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The What Podcast

The What Podcast

By: Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
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About this listen

Bonnaroo is more than just a festival, and The What Podcast is your backstage pass to the stories, secrets, and the magic that makes it so legendary. Hosted by two entertainment industry veterans, each week Barry and Bryan will take you deep into festival culture, live music, and behind-the-scenes stories. Since 2018, we've connected with passionate music fans worldwide, sharing personal experiences, expert insights, and exclusive interviews with the musicians and industry insiders who make festivals happen. Whether you're a Bonnaroo veteran or a first-timer, subscribe now to stay in the loop on everything that makes music festivals unforgettable.

Barry Courter and Bryan Stone
Music
Episodes
  • Bonnaroo 2026 Updates: Farm Improvements and New Clues
    Nov 19 2025

    In this episode of The What Podcast, we break down the newest Roo Clue, take a close look at the farm improvements happening right now in Manchester, and talk through what these changes might mean for the festival experience next year. Bryan is still off in Mexico City, so Barry and Russ sit down for a quick update.

    We discuss the visible work happening on the Bonnaroo grounds, including new crushed-run roads, turf upgrades, and a smaller campground footprint designed to reduce flooding and improve traffic flow. Plus, we share news of our upcoming Bonnaroo 2026 ticket giveaway! Call us at (423) 667-7877 and share your clue theories, lineup leaks, wishlist, contest ideas, or whatever else is on your mind.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00) Intro

    (01:09) Bryan in Mexico City

    (03:50) Roo Clue #2

    (06:42) Ticket Giveaway

    (08:55) Infrastructure upgrades on The Farm

    (16:39) Future episodes

    (18:12) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    Why You Should Attend a Mexican Music Festival



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    🎧 LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    📱 SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • Inside Bonnaroo 2026: Clues, Presale News... and a Trip to Mexico City?!
    Nov 12 2025

    Bonnaroo came alive last week with a flurry of updates for 2026, and The What Podcast is back to dive into them! Beth joins us this week and we recap Bonnaroo's social reactivation after months of silence, and listen to the first Roo Clue "bread" hint. We also speculate if the lineup drop could happen earlier than ever before and what to expect for ticket sales.

    Then it's off to Mexico City! Beth and Bryan outline their plans for attending Corona Capital next week, and what U.S. festival fans can learn from Mexico's sponsorship-forward model that helps keep tickets surprisingly affordable. Expect a preview of a 90s‑leaning top line (Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Deftones) and undercard curiosities, plus a compare/contrast on crowd energy, branding on stages (yes, Doritos), and production style versus Bonnaroo.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:01:55) Catching up with Beth

    (00:10:21) Bonnaroo Roo Clues and News

    (00:30:21) Bryan and Beth prepare for Corona Capital in Mexico City

    (00:58:58) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    CaveFest 2025: Exploring the Underground Magic of The Caverns

    StoneOnAir.com

    https://instagram.com/ethorpephoto

    Why You Should Attend a Mexican Music Festival

    We Enlist in Pondo's Army



    ______
    🎧 LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    📱 SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Why You Should Attend a Mexican Music Festival
    Oct 22 2025

    What makes a music festival in Mexico feel so different from one in the United States? This week on The What Podcast, Barry and Bryan talk with Ricardo Gómez from OCESA, the promoter behind Mexico City's massive Corona Capital Festival. Ricardo shares how Mexican festival culture compares to the U.S., from the unmatched passion of Mexican fans and the emotional connection they have with artists, to how sponsorships help keep ticket prices affordable without compromising the experience.

    The conversation goes deep into the logistics of building a large-scale event in Mexico City, including lineup curation, routing challenges, and the economics of booking international headliners. For Bonnaroo and music festival fans alike, it's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how live music thrives south of the border, and what American festivals could learn from the energy, community, and creativity that define Mexico's biggest music festivals.

    Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

    ______

    (00:00:00) Intro

    (00:01:44) Interview with Ricardo Gómez of OCESA

    (00:48:50) Wrap-up

    (00:53:24) Outro

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

    CaveFest 2025: Exploring the Underground Magic of The Caverns

    ticketmaster.com.mx



    ______
    🎧 LISTEN LINKS
    Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
    Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
    Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
    YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
    Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

    📱 SOCIAL LINKS
    Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
    X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast

    The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat, used with permission.
    Other music provided by Midist and used with permission.

    We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.

    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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