Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

A podcast about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosted by comedians Joe Kwaczala and Kristen Studard. He's a long-time devotee. She's a skeptic. Join them as he attempts to get her (and their guests) to care about this institution. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

Music History
Music Commentary
Music Interviews
251
Warren Zevon w/ James Fritz
Stand-up comedian James Fritz joins Joe & Kristen to discuss Warren Zevon's potential as a Rock Hall inductee. Also discussed is Randy Newman's recent concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and we revisit the ballot from the year 2000. It's a new streamlined version of the podcast! It's a little shorter! There's theme music! Wow!
80 min
252
Special Announcement!
No new episode this week, but Joe & Kristen have a fun announcement. Also included is something special from the archives!
12 min
253
Indigo Girls w/ Emily Heller
Comedian/writer Emily Heller (Barry, People of Earth) comes by the podcast to let Joe & Kristen know why she thinks the Indigo Girls belong in the Hall. Also discussed is the changing attitudes towards selling out, Phil Collins vs. Peter Gabriel, and Tig Notaro's most recent stand-up special.
105 min
254
Harry Nilsson w/ Megan Koester
Comedian and writer Megan Koester joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the surprising Rock Hall snub Harry Nilsson. She also provides some information on her correspondence with actor Curtis Armstrong, who is perhaps the most thorough Nilsson archivist. Additional topics in this episode include Megan's distaste for The Beatles, Joe's exhaustive list of Rock Hall snubs, and... The Spaghetti Incident?
100 min
255
Taylor Swift w/ Ellie McElvain
Stand-up and writer Ellie McElvain joins Joe & Kristen to rep hard for Taylor Swift and her potential Rock Hall future in this pop-heavy episode. Also discussed are Rolling Stone's list of "The New Immortals" as well as choreographed middle school dance routines.
117 min
256
They Might Be Giants w/ Joey Devine
Comedian and podcaster Joey Devine (Roundball Rock podcast) comes by to talk about the divisive They Might Be Giants with Joe & Kristen. Also discussed is Joey's run-in with Seymour Stein, a potential Eagles Broadway musical, and good rock books/documentaries.
100 min
257
Pat Benatar w/ Karen Kilgariff
Comedian & musician Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder podcast) joins Joe & Kristen to evaluate the Hall prospects of a much-discussed artist: Pat Benatar! Also discussed are rock & roll murders, snubbed female musicians, and something called the "Ooh Ooh Song."
104 min
258
Radiohead w/ Demi Adejuyigbe
Comedian/writer/podcaster Demi Adejuyigbe (The Good Place, Punch Up the Jam) comes by to talk the criminally-snubbed Radiohead with Joe & Kristen. Also discussed is potential future first-year-eligible inductees, as well as Kristen's mom's visit to the museum Cleveland.
109 min
259
Lesley Gore w/ Bob Merlis
Former Nominating Committee member Bob Merlis comes by the studio to tell Joe & Kristen about his experiences with the Hall. Lots of fun insights and stories, as Bob was on the NomCom for 23 years and has been in the industry working in publicity for even longer. They also evaluate Lesley Gore's potential as a future inductee and hatch a plan to expedite the process.
102 min
260
Iron Maiden w/ Jimmy Pardo
Comedian and fellow podcaster Jimmy Pardo (Never Not Funny, Conan) joins Joe & Kristen to talk the merits of Iron Maiden in this super-sized episode. Also discussed is Jimmy's trip to the 2016 induction, as well as Jimmy Buffett's Hall prospects.
109 min
261
BONUS EPISODE - A Defense of The Moody Blues
In this very first bonus episode, Joe tries to make a case for The Moody Blues' induction, so that Kristen can stop being so mad about it.
36 min
262
Roxy Music w/ Roy Trakin
Former Nominating Committee member Roy Trakin joins Joe & Kristen to talk about his history with the Hall, as well as the merits of Roxy Music. Roy has had a long career as a rock journalist and gives some insight as to what goes down when the Hall is determining its annual nominees. This is truly... A Very Special Episode. 
92 min
263
Whitney Houston w/ Carl Tart
The hilarious Carl Tart (Comedy Bang! Bang!) joins Joe & Kristen to talk about one of the hall's biggest snubs: Whitney Houston. Other divas (who are in and not in the Hall) are discussed, like Donna Summer, Tina Turner, and Chaka Khan. Also, they attempt to play some games, and the results are... mixed!
101 min
264
Liz Phair w/ Emma Koenig
Emma Koenig, author of the new book MOAN, swings by the studio to talk to Joe & Kristen about alt-rock goddess Liz Phair. They also go through some of Vulture writer Bill Wyman's ranking of all the Rock Hall inductees. And the gang plays a game at the end! Wow.
98 min
265
Foo Fighters w/ Allie Goertz
Musician/writer Allie Goertz joins Joe & Kristen to talk about Foo Fighters. Also discussed is Allie's father's 80s cover band (Knyght Ryder) as well as Jeff Lynne's ELO and if any women like The Who. Almost nothing rude is said about The Moody Blues. Almost.
95 min
266
Toto w/ Scott Gairdner
Joe & Kristen welcome the very funny writer/director Scott Gairdner (Conan, Moonbeam City) to talk about studio musician supergroup and '80s hitmakers Toto. The Hall's stance on country music is discussed, as well as its consistent snubbing of some of music's greatest divas. Do they also somehow manage to shit on The Moody Blues in this one? Yes.
97 min
267
2018 Induction Ceremony w/ Jamison Webb
Joe & Kristen welcome comedian/actor Jamison Webb (The Second City) to talk about the Hall. Like Joe, Jamison is actually invested in this institution and has been for a while! This upsets Kristen. The bulk of this episode is dedicated to recapping and reviewing the HBO broadcast of the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, featuring inductees The Cars, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dire Straits, Nina Simone, The Moody Blues, and Bon Jovi.
97 min
268
The Prodigy w/ Anna Seregina
Comedian Anna Seregina joins Joe & Kristen on the podcast this week. Much of the episode is spent recapping Joe's attempts to get into the 2017 induction ceremony. Also, the '90s techno, big-beat group The Prodigy is evaluated in terms of their rock hall worthiness. Damn, Daniel.
85 min
269
Dick Dale w/ Greg Behrendt
Joe & Kristen welcome comedian/author Greg Behrendt (Walking the Room, He's Just Not That Into You) to the podcast. Somehow they get on a tear where they're really roasting The Moody Blues, as Joe begrudgingly tries to make a case for them. They also discuss the impact/influence of surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale and if he deserves a spot in the Hall. Things are capped off with a round of Identify the Popular Song in a Competitive Situation, this time with the 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die.
86 min
270
The Replacements w/ Paul Brittain
Actor and comedian Paul Brittain (SNL) joins Joe & Kristen in this (the second!) episode. Overall, Joe is still attempting to get Kristen on-board with this whole idea. They react to the news of the 2018 induction ceremony, which featured some truly wild shit. They evaluate the worthiness of The Replacements as potential inductees and play another round of "Identify This Popular Song in a Competitive Situation."
96 min
271
Pixies w/ Nate Fernald
Comedian Nate Fernald (The Late Late Show) joins Joe & Kristen for the podcast's very first episode. Joe attempts to break down what exactly the Rock Hall is and how it operates, as Kristen laughs in his face. The upcoming 2018 induction is discussed, and the Pixies are evaluated as a potential future inductee. The very original game "Identify That Popular Song in a Competitive Situation" is debuted and played.
83 min