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Pop Culture Happy Hour

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Rating
★★★★★
4.5
from
11508 reviews
This podcast has
1132 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
NPR
Explicit
No
Date created
2008/04/18
Latest episode
2026/10/02
Average duration
25 min.
Release period
2 days

Description

Get obsessed with us. Four days a week, Pop Culture Happy Hour serves you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, TV, music, books, videogames and more. Join arts journalists Linda Holmes, Glen Weldon, Stephen Thompson, and Aisha Harris - plus a rotating cast of guest pop culture aficionados. The Happy Hour team leaves room at the table for exploring a range of reactions and opinions on every bit of the pop universe. From lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between, they take it all with a shot of cheer.Make your happy hour even happier with Pop Culture Happy Hour Plus! Your subscription supports the podcast and unlocks a sponsor-free feed. Learn more at plus.npr.org/happyhour

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Digger and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/10/02
Digger is a loud, surprising, audacious, and sure-to-be-polarizing entry in this year’s Oscars race. The film stars Tom Cruise as a powerful oil baron who’s helped unleash an existential threat on the world — but that’s only the beginning. The looming devastation attracts the attention of the president (John Goodman) and a well-intentioned scientist (Riz Ahmed). The film takes some pretty big narrative swings along the way. But will Digger work for everyone? Want more Tom Cruise? Check out these episodes:In 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' Tom Cruise is too controlled 'Top Gun: Maverick' puts Tom Cruise back in the cockpit, 36 years later 'Mission: Impossible' is back, but will you accept it, or will it self-destruct? Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
A Different World
2026/09/30
The TV series A Different World has loomed large in the culture since ending in the ‘90s, and now school is back in session in a new sequel series on Netflix. The show welcomes a new generation of students to the fictional HBCU Hillman College, and brings back notable alumni like Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). And while the world is a lot different than it was 30-plus years ago, in a lot of ways, it’s also kind of the same. If you’re looking for more nostalgia, Check out these episodes:‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is a comfy nostalgia trip ‘Practical Magic 2’ wants to cast a spell of '90s nostalgia How you feel about 'Bel-Air' may depend upon how you feel about CW dramas Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Forgotten Island
2026/09/29
Forgotten Island is a wonderful new animated feature from the team that brought you Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. We’re introduced to childhood friends Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano). One is a free spirit, the other an aspiring scientist, and they’re both getting ready to go their separate ways. But during their last night together, they’re transported to a magical island. The film is full of mythological creatures and fantastical settings, but it’s also rooted in friendship and memory. If you’re looking for more animated epics, check out these episodes:Nature needs a little help in the inventive Pixar movie ‘Hoppers’'The Wild Robot' is grand and gorgeous, with big feelings'The Super Mario Galaxy Movie' remembers every Nintendo moment ever Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
The Love Hypothesis
2026/09/28
The Love Hypothesis brings the beloved trope of fake dating to the world of science and academia – but does it bring a fresh take to the bestselling book by Ali Hazelwood? The new Prime Video movie follows Stanford graduate student Olive (Lili Reinhart). Her best friend Anh (Rachel Marsh) is holding back from pursuing a guy because she thinks Olive is interested in him. Olive wants Anh to follow her heart, so she lands in a fake-dating situation with a notoriously harsh post-doc Adam (Tom Bateman), who for reasons of his own agrees to be her pretend boyfriend.  If you’re looking for more romantic comedies, check out these episodes:Olivia Wilde is a problematic dom in 'I Want Your Sex'‘Office Romance’ stars J.Lo as a CEO with a bad case of Brett Goldstein‘You, Me & Tuscany' has got us lost in the pasta sauce Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Primetime and What's Making Us Happy
2026/09/25
The new docudrama Primetime is a weird and highly fictionalized account of the meteoric rise of To Catch a Predator. Robert Pattinson plays host Chris Hansen, who is struggling to get bigger ratings. Hansen and his team work with local law enforcement to drag the accused sexual abusers of minors before the camera and arrest them. But does director Lance Oppenheim’s highly stylized approach work, or leave viewers feeling empty?  If you’re looking for more dramas loosely inspired by real people, check out:‘Tony’ is a biopic that cooksIn 'Marty Supreme,' Timothée Chalamet is good at being supremely annoying‘Blue Moon’ will bewitch, bother and bewilder you Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Jay-Z
2026/09/24
Jay-Z has been everywhere lately. It’s been 30 years since his acclaimed debut Reasonable Doubt, and he celebrated with a series of concerts at Yankee Stadium. And now there’s the HBO docuseries, JAŸ-Z In 8, in which Jay-Z dissects his catalog with producer Rick Rubin. The series hopes to further cement his legacy as one of the most revered lyricists of our time. But Jay-Z (or JAŸ-Z, as he’s styled it lately.) has always been a polarizing figure, both in his personal life and as a business mogul. So what does this series accomplish? Looking for more episodes about music? Check out these:Ariana Grande stares down the public eye in 'Petal'It's time to talk about how y'all act at music festivalsMost overused songs in movies Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Fall Guide
2026/09/23
This fall, there’s a lot of movies and TV on tap for you to see. And we're as excited for all of it to arrive as you are. So we’ve got a guide to what’s worth keeping on your radar, including Wicker, Wildwood, Wild Horse Nine, Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother and Avatar: Seven Havens. Looking for more buzzy movie recommendations? Check out these episodes: ‘Resident Evil' is a grisly, funny fight to survive‘Coyote vs. Acme’ is as looney as it needs to be ‘The End Of Oak Street’ is a prehistoric good time Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Great documentaries you don’t want to miss
2026/09/21
We talk a lot about movies and TV shows, but new documentary films sometimes can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. So today we’re highlighting some new documentaries that are worth your time and you don’t want to miss – including Remake, The History of Concrete, Black Zombie, The Oldest Person in the World, and You Had to Be There. Looking for more films that might have flown under your radar? Check out these episodes: Great movies you may have missed Fun movies you may have missed Our favorite movies on Tubi Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Resident Evil and What's Making Us Happy
2026/09/18
The new Resident Evil movie is wild, scary, inventive, fast-paced, and funny. That’s because the videogame-turned-film franchise got a reboot courtesy of director Zach Cregger (Weapons and Barbarian). Austin Abrams plays a medical courier tasked with transporting an important medical MacGuffin, and his journey goes haywire almost immediately as gnarly perils pile up. But does the movie’s blend of horror and comedy work for newcomers and longtime fans? Looking for more gore? Check out these episodes: In ‘Weapons’, the kids aren't at all right, not in the slightest, nope'Ready or Not 2' is a satanic and manic thrill In '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' the zombies aren’t the worst villains Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Last Seen
2026/09/17
The new Apple TV series Last Seen is a compelling thriller. It stars Patrick Brammall (Colin from Accounts) as an emergency dispatcher named who gets a call one night from a girl he thinks might be his long-missing daughter. The show follows him as he becomes obsessed with finding the truth, even at the cost of his own stability and sobriety. It also tackles some thorny questions about who stands to gain and lose from solving this case. Looking for other compelling thrillers? Check these out:Emmy Rossum tracks down a female serial killer in 'Furious'  TV heavy-hitters get dark in 'The Beast In Me' Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Crew Girl
2026/09/16
The Netflix TV show Crew Girl follows in the footsteps of successful coming-of-age dramas like Sterling Point and The Summer I Turned Pretty. It follows Teagan, an ambitious high school rower (Miku Martineau) trying to fit in on the boys’ crew team at a fancy prep school. The show’s got a plucky fish out of water, a love triangle with two very different boys (Kyle Clark and Sam Braun), and a dreamy sunlit setting. But does Crew Girl sink, swim, or row? Looking for more teen coming-of-age stories? Check out these episodes: You’ll want more time in ‘Sterling Point’ ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ has drama, romance and the music of Taylor Swift The delightful 'My Old Ass' seeks wisdom from hindsight Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
2026 Emmys recap
2026/09/15
This year’s Emmys were a big night for shows we really love, including Widow’s Bay, The Pitt and Pluribus. Actors Jean Smart and Matthew Rhys picked up wins, and Rhys made some history. And we’ll explain why we love Mariska Hargitay, who proved to be a game yet corny host. Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
How we choose ‘What’s Making Us Happy’ (NPR+)
2026/09/13
Glen and Linda answer a mailbag question about the “What’s Making Us Happy?” segment of the show. Send a mailbag question for the hosts to [email protected], and we may answer it in a future bonus episode.  Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Practical Magic 2 and What’s Making Us Happy
2026/09/11
In Practical Magic 2, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as witch sisters doomed by a family curse that means any man they love will die. They embark on a new chapter where the next generation is discovering the dangers of being born into this family. It’s been over 25 years since the original film. But will practical moviegoers be swept up in the magic twice? If you are gearing up for the witchy spooky season, check out these episode: In ‘Obsession,’ love hurts. It really, really, really hurts.Adam Scott checks in to a haunted inn in ‘Hokum’'Wicked: For Good' will bring you to tearsThe scary movies and books that still haunt us Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy
Unapologetically basic TV and movies that we love
2026/09/10
When you hear the words “pumpkin spice latte,” maybe you think of fall. But maybe you just think about the pleasures of something unapologetically basic. The same can be said for movies and TV. Today, we are revealing some of the most basic things we really love – including National Treasure, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Dateline NBC, and The People’s Court. Looking for more episodes like this? Check out:  We talk pop culture pumpkin spice lattes: they're basic but we love them We debate the best movies to watch on an airplane YouTube rabbit holes that are great distractions Connect with Pop Culture Happy Hour:Letterboxd / FacebookOur weekly newsletterSupport public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Podcast reviews

Read Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast reviews


4.5 out of 5
11508 reviews
★★★★★
Hagsploitated 2026/09/25
Happy Hour Indeed
Pop Culture Happy Hour is a lovely way to wind down on the drive home or a weekend afternoon. Aisha Harris, Linda Holmes, and Glen Weldon bring insigh...
★★★★★
Hkfhbndn 2026/09/20
Keeps me up to date
I thoroughly enjoy pop culture happy hour and the insights it gives me about shows that I enjoy. It has also led me to new must sees, must reads and m...
★★★★★
Sarah Ellesse 2026/09/07
Qua-li-ty
This show is a favorite and always on rotation! Your latest episode on the hidden money behind music was fantastic 👌 great discussion and interesting...
★★★★★
Cechanique 2026/09/04
PCHH is my favorite podcast
Been listening to it for years. Great hosts, all charming, delightful, and informed. It helps keep me up to date with all movies, shows, music, etc, e...
★★★★★
Gummiwise 2026/09/03
Timely Insightful Movie, Music and TV Reviews
I heard about this podcast through an ad for another show. That was several years ago now. I am grateful to be able to listen to the show as it is upd...
★★★★★
GTJAC 2026/09/02
Smart, Insightful, Funny
I love this podcast. It is like visiting with friends. Never miss a show. I appreciate all the hosts but Aisha… you are erudite, insightful and have a...
★★★★★
lilamillere 2026/09/02
Love this podcast!
I've been listening for years and it's always good. Love to hear the different takes and get excited about a new movie or tv show to watch (or book, o...
★★★★★
DisgrntldRN 2026/09/01
My go-to podcast in the movie theatre parking lot!
I love Pop Culture Happy Hour! One of my favorite things is to see a movie they have reviewed, prior to listening to that episode. I then head to my c...
★★★★★
Dee Dee Dame 2026/08/31
My OG podcast
This is the first podcast I ever listened to. It started the first month I started working on DC and I’ve listened for now 16 years! I love when the h...
★★★★★
lauramargerie 2026/08/31
My fave
I love this show. Episodes on are on a wide variety of topics and they’re shorter in length which makes them easy to fit in to the day. All the hosts ...
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