Vibe Check

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed, and Zach talk about the recent slew of celebrity lawsuits that have been filed in New York, and they reflect on the past year of Elon Musk’s reign at X (Twitter). Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: Dream Scenario and Short Ribs (by Alison Roman)SAEED: Part 2 of Angel Nafis’s poem “Gravity” — https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/58063/gravity-56d23c1d15a2a ZACH: Saltburn

On this special book club episode of Vibe Check, Saeed, Sam, and Zach talk to author Matthew Desmond about his book, “Poverty, by America”. Plus, Matthew answers a few listener questions.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed, and Zach talk about Jack Harlow’s new song “Lovin On Me”, White-boy winter, and the biggest freeway in Los Angeles catching fire. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS: SAM: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/13/opinion/gaza-war-children-photo.htmlSAEED: Social Skills Training by Solmaz Sharif ZACH: Gen V/The Boys/Invisible

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed, and Zach check-in about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: Welcome Home - Gareth DonkinSAEED: “American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin” by Terrance HayesZACH: Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Donald Trump by Spencer Ackerman

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed, and Zach discussed the state of the housing market, and how Airbnb has been a culprit. They also talked about Tik Tok food influencer Keith Lee’s review of the Atlanta food scene. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: The Burial (Amazon Prime Video)SAEED: Track 1: Lush Life by Jericho BrownZACH: Fellow Travelers (miniseries on Showtime)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam and Saeed talk about the juicy details of Britney Spears’s new memoir: "The Woman in Me”,  and the do’s and don’ts of Halloween. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: The Guest: A Novel, by Emma ClineSAEED: Self-Portrait as Out-Fighter by Camille Rankine

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach discuss the conflict in the Middle East, how it all feels, and the misinformation being spread online. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: My Delirious Trip to the Heart of SwiftiedomSAEED: Celebrate Good Times by Franny ChoiZACH: OUT IN THE DARK by Michael Mayer + Queering maps We Lived Happily During the War by Ilya KaminskyExplanations Are Not Excuses by Sarah Schulman

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about how the act of ‘coming out’ has changed over time, their personal experiences, and Drake’s history of misogyny. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: Family Meal by Bryan WashingtonSAEED: PIG by Sam SaxZACH: Creo (15% off + free shipping using VIBECHECK at wearcreo.com)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about Governor Gavin Newsom, the state of celebrity relationships, and divorce. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: The Golden BachelorSAEED: Postscript by Marie HoweZACH: Naked Attraction

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam and Zach talk about the end of the WGA strike, a looming government shutdown, and Taylor Swift's NFL catch. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:SAM: "Extremely Online" by Taylor LorenzZACH: "The Super Models" on Apple TV+

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about Hasan Minhaj embellishing life experiences for the sake of comedy, and the rise in shoplifting cases across the nation. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------SAM: Heaven - Cleo SolSAEED: We Feel Now a Largeness Coming On by Tracy K. SmithZACH: Theater Camp on Hulu

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ support of Danny Masterson, Drew Barrymore working through the ongoing WGA strike, and their thoughts on Doja Cat’s recent behavior. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram at @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Ways to help Morocco: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/morocco-earthquake-donation-victims-assistance-help-contribute-rcna102903 RECOMMENDATIONS:Sam: GUTS - Olivia RodrigoSaeed: https://www.tiktok.com/@cultureworkZach: Support Your Local Live Theaters: JOB in New York City |  Soul Train in San Francisco

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach catch up on some of the news and pop culture stories from the past few weeks, and they also discuss this year’s Burning Man Festival disaster. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Sam: PlatonicSaeed: Circe by Madeline Miller (audio book)Zach: Volcano by Jungle

The Stacks is a podcast about books and the people who read them, hosted by Traci Thomas. On this episode, Sam Sanders joins Traci to discuss the history of objectivity in journalism, what identity is and how people wield it, and what it’s like working with his friends on his new show, Vibe Check. You can find The Stacks wherever you get your podcasts.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach share their personal picks for this year’s “Song of the Summer.” We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Sam: Hummingbird - James Blake + Metro Boomin | America Has A Problem (Remix) - Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar | Calm Down - Rema feat. Selena GomezSaeed: Rush - Troye Sivan | Dance the Night  - Dua Lipa | Body Do - Chloe BaileyZach: Free Yourself - Jessie Ware | (It Goes Like) Nanana - Peggy Gou | Karma - Taylor Swift

On this bonus episode of Vibe Check, Sam and musician, Emily King, talk about her new album “Special Occasion”, breakups, and grief. Plus, Emily’s mom offers some advice on love and life.You can find Emily King on Twitter or Instagram @emilykingmusic.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach offer some advice on  how to navigate dating, how to keep going when the world is on fire, and reintroducing yourself to cannabis as a parent. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about literary works that they frequently turn to, what purpose they serve in each of their lives, and why.We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Sam’s Picks:https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guyshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/magazine/poem-small-kindnesses.htmlSaeed’s Picks: https://electricliterature.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/silenceintoaction.pdfhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/magazine/poem-smokey.htmlZach’s Picks: The Bluest Eye, Toni MorrisonCruising Utopia, Jose Esteban MunozMelissa McCarthy Profile: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/magazine/nobody-works-harder-for-a-laugh-than-melissa-mccarthy.html

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about the senseless murder of O’Shae Sibley, and the possibility of aliens being on Earth. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Sam: The Art of Forgetting - Caroline Rose (The Kiss)Saeed: In The Wake by Christina SharpeZach: Kokomo City------------------------------------------------------Dos Cuerpos:https://www.doscuerposmx.com/The Anti-Violence Project:https://avp.org/

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about the new Barbie movie, the future of cinema, gender and identity politics, and more. Plus, a few recommendations to help you keep your vibe right. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram and Threads @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. ------------------------------------------------------Sam: Chewing GumSaeed: The Good WifeZach: Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence by Adrienne Rich ------------------------------------------------------Vulture’s “Barbie” Review: https://www.vulture.com/article/barbie-review-we-shouldnt-have-to-grade-this-on-a-curve.htmlSam and Michaela Coel Conversation: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/31/1033148189/michaela-coel-misfits-i-may-destroy-you