The Track Star Podcast
Episodes
Testing Taj Mahal's Music Knowledge
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Track Star Podcast, we're joined by blues legend Taj Mahal. He spent over six decades expanding what the blues can be, weaving in Car...
Testing Shania Twain's Music Knowledge
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, the always iconic Shania Twain is putting her music knowledge to the test. We met Shania on the streets of New York City and had a great conver...
Ziggy Marley Teaches Us How to Listen to Reggae
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Track Star Podcast, Ziggy Marley joins us to talk about his passion for reggae, the musical inspirations that shaped him, and the leg...
Testing Kareem Rahma's Music Knowledge
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
You may know Kareem Rahma from Subway Takes, Keep The Meter Running, or his band Tiny Gun, but today he joins Jack for a wild conversation full of hil...
Listening to Miles Davis with His Former Bandmates
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode of the Track Star podcast, we’re celebrating the centennial of Miles Davis with three musicians who share personal connections ...
Testing Foo Fighters' Music Knowledge
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Track Star* we're joined by rock legends Foo Fighters. Known for their anthemic sound and larger-than-life energy, they bring us th...
LIVE: Track Star Presents The Black Keys
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The legendary rock duo The Black Keys blew the roof off our New York studio. These guys have been playing together for over a quarter century, and it ...
Testing Elle Fanning's Music Knowledge
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Elle Fanning has spent her life on screen, evolving into one of the most versatile and adventurous leads in cinema today. Known for her wide ranging p...
Testing ERNEST's Country Music Knowledge
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by country singer-songwriter Ernest. Having collaborated with some of the biggest names in modern ...
Testing Dermot Kennedy's Music Knowledge
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Track Star*, we are joined by Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy. Known for his passionate live performances and poetic lyrics, Kennedy o...
Testing Flea's Music Knowledge
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode of Track Star* brought us face to face with one of the most singular musicians of the past 40 years, Flea. Flea met us outside on a ...
Testing Sam Fender's Music Knowledge
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Fender has quickly become one of the defining voices of modern British rock, earning BRIT Awards and critical acclaim for his anthemic lyricism, p...
Testing Fab 5 Freddy's Music Knowledge
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by hip-hop ambassador, Fab 5 Freddy. Freddy reflects on the relationships and experiences that sha...
Testing Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks' Music Knowledge
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode we have two legends facing off in a battle to name some classic rock icons. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of the eponymously na...
Testing Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs' Music Knowledge
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Track Star* we have a competitive battle between fashion designer, Marc Jacobs and filmmaker, Sofia Coppola. The duo met up with Ja...
Testing LeBron James' Music Knowledge
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
LeBron James is one of the defining figures in modern sport, with a career that has shaped not just basketball but music, fashion, business, and popul...
8 Artists That Are Better Than The Beatles
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this week’s episode of The Track Star Podcast we have rock writer, NPR critic, and journalism professor Tim Riley who will help answer the decept...
Testing Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Music Knowledge
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation that moves from Motown to modern Detroit, using music as a way into...
10 Songs that Explain Elvis Presley’s Genius ft. Baz Luhrmann
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann joins The Track Star Podcast to talk about Elvis Presley and what made his music and live performances so powerful. Using songs...
Paul McCartney After the Beatles (in 10 songs)
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Academy Award–winning filmmaker Morgan Neville joins The Track Star Podcast for a deep dive into Paul McCartney’s most misunderstood era: the deca...
Is Gen-X The Greatest Music Generation?
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two of the best-performing Track Star contestants of all time return to settle a big question: Is Gen X the greatest music generation ever? Writer, co...
Testing This Legendary Choreographer’s Music Knowledge
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Peck joins The Track Star Podcast to talk about how music turns into movement. From the stage at Lincoln Center, the New York City Ballet chore...
Testing Gov. Josh Shapiro's Music Knowledge
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation that uses music to get somewhere politics usually can’t. Through...
Testing Lucinda Williams’ Music Knowledge
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lucinda Williams joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about the music that shaped her, from Highway 61 and Delta blues to Muscle Shoals sou...
A History of MTV in 10 Songs | The Track Star Podcast
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Freston, one of the founding executives behind MTV, joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through how the channel was built and what it became. Thr...
CBGB Part 2: The Rise of New York Hardcore | The Track Star Podcast
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Track Star Podcast continues our CBGB series with hardcore historian Steven Blush, tracing how the club transformed in the early 1980s from punk’...
A History of CBGB in 10 Songs (Part 1) | The Track Star Podcast
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iconic photographer Roberta Bayley breaks down how the CBGB scene formed in the mid-1970s, before anyone agreed on the word “punk,” and the room w...
Testing Ethan Hawke's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Actor and director Ethan Hawke joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation centered on Americana, outlaw country, and songwriting. Through songs ...
Testing Maya Rudolph's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Maya Rudolph joins The Track Star Podcast to talk through the music that shaped her, from classic pop and soul to rock, funk, and film soundtracks. T...
Testing Billy Corgan's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Billy Corgan joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped him, from classic rock and post-punk to jazz and...
Testing Lily Allen's Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lily Allen joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped her and the instincts that guide her songwriting. ...
Ranking The 10 GREATEST Christmas Songs of All Time
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack takes on a familiar holiday challenge: ranking the greatest Christmas songs of all time. He is joined by his...
Testing Ken Burns’ Music Knowledge
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Filmmaker and historian Ken Burns joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about music, storytelling, and the American experience. Burns reflec...
A History of Chess Records in 10 Songs
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack explores the legacy of Chess Records with drummer, producer, and musical historian Steve Jordan. Steve break...
A History of Pop Songwriting in 10 Songs ft. Amy Allen and Charlie Puth
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we explore the craft of songwriting with Grammy-winning writer Amy Allen and global hitmaker Charlie Puth. Through songs from ABBA, The Beat...
Testing Cameron Crowe’s Music Knowledge | The Track Star Podcast
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Crowe joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his life as a rock journalist and filmmaker. From getting his first Rolling Stone cover a...
Common Breaks Down the 6 Songs That Shaped His Career
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Common is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Chicago, with a journey that runs from his early days as a Bulls ball boy when Jordan arri...
The Grateful Dead Explained — 10 Songs That Trace the Dead’s Legacy
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s official archivist and legacy manager, we trace how the band evolved from the psychedelic San Francisco scen...
Good Charlotte, Simple Plan & All Time Low: The History of Pop Punk in 10 Songs
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pop punk was the sound that defined malls, teen movies, and high-school playlists in the 2000s. With Simple Plan, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Ol...
Emily Bear (Moana 2), Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things) & RZA Talk Composing For Movies
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we explore movie scores: how they are composed, how they shape emotion, and what makes a theme unforgettable. We played legendary scores for...
Jeremy Allen White, Scott Cooper (Director), and Warren Zanes (Author) Talk Springsteen Biopic
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska is the haunting home-recorded album that changed his career and revealed the darkness behind his music. With Jeremy All...
The Evolution of Jazz in 10 Songs
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Batiste, Christian McBride, and New Jazz Underground join us for a deep dive into jazz, the quintessential American art form. Through 10 essential...
What is the Great American Songbook?
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Great American Songbook shaped the foundation of American popular music, from Broadway stages to jazz clubs and Hollywood soundtracks. Guided by S...
Hip-Hop’s Origin Story in 10 songs
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today hip-hop is the world’s most popular music, but it began as a neighborhood party in the Bronx. Guided by hip-hop historian Debra Harris, with s...
A History of Punk Rock in 10 Songs
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does punk really mean, and why does it still matter? Jack talks with New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh to trace the genre’s history through 10 so...
Introducing The Track Star Podcast
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Track Star Podcast is on its way. The internet’s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Follow here so you don’t miss the first episode, re...