Mo Daviau

Mo is the author of the revered novel Every Anxious Wave--which is the best of everything having to do with music and time travel. Not to worry, we cover all of this--what shows we'd go back and see, what moments in life we'd undo (or redo), and of course, 120 Minutes.

Episode #247: Mo Daviau

Isaac Oliver

Isaac Oliver is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir (in other words--one of NPR's Best Books of 2015) Intimacy Idiot. So who better to talk to about music in our dating lives--when it's our best friend, when it's our armor, when it's the sorceress that summons the object of our desire. (And when it's the thing that makes us say ridiculous stuff like that.)

Episode #246: Isaac Oliver

Aline Brosh McKenna

Aline Brosh McKenna is the co-creator of the musical smash Crazy Ex Girlfriend. So we talk about musicals--creating them, being in them, and the times you can't help but live your life by them.

Episode #245: Aline Brosh McKenna

Sandi Marx

Storyteller (and former talent agent) Sandi Marx talks about the time she was--then wasn't--Pat Benetar's ass double, and how sometimes giving up your dreams is the greatest thing ever.

Episode #244: Sandi Marx

Brooke Arnold

Comedian Brooke Arnold tells us about her upbringing in a fundamentalist organization where music was forbidden, how she found music anyway, and what it's like to be years behind everyone else when it comes to knowing anything about The Beatles.  Music in this Episode:Do-Re-Mi - Original Cast of The Sound of MusicBeat It - Michael JacksonThis Joy - Vernessa Mitchell Daydreams About Night Things - Ronnie MilsapGirl - Tori AmosAneurysm - NirvanaOh Pretty Woman - Roy OrbisonLazarus - David BowieOh My God - A Tribe Called QuestWannabe - Spice Girls

Comedian Brooke Arnold tells us about her upbringing in a fundamentalist organization where music was forbidden, how she found music anyway, and what it's like to be years behind everyone else when it comes to knowing anything about The Beatles. Music in this Episode: Do-Re-Mi - Original Cast of The Sound of Music Beat It - Michael Jackson This Joy - Vernessa Mitchell Daydreams About Night Things - Ronnie Milsap Girl - Tori Amos Aneurysm - Nirvana Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison Lazarus - David Bowie Oh My God - A Tribe Called Quest Wannabe - Spice Girls

Episode #243: Brooke Arnold

Amy Hobby is an Academy Award nominated producer for her work on the documentary What Happened, Miss Simone. So yeah, I ask for a little "insider peek" at all the Oscars pregaming rituals, but then we really get into it--and talk what went into making this incredible film, what she learned (that we could all learn) from Nina Simone, and how important it was to let Nina tell the story of Nina.

Episode #242: Amy Hobby

Michael Feld

Filmmaker Michael Feld visited every city Huey Lewis mentions in "The Heart of Rock and Roll" and made a video of it (both loved and hated by the Internet at large--but what isn't). So of course we talk about every little detail that goes into doing something like this, all to pay homage to one song and check the pulse of rock and roll throughout America.

Episode #241: Michael Feld

Joe McGinty

Karaoke! Only harder! Talking live karaoke with Joe McGinty--renowned musician and the man behind piano karaoke at Sid Gold's Request Room in NYC--who tells us what it's like to be the guy who makes our rock n' roll dreams come true...if only for the length of one song.

Episode #240: Joe McGinty

Jenny Harder

Think of a band you love. Now think about what it would be like to actually join that band. This is what musician Jenny Harder did, when she went on tour with Gogol Bordello in late 2015.Music in this episode:We Are All Illegals - OuternationalOh Come On - The Julie RuinBoys Wanna Be Her - PeachesSally - Gogol BordelloThink Locally, Fuck Globally - Gogol BordelloThe Passenger - Siouxsie and the  BansheesMind Your Own Business - Chicks on SpeedLeeds United - Amanda PalmerTryouts for the Human Race - SparksHalfway State - Mico

Think of a band you love. Now think about what it would be like to actually join that band. This is what musician Jenny Harder did, when she went on tour with Gogol Bordello in late 2015. Music in this episode: We Are All Illegals - Outernational Oh Come On - The Julie Ruin Boys Wanna Be Her - Peaches Sally - Gogol Bordello Think Locally, Fuck Globally - Gogol Bordello The Passenger - Siouxsie and the Banshees Mind Your Own Business - Chicks on Speed Leeds United - Amanda Palmer Tryouts for the Human Race - Sparks Halfway State - Mico

Episode #239: Jenny Harder

Julia Wiedeman

You probably know someone who has been an extra in a movie or on TV, but do you know someone who does it for the Metropolitan Opera? Thinking you might not. Julia Wiedeman talks about her work as a supernumerary at the Met and the frustrations of gracing the most famous stage in the world, only to be invisible.

Episode #238: Julia Wiedeman

Always a good listen

One of my favorite storytelling shows in the city. Great music. Great stories. Always.

Seriously good storytelling

The Soundtrack Series

Daniel Sears

Nobody has a stack of records like this man right here. Dana talks to Daniel Sears about the art of collecting music and takes a tour through the rarest and most beautiful pile of vinyl. Plus, a little something we like to call "One Song"--where Daniel tells a holiday horror story, underscored by Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime. Of course.Music in This Episode:Sit on My Face Stevie Nix - The RottersThere’s no Business Like Show Business - Ethel MermanThe Flying Saucer Song - Harry NilssonLove Stinks - Millie JacksonRiver - Joni MitchellCry Me a River - Barbra StreisandCruisin' - Smokey Robinson Eleanor Rigby - Tony BennettSounds in Space Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Nobody has a stack of records like this man right here. Dana talks to Daniel Sears about the art of collecting music and takes a tour through the rarest and most beautiful pile of vinyl. Plus, a little something we like to call "One Song"--where Daniel tells a holiday horror story, underscored by Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime. Of course. Music in This Episode: Sit on My Face Stevie Nix - The Rotters There’s no Business Like Show Business - Ethel Merman The Flying Saucer Song - Harry Nilsson Love Stinks - Millie Jackson River - Joni Mitchell Cry Me a River - Barbra Streisand Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson Eleanor Rigby - Tony Bennett Sounds in Space Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Episode #237: Daniel Sears

The Demands. Nightlight. Amazing Man Band. Iridescent Dreams. The Benson Ashe. These are the most legendary bands you've never heard of--the ones that were started in high school. Through interviews with people whose band lasted one rehearsal, to people whose band ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is a look at the time in life where rock begins--the moment a group of high school friends are sitting around and one of them says, "let's start a band." Music in This Episode: Sit on My Face Stevie Nix - The RottersThere’s no Business Like Show Business - Ethel MermanThe Flying Saucer Song - Harry NilssonLove Stinks - Millie JacksonRiver - Joni MitchellCry Me a River - Barbra StreisandCruisin' - Smokey Robinson Eleanor Rigby - Tony BennettSounds in Space Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

The Demands. Nightlight. Amazing Man Band. Iridescent Dreams. The Benson Ashe. These are the most legendary bands you've never heard of--the ones that were started in high school. Through interviews with people whose band lasted one rehearsal, to people whose band ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is a look at the time in life where rock begins--the moment a group of high school friends are sitting around and one of them says, "let's start a band."  Music in This Episode: Sit on My Face Stevie Nix - The Rotters There’s no Business Like Show Business - Ethel Merman The Flying Saucer Song - Harry Nilsson Love Stinks - Millie Jackson River - Joni Mitchell Cry Me a River - Barbra Streisand Cruisin' - Smokey Robinson Eleanor Rigby - Tony Bennett Sounds in Space Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Episode #236: I'm In A Band

Aaron Wolfe

Aaron Wolfe, a writer and filmmaker once short-listed for an Academy Award for his film Record/Play, uses the Dinosaur Jr. version of Just Like Heaven to illustrate how he went from Goth kid, to popular kid, right back to Goth kid again. Plus, Dana says goodbye to Infinite Guest/American Public Media, and gives a little taste of what you can expect from the new Soundtrack Series podcast. It kicks off Oct. 20 with “I’m in a Band” — an audio documentary about the universal experience of being in a band in high school.

Episode #235: Aaron Wolfe – ‘Just Like Heaven,’ Dinosaur Jr.

Tyler Coates

Deputy Editor for The Decider Tyler Coates talks a particularly bad breakup, and how, when you lean almost entirely on PJ Harvey or Liz Phair for comfort music it can be surprising when you find yourself putting your head on the shoulder of Taylor Swift. Plus, a million things Dana would rather associate with Eye of the Tiger than … you know who.

Episode #234: Tyler Coates – ‘All Too Well,’ Taylor Swift

Dennis Dunaway

Dennis Dunaway, bassist for Alice Cooper and 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, tells us the story behind how they wrote “School’s Out,” which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame this year. Plus, Dana eulogizes Columbia House, and speaks to an expert about how he beat the “12 CDs for a penny” game.

Episode #232: Dennis Dunaway – ‘School’s Out,’ Alice Cooper

Amy Linden

Music journalist Amy Linden tells the story of her first interview with The Replacements in 1988–and how it came at a time when she was excited about being pregnant, and not at all excited about being married. Plus, Dana tries to figure out Rihanna’s video for ‘Bitch Better Have My Money.’

Episode #230: Amy Linden — ‘We’ll Inherit the Earth,’ the Replacements

Brian Silliman

Actor Brian Silliman (look for him on this season of Orange in the New Black) on how sports and musical theater do not mix — and the dent he has in his leg to prove it. Plus, Dana looks back on her high school graduation, and everything that went wrong during her rendition of the National Anthem.

Episode #228: Brian Silliman — ‘Do You Hear The People Sing,’ (Les Miserables)

In this special episode, Dana interviews Chi Chi Valenti — the Empress of NYC nightlife and creator of the legendary Stevie Nicks fan event Night of 1000 Stevies. Dana and Chi Chi talk CSI-level fandom, whether you should actually meet your idols, and how Stevie herself learned about this yearly event where thousands of people gather to pay tribute to her. And Stevie’s hair. Of course there’s discussion of Stevie’s hair.

Episode #224: Interview with Chi Chi Valenti, Creator of Night of 1000 Stevies

Filmmaker Jason Jude Hill may not like the song Ring of Fire, but sometimes a song you hate can lead you to the person you love. Plus, what if Mad Men jumps ahead to 1976? Dana indulges in a little Mad Men musical fan fiction, and picks what music would appear in the show if these last episodes take place in the mid-seventies.

Episode #223: Jason Jude Hill — ‘Ring of Fire,’ Johnny Cash

Dana Rossi

Soundtrack Series creator and producer Dana Rossi, and her story about the perils of dating people you work with in restaurants, and how the voice of Dr. Dre sometimes shows up when you least expect it.

Episode #218: Dana Rossi — “The Next Episode,” Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg

A first crack at The Legend of Zelda. The importance of keeping your voice even as everything else changes. A special high school friend who only lives in memories and Madonna. These three stories are the Best of Soundtrack Series 2014.

Episode #216: Best of Soundtrack Series 2014

The Best Multi-Part Documentaries, with documentaries on Obama, Federer vs Nadal, the making of Star Wars, Netflix vs Blockbuster and more. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Multi-Part Documentaries

The best philosophy podcast episodes. Asking questions about how to live a better life, what it means to be and do good, to the idea of God. This topic includes episodes that bring about important questions that everyone should be asking themselves. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!