Blog, Podcast Shownotes

Man’s Best Friend, Part II: Music, Marketing, and the Algorithms That Shape Us


It may be Swiftemonium out there, but we’re still thinking about Sabrina Carpenter. Nox and Ashley wrap up their two-part conversation on Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album, Man’s Best Friend. They dive into how the music itself compares with the album’s rollout, reflect on their favorite tracks, and unpack the growing trend of shorter songs in pop music.

The conversation doesn’t stop with the music—they also bring in book recommendations that explore themes of music, playlists, and algorithms. Together, they consider how technology influences the way we listen, discover, and connect with art.

Books and Resources Mentioned: 

Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist by Liz Pelly

This is What it Sounds Like by Susan Rogers and Ogi Ogas 

Part 1 of this conversation: Man’s Best Friend?

Why Does Everything Sound Like an Audition Song for the Voice – Rolling Stone 

Girl, all of these playlists? – Ashley’s Substack 

The Necessity of Music Videos – Feminist Book Club

Support and follow our hosts! 

Ashley’s Instagram I Substack 

Nox’s Instagram I Substack I TikTok I Threads 

Check out our online community here! 

This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.

Original music by Amarissa

Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.

Ashley Paul is a traveler, runner, and baker. She is an Everlasting Bookworm and Culture Maven. She is passionate about supporting high school juniors and seniors to write compelling stories for their post-secondary careers. She loves stories with social commentary, atmospheric writing, and compelling characters.

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