We're a podcast about the making and meaning of popular music hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding.

Each episode, we break down the most important songs in pop culture and chat with leading artists, songwriters, and producers to break down pop songs and figure out what makes a hit and what is its place in culture. Listeners will come away finding "a-ha" moments in their favorite music.

Our newsletter brings that same spirit: revealing the unexpected complexity hiding beneath those infectious hooks, with zero snobbery required.

Named among the best music podcasts by The New Yorker, The Guardian, and NPR, we've had conversations with everyone from chart-toppers like Chappell Roan and Charlie Puth to legends like Nile Rodgers and Talking Heads to trailblazers like Willow and Jacob Collier.

Join us as we decode the Billboard charts and discover what they reveal about music, culture, and ourselves.

Stay switched on!