Best howweheardit Podcasts (2025)

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Here’s our (satirical?) gift list for your favorite performers! 1:22:00

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2h ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Snappy holidays, y’all! The snarky Santas of “How We Heard It” have been making a list of what the biggest names in modern music should get for their behavior this year. We’re not talking about golf clubs and spa days. Instead, these are intangible gifts the artists need, even if they don’t realize it. Your hosts bounce from sarcasm to sincerity as…

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Need to cheer up, calm down or blow off steam? Try these songs! 1:22:59

11d ago1:22:59

1:22:59

Feeling out of sorts? Join the crowd. We're full-tilt into holiday season and most of us might be feeling the blues ... or feeling chaotic ... or feeling like we're about to go off on someone. Or all of the above. We all have our go-to therapy songs that help us get through a rough patch. But sometimes our sonic medicine can't get the job done. Nev…

1
This podcast topic took unexpected turns! 1:26:26

17d ago1:26:26

1:26:26

Your hosts of the "How We Heard It" podcast usually have a general goal in mind when they pick a topic ... but when they came up with this idea, they had no clue what they were in for: "Hey, let's dig through our music collections and just see what we find." Keep in mind that these guys have each amassed thousands of albums and compact discs (and e…

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Controversial singers! ... And why we'll never have another Dolly Parton 1:20:49

20d ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Seems like every day another performer has said the wrong thing or done the wrong thing. And if we like them, that's just more spice in the sauce. And if we don't, we just hate them even more. But the controversy wheel just keeps on spinning, regardless of how you feel. It could be a manufactured scandal, like a diss track, or something out of cont…

1
Sweet, sour and salty: great songs about giving thanks 1:24:54

29d ago1:24:54

1:24:54

The United States may have an official day of gratitude every November with Thanksgiving, but for many of us, most every day could be a day of appreciation. A sincere "thank you" is rewarding for everyone: It feels good to say it and it feels good to hear it. However, appreciation can be complicated and "thank you" may come with a twist. Sometimes …

1
Sometimes words just get in the way 1:24:14

1M ago1:24:14

1:24:14

When we're listening to music, most of us tend to focus on the singer. And why not? Singers spell it out for us. They give us a human voice, and the words, to understand the meaning of songs. But we don't always need someone holding our hand and walking us through a song. Sometimes the lyrics are trite and the vocals are lame. With instrumentals, y…

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Music's biggest feuds - from the vicious to the absurd! 1:24:40

2M ago1:24:40

1:24:40

Face it, everyone loves a good fight. And musicians and singers are always adding an extra layer to their entertainment value - intentionally or accidentally - by engaging in battles with their peers. Some of these feuds are exaggerated and some are underplayed. Some have an obvious bad guy while in others it seems like both parties should share th…

1
What's gotten into everybody? We're possessed! 1:23:50

2M ago1:23:50

1:23:50

Summer's done, and now we're hurtling toward the darkest, coldest days of the year. So forgive us if we aren't feeling ourselves. It's as if an evil force has taken over our souls. ... Could this be what it feels like to be possessed? In the spirit of the season, this episode of "How We Heard It" explores the phenomenon of possession as portrayed i…

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These cover songs might blow your mind! 1:18:13

2M ago1:18:13

1:18:13

Cover songs often aren't what they should be. Many are pale and pointless facsimiles of the original songs, and others even take off into some new direction for no reason whatsoever. Rude. So this week the "How We Heard It" guys let their imaginations run wild, freewheeling through music history (from 60-odd years ago to today), mixing and matching…

1
More guilty pleasures and shameless infatuations! 1:19:38

2M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

When "How We Heard It" was just a few weeks old in the summer of 2024, we posted an episode about guilty pleasures, featuring your veteran entertainment critics/hosts Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell confessing their love for art that other critics frown on - including Wayne's love of sunshine pop and westerns and Chuck's love of exotica and techno…

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These albums changed who we are 1:23:03

2M ago1:23:03

1:23:03

In modern times, our society is partially shaped by widely praised albums, brilliantly executed works of art that reflect, or even reshape, the direction of our culture. But the effect of music on individuals is more nuanced, and broad generalizations don't always apply. A life-changing album could come from anywhere if the timing is right, such as…

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Songs about fall: the sweet, the sad and the strange 1:21:39

3M ago1:21:39

1:21:39

They were supposed to do a straightforward episode about autumn songs, but this week the hosts of "How We Heard It" found themselves in lively debate from the get-go. When is fall? When the kids go back to school in August? Is it the autumnal equinox in September? Maybe when the leaves turn in October? Your host Chuck Campbell doesn't like much of …

1
Here are the best men singers from the past 60+ years 1:21:06

3M ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Last week the "How We Heard It" hosts came up with a list of the greatest women singers in modern music, debating Janis Joplin vs. Whitney Houston and Karen Carpenter vs. Barbra Streisand while also finding endless praise for everyone from Aretha Franklin to Linda Ronstadt to Annie Lennox to Billie Eilish. This week, "How We Heard It" pivots to men…

1
These are the best women singers in modern music 1:17:59

3M ago1:17:59

1:17:59

Singers often make or break a song. The exceptional ones can lift a bland arrangement into the stratosphere and the mundane ones can sink a great arrangement like a torpedo. This week the "How We Heard It" guys take a look at women vocalists (men singers will come next week), from the clear-voiced vocalists with perfect enunciation to soul singers …

1
Songs about friends: They'll have your back and stab it, too 1:16:42

3M ago1:16:42

1:16:42

Friends are our chosen family, the people we can sometimes count on when everyone else has turned their backs on us. But friendships vary. They can be a lifelong commitment or they can end tomorrow without warning. Or they can mysteriously fade away from benign neglect. Friends have inspired numerous songwriters over the years - the ride-or-die fri…

1
Musicians use these secret tricks to win your love 1:15:11

4M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

Why do we love our favorite songs? We may think it's simply because we love the singer's voice or the guitars or the fact that it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. But often we love songs for reasons we may not understand and can't articulate. They just make us feel a certain way. Musicians know how the brain processes sound and triggers e…

1
On second thought, these acts don't suck 1:21:17

4M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

Have you ever dismissed a band or singer as mediocre (or worse) only to later realize they were amazing and you misjudged them? It can be a blow to the ego to miss the genius that others hear - especially if you're a professional music critic or musician. But this week, your "How We Heard It" hosts put their pride aside and confess to overlooking s…

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These teen movies make us laugh, squirm and cringe 1:21:16

4M ago1:21:16

1:21:16

The teen years can be some of the most tumultuous in our lives - at least internally. Subtle moments can feel glorious, or tragic, while we might not even notice the major events unfolding all around us. The magic of being a teenager, when your life can feel out of control if your crush doesn't even look your way, is captured again and again in mov…

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Death sucks: Here are artists we lost too soon 1:21:04

4M ago1:21:04

1:21:04

It's not unusual for beloved singers and musicians to continue performing well beyond the age most of us plan to retire, and you can find them still packing arenas when they're in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. On the flipside, even the brightest stars can suddenly blink out. They fall out of favor at the drop of a hat, they burn out and quit the bus…

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Music's greatest duets: when two is better than one 1:22:29

5M ago1:22:29

1:22:29

Great duets have surfaced throughout the history of popular music, evoking a magic that one voice simply can't convey by itself. Duets between Bruno Mars and Rose ("APT.") as well as Kendrick Lamar and SZA ("Luther") have commanded the top of the charts in the past year, and you'll turn up other smash duets no matter how far you go back in time - L…

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Music for travelers - and escapists! 1:23:01

5M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

It can be hard to understand how one song casts a spell on your soul when so many others pass you by. It could be the melody or overall construction of the song, or maybe it's the message of the lyrics that grabs you. But sometimes the magic is just a matter of location, location, location. If you've ever been captivated by a song when you were awa…

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These are the most underrated - and overrated - actors! 1:27:30

5M ago1:27:30

1:27:30

Ever wonder why you hardly ever see one actor who always lights up the screen while you can't get away from another one who always leaves you cold? So do we. This week, the hosts of "How We Heard It" look at a galaxy of stars - from the old guard like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Bradley Cooper and Sandra Bullock to new breakouts like Timothee Chalam…

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Fantastic band names! (also: racy, gross and boring ones) 1:16:47

5M ago1:16:47

1:16:47

Our first impression of a new musical group often comes from their name, which can be creative or shocking or forgettable. We've all learned that a band's name typically doesn't reflect the kind of music they play - sometimes it's even the opposite of how you would expect them to sound. And over time, you'll come to love a great band with an unfort…

1
'Hold me closer, Tony Danza' and other misheard lyrics 1:24:12

5M ago1:24:12

1:24:12

Funny thing about lyrics: They aren't always what you think they are. Whether you hear them the wrong way or someone else heard them the wrong way and passed that misinterpretation on to you, you're often singing along to a different set of lyrics than your favorite singer. What's more, AI and other lyrics you find on Google get them wrong, too. Bu…

1
Surprises we've learned about you, and ourselves, in year one 1:23:23

6M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

We've made a full trip around the sun since "How We Heard It" debuted in June of 2024, so for episode No. 52 of the weekly show, your hosts are looking at what worked and what didn't - for the audiences and for themselves - in the first year. They recap what episodes drew the biggest audiences (some shows are more surprising than others) and where …

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Mixtapes?! What were we thinking? 1:25:08

6M ago1:25:08

1:25:08

Music fans have been making personal soundtracks for some 50 years, starting with the mixtape in the 1970s, then changing with technology to mixed discs in the 1990s (replacing cassette tapes with compact discs), then creating playlists in the 2000s for devices like iPods as well as streaming services like Spotify. Typically, these homemade collect…

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These blockbuster albums were unlike any other 1:22:34

6M ago1:22:34

1:22:34

The music industry has always had its megastars akin to today's super-performers like Taylor Swift, Drake and Morgan Wallen. However, there was a glorious decade from the early 1980s into the 1990s when the planets aligned and money gushed out to a select few artists who commandeered the industry. Major record labels, commercial radio, and MTV cons…

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Album covers inspire, shock and tease 1:25:32

6M ago1:25:32

1:25:32

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, so over the years music artists have relied on the visual cues of their album covers to help sell their product. Sexy photos, dramatic images, optical illusions, striking colors and eye-catching fonts have all been used to grab attention, titillate and intrigue. Album covers were vital in th…

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Cheaters! These songs about them have us shook 1:19:15

7M ago1:19:15

1:19:15

Why do cheaters cheat? Seems like there are as many reasons as there are songs about cheaters. They cheat simply because they're tempted or because they want revenge or because they're lonely or because they don't care or because they want a thrill or because they're addicted to sex or because they're drunk. There are likewise numerous responses to…

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How do you want to be remembered? 1:06:48

7M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Are you a sweet soul? A deep thinker? A party animal? All of the above? In this episode of "How We Heard It," your hosts debate the criteria for creating a final playlist - for a celebration of life or just a celebration in general. What kind of songs would you want played at your funeral? Wayne's given it a lot of thought, but Chuck and John? Not …

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These summer hits catch us at our happiest 1:18:05

7M ago1:18:05

1:18:05

Another summer is upon us, and with it comes a new wave of summer hits that we'll remember forever. What is it about songs this time of year that makes them hit so much better? For starters, summer is the most popular season - one with the longest days, the most vacations and the best weather for being outdoors (notwithstanding oppressive heat wave…

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Remember these one-hit wonders? (We sure do, for better and worse.) 1:21:14

7M ago1:21:14

1:21:14

One-hit wonders come from all directions, from serious artists who expected a long career of hit songs to novelty acts who never even expected that first one. But the end result is always the same: It's one and done for the performer. In this episode of "How We Heard It," your hosts look at an array of their favorite and their most hated one-hit wo…

1
Get your paws on these great songs about animals! 1:17:34

8M ago1:17:34

1:17:34

This week "How We Heard It" is going to the dogs ... and cats and horses and any other critter you can think of. When your hosts decided to explore songs about animals, they couldn't believe how many old and new gems they turned up, as well as some truly terrible songs. Artists of every genre have found excuses to do songs about animals, and they'v…

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These songs will help you get over your ex 1:18:46

8M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Songs do a great job of marking all the chapters of a relationship - titillation, infatuation, obsession ... followed by the comforting warmth of deep and abiding love ... (sometimes) followed by hurt, misunderstanding and betrayal ... followed by anger, separation and acceptance. Yet once the breakup is over and done, we sometimes get stuck, unabl…

1
We never want to see these movies again! 1:20:08

8M ago1:20:08

1:20:08

Your hosts at "How We Heard It" love movies just as much anyone, and like everyone else, they'll watch their favorite films again and again. But there are some good movies - some great movies even - that they never intend to watch again. In this week's episode they go through several acclaimed, or at least popular, films they won't be replaying, an…

1
The highs and lows of drugs and alcohol in music 1:21:20

8M ago1:21:20

1:21:20

Songwriters in most every genre dabble in themes of alcohol and drug use - some of them just looking for a good time, some of them looking for a serious escape from their lives and some of them looking to feed an addiction. On this episode of "How We Heard It," the guys take it all in, from the playful and silly party songs to the sobering cries fo…

1
Why do these great mean songs feel so good? 1:08:07

9M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

Forget about sappy love songs and happy party songs. Sometimes you've just got to rip somebody a new one, and you don't want to be nice about it. The cathartic power of a mean song can't be underestimated, whether you just need to get something off your chest or you need to dig deep and drive someone completely out of your life. So this week the ho…

1
Here are our favorite singers and bands from around the world! 1:27:42

9M ago1:27:42

1:27:42

The whole world is full of great music, so this week the "How We Heard It" guys travel the globe to unveil some of the artists who have caught their attention - from Latin America to Asia to Europe to Africa. Some sing in English, some don't. Some play contemporary popular music you might hear throughout the United States and Great Britain, others …

1
Music trends we hate! 1:16:32

9M ago1:16:32

1:16:32

Music is in a constant state of change, keeping it in line with shifts in popular culture overall as genres rise and fall in popularity and technology trends change how music is made and how we listen to it. They say change is good, and often that's the case, but veteran music critics Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell and their musician friend John …

1
When terrible people make good art 1:18:24

9M ago1:18:24

1:18:24

We're constantly passing judgment on others, even if subconsciously - including when we're deciding what movie to watch or what music to hear. The words and actions of celebrities are met with our approval and our disdain, coloring our interest in their work. It's no different for critics, who have to teach themselves to be fair and neutral when ev…

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We react to reaction videos: the good, the bad and the WTF 1:12:31

9M ago1:12:31

1:12:31

While searching and scrolling through music videos on YouTube, most of us have found ourselves watching videos of people watching the videos we came to see. And they're commenting and reviewing these videos, pausing them and replaying parts, sometimes talking over them and sometimes talking more about each other than about the videos. They typicall…

1
God, it's brutal out here 1:25:25

10M ago1:25:25

1:25:25

All the time they tried their best, is this the kind of thanks they get? Veteran journalists Chuck Campbell and Wayne Bledsoe have made careers of keeping up with and analyzing music, and in this episode of "How We Heard It," they unload on the pitfalls - like slogging through terrible albums, dealing with pushback from disgruntled fans and shaking…

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These are the best comedians working today (plus some dead ones) 1:15:19

10M ago1:15:19

1:15:19

Veteran entertainment writers (and friends) Chuck Campbell and Wayne Bledsoe and their engineer/musician friend John Baker love a good laugh. So on this episode of "How We Heard It," they check off a list of the best comedians in the business these days. From the cleanest of the clean to the ones who constantly teeter on the line of getting cancell…

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Here are our favorite love songs! 1:15:03

10M ago1:15:03

1:15:03

Most bands and singers do at least an occasional love song now and then, and love is the most common subject in popular music. But good love songs can be hard to find - some of the best singers aren't quite convincing as they try to manipulate us with formulaic schlock, and hardly anything is worse than a bad love song. So in this episode of "How W…

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Great short songs and why we love them 1:11:30

10M ago1:11:30

1:11:30

No offense to long songs, but sometimes you don't need to hear long intros, repetitive choruses, bridges, someone noodling around on a guitar and protracted outros. This week on "How We Heard It," veteran music journalists (and friends) Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell celebrate the beauty of short songs - they hit fast, they hit hard, and then the…

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Grammy preview: Taylor Swift vs. Beyonce, or will someone else shine? 1:17:46

11M ago1:17:46

1:17:46

Veteran music critics Chuck Campbell and Wayne Bledsoe have spent decades arguing with each other, publicly and privately, about who should (and who would) win the Grammy Awards. On paper, the 2025 Grammys look like a showdown between the two biggest powerhouses of the day: Will pop music maverick Taylor Swift steamroll over the competition again t…

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Humor and music: the union we all need 1:17:51

11M ago1:17:51

1:17:51

With rare exceptions, humans love to laugh and they love music. We differ on what we find funny and what kind of music we like, but when comedy and music come together, it can be magical. On this episode of "How We Heard It," the guys explore how humor has found its way into music, and vice versa, and how the two art forms are probably more united …

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These great ballads are good for the soul 1:16:13

11M ago1:16:13

1:16:13

On this episode of "How We Heard It," the guys talk about some of the greatest ballads in classic and modern pop music. Well, first they argue about what a ballad even is, but once they settle on a definition, they talk about how a performer's authenticity makes all the difference between a song that inspires you and a song that's just generic garb…

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How Hollywood can fix the movie industry 1:11:03

11M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

The movie industry has buckled under intense challenges in recent years - including a devastating pandemic that shut down theaters for months, labor strikes that disrupted the production process and release schedules, a glut of streaming services that fragmented distribution ... and not least of all, a lack of innovative thinking at the top, where …

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Brace yourself, music is going to change again 1:27:10

12M ago1:27:10

1:27:10

Change is inevitable. When you live in the day-to-day world of popular music, you might not notice, but the music industry is endlessly changing. It's a revolving door of artists and a rise and fall of genres. Also, the recording process and delivery system for music is constantly pivoting, and the audiences themselves are cycling in and out as the…

Howweheardit Podcasts