We're back after a short holiday break, and catching up on everything that's happened in the world of Bonnaroo and music festivals. In this episode, we reflect on our biggest moments from 2025, and how they shaped us as fans. Plus, does Bryan have a new favorite artist discovery from the 2026 lineup?

Then, the heart of this episode comes from you! We play some of the Bonnaroo contest entries sent directly from listeners, and honestly the stories, memories, and emotions behind them hit harder than we ever expected. From first-time Bonnaroo experiences to moments of connection, resilience, and community, these submissions capture what makes Bonnaroo and music festivals so meaningful beyond the lineup. Watch Reece's full video submission here.

There's still time to enter our contest for a chance to win two tickets to Bonnaroo 2026 with a camping pass! Visit thewhat.co/win for details on how to enter, or call the hotline at (423) 667-7877!

Listen to this week's episode here or watch it on YouTube. As always, subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get podcasts for weekly updates on Bonnaroo and festival news!

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(00:00:00 ) Intro

(00:01:17 ) Catching up after the holidays

(00:17:04 ) Our best 2025 moments

(00:34:03 ) Playing your contest entries

(01:09:46 ) Outro

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Bonnaroo Isn’t About the Headliners Anymore: Brad Steiner’s Don't-Miss Picks

TOTEM Holiday Party Live From Straight to Ale

totemfnd.org

YUNGBLUD Plays '36 Floors'

When Bonnaroo Breaks Your Heart: Our Reaction to the 2025 Cancellation

Dogs in a Pile Talk Bonnaroo 2025 Debut, Jam Band Roots, and Songwriting with Tom Marshall

Bonnaroo's Survey Questions and hey, nothing's Big Summer

Shaky Knees 2025 vs. IBMA Chattanooga: Live from the Red Carpet + Bilmuri Interview

Lord Taco's Bonnaroo 2025 Picks and an Encounter with "The Dancing Man"

CaveFest 2025: Exploring the Underground Magic of The Caverns

Bonnaroo 2026: Thursday Headliner Confirmed + Our Corona Capital 2025 Breakdown

We Enlist in Pondo's Army

The Bonnaroo Yearbook: Capturing Festival Memories

Enter our Bonnaroo 2026 ticket giveaway at thewhat.co/win! We've got two tickets to give away with a camping pass!

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We love to hear from you! Send us an email at comments@thewhatpodcast.com or call (423) 667-7877 and leave us a voicemail. We might just feature it on the show.