Stereothematica
Welcome to Stereothematica, a podcast where two women geek out over music. When Christina moved from LA to Texas, Christine suggested a weekly challenge to stay in touch: pick a song that fits a chosen theme. This game opened them to new perspectives on each other while deepening their own understanding of the music that shapes their lives. Each week Christina and Christine recreate the magic of their song exchange on a broader scale, deconstructing their thematic picks, providing personal anecdotes and historical insights, and sharing transformative tracks rarely spotlighted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Episodes
It's winter, minus the tinsel! And the only red noses here are Christina's and Christine's on account of their rosacea.
One pick retreats inward, finding comfort in solitude and stubborn self-protection; the other stares at the cold and dreams of somewhere sunnier. Two very different ways of surviving a winter’s day--and you might just be surprised by who picks what.
VIDEOS
We’re wrapping up our winter re-releases with “Predictions.” Not to be confused with “PredictABLE,” this episode has us trying to predict which songs in our own libraries are perfectly up the other’s alley. Think of it as a little love letter to each other’s musical taste from the early days of the show. Until next week!
------
How well do Christina and Christine know each other's musical tastes?
How well do you think you know t...
Remember when Arnold from Diff’rent Strokes showed up on Facts of Life and ratted out the girls to Mrs. Garrett? This episode is that…but for music lovers!
Stereothematica teams up with our friends at the Who Will Save Generation X trivia podcast for peak crossover chaos, hijinks, and lightly scarring embarrassment.
------------------------------------------
Who Will Save Generation X
Happy Thanksgiving! We are very thankful to welcome...
We’re taking a short break, so today we’re bringing back one of our favorite episodes: “DO Call It a Comeback.” If you’re new here, this one’s all about the songs that marked big returns for some of our favorite artists after a hiatus from music. And if you’ve already listened, we think it’s a fun one to revisit. We’ll be back soon with more music therapy to help you cope with the holidays. Until then, we hope you enjoy this comeba...
Some of you might be thinking we already did this theme, and honestly… fair, but this isn’t our Predictions episode, this is its annoying cousin Greg. And this time we’re embracing the idea of being predictable (though we've never not embraced it)! One pick spirals through existential dread by way of psychedelic retro Turkish disco, and the other is an emo/math-rock heart-tugger that feels like being 14 again in the best possi...
In a world too often divided, we are celebrating the songs that unite us, that bring us to a shared understanding, that give a sense of togetherness, and yes, even hope. Whether with a group on a desert pilgrimage or singing along in isolation in the midst of a pandemic, we explore the songs that, religion aside, give us a sense of communion.
VIDEOS
Violeta Parra: Gracias a la Vida
C. Tangana: Los Tontos (NPR Tiny Desk, starts at 4:1...
In this episode, we lean into our inner goths and imagine the songs we’d want played at our own memorials…IF we even have one. One of us goes full velvet-draped drama with sweeping strings and tragic romance; the other is all about spiritual soulfulness, reggae-tinged resilience, and a send-off that feels more like a tipsy singalong than a dirge. We may have gone in completely different directions, but we both love the way music ho...
This is our love letter to the lost art of letter-writing…in songs. Consider it a carefully folded note passed across time. Signed, sealed, AND delivered by the Postal Service, or by hand. Song as letter, or letter as song, whatever the concept, these musical missives hit our hearts in ways an email can't.
VIDEOS
XTC: Dear God (1986)
Lulu: To Sir, With Love (1967)
EXTRAS
‘Dear God’: The violent protests triggered by XTC’s contr...
We’re getting into the spooky spirit talking about the scariest songs in our music libraries. While Monster Mash and Thriller do make an appearance, we’re clawing our way past the Halloween clichés to scream about the songs that really get under our skin and linger like the breath of death.
VIDEOS
Die Antwoord: Baby’s on Fire (2012)
The Zombies: Butcher’s Tale (Western Front 1914)
SPECIAL TREAT (NO TRICKS HERE)
Your eyes are not deceiving you–we are indeed going corporate! At least for this episode, wherein we reflect on the strange sorcery of songs from commercials: the ones that, for a moment, make you forget you're a cog in the sparkling machine of late capitalism. Sure, they were used to sell us stuff, but we still kind of love them.
VIDEOS
Geico Caveman Ad featuring “Remind Me” by Röyksopp (2006)
Remind Me: Röyksopp (2001)
What makes a song decadent? Is it the banging build-up giving way to a glorious release? The urge to don a banana skirt or surrender to collapse in a bathtub of brandy?
From glitter to dust and lugubrious Balkan brassy indie waltzes, we wade into the lush layers of musical decadence. Melancholy meets spectacle. Longing meets the dance floor. Find out why surrender sometimes feels like survival, and whether we’re living in a decadent...
Ah, the joy of an animated TV show. Whether watching a Saturday morning cartoon, something not quite suitable for children, or the classics from the days of yore, you can probably bet on one thing: you're gonna hear a bangin' theme song. From cool-cat jazz on the prowl to a bumbling, cyborg sleuth, we celebrate the cartoon earworms you can’t shake.
VIDEOS
EXTRAS
What if time travel was about chasing the music you wish you could’ve felt in real time? In this episode we daydream our way into those moments, hearing first notes and electric performances as if they were happening now. It’s complicated, it’s joyful, and it’s all about how music lets us bend time, and, of course, as always, our minds!
VIDEOS
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (1927 Recording)
...
Sometimes holding a grudge isn’t the healthiest option, but indulging one for the length of a song? That might be just what the moment calls for. In this episode, we lean into defiance, righteous anger, and the sweet, private thrill of SINGING what you’d never actually say out loud. To our enemies… this one’s for you!
VIDEOS
Islands: I Feel Evil Creeping In (2008)
Alaska y Dinarama: A Quién Le Importa (1986)
EXTRAS
This week, we are restless! Maybe that’s every week. On edge and buzzing, we talk through the moods and ways of being that come with that jittery energy, and the songs, of course, that match, and sometimes surpass it.
VIDEOS
Almendra: Ana No Duerme (1969)
Parquet Courts: Master of my Craft (2012/3)
EXTRAS
Sean’s Music Hunt - Story of Almendra
For most of us, going to a concert is a special kind of experience with so many unknowns: Will there be guests? Will you hear your favorite songs, or fresh material that gets you excited for a new album? Will you stand in front of someone who complains about you being too tall? Will someone ask you for a “swallow” of wine? Will you be moved to dance? Or cry? Will this be a night to remember?
What turns a good show into an iconic pe...
We're back, baby! We took our first ever pod-break and we are ready for Season Two. To kick things off, we thought we ought to share some songs that are... well, not quite our typical style. Out of Character, if you will.
VIDEOS
Guns N Roses: You’re Crazy (1987)
Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak (1976)
EXTRAS
Best Debut Albums of All Time (GNR Appetite for Destruction #8)
Season 2 starts September 2, and yes, we are making a statement. About music. About meaning. About life and death. Stereothematica is back: dramatic, erratic, and occasionally bombastic.
Connect with us on Instagram (to share your song picks or troll us), Spotify (for our ever-growing playlist), and Stereothematica.com (for extra fun)!
If you like what you’re hearing, please subscribe, and if you love it, a five-star rating and revi...
We are on break until September 2, but we hope you’ll press play on this re-release of one of our favorite episodes.
--
Ever love an album so much, you'd call it perfect—if it wasn't for that one skippable track? This week, Christina and Christine reveal the single songs they'd remove from a couple of their favorite records to create their ultimate no-skip albums.
VIDEOS:
Beach House: L’Inconnue, 7 (2018)
We’re on a short break until September 2, so we’re rewinding our Mixtape episode. Please press play and relive the joy of swapping songs, discovering new favorites, and maybe falling for Devo all over again.
--
This week on Stereothematica, we’re diving into the songs we first heard on mixtapes. Whether it was on a carefully curated cassette from a friend, a crush, or a burned CD passed around in high school, these are the tracks tha...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.