My Summer Lair
Film, TV & Pop Culture
About
Think NPR’s Fresh Air meets Kevin Smith: My Summer Lair with Sammy Younan: interviews & impressions on Pop Culture.
Episodes
- Barry Hertz (Welcome to the Family: Fast & Furious Movies)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to film editor for The Globe and Mail and now author Barry Hertz about his dynamic book Welcome to the Family: The Explosive Story Behind Fast & Furious, the Blockbusters that Supercharged the World.…
- Molly Thomas (Big [If True])
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to journalist Molly Thomas host of Big [If True] on TVO. My Summer Lair Chapter #326: What’s Fact And What’s Fiction And What's Big...If True? Recorded: Monday, June 2, 2025 at 111:00 am (EST) For mor…
- Shea Serrano (Expensive Basketball)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to pop culture writer Shea Serrano about his b-ball book: Expensive Basketball . My Summer Lair Chapter #339: What Are Some Of Your Strongest Basketball Feelings? Recorded: Friday, October 17, 2025 at…
- Pacho Velez & Daniel Claridge (They're Here: UFOs)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Daniel Claridge & Pacho Velez the directors of They're Here , a UFO documentary that screened at Hot Docs 2025 . My Summer Lair Chapter #322: What Would Make You Believe They're Here? Recorded: Fri…
- Reese Eveneshen (Heather O'Rourke: She Was Here)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to the Reese Eveneshen, the producer and editor of Heather O'Rourke: She Was Here. (The documentary was directed by Brian Pocrass and Nick Bailey.) My Summer Lair Chapter #353: What Is Heather O'Rourk…
- Robert Picardo & Karim Diané & Zoë Steiner & The Cast (Star Trek: Starfleet Academy: Season 1)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to the cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on the blue carpet about what to expect for a brand new Star Trek TV series: Robert Picardo, Zoë Steiner, Karim Diané, George Hawkins and Dale Whibley. Star…
- Adam MacDonald (This Is Not a Test)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to writer and director Adam MacDonald about his zombie movie This Is Not a Test . My Summer Lair Chapter #352: If The Zombie Apocalypse Was A Test Would You Pass? Recorded: Monday, February 16, 2026 a…
- Bif Naked (Bif Naked: A Documentary)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Bif Naked; the focus of Bif Naked: A Documentary now streaming on Super Channel. My Summer Lair Chapter #343: How Do You Balance Nostalgia With Ambition? Recorded: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 2…
- Jonny Campbell (Cold Storage)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to director Jonny Campbell about his gross horror-comedy movie Cold Storage. My Summer Lair Chapter #350: Has Anything You've Put In Cold Storage Heated Up? Recorded: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 1…
- Tim Kowalski & Colin Brunton & Kevan Byrne (Nash the Slash Rises Again!)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Tim Kowalski & Colin Brunton & Kevan Byrne; the filmmakers behind Nash the Slash Rises Again! (The documentary played at Blood In The Snow Film Festival .) My Summer Lair Chapter #342: Who Was That…
- John Maggio (Paul Anka: His Way)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to director John Maggio about documentary Paul Anka: His Way ; now streaming on HBO Max & Crave. My Summer Lair Chapter #345: What Does Paul Anka Mean To You? Recorded: Monday, December 1, 2025 at 10:…
- Champions of Magic (Richard Young)
https://mysummerlair.com/podcast/richard-young-champions-of-magic My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Richard Young half of the Young & Strange magic duo who perform in the touring Champions of Magic. ( The Champions Of Magic: Holida…
- Mills & Hunte (Resound)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to smooth sax duo Mills & Hunte about their album Resound , an album of Christian covers. My Summer Lair Chapter #334: What's The Good News You Hear When You Listen To Resound ? Recorded: Tuesday, Jul…
- Julien Elie (Shifting Baselines)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to documentary director Julien Elie about Shifting Baselines about his Elon Musk based space race documentary. (Which screened at Hot Docs 2025 .) My Summer Lair Chapter #323: How Much Space Does Spac…
- Paul Myers (John Candy: A Life in Comedy)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to author Paul Myers for his biography John Candy: A Life in Comedy . My Summer Lair Chapter #338: What Does John Candy Mean To You? Recorded: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 4:30 pm (EST) For more s…
- Jay Drakulic & Mallory Drumm & Alex Lee Williams (Dream Eater)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm and Alex Lee Williams the filmmakers behind the Eli Roth produced horror movie Dream Eater . My Summer Lair Chapter #340: How Hungry Are Your Nightmares? Recorded: Wedne…
- Benjamin Percy (The End Times)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to comic book writer and author Benjamin Percy about The End Times physical subscription, an immersive, serialized, post-apocalyptic storytelling experience with guest columns by Stephen King. My Summ…
- Brandon Cohen & Vivieno Caldinelli (Scared Shitless)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Brandon Cohen, the writer and Vivieno Caldinelli, the director of the horror-comedy movie Scared Shitless out on VOD on October 3, 2025. My Summer Lair Short: Who Puts The Toil In Toilet? Recorded:…
- Takahide Hori (Junk World)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Takahide Hori the creator and director of Junk World , a stop-motion animated feature from Japan. (Which screened at TIFF 2025.) My Summer Lair Chapter #337: Why Does Junk World Have So Much Value?…
- Claudia Wells (Back to the Future)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Claudia Wells who played as Marty McFly's OG girlfriend Jennifer Parker in the first Back to the Future . My Summer Lair Chapter #336: When Was The Last Time You Went Back To The Future? Recorded:…
- Jeff Lemire (10,000 Ink Stains)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to comic book creator Jeff Lemire about his memoir 10,000 Ink Stains , published by Dark Horse Comics. My Summer Lair Chapter #333: How Inspiring Is A Blank Page? Recorded: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 2:…
- Simon Ennis (The Hobby)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Simon Ennis, the director of The Hobby: Tales from the Tabletop . A board game documentary. My Summer Lair Chapter #327: Are Board Games The Meaning Of Life? Recorded: Friday, June 13, 2025 at 1:20…
- Laurent Bouzereau (Jaws @ 50)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau about his latest retrospective: Jaws @ 50 . Now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu: #SetTheVCR. My Summer Lair Chapter #330: As The Jaws Shark's BFF For The Past 50 Years: Wh…
- Kourtney Roy (Kryptic)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to producer director Kourtney Roy about her horror movie Kryptic. My Summer Lair Chapter #324: Have You Seen The Canadian Sooka? Recorded: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11:30 am (EST) For more show not…
- Michael Stasko (Vampire Zombies…From Space!)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to filmmaker Michael Stasko about his B-Movie love letter: Vampire Zombies…From Space! My Summer Lair Chapter #319: Who Will Defeat Vampire Zombies…From Space!? Recorded: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 12…
- Steven Ogg (Revival: Season 1)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to actor Steven Ogg who plays Blaine Abel in Revival: Season 1 . Now streaming on Peacock (US) and on Crave (Canada): #SetTheVCR My Summer Lair Chapter #332: Will God Bless Blaine's Holy War? Recorded…
- Walter Day & Billy Mitchell (Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Walter Day (a video game referee) and Billy Mitchell (a video game champion) about Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day. My Summer Lair Chapter #321: How Many Songs Have Your Heartbreaks…
- Jeff Finn (Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Jeff Finn the director of Before the End: Searching for Jim Morrison (a 3-part documystery). My Summer Lair Chapter #308: Did (How?) Jim Morrison Fake His Own Death In 1971? Recorded: Thursday, Jan…
- Gavin Stephens (Park Bench Ontology)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to stand-up comic Gavin Stephens whose latest comedy album is Park Bench Ontology. My Summer Lair Chapter #317: Do You Have A Favourite Park Bench? Recorded: Wednesday, March 10, 2025 at 2:00 pm (EST)…
- Caroline Marsden (Vietnam: The War That Changed America)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to producer Caroline Marsden about Vietnam: The War That Changed America (a 6-part docuseries) now streaming on Apple TV+: #SetTheVCR. My Summer Lair Chapter #312: Do You Know The Real Story Of Vietna…
- Fefe Dobson (Morningside)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Fefe Dobson the singer-songwriter who stars in the Scarborough set movie Morningside . My Summer Lair Chapter #315: What Does Scarborough Mean To You? Recorded: Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 12:50…
- Ali Hassan (Chef's Kiss)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to stand up comic and actor Ali Hassan about his fresh comedy album Chef's Kiss . My Summer Lair Chapter #307: If You Like Spicy Comedy Do You Give It A Chef's Kiss? Recorded: Wednesday, December 4, 2…
- Alan Tudyk & Corey Reynolds & The Cast (Resident Alien: Season 4)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to the cast of Resident Alien about Season 4 including Alan Tudyk (Harry), Corey Reynolds (Sheriff Mike), Chris Sheridan (series creator) and Sara Tomko (Asta). My Summer Lair Chapter #328: After That…
- Patrick Leavey (Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Patrick Leavey the General Manager for Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, The Immersive Rock Experience . On now at Illuminarium in the Distillery District. My Summer Lair 2025 Yearbook Episode: Ar…
- Daniel Robbins (Bad Shabbos)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to filmmaker Daniel Robbins about his Jewish comedy Bad Shabbos. My Summer Lair Chapter #325: Have You Experienced A Bad Shabbos? Recorded: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 3:30 pm (EST) For more show notes vi…
- Dinosaur Trainer Lindsay (Jurassic Quest)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Dinosaur Trainer Lindsay at Jurassic Quest in Mississauga. My Summer Lair Chapter #286: Which 3 Dinosaurs Would You Invite To Your Fancy Dinner Party? Recorded: Friday, December 8, 2023 at 11:00 am…
- Henry VanderSpek (Urban Scrawl)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to photographer Henry VanderSpek about his exhibition Urban Scrawl . (His exhibition is part of the Contact Photography Festival .) My Summer Lair Chapter #320: What Type Of Street Sarcasm Do You Enjo…
- Michael Benson (Planetfall)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to artist and writer Michael Benson about Planetfall , his photography exhibition currently on at The Image Centre. My Summer Lair Chapter #311: When Was The Last Time You Looked Up At All The Stars I…
- Tracie Laymon (Bob Trevino Likes It)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to filmmaker Tracie Laymon whose feature film debut is Bob Trevino Likes It . My Summer Lair Chapter #318: When Was The Last Time You Experienced Online Kindness? Recorded: Friday, March 7, 2025 at 1:…
- Michael Hirsh (Animation Nation)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to producer Michael Hirsh who after producing over 6, 000 hours of mostly animation has written his memoir: Animation Nation: How We Built A Cartoon Empire . My Summer Lair Chapter #288: What's The Ke…
- Ruth Connell (Supernatural)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to actor Ruth Connell who played Rowena in Supernatural and Night Nurse in Dead Boy Detectives and Doom Patrol . My Summer Lair Chapter #316: Why Is Scotland So Supernatural? Recorded: Tuesday, March…
- Tricia Romano (The Freaks Came Out to Write: Village Voice)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to writer Tricia Romano author of The Freaks Came Out To Write: The Definitive History of the Village Voice, the Radical Paper that Changed American Culture. My Summer Lair Chapter #293: What's The Fi…
- Michael Tolajian (We Beat The Dream Team)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Michael Tolajian the director of We Beat The Dream Team (streaming on HBO Max & Crave) . My Summer Lair Chapter #314: Did The Select Team Really And Truly Beat The Dream Team? Recorded: Tuesday, Fe…
- Dale Heslip (Blue Rodeo: Lost Together)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Dale Heslip the director of Blue Rodeo: Lost Together . My Summer Lair Chapter #310: How Long Have You Been Lost With Blue Rodeo? Recorded: Thursday, January 27, 2025 at 3:00 pm (EST) For more show…
- José Lourenço (Young Werther)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço the writer and director of the movie Young Werther . (Which premiered at TIFF 24.) My Summer Lair Chapter #309: Is Young Werther As Sweet As Werther's Original…
- Vivieno Caldinelli (Scared Shitless)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Vivieno Caldinelli the director of the horror-comedy movie Scared Shitless (screening at Blood in The Snow Film Festival ). My Summer Lair Chapter #306: Must The Genetically Engineered Bloodthirsty…
- Petey Beats (Adjoining & Popternative)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to host and filmmaker Petey Beats about his horror short Adjoining (screening at Blood in The Snow Film Festival ) and hosting pop culture interviews at Popternative . My Summer Lair Chapter #305: Whi…
- Chris Robinson (Panning For Gold)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to stand-up comic Chris Robinson about his comedy special Panning For Gold (now streaming on Crave). #SetTheVCR My Summer Lair Chapter #245: How Often Are You Panning For Gold? Recorded: Friday, Novem…
- Tommy Avallone (The House From...)
My Summer Lair host Sammy Younan talks to Tommy Avallone, the director of The House From... which examines famous homes from movies/TV shows and interviews the people who live in them. My Summer Lair Chapter #302: Which Famous Pop Culture…
- Celebrating 300: The Journey of My Summer Lair (Sammy Younan)
Welcome to the 300th episode of My Summer Lair. Join host Sammy Younan as he marks this incredible milestone, celebrating 300 episodes of insightful conversations with diverse guests. Sammy prompted ChatGPT for 10 questions about My Summer…