Sam Sanders
Sam Sanders is a correspondent and host of It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders at NPR. In the show, Sanders engages with journalists, actors, musicians, and listeners to gain the kind of understanding about news and popular culture that can only be reached through conversation. The podcast releases two episodes each week: a "deep dive" interview on Tuesdays, as well as a Friday wrap of the week's news.
Previously, as a key member of NPR's election unit, Sam covered the intersection of culture, pop culture, and politics in the 2016 election, and embedded with the Bernie Sanders campaign for several months. He was also one of the original co-hosts of NPR's Politics Podcast, which launched in 2015.
Sanders joined NPR in 2009 as a Kroc Fellow, and since then has worn many hats within the organization, including field producer and breaking news reporter. He's spent time at three Member stations as well: WUNC in North Carolina, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and WBUR in Boston, as an intern for On Point.
Sanders graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2009 with a master's degree in public policy, with a focus on media and politics. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, with a double major in political science and music.
In his free time, Sanders runs, eats bacon, and continues his love/hate relationship with Twitter.
-
Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Lizzo playing James Madison's flute, Usher's thirst traps, and more. -
Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Horror in the High Desert, Emily the Criminal, and more.
-
Booster's film Fire Island, which he wrote and stars in, was inspired by the Jane Austen novel. The movie is a rom-com about a group of gay friends and explores racism and classism in their community.
-
Singer-songwriter Yebba is out with her debut album, Dawn, named after her late mom. She describes the emotional toll she suffered making the album.
-
Michaela Coel has earned acclaim for her show: I May Destroy You, which explored sexual assault and consent. Her book, Misfits: A Personal Manifesto, details her experiences in TV.
-
Torrey Peters' new book features three people who struggle with parenthood and family questions. She says a transgender lens can help everyone understand the limits of how we define gender.
-
How many Black friends do you have? The comedian Ziwe Fumudoh is drawing praise, laughs and discomfort for the direct questions she asks her white guests on her Instagram Live show.
-
Last year, Chelsea Handler made a Netflix documentary called Hello, Privilege. It's Me, Chelsea, in which she explored white privilege. She asks how to be a better white person to people of color.
-
America's birthrate continues to decline, and young people are having less sex, amid career pressures and a confusing online dating scene. The declining fertility rate raises alarms for the economy.
-
Drag is experiencing a golden age, thanks to TV's RuPaul's Drag Race. But the tradition of drag performance has its roots as far back as Greece and has gone through a radical evolution in the U.S.
