Welcome back! Nate kicks of the new season with a note about his recent appearance on the 25 O'Clock Podcast, hosted by our friend Dan Drago, before going into a story about how the song "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls was the spark that sent him on his path of pop proselytization. Then, Nate is joined by Charlie Harding of the podcast Switched On Pop. They discuss Nate's love of the show, Charlie's journey in music, meeting his partner Nate Sloan, Americana music, how Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" birthed Switched On Pop, the permission to like pop music, authenticity, streaming and the state of popular music, Charlie's recent comment that "Pop is Dead," Gatekeepers, fan groups and the gaming of the charts, genre, Olivia Rodrigo's album GUTS, gendered expectations of Eras, and the genius of Finneas and Billie Eilish. Then, Charlie braves The Jawntlet! Charlie Harding on Instagram Charlie Harding on Threads Charlie Harding on Twitter/X Switched On Pop website Switched On Pop Instagram Switched On Pop Threads Switched On Pop Twitter/X Subscribe to the Y!TMJ Newsletter! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ytmj/support