Dissect

Our season long examination of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers continues with “Mother I Sober.” This emotionally devastating ballad marks the narrative and spiritual climax of Kendrick Lamar’s album. Stripped bare and seated at the piano, Kendrick confronts generational trauma, inherited pain, and the illusion of self that’s fractured by abuse, guilt, and silence. Building on the spiritual awareness...

Our season-long breakdown of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a line-by-line analysis of its title track. We unpack the 'Mr. Morale' moniker, Eckhart Tolle's influence on Kendrick's current spiritual transformation, and how so much of the song is preparation for the album's next track "Mother I Sober." Follow @dissectpodcast on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna...

Our season-long analysis of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Auntie Diaries" - a controversial song in which Kendrick shares his evolution in understanding of his transgender relatives. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, &⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about...

Our season-long examination of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Savior" a song that challenges celebrity worship and false idols in the age of influencers, empty symbolism, and "perfect life" social media curation. Shop Dissect Season 13 Merch⁠ Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Video Editing: Jon Jones Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about...

Our season-long dissection of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Savior - Interlude" performed by Baby Keem. We explore how Keem's feature mirrors Kodak Black's, why Kendrick Lamar made this symbolic pairing, and how it all sets up the next song "Savior." Shop ⁠Dissect S13 Merch⁠. Follow Dissect on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ Twitter⁠, or⁠ TikTok⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production:...

Our season-long dissection of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers' continues with "Crown" and "Silent Hill." Shop ⁠Dissect S13 Merch⁠. Follow Dissect on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ Twitter⁠, or⁠ TikTok⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our dissection of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers resumes with "Count Me Out." As the first track on Act 2, the song is positioned as the first therapy session with Eckhart Tolle, as Kendrick reveals some his most vulnerable thoughts and emotions. Shop ⁠Dissect S13 Merch⁠. Follow Dissect on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ Twitter⁠, or⁠ TikTok⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additiona...

Dissect’s Cole Cuchna is joined by Curtiss King and King Green to draft their favorite songs from TDE artists across 4 categories: Hit Song, Deep Cut, Collab Track, and Personal Favorites. Listen to a playlist of their picks ⁠here⁠. TDE or Top Dawg Entertainment has been the most influential independent label of the 21st Century. After establishing themselves with core artists Kendrick Lamar, Jay...

Not an episode I wanted to do, but one I felt I needed to do. My thoughts on the current state of Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. Our season on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers will resume May 20th. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠, ⁠X⁠, or⁠ TikTok⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

📺 Watch this breakdown on YouTube Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down Kendrick Lamar’s innovative 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show — scene by scene, lyric by lyric, symbol by symbol — to reveal a powerful narrative about the Black American experience throughout history. This is not a standard recap. This is a forensic analysis of every detail: the set design, the wardrobe, the major and minor characte...

We're taking a few weeks off Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by The Ringer's Charles Holmes to discuss Kendrick Lamar's GNX and debate it's best song. There's GNX background and trivia, lyrical breakdowns, and best song nominations. They also discuss the Kendrick x Drake battle songs to see whether any of Kendrick's battle tracks make the cut. Last Song Standing is an annual show on the Dissect po...

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Purple Hearts." As the final song of Disc 1, "Purple Hearts" represents a critical juncture in the album where Kendrick calls on God to guide him through the album's emotionally wrenching second half. Kendrick also receives guidance from Ghostface Killah, who plays a Saint-like role in the story. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Foll...

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with its eighth track "We Cry Together." We interpret the song as a representation of Eckhart Tolle's concept of the pain-body, an energy field within the body comprised of accumulated, unconfronted trauma and pain. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Pro...

Our season-long examination of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich Spirit." Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by hip hop journalist Rob Markman to discuss the 10 year anniversary of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. Together they reflect on the album's release and reception, its enduring themes, and its legacy. Watch Rob's iconic MTV interview with Kendrick here. Follow Rob Markman on YouTube. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Rob Markman Video/Audio Producer: Kevin Pooler Learn...

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich - Interlude," a track given to controversial rapper Kodak Black. Why? Well, that's exactly the question we attempt to answer. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocra...

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical dissection of "Father Time." Kendrick confronts the mask of masculinity he inherited from his father and realizes he must transcend the toxic elements or risk passing them on to his own children. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Producti...

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Die Hard." After establishing the capacity for evil in all human beings on the previous song, "Die Hard" posits that the opposite must be true: that we all have the capacity for good, too. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler...

Our season-long dissection of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical analysis of "Worldwide Steppers." New episodes release every Tuesday. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:25 Episode 2 Recap 01:...

We continue our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers with its second track "N95." Kendrick critiques the various masks we wear to fabricate our identities in our performance of self on the world's stage. New episodes of Dissect release every Tuesday. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin P...

Dissect host Cole Cuchna shares his initial thoughts and analysis on Kendrick Lamar's Halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dissect's first VIDEO season is an 18-episode analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. After revisiting Kendrick's years-long public hiatus leading up to its 2022 release, today's episode dissects the album's opening track "United In Grief" - a song that sets up every major theme explored on the album. New episodes every Tuesday. Shop limited Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on...

Season 13 of Dissect begins Tuesday, February 4th. A VIDEO version of the podcast will be available on Spotify and YouTube. However, Dissect remains an audio-first experience, and has not changed from its original format. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down the title, themes, and sequencing of Mac Miller's Balloonerism - a surreal exploration of mortality, addiction, and purpose. Cole dissects each song, explores the psychedelic influences of The Beatles, and places special emphasis on the album's final song "Tomorrow Will Never Know." Dissect Season 13 will premiere February 4th. Follow @dissectpodcast for clues lea...

Cole and Cam award their favorite music of the year across a number of categories, including Favorite Album, Favorite Song, Favorite Underground Album, Most Surprising Album, and many more. Listen to the playlist of songs featured in this episode here. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Camden Ostrander Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices