star Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, recently named one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch, to talk about her role as Agnes in Joachim Trier’s Oscar-contending drama Sentimental…

  21. 481: “One Battle After Another” — Paul Thomas Anderson’s Cinematic Knockout (with Guest Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 11 min

    A Modern Masterpiece! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch.com to dive into Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Regina Hall, Chase…

  22. 480: A Conversation with Writer-Director Joachim Trier, 'Sentimental Value', Family & Relationships

    · 25 min

    Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value is the talk of the season, and Christina sits down with the acclaimed Norwegian director to dig into it. Featuring Renate Reinsve, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Stellan Skarsgård, and Elle…

  23. 479: And the Emmy Goes To… 2025 Emmys Predictions! (Guest Tyler Doster, AwardsWatch)

    · 43 min

    Hollywood turns its spotlight on television’s biggest night this Sunday — the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards! Christina is joined by Tyler Doster, TV Editor at AwardsWatch.com, to predict the major categories and discuss…

  24. 478: Telluride Dispatch: Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia & the Performances to Watch (Guests: The AwardsWatch Team)

    · 1 h 01 min

    All new Pop Culture Confidential: Telluride Dispatch! What a festival! Together with each of the incredible AwardsWatch.com team, we dive into the biggest conversations at Telluride — from Hamnet, Jay Kelly, Bugonia,…

  25. 477: Bruce Springsteen at the Movies: Looking Ahead to the Upcoming Biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere (w/ Ryan McQuade)

    · 52 min

    This week, Christina welcomes Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen on film — including a look ahead at Deliver Me From Nowhere, the highly anticipated biopic starring Jeremy Allen White.…

  26. Episode 476: Zach Cregger’s Weapons – Review & Deep Dive (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

    · 46 min

    In this episode, we dive into the phenomenon of Weapons, filmmaker Zach Cregger’s latest hit. From the success of Barbarian to this ambitious follow-up, Cregger has quickly become one of the most exciting names in…

  27. 475: The State of Cinema, 'Weapons', Nolan Fever, Telluride & More with Guest Sean Fennessey, The Big Picture

    · 56 min

    Christina welcomes back one of the sharpest voices in film — Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture — for a wide ranging conversation on the year in movies so far and what’s next. From Weapons and the horror/genre boom to…

  28. 474: 'Darkness Visible' – A New Book on Jonathan Glazer & Venice Film Festival Highlights (With Author And Critic John Bleasdale)

    · 1 h 26 min

    Author and critic John Bleasdale joins Christina to discuss his excellent new book, Darkness Visible: The Cinema of Jonathan Glazer—a deep dive into the work of the visionary director behind Sexy Beast, Birth, Under…

  29. 473: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Cancelled — What It Means for Late Night. Plus Film Festival Lineups & Emmy Nom Reactions! (with guest Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 28 min

    The industry was rocked by the news that CBS is cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and ending the franchise entirely in 2026. While CBS claims it’s purely a financial decision, speculation is swirling —…

  30. 472: Summer Encore — Taylor Dearden on ‘The Pitt,’ Medical Boot Camp & Crafting Dr. Mel King

    · 28 min

    As Emmy nominations approach, we’re revisiting one of our standout conversations of the year! Actor Taylor Dearden delivers a powerful performance as Dr. Mel King in The Pitt, the gripping medical drama now streaming…

  31. 471: The Odyssey Teaser, Summer Movie Reviews & More (Guest: Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 29 min

    From film news to fresh reviews — it’s a packed week on the show. We’re diving into some of the biggest releases of the summer, including 28 Years Later, Jurassic World: Rebirth, F1, The Materialists, and Eddington.…

  32. 470: Actor Alexej Manvelov — On His Standout Performance as Akram in 'Dept. Q' and His Remarkable Journey

    · 37 min

    We’re thrilled to welcome actor Alexej Manvelov to the show. His standout portrayal of Akram in Netflix’s hit Dept. Q has made the character one of this season’s most acclaimed and beloved. In Scott Frank’s adaptation…

  33. 469: Summer Screams —Horror Thrives in the Heat (with Guest Eoin Daly)

    · 38 min

    Summer may not be the official spooky season, but it’s long been a surprisingly perfect time for horror. From the 1975 release of Jaws—which turns 50 this year!—to Poltergeist, Friday the 13th, and A24’s Hereditary…

  34. 468: Best Films of the Decade (So Far!) with Guest Ryan McQuade

    · 1 h 31 min

    On this episode, Christina is joined by writer and critic Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for the fun (and difficult!) exercise of ranking their favorite films of the decade so far, from 2020 through 2024. Tune in for…

  35. 467: A Conversation with Tony Gilroy — Andor Season 2, Revolution, and the Forces & Choices That Drive Us

    · 36 min

    Creator of Andor and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton, The Bourne films) joins Christina for a wide-ranging conversation about the groundbreaking Star Wars prequel series — a show that’s as…

  36. Episode 466: And That’s a Wrap: Cannes 2025 with guest Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch

    · 1 h 05 min

    Joining Christina is film critic and writer Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch as they wrap up the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. From what it was like covering this year’s festival, to the Palme d’Or winners, major Neon and MUBI…

  37. 465: Interview: Stellan Skarsgård (‘Sentimental Value’)

    · 12 min

    In this special dispatch from the Croisette, Christina is joined by the brilliant and effortlessly cool Stellan Skarsgård, starring in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value—a strong Palme d’Or contender at this year’s…

  38. 464: Dispatch 4 from Cannes 2025: The Phoenician Scheme, Pillion, Urchin & The Chronology of Water. Guest John Bleasdale, critic & author

    · 37 min

    Christina is joined by critic and author John Bleasdale (The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the most talked-about titles at the…

  39. 463: Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025: Eddington, The Plague, Sound of Falling & Mission: Impossible with Ryan McQuade

    · 30 min

    🎬 Dispatch 3 from Cannes 2025 Christina is joined once again by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a new dispatch from the Croisette. They dive into some of the festival’s buzziest titles so far, including Ari Aster’s…

  40. 462: Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025 with Ryan McQuade! – On Tom Cruise & McQuarrie, Neon’s Cannes Reign & De Niro

    · 24 min

    🎬 Dispatch 2 from Cannes 2025! Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) for a dispatch from the Croisette. They break down Christopher McQuarrie’s Q&A—featuring a surprise appearance by Tom Cruise—Neon’s…

  41. 461: Dispatch 1 from Cannes 2025 – From the Opening Press Conference with Jury President Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & More

    · 4:30

    • Christina’s first dispatch from Cannes 2025! Highlights from the Opening Press Conference with Juliette Binoche, Jeremy Strong & more—on festival expectations, Trump’s tariffs, and the new red carpet dress rules.…

  42. Special Episode! AwardsWatch Podcast Ep. 287 – 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview with Guest Christina Birro

    · 56 min

    Sharing a special episode! Christina joined the AwardsWatch podcast for the 78th Cannes Film Festival Preview . On episode 287 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by Editor-In-Chief…

  43. 460: Countdown to Cannes — Mission: Impossible, The Franchise, and The Final Reckoning (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)

    · 54 min

    We’re just days away from the 78th Cannes Film Festival, and one of the most anticipated moments is the premiere of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on May 14 at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Tom Cruise returns…

  44. 459: A Conversation With Barbie Ferreira ('Euphoria', 'Nope') On Her New Film 'Bob Trevino Likes It'

    · 28 min

    On the show this week: the exceptionally talented Barbie Ferreira, best known for her breakout role as Kat Hernandez on HBO’s Euphoria. Christina talks with Barbie about her wonderful new film Bob Trevino Likes It,…

  45. 458: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Oscar Rule Changes & Iconic Movie Twins (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)

    · 1 h 18 min

    This week, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade, Executive Editor of AwardsWatch, to dive into Sinners—Ryan Coogler’s ambitious, multilayered, and visually stunning new film. They also break down the latest Oscar rule…

  46. 457: Emmy-Winning Editor & Co-Producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us') Unpacks the Powerful & Heartbreaking Season 2, Episode 2

    · 33 min

    Emmy-winning editor and co-producer Timothy Good ('The Last of Us') joins Christina to break down the episode everyone’s talking about — Season 2, Episode 2, “Through the Valley.” This unforgettable episode took over…

  47. 456: Our Reactions to the Cannes Film Festival 2025 Lineup (with Ryan McQuade, AwardsWatch)

    · 1 h 26 min

    The 2025 Cannes lineup was just announced, and there’s a lot to talk about. Ryan McQuade (AwardsWatch) joins Christina to break down the buzziest titles heading to the Croisette—including Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Kelly…

  48. 455: Inside 'Adolescence': A Conversation with Actor Christine Tremarco

    · 29 min

    Christina is honored to speak with the brilliant Christine Tremarco from the powerful, hit series Adolescence. Written by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the show follows a 13-year-old boy named Jamie who is arrested…

  49. 453: We Talk TV – Adolescence, Severance, The White Lotus, The Studio & More (with Tyler Doster, AwardsWatch)

    · 39 min

    On this episode of Pop Culture Confidential, we’re diving deep into the latest TV must-watches! Join us as we break down some of the biggest shows of the moment—Severance, The White Lotus, and The Pitt—all heading…

  50. 454: Coming Soon! Trailer Talk for the Most Anticipated Movies (With Ryan McQuade)

    · 1 h 23 min

    In this episode, Christina is joined by Ryan McQuade of AwardsWatch to break down the latest trailers for some of the year’s most anticipated upcoming movies. Some look awesome, some look... questionable — and a few…

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