Anything But Toto is a pop culture and current events podcast. Join Bianca and Julian as they dig into music, movies, TV, news, and celebrity gossip. You never know who or what will be discussed next, but rest assured, this is a Toto-free space.
Ep. 36: “This Boy” - Our Top John Lennon Beatles Songs
Join Bianca and Julian as they turn their attention to the other half of the Lennon–McCartney songwriting team - a deep dive into 10 of their favourite Beatle-era John Lennon songs.
They start by unpacking their fascination with John: his undeniable coolness, razor-sharp humour, and the way his martyrdom reshaped how the world remembers him. They also explore the pain and curiosity at the heart of his music, from the childhood trauma that followed him throughout his life to the ways he channelled it into some of the most haunting, vulnerable, and startlingly honest pop music ever recorded.
Then comes the main event: a guided tour through their chosen tracks, digging into the writing, performances, arrangements, and production choices that made John such a singular songwriter. Along the way, they break down the qualities they love most about his music - his bluesiness, colourful wordplay, horizontal melodies, and instinct for breaking the rules of song structure, key, and tempo.
So grab your Rickenbacker, put on your round glasses, and get ready to rattle your jewellery.
Email us at anythingbuttoto@gmail.com
Theme music by Daniel Konikoff
27 Aug 2026
Ep. 35: “The End of Wanting” - Phoebe, Ariana & Role Model
Movie classics, Beatles discourse, and three of pop’s biggest new releases - Bianca and Julian are back with another sprawling music roundup.
They kick things off with two recent watches: Sidney Lumet’s timeless "Dog Day Afternoon" and Matt Johnson’s new Anthony Bourdain biopic, "Tony", before weighing in on the internet’s latest obsession: the flood of set photos from Sam Mendes’ four Beatles biopics.
Then it’s time for the music. First up is Phoebe Bridgers’ "Lost Weekend", a haunting meditation on grief, memory, and the strange ways we revisit the past. Bianca and Julian unpack how Bridgers transforms the death of her father and a broken engagement into one of her most cinematic records yet, exploring Jack Antonoff’s fragmented production, the album’s shifting sense of time, and - because they can’t help themselves - a deep dive into the Phoebe Bridgers and Bo Burnham lore.
Next comes Ariana Grande’s "petal," an album that feels furious without ever raising its voice. They explore its restrained emotional palette, the tension between vulnerability and anger, and how the recent discourse surrounding Ariana’s public image has shaped the conversation around the music itself.
A quick detour brings them to Slayyyter’s “brand new chanel$”, the explosive lead single from her upcoming album "WOR$T MAN IN AMERICA" - and they make the case that it’s already one of the strongest pop songs of the past decade.
Finally, they close with Role Model’s "Chuck Timely & The Hourglass", a concept album steeped in early ’70s Americana. Bianca and Julian wrestle with what the album’s concept is really trying to say, and where the line lies between homage and innovation.
Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.com
Theme music by: Daniel Konikoff
31 Jul 2026
Ep. 34: "SS26 Pop Music Roundup" - Charli, Gracie, Madonna & The Strokes
Summer is in full swing, pop music is in overdrive, and Bianca and Julian are back with one of their biggest episodes yet. Before anything else, they kick things off with an exciting announcement about the future direction of Anything But Toto—and what listeners can expect from the show going forward.
First, they catch up on life lately: Bianca reports back from seeing Tame Impala twice in Toronto (with Djo opening), and the duo shares their thoughts on recent films, including The Invite and The Odyssey.
Then it's onto the main event: a deep dive into the state of pop music in the spring and summer of 2026.
Bianca and Julian begin with Gracie Abrams' third album, Daughter From Hell, unpacking its lyrical perspective, sonic evolution (or stagnation?), and the ongoing conversation surrounding her creative partnership with Audrey Hobert. From there, they tackle Charli XCX's Music, Fashion, Film - a record preceded by two years of expectation management and one that raises bigger questions about artistic reinvention, the 2000s pop rock revival, and whether form can outweigh substance.
Next up is The Strokes' Reality Awaits, perhaps the most divisive release of the season. Is it a bold, high concept experiment or simply autotuned slop? Bianca and Julian weigh both sides before giving their verdict.
Finally, they close things out on the dance floor with reviews of Madonna's Confessions II and a quick discussion of Slayyyter's upcoming Worst Man in America.
Whether you're looking for album reviews, pop culture analysis, or an unreasonably long conversation about the biggest music releases of the spring and summer, this episode has you covered.
Email us: anythingbuttoto@gmail.comTheme music by: Daniel Konikoff
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
3.5 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
27 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 16 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
2
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
Contact Anything But Toto
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Anything But Toto
Who hosts Anything But Toto?
Bianca and Julian host the show. Published by Anything But Toto.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Anything But Toto take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Host of Anything But Toto?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
