Pop-Punk Book Club

It’s the Season 2 Finale and the first birthday of Pop-Punk Book Club! We break down all the stats from the season, hand out our annual awards, roast each other’s worst takes, and take on our toughest challenge yet: The Flame Gauntlet, where we crown the greatest flame song from both Season 1 and Season 2. Thanks for an amazing season. See you in Season 3!

This week the boys dive into No Pressure ’s self-titled album—an album that may have completely restored their faith in modern pop punk. Also: Jayson catches us up on life after the hiatus, including a new baby, a funeral, and a doctor who somehow managed to call his newborn racist shortly after she was born. Next week: No album! Join us for the Season Finale as we celebrate Pop-Punk Book Club’s f...

This week the boys revisit Before Everything & After by MxPx—an album they both loved in high school, but one of them discovers it may not hit quite the same anymore. Also: Jayson embarrasses Sam while he’s peeing in bushes (again), an interdimensional warning about misusing PPBC terminology, the official disciplinary field guide, Book Club considerations, and some important schedule updates....

This week we revisit Colour Blind by Seaway—an album Sam once rated horribly, while Jayson never understood why. Has his opinion changed, or does he still stand by it? Also: an accidental exposure story, more embarrassing moments, Book Club considerations, listener comments and another premature evaluation. Next week’s album: Before Everything & After by MxPx.

Emo Book Club returns with They’re Only Chasing Safety by Underoath—an album the boys both loved in their later high school years. Does it still hit the same, and is it their best? Also: an embarrassing story from Sam, Jayson going full emo, listener comments, Book Club considerations and tons of hilarious highschool stories. Next week’s album: Colorblind by Seaway. Get the rating guide at poppunk...

This week the boys dive into Hoss by Lagwagon—an album they picked after missing the band play it live in their own town. Also: a mortifying birthday party moment, Jayson taking his daughter to see Babymetal, and our random album challenge delivering some real contenders for the Book Club. Next week: Emo Book Club returns with They’re Only Chasing Safety by Underoath. Get the rating guide at poppu...

This week we dive into Morbid Stuff by PUP—an album we discovered through the Book Club that completely changed how we see modern pop punk. Also: a Pokémon-fuelled first word story, a new random album challenge, Jimmy Eat World comments, and a premature evaluation of Joyce Manor. Next week’s album: Hoss by Lagwagon. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com to rate along with us.

This week we revisit Futures by Jimmy Eat World—an album from our just-post-high-school years that means a lot more than we realised on the re-listen. Also: a shoe-swap public disaster involving Jayson’s fiancée, listener comments, and a rating that might lead to a new number one album. Next week’s album: Morbid Stuff by PUP. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com to rate along with us.

Season 2 continues with Bark Like a Dog by Screeching Weasel. But first: Sam tells the unbelievable story of witnessing a woman give birth in a car park. We also break down Dan Ozzi’s book Sellout and why it’s such a great look at the mainstream explosion of punk, pop punk and emo, then read through some Christmas break comments (including a few hate comments). Oh, and Sam has a new segment. Next...

Season 2 begins with Box Car Racer ’s self-titled album—a cult favourite we all loved in high school. Joined by our friend Ben, we revisit the record to see if it still holds up. Also: deeply embarrassing high school stories, a parody that should never resurface, comments from the break, and the first songs we ever wrote. Next week’s album: Bark Like a Dog by Screeching Weasel.

It’s the Pop-Punk Book Club Season Finale and Christmas Special! We recap the season, break down the best and worst ratings, reveal some surprising data, hand out our official Season 1 Awards, and crown the best Christmas song of the year. No album next week—we’ll see you in February 2026.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at the Pop-Punk Book Club!

In the penultimate episode of the season, the boys rate Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard—an album they both loved in high school but were surprised by in this listen (songs they didn’t expect hit the hardest). Also: a bizarre flight encounter, one of Jayson’s most embarrassing stories yet involving a man with cerebral palsy, a deep dive into three top pop-punk album lists and a surprise reveal about nex...

This week, the boys revisit ‘Til the Wheels Fall Off by WSTR—an album Sam once had strong words for, but chose to bring back. Has time changed his mind? Also: they crown the King of Poppeth Punk, tell the story of how they first met and come to terms with the horrifying truth that both Sam’s mum and Jayson’s mother-in-law have been listening to the podcast. Next week’s album: Ocean Avenue by Yello...

This week, the boys give The Peace and the Panic by Neck Deep a full first listen—having never heard the album (or any Neck Deep) before. Also: Jayson reveals a bombshell announcement (about both of them), then immediately follows it up with another embarrassing story, Sam confronts him about hiding the draft results, and the boys refine the rules of Poppeth Punk. Next week’s album: ‘Til the Wheel...

It’s the Emo Book Club Halloween Special! We revisit The Used’s self-titled debut—an album we loved in high school, but does it still hold up today? Also: we finally listen to Wank, read through our viral NOFX post comments, and give away the long-overdue answers to each week’s Poppeth Punk. Next week’s album: The Peace and the Panic by Neck Deep. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com and ra...

This week, the boys go back to pop-punk ground zero with the self-titled Ramones album—an iconic record they somehow never listened to all the way through until now. Also: failed friend bonding, an awkward confession from Jayson, the final ruling on whether Jimmy Eat World is pop punk, and more listener comments. Next week’s album: The Used by The Used (It's the Halloween Emo Book Club special!) G...

This week, the boys revisit The War on Errorism by NOFX—an album they loved in high school that might’ve hit even harder now. Also: long road trips, Sam’s son vomiting in a pub toilet, viewer comments and the unveiling of the official top 8 album rankings on the Book Club whiteboard. Next week’s album: Ramones by Ramones. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com and rate along with us.

The boys are joined by their long-time friend Kale to revisit Open Your Eyes by Goldfinger—an album they used to love in high school, but not everyone feels the same anymore. Also: silica bead romance, a completely botched Mark, Tom and Travis Show quiz and a hilariously awkward social media comment aimed at Sam. Next week’s album: War on Errorism by NOFX. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.c...

Jayson dreaded revisiting Smash by The Offspring after swearing he’d never listen to it again… but does he change his mind? Also: Pop-Punk Mount Rushmore song debates, a horrifyingly embarrassing story, AI soul and funk pop punk covers and the debut of Poppeth Punk —pop punk lyrics in Shakespearean form. Next week’s album: Open Your Eyes by Goldfinger. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com a...

Did we miss a pop punk classic? The boys sit down with Say It Like You Mean It by The Starting Line properly for the first time—and consider whether they have found a hidden gem. Also: secret high school watch messages, the first albums they ever bought (huge surprises), strict parents vs Alanis Morissette and a near-plagiarism lawsuit that never was. Next week’s album: Smash by The Offspring. Get...

A lifelong Green Day fan sits down with a known Green Day hater to rate Dookie —and the results might surprise you. Also: Sam’s birthday cake and party hats, firecracker chaos, neighbour drama, another heated interlude argument and a discussion of the Pop-Punk Mount Rushmore and the perfect pop punk song. Oh—and Jayson might actually love Dookie now? Next week’s album: Say It Like You Mean It by T...

Millencolin’s 'Pennybridge Pioneers' lands on the table—and the boys revisit their messy rating history with it. Also: Back to the Future tees, butt cheek party tricks, landlord misunderstandings, interlude arguments, a ‘very real’ angry listener voicemail and a chat about the best Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game. Next week’s album: Dookie by Green Day. Get the rating guide at poppunkbookclub.com and...

Blink-182’s 2003 untitled album gets the full treatment this week. The boys dive into its darker tone, experimental sound and how it flipped the script after Enema and TOYPAJ . Plus: Motion City Soundtrack holding koalas, coffee machine mishaps, TikTok bands, watching a man fart in public, Jayson humiliates himself (again). Next week’s album: Pennybridge Pioneers by Millencolin. Get the rating gui...

In this episode, we revisit Sticks and Stones by New Found Glory—an album we never used to listen to the whole way through until recently. And we drop some hot takes that are sure to make NFG fans mad. Also: working with Stevo32, a bandmate’s rectal drumstick incident (don’t ask), Sam’s barber roast and a story about the Silverchair drummer vomiting on Blink-182’s manager. Next week’s album: Untit...

Welcome to the Pop-Punk Book Club! We sit down with Stevo32 of Sum 41 to talk through Does This Look Infected? —but we also have to tell him what we really think of the album, right to his face. Also: Stevo is an Australian citizen, drum chat, how Sum 41 got signed, Stevo quitting the band and working in real estate and some deep-cut reflections on the Sum 41 albums fans probably haven’t heard bef...