In Our Headphones - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I’ve recently discovered ‘In Our Headphones’ and give it a big thumbs up. Part of my interest in KEXP podcasts is the commentary you offer as you introduce your audience to music. I have limited knowledge in the music scene, so I am always interested in the side stories about the artist or their background to help get more from their music. This formula of hosting the DJs is a winner, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening and discovering.I appreciate your commitment to quality podcasts!

I love learning about music! Especially from people who are passionate about all things music. DJs to music are like a photo to the album, their ability to catalogue and pull the song that you didn’t know you need to hear amazes me. This pod is gives the ability to peek into their process. Janice is a fantastic interviewer and I love her enthusiastic voice, curiosity, joy and excitement for music and the DJS she interviews. It is palpable!

“In Our Headphones” just switched hosts to Evie Stokes, one of KEXP’s very best DJs - she brings a warmth and passion for music that’s infectious. It’s also great to hear from other DJs on the show, and nice to hear from Chris Sanley and Alex Ruder as well, given their roles as tastemakers. Big improvement over the last version

came away with a few new songs to listen to, and made me excited about finding new music on my own. i love hearing people who are passionate about music talk about why they like a song - having the song playing throughout was a nice touch. will definitely keep tuning in!

Song of the Day was such a refreshing podcast! It was just a new, full song everyday, without analysis, for me to listen to and think of on my own, without interpretation. I could hear a whole song by a new artist I’d never heard before, and if I liked it, find it on streaming, etc to hear more.

Recently (March 2024) KEXP replaced Song of the Day with In Our Headphones, a show with a completely different format. It’s now 95% conversation with KEXP DJs, with only 30s snippets of the music they’re talking about. The snippets are so short, and make the listen a waste. Even if you like the song they’re talking about, unless you take notes or go back and read the show notes, you won’t even pickup on the new artist they play.

It’s a real bummer. In Our Headphones is a decent show, if they’d only play more of the songs, and make it more of a showcase for the music itself, not the DJs. Maybe if they’d made it its own separate new thing, but replacing Song of the Day was a mistake…