KCRW

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Channel • 14 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated weekly
Music History

Music History

Series
Music

Music

Updated daily
Health & Fitness

Health & Fitness

Updated 07/06/2023
Documentary

Documentary

Every two weeks
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated weekly
Arts

Arts

Updated weekly

Season 5, Episode 1

Lori Lightning and the Baby Groupies

In 1973, the Sunset Strip was the epicenter of the rock n roll universe, where rockstar mythology was being built in real time. This is where fourteen-year old Valley girl Lori Lightning found herself, along with her clique of Sable Starr and Queenie Glam, known as the Baby Groupies, as they became the teenage rulers of the Hollywood music scene.

S5, E1

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35 min
Season 5, Episode 2

The Fairytale of Miss Pamela

The origin story of Miss Pamela Des Barres, the original queen of the groupies, author of the iconic memoir, I’m With the Band. From her mid-Sixties teenage bop room Beatlemania, to in a few short and sexy years, having Mick Jagger on the prowl looking for her – Pamela learned quickly, through friendships with Captain Beefhart and Frank Zappa, that she was something special.

S5, E2

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43 min
5 Jun

Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry

EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here Let’s have a life-affirming party with Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro! The longtime friends and journalists join Sam to explain the latest entry in the pop lexicon: Blue Dot Fever. It’s not a disease, but the terminology behind a recent wave of cancelled concert tours. From Post Malone to the Pussycat Dolls, tickets aren’t selling like they used to. They break down what the phenomenon says about our current economics and culture. Plus, they share their “Modern Scriptures,” the pieces of pop culture they can always count on to boost their spirits. Including a rapper’s inspiring message and a vintage poem that will bring all the feels. Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro’s new podcast from CNN is called Engagement Party. 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.

5 Jun

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54 min
Season 5, Episode 3

Girls Together Outrageously

Venice Beach teen Dee Dee Keel was desperate to find out what was happening behind the scenes, in the clubs and hotel rooms of Hollywood: so she tracked an intriguing local rocker, Jim Morrison, on his way to the Strip. That’s where she first saw Miss Pamela in all her groupie glamour. By 1969, Pamela Des Barres was no longer a Valley teenybopper; she had transformed into a rock icon-in-the-making. Her freaky clique of Laurel Canyon sprites were ordained by Frank Zappa to become the world’s first all-girl band of all-girl groupies, the GTOs. Soon, they had the likes of the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Who, and Led Zeppelin taking notice, just as Rolling Stone dedicated an entire issue to the groupie phenomenon and made the GTOs its centerfold.

S5, E3

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46 min
21 Apr

Was Justin Bieber’s Coachella Set Lazy… or Genius?

Justin Bieber headlined Coachella with a stripped down set that quickly divided the internet. While other artists had intricate sets, Justin sang on a mostly empty stage with nothing but a laptop. If you thought his set was lazy, 'The New Yorker' critic Vinson Cunnighman says you’re missing the point. Vinson joins Sam to talk about Bieberchella, what Justin was trying to convey about fame and loneliness, and asks how authentic do fans really want their pop stars to be? 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.

21 Apr

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23 min
19 May

The Movies You Should Be Watching This Summer (From Prestige Junkie)

Today we’re bringing you an episode from our friends at Prestige Junkie. Sam joins host Katey Rich to look ahead at this summer’s stacked box office lineup. From Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' and Spielberg’s 'Disclosure Day' to the movies you shouldn’t sleep on including Aleshea Harris’ directorial debut 'Is God Is' and Hannah Einbinder’s queer slasher film 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.' 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.

19 May

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31 min
15 May

Will You Be Jimmy O. Yang’s Friend?

Actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang is full of contradictions. On stage, he exudes a party guy vibe, always down for a good time. But in actuality, Jimmy is pretty serious. He edits his own stand-up specials and thinks a lot about starting a family. Jimmy works through all of this in his comedy. He tells Sam how he learned English as a teenager, his favorite karaoke song, and how he’s actively trying to make new friends. His latest special ‘Finally Home’ is out now. 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.

15 May

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54 min
07/06/2023

The Fight for Abortion Training

The overturning of Roe v. Wade has severely restricted how doctors can access training in abortion care and it's already having a devastating ripple effect on patients seeking all kinds of reproductive care. Two medical residents in abortion-restricted states fight for training and for the future health of their patients. Plus, the centuries-long battle over who gets access to abortion training in the first place. Transcript at kcrw.com/bodies.

07/06/2023

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41 min
9 Jun

Why So Many People Are Falling In Love With AI Chatbots

Today we’re sharing an episode of 'Apple News In Conversation,' guest hosted by Sam! A medieval-monster slayer. A tiny alien named Roscoe. A talking plate of spaghetti. These are just a few of the customizable companions available through AI-chatbot apps like Kindroid, Tolan, and Character.AI. In her latest piece for The New Yorker, journalist Anna Wiener explores the rapidly expanding world of these products and the people who use them. Sam talked to her about the users she met who are in relationships with AI chatbots, the Silicon Valley creators building them, and the risks of forming emotional bonds with technology. Sign up for Sam’s Newsletter to get behind the scenes stuff from every interview each week. EVENT ALERT! Join us LIVE on June 28 at Dynasty Typewriter in LA. Get tickets here. The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.

9 Jun

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28 min
27 Mar

How Did Wordle Become a Pop Culture Icon?

A great piece of pop culture often includes cheating scandals, obsessed fans and some serious competition. We’re not talking about 'The Real Housewives'… But the NYT Games app! Everdeen Mason leads the Games Team at 'The New York Times.' She tells Sam about what goes into making Wordle, Connections, The Crossword and so much more. She also breaks down the challenge of keeping millions of players satisfied. Plus, Everdeen shares what she really thinks about cheating at Wordle. 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.

27 Mar

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51 min

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