Pops on Hops

About Pops on Hops

A podcast where we listen to some pops, drink a little hops, and Abigail Hummel gets to hang out with her pop, Barry Hummel!

Publisher

Barry Hummel and Abigail Hummel

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Feb 2021

Latest episode

18 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

152 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Sept 2026

   114 Lucky Doctor Way (J. Cole and Magic 13 Brewing Co.)

   In this long-awaited jukebox episode, Barry and Abigail are joined by Dr. Alinor “Lucky” Mezinord to dig into J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive (https://open.spotify.com/album/0UMMIkurRUmkruZ3KGBLtG?si=iudfP1pqS1y8b5OjHH4X-g)—an album Lucky considers one of the greatest of all time and one that deeply resonated with his own experience growing up. The group also rated two beers from Magic 13 Brewing Company (https://magic13brewing.com/) in Miami, Florida: Islander (https://untappd.com/b/magic-13-brewing-co-islander/5200893) and American Dream (https://untappd.com/b/magic-13-brewing-co-american-dream/5198148). The conversation quickly becomes much more than a discussion of hip-hop: it explores ambition, identity, family, community, race, success, and the choices that shape a life. Lucky explains why J. Cole’s conscious, story-driven style connected with him, particularly as someone who grew up reading and looking for a different path out of his community. Barry and Abigail are struck by the album’s unusually strong narrative structure. Rather than simply being a collection of songs, 2014 Forest Hills Drive follows an arc from J. Cole’s childhood and aspirations, through his emergence as a successful rapper, to his growing discomfort with the persona and lifestyle that accompany fame—and ultimately his return to his roots. The title itself becomes part of that story: 2014 Forest Hills Drive was the address of the home his mother lost to foreclosure, which Cole later purchased and repurposed as housing for single mothers in his community. They then explore how songs such as “January 28th,” “Wet Dreamz,” “03’ Adolescence,” “A Tale of 2 Citiez,” and “Fire Squad” portray the competing pressures facing young people: the desire to escape poverty, the lure of money and status, limited opportunities, and the importance of supportive people who encourage you to pursue a different path. Lucky brings a particularly personal perspective to these themes, connecting the album to his own experiences growing up in Miami and eventually becoming a physician. The discussion also considers how seemingly small decisions accumulate over time—and how circumstances, family support, opportunity, and adversity can be just as important as individual choices. As Cole achieves the success he dreamed about, the album’s tone changes. “Saint Tropez,” “G.O.M.D.,” and “No Role Modelz” become launching points for a discussion about what happens when ambition turns into ego and when success creates distance from the people and places that shaped you. Abigail also took the opportunity to share the sample from Berta, Berta (https://open.spotify.com/track/6qch9OCGDjfw7gcgUvaXbf?si=c9c4831625dc4e0a) by Branford Marsalis, highlighting the slavery imagery used in the music video for “G.O.M.D.” (https://youtu.be/vHU6ZRQJ50Q?si=ilGZHWCzM0NOINwn) The emotional heart of the album—and the episode—comes with “Hello” and “Apparently.” Barry sees “Hello” as a continuation of the story begun in “Wet Dreamz,” while Abigail and Lucky offer different interpretations of whether Cole ultimately chooses to return to the relationship represented in the song. “Apparently,” meanwhile, brings the story back to Cole’s mother, his childhood home, and the sacrifices and love that helped make his success possible. The hosts discuss how repeated lyrics gain new meaning as the album progresses, reinforcing their appreciation of Cole’s songwriting and sequencing. The discussion closes with “Love Yourz” and the controversial “Note to Self.” The hosts debate whether “Love Yourz” offers an empowering message about appreciating what you have or risks sounding like a prescription for complacency. Abigail also enters “Love Yourz” into The Abigail Hummel School of Speaking Smartly About Music by comparing elements of the song to “Same Love (https://open.spotify.com/track/01uqI4H13Gsd8Lyl1EYd8H?si=7dff759ea9124f84)” by Macklemore. “Note to Self,” a lengthy spoken-word set of credits and thank-yous, produces perhaps the episode’s funniest disagreement: Barry wants to skip it, while Abigail and Lucky love the personality and behind-the-scenes glimpse it provides. And, after nearly a year of waiting to record this episode, Lucky gets the honor of choosing the next jukebox album, “Criminal Minded (https://open.spotify.com/album/3PkWTXolCR9RkJrKiAsf55?si=hcGwRZJ5Sva8GDVB-9_z4A)” by Boogie Down Productions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie_Down_Productions), submitted by Barry’s brother (and Abigail’s uncle) Derek Hummel.

2. 

   10 Jul 2026

   We've Got Our Own Podcast To Do (Ron Wood and Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing)

   Barry, Abigail, and special guest Jack Cornell discuss I’ve Got My Own Album to Do (https://open.spotify.com/album/7tVd8q9bYYl11OIXx6xz2X?si=J1giRh_BRdC2pURDIM2Obw) by Ron Wood (https://ronniewood.com/) and sample Magic Totem (https://untappd.com/b/wye-hill-brewing-magic-totem/5286743), Acres and Acres (https://untappd.com/b/wye-hill-brewing-acres-and-acres/4404988), and Motorik Marzen (https://untappd.com/b/wye-hill-brewing-motorik-marzen/3456951) from Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing (https://wyehill.com/) in Raleigh, North Carolina. Now-five-timer (https://popsonhopspod.com/multiple-guest-club) Jack has surprisingly never before joined us to discuss music he didn’t write! He previously shared original music on both of our Christmas bonus episodes, Bonus: Greet the Hummels! Original Songs by Friends of the Pod! (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/bonus-greet-the-hummels-and-friends) and Bonus: A Christmas Day's Eve! Original Songs by Our Friends (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/bonus-a-christmas-days-eve-original-songs-by-our-friends), and joined us to discuss his work on Bonus: Friendship Wins (Jack Cornell &Tripping Animals Brewing) (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/friendsh-ip-wins-jack-cornell-and-tripping-animals-brewing-co) and Bonus: Cornell Exchange Hops (The OAK Team and Oktoberfest Beers) (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/bonus-cornell-exchange-hops-the-oak-team-and-oktoberfest-beers). Give his previous appearances some love; they are a lot of fun! Also check out Jack’s solo work (https://jackcornell.bandcamp.com/album/one-in-wins) and his work with Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kickin Team (https://terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam.bandcamp.com/music). The Wikipedia article for this album (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ve_Got_My_Own_Album_to_Do) has a great summary of the fun story and impressive personnel list behind the album. Barry suspected that Far East Man (https://open.spotify.com/track/0wwQ7SNm6rpLbLD0R8lsOA?si=0d268a76ca0c475a) (written by Ron Wood and George Harrison) is about Pattie Boyd (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattie_Boyd), Harrison’s wife and widely speculated to be the most written-about woman in rock ‘n’ roll (Abigail mentioned Layla (https://open.spotify.com/track/2kkvB3RNRzwjFdGhaUA0tz?si=89ffb9da1af84c02) by Derek and The Dominos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_and_the_Dominos) as an example). Jack shared that Layla was also inspired by the Persian love story Layla and Majnun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layla_and_Majnun). We played a bit of Freddie Scott (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Scott)’s version (https://open.spotify.com/track/6qdH0VhNp36DKtsWmmTkOU?si=1f6664e67c104ee9) of Am I Grooving You (https://open.spotify.com/track/5H0CXqZ0VrDb6H35rrQHA3?si=e959786aaa7c441c) Abigail entered Sure the One You Need (https://open.spotify.com/track/2tXtTev8lQNPv83lYoqYFO?si=f85b974553284d9d) (written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards) into the Abigail Hummel School of Speaking Smartly About Music with a comparison to Takin’ Care of Business (https://open.spotify.com/track/0lzNXoZINVBLHWNIxKxWOo?si=bd685e6d56fa459c) by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (https://www.btoband.com/). We reasoned that this similarity came from a “common musical ancestor”; Jack pitched Chuck Berry (https://www.chuckberry.com/). Evidently, an early arrangement of Takin’ Care of Business strongly resembled The Beatles (https://www.thebeatles.com/)’ Paperback Writer (https://open.spotify.com/track/08Yu7UpXDrghKeUNa9Gnux?si=6b05a5d74e0345d0), which was inspired by Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode (https://open.spotify.com/track/2QfiRTz5Yc8DdShCxG1tB2?si=8ac99c802b704cf8). Later, Keith Richards played in Berry’s band for two 1986 concerts in St. Louis that were recorded in the film Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail!_Hail!_Rock_%27n%27_Roll). We closed with (I Wanna Be) The Drummer for the Gap Band (https://terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam.bandcamp.com/track/i-wanna-be-the-drummer-for-the-gap-band) from Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kickin Team (https://terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam.bandcamp.com/music)’s latest EP, Yeah Wooooo (https://terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam.bandcamp.com/album/yeah-wooooo)! Jingles are by our friend Pete Coe (https://twitter.com/petecoevo). Visit Anosmia Awareness (https://www.anosmiaawareness.org/) for more information on Barry’s condition. Follow Barry (https://untappd.com/user/BarleyMD) or Abigail (https://untappd.com/user/hungryhungryhummel) on Untappd (https://untappd.com/home) to see what we’re drinking when we’re not on mic! Leave us a rating or a review on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pops-on-hops/id1553971950) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3E0YpyccsGRnNKzpWX5kil?si=8be233e2df5246a9)! Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/popsonhopspod) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/popsonhopspod) | Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/popsonhopspod.bsky.social) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TjxB4OpK8cJiKcbHlE0lQ) | Substack (https://popsonhopspod.substack.com/) | Website (http://popsonhopspod.com/) | Email us (mailto:popsonhopspod@gmail.com) | Virtual Jukebox (https://popsonhopspod.com/virtual-jukebox) | Beer Media Group (https://beermediagroup.com/)

3. 

   22 May 2026

   Onomartino (Ozomatli and Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company)

   Barry, Abigail, and special guest Nick Martino discuss Ozomatli (https://open.spotify.com/album/7tz0zZOFIdX7PxMfIeoXS0?si=b2Onps7rSS-y8tFEhfaw5Q) by Ozomatli (https://ozomatli.com/) and sample Sole of the Sea (https://untappd.com/b/lost-shoe-brewing-and-roasting-company-sole-of-the-sea/6600069) (collaboration with Rockport Brewing Company (https://www.rockportbrewingcompany.com/) in Rockport, Massachusetts), Drip (https://untappd.com/b/lost-shoe-brewing-and-roasting-company-drip/6390570), and girl, so confusing (https://untappd.com/b/lost-shoe-brewing-and-roasting-company-girl-so-confusing/6624151) from Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company (https://lostshoebrews.com/) in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Nick is now a four-timer (https://popsonhopspod.com/multiple-guest-club), having previously appeared on our second Christmas bonus episode, Bonus: A Christmas Day's Eve! Original Songs by Our Friends (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/bonus-a-christmas-days-eve-original-songs-by-our-friends), and both of our live episodes: Bonus: LIVE from Stand Up! Pod Jam 2024: Pops on Hops Friend Exchange (New York Funk Exchange and Able Baker Brewing) (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/pops-on-hops-friend-exchange-nick-martino-able-baker-brewing) and Bonus: LIVE from Stand Up! Pod Jam 2025: Neon Desert Challenge (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/bonus-neon-desert-challenge) (the latter of which he also produced for us!). Give his previous appearances some love; they are a lot of fun! Nick, in part, chose to assign us this album because of Abigail’s beef with He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper (https://open.spotify.com/album/0OknOYGLQkW3Y29gpqmYrD?si=_OmMeWbzQDSl0QlrcMRG1g) by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Jazzy_Jeff_%26_the_Fresh_Prince) as displayed in Jukebox: He’s the Drinker, We’re the Talkers (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and Evil Genius Beer Company) (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/hes-the-drinker-were-the-talkers-dj-jazzy-jeff-evil-genius). Coincidentally, this album reminded Abigail of a different Derek Hummel, Sr., Jukebox selection, Make Yourself (https://open.spotify.com/album/2i6nd4FV6y7K9fln6eelmR?si=J_OucYG9QsmbzdLdAHEcrQ) by Incubus (https://www.incubushq.com/), as discussed in Jukebox: Make Your Flight (Incubus and Hell 'n Blazes Brewing Co.) (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/make-your-flight-incubus-and-hell-n-blazes-brewing-co). Both DJ Cut Chemist (https://www.cutchemist.com/) and MC Chali 2na (https://www.chali2na.com/) left Ozomatli after this album because their other group, Jurassic 5 (https://jurassic-five.squarespace.com/), was blowing up. We found a great blog (https://talkingtrumpet.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/trombone-shorty-wynton-marsalis-trumpet-battle/) with additional information about and clips of Nick’s favorite “trumpet battle” between Wynton Marsalis (https://wyntonmarsalis.org/) and Trombone Shorty (https://www.tromboneshorty.com/) at the House of Blues (https://neworleans.houseofblues.com/) in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2009. Evidently, trumpet battles have been going on for over 100 years! Watch (https://youtu.be/pkalrg8wAIs?si=2TKP5WElrb8YmocY) Chali 2na and New Orleans-based jazz band Naughty Professor (https://www.naughtyprofessormusic.com/) perform Cut Chemist Suite (https://open.spotify.com/track/29sk6hDcQx4c6rGJTkopmp?si=4ed97fc0256945ff) live at the Culture Room (https://cultureroom.net/) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2018! Oh look, more self-promotion! O Le Le (https://open.spotify.com/track/5dFBr3KhZNm49ctepw8oMq?si=9d09ce0911aa443a) names Edie Brickell (https://ebnewbos.com/), whom we have previously reviewed (see Using Honeybees for the Meads [Edie Brickell & New Bohemians and B. Nektar] (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/using-honeybees-for-the-meads-edie-brickell-and-b-nektar-meads)). We could think of at least one other time an artist we reviewed explicitly names an artist we’d previously reviewed: Crash Test Dummies (https://www.crashtestdummies.com/) (see Pops Shuffled His Flight [Crash Test Dummies and Toll Road Brewing Company] (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/pops-shuffled-his-feet-crash-test-dummies-and-toll-road-brewing)) names David Bryne (https://davidbyrne.com/) (see Byrned-Again [David Byrne and Lincoln & South Brewing Company] (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/byrned-again-david-byrne-and-brewery-tbd)) in When I Go Out with Artists (https://open.spotify.com/track/01Pa4KZrH9PuTn0Tg1KXov?si=c189d7e880014d3a). These two latter albums are both among Abigail’s top five favorite albums we’ve ever reviewed, as revealed in our Pops on Hops Hot 100 Special (https://popsonhopspod.com/episode-guide/f/pops-on-hops-hot-100-special)! Super Bowl Sundae (https://open.spotify.com/track/7fkR28P1V241etTyO4DK5B?si=bc4d48fb0d6d4639) contains a sample that sounds very similar to a sample previously discussed on the podcast: Hip Hop Dancer’s Theme (https://open.spotify.com/track/3NZRmjNG2h2r7az5p46yxZ?si=d096410d88704f3d) by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince samples Peter Piper (https://open.spotify.com/track/5gsY63Dq5ht0LEvydhj9lA?si=259b43898f0d4b47) by Run-D.M.C. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run-DMC), which sampled Take Me to the Mardi Gras (https://open.spotify.com/track/6i5U5NyCknF93w4BilFity?si=26019a4a5397401b) by Bob James (https://bobjames.com/). Abigail plugged The Manifesto (feat. Trueno and Proof) (https://open.spotify.com/track/1WUBWl3jNNYo0hrPTrA5D0?si=56e00ec96de4423b) off of Gorillaz (https://gorillaz.com/)’ recently released The Mountain (https://open.spotify.com/album/1RvJmGd47lKS4XMXs9j8hD?si=y9LMsLJjSxKaepwcQOBa4A), a song featuring both Indian influence and a Spanish-language rapper! girl, so confusing (https://untappd.com/b/lost-shoe-brewing-and-roasting-company-girl-so-confusing/6624151) was brewed with the 2026 Pink Boots hop blend (https://www.yakimachief.com/commercial/hop-wire/9th-annual-pink-boots-blend) from Yakima Chief Hops (https://www.yakimachief.com/). Sales of this hop blend benefit the Pink Boots Society (https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/), which supports women and non-binary individuals in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry! Up next… I’ve Got My Own Album to Do (https://open.spotify.com/album/7tVd8q9bYYl11OIXx6xz2X?si=J1giRh_BRdC2pURDIM2Obw) by Ronnie Wood (https://ronniewood.com/) Jingles are by our friend Pete Coe (https://twitter.com/petecoevo). Visit Anosmia Awareness (https://www.anosmiaawareness.org/) for more information on Barry’s condition. Follow Barry (https://untappd.com/user/BarleyMD) or Abigail (https://untappd.com/user/hungryhungryhummel) on Untappd (https://untappd.com/home) to see what we’re drinking when we’re not on mic! Leave us a rating or a review on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pops-on-hops/id1553971950) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/3E0YpyccsGRnNKzpWX5kil?si=8be233e2df5246a9)! Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/popsonhopspod) | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/popsonhopspod) | Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/popsonhopspod.bsky.social) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6TjxB4OpK8cJiKcbHlE0lQ) | Substack (https://popsonhopspod.substack.com/) | Website (http://popsonhopspod.com/) | Email us (mailto:popsonhopspod@gmail.com) | Virtual Jukebox (https://popsonhopspod.com/virtual-jukebox) | Beer Media Group (https://beermediagroup.com/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,936

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

17 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 79 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

81

Social presence

91

YouTube

68

Engagement

77

Contact Pops on Hops

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Pops on Hops