Congratulations on reaching 500 episodes! How does it feel to hit this milestone?

Chris: It’s absolutely mental! When we started, we never thought we’d get to 50, let alone 500! We just loved chatting nonsense and making lists, and here we are, still going strong.

Stu: Yeah, it’s surreal. We started this as a bit of fun, but the support we’ve had from listeners has been incredible. We owe it all to the amazing community that’s grown around the show.

Hardcore Listing hosts Stu and Chris

For those who might not be familiar, tell us how Hardcore Listing came to be.

Stu: Chris and I always had these ridiculous, in-depth discussions about random topics, and we thought, why not make a show out of it? We love a good list, and before we knew it, Hardcore Listing was born.

Chris: The idea was simple: each episode, a guest brings a top five list on any subject they fancy, and we dive into it. It’s led to some of the funniest, weirdest, and most insightful chats we’ve ever had.

Speaking of guests, you’ve had some cracking ones. Any standout moments?

Chris: Too many to mention! We’ve had everyone from comedians to musicians, actors, and even our mates. The best part is, you never know where an episode will go. One minute you’re discussing top five crisps, the next it’s the most life-changing moments.

Stu: A definite highlight was Brett Goldstein talking about his top five weird moments doing stand-up – absolute gold! And then having the lads from Dirty Sanchez in our studio to chat about their top five hellraising moments… well, let’s just say that was absolute chaos in the best possible way!

The show is known for its mix of humour and genuine conversation. How do you strike that balance?

Chris: I think it’s just who we are. We love to take the piss, but we also love a deep chat. The guests set the tone – sometimes it’s pure comedy, sometimes it’s really personal. That’s what makes it work.

Stu: Yeah, we never force anything. We just let the conversations flow naturally. If it’s funny, great. If it’s heartfelt, that’s great too. The most important thing is that it’s real.

After 500 episodes, what keeps you motivated?

Stu: The listeners, 100%. The messages we get from people saying the show has helped them through tough times or just given them a laugh – that’s what keeps us going.

Chris: And the fact that we’re still having fun. If it ever stopped being fun, we’d call it a day. But right now, we’re still loving every minute.

What’s next for Hardcore Listing?

Stu: More of the same madness! We’ve got some brilliant guests lined up, more live shows, and we’re always thinking about new ways to shake things up.

Chris: And who knows? Maybe another 500 episodes! We’ll see how long our livers hold out.

Thanks for chatting with us! Here’s to the next 500!

Chris & Stu: Cheers! And massive thanks to everyone who’s supported us along the way. We couldn’t do it without you!

Listen to Hardcore Listing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast apps >>

The post Exclusive interview with Hardcore Listing hosts Chris & Stu appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Pop Off with Lewys Ball is back with all the pop culture news you could dream of! But this time he’s not alone. Joined by TikTokker and model, Isla Loba, they’ll be injecting extra flavour into the weekly rumours, trends and celebrity scandals. From DM slides to TikTok drama, nothing is off limits!

Lewys is a YouTuber, presenter and social media personality with over 700k in social followers, full of an infectious charisma loved by the GenZ generation. Previously, Lewys has tackled topics from Love Island reunions, to the end of the X-factor generation, all sprinkled with some very special guests. This season, Lewys & Isla have got even juicier content, for every pop culture moment. We put Lewys and Isla in the hot seat to tell us what they think will be poppin’ off in 2023…

HI GUYS! SO, WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT ON POP OFF THIS YEAR?

Lewys: Well well well! There is so much to get into. We’ve loved the red carpets of the year so far, the controversies and awkward encounters included.

Isla: As expected, there’s also been some juicy Kardashian’s antics this year so far and we’re looking forward to unexpected discussion points like Ice Spice popping up on North West’s TikTok out of nowhere.

WHAT ARE THE HOT POP CULTURE EVENTS YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO?

I: We’re covering everything you would talk about in your group chat.

L: Exactly, we’ll be covering The Met Gala, Love Island, all the juicy Netflix shows… Nothing is off limits for us.

WHAT ARE YOUR 2023 TREND PREDICTIONS? FASHION? SOCIAL MEDIA? TIKTOK?

I: I really hope people are going to start developing their own styles and not feed into microtrends as much. I also would love to see people being more sustainable.

L: I’d like to see people being themselves. TikTok has made it so easy for people to be carbon copies, so let’s bring back authenticity in 2023. And men in skirts.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THIS NEW ERA OF POP OFF?

I: Becoming obsessed with entertainment news that you didn’t know you cared about.

L: Lots of laughs and light relief. Escapism from the day to day, because it’s much more fun living the drama vicariously. It’s been amazing bringing Isla into the Pop Off universe.

AND FINALLY GIVE US YOUR FAVOURITE POP CULTURE MOMENT OF ALL TIME!

L: As a former Cheryl stan, anything she has done. Highlights include the Fight For This Love music video, ‘whenever you’re ready’ and when she went ghost hunting with the rest of Girls Aloud.

I: I’m a South London girl through and through so it has to be Charley Uchea on Big Brother. Every Thursday, Pop Off is going to be the hottest place to be for all your reality TV hot scoops and social media storms.

Subscribe and listen to Pop Off on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

The post Pop Off: Lewys Ball and Isla Loba appeared first on POD BIBLE.

During Pride Month, many interesting, emotional, and powerful queer stories are being told across podcasts everywhere. But this story about performer Stormé DeLarverie, born to a Black mother and white father in New Orleans 100 years ago this December snuck into my ears when I was not expecting it.

Before moving to Quibi earlier this year, The Nod had been using podcasts as their medium of choice since the summer of 2017 to tell stories of Black life in America. Each episode takes you somewhere new, winding through history and geography, covering facets of everyday life and the pop culture that influences it. In amongst their first twenty episodes is the story of a drag king from the deep south who moved north in the 1940’s and lived her young life as a straight man.

Stormé’s journey, including her time as the only woman in a traveling drag show called The Jewel Box Revue, is staggering. Anyone familiar with the history of the Stonewall Riots may know what she went on to become an integral part of New York City’s queer scene. But if you don’t know anything about Stormé, or about the intersection of queerness and race, you need to give this episode a listen.

The team behind The Nod, Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings, weave masterpieces of quality podcasting in every episode. In the case of “The Cowboy of the West Village”, Brittany guides us through the life of a mixed-race lesbian who was born into a deeply unaccepting time and found a way to fight not only for herself and her queer community, but to love unendingly. That is the takeaway, to keep fighting and to keep loving with your whole heart.

Episodes of The Nod can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. You can check out The Nod with Brittany and Eric now on Quibi.

The post REVIEW // The Nod’s “The Cowboy of the West Village” appeared first on POD BIBLE.