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.
Recent Episodes
20 episodes80s Soundtrack Hall of Fame with Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan
Yasi is joined by Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey to discuss what music best represents the 1980s and build the Bandsplain ‘80s Movie Soundtrack Hall of Fame. They set the rules (sorry, no animated features or scores), decide what truly defines a great soundtrack, and, after some heated debate and meandering side quests, settle on the top 10 Hall of Fame-worthy soundtracks! Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Chris Ryan @chrisryan77 and Sean Fennessey @seanfennesseyProducer: Rob Sundermann Editor: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Get Up Kids with Arielle Gordon
Yasi is joined by music writer Arielle Gordon to tell the story of the Get Up Kids, the Kansas City emo band that transformed the genre. They get into the mix of punk energy and big feelings that made the band so influential, the sliding-door moments of what almost was, and the bands that emerged (and dominated) in the third wave of emo that the Get Up Kids helped create.Listen to the Get Up Kids playlist here.Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Arielle Gordon @reallygordonProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
MOVIE NIGHT: ‘The Decline of Western Civilization’ with Alex Ross Perry, Plus An Interview With Director Penelope Spheeris
Yasi and filmmaker Alex Ross Perry (Pavements, Videoheaven) revisit The Decline of Western Civilization films, Penelope Spheeris’s seminal trilogy that began in 1981 with the birth of Los Angeles punk. They discuss the DIY filmmaking that matched the scene it immortalized, the bands and personalities whose legacies were defined on the screen, and the visual language that would influence and shape so much of culture, most evidently in '90s MTV. Next, Yasi is joined by the legend herself, Penelope Spheeris, for a wide-ranging talk about her iconic career, from the Los Angeles punk scene that started it all to navigating the Hollywood studios with beloved comedies like Wayne’s World. CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests: Alex Ross Perry @alexrossperry, Penelope Spheeris 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
The Germs With Pleasant Gehman
Yasi is joined by artist, author, and musician Pleasant Gehman to discuss the Germs and the chaotic birth of the Los Angeles punk scene, which she witnessed firsthand. They discuss the myth vs. the reality of Darby Crash, the DIY community that formed around the enigmatic singer, and how the Germs became one of the era’s most influential bands despite their short reign. Episode PlaylistListen to the Germs playlist here. CreditsHost: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Pleasant Gehman @princessofhollywoodProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuests: Patrick Flynn @patrickflynnx and Chris Ryan @chrisryan77Producer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuests: Amanda Dobbins @akdobbins, Barry Johnson @joycemanorofficialProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 PlaylistListen to the American Football playlist here. CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Rob Mahoney @robmahoneyProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuest: Jerry Hsu @internetfamousProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuest: Rob Fitzpatrick @rob_fitzpatrickProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuests: Shaad D’Souza @shaad, Kevin Lee Kharas @real_lies_Producer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuests: Rob Mahoney @robmahoney and Amanda Dobbins @akdobbinsProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 PlaylistListen to the best albums of the year playlist here. Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Chris Ryan @chrisryan77Producer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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 @yasisalekGuest: Sean Fennessey @seanfennesseyProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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
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
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
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
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
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
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