Each episode, the music obsessives behind the the website Hearing Things bring three songs to the table, debate their merits and drawbacks, and ultimately decide whether they are crappy or great. Worthless or worthwhile. Waste or taste.
The Hearing Things crew—Jill Mapes, Andy Cush, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Ryan Dombal, and Dylan Green—discuss controversial favorite songs of 2025 by Sabrina Carpenter, Ian, Ice Spice, Raye, and Zeddy Will, exploring the complexities of musical taste.
5 Mar 2025
A Very Special Live Episode of Waste or Taste!
Recorded in front of a live audience at this year's On Air Fest in Brooklyn, Jill Mapes, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, and Dylan Green decide whether new songs by Addison Rae, Drake, and Oklou are Waste or Taste—and talk about the music they want played at their funerals. Conversational side quests include the twisted logistics of putting a cigarette between your boobs, Drake's heinous Tinder bio, and why having a secret baby just might be the most ren faire thing someone could do.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co).
11 Feb 2025
How Drunk Do You Need to Be to Enjoy Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra"?
Jill Mapes, Andy Cush, and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd decide whether new songs by Gaga, Doechii, and the Weather Station are Waste or Taste, and talk about music that can help everyone escape the winter doldrums. Topics include how Doechii backs up her braggadocio, the likelihood of a Gaga-Chappell Roan collaboration, and the secret to making tasteful music that isn't too fussy.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co).
28 Jan 2025
A Grammys Podcast for People Who Hate the Grammys
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Dylan Green, and Ryan Dombal decide whether Grammy-nominated songs by the Beatles, Common, and Kim Gordon are Waste or Taste, and discuss a few very strange Grammy moments across history. Topics include Dylan's love of 50 Cent and Evanescence circa 2004, a 12-year-old Jill rooting for Steely Dan to win Album of the Year over Radiohead, and Ryan's rationale for why Common should be disqualified from taking home a trophy this year.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co).
14 Jan 2025
A Horny SZA Hit, a Questionable Bob Dylan Impression, and a New Aphex Twin Classic
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Andy Cush, and Ryan Dombal decide whether songs by SZA, Bob Dylan (via Timothée Chalamet), and Aphex Twin are Waste or Taste, and offer some recommendations to help you emotionally kick off another new year. Topics include doing mushrooms at a bachelor party in rural Virginia, the post-Luigi Mangione rise of pop songs that lust after criminals, and feeling like Jesus in the mosh pit.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co/).
23 Dec 2024
Our Year-End Wrap-Up—From Sabrina Carpenter's Frightening Heterosexuality to Benson Boone's Fedora-core to the Haunted Gay Synth-Pop of Trent Reznor's ‘Challengers’ Soundtrack
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, and Dylan Green delve deep into some of their biggest 2024 faves and fails. Topics include Eminem's never-ending midlife crisis, the likelihood of Beyoncé showing up to your local dive bar, and the connection between the indie sleaze revival and the Challengers soundtrack.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co).
10 Dec 2024
A Short King, a Tall King, and a TikTok Jester—Debating New Music From Kendrick Lamar, Father John Misty, and More
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Ryan Dombal, and Dylan Green decide whether Father John Misty's ode to worship music "Screamland," Kendrick Lamar's Cali trunk rattler "TV Off," and Veronika Slowikowska's Phoebe Bridgers-type pop parody "Mac and Cheese" are Waste or Taste. Side topics include Christmas music that doesn't suck, alternate-universe Spice Girls, and wet head braces.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co/).
26 Nov 2024
We Really Snapped on This One—Debating Songs by FKA Twigs, Kim Deal, and More
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Andy Cush, and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd decide whether Kim Deal's surprisingly symphonic "Nobody Loves You More," FKA Twigs' possibly pretentious "Drums of Death," and Alex Reed's brain-breaking BPM workout "Hit 'Em Dreamgirl" are Waste or Taste. Side topics include the true-crime TV show Snapped, great musicians from Ohio, and sex dungeons as a critical listening environment.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co/).
12 Nov 2024
It Will Get a Little Sticky—Debating New Songs by Tyler, the Creator and More
Music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Andy Cush, and Dylan Green decide whether Tyler, the Creator's "Sticky," Geordie Greep's "Terra," and TV on the Radio frontman Tunde Adebimpe's "Magnetic" are Waste or Taste. Side topics include the legacy of 2000s rap producer Polow da Don, the insufferability of Frank Zappa, and what it's like to have a very big head.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read more at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co)
31 Oct 2024
We Might Say Something Stupid—Debating Charli XCX's Brat Remixes
In the debut episode of Waste or Taste, veteran music critics and Hearing Things founders Jill Mapes, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, and Ryan Dombal take on Charli XCX's Brat remixes. Topics include: Why Julian Casablancas should do a piano-bar album, why Matty Healy should stop talking about his dick, and why most remixes should be UK 2-step remixes.
Hearing Things is a new independent home for music and culture founded by journalists Andy Cush, Ryan Dombal, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Dylan Green, and Jill Mapes. Read and subscribe at hearingthings.co (http://hearingthings.co)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
32 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
17 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 22 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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Guest appearances
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