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Artwork for Bandsplain

Bandsplain

The Ringer
Britpop
Nirvana
Grunge
Pearl Jam
Music
Oasis
Grunge Music
Grief
Madonna
Blur
Alternative Rock
Soundgarden
Punk Rock
Suede
Kurt Cobain
Dinosaur Jr.
Los Angeles
Seattle Music Scene
Seattle
Pulp

Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes234Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for Bandsplain

Latest Episodes

Amanda Dobbins joins Yasi to take on the Oscar-, Grammy-, and Golden Globe-winning soundtrack to 'Working Girl.' They trace Carly Simon’s path to penning “Let the River Run,” how the Eagles nearly provided the movie’s defining song instead, and the i... more

Joanna Robinson joins Yasi to break down one of the defining soundtracks of the ’80s: 'Dirty Dancing.' They get into the real-life tension between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze that became undeniable on-screen chemistry, the soundtrack’s seamless ... more

Madonna Month icon Patrik Sandberg is back to help Yasi break down 'Confessions II,' Madonna’s return to the dance floor. They break down the album’s callbacks to New York nightlife, the name-checks from Debi Mazar and Mark Kamins to Basquiat and Kei... more

Yasi and returning guest Bre Morell discuss their favorite new albums that came out this spring. Plus, the new singles from their most anticipated albums of the summer!

Next, Yasi talks with Domenic “Nicky” Palermo of Nothing about their latest albu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

The Big Picture
The Big PictureThe Ringer
The Watch
The WatchThe Ringer
Indiecast
IndiecastAmazon Music
Life of the Record
Life of the RecordLife of the Record / Talkhouse

Recent Guests

Amanda Dobbins
Guest expert on film/music crossover
Self/Media Critic
Episode: SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins
Joanna Robinson
Expert guest discussing the Dirty Dancing soundtrack and its context
Prestige TV podcast, House of R
Episode: SOUNDTRACK: 'Dirty Dancing' With Joanna Robinson
Dominic Palermo
Musician in the band Nothing
Nothing
Episode: The Best New Music of Spring 2026 With Bre Morell. Plus, An Interview With Domenic Palermo of Nothing.
Anthony Anzaldo
Guitarist from Ceremony and Anthony Family, guest on the episode
Ceremony; Anthony Family
Episode: SOUNDTRACK: 'Purple Rain' With Anthony Anzaldo
Fattaneh Salek
Mother of the host, featured in Madonna month segment
Episode: Madonna Mailbag With Fattaneh Salek and Patrik Sandberg
Paul Hamann
Creative director and Madonna expert, guest on part of four-episode arc.
Episode: Madonna: Part 3 With Paul Hamann
Mel Ottenberg
Editor-in-chief of Interview magazine
Interview Magazine
Episode: Madonna: Part 1 With Mel Ottenberg
Sabrina Teitelbaum
Musician (Blondshell) and guest on the episode
Blondshell
Episode: Life Without Buildings with Blondshell
Patrik Sandberg
Guest, author of The Paraphernalia and contributor to Bandsplain
The Paraphernalia
Episode: PERFECT SONG: ‘Boys On the Radio’ with Patrik Sandberg, Plus An Interview With Hole Bassist and Author Melissa Auf der Maur

Host

Yasi Salek
Host of the show, guides the conversation and brings expert guests on to unpack artist histories.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 4.9k ratings
  • Yasi

    Is a national treasure. We must protect her at all costs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sevprez
    United States19 days ago
  • Yasiiiii

    Obsessed with this podcast. The Depeche Mode eps have me chills.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NatashaMC!
    United Statesa month ago
  • Constant “Babe”

    I am very interested in the content of the Madonna episode but the number of times she says babe seems like she is playing a practical joke on the reader. It’s so often it’s distracting. She seems like a great researcher, but she would really benefit from working on her communication if audio is going to be her medium. I don’t think this is a secist comment as I mostly listen to podcasts by women and they are either not saying it or getting it edited out.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LuzzyGuzzy
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great podcast, especially the Madonna episodes.

    Enjoying the Madonna episodes and being a music fanatic, I look forward to listening the previous episodes. Found you via Every Outfit. Also, Fluevog does still make the shoe in Truth or Dare, it is called the Munster. They reissue periodically in various colourways. The black comes back and is online now sizes 6-12. I am an avid collector.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WestGhent
    United States2 months ago
  • Goddamn gorgeous beautiful podcast

    Screw all the haters. This is one of the best most informative music podcast out there. Take your hate to Joe Rogan‘s podcast and leave Yasi be!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DoomednGloomed
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique interruptions or vocal style, noting room for balance in discussions.
Positive remarks emphasize the show's ability to reveal new angles on familiar acts.
Listeners praise deep research, engaging hosts, and insightful guest lineups.
Fans appreciate episode breadth across eras and bands, with strong production and analysis.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#18
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#36
United States/Music
Spotify
#25
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#24
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#16
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins
Q: What would change if a different lead actress were attached in the late 80s?
Casting shifts (e.g., Demi Moore) would have altered audience perception, star power dynamics, and the film's tonal balance, potentially changing the film's box office trajectory and how the soundtrack interacts with the narrative.
SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins
Q: How did Carly Simon's Let the River Run shape the film's reception?
The song anchored the mood and helped sell the film's aspirational energy, and its Oscar win afterward amplified the movie's cultural footprint, feeding ongoing dialogue about women in business and pop music's role in film.
The Best New Music of Spring 2026 With Bre Morell. Plus, An Interview With Domenic Palermo of Nothing.
Q: What inspired the approach to presenting a mix of older shoegaze heritage and new-wave, current releases on the episode?
We wanted to map a broad sonic landscape—from established shoegaze and indie traditions to fresh, boundary-pushing digital-age sounds—showing how artists today remix the past with contemporary production and culture.
Madonna: Part 4 With Caryn Ganz
Q: My first question is a top line question for you, Caryn.
Caryn Ganz explains that Confessions on a Dance Floor became canon later and that initial reception was solid but not universally seen as a landmark at the time.
The Runaways With Patty Schemel
Q: How did The Runaways come together in the mid-1970s and who were the pivotal figures behind their formation?
Patty outlines a network of influencers, including Kim Fowley, who acted as a connector rather than a mastermind, bringing together five teenage girls from suburban LA into a functional band while also shaping the mythos surrounding their image.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Bandsplain

What is Bandsplain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Bandsplain tends to feature deeply researched conversations with experts, journalists, and artists who illuminate cult bands and notable icons through historical context, production details, and cultural moments. Episodes frequently center on era-defining figures in rock, punk, and indie scenes, with heavy emphasis on how artists' images, collaborations, and industry ecosystems shaped their legacies. A notable strength is the ability to pair scholarly insights with personal anecdotes from guests who lived through or deeply studied the scenes, making complex histories accessible and engaging for music enthusiast listeners. The show often surfaces fresh angles on familiar acts, anchored by meticulous catalog references, rare anecdotes, and th... more

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How many subscribers and views does Bandsplain have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bandsplain has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Bandsplain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bandsplain:

1. The Big Picture
2. The Watch
3. Indiecast
4. The Prestige TV Podcast
5. Life of the Record

How many episodes of Bandsplain are there?

Bandsplain launched 3 years ago and published 234 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bandsplain?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Bandsplain?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Bandsplain from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Bandsplain?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Bandsplain. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Bandsplain?

Recent guests on Bandsplain include:

1. Amanda Dobbins
2. Joanna Robinson
3. Dominic Palermo
4. Anthony Anzaldo
5. Fattaneh Salek
6. Paul Hamann
7. Mel Ottenberg
8. Sabrina Teitelbaum

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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