We've tabled the reporting this week to bring you a special bonus episode in the form of a little game we're calling, "Battle of the B-sides."
Now, before you get ahead of yourself—there is no singing OR actual "battle" taking place. Instead, we're taking a deep dive into the B-sides of one of our favorite K-pop artists to figure out which non-title-track is our favorite.

Here’s how it works: 

• Two teams will each share their Top 2 album B-sides from an artist and then will make the case for why it’s that idol’s “winning” B-side! A not-so-impartial judge will help to choose a winner over a few rounds of debate. 
• By the end of it all, we hope you’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for an artist’s music as well some new songs to listen to! 

To make this all happen, we've invited our friends over at the Kpopcast to join us for our inaugural Battle of the B-sides: HYUNA Edition!
That's right—for this episode we’re starting off with none other than the remarkable, one-of-a-kind, and iconic HYUNA!

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• Team Intros: "Sounds Like K-pop" VS "The Return of 2PM" (3:24)
• First Impressions of HYUNA (5:53)
• Round 1: "Get Outta My House" VS "ICE ICE" (17:28)
• Round 2: "Freaky" VS "Show Window" (30:01)
• THE BEST B-SIDE! (44:11)
• Hopes for HYUNA Moving Forward (53:31)

HYUNA B-SIDE SONGS MENTIONED:

• "Get Outta My House" 
•  "Ice Ice"
• "Show Window"
• "Freaky"

CHECK OUT THE KPOPCAST HERE:
Web: https://kpopcast.net/
Twitter: @thekpopcast 

WANT US TO FEATURE ANOTHER K-POP ARTIST?
If you like this episode and want us to explore deep cuts from another artist, make sure to tag us on Instagram & Twitter @IKPTPOD or email us at [email protected].

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

FOLLOW US:
Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod

FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES?
E-mail us at [email protected]

We're back with a very special follow-up episode in our mini series on rookie K-pop groups that survived — and thrived— throughout the pandemic.

For Episode 2 we're super excited to announce we have the podcast's ... FIRST ~ EXCLUSIVE ~ K-POP INTERVIEW!

In this episode, we chat with TFN (formerly known as T1419)—a rookie K-pop group that quickly caught our attention because of the unique way they're promoting themselves in Latin America and Japan.

Tune in to hear the members discuss what it was like to debut during a time when K-pop groups couldn't meet with fans in person—and what they make of their Latine fans. Plus, we spoke to one lucky TFN/T1419 super fan who met the group while they were in Puerto Rico last summer for the Latin Premios Juventud award show. Lastly, we dissect the group's performance at KAMP and where we hope the group goes next.

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• 1 - "What's in a name? TFN's Quick Bio" (4:09)
• 2 - Some Notes On Our TFN Interview (7:11)
• 3 - TFN Exclusive Interview (8:44)
• 4 - "The Pros/Cons of Stanning Rookie Groups" (Our Interview with Amanda Soto, a TFN stan)  (20:02)
• 5 - Analysis: Was KAMP a test for TFN? Did they pass?  (42:07)
• 6 - Final Thoughts (60:31)

TAG US — Let us know if there's another rookie K-pop group that you think should be on our radar! Who would you like to see us interview next?

SPECIAL THANKS to TFN & MLD ENTERTAINMENT for helping make this episode possible!

REMEMBER TO KEEP AN EYE OUT ON SOCIAL FOR EXCLUSIVE TFN CLIPS!
Follow us on @ikptpod on Instagram and Twitter for updates :)  
 
WATCH TFN'S SPANISH SONG "BEFORE SUNSET" HERE:
https://youtu.be/oNnGFBl8LVs

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

FOLLOW US:
Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod

FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES?
E-mail us at [email protected]

Debuting a K-pop group under normal circumstances is, to say the least, no easy feat. So, what do we make of a rookie K-pop group from a smaller music label that not only debuts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also decides to go on tour? Well, that's exactly what K-pop group GHOST9 did in 2022.

In our very first episode of It's a K-pop Thing, we're kicking off a two-part series that looks at K-pop groups that debuted during the pandemic. In Episode 1, we go back in time to January 2022, when GHOST9 held their first concert in the U.S.

We'll discuss the group's performance at the El Rey Theater in Hollywood, their collaboration with KOREOS, a dance cover group at UCLA, and lastly, their overall marketing and promotional strategy—and what we make of it!

EPISODE RUNDOWN:

• 1 - "A surplus of K-pop concerts" (4:55)
• 2 - GHOST9 Concert Recap (6:30)
• 3 - KOREOS Interview with Janie Wang (janiewang_19) and Rin Sohn (@rin.ajin) (18:30)
• 4 - Does this marketing strategy work? (55:34)
• 5 - What's next?  (67:51)

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we look at another rookie K-pop group that's taken a very different approach to getting their name out there!

WATCH GHOST9 & KOREOS COLLAB HERE:
https://youtu.be/s60jrrIg1is

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

FOLLOW US:
Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod

FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES?
E-mail us at [email protected]

What happens when you bring together two journalists who are the go-to K-pop stan in their friend group? Well, apparently, they start a podcast about K-pop!

Welcome to the debut of It's a K-pop Thing!
"The show where we talk about all the things that make K-pop, distinctly K-pop."

Hosted by Alexis Hodoyan-Gastélum and Theresa Avila, It's a K-pop Thing explores the fan culture that's helped grow K-pop into a global phenomenon. Because as longtime K-pop stans know,  the world of K-pop is so much MORE more than just the music. (Though, let's be clear: The music IS incredible!)
 
Each episode of It's a K-pop Thing  dives into one aspect of the K-pop industry—whether it's fan signs, rookie debuts,  PC trades, or something else—in order to spotlight the one-of-a-kind fan culture that's transformed the way we consume music.
 
We're just getting started and hope you look forward to our "debut!"

>>FIRST EPISODE DROPS FALL 2022>>

STAY IN TOUCH

• Follow @ikptpod on Instagram and Twitter for the latest on the pod!
• Have feedback or ideas for what we should cover next? 
• E-mail us at: [email protected]

ABOUT OUR HOSTS:
Alexis is a longtime K-pop journalist who's interviewed K-pop acts like Monsta X, Red Velvet, BTS, Momoland and more. She's currently the music editor for Remezcla, a Latine music and culture publication. Alexis's ult group is Super Junior.
FOLLOW ALEXIS:  @hoe_doyan on Instagram and Twitter

Theresa is a writer, editor and producer who has covered beauty, style and all things business and entrepreneurship for publications like Girlboss, The Cut, Mic and others. Her love of K-pop and podcasts means she's almost always wearing a pair of headphones. Theresa's ult groups is EXO.
FOLLOW THERESA: @theresa_avila on Instagram.

It's a K-pop Thing is hosted by two journalists and longtime K-pop stans, Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum and Theresa Avila.

FOLLOW US:
Twitter: @ikptpod & Instagram: @ikptpod

FEEDBACK? IDEAS FOR FUTURE EPISODES?
E-mail us at [email protected]