About this episode

Sam Sanders is joined by Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix to discuss the current state of pop culture in 2026, exploring themes like monoculture and celebrity overexposure.

There’s no denying 2026 has been chaotic — but what about pop culture? Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix (hosts of Lemme Say This ) join Sam to break down the biggest moments of the year so far — and what they reveal about where culture is headed. From reality TV dominating the conversation to debates about monoculture, celebrity overexposure, and what actually breaks through now, they unpack what’s working, what’s not, and why everything feels louder than ever. Plus: Zendaya’s takeover, Timothée Chalamet discourse, Olympic breakout stars like Alysa Liu, and our enduring obsession with ‘Heated Rivalry.’ 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: Hunter Harris, Peyton Dix

Topics covered

• pop culture
• monoculture
• reality TV
• celebrity
• cultural trends

Keywords

• pop culture
• monoculture
• reality TV
• celebrity overexposure
• cultural trends

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Heated Rivalry

More episodes of The Sam Sanders Show

• Is Mariah Carey the Greatest American Songwriter? · May 5, 2026 · 28 min
• Is the Met Gala Still Relevant? · April 28, 2026 · 33 min
• Was Justin Bieber’s Coachella Set Lazy… or Genius? · April 21, 2026 · 23 min
• Why Do We Still Love the ‘90s? · April 17, 2026 · 45 min
• Is Kanye Forgiven? · April 14, 2026 · 25 min
• Aparna Nancherla: Should We All Ditch the Internet? · April 10, 2026 · 37 min

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