Pop Culture Happy Hour

This week on Culturetopia: the acclaimed livestock-handling expert describes being played by Claire Danes; the Afropop kids from Columbia University spill about being constantly compared to Paul Simon; J.D. Salinger remembered; an NPR-reporter-turned -bestselling-author muses on the iPad; the creators of Lost discuss their favorite DVDs; ghostly daughters in the movies

Today we have a special Oscar edition of Culturetopia, our weekly arts and culture podcast. It features interviews with some of the Academy Award nominees who have been on NPR in the past year, including James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, Pete Docter, Quentin Tarantino, Jason Reitman, Carey Mulligan and more.

This week on Culturetopia: The new director of Sundance talks about selling indie films in a recession; a hundred years of Django Reinhardt; Iggy Pop on his unique vocal talents; the new novel "Wench"; Patti Smith looks back; Mondello reviews "Creation"

This week on Culturetopia: The new director of Sundance talks about selling indie films in a recession; a hundred years of Django Reinhardt; Iggy Pop on his unique vocal talents; the new novel "Wench"; Patti Smith looks back; Mondello reviews "Creation"

This week on Culturetopia: Morning Edition's executive producer takes us behind the scenes of the new series, "50 Great Voices;" a Haitian author on her memories of a now- devasted port city; Helen Mirrin on Mrs. Tolstoy; the lives of New Wavef filmmaker Eric Rohmer and R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass.

This week on Culturetopia: George Lucas on Blockbusting; Ellen Burstyn talks Tennessee Williams; The derivative nature of "Avatar"-- and Ke$ha; Finding artifacts for the Smithsonian's African-American Museum; remembering Eunice Johnson.

This week on Culturetopia: Will Broadway audiences embrace the unconventional new musical 'Fela!'? Then two pieces that focus on the technological advances that have affected the way people listen to music, read books and even how people write. Author Lynn Barber talks about how faithful the film adaptation of 'An Education was to her memoir, a musical project inspired by filmmaker Oscar Micheaux and a new biography dispels some of the myths around jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.

This week on Culturetopia: Why this was TV's decade; the emergence of music blogs; operating room playlists; actor Colin Firth discusses "A Single Man;" the worst films of the decade.

This week on Culturetopia: Neda Ulaby and NPR film critic Bob Mondello take us through interviews with directors James Cameron and Terry Gilliam, and covnersations with actors Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Blunt and Jeff Bridges.

This week on Culturetopia: We kicked off with a discussion of the new book of lists from the A.V. Club, which managed to meander back to nervous uncertainty about best-of lists. We also hear Bob Mondello talk about the decade's trend of sequels, and interview with Toni Morrison talk about a book reissue project. Then we wrap up with a look at the uncertain future of professional recording studios, and the eternal question: just how fascinating is Lady Gaga?

This week on Culturetopia: David Sedaris talks audio books with author Neil Gaiman; how music making has changed; Portia de Rossi and the series creator of "Better off Ted"; director Jason Reitman on "Up In the Air"; the band Living Color tell the back story of recording their biggest hit.

This week on Culturetopia: The director of "The Road" brings beauty to apocalypse; Disney markets its first African-American princess; DJ Spooky goes to Antarctica; a Pakistani author's short stories become White House bedside reading; the soundtrack to eco-cooking; the art of the cover song.

This week on Culturetopia: A look at vampires in the new hit movie, "New Moon;" two editors from The Onion talk about the art of their headlines; Rakim Allah shares what it is like being an icon in the rap community and NPR's Bob Mondello reviews a movie about movie-making "Broken Embraces." Finally, critic Tom Moon offers his selection for the top songs of the last decade.

This week on Culturetopia: NPR's Bob Mondello reviews the disastrous disaster film '2012.' Then, hear an interview with director Wes Anderson about his new stop-animation film 'The Fantastic Mr. Fox,' and a look at other Roald Dahl adaptations. Finally 'Ugly Betty' actor Michael Urie talks about how his role was never meant to be permanent.

This week on Culturetopia: A look at the new late night talk show landscape now that comedians George Lopez and Wanda Sykes have their own shows. Then cartoonist R. Crumb illustrates the Bible, basketball legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson talk about their ongoing friendship and wonder chef David Chang goes crazy for ramen noodles.