The Track Star Podcast

By Jack Coyne

The internet’s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Each episode explores a theme through 10 songs, taking listeners on a deep dive into a specific artist, genre, or era of music through the pers... more

4.9

136136 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about The Track Star Podcast:

How many episodes does The Track Star Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

The Track Star Podcast episodes:

January 28, 2026 A History of MTV in 10 Songs | The Track Star Podcast
Tom Freston, one of the founding executives behind MTV, joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through how the channel was built and what it became. Through a chronological run of songs and moments, he traces MTV’s evolution from a small startup into a platform that transformed how music was presented and discovered.
Along the way, he explains why Live Aid marked a turning point for the network, how Michael Jackson helped turn music video premieres into shared cultural events, and how MTV brought hip-hop into middle American living rooms. He also breaks down the move from nonstop videos into the VMAs, Unplugged, Yo! MTV Raps, Total Request Live, and reality television, and reflects on how Comedy Central grew out of the same creative environment.
Listen to our extended MTV playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!
[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
1h
January 21, 2026 CBGB Part 2: The Rise of New York Hardcore | The Track Star Podcast
The Track Star Podcast continues our CBGB series with hardcore historian Steven Blush, tracing how the club transformed in the early 1980s from punk’s downtown art scene into the chaotic, all-ages world of New York hardcore. Blush breaks down the rise of the matinees, the birth of slam dancing and stage-diving, and the anti-fashion ethos that defined the scene, while connecting CBGB’s hardcore explosion to the wider national movement beyond Manhattan.
Listen to our extended CBGB playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!
[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
46min
January 14, 2026 A History of CBGB in 10 Songs | The Track Star Podcast
Iconic photographer Roberta Bayley breaks down how the CBGB scene formed in the mid-1970s, before anyone agreed on the word “punk,” and the room was still mostly bands, friends, and a $2 cover.
Through songs by the Ramones, Television, Patti Smith, Blondie, and more, Bayley walks through the early CBGB ecosystem: what the club felt like night to night, how Punk magazine helped give the scene a name most of the artists didn’t even want, and how that label quickly spread beyond New York. She also tells the story behind her iconic Ramones photo becoming their debut album cover, shares road stories from the Sex Pistols’ chaotic U.S. tour, and reflects on documenting Blondie during their mainstream breakthrough.
Along the way, Bayley traces her path to New York: seeing the Beatles as a teenage superfan, coming of age in the San Francisco counterculture rock scene, living in London during the years leading up to punk, and arriving in New York just as CBGB became the center of a new musical underground.
Special thanks to Punk magazine and Ki Smith Gallery for hosting this interview. Ki Smith Gallery (170 Forsyth) is currently presenting a special Punk magazine exhibit featuring several of Roberta’s iconic photos, on view through January 18.
https://www.instagram.com/kismithgallery/?hl=en
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday.
[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
1h 3min
January 09, 2026 Testing Ethan Hawke's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Actor and director Ethan Hawke joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation centered on Americana, outlaw country, and songwriting.
Through songs by Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, Blaze Foley, and others, Hawke connects music to places he’s lived, films he’s made, and relationships from different stages of his life.
Listen to our extended playlist for this episode: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday.
[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
15min
January 07, 2026 Testing Maya Rudolph's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Maya Rudolph joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through the music that shaped her, from classic pop and soul to rock, funk, and film soundtracks.
Through songs tied to childhood memories, Boogie Nights, and her years at Saturday Night Live, Maya reflects on discovering artists through family, the emotional pull of live performance, and how music marks moments across a life.
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
15min
January 02, 2026 Testing Billy Corgan's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Billy Corgan joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped him, from classic rock and post-punk to jazz and country.
Across artists like David Bowie, Joy Division, and Howlin’ Wolf, Corgan reflects on influence, longevity, and the tension between art and commerce. He also talks about wrestling, rock mythology, the role of fandom, and why certain bands endure long after trends and critical opinion move on.
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
25min
December 31, 2025 Testing Lily Allen's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
Lily Allen joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped her and the instincts that guide her songwriting.
Across British punk, ska, and pop, Lily reflects on the Blur vs. Oasis divide, the influence of The Clash and The Specials, working with Mark Ronson, and her admiration for writers like Randy Newman. She also talks about making her new album, how quickly it came together, and what it’s been like to see earlier music re-enter the charts as she enters a new creative chapter.
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
10min
December 24, 2025 Ranking The 10 GREATEST Christmas Songs of All Time
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack takes on a familiar holiday challenge: ranking the greatest Christmas songs of all time. He is joined by his wife, Ali, a self-described Christmas obsessive, to build and debate a definitive top-10 list.
Through songs by Nat King Cole, The Ronettes, the Eagles, and more, the episode explores why certain Christmas records return every December, how heartbreak became a recurring theme in holiday music, and why so much of the Christmas canon was established decades ago.
Along the way, the episode traces the history of Christmas music itself, from Tin Pan Alley and mid-century crooners to Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound and Mariah Carey’s modern streaming dominance, unpacking how nostalgia, ritual, and the music industry turned seasonal songs into lasting cultural institutions.
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
41min
December 17, 2025 Testing Ken Burns’ Music Knowledge
Filmmaker and historian Ken Burns joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about music, storytelling, and the American experience. Burns reflects on his landmark series Jazz and Country Music, and explains how the two traditions evolved side by side, shaped by shared histories and ongoing musical exchange. He also discusses his approach to filmmaking, why he resists “careerism,” and how music shapes the rhythm and pacing of his work.
Listen to this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
49min
December 10, 2025 A History of Chess Records in 10 Songs ft. Steve Jordan, John Fogerty, David Remnick & Maya Rudolph
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack explores the legacy of Chess Records with drummer, producer, and musical historian Steve Jordan. Steve breaks down the innovations of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Etta James and more, explaining how Chicago reshaped the blues, how amplification transformed the guitar, why the Bo Diddley beat terrified the establishment, and how Chess marketed Black music into what became rock and roll. The episode also features John Fogerty and Maya Rudolph sharing personal stories about discovering Chess artists, and David Remnick describing how these records helped spark the British Invasion and influence the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Listen to our this episode’s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music
New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]
More Track Star* content:
YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show⁠
TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow⁠
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/
...more
58min

FAQs about The Track Star Podcast:

How many episodes does The Track Star Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

More shows like The Track Star Podcast

Song Exploder by Hrishikesh Hirway

Song Exploder

5,981 Listeners

All Songs Considered by NPR

All Songs Considered

3,151 Listeners

Pivot by New York Magazine

Pivot

9,747 Listeners

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia by Slate Podcasts

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

2,062 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,102 Listeners

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard by Armchair Umbrella

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

69,809 Listeners

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

59,648 Listeners

Rolling Stone All Access by Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone All Access

1,012 Listeners

The Three Questions with Andy Richter by Team Coco & Earwolf

The Three Questions with Andy Richter

3,641 Listeners

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

4,661 Listeners

SmartLess by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett

SmartLess

59,000 Listeners

Bandsplain by The Ringer

Bandsplain

497 Listeners

One Song by Hartbeat

One Song

1,221 Listeners

Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) by Team Coco & Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson

Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes)

3,608 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

13,788 Listeners