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Artwork for Political Beats

Political Beats

National Review
Rock Music
Music Industry
Yes
Tom Waits
National Review
The Kinks
Stevie Wonder
Progressive Rock
David Bowie
Jazz
ZZ Top
Iggy Pop
The Stooges
Tales Of Topographic Oceans
90125
Drama
Echo & the Bunnymen
Boston
Blues Rock
Def Leppard

Scot Bertram and Jeff Blehar discuss ask guests from the world of politics about their musical passions.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes158Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic

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Artwork for Political Beats

Latest Episodes

Scot and Jeff discuss the first part of XTC’s career (1977-1983) with Andrew Gretes.

Introducing the Band:

Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) with guest Andrew Gretes. Andrew is a fiction writer teaching creative ... more

Scot and Jeff discuss The Apples in Stereo with Jack Butler.

Introducing the Band:

Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) with guest Jack Butler. Jack is deputy editor for Free Expression, a new newsletter about polit... more

Scot and Jeff discuss Deep Purple with Ivan Pongracic.

Introducing the Band:

Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) are joined by guest Ivan Pongracic, William E. Hibbs & Ludwig von Mises professor of Economics at Hil... more

Scot and Jeff discuss The Strokes with Christopher Scalia.

Introducing the Band:

Your hosts Scot Bertram (@ScotBertram) and Jeff Blehar (@EsotericCD) with guest Christopher Scalia. Chris is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and th... more

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Recent Guests

Andrew Gretes
fiction writer, teaching rhetoric and creative writing at Georgetown and George Washington University
Georgetown University; George Washington University
Episode: Episode 157: Andrew Gretes / XTC [Part 1]
Jack Butler
Deputy Editor for Free Expression, Wall Street Journal Opinion page
Wall Street Journal Opinion page
Episode: Episode 156: Jack Butler / The Apples in Stereo
Ivan Pongracic Jr.
William E. Hibbs, Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics at Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Episode: Episode 155: Ivan Pongracic / Deep Purple
Christopher Scalia
Senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Episode 154: Christopher Scalia / The Strokes
Sean Trende
Senior Elections Analyst at Real Clear Politics
Real Clear Politics
Episode: Episode 153: Sean Trende / Van Halen
Dominic Green
Historian, writes for the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Examiner
Episode: Episode 152: Dominic Green / Iggy Pop & the Stooges
Damon Linker
Senior Lecturer in Political Science
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Episode 151: Damon Linker / Tom Waits [Part 2]
David Lowery
Founder of Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker, producer, artist, rights advocate, and senior lecturer in music business at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
Episode: Episode 148: David Lowery Interview
Tim Constantine
Political commentator and radio host
Capitol Hill Show
Episode: Episode 147: Tim Constantine / Bob Seger

Hosts

Scott Bertram
Host who frequently engages in detailed discussions with guests about the impact of music on culture and politics.
Jeff Blehar
Co-host who adds depth to the musical discussions, often bringing personal anecdotes related to the songs and artists featured.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 594 ratings
  • Almost great

    Loses two stars only because Jeff cannot stop interrupting or talking over Scot or the guest. Good, insightful show that captures the joy of music, held back by this irritating habit.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Pops Callahan
    United States25 days ago
  • Great show

    I love the show. You really need to do Iron Maiden. You’ve done, Sabbath, AC/DC, and Deep Purple. You have a lot to work with. They made the Rime of the Ancient Mariner into a heavy metal song. What’s not to like.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A conservative head banger.
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great show!

    I really love this show. Where else can you get a deep dive in the weird discography of The Beach Boys or obsessive detail on the Beatles white album or a hard day tonight these guys are great. I think a lot of the guests they have are really smart and knowledgeable and the host themselves really do an excellent job. I learned a ton on the Rolling Stones episodes in particular. love the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mindymaxine12468
    United States4 months ago
  • Another great episode!

    Just listened to #141 Stone Temple Pilots and as with most of your shows it gives a fresh perspective of a classic band. One of the main reasons I’m inspired to listen to their catalog again was Scott’s notably animated passion for the band, sucked me right in on his wave of enthusiasm! And like Jeff there’s a feeling of joyful rediscovery. Mary overall did not add an enormous amount of content to the discussion but her nod to James Jamerson being a direct influence on Robert DeLeo was a nugget ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raunchy Calhoun
    United Statesa year ago
  • Huey Intro

    First listen and I chose Huey Lewis and the News as the test run, with zero regrets. You guys are covering it quite professionally. One quick recommendation(or point me to where this has already been done), post the playlist with either a Spotify link or just a simple text list of the songs. I may hear some deeper cuts go by and have to Shazam them or they’ll be lost to my knowledge forever. Cheers. 5 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cell
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many reviews praise the hosts for their enthusiasm and knowledgeable perspectives, enriching discussions about various music genres.
Some criticism focuses on the length of episodes and requests for more concise discussions or better pacing.
Listeners appreciate the deep dives into artists' musical history and the blending of politics with musical insights.
Positive feedback highlights how the podcast introduces lesser-known bands and contextualizes their influence in music history.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#19
United States/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#162
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#21
Canada/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#92
United Kingdom/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#193
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#93
Australia/Music/Music History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 156: Jack Butler / The Apples in Stereo
Q: Jack, how did you first discover The Apples in Stereo and what drew you to them?
I fell in love with their music through the Elephant 6 network, starting with a lo-fi approach that felt playful and adventurous, then watching them evolve into a more ambitious, space-pop sound across their albums.
Episode 150: Damon Linker / Tom Waits [Part 1]
Q: Why do you love Tom Waits, and why should people care about this music?
Damon shares that he finds Tom Waits unique due to the blend of ugliness and beauty in his music, which fascinated him from a young age through his father's influence.
Episode 150: Damon Linker / Tom Waits [Part 1]
Q: Damon, tell us a bit about what you do.
Damon explains that he has had an ideological journey, moving from a political right alignment to a more liberal perspective, while maintaining some conservative philosophical beliefs.
Episode 148: David Lowery Interview
Q: How did the COVID pandemic impact your creative process?
The pandemic provided time and space to dive deep into creating the album, turning it into a classic COVID project.
Episode 148: David Lowery Interview
Q: What was the inspiration behind writing 'Fathers, Sons, and Brothers'?
The album serves as a musical autobiography, reflecting on various chapters of my life and significant relationships.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Beats

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

A unique exploration of the intersection between music and politics unfolds through engaging conversations that feature notable guests. Each episode centers on an artist or band, with hosts sharing their personal insights while the guest reflects on how music influences their political and social perspectives. The discussions often delve into both iconic and obscure musical works, revealing the historical and cultural significance behind them. This format not only highlights the guests' musical passions but also creates a rich tapestry of music history, appealing to both music aficionados and casual listeners alike.

Listeners benefit from an authentic examination of well-loved musical acts as well as lesser-known gems, often with an emphas... more

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How many listeners does Political Beats get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Political Beats 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 Political Beats?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Beats:

1. The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast
2. The Editors
3. GLoP Culture
4. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
5. Breaking History

How many episodes of Political Beats are there?

Political Beats launched 9 years ago and published 158 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 Political Beats?

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What guests have appeared on Political Beats?

Recent guests on Political Beats include:

1. Andrew Gretes
2. Jack Butler
3. Ivan Pongracic Jr.
4. Christopher Scalia
5. Sean Trende
6. Dominic Green
7. Damon Linker
8. David Lowery

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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