Rephonic
Artwork for Bullseye

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

NPR
Comedy
Stand-Up Comedy
Mental Health
NPR
Music Industry
Severance
Hip Hop
Family
Los Angeles
Hollywood
Apple TV+
Podcasting
Hip-Hop
Demar Derozan
Academy Awards
Marlee Matlin
Pup
Baseball
Animation
Television

Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1035Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Bullseye

Latest Episodes

This week it’s a very special, very spooky Bullseye with Jesse Thorn! We’re joined by John Carroll Lynch of American Horror Story and Marq Evans, the creator of a brand new documentary about Bigfoot.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col... more

The Craziest Day of My Entire Career is a segment where we talk with some of our favorite people in pop culture and ask them about some truly wild stories. This time around, we're joined by comedian Greg Proops. His latest stand up album is called Ki... more

Comedian Maria Bamford returns to Bullseye! She’s the subject of an upcoming documentary called Paralyzed By Hope: The Maria Bamford Story. Maria joins us to talk about the film, how she feels about other comics praising her work, the influence her p... more

YouTube

Bob Mould has influenced countless acts over nearly five decades of making music. His bands Hüsker Dü and Sugar helped create the sounds that became grunge, pop punk and indie rock. Sugar reunited last year, for the first time in three decades. We ta... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Jordan, Jesse, GO!
Jordan, Jesse, GO!MaximumFun.org
Judge John Hodgman
Judge John HodgmanJohn Hodgman and Maximum Fun
Stop Podcasting Yourself
Stop Podcasting YourselfGraham Clark and Dave Shumka

Recent Guests

Bob Mould
Lead singer and guitarist for Husker Du and Sugar
Husker Du • Sugar
Episode: Bob Mould
Angélique Kidjo
World-renowned singer and songwriter
Self / Hope album
Episode: Angélique Kidjo
Bob Mackie
Costume and fashion designer known for iconic stage and screen costumes
Episode: Remembering Bob Mackie
Tonya Mosley
Co-host of Fresh Air
Fresh Air (NPR)
Episode: Bonus: Bullseye's 'Put You On' with Tonya Mosley
David Letterman
Longtime talk show host and comedian
Netflix (My Next Guest Needs No Introduction); former host of Late Night and The Late Show
Episode: David Letterman
Eric Appel
Writer and director known for Weird, The Al Yankovic Story and The Breadwinner
Filmmaker
Episode: I Wish I Made That: Eric Appel, director of 'The Breadwinner'
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Writer and filmmaker
Freelance, former NYT journalist
Episode: Walter Thompson-Hernández on his new film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'
Elvis Costello
Singer-songwriter and author
Episode: Elvis Costello
Dolly Parton
A legendary singer-songwriter and philanthropist
Dolly Parton
Episode: Remembering Dolly Parton

Host

Jesse Thorn
Host of high-profile arts and culture interview program with a long-running, thoughtful interview style that probes craft and personal journey; frequently engages with actors, musicians, writers, and filmmakers.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • HOF anticlimax worth of Taskmaster prize task

    I’ve heard of Jesse for what, decades, and never listened. Assumed he’s podcasting royalty. So, he’s got the Taskmaster hosts? Sure, I’ll listen, happy to give him a try. It was an hour of super vanilla interview and HE MISPRONOUNCED GREG DAVIES’s NAME OVER AND OVER AND OVER. And the interview was so boring, nothing new and interesting about it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    hans macgruber
    United States3 months ago
  • Music Saved my Life

    The Raphael Saadiq episode was so heartfelt and heartwarming. Big fan of this podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emariej2918
    United States7 months ago
  • Full of himself

    The guy is a know it all and doesn’t let his guests speak.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mr Majestik
    United Statesa year ago
  • True man of culture…

    Long-time listener but getting GFK on the pod is next level greatness. Blessings and props on an amazing run, Jesse!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigH914
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good interview. Learned stuff. Inspired

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Listener4675
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics feel the host can be slow or too cautious with certain guests.
Many find host questioning insightful and engaging across a wide range of topics.
Listeners praise thoughtful, respectful interviews and diverse guests.
A few comments note strong loyalty and frequent listening due to high-quality conversations.
Positive feedback highlights the show's ability to surface intimate and craft-focused stories.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Sold a Story
Sold a StoryAPM Reports
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
METRO with Sarah Koenig
METRO with Sarah KoenigSerial Productions & The New York Times
The Why Files: Operation Podcast
The Why Files: Operation PodcastThe Why Files: Operation Podcast

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bob Mould
Q: What was it like to be in Sugar at the height of grunge and to be sober and a grown up?
Bob explains that sobriety brought clarity and a different kind of intentionality to his decisions, helping him navigate the pressures of rapid success while still delivering focused, song-centered work.
Angélique Kidjo
Q: How did you navigate leaving Benin and building a career in Europe and beyond while maintaining your roots?
She describes choosing freedom over compromise, moving to Paris to study, and embracing intercultural exchanges that broadened her musical vocabulary while staying true to her identity.
Angélique Kidjo
Q: What was it like growing up in Benin and hearing music that you wouldn't have heard if you stayed in Paris or Los Angeles later on?
Kidjo explains the rich, multi-layered musical environment of Benin, where rhythms and languages formed a wall of percussion and a daily, communal experience that contrasted with later exposure to global sounds.
Walter Thompson-Hernández on his new film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'
Q: How did your experience at The New York Times influence your film work?
Covering LA for the Times exposed me to non-trope storytelling, leading me to pursue more nuanced, locally grounded narratives that reflect real communities in Los Angeles.
Walter Thompson-Hernández on his new film 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'
Q: You mentioned wanting viewers to feel something more than a linear plot. How does that shape your filmmaking approach?
I prioritize emotions, texture, and questions over strict narrative progression, drawing on my documentary background to create honesty and resonance rather than conventional exposition.

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 Bullseye

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

Bullseye features in-depth conversations with artists, writers, actors, musicians, and other cultural figures, exploring craft, process, and the broader landscape of arts and culture. Episodes tend to mix career retrospectives with timely discussions about creativity, identity, and the media industry, often revealing behind-the-scenes stories, practical craft insights, and thoughtful takes on culture. A standout thread across episodes is the host's patient, probing interview style and the show's ability to surface nuanced perspectives from a wide range of guests, from indie filmmakers to renowned performers. This mix makes it appealing for listeners who want thoughtful, well-rounded conversations about art, culture, and creative work, occas... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Bullseye?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Bullseye. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Bullseye and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Bullseye get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Bullseye, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Bullseye?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Bullseye, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Bullseye have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Bullseye 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 Bullseye?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bullseye:

1. Jordan, Jesse, GO!
2. Judge John Hodgman
3. Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out
4. WTF with Marc Maron Podcast
5. Stop Podcasting Yourself

How many episodes of Bullseye are there?

Bullseye launched 21 years ago and published 1035 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 Bullseye?

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 Bullseye?

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

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Bullseye?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Bullseye. 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 Bullseye?

Recent guests on Bullseye include:

1. Bob Mould
2. Angélique Kidjo
3. Bob Mackie
4. Tonya Mosley
5. David Letterman
6. Eric Appel
7. Walter Thompson-Hernández
8. Elvis Costello

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days