Rephonic
Artwork for Popcast
Taylor Swift
Pop Music
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Billie Eilish
Country Music
Beyoncé
Grammy Awards
Music Industry
Olivia Rodrigo
Bad Bunny
Grammys
Ariana Grande
Sean Combs
Mental Health
SZA
Super Bowl
Miley Cyrus
Tiktok
Usher

The New York Times’s weekly pop culture chat show, with interviews and analysis from the critic Jon Caramanica and the reporter Joe Coscarelli. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, down... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes588Founded21 years ago
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Music CommentaryMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Popcast

Latest Episodes

Ahead of his new album “Fresh,” out Nov. 6, the Atlanta rap superstar Lil Baby sat down with Joe and Jon to chat about the project — including his recent Pharrell-produced single “Dead Fresh” — and how it marks a new chapter for him as he expands fro... more

Billy Corgan, the frontman and creative engine of the 90s alt-rockers the Smashing Pumpkins, sat down with Joe and Jon for a frisky conversation about his personal and professional rebirth — including his passion for the emotional intensity of guitar... more

YouTube

The Swedish pop star Zara Larsson sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss her stratospheric year of taking control of her career and stepping into a new era of bonafide pop superstardom. She spoke about her surge in cultural relevance — from the TikTok ... more

YouTube

The Colombian pop star Karol G sat down with Joe and Jon to discuss her recent stadium run of touring her albums – 2025’s “Tropicoqueta” and 2026’s “No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto” – as well as headlining Coachella 2026. She also discusses represen... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Billy Corgan
Frontman and creative engine of the Smashing Pumpkins, podcaster and wrestling impresario
The Smashing Pumpkins
Episode: Billy Corgan Is Tired of Your ‘Mocking, Bullying, Laughing’
Zara Larsson
Swedish pop singer and songwriter
Summer House
Episode: Why Zara Larsson Refuses to Censor Herself – or Dim Her Joy
Karol G
Latin music superstar, Colombian artist
herself
Episode: Karol G on Bringing Latin Culture to the World’s Biggest Stages
Miranda Lambert
Country singer-songwriter and co-producer of Ella Langley's “Choosin' Texas.”
Big Loud Texas
Episode: Miranda Lambert on Mentoring Ella Langley, Reconciling with Kacey Musgraves & Country’s New Era
Jeff Probst
Host and showrunner of Survivor
Survivor (CBS)
Episode: Jeff Probst Tells All About ‘Survivor’: ‘I Have Nothing to Hide’
Audrey Hobert
Singer-songwriter and musician, featured guest
Self
Episode: Audrey Hobert on ‘Sue Me’ Success, Gracie Abrams, Malcolm Todd & Her Next Album
Kai Cenat
New York-based streamer and creator
Vivets fashion brand / See What Happens show
Episode: Kai Cenat on Quitting Streaming at His Peak to Start a Fashion Brand
Busta Rhymes
Rapper and guest on Popcast
Self
Episode: How Busta Rhymes Turned 300 Unreleased J Dilla Beats Into His New Album
Stavros Halkias
Comedian and actor, known for ComTown and stand-up
Comedian
Episode: Stavros Halkias Was Forced to Get Political: ‘I Hate It!’

Hosts

Jon Caramanica
Host of The New York Times Popcast, music critic
Joe Coscarelli
Co-host and culture reporter for The New York Times, music journalist

Reviews

2.4 out of 5 stars from 8.5k ratings
  • Part of the problem

    The conversation here is a glib, cringey performance of old white guys as hip, relevant ambassadors of an ephemeral, youth obsessed, calorie and nutrient free cultural product. It is sad and empty. I wish we had better art capturing our attention and I wish we had sincere, interesting criticism of that art. Not here. This is a clown show, an embarrassment, an annoyance, an affront.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Lupkyn
    United States3 months ago
  • Arrogantly Bombastic

    Every time I consider subscribing to

    The New York Times I don’t because I

    think of these kind of people. It’s not what they say it’s how they say it. The New York Times keeps rubbing these two on our ears and eyes. Cancel your subscription.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JNLCIA
    United States3 months ago
  • Out of touch

    Jon Caramanica is insufferable.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    N. Arg
    United States3 months ago
  • Let the artists TALK dear god

    The hosts talk way too much. Reminds me why I hate talking to men. They have their questions and seem in a different world rather than playing off the tone the guest is bringing. I’m hearing your voices way more than the artist and that’s problem.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    barely_sidewalk
    United States3 months ago
  • Jon doesnt know music

    Jon prizes what the type of music you listen to “says” about you rather than just enjoying music. Its exhausting.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    GhengisCohen
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise deep, scholarly music analysis and strong industry context.
Fans appreciate the breadth of guests and the ability to connect music to broader culture.
Some listeners feel the format leans too interview-focused and requests more back-and-forth with guests.
Criticism centers on perceived consistency in defending certain viewpoints; some say the critique is too insider-focused for general audiences.
Sponsorship-friendly for brands targeting educated, culturally engaged professionals.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Billy Corgan Is Tired of Your ‘Mocking, Bullying, Laughing’
Q: How did you convince the world then?
Corgan says he does not believe anyone can convince others of their value through argument. He focused on rebuilding his work and career from the ground up, trusting that people would respond once he had made something that felt right to him.
Billy Corgan Is Tired of Your ‘Mocking, Bullying, Laughing’
Q: So when did you notice that this was happening and how have you either embraced it or rejected it?
Corgan says he spent years hearing that guitar music was coming back without seeing it happen. About five years earlier, he began noticing guitars returning in radio playlists and sports broadcasts, and he thinks younger listeners may be seeking music that reflects the intensity of their lives.
Miranda Lambert on Mentoring Ella Langley, Reconciling with Kacey Musgraves & Country’s New Era
Q: Tell me how you came to the Ella Project and especially as an executive producer, sort of really wrapped your arms around this artist coming up. How was she the horse that you bet on?
Lambert said songwriter Luke Dick recommended Ella Langley, and songwriter Natalie Hemby introduced them. Langley had already approached Lambert about producing her record. Lambert saw similarities with her younger self, admired Langley's strong artistic vision, and joined the project, which included writing “Choosin' Texas.”
Miranda Lambert on Mentoring Ella Langley, Reconciling with Kacey Musgraves & Country’s New Era
Q: Why did you choose this sound for this album at this time?
A 1970s- and 1980s-inspired video for “Song to Sing” led Lambert and co-producer Jesse Frazier to write more songs in that style. The idea of country disco, which she nicknamed Crisco, made the project feel fun, and she expanded what began as a possible EP into a full album.
Why Zara Larsson Refuses to Censor Herself – or Dim Her Joy
Q: How do you weigh those two things against each other, especially as your offers get more and more lucrative and high profile?
Larsson says larger offers can make it harder to protect one's integrity, but she hopes not to trade her identity or principles for money, especially when more money would not greatly change her day-to-day life.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Popcast

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

Listeners are drawn to analysis-heavy conversations about contemporary pop and hip-hop, artist development, and the music industry's evolving business, with episodes often pairing long-form interviews with in-depth context about genre history, culture, and production. Expect thoughtful critiques, cross-genre explorations, and high-profile guest conversations that mix career retrospectives with behind-the-scenes industry insight. A notable strength is the hosts' breadth of music literature knowledge and their ability to connect an artist's work to larger cultural moments, which can be especially appealing to professionals seeking credible, insider perspectives for sponsorships or guest positioning. The format often blends rigorous discussion... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Popcast?

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

How many listeners does Popcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Popcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Popcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Popcast 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 Popcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Popcast:

1. Switched on Pop
2. The Interview
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
5. Song Exploder

How many episodes of Popcast are there?

Popcast launched 21 years ago and published 588 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 Popcast?

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 Popcast?

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

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What guests have appeared on Popcast?

Recent guests on Popcast include:

1. Billy Corgan
2. Zara Larsson
3. Karol G
4. Miranda Lambert
5. Jeff Probst
6. Audrey Hobert
7. Kai Cenat
8. Busta Rhymes

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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