About this episode

Yasi Salek and Caryn Ganz discuss Madonna's modern era, exploring her albums and cultural impact.

Yasi is joined by journalist and critic Caryn Ganz as the Madonna series enters the modern era. They discuss the glittering revival of 'Confessions on a Dance Floor,' the superstar collaborations and pop maximalism of 'Hard Candy,' the spectacle and chaos of 'MDNA,' the leaks, vulnerability, and often misunderstood ambition of 'Rebel Heart,' and the globetrotting experimentation of 'Madame X.' Plus: The Super Bowl, the ageism, the collaborators, and the globe-spanning Celebration Tour that celebrated 40 years of Madonna, along with what they feel is coming next as 'Confessions 2' looms on the horizon. Episode PlaylistListen to the Madonna: Part 4 playlist here. CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuests: Caryn Ganz @mehpatrolProducer: Rob SundermannEditor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Yasi Salek

Guest: Caryn Ganz

Topics covered

• Madonna's music evolution
• pop collaborations
• ageism in music
• modern pop culture
• Madonna's impact
• celebration of Madonna's career

Keywords

• Madonna
• Caryn Ganz
• Confessions on a Dance Floor
• Hard Candy
• MDNA
• Rebel Heart
• Madame X
• Super Bowl
• Celebration Tour
• pop music

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Ringer, Celebration Tour

Books & works: Confessions on a Dance Floor, Hard Candy, MDNA, Rebel Heart, Madame X, Confessions 2

More episodes of Bandsplain

• Madonna: Part 3 With Paul Hamann · May 21, 2026 · 4h 2m
• Madonna: Part 2 with Patrik Sandberg · May 14, 2026 · 4h 37m

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