Sam Sanders is an award-winning reporter, radio host, and podcaster who launched  “The NPR Politics Podcast” a decade ago. Currently, he hosts and executive produces “The Sam Sanders Show” in conjunction with KCRW, distributed nationally as a radio show by PRX.

This week on “This Is TV Now,” we hear Sanders’ thoughts on working in podcasting today as compared to 10 years ago, and the value of quieting the sense of urgency and perfectionism that animates so many young careers in media in favor of being someone who is wholly reliable. Afterward, we extended the conversation to reflect on the importance of being present. 

Who would be your pop-culture best friend?

Sam Sanders: There’s a world in which me and Melissa McCarthy just hang out and vamp and vibe. Like, there’s a world where my ideal Saturday would be an unhinged Costco run with Melissa McCarthy, and then we go volunteer at a dog shelter.

Good Tape: Is her husband invited?

Sam Sanders: He could be there, sure. He can take photos of us with puppies.

What’s a question you wish an interviewer would ask you?

SS: A question I ask a lot of the folks that I talk to — not just like what is your favorite piece of pop culture, but  — what piece of pop culture do you return to? Like it’s a scripture. I always like that question. I think it tells you right away what someone’s about and what they care about. And for me, that answer changes a lot. But I love that question.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

SS: “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa. It’s only spoken, not sung. Everyone speaks along with you. It’s easy. It’s reliable.

What makes you optimistic about the future?

LR: Everything we talked about on the show. I think a lot of men are hurting, and people are seeing that there’s a more constructive way to deconstruct the Manosphere, and that is through offering support and education to those guys.

What are you afraid of?

SS: Forgetting to slow down. I was on another podcast yesterday with my friend Ronald Young Jr., and we were talking about, you know, professional pursuit. And we were talking about this idea of achievement — around “I’ve achieved something” — and we were just both like, “Eh.” There are many achievements every day that are worth being like, “Great.”

That yogurt and granola hit. Look at the song over there. Wow. My puppy just crossed his paws like that. Wow. This meal was delightful. So, like, making sure I stay slow enough to really mark all those moments, all the time.

GT: The rules you have about your phone, on another podcast you recently did… One, keep the phone in the back of your car while driving—

SS: Two, if I’m walking the dog, the phone is at home, and three, if I’m talking to anyone [and] our eyes lock, the phone is not able to be touched.

GT: Wow. I don’t know if I could do that. 

SS: I feel less guilt when it’s 8:47 at night, and Netflix is on, [or] maybe some music is on,  and I’m also doom scrolling. It’s like, “Okay! Just for a little bit.”

How would your haters describe you?

SS: Undefeated! [Laughs.]

GT: That’s right.