Switched on Pop

A podcast all about the making and meaning of popular music. Musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding pull back the curtain on how pop hits work magic on our ears & our culture. From Vulture and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

On your way to work in the car

Up to 45 minutes

How Missy Elliott and Timbaland Freaked the World

Playing "Hide and Seek" with Imogen Heap

“The ‘Umbrella’ Effect: How Rihanna’s Breakout Hit Changed Pop Music Forever”

The biggest theme song fail

Our theme music sucks. Let’s change it.

Have Disney musicals lost their edge?

The many lives of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Santa Claus is coming to town and stalking America

The best (and worst) of holiday music in 2024

Kendrick Lamar: from Pulitzer to pop

Behind the Scenes of Switched on Pop on Harman Audio Talks

Noah Kahan’s Folk Pop Revival

The Beatles: "Now and Then" and Forever

Rerecording Taylor Swift's 1989, Dark Side of the Moon, and Demi Lovato

Chartbreakers: Mitski tops the TikTok chart

Feeling Fine with Faye Webster

Metro Boomin Wants Some More

In Defense of Crunk

The Art of Flow (with DJ Jazzy Jeff) ICYMI

Doja Cat’s Satanic Suite

Jimmy Buffett: Next Year in Margaritaville

While enjoying a leisurely afternoon run

Up to 60 minutes

Lady Gaga's Monster Return

Learning to love: Tate McRae

Does It Trance? The Weeknd & FKA Twigs

How Spotify hacked our ears (and our data)

25 Predictions for 2025: Grammys, J-pop, kazoos and more

Bad Bunny's love letter to Puerto Rico

Nicki Minaj's Roman Empire

Hear the Year: The music we loved in 2023

Why Country Music Dominated 2023's Charts

How the Talking Heads reinvented the concert film (with Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz)

How Talking Heads reinvented the concert film (with Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz)