Lily Allen joins The Track Star Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the music that shaped her and the instincts that guide her songwriting. Across British punk, ska, and pop, Lily reflects on the Blur vs. Oasis divide, the influence of The Clash and The Specials, working with Mark Ronson, and her admiration for writers like Randy Newman. She also talks about making her new album, how quickly it came together, and what it?s been like to see earlier music re-enter the charts as she enters a new creative chapter. Listen to this episode?s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday.[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack takes on a familiar holiday challenge: ranking the greatest Christmas songs of all time. He is joined by his wife, Ali, a self-described Christmas obsessive, to build and debate a definitive top-10 list. Through songs by Nat King Cole, The Ronettes, the Eagles, and more, the episode explores why certain Christmas records return every December, how heartbreak became a recurring theme in holiday music, and why so much of the Christmas canon was established decades ago. Along the way, the episode traces the history of Christmas music itself, from Tin Pan Alley and mid-century crooners to Phil Spector?s Wall of Sound and Mariah Carey?s modern streaming dominance, unpacking how nostalgia, ritual, and the music industry turned seasonal songs into lasting cultural institutions. Listen to this episode?s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday.[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

Filmmaker and historian Ken Burns joins The Track Star Podcast for a conversation about music, storytelling, and the American experience. Burns reflects on his landmark series Jazz and Country Music, and explains how the two traditions evolved side by side, shaped by shared histories and ongoing musical exchange. He also discusses his approach to filmmaking, why he resists ?careerism,? and how music shapes the rhythm and pacing of his work. Listen to this episode?s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday.[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

This week on The Track Star Podcast, Jack explores the legacy of Chess Records with drummer, producer, and musical historian Steve Jordan. Steve breaks down the innovations of Muddy Waters, Howlin? Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Etta James and more, explaining how Chicago reshaped the blues, how amplification transformed the guitar, why the Bo Diddley beat terrified the establishment, and how Chess marketed Black music into what became rock and roll. The episode also features John Fogerty and Maya Rudolph sharing personal stories about discovering Chess artists, and David Remnick describing how these records helped spark the British Invasion and influence the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Listen to our this episode?s extended playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

This week we explore the craft of songwriting with Grammy-winning writer Amy Allen and global hitmaker Charlie Puth. Through songs from ABBA, The Beatles, Sheryl Crow, Dolly Parton, Britney Spears, and more, Amy breaks down how great melodies work while Charlie opens up about the accidents and instincts behind some of his biggest hits. Listen to our extended songwriting playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday. [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

Cameron Crowe joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his life as a rock journalist and filmmaker. From getting his first Rolling Stone cover at 16 to going on the road with Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, and the Eagles, Crowe reflects on the artists who shaped his worldview and the relationships that inspired Almost Famous and helped shape his filmmaking career. He also shares a rare inside look at the Joni Mitchell film he?s been developing in close collaboration with Joni herself, shaped over years of deep, weekly conversations and time spent digging through her personal archives. Listen to our extended playlist for this episode: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday![Video available on Spotify and YouTube]Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow

Common is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Chicago, with a journey that runs from his early days as a Bulls ball boy when Jordan arrived, to becoming a defining rapper of the ?90s and 2000s, and eventually an award-winning actor. This episode follows that path through a six-song framework that lets him reflect on the moments that shaped his life and career. Along the way, we look at how hearing Illmatic early pushed him forward, how the Soulquarian movement at Electric Lady Studios shaped a crucial chapter of his life, and how performing ?The Food? on Chappelle?s Show became a turning point in his artistic evolution. Listen to our extended Common playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

With David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead?s official archivist and legacy manager, we trace how the band evolved from the psychedelic San Francisco scene of the late ?60s to the studio mastery of American Beauty and the arena triumph of Touch of Grey. Through 10 songs, this episode tells the story of a band that set the standard for what live rock music could be. Along the way, we look at how the Dead?s tape-trading culture, iconography, and intense fandom helped sustain their legacy for decades. Listen to our extended Grateful Dead playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

Pop punk was the sound that defined malls, teen movies, and high-school playlists in the 2000s. With Simple Plan, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Olivia Rodrigo, we trace how the genre evolved from its punk roots in bands like the Ramones to defining acts like Green Day and Blink-182, all the way to TikTok?s nostalgic revival. Along the way, we explore how skate culture and The Warped Tour built a movement, how pop punk?s emotion and humor set it apart, and why its spirit keeps finding new life in today?s music. Listen to our extended pop punk playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

This week we explore movie scores: how they are composed, how they shape emotion, and what makes a theme unforgettable. We played legendary scores for Emily Bear (Moana 2), Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things), and RZA (Kill Bill, Ghost Dog) and had them identify the films they are from. We also include insights from Jon Batiste on Soul and Isabela Merced on The Last of Us. You will hear how composers start from script or picture, what separates film scoring from making a traditional album, and why certain themes live on far beyond the films. Listen to our extended movie scores playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

Bruce Springsteen?s Nebraska is the haunting home-recorded album that changed his career and revealed the darkness behind his music. With Jeremy Allen White, Scott Cooper, and author Warren Zanes, we trace how it was made, what it revealed about Springsteen?s mental state, and how it inspired the upcoming film Deliver Me from Nowhere, as Jeremy opens up about transforming himself to play The Boss. Listen to our extended Springsteen playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

Jon Batiste, Christian McBride, and New Jazz Underground join us for a deep dive into jazz, the quintessential American art form. Through 10 essential songs, from Louis Armstrong to Kamasi Washington, we explore how this music came to capture the spirit of creativity itself. Listen to our extended Jazz playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

The Great American Songbook shaped the foundation of American popular music, from Broadway stages to jazz clubs and Hollywood soundtracks. Guided by Seth MacFarlane, with John C. Reilly and Samara Joy, we trace its legacy through 10 essential recordings, exploring the writers, performers, and timeless melodies that defined the American sound. Listen to our extended American Songbook playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

Today hip-hop is the world?s most popular music, but it began as a neighborhood party in the Bronx. Guided by hip-hop historian Debra Harris, with stories from Mark Ronson, Fat Joe, and Pos and Maseo of De La Soul, we trace the genre?s rise through 10 essential songs, from ?Rapper?s Delight? to A Tribe Called Quest, unpacking the DJ innovations, early recordings, and party culture that shaped hip-hop?s early years. Listen to our extended old-school hip-hop playlist: ??Spotify? ?| ??Apple Music?? | ??YouTube Music? New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show Tiklok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow

What does punk really mean, and why does it still matter? Jack talks with New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh to trace the genre?s history through 10 songs, from the Sex Pistols to Nirvana. NYC council-member and former punk guitarist Justin Brannan also joins to share insider stories from the city?s hardcore scene. Listen to our extended punk playlist: ?Spotify? | ?Apple Music? | ?YouTube Music? New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday! [Video available on Spotify and YouTube] Powered by Rivian. More Track Star* content: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trackstarshow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trackstarshow/

The Track Star Podcast is on its way. The internet?s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Follow here so you don?t miss the first episode, releasing Wednesday, September 24th!