17 Carat K-Pop

In Kafka on the Shore, a 15-year-old runs away from home and meets a cast of quirky characters, including Colonel Sanders, a man who talks to cats, and a woman who at one point reverts back into her younger self. In 1Q84, an assassin's life is forever linked to a ghostwriter's life, as they both run and hide from a common enemy. These stories might sound starkly different, but they have more theme...

As the mother of actress and singer Dove Cameron and as a well-known consultant, author, and podcast host who covers all things Hollywood, Bonnie J. Wallace is uniquely positioned to clear up misconceptions about the industry. In this conversation, Bonnie pulls back the curtain on auditions, “stage parents,” fan-idol relationships, Disney Channel, and so much more.

An interview with the authors, teachers, and “Simpsonologists” Dr. Karma Waltonen and Denise Du Vernay. They explain how and why they regularly use “The Simpsons” to help teach students, how humor can be used to get a message across, and overall what the lasting legacy of Springfield and its characters will be on society.

This episode follows a timeline of the Shrek franchise and its fans’ activities. From starting a Shrek-themed festival to making memes, fans are largely to thank for Shrek’s continued relevance in pop culture. Clone High and Bee Movie are used as examples of animated projects that use “The Shrek Formula” to maintain long-term hype, showing how Shrek fans have paved the way for fanbases to develop...

A timeline of the drama surrounding the “Super League” and an explanation of the ways backlash to the idea fits into a long history of extremely passionate football fans making their voices heard.

This episode explains how TikTok became the preferred way to get famous over YouTube, what content houses are all about, and what famous TikTok users and influencers mean for the future of fan-idol relationships.

Aliens may or may not be real, but the belief in them certainly is. People have dedicated their lives to researching UFO sightings and alleged alien abductions. This series of episodes explains why that is the case. From finding patterns in alleged alien encounters to looking at the impact of “UFOlogist” gatherings, these episodes piece together a timeline that reveals how the belief in aliens and...

A timeline of key moments in the “Free Britney” Movement, predictions for its future, and a sociological take on why so many people are and will continue to be invested in the life and career of Britney Spears.

A ranking and review of the twenty best new K-pop and J-pop releases!

In honor of Taeyong’s birthday, this clip show compiles past podcast segments about his solo music. Keep listening until the end to hear new commentary on his latest release, “Swimming Pool”!

A look at the most interesting behind-the-scenes details and the most insightful quotes in SEVENTEEN’s latest interviews! Plus: aespa’s Hollywood moment, the end of a lawsuit, the way K-pop fans in Thailand are being a force for good, and more of the latest news stories!

Why “Gangnam Style” just got banned from gyms in South Korea, what the American Butter Institute thinks of “Butter” by BTS, why Taeyong’s new gig will be so beneficial for him, and more explanations and commentary on the latest K-pop stories!

A condensed, updated, and improved guide to the members, sub-units, and stories that make up the LOONAverse!

On today’s news roundup, Hope shares her takes on the K-pop episode of Dave, Boyz II Men’s plans for a promotional push in South Korea, three new fandom names, this year’s “Muster,” and more of the latest K-pop news!

This episode serves as a complement to “The Artistry of SEVENTEEN,” an essay on the 17 Carat K-Pop website. Hope explains how SEVENTEEN’s new mini-album tells unique, layered stories and how it builds on the storytelling they began in their previous musical eras.

This episode explores the underlying messages in Taeyong’s new song, “Rose,” and RM’s new song, “Bicycle.” Plus: Hope reacts to EXO’s “Don’t Fight the Feeling” music video and recaps the past week in K-pop news!

A ranking and review of the twenty best new releases from K-pop and J-pop artists!

A man accidentally ends up competing on a C-pop reality show, the first NFT marketplace in South Korea is a big success, and more of the latest tech and music headlines from around the world!

An overview of the biggest K-pop news of the past two weeks, from CL’s new gig to hidden details spotted in BTS’s “Butter” teaser poster and music video!

A literature crash course and a guide to ENHYPEN are combined in today’s episode! This is part four: tying all the major themes and messages together, both from the literature discussed in part three and from the ENHYPEN material discussed in parts one and two. There are four main categories the themes discussed in ENHYPEN’s musical universe fit into: wealth and power, the passage of time, truth a...

A literature crash course and a guide to ENHYPEN are combined in today’s episode! This is part three: a summary and analysis of several pieces of literature that both directly and indirectly apply to ENHYPEN’s story. There are four main categories the themes discussed in ENHYPEN’s musical universe fit into: wealth and power, the passage of time, truth and perceptions, and love. These categories al...

Building off of previous Taemin-dedicated episodes of the show, new theories are laid out about the dual roles Taemin plays in his music videos and where his characters’ stories go from here.

BTS’s Rolling Stone profile, lots of recent management changes, SEVENTEEN’s busy June schedule, and more of the latest K-pop news.

After a track-by-track review of NCT DREAM’s new album, Hope lists the 27 most iconic moments in NCT/NCTzen history!

A ranking and review of the top twenty best K-pop and J-pop singles, albums, and music videos released last month!