Bandsplain

The Ringer

Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.

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235 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes235

Newest first

February 19 · 1 hr 49 min
EMO DRAFT with Patrick Flynn and Chris Ryan
A Bandsplain Emo Draft recorded live at Something In The Way Festival with Patrick Flynn (Have Heart, Fiddlehead, How Much Art) and The Ringer’s Chris Ryan. In front of a Boston crowd, they draft their picks for emo bands across the decades (yes, the ’90s get two picks), reveal emo origin stories, and get into the eternal question: which bands are actually emo? CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Patrick Flynn @patrickflynnx and Chris Ryan @chrisryan77 Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 12 · 2 hr 38 min
Valentine’s Day Mailbag With Amanda Dobbins, Plus an Interview With Joyce Manor’s Barry Johnson
It’s a special Valentine’s Day mailbag, and The Big Picture’s Amanda Dobbins is here to help Yasi solve all your life problems. Should you avoid your ex at concerts? How do you get over a break up, even if they are a loser? Need mixtape help? Plus, vacuum cleaner advice! Next, Yasi is joined by Barry Johnson of Joyce Manor to discuss their new album ‘I Used to Go to This Bar’ (1:01:33). Get a quick tour of their beloved Torrance (they are a Torrance band, confirmed), learn a little Joyce Manor history, and find out which song was written on the Torrance 3 bus. CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Amanda Dobbins @akdobbins, Barry Johnson @joycemanorofficial Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
February 5 · 2 hr 17 min
American Football with Rob Mahoney
Yasi is joined by Ringer renaissance man Rob Mahoney to tell the unlikely story of American Football, whose widespread recognition grew in the decade following their debut (and immediate breakup). They talk through the band’s Midwestern roots, the alternate tunings and jazz-inspired drumming that influenced a generation, and how time and online canonization turned 'LP1' into a cultural touchstone and the American Football House into an Airbnb destination. Episode Playlist Listen to the American Football playlist here. CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Rob Mahoney @robmahoney Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 29 · 1 hr 38 min
The Music of Skateboard Videos with Jerry Hsu
Yasi is joined by skater, photographer, and Sci-Fi Fantasy proprietor Jerry Hsu to break down how music has shaped skate videos, from their DIY, skit-filled ’80s roots to today’s high-budget, cinematic productions. They dig into Jerry’s iconic part in Enjoi’s 'Bag of Suck' video, make the case for Dinosaur Jr. as a timeless skate soundtrack, and reflect on skate videos’ long-standing role in music discovery. Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Jerry Hsu @internetfamous Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 22 · 4 hr 23 min
Portishead with Rob Fitzpatrick
Yasi and writer Rob Fitzpatrick head back to Bristol to tell the story of Portishead. They discuss the band’s unique and highly detail-oriented approach to crafting music, the uneasy relationship with fame that followed their success, and how music can be both super popular and wholly misunderstood. Listen to the Portishead playlist here. Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Rob Fitzpatrick @rob_fitzpatrick Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
January 15 · 2 hr 18 min
Our Most Anticipated Albums of 2026 with Shaad D’Souza, Plus An Interview with Real Lies’ Kevin Lee Kharas
Yasi kicks off 2026 with music and culture critic Shaad D’Souza to talk through their most anticipated albums of the year. Find out what’s coming, what they’re trying to wish into existence, and just how many truly great albums Madonna might have left. Next, Yasi is joined by Kevin Lee Kharas of Real Lies for a wide-ranging interview about his career, the music he’s listening to (or not listening to) and the impetus and inspirations behind Real Lies’ latest album (and Yasi’s no. 1 album of 2025), We Will Annihilate Our Enemies. CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Shaad D’Souza @shaad, Kevin Lee Kharas @real_lies_ Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 18, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
HOLIDAY SONG DRAFT with Amanda Dobbins and Rob Mahoney
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Bandsplain has a very special gift for you. Rob Mahoney and Amanda Dobbins join Yasi to draft the dream holiday playlist: Justin Bieber featuring Busta Rhymes? Of course. Lots of Irish stuff? For sure. My Chem? Why not! Yasi finding a place for Counting Crows? You know it! And because those sleigh bells kept ringing, there’s a lightning-round second draft for even more holiday cheer. Bonus gift: You get to explain to your family and friends why Wham!’s "Last Christmas" is your favorite CVS-core holiday song (and what CVS-core is)! Episode Playlist Listen to Bandsplain’s Holiday Playlist here. Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Rob Mahoney @robmahoney and Amanda Dobbins @akdobbins Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
Best Albums of the Year With Chris Ryan
That’s (almost) a wrap on 2025, so you know what time it is. Yasi catches up with Chris Ryan to talk about the albums that defined their 2025. No rankings, no drafts, no winners or losers, just two people talking about the records they loved most this year. Come for the predictable Geese love, stay for the Shallowater you didn’t know you needed. Episode Playlist Listen to the best albums of the year playlist here. Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Chris Ryan @chrisryan77 Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 4, 2025 · 3 hr 58 min
Jeff Buckley With Sean Fennessey
Yasi is joined by The Big Picture’s Sean Fennessey to dive into the brief, brilliant career of Jeff Buckley. They cover his rise on New York’s café stages and the making of his only studio album, 'Grace,' and they discuss how his singular voice, his wildly varied influences, and his tragic and untimely death helped to shape one of the most enduring myths in modern music. Episode Playlist Listen to the Jeff Buckley playlist HERE CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Sean Fennessey @seanfennessey Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
MOVIE NIGHT: 'Dig!' with Joe Coscarelli
This week on Bandsplain, Yasi and New York Times culture reporter Joe Coscarelli revisit Dig!, Ondi Timoner’s influential 2004 cult documentary that immortalized The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. They discuss the band’s intertwined legacies, the broken friendships and broken sitars, why Dig! is the platonic ideal of the music documentary, plus last year’s extended cut release, Dig! XX. Be sure to check out Joe’s book Rap Capital: An Atlanta Story CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Joe Coscarelli @joecoscarelli Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 13, 2025 · 3 hr 4 min
Massive Attack with Bre Morell
On this week’s episode of Bandsplain, Bre Morell of Crushed joins Yasi to talk about reluctant genre inventing geniuses Massive Attack. We talk through the rich music history of Bristol, their sound system DJ origins, the visual signatures, all the musical influences that fed into their sound, and the many artists that sprung up or morphed their sound in their wake. Episode Playlist Listen to the Massive Attack playlist here CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Bre Morell @bremorell Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nov 6, 2025 · 2 hr 7 min
Mailbag with Rob Harvilla, Plus An Interview with Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton
It’s mailbag time, and once again Rob Harvilla is here to help Yasi answer your most pressing questions. Is 31 too old to go to shows? What would you recommend to impress a hardcore Swedish punk gamer? Why do all the kids these days look like Geese (the band)? And who was stage diving at a Riff Raff show?! Next, Yasi is joined by Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton to discuss their new album God Save The Gun. And along the way they talk getting over your embarrassment, therapy through songwriting, and some less controversial topics (like God). CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek ⁠@yasisalek⁠ Guests: Rob Harvilla ⁠@harvilla⁠, Ian Shelton ⁠@militariegun⁠ Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 30, 2025 · 2 hr 40 min
Jimmy Eat World with Chris Ryan
Chris Ryan is back to help tell the Jimmy Eat World story. CR and Yasi talk about the power of the split seven inch, Clarity vs Bleed American, and the magically accidental path from playing pop punk in used clothing stores in Mesa, AZ to their (don’t call it) emo explosion into mainstream success. EPISODE PLAYLIST: Listen to the best of Jimmy Eat World HERE CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Chris Ryan @ChrisRyan77 Producer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 23, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
BOOK CLUB: Evan Dando’s Memoir plus the new Lemonheads album with Producer Dylan
Evan Dando is back with a long-awaited memoir and a brand-new Lemonheads album, and there’s only one guest who could do them both justice: the artist formerly known as Producer Dylan, aka Dylan Tupper Rupert. In this episode, Yasi and Dylan dive into their takeaways, learnings, and surprises from the book, Rumors of My Demise and also discuss the first original Lemonheads album in 19 years, Love Chant (it’s good!). CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Dylan Rupert Producer: Rob Sundermann Video Editor: Kevin Pooler Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 16, 2025 · 2 hr 27 min
Alanis Morissette with Alicia Bognanno
With her 1996 best-selling album Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette bet on herself, turned pain into pop poetry, and gave an entire generation a new emotional vocabulary. She also broke records and made space for an entire wave of worthy female musicians to be heard in her wake. And since then she’s continued to do what she does best - turn her experiences into gorgeous musical reflections on the psyche and the self. This week on Bandsplain, Alicia Bognanno of Bully joins Yasi to talk about the honesty, vulnerability and power behind one of the most defining voices of the ’90s. Episode Playlist Listen to the best of Alanis here CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Alicia Bognanno @bullythemusic Producer: Rob Sundermann Video Editor: Ashleigh Smith Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 9, 2025 · 2 hr 2 min
Hair Metal Hall of Fame with Molly Lambert
In today’s episode we’re heading back to the Sunset Strip — a leather clad world of teased hair, tight pants, and pure chaos. Guest Molly Lambert helps us remember the golden era of hair metal, when bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Ratt made the Sunset Strip their glitter covered playground. Turn it up, spray it higher and relive the excess and freedom of the 80s with us. Episode Playlist: Listen to Hair Metal Fall of Fame ⁠Here⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Molly Lambert Producer: Rob Sundermann Video Editor: Ashleigh Smith Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles, Juliana Ress Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 2, 2025 · 3 hr 49 min
Mötley Crüe with Mel Ottenberg
We love Mötley Crüe. Mötley Crüe loves partying (so so much). In this episode you’ll hear how Nikki, Tommy, Vince, and Mick put on their make-up and pioneered a genre, how they turned their pain, trauma, talent, and ambition into an unstoppable chart-topping force, leaving a trail of sleaze and destruction in their wake. Cruise down the Sunset Strip with Yasi and her iconic guest Mel Ottenberg, next stop the Cathouse (followed by rehab)! Episode Playlist: Listen to the best of the Crüe ⁠here⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Mel Ottenberg Producer: Rob Sundermann Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 25, 2025 · 53 min
Remembering Ozzy Osbourne, with Kory Grow and Rob Harvilla
Rob Harvilla and Rolling Stone senior writer Kory Grow join Yasi to discuss Ozzy Osbourne’s bodies of work with Black Sabbath as well as solo, his incredible impact on not just music but pop culture at large, and his enduring legacy. Read Kory’s piece ‘Ozzy and Me: How I Got to Know the Real Ozzy Osbourne’, ⁠HERE⁠ CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Kory Grow, Rob Harvilla Producer: Rob Sundermann Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 17, 2025 · 2 hr 8 min
MOVIE NIGHT: ‘Pavements’ With Hua Hsu, Plus an Interview With Director Alex Ross Perry
Yasi chats with New Yorker staff writer, Pulitzer prize–winning author, and known Pavement aficionado Hua Hsu about the 2025 film 'Pavements.' Is it a documentary? Is it a biopic? Is it a secret third thing? Did we like it? All these questions and more are answered. Plus, Yasi has a nice long chat with director Alex Ross Perry about the film and several other things, including but not limited to his take on vocal fry, 'Some Kind Of Monster,' and different approaches to mythmaking. Host: Yasi Salek Guest: Hua Hsu and Alex Ross Perry Audio Editor: Kevin Pooler Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 19, 2025 · 2 hr 43 min
Elastica with Miranda Sawyer
Boots on the ground from Notting Hill, Yasi unpacks the inimitable Elastica with music journalist Miranda Sawyer. Thanks to their angular, concise music, incredible style, and unapologetic live chops, they seized charts and stages on both sides of the Atlantic in their short but mighty tenure as a band. Miranda puts it best: “Elastica were everyone’s favorite.” CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guest: Miranda Sawyer @msmirandasawyer Producer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Additional Production Supervision: Justin Sayles Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bandsplain

EMO DRAFT with Patrick Flynn and Chris Ryan

Valentine’s Day Mailbag With Amanda Dobbins, Plus an Interview With Joyce Manor’s Barry Johnson

American Football with Rob Mahoney

The Music of Skateboard Videos with Jerry Hsu

Portishead with Rob Fitzpatrick

Our Most Anticipated Albums of 2026 with Shaad D’Souza, Plus An Interview with Real Lies’ Kevin Lee Kharas

HOLIDAY SONG DRAFT with Amanda Dobbins and Rob Mahoney

Best Albums of the Year With Chris Ryan

Jeff Buckley With Sean Fennessey

MOVIE NIGHT: 'Dig!' with Joe Coscarelli

Massive Attack with Bre Morell

Mailbag with Rob Harvilla, Plus An Interview with Militarie Gun’s Ian Shelton

Jimmy Eat World with Chris Ryan

BOOK CLUB: Evan Dando’s Memoir plus the new Lemonheads album with Producer Dylan

Alanis Morissette with Alicia Bognanno

Hair Metal Hall of Fame with Molly Lambert

Mötley Crüe with Mel Ottenberg

Remembering Ozzy Osbourne, with Kory Grow and Rob Harvilla

MOVIE NIGHT: ‘Pavements’ With Hua Hsu, Plus an Interview With Director Alex Ross Perry

Elastica with Miranda Sawyer