Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias

Ezra Franky joins Pop Culture Unplugged with Elias to discuss her breakout role as Lucy in Netflix’s hit series UNTAMED. In this emotional and revealing conversation, Ezra reflects on Lucy’s powerful arc—from surviving trauma to reclaiming her own narrative—and how the role has impacted her personally and professionally.

She shares how she landed the role through a self-tape, what it was like working with Eric Bana and Sam Neill, t...

In this episode of Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias, actor Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine joins us to talk about his powerful dual performances in Dexter: Resurrection (Showtime) and Smoke (Apple TV+). From his physical transformation—including shaving his eyebrows and dropping 40 pounds—for the role of Freddie Fasano, to stepping into the Dexter universe as Blessing Kamara, Ntare opens up about the emotional weight of his characters, naviga...

Mark Feuerstein joins Pop Culture Unplugged to talk about his powerful and multidimensional role as Rabbi Mo in the film Guns & Moses. In this exclusive conversation, Mark dives into how the film blends action, drama, and faith — describing it as “Chinatown meets The Chosen.” He shares the challenges of portraying a rabbi torn between his spiritual beliefs and the need to protect his community, learning to shoot for the role, a...

Sway Bhatia joins Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias to talk all about playing Vera in Disney’s Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. A longtime fan of the franchise, Sway shares what it meant to go from dancing to Zombies songs as a kid to becoming a confident, scene-stealing vampire in the latest installment.

🎙️ Interview Highlights:

• How she landed the role of Veera with a last-minute audition—while still in high school

• Channelin...

In this episode of Pop Culture Unplugged, Jake Getman joins Elias to talk about voicing Caleb in Disney/Pixar’s upcoming film Elio. Jake shares how he landed the role, what makes Caleb stand out from typical animated bullies, and how Pixar allowed him to explore the character’s emotional depth. He also discusses recording solo, seeing Caleb animated for the first time, and the deeper themes of Elio about finding yourself and knowin...

Aparna Brielle makes her Pop Culture Unplugged debut to talk all things FUBAR Season 2 — and we’re diving straight into spoilers! Aparna opens up about playing Tina, her shocking double-agent twist, the emotional fallout with Barry (Milan Carter), and what the final reveal could mean for the future of her character.

Interview Highlights:

• Tina’s spy twist explained — from both sides of the deception

• Whether Tina’s feelings f...

Chelsea Clark joins Pop Culture Unplugged to dive into Nora’s evolution in Ginny & Georgia Season 3. She opens up about Nora's emotional conflicts, balancing loyalty between friends and family, and her steady relationship with Jordan. Chelsea shares behind-the-scenes insights, fan reactions to Season 3's shocking moments, and what she hopes to explore in Season 4. Plus, she discusses her indie film Scared Shitless and her creat...

Maxwell Acee Donovan joins Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias to talk all things Ethan from Prime Video’s The Better Sister. In this candid interview, Maxwell dives deep into the psychological layers of his character, the emotional intensity of the role, and the family secrets at the center of the story. He opens up about making the shift from comedy to drama and working with powerhouse co-stars Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks

Intervi...

Milan Carter returns to Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias to dive into FUBAR Season 2! From emotional twists to his character’s growth, Milan opens up about Barry’s most vulnerable season yet. We talk about navigating heartbreak, the fallout with Tina (Aparna Brielle), and how Season 2 raises the stakes for everyone’s favorite CIA tech expert.

 Highlights from the interview:

• Milan reacts to Barry finding out Tina is a Russian sp...

Diesel La Torraca joins Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged to dive into Austin’s emotional journey in Ginny & Georgia Season 3.

In this candid conversation, Diesel opens up about portraying Austin through some of the show’s darkest and most powerful moments — from the shocking ending of Season 2 to the emotional fallout in Season 3. He reflects on growing with the character, how Austin views Georgia now, and the evolving sibling dy...

Johnna Dias-Watson joins Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged to talk all about her breakout role as Kiara in the hit Prime Video series Motorheads. In this candid conversation, Johnna reflects on the show’s powerful fan response, how she connected deeply with Kiara’s emotional journey, and what it was like filming standout scenes like the Firefly Festival and Homecoming. She also shares personal insights into her own high school experie...

Ayo Solanke stops by to chat about his breakout role as Ryan in the hit Netflix series BET. Ayo shares how his life has changed since the show hit the global Top 10, what it was like stepping into a complex character, and how fans have connected with Ryan’s emotional journey.

He opens up about the show’s deeper themes, memorable filming experiences, his dynamic with co-star Yumeko, and hopes for a second season. Plus, Ayo teases hi...

Rachel Suissa joins Pop Culture Unplugged to talk about her new supernatural dramedy Greek Mothers Never Die, which is premiering at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) 2025. Rachel, a Greek-French writer, director, and actor, opens up about the personal story that inspired the film, turning her hit one-woman show into a feature, and what it was like casting her real-life daughter alongside her.

In this heartfelt and funny ...

Hunter Cardinal dives into his breakout role as Michael in BET, the thrilling Netflix series inspired by the Japanese manga. Hunter shares how he booked the role off one audition, what drew him to Michael’s outsider perspective, and why the character refuses to play by the school’s toxic rules.

We also talk about:

• How Michael was created specifically for the series

• The show's bold visuals, mind games, and emotional twists

• ...

Aviva Mongillo joins Elias to talk about her role as Dori in Netflix’s new live-action thriller BET, based on the popular manga Kakegurui. Aviva gets candid about how the role changed her personally, the challenges of filming in an eye patch, and how playing Dori led to her own ADHD diagnosis.

🎙️ Interview Highlights:

• The secretive audition process (she originally auditioned as "Steph")

• How she connected with Dori’s chaoti...

Vincent Martella joins Pop Culture Unplugged to talk all things Phineas and Ferb as the beloved Disney series returns for Season 5. Vincent shares how he unexpectedly found out about the revival, what it was like stepping back into the recording booth, and why this season might be their best yet.

He opens up about emotional moments in the studio with creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, singing in new genres, and how pla...

Beth Riesgraf joins Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged to dive into Season 3 of Leverage: Redemption, reflecting on Parker’s evolution, fan reactions, and the emotional depth of this beloved character.

In this thoughtful conversation, Beth shares how Parker has grown into a confident leader, why the character continues to resonate with fans—especially within the autistic community—and what it's like revisiting Parker's past while looki...

Jocelyn Hudon joins Elias on Pop Culture Unplugged to talk all things Chicago Fire! In this in-depth interview, Jocelyn opens up about her journey from recurring guest star to full-time cast member as Lizzie Novak, the fan-favorite paramedic shaking things up at Firehouse 51.

She shares the emotional story behind her audition and network test, the vulnerability of Lizzie’s bench scene in Episode 8, and the physical demands of the u...

Ashley shares what it was like joining the show as a longtime fan, how she built Hannah’s backstory through scientific research, and what it felt like stepping into such an intense and mysterious world. She opens up about filming the shocking scene with Joel McHale, discusses the moment she thought she was Pit Girl, and teases what she hopes to explore if Season 4 gets the green light.

Interview Highlights: – How Ashley prepared f...