Mark and Kenny fly off the rails discussing the hard-charging (and second single) track from HARD CANDY. Cow bells, mantras, vacuum cleaners, photo shoots as videos, organized jewelry, the gloves, armless Madonna, Infinity, early mash-ups, and overcoming queer body-shame.  Plus, a friend is phoned - Special Guest Marquitos from the Marquitos Podcast joins the conversation to take a breath and access HARD CANDY’s larger legacy.  Get Stupid!

Kenny and Mark break down the troublesome first single from HARD CANDY and the larger campaign to launch the album into the world.  Topics include Timbaland & Timberlake, lyrical translations and burdening horns, an empty home office, teenagers making out in videos, Reese Witherspoon, picking up “stroll”, and why the kids still never forgot it.  Plus Peter Rauhofer takes us around the world and Madonna is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!

Mark and Kenny unwrap a new album, a new song, and new collaborators as Madonna swerves again.  Topics include Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, packed interview days, H&M campaigns, mid tempo grooves, promo tours, boxing gloves, a strange cape cushion, and favorite candies sticky, crunchy and sweet.  It’s your one-stop Madonna shoppe.  Lick away, baby!

Hard Candy Promo Tour - Live on the BBC (May 2008)

Kenny and Mark celebrate the first solo-penned song by Madonna since 1985 as well as one of THE masterful live performances of her career - Live Earth 2007!  Topics include the beauty and the challenge of a charity single, the arrival of Pharrell Williams, the return of Mirwais, children’s choirs, jealous aunts, Gogol Bordello, Filth & Wisdom, David Banda, the vibe of a Madonna “hat”, being part of a band, and the pleasures of a full company bow (we’ll miss you most of all, Donna).  Over to YOU, New York!

Madonna - Live Earth Performance at Wembley Stadium (2007)

OMG - and in the video, the commentators call Madonna the original MILF :)

Mark and Kenny embark on the cool and calm conversation about Madonna’s (lucky) seventh concert tour on this Uber-long episode.  Topics include the end of nostalgia, Kenny’s continuing aversion to the musical interludes, the return of transformed classics, Mark’s imagined wedding, a new Nikki (with two k’s), Monte’s commuting schedule, Madonna’s true arrival as a punk rocker, Isaac’s vocal prowess, upstaging Donna DeLory, a polarizing jacket collar, Mark’s distain for hotel buffets, and what might be the ultimate live Madonna song.  It’s all here and more - are you ready to ride with me?

Kenny and Mark celebrate the final song from Confessions on a Dance Floor with Special Guest - the writer/director/editor and STAR of the film Chrissy Judy - Todd Flaherty.  Topics include the return of the guitar, Bloodshy & Avant, personal credos, and how self-acceptance and empowerment might just be the greatest aphrodisiac.  Then, Mark and Kenny geek out over Todd’s amazing film, discussing the origins, the impact and discovery of drag, the importance of non-romantic queer friendships, and the healing powers of Provincetown.  Plus, Todd joins Kenny and Mark in some ultimate confessions - and a bonus track discussion of the lost B-Side “Super Pop”!  Are you in our gang?

Chrissy Judy Trailer directed by Todd Flaherty (2022)

Chrissy Judy Streaming Options

Mark and Kenny welcome Special Guest (and long time listener!) Gia Zampella for a frank and candid discussion about influence, restless songwriting, grappling with ambition and perfectionism, Madonna action figures, secret tattoos, and the many ways that the trusted ones push us into better versions of ourselves.  It was a total treat to have Gia join this conversation   Gia Zampella is a lifelong resident of Jersey City, NJ and beauty product developer by trade. She’s also a life long pop culture evangelist who particularly loves female pop and rock stars, most of all Madonna. 

Kenny and Mark wrestle with the cluttered emotional climax of Confessions on a Dance Floor.  Plus, Madonna schools Stuart and side-steps controversy, Kenny leads a celebration of the “Madonna of the East”, and Mark stalks locked churches.  The wordless Madonna chants are back and nobody could be happier - will it ever be the same?

Mark and Kenny get deeply philosophical about the road to fame and which mountain you choose when you’ve climbed to the top of one.  Plus, a discussion of the Swedes, Britany Spears’ classic song “Toxic”, and count how many times Mark says “saloon.”  Does this get ANY better, folks?

Mark and Kenny celebrate the publication of Madonna: A Rebel Life, a major new 800+ biography (in bookstores today!) with a frisky and fascinating conversation with its masterful author Mary Gabriel.  Topics include justice for Miami, Bedtime Stories, and the University of Michigan, a sneak peek into the Hard Candy era and the Guy Ritchie of it all, an intriguing new theory about the song “I Love New York”, the evils of Live Nation, Madonna’s ultimate greatest collaborator, Mary’s personal favorite Madonna song, and why the culture is so resistant to a woman artist telling her own story.  Get out your favorite bookmark and dive into this essential new book and order the book here or at any of your favorite independent bookstores.  THANK YOU to the team at Little, Brown and Mr. Justin Ravitz for their assistance with this conversation.