Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast School of Emo

Today, we’re unraveling the complicated, legendary, and controversial story of Brand New — a band that redefined what emo could sound like, burned bridges with their Long Island peers, and, in 2025, surprised everyone with an unexpected return.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we’ll travel back to the early ’90s Seattle scene where the band formed, follow them through their meteoric rise and fall, hear direct quotes from band members about what really happened behind the scenes, and see how their music evolved from raw punk emotion to expansive artistry. I’ll be your fellow student as we uncover Sunny Day Real Estate’s story – a story of heartfelt music, heartbreak, and hope.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Hey there, welcome to School of Emo, the podcast where we dive into the world of emo, pop-punk, and everything in between. If you’ve ever found yourself screaming the lyrics to Taking Back Sunday in your car, or wearing way too much eyeliner in the early 2000s, you’re in the right place. I’m Erin Judge, and each week, I’ll be your guide through the music, the culture, and the history that shaped an entire generation of angsty teens (and let’s be real, adults too).

I am not the teacher of this school. I’m a student, here to learn alongside you and from you. Together, we cover a lot of information that doesn’t actually matter, but will remind us of stalking MySpace channels and getting lost in chat rooms.

So connect your dial up, turn on your webcam, and let’s go to school… of emo.

Want to be a guest or share your own EMO-ment to be featured on a future episode? Email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com 

Want to stay connected in this little emo family? Subscribe to the channel and follow me on Instagram @school.of.emo

I'm likely already home from the cruise as you're tuning in, so come back for a recap and see how my preparations and expectations actually played out! 

Learn more about the Emo's Not Dead Cruise at www.emosnotdeadcruise.com

As you wait to recap together, check out my HAPPY playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6GGyxkuuW5hxd3eiOJuVr3?si=a500d21a8cfa49f0

And if you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopod@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

If you’ve ever wondered where emo truly began, the answer isn’t in the early 2000s, the ‘90s, or even late ‘80s—it all traces back to Washington, D.C. in 1984, when a group of hardcore kids decided to take punk in a more emotional, introspective direction.

That’s right, we’re traveling back to the 1980s—before My Chemical Romance, before Taking Back Sunday, before even Sunny Day Real Estate—to talk about the band that started it all: Rites of Spring.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we’re covering a band that practically defined early 2000s emo—Taking Back Sunday.

From their explosive debut Tell All Your Friends to their high-profile feud with Brand New, and frontman Adam Lazzara’s journey through addiction and sobriety, Taking Back Sunday’s story is one of loyalty, rivalry, struggle, and redemption.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we’re talking about a band that blended poetic lyricism with explosive energy—New Jersey’s own Thursday.

Thursday didn’t just play music; they created movements, soundtracked teenage angst, and left an undeniable mark on the post-hardcore and emo scenes. From their early basement shows to influencing an entire generation, their impact is still felt today.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

In today’s episode, we’re living the lives teenage Erin and Alex would have dreamed of with a recap of When We Were Young 2024. I’ll tell you about the bands we saw and our experience navigating Vegas, festival grounds, the full day of demand on our bodies, and the crowds at this festival. 

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we’re exploring the history of a band that pushed the boundaries of both metalcore and emo – the one and only Underoath. From their early days as a Christian metalcore band to their mainstream breakthrough, breakup, and ultimate rebirth, Underoath’s journey is one of reinvention, raw emotion, and some seriously heavy breakdowns.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the roots of emo and its evolution into the sound we know today. From the emotional gut-punches of Rites of Spring to the MySpace anthems of Taking Back Sunday, we’re tracing how this genre went from underground to mainstream, and how it forever changed the way we express pain, love, and everything in between.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Whether you first heard them screaming their guts out on Taste of Ink or you got lost in the emotional wreckage of I Caught Fire, The Used has been a staple in the post-hardcore and emo scene for over two decades. In today’s class, we talk history, top songs, and even some of the craziest news stories surrounding the band. So, buckle up—this one’s gonna be a ride.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

This episode is a full review of my first sail away on the Emo's Not Dead Cruise - we talk about celebrity sightings, activities on board, sets by some of our favorite emo artists, and more!

Want to be on the boat in 2026? Get all the details here: https://www.endcruise.com/

Now that we have fully recapped the cruise, it's time to start our emo band deep dives, so come back for our first one covering The Used.

And if you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we are going back to our teenage years sleepover-style. Remember the days of MASH, magazine quizzes, bedroom talent shows, and prank calls? It’s the same vibe, except we are playing around with ChatGPT and AI. 

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today’s subject is none other than the master of acoustic heartbreak himself — Dashboard Confessional.

From dorm-room demos to MTV Unplugged, Dashboard wasn’t just a band — it was a movement. Chris Carrabba turned whispers into anthems, inspired a generation of kids to spill their guts on LiveJournal, and arguably gave emo its most vulnerable voice.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we’re flipping the script and turning the spotlight on the women of emo.

Yes—women have always been part of emo. Not just as fans, not just in the crowd or running your favorite Tumblr page, but as vocalists, instrumentalists, trendsetters, and truth-tellers in a genre that hasn’t always made space for them.

Today we’re talking about the frontwomen, the fighters, and the fans who shaped the scene—and how their presence continues to challenge the male-dominated emo and pop punk legacy.

Enjoy our Women of Emo Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zrpuNYOOCd5AvuF0AGjzd?si=ffe7557f961b4ab8

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today…we’re going all the way to Ohio. That’s right—we're talking about the band that taught us how to scream for the last time: Hawthorne Heights.

Whether you were scream-singing Ohio Is for Lovers in your bedroom or clutching your chest during Niki FM, chances are this band holds a very real place in your emo heart. So grab your studded belt and Sidekick phone, because we’re going full throttle into the history, heartbreak, and emo legacy of Hawthorne Heights.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today’s episode is a full recap of the mysterious tour from Brand New on June 15, 2025 at Synovus Bank Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia.

I’ll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the set, and my overall opinions on the comeback of Brand New and Jesse Lacey. 

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today’s episode is a full recap of the MFEO Tour from Jack’s Mannequin celebrating 20 years since the start of their music on June 7, 2025 at Pier 17 in New York City.

I’ll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the sets, and how the experience compared overall to past experiences with Andrew McMahon 

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today’s episode is a full recap of the I Can’t Hear You Tour from Pierce the Veil, featuring Sleeping with Sirens on June 4, 2025 at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville TN.

I’ll share my experience with the venue, what happened during the sets, and how the experience compared overall to past experiences with PTV. 

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today we’re talking about a band that gave us anthems to scream in our bedrooms, cry in our cars, and belt out in mosh pits: Sleeping With Sirens.

Whether you fell in love with Kellin Quinn’s soaring vocals, blasted If You Can’t Hang in your earbuds during a breakup, or found yourself somewhere between post-hardcore and pop punk, this band carved out a space that was raw, emotional, and undeniably catchy.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today’s episode is a tribute to someone who helped build the very stages emo and pop punk bands stood on — a man whose work behind the scenes helped launch the careers of some of your favorite artists. We’re talking about music agent and industry powerhouse: Dave Shapiro.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Whether you first heard him pounding keys with Something Corporate, pouring out his soul with Jack’s Mannequin, or dancing in the waves with Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness — his work has defined and defied the emo genre for over two decades.

But behind the music is a story of reinvention, resilience, and raw emotion. So let’s dig in.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo

Today, we’re heading into the world of explosive post-hardcore with a band whose soaring vocals, intricate guitars, and emotionally raw lyrics made them iconic in the late 2000s and 2010s. That’s right—we’re talking about Pierce the Veil.

From their early San Diego roots to sold-out international tours, a near-breakup, and a triumphant return, this is the story of how Pierce the Veil pierced the veil of emo history.

If you'd like to come on to share your emo experiences, favorite stories or lore from bands you love, or an EMO-ment for a future episode, email schoolofemopodcast@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @school.of.emo