Shamita Basu

You can find Scott Payne's memoir Codename Pale Horse on Apple Books and the podcast White Hot Hate featuring his story on Apple Podcasts.

And every weekend you can find new episodes of Apple News in Conversation in the Apple News app.

Just tap on the audio tab.

That's the little headphones at the bottom to find it.

This is In Conversation from Apple News.

I'm Shamita Basu.

Today, a look back at the year in culture.

What did you watch or listen to this year that really moved you?

It's a question worth asking at the end of every year as we take stock of what got us talking and thinking.

And when it comes to culture critics, there are two people whose takes I always love hearing, even if I don't agree with them, and sometimes especially if I haven't seen or heard the thing they're really excited about.

It's a horror movie.

That's Anne Helen Peterson and Sam Sanders.

Anne's got this great Patreon newsletter and a podcast called Culture Study, and Sam hosts The Sam Sanders Show on KCRW.

They've both been writing about pop culture for years.

I asked them to stop by so we could chat about the best new releases this year in music, film, and TV.

We also asked you, our listeners, to tell us some of your favorite things that came out this year that you'd recommend.

I love the music, the acting, the costumes.

I watched each episode every week.

It is unlike anything I've seen before.

We'll hear some of your picks in just a bit.