Hit Parade: The Bridge — "Farewell, Lilith Fan"

Date: July 19, 2019
Host: Chris Molanphy
Guest: TJ Raphael (Slate Podcast senior producer, departing)
Special Guest: Rachel, Slate Plus member and trivia contestant

Episode Overview

This episode of Hit Parade: The Bridge serves as a sendoff for senior producer TJ Raphael, who is leaving Slate for Sony Music. Host Chris Molanphy and TJ reminisce about the origins of The Bridge, discuss the importance of listener engagement, and delve into requests for future episodes. The conversation spotlights 1990s women in rock and the legacy of Lilith Fair, before the show transitions into a lively pop-chart trivia segment with a longtime Slate Plus supporter. The tone is warm, nostalgic, and playful, with reflections on music, podcasting, and community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tribute to TJ Raphael and Origins of The Bridge

[00:38–03:31]

• Sendoff for TJ Raphael: Chris announces TJ is leaving Slate for Sony Music. He credits TJ for inventing The Bridge mini-episodes, which helped connect listeners, enable trivia games, and offer behind-the-scenes insights.
  • “TJ, you dreamed up these mid month shows…help us catch up with our listeners and play a trivia game.” (Chris, 01:20)
  • Chris thanks TJ: “So thank you for that.”
• TJ Reflects: She discusses how collaborating on The Bridge has been one of her favorite parts of working at Slate and thanks Chris for being open to her idea.
  • “So thanks for when I came to you with the idea…Thanks for not saying are you crazy and going with it.” (TJ, 02:34)

2. Listener Engagement and Slate Plus Support

[03:31–04:12]

• Slate Plus Members: TJ and Chris highlight the importance of Slate Plus both for engagement (trivia games) and for Slate’s financial independence.
  • “If you listen to this show…you can sign up to play if you become a Slate plus member...Your support really matters.” (TJ, 03:31)

3. Recap and Reflections on Recent Broadway Episode

[04:12–05:59]

• Feedback on Broadway/pops episode: Chris describes unprecedented listener feedback on the June episode about pop chart history and Broadway:
  • Listeners were moved by his stepson Tom’s performance from Dear Evan Hansen. He notes the episode itself began with Tom’s idea and performance.
  • “I am now married and Tom is actually my stepson who performs a song from the musical Dear Evan Hansen at the end…So I'm deeply grateful to Tom…” (Chris, 04:22)

4. A Call for a '90s Women in Rock Episode & Lilith Fair's Legacy

[05:59–12:35]

• TJ’s Final Episode Request: TJ asks Chris for a deep-dive on '90s girl rock—Fiona Apple, Melissa Etheridge, Alanis Morissette, Sarah McLachlan, among others.
  • “If I had one request, it would be that you create a full length episode [on] 90s girl rock…” (TJ, 05:59)
• Chris’ Approval & Background: Chris is enthusiastic, notes his prior research, and explains the foundational role women played in the Modern Rock/Alternative charts. He identifies the creation and impact of Lilith Fair.
  • “The first number one song on Billboard's alternative music chart was Susie and the Banshees…women like Alanis Morissette, like Liz Phair…did exceedingly well both on the modern rock chart and eventually on the Hot 100 as well.” (Chris, 07:24)
  • “There's definitely a lot of story there...Probably a capper to this story…is the formation of the Lilith Fair concert series at the end of the 90s…There's plenty there…I'm going to take it under serious advisement for a future episode.” (Chris, 07:54)
• 2020 Lilith Fair—Fantasy Lineup and Social Context:
  • TJ and Chris discuss the cultural climate post-MeToo and ask why Lilith Fair hasn’t been revived.
  • Chris floats a fantasy lineup: Billie Eilish, Brandy Carlile, Courtney Barnett, Cardi B, Beyoncé—and notes the diversity a modern all-women’s festival would entail.
    • “I would put Billie Eilish on that concert…I see her as the heir apparent to everybody from Kate Bush to Tori Amos to Lorde…She is the iconoclast of her generation.” (Chris, 09:36)
    • “I feel like a modern Lilith Fair would include a really diverse array of performers…” (TJ, 12:21)
  • They both express keen interest in seeing this modern, intersectional festival.
    • “I would absolutely buy a ticket for that show.” (TJ, 11:39)

5. Pop Chart Trivia with Longtime Slate Plus Member Rachel

[12:58–22:19]

• Meet Rachel: Rachel, from Chicago, is introduced as a pop music fan and a dedicated Slate Plus member for nearly five years.
• Game Structure: Chris asks three questions—one about a previous Broadway episode, two previewing the next episode (Lennon/McCartney songs post-Beatles).
  • Rachel gets stumped on all three, but the atmosphere remains supportive and lighthearted.
• Sample Quotes:
  • “I hope you regard this moment of trivia as the culmination of your multiple years of Slate + membership.” (Chris, 13:54)
  • “It's like a very exciting reward for me.” (Rachel, 14:01)
  • Chris: “Well, gosh, I am so sorry, Rachel. It was a rough trivia round for you, but here's the good news for you. Now's the opportunity for you to turn the tables on me and ask me a trivia question.” (Chris, 18:14)

6. TJ and Rachel’s Team-Up to Stump Chris

[18:38–21:32]

• TJ’s Farewell Trivia Question: TJ and Rachel team up to stump Chris with a question about which Canadian female artist, beside Alanis Morissette, won the Juno Award for most promising female vocalist.
  • Chris guesses Avril Lavigne, but the correct answer is k.d. lang.
    • “This is such a TJ question.” (Chris, 19:30)
    • “Way to go K D Lange. That would have required some pretty deep Juno's knowledge on my part.” (Chris, 21:34)
• Deep Dive into Juno History: Rachel gives background on the award’s history among major Canadian artists.

7. Upcoming Hit Parade Episode Teaser

[23:49–25:03]

• Chris previews the next episode:
  • It will focus on the few #1 American singles credited to Lennon-McCartney that were non-Beatles songs, all of them “a little kooky.”
    • “There have only been three number one hits on the Hot 100 written by John Lennon Paul McCartney…that are not Beatles songs. And...they're all strange. So I'm gonna talk about all three of these oddball number one Lennon McCartney non Beatles hits in the July episode…” (Chris, 23:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Taking Creative Risks, The Bridge:
  • “At first I thought, well, let's try this and see how this works. I mean, I wasn't sure what the end product would sound like or frankly, if our listeners would embrace it, but they absolutely have.” (Chris, 02:50)
• TJ’s Humorous Self-Reflection:
  • “It might be a little embarrassing, but I still obsessively listen to the hits from Fiona Apple and Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan, four non blondes, and of course one of the most iconic figures for me, Alanis Morissette.” (TJ, 05:59)
• On the Festival Landscape:
  • “I wonder whether women no longer want to have an all women festival or if it's just kind of difficult to mount any festival these days. And that's why you don't see a rerun or a response or a comeback of Lilith Fair. But I would certainly buy a ticket for that show.” (Chris, 11:14)
• Slate Plus Loyalty:
  • “Out of all of the trivia competitors we've had on, I don't think we've had a Slate plus member of such long standing as you.” (Chris, 22:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:38 | Introduction; Farewell to TJ Raphael | | 03:31 | Discussing Slate Plus & listener engagement | | 04:12 | Broadway/pop charts episode recap | | 05:59 | TJ's request for a '90s women in rock episode | | 07:24 | Chris’s breakdown of women’s impact on the alt-rock charts| | 09:19 | Lilith Fair, diversity in modern music festivals | | 12:58 | Trivia game with Rachel (long-time Slate Plus member) | | 18:38 | TJ and Rachel stump Chris with a Canadian trivia question| | 23:49 | Preview of the next Hit Parade full episode | | 25:21 | Signoff; gratitude for TJ Raphael |

Overall Tone and Style

The conversation is intimate, enthusiastic, and playful; a mix of music history nerdery, personal gratitude, and a sense of community. Chris and TJ’s rapport is evident, particularly as they reminisce about The Bridge’s creation and embrace the quirks of music chart trivia. There’s an undercurrent of bittersweet celebration as the episode marks not just a goodbye, but also a testament to listener loyalty and creative podcasting.