Every week, Popcast listeners email us questions — sometimes about the topic of the most recent show, sometimes about subjects that have been gnawing at them, sometimes about topics that, no matter how much you discuss them, have no clear answer.

This week, the Popcast gives it a shot, taking on listener queries on a range of topics, including but not limited to: the career struggles of Nicki Minaj; the perceived(?) career struggles of Taylor Swift; the G.O.O.D. Music summer that wasn’t quite; whether anything positive comes from streaming services; and the moments when pop music makes you cry.

On this final Popcast of 2018: