The What Podcast - Bonnaroo, Festival Culture & Live Music

Latest Episode

How Bonnaroo Gives Back: Live from Planet Roo 2026

Season 9, Episode 25 June 24, 2026 1h 8m Video

We're back from The Farm! First, Barry and Russ give a quick recap of an unforgettable Bonnaroo 2026 (our full deep-dive recap is coming soon!). Then we bring you our live panel from the Planet Roo stage, where we sat down with the nonprofits behind Bonnaroo's charitable mission: Kelsey Dewald (Planet Roo / Bonnaroo Works Fund), David Conover (Grundy County Food Bank), Emily Torgrimson (Eat for Equity), Anna Sampson (We Are Neutral), and Nancy Tarr & Deborah Dunn (Well Dunn Foundation). From a $100,000 grant for local school mental health to rescuing 25,000 pounds of food a year - here's how Bonnaroo gives back, and how your ticket does so much more than get you through the gate.

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

It's Bonnaroo Week! Hype, Stories & Last-Minute Tips

S09E24 Jun 8, 2026 50m Video

It's Bonnaroo Week! We all got together at Lo Main in Chattanooga to get hyped, swap stories, and run through our last-minute tips before we all head to the farm. Joining us: Austin (aka Squeegee Guy), Tara, and Cassie. We get into going VIP, counting up our Bonnaroos (the math is harder than you'd think), taking family to the farm, staying safe out there, the shows we can't wait to see, and our final tips before we leave. Read More

What Everyone Forgets to Pack at Bonnaroo - and Where to Get It

S09E23 Jun 3, 2026 47m Video

You packed for weeks. You made a list. And you're still going to forget something - everyone does. This week we sat down with Brendan from Mr. B's Festival Needs General Store, who's spent nearly 20 years watching festival-goers realize they left the most important thing at home. Toothbrush, pillow, tent poles, stakes, a power bank - Brendan's seen it all, and he tells us what people forget the most and how to make sure a missing item doesn't wreck your weekend. Read More

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy Has a Story You Haven't Heard

S09E22 May 27, 2026 49m Video

The Bonnaroo Squeegee Guy is one of the biggest viral moments to come out of Bonnaroo 2025's cancellation and letdown, and this week we finally got the full story. Austin, the man behind the pool noodle who went viral squeegeeing mud during the Bonnaroo 2025 cancellation, joins The What Podcast to tell us how the video blew up across TikTok, and the unexpected twists that came from it - including how it's sending his mom and aunt to their first-ever Bonnaroo. Read More

Bonnaroo's New Festival Director Told Us What's Really Changing in 2026

S09E21 May 20, 2026 1h 5m Video

Less than three weeks to Bonnaroo 2026 and we got an exclusive interview with Bonnaroo's new Festival Director Shelby Goodsell and Marketing Manager Cory Smith to give us the most comprehensive inside look at what's changing, what's new, and what to expect on The Farm this year. We cover the Where Stage move, the campsite changes, the new Bonnie Roo's Sports Bar, Thursday's unprecedented all-in-one programming, the Grateful Dead tribute set, bandanas at the toll booths, and much more. Read More

Noah Kahan Told Us This Before He Was A Bonnaroo Headliner

S09E20 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. Read More

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, Bonnaroo Radio 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

Reviews for The What Podcast

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"Love hearing this podcast in the weeks leading up to Bonnaroo. Always helps to pump me up for what is to come. I love hearing them talk about and play selections from some of the artists lower on the lineup that I probably wouldn’t have listened to otherwise. So thanks guys!! Hope to see you on the farm this year!"

Chelsea.Davis

"Love hearing these two talk about Roo. Gets me ready for the best week of the year."

JoryCones

"It’s nice to hear some roo vets discuss their opinions/knowledge of the festival"

heyyhiihelllo

"The What Podcast is a blast to listen to for music and Bonnaroo lovers. It's a fun way to learn about new bands (War and the Treaty, repeat repeat), hear insider info about Bonnaroo, and learn camping/festival tips. Definitely makes the long stretch to the festival go by a little bit faster. The hosts are cool guys and I enjoy listening to them!"

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