The Gist

Kris Allen won American Idol in 2009 and spent the next fifteen years doing the opposite of what that's supposed to look like. He walked away from his major label deal, started his own independent label DogBear Records, and took eight years between albums to make sure the next one was actually worth putting out. In this conversation, recorded here in Nashville, Kris talks about what the "gap years...

Kristen Doute has been called a villain, a truth teller, and a chaos agent. These days, she's adding "new mom" to the list and she's more self-aware than ever. On this episode of The Gist, Kristen opens up about filming The Valley Season 3 with a three-month-old, what she wishes audiences understood about her fiancé Luke's first-year-of-parenthood experience, and why watching herself on camera has...

BBMAK joins The Gist to look back on the whirlwind success of their 2000 hit “Back Here,” touring at the height of the boy band era with Britney Spears and *NSYNC, and what really happened after the spotlight faded. In this exclusive interview, Christian Burns, Mark Barry, and Stephen McNally open up about BBMAK’s rapid rise in the early 2000s, the group’s hiatus in 2003, and the very different li...

Pop culture writer, interviewer, and Shut Up Evan podcast host Evan Ross Katz joins Chris to talk about his journey from superfan to one of the most plugged-in voices in entertainment media. Evan breaks down how he built access in Hollywood, what makes a great celebrity interview, and why he believes revivals and reboots are now a permanent part of pop culture - not a trend. They also dig into the...

Willa Ford joins The Gist to reflect on her journey from early 2000s pop breakout to creative reinvention. Known for her TRL-era hit “I Wanna Be Bad,” Willa became a defining voice of turn-of-the-millennium pop culture. In this conversation, she looks back at that chapter — and shares what was happening behind the scenes. We discuss the evolution of her public identity (Mandah, Amanda, Willa Ford)...

In this episode, Chris Vetrano returns to The Gist after a break, sharing insights on the current state of pop culture, particularly the rise of reality TV. He discusses the evolution of the podcast, emphasizing a more opinionated and engaging approach to commentary. Chris teases upcoming interviews and topics, inviting listeners to join him in exploring the dynamic landscape of entertainment and...

In this episode of The Gist , Chris is joined by Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn for an honest and high-energy conversation about the band’s latest album tour and album Sink Your Teeth . Tyler dives into the creative process behind the new music and how his identity continues to shape his anthemic lyrics. Together, the two explore the resurgence of pop music, sharing their thoughts on the new Lady...

Leva Bonaparte, star of Bravo’s Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality , dives into the drama, dynamics, and business of Charleston’s hottest restaurants and nightlife. She opens up about balancing reality TV with her thriving hospitality empire, the evolution of friendships on-screen, and the importance of authenticity in both business and entertainment. Plus, Leva shares her vision for creating...

Chris sits down with the incredibly talented Lindsay Ell—singer, songwriter, and host of Canada’s Got Talent —for an insightful and inspiring conversation! The longtime friends dive into Lindsay’s journey from country star to pop artist, her experience performing with Shania Twain, and how social media has transformed the music industry. Lindsay opens up about self-discovery, the power of vulnerab...

Bachelor Nation and The Traitors fans, this one’s for you! This week on The Gist , Chris is joined by none other than Wells Adams, the fan-favorite Bachelor in Paradise bartender and reality TV icon. The pair take a fun trip down memory lane, reminiscing about their earlier days coming up together in Nashville, before diving into Wells’ insider stories from the current season of The Traitors —behi...

Chris Vetrano dives deep into the first three episodes of the highly-anticipated third season of The Traitors ! Get ready for an exciting breakdown of the intense gameplay, shocking twists, and drama-packed moments that define this hit reality competition. Chris reacts to this season's cast of reality TV stars, analyzing their strategies, alliances, and the jaw-dropping moments that are already sh...

From viral sensations to jaw-drop scandals, Chris crowns 2024’s ten defining pop-culture moments—with receipts and reasons they’ll echo into 2025. For more pop culture headlines and interviews with your favorite stars, follow Chris and The Gist. Listen! It’s Vetrano: https://listenitsvetrano.com/the-gist-podcast/   Instagram: http://instagram.com/CMVetrano   TikTok: http://tiktok.com/CMVetrano   Y...

Cue the lights: Chris brings back the Top 10 Pop Christmas Songs—a festive blend of modern bops and merry classics to soundtrack your season. Listen! It’s Vetrano: https://listenitsvetrano.com/the-gist-podcast/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/CMVetrano TikTok: http://tiktok.com/CMVetrano YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@listenitsvetrano Facebook: http://facebook.com/ListenItsVetrano X: http://twi...

Take a trip down pop music memory lane as Chris welcomes Lauren Mayhew, former member of the girl group PYT, to The Gist ! Lauren, a multi-talented singer, actress, and DJ, opens up about touring with Britney Spears, 'NSYNC, and Destiny’s Child, her roles on hit TV shows like Dexter and CSI , and her journey in the entertainment industry. Don’t miss this episode packed with nostalgic stories, insi...

A special message: vote in the 2024 election. Your voice matters. We’ll be back next episode with more pop culture deep dives—see you at the polls. Listen! It’s Vetrano: https://listenitsvetrano.com/the-gist-podcast/   Instagram: http://instagram.com/CMVetrano   TikTok: http://tiktok.com/CMVetrano   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@listenitsvetrano Facebook: http://facebook.com/ListenItsVetrano  ...

It’s the spookiest time of the year, and Chris is bringing back one of the most popular episodes of The Gist ! In this special redux, we’re counting down the Top 10 Scream Queens of all time. From classic horror icons to modern-day scream queens, Chris revisits the most iconic women who’ve defined the genre. Whether you're a fan of old-school slasher films or today's thrilling psychological horror...

On this episode of The Gist , Chris Vetrano chats with country artist Brooke Eden about her journey in the industry and her life with her wife, Hilary. Brooke opens up about how they met, the challenges of being openly gay in country music, and her plans to start a family through IVF. She also shares what it was like to hide her sexuality early on and the moment she decided to live openly. Plus, B...

Chris is joined by his friends Emily Vecchio and Arielle Zimmel to recap the thrilling first season of Hulu's Secret Lives of Mormon Wives . From the scandals that rocked TikTok to the Fruity Pebbles secret that divided the group, they cover what can only be described as one of the most exciting new shows in reality TV "herstory." Join them as they set out to answer the question, "can MomTok survi...

Host Chris Vetrano sits down with rising country artist Alexandra Kay to discuss her incredible accomplishments as an independent artist. Alexandra opens up about the personal challenges she faced during her divorce, which inspired the raw honesty of her debut album "All I've Ever Known." She also shares how she's navigated the music industry, turning down major label deals to maintain creative co...

Chris sits down with Ben Mandelker, one half of the popular podcast "Watch What Crappens," to dive deep into all things Bravo. From the ever-evolving Real Housewives franchise to the addictive shows from the vault that are in desperate need of a reboot. Brace yourself for some hilarious rants as Ben shares his expert insights on the good, the bad, and the downright messy when it comes to Bravo's r...

Chris welcomes Maggie Rose to the series to chat about her critically acclaimed new album "No One Gets Out Alive," her journey through Nashville's music scene, and her full circle moment with Kelly Clarkson. Plus, she shares some of her pop culture guilty pleasures and together the Real Housewives fans workshop her Housewives tagline. Visit the links below for more information on this episode or f...

Chris is back from his summer vacation and kicking off the last half of the year with his guest, pop music mastermind, Dagny. On the heels of the release of her new mini album "Elle," Dagny shares where her passion for writing pop music came from and who she'd love to collaborate with. Plus, she shares the details of learning Katy Perry heavily sampled her song, what fans can expect from her upcom...

After a short summer hiatus, Chris is back with some big news about the future of the podcast. Sharing the brand new ways to stay in touch on social (see links below) and what's in store for the podcast schedule. Then, he breaks down the Justin Timberlake arrest that had everyone singing "What Goes Around Comes Around." Chris shares the details of the arrest and what the internet has to say about...

It's another edition of the Pop Culture Round Up, covering the best pop culture moments of the last month. This week, Chris welcomes Jim Verraros back to the podcast to chat about Met Gala red carpet looks, Hacks season three, and the hottest songs of the summer (Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter). Plus, Jim talks about his sexy new single "Pyramid" and shares the exclusive first listen of one of t...

Chris breaks down Taylor Swift's new album 'The Tortured Poets Department' with his track-by-track takes and thoughts about her full Anthology. From the Post Malone featured opener to the heartbreaking bop that had him think about Swift's former friend Katy Perry. Plus, he shares his opinions on where this album ranks among the Taylor Swift collection. It's a moment dedicated to the moment , Taylo...