Jonathan Coulton on his unlikely path to fame, toxic online culture and The SpongeBob Musical

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton is either the most famous person you've never heard of, or the most anonymous rock star on the planet. 

In 2007, the former software programmer's song Still Alive became a massive phenomenon, but it wasn't your traditional radio hit or even your typical viral sensation — it first appeared as the closing theme in the hit videogame Portal.

Thanks in part to that song, Coulton has managed to infiltrate pop culture in a number of interesting ways. Not only has he developed a huge online following for his funny, folky songs about computer coding, zombies, and shopping at IKEA, but he's also written songs for The Good Fight and The SpongeBob Musical. He even has his own annual cruise.

Coulton joined q's Tom Power live from New York to talk about his unlikely path to fame. 

The SpongeBob Musical comes to Toronto from Tuesday, Dec. 17 to Sunday, Dec. 22 at Meridian Hall before heading across the U.S. 

Download our podcast or click the 'Listen' link near the top of this page to hear the full conversation with Jonathan Coulton.

— Produced by ​Stuart Berman