It's a K-pop Thing

Alkemie Sound Lab

"The show where we talk about all the things that make K-pop distinctly K-pop." Hosted by Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila, two journalists, friends, and fellow K-pop multi-stans, each episode of It's a K-pop Thing explores the fan culture and the stories behind the people who've helped grow K-pop into a global phenomenon. Follow the Show: @IKPTpod on Instagram & Twitter Email: info@kpoppod.com

  1. 2月6日

    EXO's Comeback ... It's Complicated

    Put simply: We have big and complex feelings about EXO's highly anticipated comeback following the return of all members from their military enlistment.  When news of an EXO reunion first broke, we were just as excited as any diehard EXO-L. Unfortunately, as time went on and it became evident that CBX would NOT be included in the comeback due to their ongoing legal troubles with SM Entertainment ... well, our enthusiasm waned. What happened to the OT9 EXO reunion much of the fandom eagerly awaited?  Does it make sense to release a title track called "Crown" when key powerhouse vocalists are missing? Is it even possible to support the boys, but not the comeback? To help us make sense of our mixed feelings we invited Ashley, the host of the podcast An Album a Day to join us for a free-flowing and honest chat about all things EXO. Tune in to hear: Why we think "Crown" seems like a SuperM song from the vaultOur honest thoughts on REVERXE as an albumWhy we think the visuals and marketing didn't match the musicThe "Suju-fication" of EXO's unique sound - is this the future?Some quick context for EXO-CBX's legal woes with SMWhy we're hopeful about a future reunionOur thoughts on fan wars and how we can move forwardAbout our Guest: Ashley is a content creator, educator, and public speaker. As a music historian and an authority on the K-pop phenomenon, she has collaborated on projects and events with various domestic and international companies and brands. As the host of An Album a Day,  ("A3Day"), Ashley leads listeners on a journey through every album available within K-pop with fact-based and opinionated commentary within each "shortcast" episode. Keep Up With Ashley and An Album a Day: Website: A3Daypodcast.comInstagram: @a3daypodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a3dayIt's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila. FOLLOW US: Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES? E-mail us at info@kpoppod.com

    1 小時
  2. 1月3日

    What's Up With Santos Bravos? HYBE's Latino Boy Band

    We're kicking off 2026 with an episode we recorded at the tail end of last year that's all about Santos Bravos! Following HYBE's big experiment with KATSEYE, HYBE Latin America focused its efforts in 2025 on debuting a Latino pop boy group using the K-pop industry model.  Though the group is most definitely NOT K-pop sonically (more on that later), its creation via a music survival show, its trainee model and its obvious connection to HYBE mean it carries the DNA or building blocks of the K-pop industry. Naturally, all this means we have a LOT of thoughts on the group's debut and where they might best fit into the current music landscape. So, what did Santos Bravos get right about Latino boy bands and is it only a matter of time before everyone knows their name in Latin America? Tune in to hear Alexis and Theresa discuss: The uphill battle the boys faced in the survivial showWhat it was like to watch the Santos Bravos showcase live in Mexico CityOur takeaways on the final lineup's cohesion (or lack thereof?)Why we think Drew was always going to debut as the anchor for the groupThe obvious (and not-so-obvious) comparisons to KATSEYEThe importance of a visual and sonic identity for a groupAnd so much more! It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila. FOLLOW US: Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES? E-mail us at info@kpoppod.com

    1 小時 27 分鐘
  3. 24/10/2025

    Just Give Kpop Demon Hunters the Grammy and Oscar Already

    Kpop Demon Hunters arguably gave us not just the song of the summer, but the soundtrack of the year. Sound like hyperbole? It's been months since the animated musical was released this summer and it shows no signs of slowing down. Thanks to word-of-mouth and some early guerrilla-style marketing, viewership for the film snowballed so unexpectedly and so quickly that it now holds the distinction of being Netflix's most-watched original title ... EVER, with more than 236 million views as of late August. Now, with Halloween upon us, it seems kids everywhere are eager up to dress up as Rumi, Mira, Zoey, or any of the other memorable characters from the film. At the same time, the singing voices of HUNTR/X have been making the rounds on late night TV ahead of what is arguably a campaign to get in front of the voting bodies during awards season next year. Last but not least, we have the release of EJAE's new single, "In Another World." It's about time time we finally dove into what exactly makes KPOP Demon Hunters so successful and so sticky in pop culture. Listen to hear our discussion on: How Kpop Demon Hunters capitalized on fandom cultureThe power of word-of-mouth and YouTube reactorsKevin Woo's marketing advantage as a real-life K-pop idol The choice of original songs vs. needle drops from existing K-pop groupsEJAE's career in K-pop mirroring Rumi's character arc storyKids, families and keeping K-pop accessibleOur takes on the real inspo for HUNTR/X and Saja BoysIt's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila. FOLLOW US: Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES? E-mail us at info@kpoppod.com

    1 小時 17 分鐘
  4. 19/09/2024

    Cha Eun Woo & NCT Dream in Mexico (EP 17: Traveling to Mexico for K-pop: Tips and Tricks)

    We are back after our summer break for a brand new season of It's a K-pop Thing! In this episode, we catch up and discuss what it was like traveling to Mexico this summer to see NCT Dream and Cha Eun Woo. Then, you don't want our advice and tips in the second half of the show! If you've ever thought about traveling to see a K-pop show in Mexico (or maybe greater Latin America), this is the episode for you. We give you the real, honest advice we would give our closest friends about what you can expect at a show, what you should look out for and more. In this episode we cover: What it's like to go to Mexico for a K-pop ConcertCha Eun Woo in Mexico City 2024 at Arena CDMXWhat his fan meeting/concert was likeNCT Dream in Mexico CityWhat it was like getting floor seats for NCT Dream in Latin AmericaHow to see a K-pop concert in Mexico Tips for K-pop concerts in MexicoTIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Cold Open1:45 - Start of Show 3:39 - Cha Eun Woo in Mexico City19:00 - NCT Dream42:23 - Advice and Tips for Traveling to Mexico45:01 - TIP 1 - Don't be afraid to go alone48:26 - TIP 2 - Tap your Mexican friends/mutuals for help55:53 - TIP 3 - Take the right amount of cash61:02 - TIP 4 - Buy the bootleg merch!67:55 - TIP 5 - Do your research on local events before/after the show73:32 - TIP 6 - Make friends at the show80:23 - TIP 7 - "Don't piss them off"88:23 - TIP 8 - Level your expectations about concert etiquette97:12 - Final Thoughts 98:52 - End of Show It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila. FOLLOW US: Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES? E-mail us at info@kpoppod.com

    1 小時 39 分鐘

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"The show where we talk about all the things that make K-pop distinctly K-pop." Hosted by Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila, two journalists, friends, and fellow K-pop multi-stans, each episode of It's a K-pop Thing explores the fan culture and the stories behind the people who've helped grow K-pop into a global phenomenon. Follow the Show: @IKPTpod on Instagram & Twitter Email: info@kpoppod.com

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