It's a K-pop Thing

By Alkemie Sound Lab

A podcast by two journalists and K-pop fans who love to bring a little nuance to the fan experience. Hosted by Theresa Avila and Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum, two journalists, friends, and fellow K-pop

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FAQs about It's a K-pop Thing:

How many episodes does It's a K-pop Thing have?

The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.

It's a K-pop Thing episodes:

April 30, 2026Is Coachella the Right Platform for K-pop?
This was a big year for fans of K-pop at Coachella, especially because we had a younger group and two Second-Gen icons perform at the festival. First up we had KATSEYE, who made headlines following the will-she-or-won't-she-appear speculation regarding Manon. Then we had TAEMIN, who made headlines as the first K-pop soloist to play at the festival. Following that, we had the one and only BIGBANG, who finally got their time to shine in the desert after their previous performance was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
As Coachella has grown, so, too, has K-pop. And, in a world where concerts are getting more expensive and other music festivals like Lollapalooza are gaining ground ... where does K-pop fit in?
Is landing a spot at the biggest music festival a smart brand investment or is it merely a vanity performance? Let's discuss.
IN THIS EPISODE:
A brief overview of the history of K-pop at Coachella
The K-pop "multiverse" at the festival (according to us)
The presence (erm, lack of?) Manon at the festival
Our takeaways from the key K-pop performances at Week 1 & 2
KATSEYE: Pinky Up — Is this the group's signature sound now?
TAEMIN: The MJ references and his perfectionism on full display
BIGBANG: Why the second weekend was the better show for older fans
Our Big Q: What is K-pop's place at Coachella and is it worth it for artists?
The reality of how industry connections determine the artist lineup
The K-pop groups we think will debut at Coachella next year
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
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1h 25min
April 15, 2026Watching BTS Up Close at Their Comeback Concert in Seoul
*This is Part 1 of a mini-series on the Return of BTS*
We're trying something new on the pod ... a mini-series! It's been nearly 4 years since the 7 members of BTS released new music as a group and there's plenty to talk about. To mark the occasion we're taking a close look at what this moment means for BTS and for the industry as a whole.
To kick off this mini-series, we're rewinding a few weeks to the group's first performance in Seoul in front of Gwanghwamun in Seoul, South Korea. We chat with a journalist and fan who saw the comeback concert in person and was lucky enough to be up close to center stage. We also discuss the album's rise to the top of the charts and whether or not the Netflix livestream lived up to fans' expectations.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Setting the Stage
ARIRANG's dominance on the Billboard charts
The album in numbers: the sales, streams and milestones
Crowd attendance: How many people actually showed up for the comeback?
About the director of the Netflix Livestream: Hamish Hamilton
Why the Netflix livestream maybe missed the mark
What K-pop fans really want to see during a performance
Interview with Philiana Ng
Winning a raffle prize on WeVerse - what are the odds?
What the concert was really like for fans in the audience
What the cameras didn't capture about the members on stage
Does the new album represent BTS 2.0?
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Philiana Ng is an entertainment journalist who regularly covers television. You can find her work on publications like Yahoo! MSN, the Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Tonight, among others.
Instagram: @philiana1
X: @insidethetube
SHOW LINKS & ARTICLES:
BTS the Comeback Live: Arirang’: 10 things you didn’t see on TV during the Netflix special (Gold Derby)
BTS rampages back to the top of the charts (NPR)
BTS stays at No. 1 on the charts — and thwarts Ye in the process (NPR)
CREDITS:
This episode was produced, recorded and edited by Theresa Avila. Our theme music is by Edna Lugo. Our cover art design is by Alejandro Abarca.
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
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1h 22min
April 08, 2026NCT Without Mark? What Happens When a Group Loses Its Ace
"NCity is on fire."
That's what it seems like for NCTzens everywhere who, in the last few days have faced the unexpected bombshell news of Mark Lee saying goodbye to NCT and SM Entertainment. As if that wasn't bad enough news, days later, TEN also announced that he was leaving the company. But, crucially, TEN clarified that he would remain a part of NCT and WayV.
Still, it's little salve for fans of the group (us included!) who have to now reckon with an uncertain future as key members of NCT have officially departed the group.
It's also hard NOT to think about other recent K-pop departures. So if you're in your feels about this era of NCT coming to a close, tune in and process thing with us.
Tune in to hear:
What made Mark Lee's departure all the more shocking
What impact each NCT member had in the group
Mark's history at SM Entertainment — we saw him grow up!
How Mark's Christian faith influenced his music
How we define an "Ace" member in K-pop
What Danielle, Heeseung, Manon and Mark have in common
How 2nd and 3rd Gen K-pop groups dealt with missing members
Our theories on why Mark left the group
What might be next for Mark next
Our hopes for NCT moving forward
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
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1h 18min
March 18, 2026Does BLACKPINK Still Need ... BLACKPINK?
We finally have BLACKPINK's first EP since 2022, the highly-anticipated Deadline, a five-track release that includes "JUMP" and "GO." But does the EP live up to the hype? In the weeks since its release, the reaction from critics and fans alike has been mixed. That tepid response contrasts to the praise for the member's recent solo music — which includes a Grammy nomination. All of this got us wondering about what's next for the group.
And, importantly, do the member's current solo careers outshine their latest release as a group?
To help us analyze the latest from BLACKPINK, we invited Jeff Benjamin, music journalist and writer of The Crossover Newsletter. Over the years, Jeff has interviewed pretty much every K-pop idol you can think of, including Blackpink.
Tune in to hear us discuss:
BLACKPINK's album sales
Our first impressions on the EP
Hits and misses from Deadline
The response from critics and fans
Hearts2Hearts' win over BLACKPINK on the music shows
Our thoughts on the member's solo music
Plus, highlights from their solo careers, including:
Rosé's songwriting and Grammy nomination
JENNI's cohesive album and presence at festivals
Jisoo's acting career and new drama
LISA's entrepreneurial side quests
Lastly, we discuss what we hope to see in the group's next chapter.
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
1h 16min
March 13, 2026Closing A Chapter With ZEROBASEONE
ZEROBASEONE's time as a 9-member group has come to a close after more than two and half years. What started as a temporary, project group from the survival show BOYS PLANET (Season 1) will now continue as a 5-member boy group managed under WAKEONE Entertainment, a subsidiary of CJ ENM.
The group will continue as a quintent consisting of Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, and Park Gun-wook. The remaining four members, Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, and Han Yu-jin will return to their original agency Yuehua Entertainment (now rebranded as YH Entertainment). What happens next in their careers remains unclear but ZEROSE have plenty of theories.
In this episode, we hear from fans of ZB1 about how they're processing the inevitable closing of one chapter with a group that won over millions of fans and broke record after record.
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Philiana Ng is a journalist covering entertainment and TV with bylines at The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, TV Guide, Yahoo Entertainment, Netflix, The Daily Beast, The Wrap, Primetimer, Backstage, and more. After first interviewing ZEROBASEONE at KCON LA she became an avid fan of the group. Last year she traveled to see ZB1 in Seoul and Tokyo for the start of their most recent tour and she recently flew back for the final encore shows in Seoul.
Read Philiana Ng's interview with ZB1: https://joysauce.com/zerobaseone-is-ready-to-take-on-the-world/
IN THIS EPISODE:
How ZEROBASEONE came to be on Boys Planet
The 411 on the members' personalities
The timeline for contract negotiations
Project groups and how companies split trainees
Concert experience in Seoul and Tokyo
Tips for buying K-pop tickets abroad
What might be next for the 4 members in Yuehua Entertainment
Will the fandom splinter off?
Fan submissions on how they're processing this moment
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
1h 14min
March 02, 2026KATSEYE and Manon's Hiatus Dilemma
What started as perhaps a run-of-the-mill corporate statement about KATSEYE's Manon taking a hiatus from group activities has turned into a PR disaster for HYBE x Geffen. In the days following the announcement, there's been a flurry of "read between the lines" speculation that's flooded the internet as fans try to make sense of what might be going on behind the scenes. Adding fuel to the fire, gossip accounts have resurfaced old claims of potential mistreatment and racism against Manon.
There’s no way we couldn’t talk about this.
To help us break it down for you, we invited Natasha Mulenga, an entertainment journalist who has covered K-pop extensively. She's also the author of the book “More Idols of K-pop: The definitive guide to the hottest bands,” and host of the podcast, A Soulful Storm.
Tune in to hear:
What a "hiatus" usually means in K-pop
The disconnect in official statements
Our thoughts on Daniela's dad chiming in
Manon alluding to mistreatment by liking a video
The Cut cover story on KATSEYE
The painful history of the racist "lazy" trope for Black people
Fans' toxic behavior regarding race and Manon
Cultural differences toward work in Europe, America and South Korea
The immense pressure of K-pop idols' schedules
Speculation and fan theories that have caught our attention
How we think KATSEYE can move forward
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
1h 29min
February 18, 2026ATEEZ Has Our Adrenaline Pumping
ATEEZ's latest comeback has proven to be their most successful to date so far and that's thanks in large part to high album sales and streaming that led to a Triple Crown victory on the music shows in Korea and a #3 debut on the Billboard TOP 200.
Their MV for "Adrenaline," the title track off of their 13th mini album, "Golden Hour: Part 4" achieved 10 million views within 24 hours and has since surpassed 38 million views on YouTube (as of our recording). That puts the MV for "Adrenaline," on par with the total MV views for each their previous two comebacks from last summer, "Lemon Drop" and "In Your Fantasy."
Altogether, these achievements indicate ATEEZ is one of the leaders of the current scene for K-pop and especially for 4th Gen K-pop groups.
Tune in as Theresa chats with a fellow ATINY and podcaster, Mina, the host of K-pop Bookshlef about ATEEZ's latest achievements and their why this comeback has them excited.
IN THIS EPISODE:
ATEEZ's achievements with GOLDEN HOUR PT. 4
All about "Adrenaline"
The B-sides we're enjoying
San's silly sweatstain "controversy"
The "Idol" image and expectations around perfection
The underdog story of KQ Fellas
What it was like to see ATEEZ at Coachella
The reality of fan signs and fan calls in K-pop
ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Joining us today is Mina, the host of the podcast K-pop Bookshelf, which, as the title suggests, features discussions on books set in Korea or about Korean society. If you want to better understand the culture behind K-pop and K-dramas, you listen to the archival episodes of K-pop Bookshelf wherever you get your podcasts.
LINKS:
DesTINY in the Desert - Our Trip to CHELLATEEZ
True Life: I Won a Fansign
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
1h 3min
February 10, 20262010's K-pop: The Nostalgia We Can't Let Go Of ...
The start of 2026 had seemingly everyone online reminiscing about what life was life back in 2016. Back when times were simpler, more fun and, dare we say, when K-pop music was ... better? Before you come for our necks, let us take a trip down memory lane as we reminisce about how great K-pop was in the 2010s.
In this episode, Alexis and Theresa ask themselves: Did K-pop already peak or is nostalgia giving us rose-tinted glasses? (Er, ears?)
Tune in as we discuss:
What we consider the "Golden Era of K-pop"
Why it feels like good K-pop releases are few and far between lately
Sonically, where K-pop is today with 4th and 5th gen groups
The "peaks and valleys" of when K-pop was great and not-so-great
Why 2020 might've given us the last of the greatest hits
2nd and 3rd Gen comebacks that are giving us major nostalgia
The rise and fall of great vocalists in K-pop
APINK's comeback and why we're excited for the future
The BEST Songs of 2016 (according to KultScene)
Our final verdict: Did K-pop Peak? Or is it just nostalgia?
KULTSCENE'S TOP SONGS OF 2016:
Watch: KultScene's Top 25 Songs of 2016 on YouTube
Read: KultScene's Top 50 Songs of 2016 Part One and Part Two
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
59min
February 06, 2026EXO's Comeback ... It's Complicated
Put simply: We have big and complex feelings about EXO's highly anticipated comeback following the return of all members from their military enlistment.
When news of an EXO reunion first broke, we were just as excited as any diehard EXO-L. Unfortunately, as time went on and it became evident that CBX would NOT be included in the comeback due to their ongoing legal troubles with SM Entertainment ... well, our enthusiasm waned.
What happened to the OT9 EXO reunion much of the fandom eagerly awaited? Does it make sense to release a title track called "Crown" when key powerhouse vocalists are missing? Is it even possible to support the boys, but not the comeback?
To help us make sense of our mixed feelings we invited Ashley, the host of the podcast An Album a Day to join us for a free-flowing and honest chat about all things EXO.
Tune in to hear:
Why we think "Crown" seems like a SuperM song from the vault
Our honest thoughts on REVERXE as an album
Why we think the visuals and marketing didn't match the music
The "Suju-fication" of EXO's unique sound - is this the future?
Some quick context for EXO-CBX's legal woes with SM
Why we're hopeful about a future reunion
Our thoughts on fan wars and how we can move forward
About our Guest:
Ashley is a content creator, educator, and public speaker. As a music historian and an authority on the K-pop phenomenon, she has collaborated on projects and events with various domestic and international companies and brands. As the host of An Album a Day, ("A3Day"), Ashley leads listeners on a journey through every album available within K-pop with fact-based and opinionated commentary within each "shortcast" episode.
Keep Up With Ashley and An Album a Day:
Website: A3Daypodcast.com
Instagram: @a3daypodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a3day
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
1h
January 12, 2026Our Manifestations for 2026 In K-pop
After analyzing all of the year-in-review K-pop content over the holidays, we've come to one conclusion: 2025 was *rough* and left us wanting a lot more. So, as we kick off the brand new year in 2026, we're hoping our collective positive thinking can help us manifest the best possible year yet in K-pop!
Tune in as we chit chat about:
Our standout releases from 2025
What we're each manifesting for K-pop
What changes we're hoping to see in the industry
What's next for the podcast
Let us know what K-pop resolutions you have for the year and what you're hoping to manifest in 2026 by tagging us on social media @IKPTPOD.
It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

LINKS TO SOCIAL:
It's a K-pop Thing: @ikptpod
Alexis: @hoe_doyan
Theresa: @theresa__avila
CONTACT:
E-mail us at: [email protected]
...more
33min

FAQs about It's a K-pop Thing:

How many episodes does It's a K-pop Thing have?

The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.