Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry

Audie Cornish & Ari Shapiro On Ambition, Purpose, Poetry

From The Sam Sanders Show by KCRW & Sam Sanders

June 5, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 119

About this episode

Audie Cornish and Ari Shapiro join Sam Sanders to discuss the phenomenon of Blue Dot Fever and share their favorite uplifting pieces of pop culture.

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.

People in this episode

Host: Sam Sanders

Guests: Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro

Topics covered

  • ambition
  • purpose
  • pop culture
  • economics
  • concert tours

Keywords

  • Blue Dot Fever
  • concert tours
  • pop culture
  • Ambition
  • Ari Shapiro
  • Audie Cornish
  • Modern Scriptures
  • KCRW

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CNN

Books & works: Engagement Party, Blue Dot Fever, Modern Scriptures, Post Malone, Pussycat Dolls

Places: LA

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