Shows / The Track Star Podcast
The Track Star Podcast
The internet’s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Each episode explores a theme through a playlist of songs, taking listeners on a deep dive into a specific artist, genre, or era of music through the perspectives of musicians, historians, journalists and fans. Also available in video on YouTube! Hosted by Jack Coyne.
Episodes
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing ERNEST's Country Music Knowledge
This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by country singer-songwriter Ernest. Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in modern country…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Dermot Kennedy's Music Knowledge
Today on Track Star*, we are joined by Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy. Known for his passionate live performances and poetic lyrics, Kennedy often…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Flea's Music Knowledge
Today’s episode of Track Star* brought us face to face with one of the most singular musicians of the past 40 years, Flea. Flea met us outside on a cool day in…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Sam Fender's Music Knowledge
Sam Fender has quickly become one of the defining voices of modern British rock, earning BRIT Awards and critical acclaim for his anthemic lyricism, powerful…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Fab 5 Freddy's Music Knowledge
This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by hip-hop ambassador, Fab 5 Freddy. Freddy reflects on the relationships and experiences that shaped his…
The Track Star PodcastTesting Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks' Music Knowledge
On today’s episode we have two legends facing off in a battle to name some classic rock icons. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of the eponymously named…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs' Music Knowledge
On this episode of Track Star* we have a competitive battle between fashion designer, Marc Jacobs and filmmaker, Sofia Coppola. The duo met up with Jack on a…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing LeBron James' Music Knowledge
LeBron James is one of the defining figures in modern sport, with a career that has shaped not just basketball but music, fashion, business, and popular…
- The Track Star Podcast
8 Artists That Are Better Than The Beatles
On this week’s episode of The Track Star Podcast we have rock writer, NPR critic, and journalism professor Tim Riley who will help answer the deceptively…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Music Knowledge
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation that moves from Motown to modern Detroit, using music as a way into the…
- The Track Star Podcast
10 Songs that Explain Elvis Presley’s Genius ft. Baz Luhrmann
Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann joins The Track Star Podcast to talk about Elvis Presley and what made his music and live performances so powerful. Using songs from the…
- The Track Star Podcast
10 Songs That Explain Paul McCartney After The Beatles
Academy Award–winning filmmaker Morgan Neville joins The Track Star Podcast for a deep dive into Paul McCartney’s most misunderstood era: the decade after the…
- The Track Star Podcast
Is Gen-X The Greatest Music Generation?
Two of the best-performing Track Star contestants of all time return to settle a big question: Is Gen X the greatest music generation ever? Writer, comedian…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing This Legendary Choreographer’s Music Knowledge
Justin Peck joins The Track Star Podcast to talk about how music turns into movement. From the stage at Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet choreographer…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Gov. Josh Shapiro's Music Knowledge
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation that uses music to get somewhere politics usually can’t. Through a playlist…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Lucinda Williams’ Music Knowledge
Lucinda Williams joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about the music that shaped her, from Highway 61 and Delta blues to Muscle Shoals soul and…
- The Track Star Podcast
A History of MTV in 10 Songs | The Track Star Podcast
Tom Freston, one of the founding executives behind MTV, joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through how the channel was built and what it became. Through a…
- The Track Star Podcast
CBGB Part 2: The Rise of New York Hardcore | The Track Star Podcast
The Track Star Podcast continues our CBGB series with hardcore historian Steven Blush, tracing how the club transformed in the early 1980s from punk’s downtown…
- The Track Star Podcast
A History of CBGB in 10 Songs | The Track Star Podcast
Iconic photographer Roberta Bayley breaks down how the CBGB scene formed in the mid-1970s, before anyone agreed on the word “punk,” and the room was still…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Ethan Hawke's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Actor and director Ethan Hawke joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation centered on Americana, outlaw country, and songwriting. Through songs by Bob…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Maya Rudolph's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Maya Rudolph joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through the music that shaped her, from classic pop and soul to rock, funk, and film soundtracks. Through…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Billy Corgan's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Billy Corgan joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped him, from classic rock and post-punk to jazz and country…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Lily Allen's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Lily Allen joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped her and the instincts that guide her songwriting. Across…
- The Track Star Podcast
Ranking The 10 GREATEST Christmas Songs of All Time
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack takes on a familiar holiday challenge: ranking the greatest Christmas songs of all time. He is joined by his wife…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Ken Burns’ Music Knowledge
Filmmaker and historian Ken Burns joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about music, storytelling, and the American experience. Burns reflects on his…
- The Track Star Podcast
A History of Chess Records in 10 Songs ft. Steve Jordan, John Fogerty, David Remnick & Maya Rudolph
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack explores the legacy of Chess Records with drummer, producer, and musical historian Steve Jordan. Steve breaks down…
- The Track Star Podcast
A History of Pop Songwriting in 10 Songs ft. Amy Allen and Charlie Puth
This week we explore the craft of songwriting with Grammy-winning writer Amy Allen and global hitmaker Charlie Puth. Through songs from ABBA, The Beatles…
- The Track Star Podcast
Testing Cameron Crowe’s Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Cameron Crowe joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his life as a rock journalist and filmmaker. From getting his first Rolling Stone cover at 16 to…
- The Track Star Podcast
Common Breaks Down the 6 Songs That Shaped His Career
Common is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Chicago, with a journey that runs from his early days as a Bulls ball boy when Jordan arrived, to…
- The Track Star Podcast
The Grateful Dead Explained — 10 Songs That Trace the Dead’s Legacy
With David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s official archivist and legacy manager, we trace how the band evolved from the psychedelic San Francisco scene of the…
- The Track Star Podcast
Good Charlotte, Simple Plan & All Time Low: The History of Pop Punk in 10 Songs
Pop punk was the sound that defined malls, teen movies, and high-school playlists in the 2000s. With Simple Plan, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Olivia…
- The Track Star Podcast
Emily Bear (Moana 2), Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things) & RZA Talk Composing For Movies
This week we explore movie scores: how they are composed, how they shape emotion, and what makes a theme unforgettable. We played legendary scores for Emily…
- The Track Star Podcast
Jeremy Allen White, Scott Cooper (Director), and Warren Zanes (Author) Talk Springsteen Biopic
Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska is the haunting home-recorded album that changed his career and revealed the darkness behind his music. With Jeremy Allen White…
- The Track Star Podcast
The Evolution of Jazz in 10 Songs
Jon Batiste, Christian McBride, and New Jazz Underground join us for a deep dive into jazz, the quintessential American art form. Through 10 essential songs…
- The Track Star Podcast
What is the Great American Songbook?
The Great American Songbook shaped the foundation of American popular music, from Broadway stages to jazz clubs and Hollywood soundtracks. Guided by Seth…
- The Track Star Podcast
Hip-Hop’s Origin Story in 10 songs
Today hip-hop is the world’s most popular music, but it began as a neighborhood party in the Bronx. Guided by hip-hop historian Debra Harris, with stories from…
- The Track Star Podcast
A History of Punk Rock in 10 Songs
What does punk really mean, and why does it still matter? Jack talks with New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh to trace the genre’s history through 10 songs, from…
- The Track Star Podcast
Introducing The Track Star Podcast
The Track Star Podcast is on its way. The internet’s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Follow here so you don’t miss the first episode, releasing…