In this episode of The What Podcast, the hosts sit down with Sam Summers, the founder of Iowa's Hinterland Festival, for a deep dive into the art (and chaos) of modern festival production. From booking Fall Out Boy in college to launching Hinterland in 2015, Sam walks us through his journey from DIY club shows to managing a 20,000-attendee outdoor event that has weathered literal floods and the fury of the internet.

Sam doesn't shy away from discussing Hinterland’s tough 2023, where a perfect storm of record-breaking heat, overcrowding, and poor water logistics led to fan frustration. In response, Sam did the unthinkable: he listened. After combing through every Reddit post and angry comment, he launched the "90-Degree Guarantee": a bold refund policy if temperatures cross a certain threshold, and revamped the entire site design for 2024 to improve shade, water access, and flow. He credits part of this shift to inspiration from C3 Presents, the powerhouse behind festivals like Bonnaroo, and their commitment to behind-the-scenes best practices that Sam sought to emulate.

Listen to the full interview with Sam Summers here, or watch it on YouTube. And don't forget to subscribe to The What Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

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CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:05:22) Interview with Sam Summers

(00:58:03) Outro

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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
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Email: comments@thewhatpodcast.com

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat

In this episode of The What Podcast, hosts Barry, Russ, and Bryan are joined by special guests Beth and Abbey to dive deep into Bonnaroo 2025 prep and camp setup essentials. With less than 46 days until we are back on The Farm, the crew discusses smart strategies for getting ready now — from vehicle maintenance and camping gear organization to planning group logistics and must-have supplies. Abbey and Beth share personal tips for first-timers and veterans alike, emphasizing the importance of preparation, hydration, and building community at camp. Plus, hear insights about upgrading your campsite, the magic of shoe organizers, why teamwork is crucial, and how friendships and new camps can transform your Bonnaroo experience.

Whether you're driving from across the country or flying in, this episode is packed with actionable advice for Bonnaroo camping, packing essentials, and festival survival tips. Make sure you and your gear are festival-ready!

Make sure to join us on Thursday, June 12th at 4:00 PM inside Planet Roo for a special live episode of The What Podcast, meetup, and musical performance!

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CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:10:30) Abbey and Beth join

(01:35:07) Outro

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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast
Email: comments@thewhatpodcast.com

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat

The Bonnaroo 2025 schedule is finally here! Barry, Bryan, and Taco break it down day-by-day and explore the surprises, conflicts, and can’t-miss sets on this year's lineup. From the historic addition of three What Stage acts on Thursday—Luke Combs, Marcus King, and Wilderado—to Friday's major scheduling conflicts like Goose and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, the crew delivers their initial thoughts and reactions. It's not just all on the main stages though, the Outeroo schedule is packed with events and performances that are guaranteed not-to-miss.

But that's not all: we've got some details to share on our first-ever live podcast and meetup on Thursday in Planet Roo, and we want you to join! Plus, we dive into Bryan's SweetWater 420 Fest experience, the Dogs in a Pile show last week, and we look ahead to CaveJam weekend next month. Get your own printable copy of the schedule here: https://thewhat.co/2025schedule (thanks Lindsey!)

Listen to the breakdown of the Bonnaroo 2025 schedule here, or watch it on YouTube. And don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review The What Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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CHAPTERS

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:33) Correction

(00:04:24) Schedule is out

(00:07:10) Wednesday

(00:10:57) Tuesday

(00:12:12) Thursday

(00:16:30) Dogs in a Pile in Chattanooga

(00:22:35) The What Podcast Live on Thursday

(00:27:27) Thursday (Outeroo)

(00:32:45) Friday

(00:40:38) Saturday

(00:48:39) Sunday

(00:58:02) Bryan at SweetWater 420 Fest

(01:07:52) Outro

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🎧 LISTEN LINKS
Website: https://thewhatpodcast.com
Spotify: https://thewhat.co/spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://thewhat.co/applepodcasts
YouTube Music: https://thewhat.co/youtubemusic
Amazon Music: https://thewhat.co/amazonmusic

📱 SOCIAL LINKS
Discord: https://discord.gg/zShHTeCYGn
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewhatpodcast
X: https://x.com/thewhat_podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhatpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhatpodcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewhatpodcast
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewhat.co
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thewhatpodcast
Email: comments@thewhatpodcast.com

The What Podcast theme: "Aquarius" by *repeat repeat