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PODCAST

The What Podcast

Barry Courter and Bryan Stone

Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make

music music commentary

All Episodes

44:43

We Got Evacuated at Shaky Knees 2026

The What Podcast ·

2026/09/23

The rain and heat at Shaky Knees 2026 did not stop Russ from having a good time in Atlanta! We catch up live from the hotel on Saturday morning and then the full recap in this episode: the heat, the lineup, and the Saturday storm and evacuation.Hear about notable performances from Turnstile, Fontaines D.C., Geese, LCD Soundsystem, and Gorillaz who closed the fest out Sunday night, plus what it was like riding out the evacuation in downtown Atlanta.Then we're joined by Scott Miller, one of the

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47:28

After Bonnaroo: How to Choose Your Next Festival

The What Podcast ·

2026/09/02

No Bonnaroo in 2027? Here's how to figure out where to go instead. With Bonnaroo taking a fallow year, a lot of us are asking the same question: what festival do we go to now? So we brought in long-time friend of the show Liesl (@rockstarsweat), a festival superfan who's been to Bonnaroo, Pickathon, Glastonbury, Solid Sound and just about everywhere in between, to talk through how she actually chooses which festivals to attend.Barry, Russ, and Liesl get into the real decision-making: lineup

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75:11

Bonnaroo's Cancellation: A City Official on the...

The What Podcast ·

2026/08/26

Bonnaroo is taking 2027 off, and we wanted to dig into what's next. This week we're joined by David Bruce (I Am Bonnaroo) and Ryan French, a Manchester city councilman and tourism official with a front-row seat to what a fallow year actually means for the town Bonnaroo calls home. We get into the economic ripple through Manchester, why Bonnaroo is the "bell cow" for festivals far beyond itself, what a year off does to the local businesses and community that depend on it, and why our

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69:55

How Has Bonnaroo Changed? A Festival Photographer's View

The What Podcast ·

2026/08/12

How has Bonnaroo changed over the years? We asked someone with a rare vantage point — Elizabeth Thorpe, festival photographer and our West Coast correspondent, who's been going to Bonnaroo since 2004 and now shoots it from inside the photo pit.Beth walks us through what the festival experience is really like from behind the lens: the "first three songs only" rule, why the pit is her happy place, and how Bonnaroo has evolved from a freewheeling field party into something bigger, busier,

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56:19

What Bonnaroo Fans Actually Want From a Podcast

The What Podcast ·

2026/08/05

What do Bonnaroo fans actually want from a podcast? We surveyed our listeners — and 89% agreed on the answer. In this episode of The What Podcast, Barry, Bryan, and Russ break down the results of our listener survey: where you're really listening (YouTube is running away with it), how you found the show, and what content you want more of.We also catch up on a busy stretch of festival season: the rain that hammered Lollapalooza and Hinterland, the pull of Pickathon out in Oregon, and a

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120:00

Bonnaroo Radio Takeover ft. Noah Kahan, String Cheese...

The What Podcast ·

2026/07/29

The What Podcast took over Bonnaroo Radio in 2026! We present a two-hour special that aired during the festival, bringing together Noah Kahan, RÜFÜS DU SOL, String Cheese Incident's Kyle Hollingsworth, and the people who built and shaped Bonnaroo. Produced and packaged by Bryan Stone, and now collected here in full.Spanning six years of interviews from 2019 through 2025, it's a cross-section of the show's history and how it's evolved — from Noah Kahan on songwriting to the origin

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47:10

What Everyone Forgets to Pack at Bonnaroo — and Where...

The What Podcast ·

2026/06/03

You packed for weeks. You made a list. And you're still going to forget something — everyone does. This week we sat down with Brendan from Mr. B's Festival Needs General Store, who's spent nearly 20 years watching festival-goers realize they left the most important thing at home. Toothbrush, pillow, tent poles, stakes, a power bank — Brendan's seen it all, and he tells us what people forget the most and how to make sure a missing item doesn't wreck your weekend.Mr. B's has

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51:53

Why Bourbon & Beyond Might Have the Best Lineup of 2026

The What Podcast ·

2026/02/25

Bourbon & Beyond does it again, dropping a stacked lineup that makes us ask the question, "is this real"? With headliners like Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Mumford, and Dave Matthews, we start wondering if it's time we finally made the trip to Louisville and the lineup keeps getting better the further down you read!Elsewhere in the episode, we catch up with Bryan after his trip to Las Vegas, review the Summerfest lineup that also came out this week, and briefly discuss Bonnaroo

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42:32

Bonnaroo 2026: Why the EDM Lineup Feels Different...

The What Podcast ·

2026/02/18

Bonnaroo 2026's EDM lineup feels different, and the move to the new Where Stage is at the center of it. In this episode, Russ, Barry, and guest John break down why this year's late‑night energy has shifted, what the community is reacting to, and how the new location changes the vibe of sunrise sets, crowd flow, and the festival’s overall identity. From longtime Roo veterans feeling uncertain to the Saturday lineup pulling people "right back in," we dig into the reasons this year

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37:35

Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

The What Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Geese’s performance on SNL last week sparked such a huge debate that we decided to walk it back and revisit the whole thing. Find out how we feel now about the band, what changed after a deeper listen, and whether they've made our list of must‑see sets for Bonnaroo 2026. We also dig into the latest Bonnaroo news, including a tragic update on Lil Jon's missing son and a look at how many Bonnaroo artists showed up at this year's Grammy Awards.We also get into CaveFest now that the 2026

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67:54

Most People Aren't Physically Ready for Bonnaroo… Are...

The What Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Most people think they're physically ready for Bonnaroo…until they hit the farm and realize just how intense four days of heat, walking, dancing, and nonstop movement really are. That's why we're talking to Christin Craig of the Roo Fitness Challenge: a simple, realistic, community‑driven plan to help you show up stronger, safer, and more prepared than ever.In this episode, certified personal trainer Christin breaks down exactly what it takes to get Roo‑ready, why even small changes now

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60:19

From Bonnaroo to Seattle: A 90s Grunge Pilgrimage

The What Podcast ·

2025/09/10

A Bonnaroo love story, fresh Farm updates from Manchester, and a Seattle grunge pilgrimage: all this week in The What Podcast! We preview Shaky Knees Festival 2025 in Atlanta and IBMA bluegrass events in Chattanooga, then detour into PBR beer-cheese soup before diving into the 90s revival with Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and Oasis all doing big tours. Not to leave out The Farm though, it looks like new earth‑moving and drainage work could mean less flooding Bonnaroo campers next season.Finally, we

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67:23

Red Rocks, My Morning Jacket, and Bonnaroo Stories:...

The What Podcast ·

2025/09/03

Parker Reed from the RooHamm Podcast joins us to catch up and explain why there's been a lull since Bonnaroo, and how their group handled the festival's rainout before becoming optimistic about 2026. We also dive into My Morning Jacket's Red Rocks set and what makes the venue so magical, making it a bucket list stop for MMJ and Bonnaroo fans alike.After the main chat, stick around for a bonus segment as Russ reports from The Other Farm over the holiday weekend before hopping in the creek

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78:21

Bonnaroo Shake-Up: Brad Parker Departs, & Kyle...

The What Podcast ·

2025/08/16

Bonnaroo is facing a big change: Festival Director Brad Parker is leaving C3 Presents and saying goodbye to the Bonnaroo family. In this episode, we talk about what Brad's departure could mean for the future of The Farm, and look ahead to what’s next for Bonnaroo. It's a special "breaking news" edition of The What Podcast.Next, we sit down with Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident for an in-depth conversation about his brand-new solo album All We Are, the evolution of

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76:17

Why Bonnaroo Feels Like Home: Fans Share Their...

The What Podcast ·

2025/08/13

Despite Bonnaroo's cancellation this year, fans persevere and call in to share what makes the festival so special: freedom, life-changing connections, and more. But first, The What Podcast crew celebrates a big milestone. Thank you for 2,000 YouTube subscribers! Fresh off last week's in-depth interview with Brad Parker and Cory Smith about Bonnaroo 2026 plans, we dive into the heartfelt listener voicemails, reflect on the 2025 shutdown aftermath, talk transparency, programming changes, and

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64:06

Bonnaroo 2026: Brad & Cory from C3 Answer Your Questions

The What Podcast ·

2025/08/06

After the unprecedented cancellation of Bonnaroo 2025, fans have had big questions about the future of the festival and in this episode, we get real answers straight from C3 Presents, the team that puts on the festival. Brad Parker, Festival Director and Cory Smith, Marketing Manager join us today for an in-depth look at the changes to Thursday programming, the removal of Tuesday entry, campground changes, stage updates, and more.Many thanks to our Discord members for submitting questions for Brad

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66:07

Is Rock Dead? The Bonnaroo Music Census and...

The What Podcast ·

2025/07/30

Bonnaroo released their annual Music Census last week, and Barry and Bryan dive into it and what it means for the changing festival landscape. Is rock music being pushed to the sidelines, or is it adapting with the times? We look at how fan preferences have changed and continue to shape what Bonnaroo looks and sounds like.We also take time to remember the legendary Ozzy Osbourne, whose influence on rock and metal continues to be felt. With rock's presence fading from the festival landscape,

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50:54

Bonnaroo's Survey Questions and hey, nothing's Big...

The What Podcast ·

2025/07/02

How are we all feeling, 3 weeks removed from Bonnaroo's 2025 cancellation? This episode might just improve your mood a little. With the new survey out, it offers a rare insight into the festival organizers' thoughts about the future of Bonnaroo. We all feel pretty sure it should stay in June on The Farm, however.We also introduce you to one of our favorite new discoveries from the festival: emo/folk duo hey, nothing. Bryan and Barry sit down with Tyler and Harlow for a conversation about

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35:44

What's next for Bonnaroo?

The What Podcast ·

2025/06/25

Today on The What Podcast, Barry and Bryan dive into the aftermath of the unprecedented Bonnaroo 2025 cancellation, reflecting on the emotional rollercoaster experienced by fans, organizers, and the broader festival community. They discuss the announcement of 100% ticket refunds, the challenges of upgrading infrastructure on the farm, and the intense scrutiny faced by organizers like Live Nation and C3. The hosts also explore how online commentary can distort the real picture, emphasizing that while

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61:15

Bonnaroo Week Begins: Packing, Travel, Weather Prep &...

The What Podcast ·

2025/06/09

As Bonnaroo week kicks off, the crew records a special on-location episode at Lo Main in Chattanooga, diving into last-minute festival prep, weather worries, and the unique culture that makes Bonnaroo a can't-miss event. The hosts and guests, including long-time campmate Tara Viland (now in charge of events and programming at the Chattanooga Choo Choo) and Cassie Wanamaker (celebrating her 10th "Bonnaversary" and fourth year attending sober), share packing tips, weather-proofing

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59 results

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The What Podcast

Barry Courter and Bryan Stone