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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 Bachelor SAEED: Postscript by Marie Howe ZACH: 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 Lorenz ZACH: "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 Sol SAEED: We Feel Now a Largeness Coming On by Tracy K. Smith ZACH: 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 Rodrigo Saeed: https://www.tiktok.com/@culturework Zach: 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: Platonic Saeed: 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 Gomez Saeed: Rush - Troye Sivan | Dance the Night  - Dua Lipa | Body Do - Chloe Bailey Zach: 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-guys https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/magazine/poem-small-kindnesses.html Saeed’s Picks:  https://electricliterature.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/silenceintoaction.pdf https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/magazine/poem-smokey.html Zach’s Picks:  The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison Cruising Utopia, Jose Esteban Munoz Melissa 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 Sharpe Zach: 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 Gum Saeed: The Good Wife Zach: 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.html Sam and Michaela Coel Conversation: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/31/1033148189/michaela-coel-misfits-i-may-destroy-you

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about the SAG-AFTRA strike, Troye Sivan’s new music video, “Rush”, and body inclusivity. 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.  ------------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATIONS:  Sam: Joy Ride Saeed: Diablo IV Zach:  Fountain Baby - Amaarae

On this bonus episode of Vibe Check, Zach and staff writer for the New York Times magazine, Jenna Wortham talk about their essay ‘Want to Love Your Body? Try Swimming Naked,’ queer spaces and self-love. You can find Jenna Wortham on Twitter or Instagram @jennydeluxe Jenna Wortham's New York Times essay ‘Want to Love Your Body? Try Swimming Naked’: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/22/magazine/playa-zipolite-nude-beach-mexico.html

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach have an in depth, vulnerable discussion about grief, in light of recent life events. 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.  ------------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATIONS:  Sam: Is It Cake? (Netflix) Saeed: The Long Goodbye by Meghan O’Rourke Zach:  A Year of Magical Thinking (2005) by Joan Didion

On this live episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach talk to Penn Badgley about being delusional, infidelity, fame, and so much more. Plus, they answer a few advice questions from the audience. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.  Special thanks to 92NY and Penn Badgley!

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach discuss a deadly incident of self-defense in Chicago, patriarchy, and why people don’t have cookouts anymore. 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 @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.  ------------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATIONS:  Saeed: Kelly Clarkson’s new album: Chemistry Zach:  And Just Like That… (Sex and the City)

On this episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and Zach talk about Bebe Rexha being assaulted by a fan, and the latest development regarding the controversial Body Mass Index (BMI). 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 @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.  ------------------------------------------------------ LIVE EVENTS: WBUR City Space (Boston, 6/22): https://www.wbur.org/events/854615/vibe-check-live-with-sam-sanders-saeed-jones-and-zach-stafford The 92nd St Y (New York City, 6/23): https://www.92ny.org/event/vibe-check ------------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATIONS:  Saeed: Black Mirror: Season 6 – (Joan Is Awful, Loch Henry, and Beyond the Sea) Zach:  Swiping America

On this bonus episode of Vibe Check, Saeed and New York Times bestselling author, Roxane Gay, talk about Roxane’s relationship with television, the allure of soap operas, the Writers Guild of America strike, and much more. We want to hear from you! Email us at vibecheck@stitcher.com, and keep in touch with us on Instagram @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff.  You can find Roxane Gay on Instagram @roxanegay74. ------------------------------------------------------ LIVE EVENTS: WBUR City Space (Boston, 6/22): https://www.wbur.org/events/854615/vibe-check-live-with-sam-sanders-saeed-jones-and-zach-stafford The 92nd St Y (New York City, 6/23): https://www.92ny.org/event/vibe-check

On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about Black people’s facial expressions being scrutinized, and how the internet determines if a song becomes a hit. 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 @samsanders, @theferocity, and @zachstaff. Also, follow us on TikTok @vibecheckpod. ------------------------------------------------------ LIVE EVENTS: WBUR City Space (Boston, 6/22): https://www.wbur.org/events/854615/vibe-check-live-with-sam-sanders-saeed-jones-and-zach-stafford The 92nd St Y (New York City, 6/23): https://www.92ny.org/event/vibe-check ------------------------------------------------------ RECOMMENDATIONS:  Sam: Hummingbird by James Blake and Metro Boomin  Saeed: Tongue by MNEK (Jarreau Vandal Remix) Zach: That! Feels Good! By Jessie Ware