This episode of HOMOPHONIC is all about celebrating the legend herself—Ms. Janet Jackson. We're joined once again by DJ John Michael to revisit some of our favorite Janet moments, from her unforgettable MTV Icon tribute to the long-rumored unreleased duet with Mariah Carey.

Before diving into all things Janet, we share our reactions to Rihanna’s brand-new single “Friend of Mine” from the upcoming Smurfs movie and chat about the highly anticipated 25th anniversary edition of The Emancipation of Mimi.

And of course, it wouldn’t be HOMOPHONIC without digging into some of Janet's most underrated deep cuts.

Happy Birthday Janet! (with DJ John Michael)

HOMOPHONIC is back — and we’re coming in hot! After a mini break, DJ John Michael returns for a wild ride of an episode you won’t want to miss. We’re talking everything from Pride DJ sets and Rihanna’s third pregnancy to white gays comparing Addison Rae’s music to Ray of Light. We dish on the never-ending Katy Perry hate-train, celebrate Madonna and Pamela Anderson aging like icons, and react to Beyoncé’s epic Cowboy Carter tour kickoff. Zach even discusses his sexual awakening with Enrique Iglesias. And yes…we declare justice for Iggy Azalea. Buckle up — it’s a pop music whirlwind.

Justice for ... Iggy Azalea!?!? (with DJ John Michael)

ZEE MACHINE is back — and this time, he's bringing the sensational Bentley Robles for the debut of their percussively luscious pop duo, Tears & Gearz!

We dive into how these two icons met, what sparked their creative partnership, and the creation of their brand-new single, "Delusional" — out now!

We also chat about what’s next for Tears & Gearz, dish our thoughts on the Katy Perry of it all, and hear Bentley’s love for his favorite pop queen, Camila Cabello.

Introducing Tears & Gearz (with ZEE MACHINE & Bentley Robles)

Pop icon and unofficial Lady Gaga correspondent ZEE MACHINE returns to HOMOPHONIC! Joined together with DJ John Michael, we dive deep into all things Gagachella. ZEE spills the tea on what it was like to experience weekend one firsthand, and we speculate about what Gaga might bring to the upcoming Mayhem Ball. Plus, we take a moment to chat about the rise of Addison Rae’s pop career.  

Gagachella (with ZEE Machine & DJ John Michael)

Katy Perry and Gayle King might have gone to space for 11 minutes but DJ John Michael and I are taking you to Mars for a whole hour as we revisit Britney's "Oops!...I Did It Again" album for it's 25th anniversary!  Join us as we talk about classics like the title track and "Stronjger," deep cuts like "Heart" and "Walk On By" and the remixes joining the reissue in May.  Naturally we go down some tangents including mentions of Madonna, Mariah Carey, Hex Hector, Mac Quayle, Toni Braxton and more.

Britney's "Oops!" Turns 25 (with DJ John Michael)

Get ready for an ALL-KYLIE extravaganza on this episode of HOMOPHONIC!

DJ John Michael and I are back together, still buzzing from Kylie Minogue’s Tension tour—I caught her in Chicago, HE saw her in New York—and we’re spilling all the glittery details. From jaw-dropping video projections to fresh new arrangements and unforgettable fan-request moments, we relive our favorite highlights from the show.

We also give a well-deserved spotlight to the electrifying opening act, Romy, who absolutely owned the stage. Plus, we take a nostalgic detour through our personal Kylie journeys—how we first discovered her, our go-to deep cuts, and the most iconic Kylie concert videos over the years.

Whether you're a longtime Kylie stan or just curious about what makes her a pop legend, this episode is for you!

Keeping It Kylie! (with DJ John Michael)

Get ready for a wild ride on this week’s episode of HOMOPHONIC! DJ John Michael is back — fresh from Miami Music Week — and we’re diving into everything from Britney’s iconic “Me Against The Music” remixes to Ricky Martin’s electrifying “I Don’t Care” and Ariana Grande’s “Brighter Days” deluxe edition of Eternal Sunshine.

The heart of the episode is a heartfelt celebration of Celine Dion, honoring her recent birthday with all the love she deserves. Plus, we’re getting real about the mental health, body image, and dating as I open up about a recent personal experience.

And of course, we can’t resist sharing our obsession with Pepsi anthems from Britney and Janet, as well as our excitement for Miley’s upcoming visual album Something Beautiful.

Mental Health, Céline Dion, & Pepsi Bangers (with DJ John Michael)

This week, we’re diving deep into two pop royalty icons: Mariah Carey and Madonna! DJ John Michael returns as we unpack the scorching-hot takes you, our listeners, submitted on social media about Madonna’s “worst” song—and trust us, some of these opinions are wild!

We also take a moment (or several) to shower Mariah Carey with love as she approaches a major anniversary. And, in classic HOMOPHONIC fashion, we detour into some delightful pop culture rabbit holes, including a little-known story about Deborah Cox’s “Stupid Like U” and celebrating 25 years of NSYNC’s No Strings Attached.

M&M: Mariah & Madonna (with DJ John Michael)

Zee Machine and DJ John Michael are back to further process our feelings about Lady Gaga's latest masterpiece, "Mayhem."  We reflect on our first reactions now that we have had a week to digest the project and see where our favorite moments from the album are currently sitting.  We also take a moment to talk about Chappell Roan's highly anticipated "The Giver" as well as JADE's latest offering "FUFN."  

Mayhem Reloaded:  The Re-Up (with ZEE MACHINE & DJ John Michael)

LG7 has arrived, and we're diving in headfirst! Pop sensation and certified Gaga stan ZEE MACHINE joins me, along with best-friend-of-the-pod DJ John Michael, for an electrifying track-by-track reaction—recorded just 12 hours after Mother Monster unleashed her latest era of MAYHEM.

From "Disease" to "Killah" to "Blade of Grass", and the bonus cuts "Can't Stop The High" and "Kill For Love," no beat, lyric, or synth goes unnoticed. And, of course, it wouldn’t be HOMOPHONIC without a Gaga Edition of Songs We Don’t Talk About Enough. PAWS UP, LITTLE MONSTERS!

The "Mayhem" Episode (with ZEE MACHINE & DJ John Michael)

HOMOPHONIC is the brand new pop music, pop culture focused podcast by pop music meme creator, Zach Rickel, the creator behind all your favorite memes on @afunctioninggay on Instagram.  This weekly show will highlight the best of pop music both in the current pop zeitgeist as well as the past.  From favorite deep cuts and bonus tracks to obscure remixes and unreleased material to the biggest hits and the worst flops, we are covering it all here.  But just like my voice ... it's not that deep!

HOMOPHONIC

Join your host Zach Rickel, the man behind EVERYONE'S favorite pop music meme page @afunctioninggay, to discuss ALL things pop music.

Zach Rickel

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