The EuroWhat? Podcast: Eurovision News & Reviews
The Eurowhat? Podcast launched in 2018 and features two Americans (Ben Smith and Mike McComb) attempting to make sense of the Eurovision Song Contest. The show tracks national selections and artist announcements, breaks down each year’s songs with a diverse array of guests, and dives into the 65+ years of contest history using Eurovision as a lens to analyze what’s happening in pop culture and the world.
Episodes
October 21, 2025 • 34 mins
The European Broadcasting Union has postponed its plan to hold a membership vote to decide if Israel’s broadcaster KAN will be allowed to compete in next year’s Eurovision. While it remains unclear if the vote will still happen, it doesn’t fully resolve how the EBU got to this point in the first place. We’ll take a closer look at other times the EBU’s non-political stance has been tested and see what lessons can be applied going fo...
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October 7, 2025 • 46 mins
Käärijä, Joost, Baby Lasagana, Tommy Cash... we've used the term "Weird Little Dudes" to describe these contestants from the last few editions of Eurovision. Something else they have in common: all were favorites to win and did extremely well in the televote. We attempt to define the term and try to identify what other Eurovision contestants may fall into this category.
Weird Little Dudes Summary
Where did the term "Weird Little Du...
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September 23, 2025 • 35 mins
Eurovision has given their branding elements a makeover in preparation for next year's 70th edition. Graphic Designer Justin Ladia joins Ben to discuss why rebrands happen, what the EBU may want to accomplish with this rebrand, and first impressions on the new fonts and images introduced for Vienna 2026.
Perceived Aura Summary
Why do a rebrand? (2:31)
Examining the new Eurovision logo and fonts (7:08)
The Psychology of Branding (22...
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September 9, 2025 • 24 mins
It's offficially the pre-season for Eurovision 2026 and we have a lot of news to get caught up on. We're heading to Vienna in May and planning for the national final season is underway. We also review Austria's CV at Eurovision.
Welcome to Austria Summary
Willkommen in Wien (0:49)
National Final Updates: Austria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Ukraine (4:40)
Coming up: Eurovision's Rebranding and the Intervision So...
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August 26, 2025 • 19 mins
As we wrap up our 8th season and Eurovision's 69th (nice) edition, we take a rapid fire tour of the Contest up to this point while trying to find something nice or interesting to say about each year. Content warning: goofiness.
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The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcast app to subscribe here (https://www.eurowhat.com/subscribe).
Comments, questions, and episode topic suggestions a...
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August 12, 2025 • 37 mins
The Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest featured 21 songs with non-English lyrics, the most to appear since the language rule was abolished in 1999. In this episode, we'll explore the history of the language rule and why language diversity has returned to the Contest.
Lingua Franca Summary
The introduction of the Language Rule at Eurovision (4:17)
The End of the Language Rule (17:17)
What may be contributing to language...
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July 29, 2025 • 23 mins
Quite a bit has happened since we last checked in on Eurovision news. Executive Supervisor Martin Österdahl will be stepping down, there's a new head of the Reference Group, and we know which cities have made bids to host next year's competition.
Good to Go Summary
Eurovision Host City: Innsbruck vs Vienna (1:00)
Martin Österdahl Steps Down (4:48)
Have you joined the Eurowhat AV Club? (10:43)
17 Participants so far for Eurovision 2...
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July 15, 2025 • 52 mins
1990 was the European Year of Tourism. The map of Europe was also changing, as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the movement toward what would become the European Union started to redefine the concept of borders. We’ll be taking a look at how the 1990 Contest in Yugoslavia reflected this new era in Europe, as well as how the 2025 Contest mirrors those reflections 35 years later.
Yugoslavia 1990 Summary
#EurovisionAgain, again (1:55)...
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July 1, 2025 • 55 mins
Eurovision has a unique ecosystem where the EBU and various blogs, podcasts, video channel, and other fans have a work relationship in covering the Contest. But is that relationship working? We discuss the current state of fan media with dudepoints, Niall from niallpoints, and Derek from 12 Points (all with good points).
Fan Media Summary
How was your venue covering Eurovision 2025? (4:23)
What is the distinction between fan media ...
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June 17, 2025 • 24 mins
We are opening the Patreon vault to share our discussion of Amazon's 2024 documentary I Am: Celine Dion, which chronicles the singer's rise to fame, her prolific career, and her struggles with Stiff Person Syndrome. Here's Amazon's description of the film:
Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illnes...
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June 3, 2025 • 27 mins
We ease into the off-season by getting caught up on the news in the immediate aftermath of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. We also dig into the jury and televote results and try to read the tea leaves for what might happen in Austria 2026.
Integrity Summary
Is Everyone Still Mad at the EBU Season 2 Renewal (0:55)
Eurovision 2025 Ratings (10:26)
Patreon: Doctor Who and Gambamark (13:21)
Eurovision 2025 Results Data Dive (15:00)
Su...
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May 20, 2025 • 21 mins
We have a winner! Eurovision Song Contest 2025 held its Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland and named a champion after tense rounds of juries and televoting. We discuss the show, the results, and what's in store for Eurovision 2026…
Bird Noises Summary
Austria wins the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (1:18)
What did you think of the Grand Final? (5:23)
How were the Interval Acts? (12:20)
What does Eurovision (and the EBU) look like for ...
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May 16, 2025 • 33 mins
Twenty songs have emerged from the Eurovision 2025 Semifinals and will join six auto-qualifiers on Saturday. We recap the shows from Tuesday and Thursday and get ready for the Grand Final.
Eurovision 2025 Grand Final Preview Summary
Turquoise Carpet (0:48)
Semi-Final 1 Results (3:58)
Semi-Final 2 Results (10:33)
Grand Final Preview (19:14)
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The EuroWhat? Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. Find your podcas...
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May 12, 2025 • 44 mins
Eurovision Week for 2025 is upon us as well as the 37 artists gathered in Basel. We get caught up on the news leading up to this week before discussing the rehearsals and our predictions for who will advance to Saturday's Grand Final.
Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final Preview Summary
Lumo stuns in Basel debut (0:48)
Eurovision Artist Support Measures (2:38)
Ongoing Issues: Flag Policy 2025 and Israel's Participation (6:01)
Semi-Final Form...
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May 6, 2025 • 59 mins
Graphic designer and puzzler Justin Ladia returns to discuss the Eurovision 2025 auto-qualifiers: Spain, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and host country Switzerland.
Justin Ladia
Graphic designer, puzzle person, and kendo practitioner from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Seasoned Summary
Spain - Melody - "Esa Diva" (3:27)
Italy - Lucio Corsi - "Volevo Essere Un Duro" (12:55)
Germany - Abor & Tynna - "Baller" (20:14)
United...
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April 29, 2025 • 59 mins
Ned Raggett joins us to close out our coverage of the second semi-final for Eurovision 2025. This week, we approach the entries from Australia, Serbia, Denmark, Austria, Israel, and Georgia.
Ned Raggett
Ned Raggett writes a lot, is a denizen of social media (https://bsky.app/profile/nedraggett.bsky.social), and more things besides. He has written for Pitchfork, the Guardian, The Quietus, Rolling Stone, The Wire, Shfl, Bandcamp Dail...
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April 22, 2025 • 41 mins
Critic and educator Maura Johnston joins us again to chat about the Eurovision entries from Finland, Latvia, Malta, Lithuania, and Armenia.
Maura Johnston
Maura Johnston is a writer and editor who teaches at Boston College. She lives in Allston Rock City with her cat, Nuno. Her favorite Eurovision song of recent years is Margaret Berger's "I Feed You My Love."
Do Re Mi Summary
Finland - Erika Vikman - "Ich Komme" (1:17)
Latvia - Ta...
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April 15, 2025 • 45 mins
Music journalist Fred Bronson returns to start our conversations about Eurovision 2025 Semi-Final 2. We discuss Montenegro, Luxembourg, Greece, Czechia, and Ireland, plus some delightful stories about long distance friendships and phone calls.
Fred Bronson
Fred Bronson is the author of seven books: Rockin' the Kremlin with David Junk, The Jacksons Legacy (with the Jacksons), Dick Clark’s American Bandstand (with Dick Clark), The So...
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April 8, 2025 • 47 mins
Culture critic Euny Hong joins us to discuss the multiple genres represented by Croatia, Sweden, San Marino, Portugal, and Cyprus at this year's Eurovision.
Euny Hong
Euny Hong is a journalist and bestselling author of three books that have been published in a total of over 20 languages. The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture, an Amazon Editor’s Pick, is being re-released in April 2025....
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April 1, 2025 • 59 mins
Bradley Dalton-Oates from the Eurovision Song Context podcast joins us to discuss the entries from Norway, Estonia, Azerbaijan, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
Huzzah Summary
Eurovision Song Context (1:11)
Norway - Kyle Alessandro - "Lighter" (5:51)
Estonia - Tommy Cash - "Espresso Macchiato" (13:38)
Azerbaijan - Mamagama - "Run With U" (27:53)
Iceland - VÆB - "RÓÁ" (36:01)
The Netherlands - Claude - "C'est La Vie" (44:16)
Final Thou...
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