When They Popped - A Y2K Pop Culture Podcast
Were you team Backstreet Boys or NSYNC? Britney or Xtina? Simple Life or Newlyweds? With When They Popped, you don’t have to pick a side, because we’re going to mention it all! When They Popped retells the stories of the late 90s and early 2000s biggest celebrities, trends, and phenomena like boy band mania, celebrity-based reality TV, and the rise of “famous for being famous” socialites who ruled the tabloids. Hosts Kelsey and Mary are discussing Y2Ks most impactful cultural moments, icons, and celebrities while chronicling their rise to stardom and discussing when they reached the pinnacle of pop culture, or, when they “popped!” The girls will also consider the cultural impact of Y2K on todays society and will look to see where our beloved Y2K stars are now.
Episodes
154 episodes
Actor Riley Smith on Motocrossed, New York Minute, Bring It On, & His Newest Venture
Bring It On. New York Minute. Freaks and Geeks. Motocrossed. True Detective. Not Another Teen Movie. 24. These are just a few iconic films and tv shows that Riley Smith has starred in. In this episode, Mary and Kelsey catch up with *the* Dea...
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Season 3
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Episode 45
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59:50
Rochelle McLean on Backstreet Boys’ Sphere residency, legacy, and more!
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey are joined by Rochelle McLean, the mastermind behind the Backstreet Boys Millennium 2.0 album. Rochelle talks about the genesis of this genius concept from back in 2014, to watching it take shape 10+ years la...
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Season 3
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Episode 44
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44:17
Fantasy Boy Band Draft with Kelli Williams and Boyband Stacy
It’s football season, so WTP is holding a fantasy draft - a boy band draft, that is! In this episode, Mary and Kelsey are joined by the OG boyband influencer, Boyband Stacy, and Kelli Williams of Beyond the Blinds podcast and @laguna_biotch ...
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Season 3
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Episode 43
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49:47
3Quency on Girl Groups, Netflix’s Building the Band, and more!
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey chat with 3Quency, the three-woman group consisting of Brianna Mazzola, Nori Moore, and Wennely Quezada, who won Netflix’s “Building The Band.” 3Quency scored a record deal with RECORDS/Columbia Records and i...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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55:16
The Life Of A Showgirl Listening Party
In this emergency minisode, Mary and Kelsey share their real-time, unedited thoughts on Taylor Swift’s newest album, The Life Of A Showgirl, which was produced in partnership with Max Martin and Shellback.
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Season 3
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Episode 41
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39:05
The Click Five on Just the Girl, New Music & More!
The Click Five is back, baby! In this episode, Mary and Kelsey catch up with Kyle and Ethan of The Click Five to reminisce on the band’s explosive rise to the top of the charts with their 2005 hit “Just The Girl,” and what the band is up to ...
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Season 3
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Episode 40
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55:39
Hilary Duff Deep Cuts
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey celebrate the thrilling news that Hilary Duff is coming out of musical retirement and working on new music. They revisit Hilary’s most underrated bops and compiled their top 10 favorite deep cuts spanning her...
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Season 3
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Episode 39
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53:26
Mandy Moore’s Debut Album
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey go track by track through Mandy Moore’s debut album, So Real, dishing on everything from bubblegum bangers like “Candy” to the deep cuts you may have forgotten were total Y2K gems. They also discuss how the a...
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Season 3
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Episode 38
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57:26
Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together Review
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey recap Nelly and Ashanti’s eight-episode docuserie that follows the iconic Y2K couple’s journey as newlyweds and navigating parenthood. They recap what the critics have to say on the series and their own...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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46:59
Clay Aiken on American Idol & When He Popped
In this episode, Clay Aiken dishes on his American Idol experience during the show’s explosive second season, he reflects on his quick rise to fame, unlikely fan encounters, and his #1 hit 2003 album, "Measure of a Man.” Plus, Clay discusses...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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49:38
Backstreet Boys at the Sphere
Oh my God, we're back again... In this episode, Mary & Kelsey recap their second trip to Vegas to see Backstreet Boys at the Sphere, giving a play-by-play of everything they’ve learned from their four shows including what time to ...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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41:49
Revisiting Disney’s Freaky Friday & Freakier Friday
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey dive into the body-swapping icon of a movie that is 2002’s Freaky Friday (2003) featuring Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Chad Michael Murray. They discuss the behind-the-scenes stories, including the ve...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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51:52
Revisiting Jessica Simpson’s “In This Skin”
In this episode, Mary & Kelsey go back to the days of Juicy tracksuits, colorful Louis Vuitton bags, and flat irons with a deep-dive listening party of Jessica Simpson’s iconic 2003 album, In This Skin. From “With You” and its cheeky self-p...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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49:42
GTL Forever: A Jersey Shore Deep Dive
Cabs are here! In this episode, Mary and Kelsey go back to Seaside Heights in 2009 to chronicle the origins of MTV’s generation-defining series, Jersey Shore. From Snooki’s iconic entrance (party’s here!) to fist-pumping at Karma and working...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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1:03:31
Catching Up with Visionary Director Joseph Kahn
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey sit down with Grammy-award winner and visionary film and music video director Joseph Kahn. They discuss Joseph’s new 2000s nostalgia-packed horror comedy movie “Ick” which hits theaters for a limited time Jul...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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53:36
Answering Backstreet Boys at the Sphere FAQs
In this episode, Mary & Kelsey answer all of your questions from opening weekend of Backstreet Boys Into The Millennium at the Sphere in Las Vegas. From how they got front row on opening night, to what bags to bring, to merch selection, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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1:00:02
Live from Backstreet Boys at The Sphere Part 2
In this episode, Mary & Kelsey share yet another unhinged episode live from Vegas recapping Backstreet Boys residency at the Sphere night two on July 12, 2025. They discuss the When They Popped met up, the official Backstreet Boys After Par...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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33:09
Live from Backstreet Boys at The Sphere Part 1
In this episode, Mary & Kelsey share their raw and unedited post-show ramblings following opening night of the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere in Las Vegas on July 11, 2025. They share what surprised them most, their favorite moments, and ...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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39:20
Hayden Panettiere
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey deep dive into the career of Hayden Panettiere from her soap opera start to Disney Channel star (Tiger Cruise and Disneymania 5, hullo) and leading lady of appointment television series including Heroes and Nash...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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51:44
Songwriter Lauren Christy on Avril Lavigne, Hilary Duff, Jason Mraz and more
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey catch up with Lauren Christy, songwriter, singer, and 1/3 of legendary production trio The Matrix, to discuss writing Avril Lavigne’s breakthrough hit album, Let Go, and other hits for Hilary Duff, Jason Mraz, L...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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56:21
In the Spotlight: Tania Baron on Dancing with Britney Spears & More!
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey are joined by dancer Tania Baron to discuss Tania’s professional dancing journey including touring with Britney Spears and appearing in her iconic music videos including Baby One More Time, (You Drive Me) Crazy,...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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56:04
American Idol Season 1 Memorable Moments
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey rewind all the way to 2002 to dive into the dazzling debut of American Idol Season 1 — the show that turned everyday dreamers into pop royalty and gave us unforgettable gems like Kelly Clarkson, Simon Cowell’...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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48:01
20 Years of BSB’s Never Gone with Kelli Williams
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey are joined by Beyond the Blinds co-host Kelli Williams (aka Laguna Biotch!!) to celebrate two decades of Backstreet Boys’ Never Gone album. They go track by track and dive deep on bops like Incomplete, I Stil...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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1:00:27
Howie Dorough Dishes On His New Restaurant, The Sphere, Millennium 2.0 & More!
In this episode, recorded live from the shores of Cocoa Beach, Mary and Kelsey pull up a chair at Coa, the new restaurant from Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys, for a flavor-packed convo. Howie dishes on Coa, spills tea on the upcoming B...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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1:13:24
Ke$ha’s Animal + Cannibal 15 Years Later
In this episode, Mary and Kelsey celebrate 15 years of Ke$ha’s debut album Animal and sister EP, Cannibal. This listening party is a track-by-track dissertation on Ke$ha’s hits from TiK ToK, Blow, Your Love Is My Drug, We R Who We R and othe...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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58:55