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Artwork for Caropop

Caropop

Mark Caro
Violent Femmes
The Doors
Music Industry
Music Mastering
Chicago
Milwaukee
Friko
Steve Albini
Skylarking
XTC
Fugazi
Messthetics
Revolution Brewing
Marquee Moon
Busking
Acting
Rockabilly
Vinyl Me Please
Donna Summer
Love

There may be nothing more inspiring and entertaining than relaxed, candid conversations among creative people. Mark Caro, a relentlessly curious journalist and on-stage interviewer, loves digging into the creative process with artists and drawing out surprising stories that illuminate the work that has become part of our lives. The Caropopcast is for anyone who wants to dig deeper into the music, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes225Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Caropop

Latest Episodes

Vince Wilburn Jr. was growing up on Chicago’s South Side when his mother would get him all dressed up because his Uncle Miles Davis was coming to town. Sometimes they'd see the brilliant trumpeter perform, including at the tiny Plugged Nickel club in... more

Len Kasper is starting his sixth season as the Chicago White Sox’s radio play-by-play announcer after 16 years as the Cubs’ TV play-by-play guy, but he’s got another passion: playing bass and writing songs for his band Sonic45. This Chicago all-star ... more

Any author would dream of the kind of acclaim and attention that Christine Sneed has received, including a front-page Sunday New York Times Book Review rave of her 2013 novel Little Known Facts. The accolades continued for subsequent novels and short... more

Musicians are said to have a lifetime to create their first album and six months to make the follow-up. That was literally the case with Graham Parker, whose landmark debut album, Howlin’ Wind, came out in April 1976, followed that October by the acc... more

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Recent Guests

Len Kasper
Baseball broadcaster and musician
Chicago White Sox; Sonic45
Episode: Len Kasper
Christine Sneed
Author (novelist and short story writer)
Author, Bookish Substack
Episode: Christine Sneed
Graham Parker
Singer-songwriter, Howlin Wind
Episode: Graham Parker (Howlin' Wind)
Marc Ribot
A distinctive guitarist known for collaborations with various legendary artists.
New West Records
Episode: Marc Ribot
Kevin Gray
Renowned mastering engineer
Cohearent Records
Episode: Kevin Gray 2026
Robyn Hitchcock
Singer-songwriter known for his eclectic music style and storytelling abilities.
Tiny Ghost Records
Episode: Robyn Hitchcock, 1967
Wesley Stace
Musician and author known for his works both under his real name and as John Wesley Harding.
Episode: Wesley Stace/John Wesley Harding
Dave Specter
Chicago's top blues guitarist and partner in music venue Space
Space
Episode: Dave Specter
Shane Buettner
Owner and operator of Intervention Records
Intervention Records
Episode: Shane Buettner (Intervention Records)

Host

Mark Caro
Journalist and interviewer known for deep-dive conversations with artists about creative work and industry dynamics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • Excellent

    Thoughtful and informative interviews. Great podcast.

    The one with Pete Best was easily the “best” interview with him I’ve heard. Great decision to focus on his personal experiences as a member of the early Beatles versus rehashing the story of his sacking, which has been done to death. This approach allowed him to open up and paint a really vivid picture of the Hamburg days.

    Also digging the Squeeze and XTC interviews. Thank You!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bogachiel Cambuza
    United States4 months ago
  • Great questioning

    Listened to Colin molding and have to say you came across as big fan. That and your honest inquiring lead him to reveal some things I don’t know. The garage thing. lol.

    Just shy of getting him to admit that if XTC got together and toured they would each prob make 2 million$ in a summer. Even as a nostalgia tour.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Danuyyfccg
    United States7 months ago
  • Never fails to entertain and enlighten

    Initially I was drawn in to the guest appearances by the 80s Southern Jangle Pop guests, but now I trust his taste that I know I’ll find something worthwhile in each episode regardless of the guest. - Jefferson Hart

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jefferson Hart
    United States9 months ago
  • So Knowledgeable!

    Learning so much from Marc and his guests! Especially the old original (mostly) guys. The intros are though provoking. The talents stand for themselves. And Marc doesn’t interrupt his guests. A+

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shifra S. NYC
    United Statesa year ago
  • Music, music, music!

    These are such good conversations about the creative process. Mark comes prepared and gives his guests room to tell their often-remarkable stories. 10/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Music Glover
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Appeal is broad across eras and genres, not just contemporary acts.
Listeners praise thoughtful, insightful interviews and guest-specific storytelling.
Fans value candid discussions of the creative process and industry context.
Many comment on the host's preparation and unhurried interviewing style.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Kevin Gray 2026
Q: So tell me about your 2025.
Well, I'm not sure it was my busiest year yet. I think business was off maybe 10% from last year in full disclosure, but I turned a lot of business away last year.
Robyn Hitchcock, 1967
Q: Did you have certain ambitions of the kind of art you still want to put out into the world that you haven't yet?
I would like to do more painting because I think I'm getting better at it.
Robyn Hitchcock, 1967
Q: Was there any part of you that was tempted to start throwing in the production kitchen sink on some of it?
No, there was no point throwing in production kitchen sink because that's what had been thrown in the first time around.
Robyn Hitchcock, 1967
Q: How much of how you experienced that music of 1967 and the way it stuck with you, do you think was tied into your being in boarding school as opposed to not or doing something else?
I think it was tied in. It became even more intense because we weren't free to roam and sneak off to gigs.
Mitch Easter & Don Dixon (R.E.M.'s Murmur)
Q: What was it like to work with them again?
It was familiar and felt the same in a good way.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Caropop

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

This show features long-form conversations with artists, producers, and other music-industry figures, focused on the creative process, career trajectories, and the realities of making a living in music and culture. Episodes often weave personal origin stories with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, songwriting and recording approaches, and reflections on the industry's evolution from vinyl to streaming. A notable strength is the interviewer's patient, well-prepared style that gives guests room to tell deeply personal stories and share practical insights for creators and industry professionals alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Caropop?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Caropop. 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 Caropop and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Caropop get?

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What are the audience demographics for Caropop?

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How many subscribers and views does Caropop have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Caropop 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.

How many episodes of Caropop are there?

Caropop launched 4 years ago and published 225 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 Caropop?

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 Caropop?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Caropop?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Caropop. 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 Caropop?

Recent guests on Caropop include:

1. Len Kasper
2. Christine Sneed
3. Graham Parker
4. Marc Ribot
5. Kevin Gray
6. Robyn Hitchcock
7. Wesley Stace
8. Dave Specter

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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