Best Jellicle Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep182 - Teddy Wilson Jr, Sillabub in PAC's CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" 39:18

4h ago39:18

39:18

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "We were trying to figure out how to push that envelope with Sillabub being the watcher. Zhailon came up to me and was like, what if you had …

1
"The Squad" loses two members; plus, Colman Domingo shines in 'SING SING' 35:27

3h ago35:27

35:27

As the dust settles on the DNC, host Brittany Luse takes a look at the challenges facing a group of progressive democrats commonly known as "The Squad." Incumbent Reps. Cori Bush in Missouri and Jamaal Bowman in New York lost their seats this summer to candidates whose campaigns received funding from pro-Israel PACs. Brittany is joined by POLITICO …

1
The SMACKDOWN: Maya Angelou vs. Harvey Milk vs. MC Hammer 28:25

26m ago28:25

28:25

Who will win today's cage match? Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the United States to find out who and what are the most influential things from those places. This episode Brittany lands in San Francisco, California, the Bay Area, and debates with KQED reporters Pendarvis…

1
The SMACKDOWN: The Peanuts vs. Prince vs. Dungeons & Dragons 30:22

22m ago30:22

30:22

Who will win today's cage match? Welcome to The Smackdown! For the next several weeks Brittany is hosting debates in cities and regions across the United States to find out who and what are the most influential things from those places. This episode Brittany lands in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the Twin Cities, and debates with Minnesota Public …

1
Does 'weird' work for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz? 22:51

10d ago22:51

22:51

Ever since Minnesota governor and Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz called Republicans "weird," we've seen other Democrats embrace this name-calling strategy and deploy it in interviews and in memes online. We've also seen Republicans lobbing the "weird" moniker right back at Democrats. To get into how "weird" this all is, Brittany chat…

1
Ep181 - Dava Huesca, Rumpleteazer in PAC's CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" 35:32

10d ago35:32

35:32

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "It’s giving like she won Legendary and got the million dollar prize. This is a game show and she wants some coin." This episode features Dav…

1
The summer hits reveal some complicated vibes 21:58

4d ago21:58

21:58

Now that we're in the dog days of summer, host Brittany Luse wants to know - do we have a song of the summer this year? According to NPR Music reporter Sidney Madden and NPR Music host, writer and editor Stephen Thompson, there isn't one song - but many songs. "We are more disparate than ever, that's why it's hard to chart a single song right now,"…

1
Code Switch: Do we need to stop using the word "felon"? 35:42

17d ago35:42

35:42

Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris entered the presidential race, things changed. Her campaign almost immediately started framing the election as: Harris, the former prosecutor - vs. Trump the felon. And that word - "felon" - is one that our friends over at NPR's Code Switch have been thinking a lot about since former President Trump was convi…

1
BONUS - CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" Conversation with Jacob Brent, 1998 CATS Movie Mr. Mistoffelees 50:06

7d ago50:06

50:06

"Theater is moving forward and I think it happened the same way with the same show. When I saw it I had that feeling that this is a real mile marker in musical theater history again with the show." This bonus episode is a conversation about CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" featuring Jacob Brent who played Mr. Mistoffelees on Broadway and in the 1998 CATS …

1
The misunderstood humor of political memes 17:59

20d ago17:59

17:59

From the attempted assassination of former President Trump, to President Biden dropping out of the election, and VP Kamala Harris stepping up... The news these past few weeks has been buck wild. And the energy online is similarly unhinged. But what do most people get wrong when they try to interpret the latest explosion of political memes? And what…

1
LIVE @ BroadwayCon with Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons, Choreographers of "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 33:10

11d ago33:10

33:10

Throughout the summer, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. We were live at BroadwayCon 2024 with Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, the choreography team behind CATS: "The Jellicle Ball," to chat about rei…

1
Quality chills and feel good content on Dropout 29:33

25d ago29:33

29:33

It seems like there are countless streamers these days – there's Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Peacock, Roku, just to name a few. Still, success and profit remain elusive to even some of the biggest in the biz. However there is one smaller streamer that seems to have found a path to prosperity: Dropout. In this encore episode, IBAM host Brittany…

1
Ep180 - Nora Schell, Bustopher Jones in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 38:48

16d ago38:48

38:48

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "We wanted to approach it as this re-contextualized version of fatness and what fatness means. The duality of Fat and Phat." This episode …

1
Olympic hurdles for women athletes; plus, big trucks and big questions 32:31

18d ago32:31

32:31

This is the first year the Olympics have gender parity between men's and women's teams - but does it mean gender equity? ESPN writer Katie Barnes and Rose Eveleth, host of NPR and CBC's Tested, join Brittany to discuss the barriers that women athletes still face - from men-only categories to women-only sex testing. And later - in recent years, you …

1
Ep179 - Baby, Victoria in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 41:49

20d ago41:49

41:49

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "Macavity wants to steal Victoria from the House of Dots and have me join the House of Macavity." This episode features Baby who plays Vic…

1
'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board 21:30

1M ago21:30

21:30

In the latest revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, there are no singing cats. The actors have basically ditched the furry ears and velvet tails and reimagined the characters as competitors in the ballroom scene, vying for trophies and a new chance at life. This week, host Brittany Luse talks to Cats: The Jellicle Ball star Chasity Moore and co-di…

1
Ep178 - Shereen Pimentel, Jellylorum in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 41:16

21d ago41:16

41:16

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "There are all these sweet moments but does she not try to push his buttons a little bit?" This episode features Shereen Pimentel who play…

1
The rise of the AR-15; plus, why do comedians play so many cops? 34:46

1M ago34:46

34:46

Last Saturday, former president Donald Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when a gunman shot at him – killing one spectator and clipping Trump in the ear. The response? Outrage, condemnations, and prayers on all sides... but there's been less chatter about the gun that shot at him. And this gun has a lot of symbolism: The AR-15. Host Bri…

1
Ep177 - Antwayn Hopper, Macavity in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 41:36

26d ago41:36

41:36

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "We have to remember we’re angelic cats. This is what we’re finding and it’s crazy how it lends itself. It’s called the Jellicle Ball. It’…

1
Ep176 - Jonathan Burke, Mungojerrie in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" & US National Tour 5 39:49

1M ago39:49

39:49

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "In this version we are brother and sister. We have decided that Rumpleteazer is my little sister that I’ve brought into the ballroom comm…

1
Simmering over summer books 21:13

1M ago21:13

21:13

We're at the peak of summer, which means sunny days on the grass with a good book! Bestselling authors Tia Williams and Jean Chen Ho join host Brittany Luse to give their recommendations for great summer reads. They also offer some armchair theories on why we love a gossipy summer novel. Books mentioned in this episode: The Guest by Emma Cline Meet…

1
'Hawk tuah,' the Zynternet, & the bro-vote; plus, cowboys are having a moment 38:21

1M ago38:21

38:21

What did the raunchy joke say to the podcast host? That we might need to pay attention to the "zynternet." Host Brittany Luse is joined by Slate's Luke Winkie and sex and culture writer Magdalene Taylor to understand why the "hawk tuah" phenomenon is emblematic of a corner of the internet that's both culturally and politically powerful. Then, we're…

1
Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage 23:21

2M ago23:21

23:21

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples. Today, Mavis joins host Brittany Luse to share stories from her life: what it was like to be mentored by Mahalia …

1
Ep175 - Emma Sofia, Skimbleshanks & Cassandra in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 50:39

2M ago50:39

50:39

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "Remembering the first episode I didn’t really understand CATS. Now I get it. I’m in. I drank the Kool Aid. I’m here and I love it." This …

1
Defining 2024 so far; plus, why brands 'de-woked' 34:37

2M ago34:37

34:37

It is the first week of July, which means we are officially halfway through the year. And what a year it's been! Brittany sat down with NPR Politics reporter Elena Moore and co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour Stephen Thompson, to take stock of what's happened so far in 2024. Then, remember when brands weighed in on politics? Like when Gushers …

1
Ep174 - Josephine Kearns, Dramaturg & Gender Consultant in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "If I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘I’ve always hated CATS but I love this CATS’ I’d have doubled my salary on the show." This…

1
A taste of Black Appalachia 20:40

2M ago20:40

20:40

Too often, our attempts at nailing the family recipes end up in disaster and disappointment. This week, host Brittany Luse is joined by former Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson, author of Praisesong for the Kitchenghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks. The two talk about Appalachian food culture, turning or…

1
Ep173 - Sydney James Harcourt, Rum Tum Tugger in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 52:34

2M ago52:34

52:34

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "I was able to let Tugger sit on me and fit on me listening to them say - you are already Tugger so just be Sydney." This episode features…

1
Girl, that remix, so healing; plus, gay vampires 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

The internet freaked out when Charli XCX and Lorde revealed - and put to rest - their pop girl rivalry on Charli's "Girl, so confusing" remix. That same day, Brandy and Monica seemed to settle their decades long feud when they appeared on the remix of Ariana Grande's version of "The Boy is Mine." But while the pop girls are healing, a lot of fans s…

1
Ep172 - Robert "Silk" Mason, Mr. Mistoffelees in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 34:35

2M ago34:35

34:35

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "All of us have talked about how our characters are us, who we are in life." This episode features Robert "Silk" Mason who plays the magic…

1
Can't stop the (classical) music 20:25

2M ago20:25

20:25

It's Black Music month! This week, Host Brittany Luse invites Howard University professor and trombonist Myles Blakemore to talk about how classical music influenced some of our favorite musicians. They look at how the counterpoint technique of Johann Sebastian Bach may have inspired Nina Simone, and how a love of Ginuwine can turn into a career in…

1
Ep171 - "Tempress" Chasity Moore, Grizabella in PAC's "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" 31:32

2M ago31:32

31:32

Throughout June and July, we are working with the Perelman Performing Arts Center reimagined production of CATS called CATS: "The Jellicle Ball" to bring you a series of episodes with the cast and creative team. "When we were building, the connection between us (Macavity & Grizabella) was that he used to be in the House of Glamour at one time." Thi…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jellicle Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide