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
51
Sylvia Robinson w/ Jay Quan
Music writer and historian Jay Quan joins Joe & Kristen to discuss the life and career of Sugar Hill Records founder Sylvia Robinson, one of this year's Ahmet Ertegun Award recipients for the 2022 Rock Hall class. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
69 min
52
A History of the Ahmet Ertegun Award w/ Bob Merlis
Publicist and former NomCom member Bob Merlis returns to the show to go through the list of the Hall's non-performer inductees and explain what makes them so special. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
95 min
53
Pat Benatar's Getting Inducted! w/ Mara Reinstein
Entertainment journalist Mara Reinstein joins Joe & Kristen to talk 2022 Rock Hall inductee Pat Benatar. It's been more than 4 years since the last Pat episode, so join us as we dive back in! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
40 min
54
Duran Duran's "Rio" w/ Annie Zaleski
Writer Annie Zaleski joins Joe & Kristen to talk about Duran Duran's breakout album "Rio" and her recent book for the 33 1/3 series all about the subject. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
66 min
55
No Show This Week!
We're taking the week off for a number of reasons. Think of it as a "Summer Break!" This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
1 min
56
I Want My MTV w/ Rob Tannenbaum
Writer and huge dumbass Rob Tannenbaum (I Want My MTV) joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the importance of MTV to this year's inductees. More importantly though, he's berated and insulted, as per the agreements of the bet he lost on a previous episode. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
60 min
57
Rerun: Duran Duran w/ Dave Schilling
A rerun of our 2019 Duran Duran episode with friend/writer Dave Schilling. Condensed and edited for YOUR listening pleasure! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
45 min
58
Who Should Be Inducted as an Early Influence? w...
Author and professor Gayle Wald joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the weirdness of the Rock Hall's "Early Influence" category and where they might/should go with it in the future. Also, plenty of talk about Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the subject of Gayle's book "Shout, Sister, Shout!" This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
62 min
59
Harry Belafonte w/ Judith Smith
Author & scholar Judith Smith (Becoming Belafonte: Black Artist, Public Radical) joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the life, music, and politics of 2022 Early Influence inductee Harry Belafonte. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
59 min
60
Elizabeth Cotten w/ Robert Searing
Curator of History at the Onondaga Historical Association, Robert Searing joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the incredible life, work, and influence of folk singer-songwriter-guitarist Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten, 2022 Early Influence Rock Hall inductee. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
64 min
61
Rerun: A History of the Early Influence Categor...
A re-broadcast of our very informative 2021 episode with historian Elijah Wald all about the artists who have been inducted as "early influences." This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
87 min
62
Why 1983 Was a Huge Year for the 2022 Inductees...
Chris Molanphy (Slate's Hit Parade) joins Joe & Kristen for a discussion all about the year 1983. There is no point that year when a 2022 inductee isn't strongly represented on the Hot 100. From the breakthroughs of Duran Duran and Eurythmics to the #1 hits from Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton and beyond. Pat Benatar, Jimmy Iovine, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Carly Simon, Judas Priest, even artists from Sylvia Robinson's Sugar Hill Records label all put out music this year. Listen in as we break it all down. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
78 min
63
Remastered: Pat Benatar w/ Karen Kilgariff
Back in July 2018, we talked to comedian/writer Karen Kilgariff (My Favorite Murder) about the eternally-snubbed Pat Benatar. In celebration of her 2022 induction, we revisit this episode with better sound quality, a shortened runtime, and the addition of song clips. Enjoy! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
44 min
64
It's Easy to Predict the Inductees
Joe walks through some recent moments from the podcast that reveal just how on-point the show's predictions have been. If you wanted to know this year's Rock Hall inductees ahead of time, all you had to do was listen to the show! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
16 min
65
2022 Inductee Announcement w/ Joey Devine
Joe reveals the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022 to Kristen and special guest Joey Devine. It's Christmas morning! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
44 min
66
Calling Voters w/ Lauren Onkey, Arthur Levy, Ch...
This year's voter calling season comes to an end with a big one! A mega-sode, if you will. Joe & Kristen call up eight more Rock Hall voters to see who they're choosing on their ballot this year: Lauren Onkey, Arthur Levy, Chris Molanphy, Lori Majewski, Maura Johnston, Karen Glauber, Jim McGuinn, and Evelyn McDonnell. Plus, we combine our data with the findings of Future Rock Legends' own Neil Walls to do some final analysis! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
120 min
67
Calling Voters w/ Rob Tannenbaum, Laina Dawes, ...
Joe & Kristen are back at it, calling up five more Rock Hall voters to see who they're choosing on their ballot this year: Rob Tannenbaum, Laina Dawes, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Roy Trakin, and Alec Wightman. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
94 min
68
Calling Voters w/ Bob Merlis, Gregg Geller, Bil...
Joe & Kristen call up five Rock Hall voters to see who they're choosing on their ballot this year: Bob Merlis, Gregg Geller, Bill Adler, Ned Raggett, and Miles Marshall Lewis. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
77 min
69
Eminem w/ Marcia Alesan Dawkins
Author and communications scholar Marcia Alesan Dawkins joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the music and career of hip-hop megastar Eminem aka Slim Shady aka Marshall Mathers. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
94 min
70
RIP Taylor Hawkins
Joe shares some clips from old episodes in fond remembrance of late Foo Fighters drummer and 2021 Rock Hall inductee Taylor Hawkins. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
12 min
71
Lionel Richie w/ Mike Seely
Writer Mike Seely (Better Collective) joins Joe & Kristen to discuss the music and career of massively famous '80s superstar and pop balladeer Lionel Richie. Should he get into the Rock Hall this year on his first ballot appearance? This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
87 min
72
Dolly Parton Bows Out??
Neil Walls (FutureRockLegends.com) returns to the show to help Joe & Kristen try and make sense of current nominee Dolly Parton's statement attempting to remove herself from Rock Hall consideration. Can she even do that? Has this happened before? What is going on?! This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
63 min
73
Remastered: Devo w/ River Butcher
We dig into the archives and unearth this classic episode from 2018 when Devo made the ballot for the first time. And fittingly, we discuss this Akron band with fellow Akronite, River Butcher! We've put a 2022 polish on this episode: more consistent sound levels, some song clips dropped in, and streamlined to Just the Devo Talk. Do enjoy, won't you? This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
38 min
74
Beck w/ Matthew Perpetua
Music writer Matthew Perpetua (Fluxblog) joins Joe & Kristen to talk about the work and career of musical chameleon and industry darling Beck, who's on the Rock Hall ballot for the first time this year. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
87 min
75
Dolly Parton w/ Lindsay Zoladz
Music writer and New York Times contributor Lindsay Zoladz joins us to talk about country music queen and pop culture icon Dolly Parton, who's on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year. This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.
74 min