I wanted to like this podcast so much. I love everything pop culture and all things NYT. However the interview with Olivia Rodriguez was so painful to listen to, I wanted to take a ball ping hammer to my ears. I finally stopped with 4 minutes left in the episode. I gave it my best. Thank heavens it is a heavily subscription driven podcast so I am not inclined to follow it.

Abt 9 min into listening to 2 Joshes “interview” Olivia Rodrigo and they have let her get maybe 5 words in, nothanks

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

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

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

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.

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!

Why not talk about other genres of music? That would be greatly appreciated.

Just a terrible guest. And, I think he’s gotten whiter, what a delusional AH

lots of lowscoring rage baiting from stans and bad faith criticism in these reviews — crazy — interesting paywall format from a newspaper, don’t hate it.

Like MTV, Popcast has always been more about the hosts than the music, and now it’s entering its anti-music celebrity worship phase

this is a comment about this podcast in general. I follow you on Instagram and it’s pretty cool but I think it’s pretty foul that want people to pay to hear most interviews. There are way too many podcasts out there that anyone should have to pay for any one of them. Shame on you greedy people!

I really enjoy the banter and energy between these hosts, but seriously, you conducted an entire interview with Erika Erykah Badu and did not ask her about her experience with Lilith fair? Do you do any research for your interviews at all? This was a literally industry changing event that she was a massive part of, and you simply ignored it. Please do better.!!

Terrible show!!! 🥳👏🤗 Absolute audio slop. Unlistenable takes. Why do these old men hate rock music so much lol? Why do these white dudes speak in AAVE? Has anyone ever asked them??

Your show covering Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance was so disappointing. I don’t think either of you had the level of understanding/information/analytical ability to understand the beauty and the power and the significance of what he did, but instead of seeking out other guests or spending some time learning about what the show symbolized you put out a show of empty slop.

Wow. I hope in retrospect you see how half baked and completely disappointing your instant reactions to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half time show were. Don’t run from that shame. Let it really sink in. Steep in it a while. That’s the only hope that you will one day reemerge with more integrated and relevant opinions.

Two white-presenting men reviewing Bad Bunny’s halftime show had me anxious from the get go. As soon as they compared him to Lin-Manuel Miranda, the racist bias that was subtext became text. (Lin-Manuel and Benito are Puerto Rican, but their artistry outside of a shared identity and culture is distinct.) This episode has me questioning my subscription to the NYT.

Honestly, sometimes it is just really hard listening to the hosts talk about music and moments from other cultures. Listening to the SB performance reaction. I appreciate the live processing, but I find that your critiques of these types of performances and “messages” is stunted and often miss the point. I’d think at this point that you’d have grown in your understanding of some of the nuances that may not be of your culture, but are just as impactful and powerful to a wider audience as Beyonce’s Formation. Maybe diversify your team? I want more evolved conversations that don’t start with “I didn’t get it, so something was off or not well thought out.”

I wish the hosts were more upfront about their bias toward straight male artists. Listening to their Grammy recap, you’d be forgiven for thinking there weren’t any female or queer artists of any consequence in the ceremony. Blech.

And I thought Grammy voters were out of touch. Wow.

This has long been my favorite podcast; I’ve listened to every episode in the archive from 2014-2023. But the new interview format blows. There are 10,000 mediocre interview podcasts out there; what made popcast special was the discussions between smart critics. And I love John, but frankly celebrity interviews bring out his worst side.

Idk just a lot of Brooklyn NPR-Dad “did you get the clicks?” opinions. No disrespect, but some pretty corny stuff these days.

disappointed with the conservative episode. WTF. another reminder that y’all DESPERATELY need to diversify the panel. which the listeners have been demanding for YEARS! on multiple platforms! smdh.

Platforming a bad faith bloviator like Douthat is the last straw. On the same day that Ezra Klein’s pod also forces him on us through his feed. Douthat has nothing insightful to say. A feckless “cultural” commentator. Plenty of topics in pop music, no need to reach with Douthat.

Currently listening to the podcast where it’s a roundtable discussion about the life of a showgirl and the main hosts are constantly interrupting the other hosts. It’s actually getting frustrating, especially when I really like to hear what they have to say! If the main hosts are reading this, please just take this as constructive criticism to let your guests speak and finish their thought before interjecting

Please consider doing fewer interviews! Every week I used to be excited to listen to the hosts and their conversations with other editors, but now I’m just disappointed when I see it’s another celebrity interview :(

What good karma did you guys pool to get this girl? Good on you! What a creature of art she is.

If you’re going to advertise an episode as an artist interview, then actually interview the guest! I’m listening to the Rosalía interview because I want to hear HER talk about HER music, not the rambling ideas the hosts have about her music. Ask a question and actually listen to the answer before you start to speak again, please!

Am I crazy thinking this podcast used to branch out more? Now it just seems dead-focused on the most unavoidable normie music in the planet. Does a new Taylor Swift album need at least three dedicated installments?

I used to like it but recently there are too many celebrities interviews but not many episodes to analyze and critique. And the taste / perspective of the podcast seems a bit out of touch of the younger generation. Seems you are hiring some new critic so hope to see it get better. And please be less sycophantic of Taylor Swift please and stop acting like Rolling Stone. And please fire Joe. He’s insufferable with his blatant so called commentary on Brat.

I used to love this podcast - especially the Taylor episodes. But just like TLOASG has ruined my taste for TS, the latest episode about TLOASG (w mailbag) has turned me off from this podcast. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind mixed opinions about this album. But when so much of the conversation about this album is about its racial messages and dog whistles, the absence of any non-white voice on this episode is stunning. Also, “did you girl boss too close to the sun”? Really? I think TS learned how to use chat-gpt on tour.

Washed

Too much airtime for this one guy who doesn’t like Charli XCX. Let other people speak. The main host sounds like Randall Emmett.

Let’s get that clear. Great to have the OG crew together.

These “reviewers” unironically think Taylor Swift’s “Actually Romantic” is better than ALL of Brat combined. Not just one song off of Brat, the ENTIRE ALBUM. That is a take so horrendously out of touch with what makes for good music that it completely disqualifies this podcast as being anything worth listening to- you’re listening to the opinions of two men who simply don’t understand music. EDIT: and then this idiot doubles down on his take… please fire this man, he’s so arrogant and condescending despite having genuinely awful taste

At this point it feels like they are on Taylor Swift’s payroll. Please get some other voices in the room when discussing albums.

Popcast has been one of my faves for years so I’m very sad to say I’m giving up on the new format and vibe of the show. It started going downhill when it became a run of the mill interview podcast. A few interviews here and there are fun—bring back Popcast Deluxe!—but the music criticism and deep dives were the reason I listened at all. Sadly, it feels like someone in a boardroom realized they could make a few dollars off this and started ruining the spirit of the show. Even the criticism is less thoughtful than it used to be, maybe because they want to lure in bigger stars for the interview eps… The Life of a Showgirl episode was my last straw. Caramanica has long been one of my favorite writers on Swift, even when I reallllly disagree with him (Enchanted…. Karma… folklore!!!) but he totally phoned it in on his review and Popcast episode on the album. It was so surface level, summarizing the plot of songs that are already written with grade-school complexity, and at times he just regurgitated the marketing copy from Taylor herself… something about folklore lyricism over Max Martin beats (real heads know he doesn’t even LIKE folklore!!! Jon blink twice if you need help!!!!) I would recommend listening to the back catalog from pre-2025, but that’s behind a paywall now… :(

Less interviews please!!

I’ve been listening for a long time! John and Joe have great chemistry and a much appreciated love, depth of knowledge, and openness to all kinds of music and artists.

Too much fanboy behavior.

I used to really enjoy the music criticism and looked forward to the episodes. Zane Lowe has already got this boring format cornered.

Having episodes go behind a paywall mere days after launch is as lame as it gets

Soccer Mommy!

Used to love the show, thought they had unique perspectives and sound criticism. Unfortunately it seems as of late the hosts and guests reek of out of touch perspectives from people nostalgic for what music was like when they grew up. They need broader more diverse perspectives, especially from younger critics.

Bring back the pop criticism! I literally do not care at all about interviews with celebrities, and I love celebrities. Why have so many podcasts moved in that direction? Also, so crazy to eat on mic.

I find Jon loving the sound of his voice. He often interrupts guests, especially the women. This show lacks a diverse perspective for such a broad subject matter.

Every few months I give The Popcast another try … Then two minutes of Jon Caramanica reminds me why I’ve deleted this podcast so many times. Officially done.

This used to be one of my favorite podcasts, with smart, interesting guests covering topics across the pop music spectrum, but it has gotten so tiresome, with just Jon and Joe doing whatever they want, which 90% of the time is covering hip hop and using The NY Times name to get interviews with people they want. What a disappointment.

If you can’t think critically about Kendrick’s performance,just say that. There was no larger political meaning? Come on dude. Other people can do 2 things at once even if y’all can’t. That’s the sound of the message going over your head.

These guys are lame.