Music

Unfamous with Justin Tranter

Most of what you love in pop culture didn’t happen the way you think it did. Unfamous goes deep with the people who were actually there.

Hosted by Grammy-nominated hit songwriter Justin Tranter, whose credits include Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” and some of the biggest pop songs of the past decade, Unfamous takes you inside the rooms where culture gets made.

Artists, writers, producers, executives and collaborators reveal the decisions, disagreements, false starts, rewrites, rejections and breakthroughs behind the songs, performances, careers and cultural moments you know.

Because the finished product is only part of the story.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Latest Episodes:

Paul McCartney Took 100% of the Publishing. Here’s Why. Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Paul McCartney can love your version of his song and still take 100% of the publishing. So how does any of this actually work?

In this Unfamous recap, co-creators Justin Tranter and Morgan Stuart revisit the biggest lessons from producer Bongo ByTheWay and songwriter/artist Ant Clemons, starting with Ant’s Paul McCartney story and a breakdown of the difference between samples and interpolations, when borrowing something familiar can increase a song’s chances of connecting, and when the publishing cost may no longer be worth it.

Then the conversation gets into the less-visible mechanics behind great creative work: why producing is as much about managing personalities as operating a computer, how Justin uses who / what / where / when / why to map lyrics, the melodic math he used while writing Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” and Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” and why Bongo and Ant believe artist development still matters, from songwriting and performance to having a creative identity strong enough to survive success.

Chapters

0:00 Paul McCartney, Producer Psychology & the Rules Behind Hits0:42 Why the Behind-the-Scenes Creators Connected

1:52 Paul McCartney Took 100% of the Publishing

3:24 Sample vs. Interpolation: What You’re Actually Paying For

5:32 When Should You Kill an Interpolation?

7:46 The Producer’s Job Is Emotional, Too

11:58 The Song Map: Who, What, Where, When, Why

14:22 Why Structure Creates More Creative Freedom

15:22 The Melodic Math Behind “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Sorry”

19:26 What Music Is Missing: Artist Development

21:22 Singer-Songwriters Need Development Too

23:33 How Do You Prepare an Artist for Success?

Credits

Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter

Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart

Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart

Director: Morgan T. Stuart

Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary

Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri

Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha

Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, & Cory Jasin.

Chat with the Unfamous team: https://tr.ee/jwPZ3j

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who Gets The Final Say? Inside The Hollywood Reporter Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

The best-looking photo can still be the wrong cover. And one bad compromise can turn a bold creative idea beige.

The Hollywood Reporter’s Maer Roshan and Alison Edmond join Justin Tranter to reveal what actually happens behind some of Hollywood’s biggest covers—from Angelina Jolie asking them to redo an entire lighting setup after one shot, to orchestrating The White Lotus cast across two coasts and pulling together a Mikey Madison shoot the morning after her Oscar win.

They break down how a cover goes from an idea to the final image, what happens when talent or publicists push back, why the most beautiful photograph doesn’t always serve the story, and why great creative work can fall apart when too many people get a vote.

It’s a conversation about taste, trust, fighting for an idea, knowing when to defer to someone else’s expertise, and developing enough experience to stop second-guessing your own.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Why the Best Photo Can Still Lose

1:16 Meet The Hollywood Reporter’s Maer Roshan & Alison Edmond

7:31 How a Hollywood Reporter Cover Actually Gets Made

11:08 Why the Most Beautiful Photo Isn’t Always the Right One

13:21 Photographing a Controversial Celebrity Story

17:07 Why Celebrities Care So Much About Their Image

18:03 Angelina Jolie Made Them Change the Entire Lighting Setup

19:44 What Happens When the Talent Has a Bad Idea?

23:15 How Do You Avoid a PR-Controlled Interview?

27:16 The Insane Logistics Behind The White Lotus Cover

30:11 Shooting Mikey Madison the Morning After Her Oscar Win

32:08 How Do You Create an Iconic Image in the iPhone Era?

37:05 The Most Common Way a Great Idea Gets Ruined

38:47 Why Creativity Dies by Committee

40:17 How to Fight for a Great Idea Without Killing the Collaboration

44:39 How Alison Edmond Learned to Stop Doubting Her Taste

49:31 Their First Jobs in the Magazine Business

52:09 How They Spot Talent Before Everyone Else Does

54:16 Why a Print Cover Still Means Something

56:08 “Don’t Be Stupid”: Alison’s Path to British Vogue

59:28 Growing Up With Censored Magazines in Iran

1:00:46 Why “Manifesting” Still Requires an Obscene Amount of Work

1:03:08 The Prince Harry Cover That Got a Letter From the Palace

1:04:38 How The Hollywood Reporter Balances Print, Digital & Social

1:09:01 Gag or Drag: Celebrity Creative Directors, Publicists & Bad Covers

1:14:14 The Career Advice They Wish They’d Learned Earlier

CREDITS: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Luke Burland + 2BEntertainment.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Troye Sivan Refuses to Make the Same Album Twice Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

An Instagram DM became “Rush.” “Bloom” started with Troye Sivan thinking it wasn’t working. And after more than a decade of writing together, Troye and Leland are still trying to surprise themselves. On Unfamous, they break down their creative partnership, how Troye keeps evolving without repeating himself, the stories behind “Rush” and “Bloom,” imposter syndrome, writing for RuPaul’s Drag Race, and what makes the right collaborator click. Chapters are below so you can jump straight to your favorite parts. Chapters 0:00 Troye Sivan Introduces Leland 2:09 How Troye Sivan + Leland Met 6:27 Their First Song Together Ended Up With BTS 10:57 Why Troye Never Wants to Make the Same Album Twice 18:43 Why Songwriting Is Mostly Social Skills 22:10 How an Instagram DM Became “Rush” 26:57 Troye + Leland on Imposter Syndrome 29:46 Cirkut, Mark Ronson + Getting Nervous Around Your Heroes 32:34 How “Bloom” Went From “This Isn’t Working” to an Album Title 37:12 What 11 Years of Writing Together Teaches You 43:08 Writing Pop Hits vs. Writing for RuPaul’s Drag Race 47:33 Britney, Janet + the Pop Music That Changed Them 55:55 Why Great Artists Are Secretly Music Geeks 57:01 How Troye Keeps Evolving Without Forcing It 1:03:33 What Troye + Leland Would Tell Their Younger Selves 1:10:42 Gagged or Dragged: TikTok, Gay Icons + Pop Songwriting 1:16:31 The Best Advice for Creative Collaboration 1:18:52 Troye’s Advice to Songwriters: Not Every Collaboration Works Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Sherrae Rucker Special thanks to Mark Beaven and Jimmy Knehans Shout out to Leslie Tranter and Chloe Pappas on Patreon

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lost Boys Was “The Hardest Thing We’ve Ever Done”: The Rescues on 60 Songs + Band Therapy Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

The Rescues spent five years writing The Lost Boys for Broadway. They wrote nearly 60 songs, rewrote lyrics again and again, cut a song they loved after watching it stop the show cold in front of an audience, and reached a point where they had to ask whether they could keep working together after it was over. Justin Tranter reunites with Kyler England, AG and Gabriel Mann to break down what actually went into creating the musical, and what happens when three longtime collaborators with completely different ways of working take on the hardest project they’ve ever made together. They also trace the unlikely path that got them there, from forming for a $500 wedding gig and landing five Grey’s Anatomy placements to building separate creative careers before The Lost Boys unexpectedly brought them back together. Plus: why they needed “band therapy,” how they learned which creative battles actually mattered, why a great song still might need to be cut, and what five years of rewrites taught them about trust, ego and letting the audience tell you what isn’t working. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Wayne Wolfe, Hannah Wallace, and Nicolette Carcaldi.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When "Pushing Through" Stops Working: Rainbow Kitten Surprise on Reinvention Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

What happens when pushing through stops making you stronger and starts getting in the way of the art? Justin Tranter sits down with Rainbow Kitten Surprise's lead singer/songwriter Ela Melo and her partner and movement director Cat Cogliandro to unpack how movement, trust and recovery changed the way Ela and the band perform. They trace “Devil Like Me” from a homemade recording built with cardboard-box stomp claps to its live reinvention, revisit the 2022 Red Rocks performance that forced Ela to confront how far she had pushed herself, and talk honestly about sobriety, creative conflict and knowing when to ask for help. It’s a conversation about building a better show, but also a more sustainable way to keep making art without buying into the idea that suffering is what makes an artist great. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Bailey Katler and 2BEntertainment.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside Pop Songwriting: Hits, Failure, Fear + What Actually Makes a Song Work Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

What makes a great song when everyone is trying to reverse-engineer hits, virality and the “right” way to be an artist? Justin Tranter sits down with friends and collaborators Sasha Alex Sloan and Amelia Moore, two artist-songwriters whose careers keep proving that some of the best creative decisions are the ones that look wrong on paper. They unpack how an imperfect choice became one of the most memorable parts of Camila Cabello’s “Never Be the Same,” why the “too complicated” riff in Amelia’s “See Through” became a TikTok singing challenge and helped lead to her second record deal, and what getting dropped taught both of them about failure, freedom and trying again. Plus: writing for other artists, the very different mechanics of K-pop, how to say no without killing a writing session, and why neither industry rejection nor industry praise can tell you who you are. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Shaina Botwin, Sam French and Mady Davis.

Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/w4mqomzg #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Some Songs Work Onscreen and Others Don’t: Pitch Perfect, The Devil Wears Prada + Wednesday Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

What makes one song perfect for a scene while another, even a great one, just doesn’t work? Justin Tranter sits down with music supervisor Julia Michels and songwriter, producer and arranger Alana Da Fonseca to break down the judgment behind the music in Pitch Perfect, The Devil Wears Prada, Wednesday, Off Campus and more. They get into testing whether “Toxic” would still connect with a younger audience, knowing instantly that KT Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See” belonged in The Devil Wears Prada, reinventing “Paint It Black” for cello, and why writing for screen means serving the story instead of protecting your song. Along the way, they unpack taking notes without ego, navigating directors and creative politics, and why the best song you’ve ever written can still be completely wrong for the moment. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans and the Guild of Music Supervisors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Music Gets Into Hit TV Shows | The Hidden Process Behind Prime's "Off Campus" + More Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

How does a song actually make it into a hit TV show, and what makes the right placement capable of changing an artist’s career? Live from the GMS Conference, Justin Tranter sits down with Emmy-nominated music supervisors Amanda Krieg Thomas and Anna Romanoff to reveal the hidden process behind the music you hear on screen. They break down how Off Campus on Prime built its musical world from the scripts up, how artists like G Flip and The Beaches landed major moments, what it really takes to clear an iconic song, and why you can’t simply manufacture a viral soundtrack. They also share what songwriters need to understand about writing for film and TV, why the business side of creativity matters, and practical advice for anyone trying to break into music supervision: get close to the work, learn the craft, build your community, and don’t rush the process. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans and the Guild of Music Supervisors.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bella Kay + Alexis Idarose Kesselman | “iloveitiloveitiloveit”+ How Great Collaborators Disagree Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Bella Kay and songwriter-producer Alexis Idarose Kesselman break down the creative partnership behind Bella’s debut album, from meeting during one of Bella’s first-ever writing sessions to making “I Love It, I Love It, I Love It,” “Stop,” “Blur,” and “Karaoke.” They talk about learning the rules without losing what makes an artist unique, fighting for ideas, turning messy relationships into songs, handling criticism, and why the best collaborators make you feel even more like yourself. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Lizbeth Alvarez, Priscilla Felten, Justin Frazier, Mandy Weiss, Cyndi Williams, Adam Mersel, Tracy Wasserman and Deborah Radel.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruth B + Cole MGN | What Happens After Your First Song Becomes a Massive Hit Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Ruth B’s career exploded with her very first song. Then came the harder question: how do you do it again? Ruth and producer Cole MGN join Justin Tranter to unpack the pressure that followed “Lost Boy,” why “Dandelions” unexpectedly going viral five years later changed Ruth’s relationship with success, and how the two built her most personal album yet. They break down abandoning the songwriting-session treadmill, reinventing Ruth’s creative process, taking nearly two years to finish “Breathe,” and finally completing “Storm,” the Vine-era song fans had been asking for for a decade. Credits: Unfamous is hosted by Justin Tranter Created by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Produced by Justin Tranter & Morgan T. Stuart Written & Researched by Morgan T. Stuart Director: Morgan T. Stuart Co-Director + Cinematographer: Olivia McCrary Audio Engineer: Mike Sabri Camera Assistant: Kolbi Samantha Special thanks to Mark Beavan, Jimmy Knehans, Bobbie Gale + Nina Savio.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Unfamous with Justin Tranter

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected