The Complete Catalog

Tristan Ettleman

Welcome to The Complete Catalog, a podcast for media deep dives. For its second season, host Tristan Ettleman and his guests explore the albums of Madonna across 18 episodes. Season 1 covered the films of Studio Ghibli across 30 episodes.

  1. 5 days ago

    Music w/ Trevor Bermingham (Madonna, Episode 11)

    Released in 2000, Madonna’s Music ushered in the 21st century for the everlastingly iconic pop star. And it did so with still-impressive forethought and freshness, which Tristan and friend of the show Trevor Bermingham constantly appreciate even for all its nostalgic qualities.

  2. 31 Jul

    Ray of Light w/ Caitlin Casiello (Madonna, Episode 10)

    Ray of Light is often cited as Madonna’s greatest album. That’s a heavy expectation, but as basically Madonna novices Tristan and Caitlin Casiello, Assistant Professor of Japanese Film and Media Studies at the University of Florida, discuss, it’s one that the 1998 release could understandably live up to.

  3. 24 Jul

    Evita w/ Ben Gierhart (Madonna, Episode 9)

    Evita was a major push for Madonna’s film career as well as her musical artistry, notably stretching her voice to new ranges to accommodate the Andrew Lloyd Webber sound. Tristan and theater artist and writer Ben Gierhart discuss the expansiveness, the messiness, and the moments of brilliance to come from the 1996 release, Madonna’s final soundtrack album to date.

  4. 17 Jul

    Bedtime Stories w/ Michael Snydel (Madonna, Episode 8)

    Discussion about Bedtime Stories, released in 1994 and two years after Erotica, is defined by the conscious “softening” of Madonna’s image. And as Tristan and former film critic and podcaster Michael Snydel address, that shift, especially in her embrace of contemporary R&B sounds, isn’t always successful, even as the record has a bit more edge than its been given credit for.

  5. 10 Jul

    Erotica w/ Caroline Delbert (Madonna, Episode 7)

    Erotica was considered the nadir of Madonna’s career when it was released in 1992. But as Tristan and journalist Caroline Delbert uncover, the album has been reclaimed, especially removed from its pairing of the (unfairly!) infamous Sex book, and should be considered as a bold progression for the artist.

  6. 3 Jul

    I'm Breathless w/ Lucy O'Brien (Madonna, Episode 6)

    I’m Breathless, the 1990 soundtrack to Dick Tracy, is Madonna’s basically faithful ode to old Hollywood…plus one of her most “hip” and lasting tracks. Tristan and Lucy O’Brien, author of Madonna: Like an Icon, talk about how the album did (and did not) intersect with the aesthetics of the film in which she starred and how it can basically stand alone as a unique effort in Madonna’s discography.

  7. 26 Jun

    Like a Prayer w/ Frankie Lee (Madonna, Episode 5)

    1989’s Like a Prayer is considered a watershed moment in Madonna’s career. Tristan and actor, writer, and comedian Frankie Lee dive deep into the monumental work; they think it’s going to catch on!

  8. 19 Jun

    Who's That Girl w/ Scout Tafoya (Madonna, Episode 4)

    Who’s That Girl almost wasn’t included in the run of episodes for this Madonna season of The Complete Catalog because this soundtrack record isn’t made up of a majority of her songs. But the 1987 release still has the presence of a “Madonna album,” as filmmaker and critic Scout Tafoya and Tristan discuss, not least because her tracks are far and away the collection’s best and her starring role in the film of the same name looms large.

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About

Welcome to The Complete Catalog, a podcast for media deep dives. For its second season, host Tristan Ettleman and his guests explore the albums of Madonna across 18 episodes. Season 1 covered the films of Studio Ghibli across 30 episodes.

Information

  • Creator
    Tristan Ettleman
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Tristan Ettleman
  • Show Website
    The Complete Catalog

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