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Bandsplain

The Ringer 227 Episodes Jul 23, 2026

Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists—and why people love them.

Episodes

SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins
SOUNDTRACK: 'Working Girl' With Amanda Dobbins Jul 23, 2026 5167 Amanda Dobbins joins Yasi to take on the Oscar-, Grammy-, and Golden Globe-winning soundtrack to 'Working Girl.' They trace Carly Simon’s path to penning “Let the River Run,” how the Eagles nearly provided the movie’s defining song instead, and the iconic sneakers-to-heels commuter transition. Plus: Who almost played the lead, how much did that apartment really cost, and gifts from Kansas. CREDIT
SOUNDTRACK: 'Dirty Dancing' With Joanna Robinson
SOUNDTRACK: 'Dirty Dancing' With Joanna Robinson Jul 16, 2026 6248 Joanna Robinson joins Yasi to break down one of the defining soundtracks of the ’80s: 'Dirty Dancing.' They get into the real-life tension between Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze that became undeniable on-screen chemistry, the soundtrack’s seamless blend of ’60s nostalgia and ’80s pop hits, Swayze’s surprise turn as a recording artist with the hit song ‘She’s Like the Wind,’ and how the music hel
MADONNA: 'Confessions II' with Patrik Sandberg
MADONNA: 'Confessions II' with Patrik Sandberg Jul 9, 2026 10167 Madonna Month icon Patrik Sandberg is back to help Yasi break down 'Confessions II,' Madonna’s return to the dance floor. They break down the album’s callbacks to New York nightlife, the name-checks from Debi Mazar and Mark Kamins to Basquiat and Keith Haring, and why Madonna is revisiting one of her most beloved eras. Plus, our review (we love it)! CREDITS: Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalek Guests
The Best New Music of Spring 2026 With Bre Morell. Plus, An Interview With Domenic Palermo of Nothing.
The Best New Music of Spring 2026 With Bre Morell. Plus, An Interview With Domenic Palermo of Nothing. Jun 25, 2026 9278 Yasi and returning guest Bre Morell discuss their favorite new albums that came out this spring. Plus, the new singles from their most anticipated albums of the summer! Next, Yasi talks with Domenic “Nicky” Palermo of Nothing about their latest album, ‘a short history of decay’, his Slide Away Music Festival and so, so much more. Episode PlaylistListen to the Best New Music of Spring 2026 hereAn
SOUNDTRACK: 'Purple Rain' With Anthony Anzaldo
SOUNDTRACK: 'Purple Rain' With Anthony Anzaldo Jun 18, 2026 11615 Yasi is joined by musician and producer Anthony Anzaldo (Ceremony, Anthony Family) to unpack 'Purple Rain,' the soundtrack that took Prince from rising pop star to household name. They discuss the making of the film, the role of The Revolution, the live recording that became the title track, Morris Day and The Time (and of course, Jerome), and how Prince blended rock, funk, and pop to create a who
Madonna Mailbag With Fattaneh Salek and Patrik Sandberg
Madonna Mailbag With Fattaneh Salek and Patrik Sandberg Jun 11, 2026 9971 Madonna Month (OK, six weeks) is coming to a close, and it’s going out with a bang! First, Yasi is joined by the original Madonna influence, her mom, Fattaneh Salek! It all started here, from picking Madonna favorites while still in a stroller to transcribing lyrics for future sing-alongs. Then, Patrik Sandberg is back to help Yasi answer all your burning Madonna questions. What was Madonna’s bes
Madonna: The Movies With Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey
Madonna: The Movies With Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey Jun 4, 2026 8514 Yasi is joined by Amanda Dobbins and Sean Fennessey of The Big Picture to reconsider Madonna’s life on film, including her breakout role in Desperately Seeking Susan, box office hits like Dick Tracy and A League of Their Own, polarizing works like Body of Evidence, and of course her most critically acclaimed film work, Evita. They discuss Madonna the cinephile, the vulnerability required to be a g
Madonna: Part 4 With Caryn Ganz
Madonna: Part 4 With Caryn Ganz May 28, 2026 13545 Yasi is joined by journalist and critic Caryn Ganz as the Madonna series enters the modern era. They discuss the glittering revival of 'Confessions on a Dance Floor,' the superstar collaborations and pop maximalism of 'Hard Candy,' the spectacle and chaos of 'MDNA,' the leaks, vulnerability, and often misunderstood ambition of 'Rebel Heart,' and the globetrotting experimentation of 'Madame X.' Plu
Madonna: Part 3 With Paul Hamann
Madonna: Part 3 With Paul Hamann May 21, 2026 14502 Yasi is joined by creative director Paul Hamann as they continue the Bandsplain Madonna deep dive. They discuss Madonna’s celebrated acting role in Evita and the lasting vocal changes that came with it, her career-elevating work of Ray of Light, the ahead-of-its-time Music, and how the increasingly fraught political situation in America impacted one of her most misunderstood works, American Life.
Madonna: Part 2 with Patrik Sandberg
Madonna: Part 2 with Patrik Sandberg May 14, 2026 16601 Yasi is joined by writer and Bandsplain MVP Patrik Sandberg for Part 2 of the Madonna epic. This chapter follows Madonna from 'Like a Prayer' through 'Bedtime Stories' as she alchemizes religion, sex, fashion, and controversy into one of the most fascinating and powerful runs in pop music history. They talk about the history of “Vogue,” the groundbreaking Pepsi commercial, her major leap with 'Ero
Madonna: Part 1 With Mel Ottenberg
Madonna: Part 1 With Mel Ottenberg May 7, 2026 12819 Yasi kicks off Bandsplain’s multipart Madonna epic with returning guest and fashion icon Mel Ottenberg. They discuss Madonna’s childhood and upbringing in Michigan, her dance career and the formative relationships that led her to New York City, her history playing in bands, her immersion in the club scene, the breakthrough singles that made her impossible to ignore, her first three albums, and all
Life Without Buildings with Blondshell
Life Without Buildings with Blondshell Apr 23, 2026 4964 Recorded live at the Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Yasi is joined by Sabrina Teitelbaum (a.k.a. Blondshell) to dig into Life Without Buildings, the Scottish cult band whose single and singular 2001 album, 'Any Other City,' is still worth talking about today. They discuss the band’s jagged sound, their art school roots, and the second life they found when “The Leanover” went viral on TikTok two dec

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