The What Podcast - Bonnaroo, Festival Culture & Live Music

Latest Episode

Noah Kahan Told Us This Before He Was A Bonnaroo Headliner

Season 9, Episode 20 May 13, 2026 47m Video

We're back with a jam-packed episode as Bonnaroo 2026 gets closer by the day. We are now less than 30 days away! First up, The What Podcast will be LIVE Bonnaroo this year! We'll be on the How Stage inside Planet Roo on Thursday at 4PM, and we want to see you there. Then we break down the newly announced Bonnaroo SuperJam lineup headlined by Kesha, and react to Noah Kahan's SNL performance.

Then we sit down with Trevor and Miguel from Wooks Haven: two first-timers who attended their first Bonnaroo in 2024, got completely hooked, came back in 2025, and loved it so much they built something around it. Their story is proof that it doesn't matter how many times you've been, Bonnaroo gets you every time. We wrap things up with a look back at our 2023 interview with Noah Kahan, who just performed on SNL and Tiny Desk and is now headlining Bonnaroo 2026. We had him before he blew up, and it's a powerful interview you don't want to miss!

Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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Previous Episodes

Don't Go to Bonnaroo Without These Tips

S09E19 Apr 29, 2026 1h Video

We asked the Bonnaroo community to send us their best advice for surviving and thriving at Roo, and you delivered! Today we're going through your top tips, plus sharing a few of our own. We also highlight some of the community events announced recently! This episode will help get you prepped for The Farm and help you make the most out of your festival experience. Read More

Bonnaroo Cuts, Changes, and What's Returning (JamTrak, App, Who Stage, Radio Bonnaroo)

S09E18 Apr 22, 2026 56m Video

Bonnaroo just made several big changes: some cuts, some returns, and some updates that will affect everyone going in 2026. In this episode, we break down everything we know so far: JamTrak disappearing, the app shifting to Festiverse, questions around the Who Stage, Radio Bonnaroo returning, wristband warnings, ticket updates, and more. Read More

2026 Bonnaroo Schedule Deep Dive with John (EDM, Conflicts, Must-Sees)

S09E17 Apr 15, 2026 1h 10m Video

The 2026 Bonnaroo schedule is finally here, and we're breaking it all down. Russ is off this week, so John joins Barry and Bryan for a full day-by-day walkthrough of the biggest conflicts, the must-see sets, and the real-world strategies that will shape your weekend on the Farm. From EDM to jam to indie to late-night chaos, this episode gives you the context and advice you need to build your perfect Bonnaroo plan. Read More

Flying to Bonnaroo: What You Actually Need to Bring

S09E16 Apr 8, 2026 50m Video

Flying to Bonnaroo this year? Our long-time campmate and West Coast correspondent Elizabeth Thorpe breaks down exactly how she does it, based on years of flying to Manchester from Maine, Philly, and now Washington State. We also catch up on Beth's own "tour," highlighting the shows she's been shooting in Seattle and beyond, and what it's like working deep in the photo pit as a festival and venue photographer. Read More

Inside Soberoo: Bonnaroo's Sober Community with Founder Patrick Whelan

S09E15 Mar 31, 2026 1h 23m Video

Have you ever wondered if it's possible to do Bonnaroo sober? This week we're joined by longtime guest Patrick Whelan, founder of Soberoo and Harmonium Inc., the nonprofit that provides community and support for sober and sober-curious festivalgoers at Bonnaroo and dozens of other events around the country. Read More

86 Days to Bonnaroo, Start Your Prep Now

S09E14 Mar 17, 2026 24m Video

With 86 days to Bonnaroo, prep season is officially here. In this week's shorter check-in, Barry and Russ walk through the early steps every Roo camper should be taking now: from pulling out gear, checking tents and fans, and buying non-perishables a little at a time, to coordinating with your group so nobody shows up without poles, stakes, or the essentials. Read More

Bonnaroo Changed My Life: The Yearbook Guy's Story

S09E13 Mar 11, 2026 1h 22m Video

Bonnaroo really does change lives, and today's talk with Caleb Arias, aka The Bonnaroo Yearbook Guy, proves it once again. From being too nervous to talk to strangers at his first festival to becoming one of the most recognized creators in the festival community, Caleb walks us through the moment everything shifted. Read More

Bonnaroo Adds Sunrise Sets...and Barry Makes His Most Embarrassing Mistake Yet

S09E12 Mar 4, 2026 54m Video

Bonnaroo adds sunrise sets to the 2026 lineup, but first, Barry has to eat a little crow. We go down a rabbit hole of music history before shifting gears to talk Bonnaroo news, plus other festivals like Shaky Knees who just released their lineup. Finally we talk a little bit about this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees! Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. Read More

Why Bourbon & Beyond Might Have the Best Lineup of 2026

S09E11 Feb 25, 2026 51m Video

Bourbon & Beyond does it again, dropping a stacked lineup that makes us ask the question, "is this real"? With headliners like Foo Fighters, Chris Stapleton, Mumford, and Dave Matthews, we start wondering if it's time we finally made the trip to Louisville and the lineup keeps getting better the further down you read! Elsewhere in the episode, we catch up with Bryan after his trip to Las Vegas, review the Summerfest lineup that also came out this week, and briefly discuss Bonnaroo ticket sales and pricing. Read More

Bonnaroo 2026: Why the EDM Lineup Feels Different (Where Stage)

S09E10 Feb 18, 2026 42m Video

Bonnaroo 2026's EDM lineup feels different, and the move to the new Where Stage is at the center of it. In this episode, Russ, Barry, and guest John break down why this year's late-night energy has shifted, what the community is reacting to, and how the new location changes the vibe of sunrise sets, crowd flow, and the festival's overall identity. Read More

Okay...We Were Wrong About Geese

S09E09 Feb 11, 2026 37m Video

Geese's performance on SNL last week sparked such a huge debate that we decided to walk it back and revisit the whole thing. Find out how we feel now about the band, what changed after a deeper listen, and whether they've made our list of must-see sets for Bonnaroo 2026. We also dig into the latest Bonnaroo news, including a tragic update on Lil Jon's missing son and a look at how many Bonnaroo artists showed up at this year's Grammy Awards. Read More

Most People Aren't Physically Ready for Bonnaroo... Are You?

S09E08 Feb 4, 2026 1h 7m Video

Most people think they're physically ready for Bonnaroo... until they hit the farm and realize just how intense four days of heat, walking, dancing, and nonstop movement really are. That's why we're talking to Christin Craig of the Roo Fitness Challenge: a simple, realistic, community-driven plan to help you show up stronger, safer, and more prepared than ever. Read More

Reviews for The What Podcast

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"Love the enthusiasm coming from fellow bonnaroovians! Great insight! Keep em coming!"

k.barnes

"Love this pod! I constantly dream about Bonnaroo throughout the year, and this podcast takes me back to the farm for an hour. I genuinely look forward to it each week."

wepoifhs;DLFHs;dkvhs;DHVsd;i

"Glad I discovered this this year! This podcast gets me so excited and builds up momentum for Roo. Fun to listen to artists and other behind the scenes info."

Cantigas321

"I'm as pumped for Roo as I've ever been, which is saying a lot, and it's because of this podcast. This is Roo #8 for me. So glad there is an all Roo pod & that it's such a good one. I look forward to when it drops each week. If you love Roo or are just curious what's it all about give it a listen."

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