Unfamous with Justin Tranter

Who Gets The Final Say? Inside The Hollywood Reporter Oct 14, 2026 4765 The best-looking photo can still be the wrong cover. And one bad compromise can turn a bold creative idea beige. The Hollywood Reporter’s Maer Roshan and Alison Edmond join Justin Tranter to reveal what actually happens behind some of Hollywood’s biggest covers—from Angelina Jolie asking them to redo an entire lighting setup after one shot, to orchestrating The White Lotus cast across two coasts

Why Troye Sivan Refuses to Make the Same Album Twice Oct 10, 2026 5399 An Instagram DM became “Rush.” “Bloom” started with Troye Sivan thinking it wasn’t working. And after more than a decade of writing together, Troye and Leland are still trying to surprise themselves. On Unfamous, they break down their creative partnership, how Troye keeps evolving without repeating himself, the stories behind “Rush” and “Bloom,” imposter syndrome, writing for RuPaul’s Drag Race,

The Lost Boys Was “The Hardest Thing We’ve Ever Done”: The Rescues on 60 Songs + Band Therapy Oct 7, 2026 5065 The Rescues spent five years writing The Lost Boys for Broadway. They wrote nearly 60 songs, rewrote lyrics again and again, cut a song they loved after watching it stop the show cold in front of an audience, and reached a point where they had to ask whether they could keep working together after it was over. Justin Tranter reunites with Kyler England, AG and Gabriel Mann to break down what actua

When "Pushing Through" Stops Working: Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Reinvention Sep 30, 2026 3490 What happens when pushing through stops making you stronger and starts getting in the way of the art? Justin Tranter sits down with Rainbow Kitten Surprise's lead singer/songwriter Ela Melo and her partner and movement director Cat Cogliandro to unpack how movement, trust and recovery changed the way Ela and the band perform. They trace “Devil Like Me” from a homemade recording built with card

Inside Pop Songwriting: Hits, Failure, Fear + What Actually Makes a Song Work Sep 23, 2026 5336 What makes a great song when everyone is trying to reverse-engineer hits, virality and the “right” way to be an artist? Justin Tranter sits down with friends and collaborators Sasha Alex Sloan and Amelia Moore, two artist-songwriters whose careers keep proving that some of the best creative decisions are the ones that look wrong on paper. They unpack how an imperfect choice became one of the m

Why Some Songs Work Onscreen and Others Don’t: Pitch Perfect, The Devil Wears Prada + Wednesday Sep 16, 2026 3808 What makes one song perfect for a scene while another, even a great one, just doesn’t work? Justin Tranter sits down with music supervisor Julia Michels and songwriter, producer and arranger Alana Da Fonseca to break down the judgment behind the music in Pitch Perfect, The Devil Wears Prada, Wednesday, Off Campus and more. They get into testing whether “Toxic” would still connect with a younge

How Music Gets Into Hit TV Shows | The Hidden Process Behind Prime's "Off Campus" + More Sep 9, 2026 3856 How does a song actually make it into a hit TV show, and what makes the right placement capable of changing an artist’s career? Live from the GMS Conference, Justin Tranter sits down with Emmy-nominated music supervisors Amanda Krieg Thomas and Anna Romanoff to reveal the hidden process behind the music you hear on screen. They break down how Off Campus on Prime built its musical world from the s

Bella Kay + Alexis Idarose Kesselman | “iloveitiloveitiloveit”+ How Great Collaborators Disagree Sep 2, 2026 3999 Bella Kay and songwriter-producer Alexis Idarose Kesselman break down the creative partnership behind Bella’s debut album, from meeting during one of Bella’s first-ever writing sessions to making “I Love It, I Love It, I Love It,” “Stop,” “Blur,” and “Karaoke.” They talk about learning the rules without losing what makes an artist unique, fighting for ideas, turning messy relationships into song

Ruth B + Cole MGN | What Happens After Your First Song Becomes a Massive Hit Aug 26, 2026 4350 Ruth B’s career exploded with her very first song. Then came the harder question: how do you do it again? Ruth and producer Cole MGN join Justin Tranter to unpack the pressure that followed “Lost Boy,” why “Dandelions” unexpectedly going viral five years later changed Ruth’s relationship with success, and how the two built her most personal album yet. They break down abandoning the songwriting

Recap | How Artists Rebuild, Find Their Identity + Build the Right Team Aug 19, 2026 2182 Host and co-creator Justin Tranter and co-creator Morgan Stuart revisit their conversation with artist Valencia Grace and manager Kyle Stuart to unpack what it really takes to build an artist from the ground up. They break down why getting dropped can sometimes unlock the artist you were supposed to become, why the right manager needs to be genuinely obsessed with the work, and why virality, a r

Bea Miller | Child Stardom on The X Factor, Depression and the Wild Stories Behind Her Songs Aug 12, 2026 5676 Bea Miller joins longtime collaborator Justin Tranter to unpack growing up as a child star, surviving The X Factor, and finding her confidence as a songwriter. They break down how real conversations about depression, relationships, insecurity and bad decisions became songs like “Feel Something,” “Drunk Enough,” “Depressed on the Internet,” and “Sex for Attention,” plus sexism in writing rooms, P

Recap: Kid Cudi on Creative Trust, Criticism, and the Meaning of "Pursuit of Happiness" Aug 5, 2026 1705 Unfamous host Justin Tranter and his co-creator Morgan Stuart revisit Justin’s conversation with Kid Cudi, unpacking what it reveals about trust, creative risk, criticism, and longevity. From the chaotic first session that helped unlock “Saltwater,” to Cudi pushing himself vocally, to “Pursuit of Happiness” becoming something bigger than its original meaning, this minisode looks at how great artis

Recap: Caleb Hearon + Caitie Delaney on TV Writing, Ego, and Bad Notes Jul 29, 2026 1536 Unfamous host Justin Tranter is joined by his co-creator Morgan Stuart to revisit their episode with comedian, actor, and writer Caleb Hearon and TV writer Caitie Delaney, whose credits include Big Mouth and Rick and Morty. Together, they unpack what Caleb and Caitie’s creative partnership reveals about writer room dynamics, ego, executive notes, knowing when to push back, and why the best colla

Wendy Goldstein | The Art of Building Superstars Jul 22, 2026 4242 Wendy Goldstein, Chairwoman and CCO of Republic Records, joins Justin Tranter for a masterclass on how artists are discovered, careers are built, and hit records are made. From signing The Roots in her first week at Epic Records to helping guide artists like Ariana Grande, Joe Jonas, and DNCE, Wendy shares lessons from decades spent shaping some of the biggest careers and moments in modern music.

Claire + Ragnar Rosinkranz | The Viral Hit, the Health Scare, and the Comeback Jul 15, 2026 3981 Claire Rosinkranz and Ragnar Rosinkranz join Justin Tranter for a funny, intimate, and deeply honest conversation about making music as father and daughter. They look back on the musical home that shaped Claire, the unexpected rise of “Backyard Boy,” and what it felt like to have a viral breakout at 16 before fully understanding the scale of it. But this episode is not just about one song. Cla

Emei + Ricky Reed | How Radical Honesty Builds Great Artists Jul 8, 2026 4497 Singer-songwriter Emei joins Grammy-winning producer, songwriter and Nice Life founder Ricky Reed for a conversation about the creative partnership behind her latest project, Night at the Opera, and what it really takes to build a lasting career. Together with Justin Tranter, they unpack how Ricky discovered Emei, why one radically honest conversation became the foundation of their collaboration,

“Chains.” Two Days Later, “Jealous.” The Week Everything Changed. Jul 1, 2026 4503 Nick Jonas recorded “Chains.” Two days later, he wrote “Jealous.” It was the breakthrough week that helped redefine his career. With longtime collaborator Justin Tranter, Nick reveals what came before it: being underestimated as a Jonas Brother and Disney star, the fear of rejection that kept the band from reaching outside their circle, and the collaborators who helped him find a new creative ide

Rose Gray | From Louder, Please to "Club to Your Arms" Jun 24, 2026 4147 Rose Gray joins Justin Tranter for a conversation about songwriting, collaboration, and the creative journey behind her latest single, "Club to Your Arms." A Critics Choice Brit Award nominee and one of the most exciting voices in modern pop, Rose shares how she built a devoted fanbase through relentless touring, emotional honesty, and a clear artistic vision long before any viral breakthrough ar

Katy Perry + Christian Breslauer | Watch It Burn, Feminine Fire, and Why It’s Okay to Be Angry Jun 17, 2026 4781 Katy Perry, Christian Breslauer and Justin Tranter make bold, emotionally driven work. But more importantly, they know what it means to feel something fully and still let it be seen. In this episode of Unfamous, Katy sits down with Justin to talk about their songwriting collaboration on “Band-Aids” and “Watch It Burn” (out 6/25), and how those songs came from a place of vulnerability, intention,

Skylar Grey + Elliott Taylor | Eminem Hits, Bubble Grunge and WASTED POTENTIAL Jun 10, 2026 4470 Skylar Grey and Elliott Taylor collaborate on making music. But more importantly, they’ve built a creative life together. In this episode of Unfamous, Skylar opens up about writing Love The Way You Lie for Eminem and Rihanna alone in a cabin in the woods with no internet, how emotional burnout shaped her new album Wasted Potential, and why some of the darkest creative moments often lead to breakth

Bongo ByTheWay + Ant Clemons | Songwriting math, producer psychology + Ye hits Jun 3, 2026 4335 Bongo ByTheWay and Ant Clemons break down the creative chemistry that turned their first session into 11 songs in a single day and eventually led to collaborations with artists like Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and more. The conversation dives into songwriting “math,” artist development, ego-free collaboration, surviving the music industry, and why emotional intelligence matters just a

Linda Perry + Don Hardy | Music, filmmaking, grief, and the power of vulnerability May 27, 2026 4701 Linda Perry, the songwriter and producer behind songs like Christina Aguilera's “Beautiful” and Four Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” joins Unfamous alongside documentary filmmaker Don Hardy to talk about the deeply personal documentary about Linda’s life and creative evolution. The episode explores Linda’s journey through music, collaboration, grief, cancer, vulnerability, and emotional honesty while u

Valencia Grace + Kyle Stuart | Finding your artistic identity and building the right team May 26, 2026 4790 Valencia Grace and manager Kyle Stuart break down what it actually takes to build an artist from the ground up. From getting dropped by a label and rebuilding independently to shaping a theatrical “pop opera” identity in real time, the episode explores the creative and strategic partnership behind an emerging artist’s career. They talk about how to find the right collaborators, what makes artist-

Valencia Grace performs “Picture Frames” live on Unfamous May 20, 2026 334 Valencia Grace performs a live rendition of “Picture Frames” on this special episode of Unfamous. Stripped down to just voice and piano, the performance highlights the theatrical emotion, intimacy, and storytelling at the core of Valencia’s artistry. Follow, subscribe, like and comment if you love to watch and listen. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Mo

Bonus: Valencia Grace performs “Picture Frames” live on Unfamous May 20, 2026 334 Valencia Grace performs a live rendition of “Picture Frames” on this special episode of Unfamous. Stripped down to just voice and piano, the performance highlights the theatrical emotion, intimacy, and storytelling at the core of Valencia’s artistry. Follow, subscribe, like and comment if you love to watch and listen. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Mo

Yadim Carranza + Darian Darling | Building beauty culture from the underground May 13, 2026 4325 Yadim Carranza and Darian Darling shape beauty culture from behind the scenes. But more importantly, they’ve spent years helping each other survive and evolve through nightlife, fashion, addiction, transphobia, and the chaos of creative ambition. In this episode, the longtime friends and collaborators join Justin Tranter to talk about going from MAC counters and tiny New York apartments to influe

Debbie Gibson | Youngest artist to write, produce, and perform a Billboard #1 hit May 6, 2026 6336 On this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with pop icon Debbie Gibson for a candid conversation about songwriting, producing, and building a career before adulthood. Debbie breaks down how she taught herself production, became the youngest artist ever to write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 #1, and learned to protect her creative vision in an industry that constantly underes

Grace VanderWaal + Eren Cannata | Growing up as a 'Childstar' and processing it through music Apr 29, 2026 3128 Grace VanderWaal and Eren Cannata make work that feels raw but intentional. More importantly, they know how to keep the energy in the room alive long enough for the right idea to land. In this episode of Unfamous, they talk about building Childstar and the creative rhythm Grace and Eren found together. Grace reflects on starting sessions as young as 12 and how writing gave her a way to say things

MUNA | Evolving Together, Creative Tension and Making Dancing On The Wall Apr 22, 2026 4779 MUNA makes emotionally sharp, collaborative work that holds because they know how to stay in it long enough to figure out what a song actually needs. In this episode of Unfamous, host Justin Tranter sits down with MUNA to talk about building a band as a long-term collaboration and what it’s taken to evolve together while working on their upcoming album, which Justin also co-wrote on. They get int

Kid Cudi | Trusting Collaborators, Taking Vocal Risks, and Taking Free on Tour Apr 15, 2026 4377 Kid Cudi and Justin Tranter make emotionally expansive, genre-shifting work. But more importantly, they know how to stay open long enough to actually find something new. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin sits down with Cudi to talk about their collaboration on Free and what it meant for him to move from writing alone into a shared process. They get into trust, pushing past limits, and letting o

King Princess | Girl Violence, Nicole Kidman and a Demon Named Cherry Apr 1, 2026 2712 King Princess makes bold, chaotic, deeply self-aware pop. But more importantly? She knows how to build art through collaboration, trust, and a healthy amount of beautifully unhinged creativity. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with longtime collaborator and pop provocateur King Princess to talk about songwriting, acting, queer storytelling, and what it actually takes to surv

Melanie Martinez + CJ Baran | Building Worlds Through Intuition, Trust, and Experimentation Mar 25, 2026 4702 Melanie Martinez and CJ Baran make dark, beautiful, deeply specific art. But more importantly? They know how to build a universe together. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators behind Cry Baby, Portals, and Melanie’s upcoming double-album world to talk about storytelling, trust, experimentation, intuition, and what it takes to make something both wil

Trixie + Fena | If The Wig Stays On, The Zipper Closes + No One Cries, It's No Accident. It's Fena. Mar 18, 2026 4342 Trixie Mattel and Fena Barbitall know drag is never just the person in front of the camera. It takes trust, instinct, taste, stamina, and someone behind the scenes who knows how to keep the whole illusion alive. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators to talk about drag as a craft, creative assistance, building looks under pressure, touring, ego, ins

Amy Allen + Gabz Landman | The Songwriter–Manager Partnership That Built a Hitmaking Career Mar 11, 2026 4602 Amy Allen is one of the biggest songwriters in pop. Gabz Landman is one of the sharpest managers in music. But more importantly? They know how to build a career together. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with the longtime collaborators to talk about instinct, trust, advocacy, career-building, and what it really takes to make a songwriter-manager relationship work over the lo

INK Told Beyoncé She’d Write Her Next Album. Here’s What Happened. Mar 4, 2026 3007 INK has written with some of the biggest artists in music, from Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to Justin Bieber and Lil Nas X. But her process starts with one rule: don’t force it. INK joins Justin Tranter to break down how Beyoncé’s “16 Carriages” began during the one session she accidentally showed up early for, what Kendrick Lamar taught her about slowing down and letting go of good ideas, and

Caleb Hearon + Caitie Delaney | How to Be Funny, Employed, and Only Mildly Traumatized About It Mar 4, 2026 5905 Caleb Hearon and Caitie Delaney are hilarious. But more importantly? They know how to collaborate. In this episode of Unfamous, Justin Tranter sits down with two of comedy’s sharpest minds to talk about writing rooms, pitching to sell, ego deaths, executive notes, financial insecurity, and the very specific horror of saying “sure” to Caleb Hearon. It’s chaotic, smart, honest and it’s a real tak

Introducing: Unfamous with Justin Tranter Feb 25, 2026 145 Most of what you love in pop culture didn't happen the way you think it did. Unfamous pairs a celebrity with the collaborator who helped build their biggest moments and lets you hear how it actually went down. It’s funny, honest, occasionally chaotic, and full of real insight about collaboration, ego, ambition, and making something that lasts. You know the moments. You don't know the stories.

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