Switched on Pop
Episodes
Lizzy McAlpine summons Nick Drake & Joni Mitchell
Lizzy McAlpine discusses the making of her fourth album, *Angel*, with songwriter Charlie Harding and bandmates Mason and Taylor.
The power of singing together (ft. Tiny Habits)
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding explore the decline of vocal harmonies in pop music, tracing their roots from gospel and the 1960s to the 1980s shift toward solo artists.
Questionable Country
Hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan explore the definition of country music by analyzing the top five Billboard Hot 100 tracks from August 2026.
Phoebe Bridgers opens her Moleskine
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding analyze Phoebe Bridgers’ album *Punisher*, exploring how she transforms personal diary entries into art.
We have Confessions to make...
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding, joined by producer Rihanna Cruz, analyze Madonna’s album *Confessions II* as a sonic biopic.
A piano lesson that will change how you listen (ft. Lang Lang)
Hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan discuss their childhood piano experiences and argue that classical music is essentially popular music.
IV. Take It to the Bridge (ft. Tayla Parx)
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding explore the song bridge in this final installment of their song structure series.
III. Preaching to the Chorus (ft. Cypress Hill and Trevor Horn)
Hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan explore the evolution of the pop chorus, tracing its history from ancient Greek theater to modern hit-making.
II. Justice for the verse (ft. Audrey Hobert)
Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding explore the often-underappreciated role of the verse in pop music, tracing its history from Shakespearean poetry to modern songwriting.
I. Let's get it started (ft. Aaron Dessner)
Hosts Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan kick off their Netflix series by analyzing the role of song introductions.