Episodes
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588: Lil Baby on Mental Health Struggles, Young Thug, Lil Durk & ‘Dead Fresh’
Ahead of his new album “Fresh,” out Nov. 6, the Atlanta rap superstar Lil Baby sat down with Joe and Jon to chat about the project — including his recent Pharrell-produced single “Dead Fresh” — and how it marks a new chapter for him as he expands from his regular circle of local producers and…
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587: Billy Corgan Is Tired of Your ‘Mocking, Bullying, Laughing’
Billy Corgan, the frontman and creative engine of the 90s alt-rockers the Smashing Pumpkins, sat down with Joe and Jon for a frisky conversation about his personal and professional rebirth — including his passion for the emotional intensity of guitar rock; the passion with which his critics…
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586: Why Zara Larsson Refuses to Censor Herself – or Dim Her Joy
The Swedish pop star Zara Larsson sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss her stratospheric year of taking control of her career and stepping into a new era of bonafide pop superstardom. She spoke about her surge in cultural relevance — from the TikTok resurrection of her 2015 hit “Lush Life” to her...
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585: Karol G on Bringing Latin Culture to the World’s Biggest Stages
The Colombian pop star Karol G sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss her recent stadium run of touring her albums – 2025’s “Tropicoqueta” and 2026’s “No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto” – as well as headlining Coachella 2026. She also discusses representing Latin culture on global stages, turning...
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584: Miranda Lambert on Mentoring Ella Langley, Reconciling with Kacey Musgraves & Country’s New Era
Miranda Lambert rose as one of country’s true female superstars throughout the 2000s and 2010s — an era when women with her level of success in Nashville were few and far between. Lambert sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss country music’s long-running cold war with female performers having a...
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583: Jeff Probst Tells All About ‘Survivor’: ‘I Have Nothing to Hide’
Jeff Probst – host, showrunner and executive producer of ‘Survivor’ – sat down with Joe and Jon ahead of the show’s Sep. 23 Season 51 premiere to discuss the new “Open Era”: A cast of rookies are subject to gameplay elements that can be resurrected from past seasons, or abandoned. He also spoke...
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582: Audrey Hobert on ‘Sue Me’ Success, Gracie Abrams, Malcolm Todd & Her Next Album
Audrey Hobert has been one of the defining new pop stars of 2026, rising to fame — gradually — with her 2025 album “Who’s the Clown?” after co-writing some of her longtime friend Gracie Abrams’s biggest hits. She sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss the secrets to her songwriting success,...
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581: Kai Cenat on Quitting Streaming at His Peak to Start a Fashion Brand
In his first interview since stepping away from his streaming empire for most of the last year to create the fashion label Vivet, Kai Cenat sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss the challenges of starting a new venture from scratch, hanging out with celebrities like Lebron James and Nicki Minaj…
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580: How Busta Rhymes Turned 300 Unreleased J Dilla Beats Into His New Album
Busta Rhymes sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss his new album, “Dillagence 2,” out Aug. 25 – a project curated from hundreds of unreleased J Dilla beats and featuring D’Angelo, Lil Wayne and Common. He spoke about the emotional weight of creating music with the work of friends who have passed...
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579: Stavros Halkias Was Forced to Get Political: ‘I Hate It!’
Comedian Stavros Halkias sat down with Joe and Jon to talk about the state of modern comedy, including how wealth and fame are impacting A-list comedians and why the rightward creep of his peers’ podcasts have “forced” him to get political. The interview also covers how Halkias’ weight has...
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578: The Mindful Punk: Travis Barker on Music, Family & Trauma
Travis Barker, whose new Hulu documentary “Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear” is out August 13, sat down with Joe and Jon to reflect on his music career with Blink-182 and beyond, overcoming the trauma of his 2008 plane crash and family life with Kourtney Kardashian. Subscribe today at...
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577: The 8 Biggest Songs of This Summer Face Off
Ella Langley? Drake? A.I.?! Jon and Joe battle through an eight-song bracket of the summer’s biggest hits to determine the Song of the Summer for 2026. Songs featured in bracket: • Tame Impala & JENNIE – “Dracula (JENNIE Remix)” • Ella Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” • Drake – “Janice STFU” • Stella...
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576: How Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst Came Back From The Brink
In a career-spanning interview following some recent anniversary concerts, Conor Oberst sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss the highs and lows of his 30-year music career, including navigating early indie stardom, overcoming personal struggles, writing political music and more. Subscribe today…
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575: The Internet – Steve Lacy! Syd! Matt Martians! – Reunites
The Internet’s Syd, Steve Lacy and Matt Martians sat down with Joe and Jon for their first interview together since "Hive Mind," their 2018 album. The group discussed their new solo projects — Syd’s album “Beard” and Lacy’s “Oh yeah?” are both out July 17 — as well as their Odd Future roots,...
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574: Which Jay-Z Album Is Better? ‘Reasonable Doubt’ vs. ‘The Blueprint’
Ahead of Jay-Z’s three-night residency at Yankee Stadium celebrating the anniversaries of his classic albums “Reasonable Doubt” (1996) and “The Blueprint” (2001), Jon and Joe sat down to debate which project stands as Jay-Z’s most definitive body of work – breaking down the best bars, skippable...
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573: Popcast LIVE! Lizzo Addresses the Backlash
During a special live edition of “Popcast,” Lizzo discussed her new album and the public fallout from a series of lawsuits. Then she performed a stripped-down set, which you can watch in full here. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe…
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572: Gracie Abrams on ‘Daughter From Hell,’ Internet Cruelty, Writing With Paul Mescal, & Audrey Hobert
Gracie Abrams sat down with Joe and Jon for an in-depth conversation ahead of her third album, "Daughter From Hell," out July 17. She discusses the inspiration behind the album, her new single "Look At My Life," collaborating with boyfriend Paul Mescal and longtime friend Audrey Hobert, opening…
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571: Answering Your Pop Music Questions: Taylor Swift, Geese, The Beatles & More
Summer is upon us, and it’s time for the semiannual Popcast mailbag, in which the most burning questions of viewers and listeners are answered, definitively. This round, the inquiries were sizzling, and on a wide range of topics: whether Geese is the Joe Biden of rock, Maroon 5 as a pop-rap…
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570: How Slayyyter Became 2026’s Breakout Pop Star
Slayyyter, who became one of the year's breakout stars with the release of her third studio album “Worst Girl in America” and a viral Coachella set, sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss her slow-simmer career arc, why preexisting pop-star formats didn’t hang well on her shoulders, and how...
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569: M.I.A. on MAGA, the Kid Cudi Tour & Bipartisan Cancellation
Two decades on from the ecstatic electronic pop and rap that made her one of the most significant, ear-opening stars in music, the Sri Lankan-British singer M.I.A. returned in April with “M.I.7,” her seventh album and first in four years, documenting her latest swerve, this time toward born-again...
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568: RIP ‘Euphoria’: Creator Sam Levinson Explains Why This Is The End
Sam Levinson, the writer, director and creator of “Euphoria,” sat down with Joe and Jon to explain why he felt it was time to end HBO’s juggernaut series. With its third season in seven years, “Euphoria” concluded a thrilling, provocative and tumultuous run with a cast of the defining young…
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567: Olivia Rodrigo Interview! New Album Details, Babydoll Dresses & Speaking Out Politically
Olivia Rodrigo sat down with Joe and Jon for her first in-depth conversation about her new album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” out June 12. She discussed the many ways her creative process intersects with the extracurricular noise of pop superstardom, whether its managing...
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566: Breaking Down Drake's 3 New Albums LIVE!
On this special live episode, Joe and Jon react to Drake's new albums – "Iceman," "Habibti" and "Maid of Honour." They unpack the rapper’s decision to release 43 tracks at once, the bars aimed at Kendrick Lamar and other adversaries, and the strongest moments of sonic experimentation across the...
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565: Cannonball: Debating Our ‘30 Greatest Songwriters’ List
On this week's episode of "Cannonball," Jon and Joe sit down with Wesley Morris and Sasha Weiss to discuss how The New York Times Magazine's 30 Greatest Songwriters list came together. They rehash their biggest debates from the process, react to the perceived snubs, engage with reader comments…
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564: The Taylor Swift Interview: Behind the Scenes
Using excerpts from Swift’s new songwriting chat with Joe, he and Jon go deep on the exclusive interview, which is available in full at NYTimes.com/Taylor-Swift. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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563: How Anne Hathaway Transformed Into a Pop Star (Featuring FKA twigs)
A lively conversation with the Oscar-winning actress about her role as a Taylor Swift-Lady Gaga hybrid pop singer (with songs by Charli XCX and twigs, who makes an interview cameo!) in the new A24 film “Mother Mary,” plus: “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and how Hathaway shook off her old, awkward…
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562: Jack Harlow on Pivoting to R&B With ‘Monica,’ Dating in NYC and Finding Himself
Following smash hits like “Whats Poppin,” “First Class” and “Lovin on Me,” the Louisville musician is making a true pivot to intimate, hand-played R&B on his fourth album. In this exclusive interview, Harlow talks race, ego and the rules he instituted while recording “Monica.” Subscribe today at...
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561: Is This Druski’s Most Serious Interview Yet?
Everywhere you turn, online or on TV, there’s Druski. In what may be the comedian's most revealing interview to date, he explains how his Atlanta upbringing led him to a unique galaxy of collaborators — Justin Bieber, Timothée Chalamet, Kai Cenat, Drake, Kevin Hart and corporate America — and how...
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560: Luke Combs Interview! On Politics in Country Music, Body Image & Following Up ‘Fast Car’
The country superstar Luke Combs sits down with Joe and Jon ahead of the release of his sixth album, “The Way I Am.” Combs opens up about his journey to Nashville success (including “healthy competition” with Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan) and his mission to make huge hits again after spending the...
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559: Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: Our Instant Reactions!
On Sunday night, Bad Bunny performed a detail-packed Super Bowl halftime show that celebrated Latino heritage and featured appearances by Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Immediately after the show, Jon and Joe went live on YouTube to share their real-time reactions and answer questions from the...
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558: Grammys Instant Reactions! Bad Bunny Owns the Night
As the Grammys came to a close, Joe and Jon couldn’t wait to discuss the night’s biggest moments. On this special episode, recorded live on Instagram immediately after the ceremony, Popcast breaks down Bad Bunny’s album of the year win, Justin Bieber’s striking performance, political statements...
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557: Who SHOULD Win at the 2026 Grammys: Bad Bunny vs. Bieber vs. Kendrick & More!
This year's awards, airing Sunday, propose a few different ideas about the state of contemporary pop. Here’s who we prefer among the major nominees. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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556: ASAP Rocky Interview! How Rihanna, Three Kids + Two Trials Changed His Life & Music
In an intimate, exclusive sit-down, the rapper and actor reflects on how the chaotic eight years since his previous album led to his new release, “Don’t Be Dumb.” Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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555: 2hollis + His Drummer Dad, Interviewed Together! On Fame, Family & Quitting the Internet
The 22-year-old rage-pop phenom and his father John Herndon, of the post-rock band Tortoise, chatted with Popcast about songwriting, nepotism and what they’ve taught each other. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite...
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554: Our Top 10 Music Moments of 2025
Jon and Joe count down their respective personal favorites of the year, including some unexpected rapping, an inescapable TikTok meme, a major tour and a sublime bridge in a breakup song. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your...
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553: Romeo Santos & Prince Royce Interview! On Why Bachata Is Still Underrated in Latin Music and Beyond
The leading stars of the Dominican genre discuss their paths to selling out stadiums and the lingering feeling that they haven’t received their due amid the Latin music boom. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast...
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552: Can a Celebrity Be Conservative? How Pop Culture Is Shifting in Trump’s America
From Sydney Sweeney to Taylor Swift and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, a conversation with the columnist Ross Douthat about how culture is reacting to a second Trump administration. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite...
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551: 5 Takeaways From the Grammy Nominations
Breaking down the story lines to watch from the new slate of nominees going into February’s big show. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here…
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549: Yung Lean Interview! On Defeating His Demons, Swedish Modesty & Charli XCX's Wedding
More than a decade after achieving viral fame as a teenage rapper outside of Stockholm, Yung Lean is back with new music, a new film and some hard-won clarity. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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548: Rosalía Interview! On ‘Lux,’ Singing in 13 Languages, ‘Euphoria’ & Björk
The experimental Spanish pop star on why (and how) she pushed herself to use 13 languages on her new album “Lux,” a labor of love exploring the feminine divine and the brutalities of romance. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your...
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547: Erykah Badu Interview! On D’Angelo, Radical Empathy, Love & Hip-Hop
The singer and songwriter on her reign as one of music’s most idiosyncratic, spiritual figures and where her creative impulses are headed next. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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546: Remembering D’Angelo, A Classicist Who Moved Us Forward
A conversation about the casual virtuosity of D’Angelo’s too-brief career with a pair of journalists who each interviewed him twice. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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545: Why Is Taylor Swift So Polarizing Now? A ‘Showgirl’ Roundtable + Listener Mailbag!
Our team of Swift experts debate her blockbuster new album and take questions about its themes and controversies. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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544: Breaking Down Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
For a rapid-response episode, Jon and Joe journey track-by-track through the pop star’s new album, assessing the highs, lows and hot gossip. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here...
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543: Hayley Williams on the State of Paramore, Going Solo & Touring With Taylor Swift
The Paramore frontwoman goes deep on how the drama and evolution of her beloved, long-running band — now independent after two decades on a major label — has shaped her third solo release, “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party,” and what might come next. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on...
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542: Ed Sheeran Interview! On Overcoming Grief, Fighting for His Songwriting & A Career Full of Hits
The superstar singer-songwriter discusses overcoming personal and professional turmoil ahead of his new album, “Play.” Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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541: What Was the Song of This Summer? Amelia Dimoldenberg, Zohran Mamdani, Questlove & More Share Their Picks
Is there a universally agreed-upon song of the summer? These days, not really! So we asked some notable cultural figures for their personal favorites. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on...
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540: Earl Sweatshirt Interview! On ‘Live Laugh Love,’ Growing Up in Odd Future & Becoming a Dad
The cult rapper, who broke out at 16, discusses his new album, his relationship with Tyler, the Creator and how he cut his own path around fame and into fatherhood. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at...
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539: Anticipating Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
The singer’s twelfth album is being teased as a pivot back to pop bangers. We break down why (and why she announced it the way she did). Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts...
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538: BigXthaPlug Interview! From Solitary Confinement to Nashville’s Favorite Rapper
The Dallas M.C. traces his journey from high school football star to petty criminal to country music’s go-to collaborator, ahead of a new album featuring Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Jelly Roll and Ella Langley. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop...
About this show
New York Times music critics Jon Pareles, Ben Ratliff, Jon Caramanica and Nate Chinen talk each week about the latest pop music news, the top songs, the best albums, the biggest stars — and the up and coming stars you haven't heard of yet.
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