The What Podcast

Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • 4.9 (148)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The What Podcast

The What Podcast is a weekly show by two veterans of the entertainment media universe with a passion for live music and music festivals. They came together over a love of Bonnaroo and found out pretty quickly that they are not alone. In fact, since launching in 2018, they found kindred spirits all over the world who also love the vibe found only at music festivals. Each week they share their own stories and opinions, but they also dig deeper and talk to the musicians and industry insiders who make the magic happen.

  1. Essential Vinyl Picks, Bonnaroo News, and Holiday Celebrations

    DEC 11

    Essential Vinyl Picks, Bonnaroo News, and Holiday Celebrations

    Christmas is just around the corner, and The What Podcast is wrapping up the year with a fun and festive episode before taking a holiday break. Barry, Russ, and Bryan kick things off by recapping MAINx24, Chattanooga’s 24-hour block party. From the parade in the bus to chili competitions and Jell-O shots, it’s the ultimate community celebration. Next, the guys dive into the latest Bonnaroo buzz, including Roo Clues, lineup leaks, and what’s shaping up to be an exciting 2025. Plus, they celebrate a fantastic Spotify Wrapped this year and take a moment to thank YOU, the listeners and viewers, for an incredible year of growth. Finally, Barry poses the ultimate holiday music question: What are your top five records for starting a vinyl collection? The hosts share their lists, highlight essential vinyl for any music lover, and offer some great gift-giving tips for the season. Now it’s your turn—share your top 5 vinyl picks in the comments. See you in the new year! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:51) MAINx24 in Chattanooga (00:08:28) Spotify Wrapped (00:18:59) Bonnaroo news (00:24:19) Top 5 vinyl albums (00:54:47) Outro

    1h 8m
  2. Van Life, EDM Culture, and Bonnaroo 2025

    DEC 4

    Van Life, EDM Culture, and Bonnaroo 2025

    Would you live in a van and travel the country going to festivals? While it sounds like a dream lifestyle to most of us, our guests this week, Lauren and David, are living it. They started Soundchecks to Stagedives in 2021 and have spent the last two years on the road full-time, covering music festivals and shows. Lauren and David take us inside the EDM community, sharing insights and speculating on who we might see at Bonnaroo 2025. From Tipper’s big plans for next year to the acts they’re most excited about, this episode is a must-listen for festival lovers. Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:15) Roo clue (00:03:30) Alice's Restaurant (00:04:50) Festive Owl (00:06:14) Ticket giveaway (00:07:19) Shaky Knees dates (00:09:34) Interview with Lauren and David (01:08:40) Outro

    1h 13m
  3. Bonnaroo 2025 Hype: Tipper Confirmed + Nashville Meetup!

    NOV 27

    Bonnaroo 2025 Hype: Tipper Confirmed + Nashville Meetup!

    It's time to get hyped for Bonnaroo 2025! In this episode, we break down major updates, including the confirmation of Tipper on the lineup. Tipper’s inclusion is creating buzz, and we speculate on his placement in the schedule. We also discuss what this means for Bonnaroo’s evolving lineup strategy and its ability to bring legacy acts into the spotlight. We also need to talk about some of the recent policy changes, such as the new re-entry fee if you leave the farm, and new ticket options. Beyond the festival news, Russ talks about the Bonnaroo Takeover, a last-minute meetup in East Nashville hosted by marketing director Cory Smith and the Bonnaroo team. Featuring free Spicy Pie, a DJ set by Sparkle City Disco, and the "Letters to Roo" mailbox project, this event highlights the festival's commitment to the community. Could future Bonnaroo meetups be planned? Finally, we dive into the broader festival scene, from Shaky Knees' move to Piedmont Park and date change to Coachella's 2025 lineup featuring Kraftwerk and Misfits. Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:39) Last Week at The Caverns (00:04:58) Bonnaroo's Nashville takeover (00:24:27) Re-entry fee (00:33:19) GA+ and Insider (00:37:27) Tipper confirmed (00:42:46) Other festival news (00:53:09) Country music at Bonnaroo (01:03:57) Outro

    1h 5m
  4. How The Caverns Became Tennessee’s Premier Music Destination

    NOV 20

    How The Caverns Became Tennessee’s Premier Music Destination

    This week on The What Podcast, we take a field trip to The Caverns in Pelham, TN — a music venue like no other. Located just 20 minutes from Bonnaroo's Farm, The Caverns offers an extraordinary experience, hosting shows underground in a breathtaking cave and on a sprawling outdoor amphitheater. We sit down with Todd Mayo, the visionary behind The Caverns, to uncover its remarkable story. From serendipitous beginnings to becoming one of Tennessee’s most captivating entertainment landmarks, Todd shares insights from his journey, including highlights from his new book, Caveman Chronicles. Whether you're a music enthusiast or someone interested in the behind-the-scenes challenges of running an independent venue, don't miss this deep dive episode! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:09:51) Interview with Todd Mayo (01:33:18) Outro

    1h 39m
  5. Who's Headlining Bonnaroo 2025? We Make Our Guesses

    NOV 13

    Who's Headlining Bonnaroo 2025? We Make Our Guesses

    We are still unpacking last week's conversation with Brad and Cory from C3 about what to expect for Bonnaroo 2025. Lots of new information on changes and improvements for next year, and of course we've got to take a guess at who they are hinting at for headliners. In addition to all the Bonnaroo info, we take a look at some of the recent news about When We Were Young Festival, and Chappell Roan's SNL performance. What's got you most excited for Bonnaroo 2025? Leave us a comment below and subscribe to The What Podcast for the latest festival news and info! Join the Discord for early access to episodes! Photo By: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:05:59) Chappell Roan on SNL (00:14:36) When We Were Young (00:19:01) Unpacking last week's episode (00:27:06) Thursday/Sunday headliners (00:32:40) Where in the Woods and EDM (00:35:35) Transition from AC/Superfly to C3 (00:49:00) Final thoughts on changes (00:51:06) Our guesses for headliners (00:57:00) Outro

    58 min
  6. What’s Next for Bonnaroo in 2025?

    NOV 4

    What’s Next for Bonnaroo in 2025?

    Could comedy make a comeback at Bonnaroo in 2025? Expanded camping options, or even a two-weekend event? This week on The What Podcast, we dive deep with Bonnaroo insiders Festival Director Brad Parker and Marketing Manager Cory Smith from C3 Presents. They share exclusive insights into what worked in 2024, what fans loved, and the exciting changes planned for 2025. If you're a Bonnaroovian, you won’t want to miss this one! And, of course, it wouldn't be Bonnaroo without a diverse lineup. Brad and Cory hint at what fans can expect — from EDM headliners to legacy acts — and talk about the balancing act of booking artists that honor Bonnaroo's roots while offering the "best in the streets" to appeal to any fan, regardless of genre. Join the Discord for early access to episodes! Photo By: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:29) Beat in Nashville (00:07:08) This week's guests (00:15:19) Russ in a music video (00:16:37) Interview with Brad and Cory (00:18:14) Bonnaroo 2024 feedback (00:31:15) Grading last year's festival (00:35:12) Focusing on community (00:37:42) C3 revolutionized the industry (00:42:45) Lessons learned (00:25:53) Tuesday entry (00:53:09) Lineup talk (01:08:58) Bonnaroo census (01:14:47) Teasing things for Bonnaroo 2025 (01:18:39) Chappell Roan (01:25:51) GWAR (01:28:14) Brad's tweet (01:29:35) Changes for Bonnaroo 2025 (01:37:20) Who stage (01:38:02) Final thoughts (01:39:37) Outro

    1h 46m
  7. Exit 111 Five Years Later, Hangout Fest, and Hulaween

    OCT 23

    Exit 111 Five Years Later, Hangout Fest, and Hulaween

    It's been five years since Exit 111 took place on our beloved Farm in Manchester, featuring heavy-hitting acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses. Bryan Stone attended with Taco, while Barry made a visit to check it out. The hosts reflect on the festival's surprising gun policy and discuss how things have changed since then. Will Great Stage Park ever host another festival like this? In more recent news, we explore Sand in My Boots, a new festival headlined by Morgan Wallen in Gulf Shores, AL, which replaces the long-running and beloved Hangout Festival. Hulaween is also on the horizon in Florida. Find The What Podcast on X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Discord! Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:05:32) Exit 111 (00:24:43) CaveFest (00:27:23) Hangout Fest (00:38:05) Hulaween (00:43:13) Outro

    45 min
  8. Beyond South Star: Huntsville's Unique Vision for Cultivating a Music Scene

    OCT 16

    Beyond South Star: Huntsville's Unique Vision for Cultivating a Music Scene

    We conclude our coverage of South Star 2024 this week with an exclusive peek behind the curtain into how the festival came together in such a short period of time, and the long-term vision the city has for it. Despite the hurricane weather and Sunday's cancellation, the event was a huge success for the city. Matt Mandrella is Huntsville's Music Officer, quite possibly the first person in the country to hold a municipal position dedicated to developing and improving the musical culture for a city. "Huntsville is working to develop its music infrastructure, including attracting industry professionals and improving music education in schools," Matt tells us. Matt also explains the reasons why Huntsville wanted to host a regional music festival, what commitments the city made when working with C3 Presents to bring the event to life, and the shockingly short timeline they had to complete it when the decision was made to move it up a year from 2025 to 2024. Beyond South Star though, Huntsville believes that music is a critical component to the city's growth and quality of life. Matt takes us on a deeper dive into the plans Huntsville has to bring in more artistic talent, including grants and incentives bands can receive for touring and creating music. It's a fascinating conversation behind the scenes you won't want to miss! Donate to Hurricane Helene relief efforts here Photo by: Evan Brown Are you Ready to ROO? The What Podcast wants to send you to the Farm to experience a magical weekend of music, fun, and friendship at Bonnaroo! You'll witness round-the-clock entertainment from over 100 artists! We've got 4-day tickets and a camping pass for you and a guest. Visit thewhat.co/win for details. ______ CHAPTERS (00:00:00) Intro (00:11:54) Interview with Matt Mandrella (01:09:26) Outro

    1h 13m
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
148 Ratings

About

The What Podcast is a weekly show by two veterans of the entertainment media universe with a passion for live music and music festivals. They came together over a love of Bonnaroo and found out pretty quickly that they are not alone. In fact, since launching in 2018, they found kindred spirits all over the world who also love the vibe found only at music festivals. Each week they share their own stories and opinions, but they also dig deeper and talk to the musicians and industry insiders who make the magic happen.

Information

  • Creator
    Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    230
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
  • Show Website
    The What Podcast

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