The What Podcast - Bonnaroo, Festival News, and More

Latest Episode

5 Years After COVID: How Bonnaroo Survived & Came Back Stronger

Season 8, Episode 11 March 19, 2025 50m Video

Reflecting on a Weird Anniversary

It's been five years since COVID-19 shut down the world, bringing live music and festivals like Bonnaroo to a halt. In this episode of The What Podcast, we reflect on how the pandemic impacted the festival industry, from the mass cancellations of 2020 to Bonnaroo's remarkable post-COVID comeback. Barry even records while battling COVID for the first time, making this anniversary discussion all the more surreal. We revisit key moments-like when SXSW was the first major event to cancel, the uncertainty surrounding live events, and how the music industry adapted with virtual performances.

Beyond the five-year COVID milestone, we also go over the latest updates for Bonnaroo 2025 including the possible replacement of the House of Matroomony and events at the House of Yes. Plus, it's our final week of the contest! Listen for our last question, and find out how to enter at https://thewhat.co/win for a chance to win two Bonnaroo tickets or other great prizes!

Listen to the full episode right here, or watch the video on YouTube. And don't forget to like, rate, and subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

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Previous Episodes

Bonnaroo's Infamous "Squarch": The Full Story with Tim "Tuba" Smith

S08E10 Mar 12, 2025 1h 21m Video

In Bonnaroo's 20+ year history, few controversies stung fans more than the fiery demise of its iconic arch in 2019-replaced by a giant LED monolith nicknamed "The Squarch". In a rare interview with The What Podcast, Tim "Tuba" Smith-C3 Presents' Director of Festivals and Strategic Initiatives-finally tells us the full story. Read More

Bonnaroo Community Spotlight: How Church Boners Became a Festival Family

S08E09 Mar 5, 2025 1h 42m Video

Ever wonder how some Bonnaroo veterans claim the same prime camping spot every year? In this jam-packed episode of The What Podcast, we continue diving into the Bonnaroo camping experience with the legendary Church Boners crew. From their humble beginnings in 2007 to becoming one of the most recognizable and welcoming camps on The Farm, Rick, Chad, Sean, Nicholas, Justin, and Caroline share hilarious stories, pro camping tips, and the magic of building a Bonnaroo family. Read More

Camping at Bonnaroo: Must-Know Updates and New Amenities for 2025

S08E08 Feb 26, 2025 1h 26m Video

Bonnaroo isn't just about the music - camping is a huge part of the experience, and that's the focus of this week's episode of The What Podcast. Listeners recently submitted their top camping questions on our Discord server, and we brought in Brad Parker, Festival Director for C3 Presents, to get the answers straight from the source. Read More

Top Bonnaroo 2025 Acts You Can't Miss

S08E07 Feb 19, 2025 1h 30m Video

It's time to dive into the Bonnaroo 2025 lineup, and who better to guide us than our old buddy Brad Steiner? Longtime fans of the show will remember Brad as co-host of the show, who founded The What Podcast back in 2018 with Barry. We catch up with Brad and get an idea of what his life is like in New York City after leaving the show. Read More

Reliving Bonnaroo's Best Shows and the Latest Festival News

S08E06 Feb 12, 2025 1h 9m Video

Bonnaroo is packed with unforgettable performances, from iconic sets by My Morning Jacket to legendary moments with Tom Petty. In this week's episode of The What Podcast, we reflect on some of the shows we'd love to relive and hear from listeners about their favorite Bonnaroo memories. Speaking of reflection, Barry, Bryan, and Russ also share some of their favorite interviews over the past 7 years from older episodes of The What Podcast. Read More

3000 Miles to Bonnaroo: A Solo Traveler's Experience from Ireland

S08E05 Feb 5, 2025 1h 25m Video

The What Podcast goes international this week with our special guest, Geraldine from Dublin, Ireland. A devoted Bonnaroo attendee since 2019, Geraldine shares her incredible journey of traveling solo across the Atlantic to experience the festival. From navigating long-haul flights and shuttles to discovering new music and embracing the Bonnaroo community, she gives a unique perspective on what makes the festival so special. Read More

The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories

S08E04 Jan 29, 2025 1h 24m Video

What started as a simple icebreaker at music festivals has blossomed into the Bonnaroo Yearbook, a one-of-a-kind community art project created by photographer Caleb Arias. Caleb's journey began when he brought a journal to his first festival and invited others to sign it. By the time he attended Bonnaroo, he discovered its unparalleled sense of community and decided to publish the Bonnaroo Yearbook to share and celebrate the memories he'd collected. Read More

How to Enjoy a Substance-Free Bonnaroo 2025 Experience with Soberoo

S08E03 Jan 22, 2025 1h 25m Video

A growing number of Bonnaroovians are choosing to experience the festival substance-free, and in this episode of The What Podcast, we catch up with Patrick Whelan, founder of Soberoo. Soberoo has been a part of Bonnaroo since its inception and has grown into Harmonium Inc., a nonprofit that now supports sober spaces at festivals and concerts nationwide. Read More

Is Bonnaroo 2025's Lineup Better Than 2020?

S08E02 Jan 15, 2025 51m Video

The Bonnaroo 2025 lineup has been out for a week! How's everyone feeling about it now? Bryan, Barry, and Lord Taco share their updated thoughts and compare it to the ill-fated 2020 lineup, which has become almost mythical in the years since. While we're saving a deep dive into the lineup for later, this week we catch up after the holiday break. Read More

Bonnaroo 2025 First Impressions: Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Hozier, and more!

S08E01 Jan 8, 2025 1h 1m Video

The Bonnaroo 2025 lineup is finally here! Bryan, Barry, and Lord Taco bring you a special live edition of The What Podcast with our first impressions. Who are we excited to see? Who surprised us the most? Over the coming weeks, we will bring you even more coverage of Bonnaroo 2025 along with some exclusive interviews. Read More

Reviews for The What Podcast

Rate and Review on Apple Podcasts

"This podcast is where I get my fix all the days of the year that I'm not on The Farm. I love the in-depth discussion on logistics and behind-the-scenes mechanics of the festival, as well as the artist interviews and lineup discussions. Such a fun listen!"

bannebo

"gosh! I've been listening since 2022, my buddy gage won 2 free tickets and I’d never heard of bonnaroo but I watched the dos and donts and man did it save! we bought tickets for '23 and '24 and I’ll always be listening too these boys! really interesting guys!"

DEEJ Minnesota

"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."

Baltreign

"You're keeping the Roo vibes alive!... and my sanity during these hard times!"

Kennybrauer227

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Latest Episode

Reflecting on a Weird Anniversary

The Weekly Podcast for Music Festival Junkies

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