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

The Popcast is hosted by Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic for The New York Times. It covers the latest in popular music criticism, trends and news. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes567Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusic InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for Popcast

Latest Episodes

On this special live episode, Joe and Jon react to Drake's new albums – "Iceman," "Habibti" and "Maid of Honour."

They unpack the rapper’s decision to release 43 tracks at once, the bars aimed at Kendrick Lamar and other adversaries and the stronge... more

On this week's episode of "Cannonball," Jon and Joe sit down with Wesley Morris and Sasha Weiss to discuss how The New York Times Magazine's 30 Greatest Songwriters list came together. They rehash their biggest debates from the process, react to the ... more

Using excerpts from Swift’s new songwriting chat with Joe, he and Jon go deep on the exclusive interview, which is available in full at NYTimes.com/Taylor-Swift.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also ... more

A lively conversation with the Oscar-winning actress about her role as a Taylor Swift-Lady Gaga hybrid pop singer (with songs by Charli XCX and twigs, who makes an interview cameo!) in the new A24 film “Mother Mary,” plus: “The Devil Wears Prada 2” a... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Wesley Morris
Critic and co-creator of the Cannonball episode concept
The New York Times
Episode: Cannonball: Debating Our ‘30 Greatest Songwriters’ List
Sasha Weiss
Editor at The New York Times Magazine involved in the project
The New York Times Magazine
Episode: Cannonball: Debating Our ‘30 Greatest Songwriters’ List
Taylor Swift
Award-winning singer-songwriter known for evolving from country to pop
Self
Episode: The Taylor Swift Interview: Behind the Scenes
Anne Hathaway
Actor/singer portraying Mother Mary in the film featured in the episode
Actor
Episode: How Anne Hathaway Transformed Into a Pop Star (Featuring FKA twigs)
FKA Twigs
Actor, dancer, and songwriter joining Hathaway for discussion and performance in the film
Artist
Episode: How Anne Hathaway Transformed Into a Pop Star (Featuring FKA twigs)
Jack Harlow
Rapper and subject of the interview
Episode: Jack Harlow on Pivoting to R&B With ‘Monica,’ Dating in NYC and Finding Himself
Drew Desbordes
Druski, comedian and creator of Could Have Been Love
Self (Could Have Been Love)
Episode: Is This Druski’s Most Serious Interview Yet?
Ricky Martin
Puerto Rican singer and activist
Episode: Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show: Our Instant Reactions!
Jon Herndon
Drummer for post-rock band Tortoise and producer under A Grape Dope
Tortoise
Episode: 2hollis + His Drummer Dad, Interviewed Together! On Fame, Family & Quitting the Internet

Hosts

Jon Caramanica
Pop music critic and co-host with a long-running NYT presence across pop music analysis and interviews.
Joe Coscarelli
Co-host and reporter with focus on music and pop culture; frequent collaborator on major NYT music coverage.

Reviews

2.4 out of 5 stars from 8.3k ratings
  • Dry your mouths

    The knees on the ground reviews for drakes album in 2026 renders these two truly obsolete. NYT really needs quality control.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    flangeslammer
    United States5 days ago
  • I love this podcast

    This podcast and Spelling Bee are honestly the main reasons I subscribe to the NYT

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EveryNameIsTaken192937
    United States13 days ago
  • Debating the 30 Greatest - GOAT

    This episode prompted an ongoing philosophical debate with a family member. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kate in LA
    United States15 days ago
  • Show has become trash

    Used to be a fantastic show featuring in depth conversations about all sorts of genres of music with really informed guests. Now just another mediocre celebrity interview show totally divorced from actual music criticism. Really sad to post this review as a long time listener but sorry, Jon and Joe, it’s time to quit.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    annon.4
    United States25 days ago
  • What happened to music criticism?

    This used to be a podcast where they would have intriguing conversations about different artists/albums now they just have interviews and it’s way more boring. Bring back the music criticism!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Lanie Laundry
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Critics note issues around representation and tone, suggesting more diverse voices could enrich conversations.
Listeners value the depth of critique and the breadth of guests, but some feel the format leans too interview-heavy at times.
Many praise the thoughtful discussions around culture and identity, even when opinions diverge.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Taylor Swift Interview: Behind the Scenes
Q: What were the most animated stretches of conversation in your show?
Swift was highly engaged, with the hosts noting her preparedness and her ability to discuss her catalog holistically, which led to a dynamic exchange about bridges, structure, and the evolution of her storytelling.
Is This Druski’s Most Serious Interview Yet?
Q: Do you see yourself doing serious Hollywood work, or stay in comedic, Druski-character territory?
He sees both paths coexisting, with interest in actor/producer roles and a potential breakthrough in feature storytelling while continuing Druski-centered content.
Is This Druski’s Most Serious Interview Yet?
Q: What's the hardest thing that's happened to you personally that your career prevented you from dealing with properly?
He missed a funeral due to travel for work but later covered the expenses and acknowledged it as a turning point about balancing life and career priorities.
Is This Druski’s Most Serious Interview Yet?
Q: What is a song that you associate with love?
He says he hasn't been truly in love yet, but would associate a track by Young and May as a love song, reflecting his NYC/hip-hop sensibilities.
Yung Lean Interview! On Defeating His Demons, Swedish Modesty & Charli XCX's Wedding
Q: Do you see a need to express these ideas to younger generations?
Yes, I want to express that mental health issues and being on medication do not hinder creativity; it's an important message.

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?

A sharp, opinionated show that blends music criticism with culture commentary, often featuring in-depth interviews with major artists and industry figures. Episodes routinely explore artistry, identity, and the politics of pop, with guests ranging from chart-topping performers to acclaimed producers and journalists. The format frequently mixes roundtable critique with one-on-one conversations, producing thoughtful takes on trends, awards season, and the evolving music landscape. Noteworthy is the cadence of smart, sometimes combative dialogue that aims to pull back the curtain on artistry, fame, and the business of making music, making it a strong pick for listeners who want critical insight alongside artist stories.

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?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Popcast, 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 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. Pop Pantheon
3. Every Single Album
4. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
5. Pop Culture Happy Hour

How many episodes of Popcast are there?

Popcast launched 20 years ago and published 567 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.

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 Popcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Popcast. 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 Popcast?

Recent guests on Popcast include:

1. Wesley Morris
2. Sasha Weiss
3. Taylor Swift
4. Anne Hathaway
5. FKA Twigs
6. Jack Harlow
7. Drew Desbordes
8. Ricky Martin

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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