Rephonic
Artwork for The Irreverent U2 Podcast: Kissing Lips and Breaking Hearts with the Garden Tarts

The Irreverent U2 Podcast: Kissing Lips and Breaking Hearts with the Garden Tarts

U2 Fans Hillary and Jenny, aka The Garden Tarts
Bono
Voting
No Line On the Horizon
Live Aid
How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Taylor Swift
September 11
Whiskey
Songs Of Innocence
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
Inhaler
Election Day
Queen
Days Of Ash
Stand Up Comedy
Popmart Tour
Dublin
Larry Mullen Jr.
Concert Experiences
Summer Rain

If you love U2's music but want a fun, irreverent take beyond the stats and collectables, this podcast is for you. A podcast for U2 fans, casual and die-hard alike, we are two best friends discussing what we love the most: U2 and the ridiculous adventures we've had together over three decades of friendship.

In a fan world full of collectibles, statistics and academia, Jenny and Hillary bring irre... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes356Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic Interviews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Irreverent U2 Podcast: Kissing Lips and Breaking Hearts with the Garden Tarts

Latest Episodes

U2's The Greatest Show on Earth, line by line: is it a farewell song, or is U2 just doing what U2 does? Jenny and Hillary break down the lyrics, Bono's best vocals in years, The Edge's genius for holding back, and what the song says about love, faith... more

’Tis the season… ALBUM season! U2’s Carnaval De Luz arrives November 13, 2026, and we’re going through every format announced so far: classic black vinyl, the rose indie-store edition outside the US, the sold-out yellow Third Man Records pressing, Ta... more

U2's new album Carnaval de Luz drops November 13 — here's everything we know, plus our deep dive into Silencio lyrics & video after two weeks of listening.

Welcome to The Irreverent U2 Podcast: Kissing Lips and Breaking Hearts with the Garden Tarts.... more

U2 turned 50 on September 25, 2026, and Dublin threw a party. We recap all of U2's 50th anniversary: the surprise Mount Temple school gig, the Grafton Street show from the Bewley's balcony, the live debut of "Silencio," and the "40" encore the fans a... more

Key Facts

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.

Recent Guests

Gregg Brooks
Friend of the Garden Tarts, essay contributor
Episode: BALLROOM BOOM (CHA): U2 New Music Rumors, Irish Film Festival, and Sunday Bloody Sunday
Phil Tigard
Podcast host and friend of the Garden Tarts
Episode: U2's Boy and Bono's With or Without You Vocals
Kip Mullin
Resident bartender and U2 fan
Local pub manager
Episode: Unsure about U2's 'No Line on the Horizon'? Here's Why It Deserves a Second Listen
Ciara Lawrence
Host of Ciara's Pink Sparkle Pod, focusing on raising awareness of learning disabilities
Ciara's Pink Sparkle Pod
Episode: A Pink Sparkle Ep with Ciara Lawrence
AJ Sams
Founder and main writer at u2songs.com, author of U2: Song by Song
u2songs.com
Episode: U2: Song by Song

Hosts

Jennifer (Jenny)
Co-host with Hillary; long-running voice of the show, focused on U2 lore, humor, and audience engagement; often drives episode structure and banter.
Hillary
Co-host with Jenny; brings historical context, fan perspective, and warm, irreverent commentary to U2 topics and guest-less episodes.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 55 ratings
  • They are good fun

    Argentina loves u2, and I like the garden tarts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Juan J. Casanovas
    Argentina6 months ago
  • Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year Garden Tarts!

    Thank you for your commitment to this pod. I always appreciate your insight and passion for U2. Your friendship is inspiring and comforting.

    Cheers!

    Maria (Zoe2U)

    P.S. I’ve been wondering what’s going on with Buster and Bono.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zoeychu4
    United States10 months ago
  • Love these two who’ve stolen our heart

    Real talk, real answers : real fans xxx the place to be to learn and hear all the U2 that you can’t leave behind. Also - come here for post tour blues .

    The remedy is communing with the Garden Tarts ♥️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tricia Landlocked Mermaid
    United States3 years ago
  • Brilliant, funny, and they know everything!

    Hillary and Jenny are the very best kind of U2 fans—knowledegeable and loving without being too serious; engaged with the band, the world and each other. They are so much fun and such an inspiration!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ThaPeej333
    United States6 years ago
  • U2 fans this is a must!!

    If you are a fan of U2 you need to do yourself a favor and check this show out. You will not be disappointed!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Drew Zakmin
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the hosts' friendship and chemistry, describing episodes as fun, knowledgeable, and engaging.
Fans value the blend of U2 trivia with personal storytelling and accessibility for casual fans.
Many listeners say it feels like chatting with friends over drinks, with a welcoming, non-judgmental tone.
Community and generosity in coverage of fan culture and activism are noted as a standout.
The show is seen as a go-to for deep U2 lore presented in an entertaining way.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

God Part II: The Deep Cut That Basically Predicted Achtung Baby
Q: Question for Bono over whiskey and cake. Do you ever watch Jeopardy? Do you do well on Jeopardy?
The hosts speculate that Bono likely performs well on Jeopardy, reflecting their playful curiosity about his pop culture knowledge and trivia prowess.
Until the End of 2025: Wi$h li$ts for our U2 Podcast
Q: Have you ever listened to one of our EPs?
They humorously ask Bono if he is aware of the podcast and its name, addressing the hope he may acknowledge their show.
Until the End of 2025: Wi$h li$ts for our U2 Podcast
Q: What are your New Year's plans?
Hillary and Jenny express a desire to enjoy simple family time but also contemplate doing something adventurous.
Silly "Love" Songs: Examining U2 Love Songs
Q: If you write a song about Ali or your kids, do you ask permission?
It's important for the artist to consider their subject's feelings about having personal experiences shared publicly.
Getting to Know a U2 Fan: 20 Questions For Hillary
Q: What makes you feel better on a bad day?
Talking to my friends and finding something to watch that makes me laugh helps me feel better.

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 This Podcast

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

Two longtime friends and U2 superfans discuss the band with irreverent humor, deep fandom knowledge, and lots of personal anecdotes. Episodes blend news, live shows, archival memories, and listener stories, often weaving in community activism, charity connections, and the broader cultural moments surrounding U2. The show stands out for its warm chemistry, approachable analysis, and a playful stance that keeps even complex fandom topics entertaining and accessible for both casual listeners and die-hard fans.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

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

How many listeners does this podcast get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The U2 Podcast
2. The U2start Podcast
3. U2 - Biography Flash
4. Drummer Seeks Musicians: The Making of U2
5. The Bulwark Daily

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 356 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Gregg Brooks
2. Phil Tigard
3. Kip Mullin
4. Ciara Lawrence
5. AJ Sams

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