It's a K-pop Thing
by Alkemie Sound Lab
Latest episode
BONUS EP: We Spoke at a Panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026!
BONUS EP: We Spoke at a Panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026!
About this podcast
A podcast by two journalists and K-pop fans who love to bring a little nuance to the fan experience. Hosted by Theresa Avila and Alexis Hodoyán-Gastélum, two journalists, friends, and fellow K-pop multi-stans, each episode of It's a K-pop Thing explores the fan culture and the stories behind the people who've helped grow K-pop into a global phenomenon.
In each episode you can expect analysis and commentary on trending K-pop news stories with the right amount of background and context for new and old fans alike. It's a K-pop Thing is, "the show where we talk about all the things that make K-pop distinctly K-pop." Follow the Show: @IKPTpod on Instagram
Episodes
The newest 20 of 34 episodes
- BONUS EP: We Spoke at a Panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026! · 1 h 31 min · Season 3So, we did a thing! And that was be part of a panel at San Diego Comic Con 2026 — our first ever time at the convention! Moderated by Lizzy Gonzalez (Lizzy Cupcake), we joined…
- BONUS EP (Crosspost from Kpopcast) - ATEEZ 'BAD': Celebration of Latin Culture or Appropriation? · 1 h 6 min(Crosspost from Kpopcast) Dive into this episode with special guest Theresa from It's a Kpop Thing Podcast where we unpack the latest comeback BAD from ATEEZ, including…
- Is Coachella the Right Platform for K-pop? · 1 h 24 min · Season 3 Episode 31This was a big year for fans of K-pop at Coachella, especially because we had a younger group and two Second-Gen icons perform at the festival. First up we had KATSEYE, who made…
- Watching BTS Up Close at Their Comeback Concert in Seoul · 1 h 21 min · Season 3 Episode 30*This is Part 1 of a mini-series on the Return of BTS* We're trying something new on the pod ... a mini-series! It's been nearly 4 years since the 7 members of BTS released new…
- NCT Without Mark? What Happens When a Group Loses Its Ace · 1 h 17 min · Season 3 Episode 29"NCity is on fire." That's what it seems like for NCTzens everywhere who, in the last few days have faced the unexpected bombshell news of Mark Lee saying goodbye to NCT and SM…
- Does BLACKPINK Still Need ... BLACKPINK? · 1 h 15 minWe finally have BLACKPINK's first EP since 2022, the highly-anticipated Deadline, a five-track release that includes "JUMP" and "GO." But does the EP live up to the hype? In the…
- Closing A Chapter With ZEROBASEONE · 1 h 13 min · Season 3 Episode 27ZEROBASEONE's time as a 9-member group has come to a close after more than two and half years. What started as a temporary, project group from the survival show BOYS PLANET…
- KATSEYE and Manon's Hiatus Dilemma · 1 h 28 minWhat started as perhaps a run-of-the-mill corporate statement about KATSEYE's Manon taking a hiatus from group activities has turned into a PR disaster for HYBE x Geffen. In the…
- ATEEZ Has Our Adrenaline Pumping · 1 h 2 minATEEZ's latest comeback has proven to be their most successful to date so far and that's thanks in large part to high album sales and streaming that led to a Triple Crown victory…
- 2010's K-pop: The Nostalgia We Can't Let Go Of ... · 59 min · Season 3 Episode 24The start of 2026 had seemingly everyone online reminiscing about what life was life back in 2016. Back when times were simpler, more fun and, dare we say, when K-pop music was…
- EXO's Comeback ... It's Complicated · 60 min · Season 3 Episode 23Put simply: We have big and complex feelings about EXO's highly anticipated comeback following the return of all members from their military enlistment. When news of an EXO…
- Our Manifestations for 2026 In K-pop · 33 min · Season 3 Episode 22After analyzing all of the year-in-review K-pop content over the holidays, we've come to one conclusion: 2025 was *rough* and left us wanting a lot more. So, as we kick off the…
- What's Up With Santos Bravos? HYBE's Latino Boy Band · 1 h 26 min · Season 3 Episode 21We're kicking off 2026 with an episode we recorded at the tail end of last year that's all about Santos Bravos! Following HYBE's big experiment with KATSEYE, HYBE Latin America…
- Just Give Kpop Demon Hunters the Grammy and Oscar Already · 1 h 16 min · Season 3 Episode 20Kpop Demon Hunters arguably gave us not just the song of the summer, but the soundtrack of the year. Sound like hyperbole? It's been months since the animated musical was…
- Can We Actually Afford K-pop? · 1 h 16 minAfter taking a break in 2025 we are BACK with a fresh season of It's a K-pop Thing! It's been a long 9 months — we could have had a baby! — and we've missed talking all things…
- K-pop Stadium Shows: Are They A Good Thing? Let's Discuss · 1 h 14 minWe're back with a fresh season for 2025 and to kick things right off we're bringing you a conversation we recorded at the end of last year when Stray Kids announced their…
- Cha Eun Woo & NCT Dream in Mexico (EP 17: Traveling to Mexico for K-pop: Tips and Tricks) · 1 h 38 min · Season 2 Episode 17We are back after our summer break for a brand new season of It's a K-pop Thing! In this episode, we catch up and discuss what it was like traveling to Mexico this summer to see…
- Play This! ILLIT's "Magnetic" Plus K-pop Debut Songs That Have Stood The Test of Time · 1 h 31 min · Season 1 Episode 16In this edition of Play This! we bring you a previously unreleased episode that almost didn't air. Shortly after recording our discussion about ILLIT's debut hit single…
- Destination K-pop Concerts: NCT 127 in Tokyo and TWICE in Las Vegas · 1 h 55 min · Season 1 Episode 15We have a special concert recap episode that's ALL about our recent K-pop travels, concerts experiences and even a special run-in with some K-pop idols after a concert! (No…
- Has K-pop Hit a Plateau? Is It Slowing Down? What's Next? · 1 h 11 min · Season 1 Episode 14Lately, the general consensus seems to be: K-pop is bigger than ever before —and that's to be celebrated— but it's also ... different. The music trends are changing and…
