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
31 episodes
Cautionary Tales
Songs can teach you things! Who knew? Our artists knew, obviously. And we've learned a few cautionary tales in addition to our picks this week. Like... don't drink and gamble.
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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31:52
Nostalgia
Today we are waxing nostalgic. Well, more like longing for a moment, a feeling, a history we never experienced. The Germans, of course, have a word for it: sehnsucht. In Korean, it's han, a soulful ache that can span generatio...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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26:44
Lyrical Confusion
This week we tackle the songs we love with lyrics that confuddle us. Less, "what are they saying???" and more "what do they mean?!" VIDEOS
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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27:22
Movie Sing-Alongs
Movie magic is back (again)! This time we’re talking sing-alongs! Not the big staged numbers, but those unplanned, diegetic moments when characters just start singing along to a song because they must. Whether it’s in a bar, a bus, or a car, th...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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31:46
Genre Bending
What happens when music refuses to stay in its lane? It gets some major Stereothematica love. This week Christina and Christine talk about the artists who blur boundaries, break molds, and bend genres in ways that feel both surprisi...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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31:43
The Coolest Collaborations
It’s our 25th episode! What better way to celebrate than with a chat about collaboration—the good, the weird, and the legendary. From surprise duets to global jams, we’re talking about musical magic-making that moves our bodies and minds and re...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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26:21
DO Call It A Comeback
From the grief-fueled artistry of Ben Kweller to the soulful resurgence of Ethiopian legend Girma Bèyènè, this week, we get into the emotional power of musical comebacks—those triumphant, and sometimes tragic, returns to the spotlight.
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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24:51
Summer Songs
Whether you think the summer song is a relic of the past or you need some tunes to get up and dance--or maybe just for lounging by the pool--we’ve got you covered. Videos:
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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22:36
Longest Song That You Actually Enjoy Listening to in its Entirety
From spacey synth odysseys to hypnotic flamenco boogie jams, these songs turn extended length into a vibe, not a chore…unless that chore is hauswerk. Videos:
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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25:47
Guilty - A Sinful Song from Childhood
This week, we are burning up with desire to share the songs from our childhood that made us feel sinful, shameful, or just plain wrong for listening them. From religious baggage to misunderstood lyrics, we explore the complicated relationship b...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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27:46
Problematic Artist
This week we might actually get canceled... because we're diving into the discussion of those artists we used to love, but we can no longer, in good conscience, count them among our favorites. We're sure you can think of a problematic artist wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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28:03
Problematic - Song you like despite it being problematic
This week, we’re facing the music—literally. It’s all about those songs we can’t help but like, even though they make us wince, cringe, or yell “NOOOO” at the lyrics. Join us as we tiptoe through the landmines of musical problematica, and try n...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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22:05
Soothing - Song that Soothes
In this episode, we slow things down with a theme we need right now: soothing. From the dreamy melancholia of John Maus to the tender, ambient layers of Branden Eder, we explore songs that bring calm through the chaos. Tune in for stories of my...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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22:04
Get Up and Dance!
Moving your body from the bar to the dance floor is easier said than done, sometimes. But these songs do it for us all the time. In this week's episode we get down, and up, and all around, from the complicated natu...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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28:38
Unusual - Song with an Unusual (to you) Instrument
In this episode of Stereothematica, Christina and Christine get into the fascinating world of unusual instruments in everyday band lineups. Now, what counts as “unusual” can vary depending on where you’re from, who you are, and what you like, b...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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30:11
Mixtape - Song You First Heard on a Mixtape and Still Love
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 that hit different an...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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22:28
Song That Caught You Off Guard
Being caught off guard by a song is a certain sort of pleasure (and possibly pain). Maybe you notice something in the lyrics you've never heard before, or maybe you fall in love with a song from a band you thought you had figured out. Whether y...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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22:31
Song You First Heard in a Movie and Immediately Fell in Love With
Is there anything more exhilarating than hearing a song in a movie for the first time and immediately falling in love with it? Your emotions add to the scene–you become a character, reacting to the music, it changes your life, and your pe...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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27:39
First Radio Request
Do you remember your first radio request? Is this something that people still do? This week on Stereothematica, Christina and Christine talk about yet another formative experience in their lives as music lovers: their first radio re...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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23:58
Perfect Song on a Perfect (No Skip!) Album
This week on Stereothematica, Christina and Christine dive into the elusive concept of the "Perfect Album"—an album so stellar, you'd never dream of skipping a track. As they explore what musical perfection means and reveal their ideal songs fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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23:46
Remove This Song for a No Skip Album
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 album...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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25:25
Protest Songs
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8!) and Women’s History Month, we are talking protest songs! When words and feelings fail us, music comes to the rescue to help us shout, plead, or sometimes even ask nicely for the change we want to...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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28:42
Instrumental Song That Could Have Been a Radio Hit
Straightforward, right? And yet...But really, what constitutes a hit? Isn’t that subjective? Should Christina and Christine have stricter parameters when playing this game? Is it even a game at this point? <...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:19
Predictions
How well do Christina and Christine know each other's musical tastes? How well do you think you know theirs? Too soon to tell? This week they predict what song they have in their respective music libraries that the othe...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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25:05
Siblings - Song from a band with siblings in it
Does family drama make music better? There are too many bands with siblings to mention here, though Christina and Christine talk about a few of them–drama and all. This week's episode features songs that showcase the transcendent tu...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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27:03