The What Podcast
The What Podcast
Podcast Description
The What Podcast is a weekly show by two veterans of the entertainment media universe with a passion for live music and music festivals. They came together over a love of Bonnaroo and found out pretty quickly that they are not alone. In fact, since launching in 2018, they found kindred spirits all over the world who also love the vibe found only at music festivals. Each week they share their own stories and opinions, but they also dig deeper and talk to the musicians and industry insiders who make the magic happen.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on music festivals, live music experiences, and community culture, with episodes covering topics such as festival logistics, lineup announcements, attendee experiences, and artist insights. For example, recent episodes featured discussions on the Bonnaroo 2025 lineup and camping tips, as well as reflections on memorable performances from past festivals.
Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make festivals happen. Whether you're a Bonnaroo veteran or a first-timer, subscribe now to stay in the loop on everything that makes music festivals unforgettable.
Bonnaroo adds sunrise sets to the 2026 lineup, but first, Barry has to eat a little crow. We go down a rabbit hole of music history before shifting gears to talk Bonnaroo news, plus other festivals like Shaky Knees who just released their lineup. Finally we talk a little bit about this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees!
Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!
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(00:00) Intro
(02:16) Barry's Confession and Repentance
(09:57) History of Grateful Dead and CBGB
(15:00) Bonnaroo Update: Sunrise Sets and Festival 'Shrinkflation'
(23:35) Shaky Knees: Worth the Slog?
(30:41) Other festival news
(42:34) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
(52:11) Outro
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Why Bourbon & Beyond Might Have the Best Lineup of 2026
Danny Clinch: Still Moving on Amazon
A History of the Grateful Dead in 10 Songs
Bonnaroo's 2024 Outeroo Lineup and Television's Richard Lloyd Reflects on Marquee Moon
Shaky Knees 2025 vs. IBMA Chattanooga: Live from the Red Carpet + Bilmuri Interview
Bonnaroo 2026: Thursday Headliner Confirmed + Our Corona Capital 2025 Breakdown
How to Enjoy a Substance-Free Bonnaroo Experience with Soberoo
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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic
📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast
The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.
We love to hear from you! Send us an email at [email protected] or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.
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Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.