Author: The Ringer

Rob explores the spiritual and sexy Carlos Santana. Assisted by Matchbox 20 vocalist Rob Thomas, Santana created what may have been the song of the decade, “Smooth.” Rob looks into the guitarist’s passion for collaboration and how record mogul Clive Davis took the ’70s rock legend and turned him into a 1990s Billboard chart-topping force.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Leila Cobo

Producer: Justin Sayles

Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo

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Rob explores the Fierce Five, a.k.a. the Spice Girls, who became the biggest-selling girl group in the world following the success of their smash hit “Wannabe.” Rob tracks their rise to international stardom, a failed film, and the attempt to spread “Girl Power” across the globe.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Laura Snapes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo

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Rob explores the spiritual genius of the late rapper DMX. He observes X’s power of prayer, recounts the rapper’s destructive childhood, and tells the tale of how the breakout hit “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” came to be.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Shea Serrano

Producer: Justin Sayles

Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo

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Rob explores the obsessive and eerily constructed hit “Creep,” which arrived on Radiohead’s debut album, ‘Pablo Honey.’ He discusses the origins of the track, the exhaustion caused by the song’s commercial success, and the power of ’90s rock.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Annie Zaleski

Producer: Justin Sayles

Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo

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Rob explores legendary Canadian vocalist Celine Dion’s blockbuster hit “My Heart Will Go On” by discussing her illustrious career, the sheer force she brings to every song, and the unapologetic attitude with which she approaches her music.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Leslie Gray Streeter

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

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Rob explores Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s hit “Tha Crossroads” by discussing the origins of the quintet, their innovative musical style, and the power of singing about grief.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Israel Daramola

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

Associate Producer: Lani Renaldo

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Rob explores punk royalty Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?” by discussing the band’s unapologetic celebration of immaturity, their musical influences, and what so-called selling out meant for rock artists during that era.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Dan Ozzi

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

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Rob explores Billy Ray Cyrus’s smash hit “Achy Breaky Heart” by discussing the new traditionalist movement in country music and how it affected Cyrus’s career.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Holly Gleason

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

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Rob explores R&B sensation Aaliyah’s hit single “One in a Million” by discussing her meteoric rise to pop stardom at an early age, her innovative musical style, and her legacy.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Kelefa Sanneh

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

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Rob explores alternative rock band R.E.M.’s piano ballad “Nightswimming” by discussing the band’s musical journey and their songs’ frequent lack of lyrical coherence.

This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.

Host: Rob Harvilla

Guest: Jay Caspian Kang

Producers: Isaac Lee and Justin Sayles

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices