Month: July 2025

This week, special guest James Gunn joins panelists Adam Burke, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Paula Poundstone

This week’s discourse has revolved around the so-called “Gen Z stare” in professional and retail environments. But what are people really talking about?

Some call the rise of Botox, fillers and plastic surgery “aesthetic inflation.” How do we talk about their effects without being rude?

(Image credit: Anna Efetova/Getty Images)

After a memorable All-Star game, today we listen back to some favorite baseball interviews from the Fresh Air archives: conversations with Jamie Moyer, Mike Piazza, Tony La Russa and Brad Ausmus.

The internet and its discontents run wild in a new film by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, a prolifically offbeat Japanese filmmaker who’s spent the last four decades putting subversive spins on traditional genres.

A new HBO two-part documentary chronicles the life and work of one of America’s most successful singer/songwriters, Billy Joel.

Does talking to a cute stranger make your palms sweat? Confidence coach Regina Bonds offers advice on to how to put yourself out there, including how to show interest without coming off as creepy.

What’s the difference between “good” work and “bad” work? And how do we talk about the rise in plastic surgery without dehumanizing people for their choices?

Rates of plastic surgery are increasing, and minimally invasive procedures like filler and Botox are even more popular. It’s also evident on social media that people (including plastic surgeons) are very comfortable speculating and commenting on other people’s modifications, what procedures they might’ve had… and if they look busted.

Guest host B.A. Parker discusses the thorniness of beauty culture with Jessica DeFino, a beauty reporter, advice columnist at The Guardian, and writer of “The Review of Beauty” Substack, and Joan Summers, entertainment editor at Paper and co-host of the Eating for Free podcast.

Eddington plunges us back into that familiarly distressing time of the early days of the pandemic. Directed by Ari Aster (Hereditary and Midsommar) Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal star as political rivals in a small southwest town. Their conflict collides with the news of George Floyd’s murder, which brings tensions to a full-on boil for the whole community.

Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture

(Image credit: Richard Foreman)

Colbert confirmed the cancellation during a show taping on Thursday. CBS said the move was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”

(Image credit: Kevin Winter)