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Artwork for Caropop

Caropop

Mark Caro
Music
Rock Music
Music Production
R.E.M.
Jazz Music
Chicago
Music Industry
Kevin Gray
Bob Dylan
The Doors
Record Store Day
Tone Poet
Jazz Audiophile Vinyl
Caropop
Jazz
Elvis Costello
Vinyl Reissues
Songwriting
Vinyl Records
The Beatles

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes231Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for Caropop

Latest Episodes

Joe Segal, who would have turned 100 on April 24, recorded 8- to-10,000 shows at his own Jazz Showcase and other Chicago clubs. In 2011, “Jazz Detective” Zev Feldman began visiting Segal and exploring his vast archive. Joe Segal died in 2020, but Fel... more

Brendan Hunt, a.k.a. Coach Beard on Ted Lasso, is back in his hometown of Chicago to open a one-man show at Steppenwolf Theatre: The Movement You Need. The title comes from “Hey Jude,” and Hunt’s subject is how his mother and he bonded over the Beatl... more

It's time to get the record store perspective on Record Store Day (April 18) from Tim Peterson, owner of Squeezebox Books & Music in Evanston, Ill. That’s where I line up each RSD morning, so I visited Peterson to hear him explain how it all works. H... more

Chef Rick Bayless worked in his parents’ Oklahoma City BBQ restaurant before he found his passion exploring Mexico’s regional foods. When he and his wife Deann opened Chicago’s game-changing Frontera Grill in March 1987, he wowed the ever-packed dini... more

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Recent Guests

Brendan Hunt
Best known as Coach Beard on Ted Lasso; writer/creator involved with The Movement You Need
The Movement You Need (Theatre show)
Episode: Brendan Hunt (The Movement You Need, Ted Lasso)
Tim Peterson
Owner of Squeezebox Books & Music (Evanston, IL)
Squeezebox Books & Music
Episode: Tim Peterson/Squeezebox (Record Store Day)
Rick Bayless
Renowned chef and restaurateur
Frontera Grill, Topolobampo
Episode: Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill, Topolobampo)
Gary Klebe
Guitarist and singer from Shoes
Shoes
Episode: Gary Klebe (Shoes)
Ronnie Barnett
Bassist for The Muffs, former rock journalist from Houston
The Muffs
Episode: Ronnie Barnett (The Muffs)
Vince Wilburn Jr
Musician, Miles Davis's nephew and former drummer in Miles Davis's bands
Miles Davis family / Miles Electric Band
Episode: Vince Wilburn Jr. (Miles Davis)
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)

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 States5 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 States9 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 Statesa year 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.

Brendan Hunt (The Movement You Need, Ted Lasso)
Q: What was the linchpin in getting from the initial idea to presenting it publicly?
The pivotal moment was meeting Paul McCartney, which gave the concept a real frame and a sense of purpose, turning a personal story into a show with a recognizable backbone that could connect with audiences.
Gary Klebe (Shoes)
Q: How did you balance three songwriters on a Shoes record versus a solo project when it came to Out Loud?
The dynamic stayed democratic in Shoes, but Out Loud allowed more sole direction, while still benefiting from the collaborative influences of Jeff and John when appropriate.
Gary Klebe (Shoes)
Q: When you got signed to Elektra, was this like a pinch-me moment, or did you think it wouldn't really change much for you?
It felt big and surprising, yet we understood our own limitations; the deal was exciting but there was caution about how much it would change our approach or reception.
Gary Klebe (Shoes)
Q: So what was the process of it? Did you go into it saying, I'm writing songs for a solo record or did you think it might be stuff for Shoes and it became a solo record?
I started writing with the Shoes mindset, but as the material grew, it became clear that some songs would fit better as a Gary Klebe solo project, though I remained mindful of keeping the Shoes energy in mind.
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.

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 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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Caropop, 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 Caropop?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Caropop, 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 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 5 years ago and published 231 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. Brendan Hunt
2. Tim Peterson
3. Rick Bayless
4. Gary Klebe
5. Ronnie Barnett
6. Vince Wilburn Jr
7. Len Kasper
8. Christine Sneed

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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