Shows
HOMOPHONICDemi, Chappell & TS12 (with DJ John Michael)Two major releases and one huge announcement define this episode of HOMOPHONIC. First up, we finally dive into Chappell Roan’s highly anticipated single and music video, “The Subway.” Next, we break down Demi Lovato’s high-energy comeback single, “Fast.” And last but definitely not least, we explore everything we know (so far) about Taylor Swift’s upcoming project, “The Life of a Showgirl,” produced by Max Martin and Shellback.
2025-08-191h 14
HOMOPHONICPoolside Pop Playlist (with DJ John Michael)What do Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Carly Rae Jepsen, Katy Perry, Jewel, Hanson, Meredith Brooks, Tyrese, George Michael, Alphabeat, Deborah Cox, Gina G, Cher, Backstreet Boys and Stacie Orrico have in common!? They are all a part of our POOLSIDE POP PLAYLIST! As we start nearing the end of summer, John Michael and I discuss some of our favorite songs to play in the summertime. From tea dance classics to 90's pop nostalgia to Y2K R&B deep cuts, we cover it all.
2025-08-0551 min
HOMOPHONICNew Music Catch-Up (with DJ John Michael)Summer’s buzzing, and so are we! DJ John Michael and I are back with a brand new episode of HOMOPHONIC, catching up on all things summer and music. He fills me in on his epic Rufus Du Sol concert experience, and I share the story of how I managed to fracture my finger (oops!). We then dive into the power of Britney’s “Lucky” and how it entrances the gays before sharing our thoughts on new releases from Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Kesha, Kiesza, J.Lo, Jade, FKA Twigs, Jessica Simpson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Sam Smith. And of cours...
2025-07-291h 13
HOMOPHONICMore Pride & Dance Divas (with DJ John Michael)We're back from a quick hiatus (I turned 40—milestone unlocked!) and covering a lot of pop culture ground with DJ John Michael. This episode, we spotlight an underrated Michael Jackson deep cut, give Traci Lords' "Control" its overdue flowers, and shout out Bradley Stern. We unpack the drama around William Orbit and Madonna's "Veronica Electronica," talk DJ John Michael’s Pride Ride with Cody Rigsby, and dig into some standout tracks in his mix, including Chris Lake’s remix of Kylie Minogue’s “In Your Arms” and Barry Harris & Pepper Mashay’s “Dive in the Pool.” Plus, I open up about his DJ da...
2025-07-011h 12
HOMOPHONICLGBTQ Artist Spotlight (with DJ John Michael)In this special Pride episode, we're turning the volume all the way up to celebrate the incredible talent, legacy, and joy of LGBTQ+ artists we love and admire. From trailblazing icons like Sylvester, George Michael, Kevin Aviance, and Boy George, to modern-day powerhouses like Darren Hayes, Olly Alexander, Troye Sivan, MNEK, and Vincint—we're giving them all their flowers.We also show big love to HOMOPHONIC favorites and friends of the pod ZEE MACHINE and Bentley Robles, and bow down to fierce forces like Rina Sawayama, Shygirl, Betty Who, Chappell Roan, and Michaela Jaé—plus so many more...
2025-06-171h 24
HOMOPHONICWorld Pride, Detroit & Veronica Electronica (with DJ John Michael)We open this episode on a more serious note, taking a moment to acknowledge the intensity and heartbreak of what’s happening in the world right now. While HOMOPHONIC has always been a place of joy, celebration, and escape, we felt it was important to pause and share how we’re processing the injustice around us.Once we’ve cleared the air, we pivot into full-on Pride mode. John Michael recaps an unforgettable weekend DJing with Jess King at World Pride, experiencing their block parties, and catching performances by Betty Who, Rita Ora, Kevin Aviance, and Kristine W. Mea...
2025-06-101h 08
HOMOPHONICPop Music Catch-Up (with DJ John Michael)After a brief lull, the music world came roaring to life. John Michael dishes on seeing Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour in the flesh, we break down the chaos of this year’s American Music Awards, and dive into the bombshell news of Taylor Swift finally owning her original masters. We celebrate 20 years of Mariah’s The Emancipation of Mimi, give our takes on Miley’s latest album, react to the newest drop from Tears & Gearz, and even have time to discuss - you guessed it - Paris Hilton's remix album.
2025-06-031h 19
HOMOPHONICWeird-Crazy-Horny (with Jesse Chambliss)Friend of the pod and Jesse’s Girls host, Jesse Chambliss, is back—this time for a different kind of episode.We dive into the unspoken (and often messy) lore of gay dating in small-town America. Drawing from our own experiences, we unpack how rumors take root, how reputations start to snowball, and what it means when your dating history gets there before you do.Of course, we still make room for our beloved segment, “Songs We Don’t Talk About Enough.” Brace yourselves to get weird, crazy and HORNY with us!
2025-05-271h 09
HOMOPHONICHappy Birthday Janet! (with DJ John Michael)This episode of HOMOPHONIC is all about celebrating the legend herself—Ms. Janet Jackson. We're joined once again by DJ John Michael to revisit some of our favorite Janet moments, from her unforgettable MTV Icon tribute to the long-rumored unreleased duet with Mariah Carey.Before diving into all things Janet, we share our reactions to Rihanna’s brand-new single “Friend of Mine” from the upcoming Smurfs movie and chat about the highly anticipated 25th anniversary edition of The Emancipation of Mimi.And of course, it wouldn’t be HOMOPHONIC without digging into some of Janet's most under...
2025-05-201h 04
HOMOPHONICJustice for ... Iggy Azalea!?!? (with DJ John Michael)HOMOPHONIC is back — and we’re coming in hot! After a mini break, DJ John Michael returns for a wild ride of an episode you won’t want to miss. We’re talking everything from Pride DJ sets and Rihanna’s third pregnancy to white gays comparing Addison Rae’s music to Ray of Light. We dish on the never-ending Katy Perry hate-train, celebrate Madonna and Pamela Anderson aging like icons, and react to Beyoncé’s epic Cowboy Carter tour kickoff. Zach even discusses his sexual awakening with Enrique Iglesias. And yes…we declare justice for Iggy Azalea. Buckle up — it’s a pop m
2025-05-131h 22
HOMOPHONICIntroducing Tears & Gearz (with ZEE MACHINE & Bentley Robles)ZEE MACHINE is back — and this time, he's bringing the sensational Bentley Robles for the debut of their percussively luscious pop duo, Tears & Gearz!We dive into how these two icons met, what sparked their creative partnership, and the creation of their brand-new single, "Delusional" — out now!We also chat about what’s next for Tears & Gearz, dish our thoughts on the Katy Perry of it all, and hear Bentley’s love for his favorite pop queen, Camila Cabello.
2025-04-291h 16
HOMOPHONICGagachella (with ZEE Machine & DJ John Michael)Pop icon and unofficial Lady Gaga correspondent ZEE MACHINE returns to HOMOPHONIC! Joined together with DJ John Michael, we dive deep into all things Gagachella. ZEE spills the tea on what it was like to experience weekend one firsthand, and we speculate about what Gaga might bring to the upcoming Mayhem Ball. Plus, we take a moment to chat about the rise of Addison Rae’s pop career.
2025-04-221h 28
HOMOPHONICBritney's "Oops!" Turns 25 (with DJ John Michael)Katy Perry and Gayle King might have gone to space for 11 minutes but DJ John Michael and I are taking you to Mars for a whole hour as we revisit Britney's "Oops!...I Did It Again" album for it's 25th anniversary! Join us as we talk about classics like the title track and "Stronjger," deep cuts like "Heart" and "Walk On By" and the remixes joining the reissue in May. Naturally we go down some tangents including mentions of Madonna, Mariah Carey, Hex Hector, Mac Quayle, Toni Braxton and more.
2025-04-151h 08
HOMOPHONICKeeping It Kylie! (with DJ John Michael)Get ready for an ALL-KYLIE extravaganza on this episode of HOMOPHONIC!DJ John Michael and I are back together, still buzzing from Kylie Minogue’s Tension tour—I caught her in Chicago, HE saw her in New York—and we’re spilling all the glittery details. From jaw-dropping video projections to fresh new arrangements and unforgettable fan-request moments, we relive our favorite highlights from the show.We also give a well-deserved spotlight to the electrifying opening act, Romy, who absolutely owned the stage. Plus, we take a nostalgic detour through our personal Kylie journeys—how we first d...
2025-04-081h 07
HOMOPHONICMental Health, Céline Dion, & Pepsi Bangers (with DJ John Michael)Get ready for a wild ride on this week’s episode of HOMOPHONIC! DJ John Michael is back — fresh from Miami Music Week — and we’re diving into everything from Britney’s iconic “Me Against The Music” remixes to Ricky Martin’s electrifying “I Don’t Care” and Ariana Grande’s “Brighter Days” deluxe edition of Eternal Sunshine.The heart of the episode is a heartfelt celebration of Celine Dion, honoring her recent birthday with all the love she deserves. Plus, we’re getting real about the mental health, body image, and dating as I open up about a recent personal experi...
2025-04-011h 09
HOMOPHONICM&M: Mariah & Madonna (with DJ John Michael)This week, we’re diving deep into two pop royalty icons: Mariah Carey and Madonna! DJ John Michael returns as we unpack the scorching-hot takes you, our listeners, submitted on social media about Madonna’s “worst” song—and trust us, some of these opinions are wild!We also take a moment (or several) to shower Mariah Carey with love as she approaches a major anniversary. And, in classic HOMOPHONIC fashion, we detour into some delightful pop culture rabbit holes, including a little-known story about Deborah Cox’s “Stupid Like U” and celebrating 25 years of NSYNC’s No Strings Attached.
2025-03-251h 29
HOMOPHONICMayhem Reloaded: The Re-Up (with ZEE MACHINE & DJ John Michael)Zee Machine and DJ John Michael are back to further process our feelings about Lady Gaga's latest masterpiece, "Mayhem." We reflect on our first reactions now that we have had a week to digest the project and see where our favorite moments from the album are currently sitting. We also take a moment to talk about Chappell Roan's highly anticipated "The Giver" as well as JADE's latest offering "FUFN."
2025-03-181h 35
HOMOPHONICThe "Mayhem" Episode (with ZEE MACHINE & DJ John Michael)LG7 has arrived, and we're diving in headfirst! Pop sensation and certified Gaga stan ZEE MACHINE joins me, along with best-friend-of-the-pod DJ John Michael, for an electrifying track-by-track reaction—recorded just 12 hours after Mother Monster unleashed her latest era of MAYHEM.From "Disease" to "Killah" to "Blade of Grass", and the bonus cuts "Can't Stop The High" and "Kill For Love," no beat, lyric, or synth goes unnoticed. And, of course, it wouldn’t be HOMOPHONIC without a Gaga Edition of Songs We Don’t Talk About Enough. PAWS UP, LITTLE MONSTERS!
2025-03-111h 33
HOMOPHONICThe Oscars, The BRITS, & Ray Of Light (with DJ John Michael)DJ John Michael is back, and we’re serving up a sizzling pop culture catch-up! 🌟 We’re breaking down the Oscars’ biggest moments, bowing down to Charli XCX and JADE at the Brit Awards, and showering Max Martin in well-deserved birthday love. Plus, who are the big male pop stars these days? We’ve got thoughts. 💭✨ We’re also diving into fresh bops from Rebecca Black and Melanie C, and, of course, celebrating the iconic anniversary of Madonna’s Ray of Light. Buckle up, pop fans—this one’s a ride!
2025-03-041h 35
HOMOPHONICThe Return of Recession Pop (with DJ John Michael)DJ John Michael is back, and this is an episode you do NOT want to miss! We tumbled headfirst down a recession pop rabbit hole, hyping up Dev & The Cataracs’ upcoming banger “Make Ya Body Whistle,” while giving long-overdue flowers to Kelis’ “In Public” and “Acapella,” Brandy’s Human album, and Alanis Morissette’s criminally underrated Flavors of Entanglement.We also dissect whether or not Madonna has a “bad song” (Zach’s bias comes out), relive Jennifer Lopez’s “Louboutins” era, and get nostalgic over Girlicious and Paradiso Girls. And did someone say Akon & David Guetta’s “Nosy Neighbor”? Oh, you know we did...
2025-02-251h 03
HOMOPHONICThe Genre Of Pop (with Alex W.G. Rickel)This week on HOMOPHONIC, I’m joined by a very special guest—my brother and lead singer of Future Killer, Alex W.G. Rickel! 🎤🎸We kick things off by venting about the evolution (or devolution?) of social media and how it’s changed the way we experience music. Then, we dive into the age-old debate: What is pop music, really? Is it a genre? A catch-all term? A sound?And of course, no sibling episode would be complete without a trip down memory lane—reminiscing about our very first concert (Weird Al Yankovic, naturally), the golden era of...
2025-02-181h 22
Jesse's GirlsTCoF: Samantha MumbaTrue Cost of Fame: Samantha Mumba S4E1 is officially live, and I'm joined by friend of the pod, Zach Rickel, host of Homophonic and curator of the @afunctioninggay social pages, to discuss what happened to Samantha Mumba! Primed to be a hard-hitting peer of Britney Spears and other teen pop acts, she had so much momentum that seemingly disappeared overnight. What happened?My Samantha Mumba Tiktok referenced in the episodeRemember, to stay in the loop about all things Jesse's Girls, follow along on Instagram. You...
2025-02-181h 18
HOMOPHONICHalftime Show 2025🔥 This week on HOMOPHONIC, DJ John Michael is back to break down Kendrick Lamar’s history-making Super Bowl Halftime Show! We’re diving into his next-level visuals, that legendary Samuel L. Jackson cameo, and the double standards male and female performers still face today.But that’s not all—🚗 We rev up for Tate McRae’s scorching new single “Sports Car”🎶 Get into the latest banger from Bentley Robles & Zee Machine✨ Unpack the mystery of Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra”🎧 Give LeAnn Rimes’ underrated remixes the love they deserve🎉 And, of course, we celebrate Janet Jackson Appreciation Da
2025-02-111h 11
HOMOPHONICABRACADABRA: The Magic of the 2025 Grammys (with DJ John Michael)DJ John Michael returns to dive into everything Grammy Awards! Could this be the best music award show since the iconic 2009 VMAs? We cover it all—from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga to Shakira and Dave Chappelle, plus Raye and Diana Ross. Join us as we break down the winners in the Big Four categories, discuss the Best Pop Vocal Album, and get the scoop on Charli XCX’s stunning new décor. Plus, don’t miss our take on Gaga’s brand new single, “Abracadabra,” which made its magical debut alongside the official music video during the show!
2025-02-041h 15
HOMOPHONICEverybody Eats! (with Camille Adams)New year, new vibes, and a brand-new type of episode! 🎉 This week, I’m joined by a very special guest—my fabulous friend and registered dietitian, Camille Adams—to chat all things diet and nutrition. 🍎✨ I get tons of questions over on @afunctioninggay about my health and wellness journey, but let’s be real: I’m not a certified expert. That’s where Camille comes in! Together, we dive into how nutrition ties into mental health, food accessibility, and so much more. Grab a snack (healthy or not, we don’t judge) and tune in!
2025-01-2855 min
HOMOPHONICPop Music Catch-Up (with DJ John Michael)DJ John Michael returns to "Homophonic" for a much needed pop music catch-up! We kick things off with a chat about JADE’s “IT Girl,” detour to Swedish one-hit wonder Amanda, and groove through Katy Perry’s “143” and its deluxe edition’s bonus tracks. Together we also dissect Lady Gaga’s latest hits, speculate on Beyoncé’s postponed announcement, and drop takes on Madonna and Stuart Price working on new music, and Ellie Goulding’s collab with Anyma.
2025-01-211h 11
HOMOPHONICInternational Pop Girlies (with Jesse Chambliss)This week’s podcast is a nostalgia-packed pop extravaganza! I’m joined by Jesse Chambliss, host of Jesse’s Girls Podcast and certified pop music aficionado, as we relive the joy of discovering our favorite international popstars growing up. From the edgy charm of Fefe Dobson and The Veronicas to the glittering hits of Kylie and Dannii Minogue, we’re diving deep into the icons who shaped our playlists. Expect shoutouts to Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Mis-Teeq, Utada Hikaru, BoA, and so many more. Plus, bonus love for Christina Milian, Willa Ford, Britney Spears, and beyond. If you’re ready for a trip...
2025-01-141h 28
HOMOPHONICIntroducing Kyzr BlueThis week I am joined by upcoming electronic-dance-pop artist KYZR BLUE. Based out of Chicago, he is a master of his craft who writes and produces all of his music from scratch. Together we talking about everything from how he got started to his musical inspirations to what his creative process is like. We also get to take several moments to talk about all the pop girlies including Adele and Robyn.
2025-01-071h 10
HOMOPHONICTop 10 Underappreciated Christmas SongsHappy Holidays, everybody! With the Christmas season upon us, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of top 10 under-appreciated Christmas songs that everyone needs to know and love. We all know the classics like "All I Want For Christmas Is You," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" ... but there are so many others that deserve to shine! Join me in my first ever solo episode where I cover songs from our favorite pop girlies including Christina Aguilera, Willa Ford, Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Britney Spears and the quee...
2024-12-2448 min
HOMOPHONICBillboard's Greatest Popstars Part 2 (with ZEE Machine & DJ John Michael)ZEE MACHINE, DJ John Michael and myself continue our conversation about Billboard's 25 Greatest Popstars of the 21st Century with the final six acts: Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Drake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
2024-12-131h 30
HOMOPHONICBillboard's Greatest Popstars Part 1 (with ZEE MACHINE & DJ John Michael)On this episode I am joined by independent pop superstar ZEE MACHINE and the iconic friend of the pod DJ John Michael where we cover numbers 25 through 7 of Billboard Magazine's Greatest Popstars of the 21st Century. We discuss everyone from Katy Perry, Ariana Grande and Adele to Kanye West, Bad Bunny and Lil' Wayne. Lots of thoughts and lots of hot takes so always remember that much like my voice ... it's not that deep!
2024-12-131h 17
HOMOPHONICHappy Birthday, Britney! (with DJ John Michael)It's Britney, bitch! In honor of the Princess of Pop's birthday, DJ John Michael and I go down a rabbit hole of how we first learned of Britney, what our reactions were and how our love only grew from those moments on. We also discuss deep cuts like "Autumn Goodbye" and the unreleased "Britney" cuts "She'll Never Be Me" and "When I Say So."
2024-12-131h 07
HOMOPHONIC2025 Grammy Nominations (with Jeff Beach)SURPRISE! Jeff Beach, my bestie and co-host of Pop Theory, returns to discuss the most important political issue of our lifetime: the 2025 Grammy Nominations. We take a deep dive into the big 4 awards -- Album Of The Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist -- and give our exceptionally professional observations of who we think could win and who could be snubbed.
2024-12-1355 min
HOMOPHONICThe Re-Brand (with DJ John Michael)Welcome to HOMOPHONIC hosted by Zach Rickel, your favorite pop music meme creator behind the ICONIC Instagram account, @afunctioninggay. On this inaugural episode I'm joined by the legend himself, DJ John Michael where we take the opportunity to kind of re-introduce myself into the world. People know my memes but it's hit-or-miss when it comes to me as a person. I live my fantasy of being on Las Culturistas and discuss where my love of pop music stemmed from and how it has evolved over the years. We also discuss the change from the previous podcast, POP THEO...
2024-12-131h 01
POP THEORYThe Sabrina Carpenter EpisodeOn this week’s episode, we talk all things carpentry as we react to Sabrina Carpenter’s brand new studio album, “Short ’N’ Sweet.” In true Pop Theory fashion, we cover it track-by-track talking about our favorite lyrics, production moments and overall which ones hit and which ones miss. We may even have a confession from Zach about his take on the album!But before we get into our carpentry era, we begin the episode by answering some of the questions from the listeners of the pod. We dive into topics like what were the first pieces of music tha...
2024-09-0358 min
POP THEORYQueer Pop, Fame & Lady GagaDJ John Michael returns to the pod to discuss several moments in pop music in recent weeks.First we take a dive into “Die With A Smile” the brand new duet between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars.After, we have a great discussion on queer artists in pop music, specifically highlighting the talented ZEE MACHINE and the release party for his EP “Can I Be Honest...?”From there we discuss fame and personal boundaries as it was highlighted by Chappell Roan.We also may or may not give some controversial takes on some...
2024-08-2753 min
POP THEORYXtina's Debut Turns 25Get ready for your mind to be blown: Christina Aguilera’s debut album is officially TWENTY-FIVE years old! On this brand new episode of POP THEORY, Jeff and Zach do a track-by-track reminiscing of “Christina Aguilera.” From the classics like “Genie In A Bottle”, “What A Girl Wants”, and “Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)” to album cuts like “So Emotional”, “When You Put Your Hands On Me” and “Love Will Find A Way” we leave no stone left unturned. We even revisit a special bonus track during our now FAMOUS segment, “Songs We Don’t Talk About Enough.”Addi...
2024-08-2051 min
POP THEORYCharli, Chappell & JadeDJ John Michael returns to discuss all the important questions currently permeating the pop music zeitgeist. Who will be featured on Charli XCX's rumored "Brat" remix album? Will Chappell Roan ever release "The Subway?" Will Tyra Banks ever put "Shake Ya Body" on streaming? When will JADE release the follow up to "Angel Of My Dreams?" Plus, Zach tasks Kelly Rowland to put out a forgotten banger onto streaming.
2024-08-1354 min
POP THEORYMain Pop Girlie TalkOn this week's episode we take a dive into the current climate of music releases in 2024. From feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated to feeling horny with anticipation, we talk about all the main pop girlies of the moment. We reflect on releases from earlier this year like "Cowboy Carter," current releases like "Brat" and it's anticipated remix album companion, and future releases from Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. We even sprinkle in some love for Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott for good measure.
2024-08-0647 min
POP THEORYThe Katy Perry EpisodeDJ John Michael returns for our first "three-way" episode! On this episode of POP THEORY, the boys discuss all things Katy Perry's return with her new single "Woman's World." Did the song live up to our expectations? Are we excited for the album? What are our thoughts on Dr. Luke's involvement? All is revealed in this VERY juicy episode.
2024-07-2352 min
POP THEORYBrat Summer & KeshaWe are back from summer break, baby! Jeff makes his triumphant return to the pod and is ready to talk all things "brat." Speaking of triumphant returns, we also take a dive into Kesha's brand new single and first release as an independent artist, "JOYRIDE." We also sprinkle some love to 2005 "dad rock," Robyn, and our beloved Lenny Kravitz.
2024-07-1659 min
POP THEORYThe Brat EpisodeOn this episode of POP THEORY, DJ John Michael is BACK with a BRATitude to talk all things Charli XCX and her new album "Brat." We do a track-by-track of the deluxe album, talk about dream collaborations and remixes and even discuss some of our favorite lesser known Charli XCX tracks.
2024-06-251h 11
POP THEORYTori Kelly Put Us In PURGA-TORI!On this very special episode of POP THEORY, we are joined by the incredible Devin Way! The Geminis were strong in these ones as we talk all things music from Tori Kelly, Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé to Becky Hill, David Archuleta, and Tanner Adell. Devin answers the infamous "Desert Island" question and also recalls his love of American Idol.
2024-06-181h 03
POP THEORYGlory for Gloria Estefan's "Gloria!"On this episode, Peloton's DJ John Michael returns to help Zach celebrate Gloria Estefan's magnum opus "gloria!" The colossal album that fuses latin dance pop with electronica, disco, and hip-hop celebrated it's 26th anniversary in the world and it's time to give this album the flowers it rightfully deserves. In this episode we do a track-by-track including it's singles "Heaven's What I Feel," "Oye," "Don't Let This Moment End" and "Cuba Libre" as well as dive into it's slew of remixes, megamixes, and medleys.
2024-06-111h 15
POP THEORYThe Real Drug Is FergieOn this episode I am joined by the ICONIC Joe Santini where we go down a deep dive of some of his favorite artists. We talk about everyone from Taylor Swift and Beyoncé to Lorde and Bad Bunny. But there's one special artist in mind who stole the show completely: Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson. You are not going to want to miss this episode and the presentation that Joe gives for one of Fergie's most iconic singles.
2024-06-041h 18
POP THEORYWhat is "Pop Music?" (with Jesse Chambliss)This week we welcome back Jesse Chambliss, host of Jesse's Girls podcast, and we have an incredible - and chaotic - discussion as we try to define what exactly is pop music!? We cover all of the faves as we use everyone from Madonna, Kylie and Janet to Avril, Harry and Alanis to exemplify and identify the pop landscape. We also end with a very special round of "Sounds We Don't Talk About Enough: Kylie Minogue Edition."
2024-05-281h 20
POP THEORY1997: A Shot of SerotoninThis week I am joined with the LEGENDARY wedding photographer extraordinaire and hello Bey Hive member, Jill DeVries-Dryer! In this episode, we take a stroll down memory lane and go through Billboard's Year-End Chart for 1997. From Madonna to Los Del Rio to the Spice Girls to Chumbawumba to the Backstreet Boys to Usher - we were left yearning for the 90's!
2024-05-211h 29
POP THEORYA Radically Optimistic Review (with DJ John Michael)Peloton's DJ John Michael is back for a THREE-PEAT and came prepared as we took a dive -- pun intended -- into Dua Lipa's third studio album, Radical Optimism. We go track by track talking everything from the songwriters and producers to our favorite moments and our hopes and wishes for the remainder of this album cycle. We also took some time to reflect on Madonna's final Celebration Tour show in Rio de Janeiro.
2024-05-141h 24
POP THEORYToxic Sniffies Cock!This episode of POP THEORY is a VERY special one as Zach is joined by the absolutely brilliant ZEE MACHINE. Together we take a dive into their discography, talking about songs like "The Radio," "Better Off" and his upcoming single "Worse" which is out May 9th! We also get the opportunity to talk about his creative process, their current TEARS & GEARZ TOUR with Bentley Robles and some of the incredible artists that would keep him sane if stranded on a deserted island.
2024-05-071h 09
POP THEORYQueen Mother, Madonna, We Luh Ya!This week we welcome back an official two-time friend of the pod, DJ John Michael from Peloton! With the intention of talking all things Madonna -- we uncover the moments that officially turned us into Madonna stans as well as talk about her impact in music and her advocacy with the LGBTQ+ community. But as how conversation goes amongst friends we also discuss Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER, Katy Perry's "Walking On Air," Britney Spears' "Stronger" and even throw in some Janet Jackson and Gloria Estefan for good measure.
2024-04-301h 11
POP THEORYThe Tortured Listeners DepartmentThis week the boys discuss their initial thoughts on Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated project: The Tortured Poets Department. Stay tuned as POP THEORY recaps the good, the bad, the ugly- and all in between!
2024-04-2359 minPOP THEORYIt's Giving ScrapsThis week the boys recap their top 5 COWBOY CARTER tracks, discuss Dua Lipa’s new single + music video for “Illusion” as well as the Radical Optimism era (or shall we say radical floptimism?), Kelis, The fever dream that is Alanis Morissette covering “My Humps”, Tori Kelly, “The Tortured Poets Department” predictions, Azealia Banks and the gatekeeping of genres within the music industry.
2024-04-161h 10
POP THEORYJustice for Damita JoThis week on Pop Theory, Zach and Jeff celebrate TWENTY YEARS of Janet Jackson's criminally underrated DAMITA JO. We revisit the album to discuss some of our favorite songs - where are the "All Nite (Don't Stop)" fans at? - from the project plus some songs that were scrapped from the album's final tracklist like the Neptunes produced "Ruff" and the Rich Harrison assisted "Pops Up!" We also celebrate 7 days of COWBOY CARTER, reflecting on our initial reactions of the album, discussing our current favorite moments from the album, and try to figure out what the HECK she is up...
2024-04-091h 02
POP THEORYThe COWBOY CARTER EpisodeThe wait is OVA ... COWBOY CARTER is here! Jeff has made his valiant return on the perfect weekend as Beyoncé releases her highly anticipated follow-up to RENAISSANCE. Recorded about 36 hours after the album was officially released in the states, Zach and Jeff give their reactions to each track off the album from AMERIICAN REQUIEM all the way to AMEN. The boys also take a few stabs at what they think Beyoncé might have up her sleeve for Act III and the alleged visuals that have been filmed to support the albums. Now, for this next episode, we want ya'll to sit...
2024-04-021h 16POP THEORYRemix Boots The House DOWN (feat. DJ John Michael)You are NOT going to want to miss this one! This week, Zach is joined by the one and only DJ John Michael from Peloton. We instantly kiki the boots house DOWN starting with how John Michael burst onto the scene by working with the legendary Junior Vasquez. From there we absolutely geek out over remixes of the 90's and early 00's -- shoutout to Junior's Hard Mix of Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker/If You Should Ever Be Lonely." And even state we want to create a docu-series that covers the remix greats from that time period. We also discuss John M...
2024-03-261h 08POP THEORYI didn't hear her YUH once on this album!Please welcome back Camille Adams! In this episode, Camille and Zach give their reactions to two of the most anticipated albums of the year: Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine" and Justin Timberlake's "Everything I Thought It Was." We talk about songs we enjoy, things that we don't, and we even give a little love to Ariana's "Focus" ... the false lead single from "Dangerous Woman." After going on a tangent about the reality competition show The Traitors, we also talk about our love for the leaked Brandy/Timbaland collaboration "Chinese (Home)," the album title for Beyonce's Act II "Cowboy Carter," and even...
2024-03-1952 min
POP THEORYGay guys named Jesse STAN Tinashe!CROSSOVER ALERT! This week Zach is joined by pop connoisseur and host of Jesse's Girls podcast Jesse Chambliss. Together the boys discuss pop titans Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and J.Lo. Jesse also gives Zach a crash course in Tinashe101 as well as the intro course to Denniz PoP -- the mentor to pop megaproducer Max Martin. The boys also discuss their anticipation for Ariana Grande's highly anticipated new album "eternal sunshine." Tune in for all this and more!JESSE'S SOCIALSTikTok: @chambreezeyInstagram: @chambreezeyPodcast: Jesse's Girls
2024-03-121h 18POP THEORYWhere is the 10-Minute Mariachi Version of Americano?Zach is joined by special guest Andrew Pattee as they talk about all the girlies. They discuss Charli XCX's brand new single "Von Dutch," the anticipation of the latest release from Miley Cyrus and Pharrell, reminisce about their experience of seeing Madonna's Celebration Tour together, and put together some idyllic Lady Marmalade-esque collabs. But most of all -- Zach and Andrew DEMAND answers to Lady Gaga's false promises!
2024-03-0557 minPOP THEORYTLC invented A.I.This week, Zach and Jeff take a moment to react to J.Lo's latest musical/visual experience "This Is Me ... Now" both album and film. The boys give her some much deserving hearts AND flowers, but did the album live up to their expectations? The boys also take a trip down memory lane celebrating the 25th anniversary of TLC's "FanMail," going into a deep dive of the album's tracklist. And speaking of anniversary, the one and only JoJo is also celebrated, as her debut single "Leave (Get Out)" was officially released TWENTY years ago. Where has time gone!?
2024-02-271h 04
POP THEORYSpring Is Coming with NEW MUSIC in the EARSWOW, what a week it has been for music!In this episode, the boys discuss all the new music that was released this past week as well as upcoming announcements including: Caroline Polachek’s deluxe version of “Desire, I Turn Into You”, Kim Petras’ follow up to “Slut Pop”, J.Lo, Mariah Carey surprise-hopping on the remix of “yes, and?”, Dua Lipa’s “Training Season”, Usher’s Super Bowl performance, and last (but CERTAINLY NOT least) Beyoncé’s Super Bowl announcement of Act II (including a review of the two new singles “16 CARRIAGES” and “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM”).
2024-02-201h 09POP THEORYRelease the Singles, J.Lo!On this episode, Zach & Jeff gave their final Usher Superbowl predictions and took a trip down memory lane revisiting some of his favorite works. The boys also discuss J.Lo's upcoming visual album "This Is Me...Now" and her affinity for teasing songs from projects only to never release them, the new single from Kylie Minogue and Sia, Kim Petras' "Slut Pop" sequel, and Brandy's birthday. Buckle up because 2024 is about to be a HEAVY music release year!
2024-02-131h 00POP THEORYThe Grammys Recap (...Stop Embarrassing Beyoncé)This week POP THEORY recaps the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.What a Night! The boys highlight the ‘Big 4’ award winners (Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist), talk about their favorite (and least favorite) performances of the night, surprise special guest appearances, the continual public embarrassment of Beyoncé at award shows… and much more!
2024-02-061h 09POP THEORYI Love the Beat ... I was tapping my BIGFOOT over here! (feat. Camille Adams)Filling in for Jeff tonight is the one and only Camille Adams - dietitian, singer, and self-proclaimed "Big Fat BARB!" We left no stone unturned as we discussed the soon-to-be infamous feud between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion, the post Britney book comeback of Justin Timberlake, the ICONIC lineup for the Lovers & Friends Fest, and even take a couple guesses at what Usher might have up his sleeve for his Super Bowl Halftime Show. For more Camille, visit her socials below:Instagram: @easy.peasy.nutritionTikTok: @easypeasynutrition
2024-01-301h 01POP THEORYMi Gente Latino!This week on POP THEORY: Zach recaps and reviews Madonna’s Celebration Tour in Detroit (including a special highlight of her song “Frozen”), the boys talk about Jack Harlow and Ariana Grande fighting for the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, The Coachella 2024 lineup + Jeff’s experience with going last year, Kali Uchis’ latin music and her latest project “ORQUíDEAS”, J.Lo’s upcoming film + album, Lady Gaga being compared to Madonna in the media, Janet’s upcoming “Together Again”-AGAIN tour, the Atlanta concert scene and Robyn’s “Honey”.
2024-01-231h 08POP THEORY"maybe, and?"This week the boys talk all about the highly anticipated release of Ariana Grande’s new single “yes, and?”, Britney Spears’ iconic debut album “…Baby One More Time” turning 25 Years old and have a candid discussion on Kali Uchis during an all new segment of “Songs We Don’t Talk About Enough”.
2024-01-161h 02POP THEORYBack to 1999 (Pt. 2)Can you believe 1999 is now 25 YEARS OLD?! Miss XCX really said it best after all: “I Just want to go back… back to 1999”. From Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ la vida Loca” to TLC’s iconic “No Scrubs”, it’s no question that this year was STACKED with legendary hits.Tune in as the boys recap this iconic year for music and countdown #43 - #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Year End chart.
2024-01-091h 08POP THEORYBack to 1999 (Pt. 1)Can you believe 1999 is now 25 YEARS OLD?! Miss XCX really said it best after all: “I Just want to go back… back to 1999”. From Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ la Vida Loca” to TLC’s iconic “No Scrubs”, it’s no question that this year was STACKED with legendary hits.Tune in as the boys recap this iconic year for music and reexamine the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1999. (PS: Stay tuned for part 2 next week!)
2024-01-0240 minPOP THEORYThe Power That "U" HasThis week the boys talk about how putting “U” into a song title makes it instantly a BOP, Nicole Scherzinger’s solo career deserving much better (including her song “Whatever U Like”), Songs written for other artists that ended up becoming smash hits, Sia’s questionable film career, Zach’s close run-in with Janet Jackson at a local hair salon, “Grown Woman” finally being released to streaming platforms, speculations for Act II and III of RENAISSANCE, Madonna’s Celebration Tour hitting the U.S and M.I.A’s artistry.
2023-12-191h 09POP THEORYSo Long, Gag CityThis week the boys share their candid thoughts on Nicki Minaj’s highly anticipated “Pink Friday 2” and celebrate Beyoncé's iconic self-titled album turning 10 years old.Topics of conversation this episode include: Nicki Minaj and the state of the music industry in 2023, the RENAISSANCE film, POP THEORY being Destiny’s Child stans, Jeff’s dreams being crushed by the “This is the Remix” album, compilation CD culture in the 2000’s, being obsessed with drawing female pop stars as a kid, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s music career and lastly, Beyoncés first digital drop; including a track by track review of the
2023-12-121h 12
POP THEORYDown at the Z100 Jingle BallThis week the boys talk about the anticipation of Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday 2" album as well as Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE film, Kelly Rowland's brief, but memorable acting career, Missy Elliott's "This Is Not a Test!" turning 20 (can you believe?!), the Mean Girls re-boot, David Archuleta being more famous than Lady Gaga at one point in time, a heated discussion on Taylor's 'reputation' era and reminisce on the brilliantly talented Natasha Bedingfield.
2023-12-051h 10POP THEORYDid You Know That There's TENSION Under Ocean Boulevard?From breaking the TENSION to asking people if they knew that there was a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard— you can’t deny 2023 had some memorable music moments!This week the boys take a trip down memory lane and re-cap their 2023 Apple Music Replay (or ‘wrapped’ for you Spotify listeners out there), including their top 5 artists, top 5 albums and top 10 songs (plus some honorable mentions).
2023-11-281h 00POP THEORYMy Only Wish (This Year)… is to be BAD!This week the boys recount their favorite Y2K holiday pop classics, Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas One And All!" Tour, Willa Ford’s illustrious music career, Patti LaBelle’s earth shattering performance of “This Christmas”, Jennifer Paige's impact, and celebrate the birthday of the iconic “X” album by Kylie Minogue.
2023-11-211h 10POP THEORYBONUS: Grammy Noms & Dua SongsJoin POP THEORY on a very special bonus episode as the boys celebrate and discuss Dua Lipa’s new single “Houdini” and re-cap some of the 2023 Grammy nominations including: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist.
2023-11-141h 01POP THEORYRainbow, SPICE and Everything NiceThis week POP THEORY discusses the 1989 (Taylor's Version) re-release + the new vault tracks, Zach's personal definition of "rock music", The 24th birthday of Mariah Carey's Rainbow album + a deep dive into the all of the songs, the 26th anniversary of Spiceworld and Jeff's take on what what a rainbow would sound like sonically. Don't miss out on a special anniversary themed "Songs We Don't Talk About Enough" segment at the end of the episode!
2023-11-141h 18POP THEORYThe Woman in US: A Very Special Britney EpisodeIt's Britney, Binch! This week the boys highlight and recap Britney Spears' highly anticipated memoir "The Woman in Me".Get ready for a very special Britney episode as Zach and Jeff take you down a journey of iconic and underrated Britney Spears discography, discuss their candid thoughts and feelings around the book, how Cara Cunningham was RIGHT all long, Blackout being Britney's spookiest album, the "Free Britney" movement, Britney's icon status and much more!
2023-11-071h 39POP THEORYWEL-COME... TO OUR ISLANDWel. Come.... to our Pod. Cast... (cue the Caroline Polachek)! Follow pop music enthusiasts, Jeff Beach and Zach Rickel (aka @afunctioninggay on Instagram®), as they go on an unhinged deep dive of all things POP music.This week the boys talk about their serendipitous meeting and each of their formative pop music upbringings (including the birth of @afunctioninggay), Zach's "Desert Island" music question, Janet Jackson's Icon status and how the world did her DIRTY, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, POP THEORY being Samantha Mumba historians, Zach's music picks for Madonna's concert, Tyra Banks' unhinged interview tactics, and the fi...
2023-11-071h 29Jesse's GirlsExtended Mix: Zach Rickel aka @afunctioninggaySurprise! This is the first installment in a new series, Extended Mix. The series will be an opportunity to interview incredible guests whether in between seasons or mid-season that can drop at any time. I’m kicking the series off with Zach Rickel, aka @afunctioninggay on Instagram and Tiktok! We did this for the pop music NERDS! I live for these conversations. We discuss everyone from Britney (of course), Madonna, Janet, JOJO (!!!), Tinashe, Mariah, Kylie… I mean, c’mon! Zach asks me which 5 artists I would take with me on a deserted island if I could only listen to their...
2023-01-261h 14
Hey Gurl! with Bill JanissePop Culture GURL pt 2Happy PRIDE Month ! to kick off this month of celebration and reflection of our community and history I am joined by a fun and creative artist, Zach Rickel. He is the creator of "A Functioning Gay" and also has a degree in LGBTQ studies. We talk about his personal journey and the struggles and challenges LGBTQ+ youth go through as well as how he started his brand, pop culture and our mutual love of music and of course we have quite a few laughs along the way. A Functioning Gay Instagram...
2021-06-071h 21Hey Gurl! with Bill JanissePop Culture GURL pt. 1Happy PRIDE Month ! to kick off this month of celebration and reflection of our community and history I am joined by a fun and creative artist, Zach Rickel. He is the creator of "A Functioning Gay" and also has a degree in LGBTQ studies. We talk about his personal journey and the struggles and challenges LGBTQ+ youth go through as well as how he started his brand, pop culture and our mutual love of music and of course we have quite a few laughs along the way. A Functioning Gay Instagram...
2021-06-051h 05