Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Pushkin Industries

Boost

Boost

From Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond. The musicians you love talk about their life, inspiration, and craft. Then play. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Alice Randall

Alice Randall is a country music songwriter, a New York Times bestselling author, and a newly minted memoirist. She calls her new book, My Black Country, a love letter to Black country music. In addition to her memoir, Alice also released the album, My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall, that includes a rendition of the song, “The Ballad of Sally Anne” performed by Rhiannon Giddens. The song, which confronts the harsh realities of lynching in the American South

Mar 25, • 1:02:31

Billy Corgan

In the 30-plus years since Billy Corgan hit it big as the lead singer/songwriter of The Smashing Pumpkins, he’s become many things including the owner of the National Wrestling Alliance, a father and a husband, and an outspoken advocate of free speech through appearances on divisive podcasts hosted by Alex Jones, Joe Rogan, and Bill Maher. Proving to be both eloquent and controversial, Billy is now hosting his own long form interview podcast called "The Magnificent Others" where he intervi

Mar 18, • 1:15:57

The Black Keys

The Black Keys are gearing up to release their latest album, No Rain, No Flowers. The Akron, Ohio duo consisting of Dan Auerbach on lead vocals and guitar, and Patrick Carney on drums, have released 12 studio albums since their indie debut, The Big Come Up in 2002. On today's episode Justin Richmond talks with Dan and Patrick about their process of mixing the new album. They also share memories growing up together in a town filled with eccentric characters, and they explain their newfound love o

Mar 11, • 1:11:40

Tunde Adebimpe

Tunde Adebimpe is a creative powerhouse. He's a cartoonist, a painter, a director, a Hollywood actor, and for the past 20 years, he’s been the lead singer of the band TV On The Radio. His latest offering—another of his many artistic pursuits—is a solo project called Thee Black Boltz. Tunde began writing these songs back in 2019. And after a stint composing music for the PBS Kids show “City Island” with producer Wilder Zoby, the two decided to set their sights on Tun

Mar 4, • 54:09

Lights, Camera, Tax Break from Cautionary Tales

When Ernest Borgnine gets his big break in Hollywood, he can hardly believe his luck. But soon he discovers his supposed star vehicle, Marty, is not the dream gig he thought it was. In this episode of Cautionary Tales, recorded live at the Bristol Festival of Economics, Tim Harford examines what happens when the murky world of tax avoidance collides with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in

Feb 28, • 39:25

Cymande

The British funk band Cymande released their self-titled debut in 1972. The album’s deep calypso and reggae rhythms are inspired by its member’s West Indian roots. And decades after its release, samples taken from Cymande’s albums would find their way into songs that now define hip-hop’s golden era from artists like De La Soul, Gang Starr and The Fugees. While Cymande has found a second life through sampling during the late ‘80s and ‘90s, its primary members,

Feb 25, • 50:35

Will Smith

Big Willie is back! He's traded his larger than life, excessively positive raps for something more dark and complex but equally inspiring. Anyone following Will’s trajectory the last handful of years, or those who've read his wonderful autobiography knows he’s been on a journey of self-discovery and healing. That’s left him wide open to be a bit of a different artist than he’s been in the past. It also drew him back into music. Will’s new project Based On A Tru

Feb 18, • 1:08:15

Pushkin Loves Love Songs: Babyface, Broken Hearts, and the Best Genre for Love

Nothing says romance like a perfect playlist—except, maybe, a special network-wide episode about love songs. In this Valentine’s Day special, Broken Record hosts Justin Richmond and Leah Rose make their cases: is R&B the undisputed sound of love? Are sad songs more romantic? Can country win the day? Plus, the legendary songwriter Babyface talks about how young love shaped his most enduring ballads, Malcolm Gladwell breaks down the perfect break up song, and Ben Naddaff-Hafrey wr

Feb 14, • 36:07

Smokey Robinson

As if having one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices of all time weren’t enough, Smokey Robinson is also one of the greatest songwriters ever, a top-notch producer, engaging performer, and an indispensable part of Motown's legacy. In other words: he’s an institution of American music unto himself. On February 19th, Smokey turns 85, and as he prepares to head out for another run on the road including a three night engagement at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Smokey sat down with Justin Richm

Feb 11, • 1:02:58

Nada Surf

Indie rock band Nada Surf first hit big on college radio in 1996 with their driving, guitar forward song, “Popular.” The band started playing together four years earlier while attending college in Vermont. But they’re perhaps best known as a New York City band, where their lead singer and primary songwriter, Matthew Caws came of age. Caws is known as a vulnerable, and often reflective songwriter who tackles everything from social anxiety to politics in his work. Nada Surf&rsquo

Feb 4, • 53:53

Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Cantrell has been the lead guitarist and songwriter for Alice in Chains since the band formed in 1987. By the mid ‘90s after a run of multi-platinum albums, Alice secured their spot as one of Seattle’s “big four” grunge bands along with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. Legend has it that Alice In Chains’ early whirlwind of commercial success wreaked havoc on the personal and professional lives of the band. In 2002, lead singer Layne Staley overdosed and di

Jan 28, • 49:24

LA Fire Disaster Relief From MusiCares

Today Justin Richmond has a quick chat with Laura Segura, the Executive Director of MusiCares—a Recording Academy non-profit that's currently offering support to musicians and music professionals affected by the ongoing fires in L.A. MusiCares can provide assistance with costs related to evacuation, relocation, instrument replacement, home damage, medical care, mental health services, and other essential living expenses. For more information or to apply for support, contact MusiCares at&nb

Jan 22, • 9:16

Sonny Rollins

Coming off the loss of Quincy Jones, Benny Golson, Roy Haynes and Lou Donaldson at the end of 2024, it’s truly a treat to bring you a fresh interview with one of the last musicians of the Bebop era, the saxophone colossus himself, Sonny Rollins. Since we last spoke, a couple interesting artifacts from Rollins life have surfaced: "The Notebooks of Sonny Rollins" and "Rollins in Holland." We discuss those releases, his spirituality and the loss of some of his comrades in 2024. You can hear a

Jan 21, • 57:05

Alejandro Escovedo

Alejandro Escovedo is a Texas-born singer/songwriter who comes from a rich family of musicians including his niece, Sheila E. Alejandro started out in the pioneering San Francisco punk band the Nuns in 1975. From there he moved to New York, and then eventually settled in Austin where he started playing rootsy rock with bands like Rank and File, as well as The True Believers. In March, Alejandro Escovedo released his latest album, Echo Dancing, a retrospective of his career that spans five decade

Dec 31, 2024 • 1:06:36

St. Vincent

2024 has been a career-defining year for St. Vincent. In April she released her self-produced seventh album, All Born Screaming. Then in November she released the Spanish language version of the same album, called Todos Nacen Gritando, as a tribute to fans she met in Spain and Latin America. The album doesn’t serve to replace the English language version, but instead supplements it brilliantly and provides a renewed listening experience. Of all the St. Vincent projects dating bac

Dec 24, 2024 • 52:32

Introducing Hit Parade from Slate: "What’s 1984 Got to Do with It Edition Part 1"

This week we're sharing an episode from one of Slate's podcasts called Hit Parade. A decade ago, Rolling Stone magazine called 1984 “Pop’s Greatest Year.” A bold statement…but a lot of critics agree. A confluence of factors—the comeback of dance music, the peak of MTV, the Second British Invasion and the emergence of metal and hip-hop—made the radio a great place to be. Join Chris Molanphy in this episode of Slate's Hit Parade as he dissects eight reasons why

Dec 17, 2024 • 1:03:05

Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst's music is dynamic, deeply smart, captivating, funny, and sometimes biting. His extensive catalogue dates back to the early '90s and includes music with Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, the Mystic Valley band, the Faint, Commander Venus, Monsters of Folk, a collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers, and of course his solo material. On today's episode Justin Richmond and Conor Oberst discuss Conor's deep catalogue, and Conor recalls how he got his start by sending valentines to his favorite indi

Dec 10, 2024 • 1:14:07

Hiatus Kaiyote

Hiatus Kaiyote is an incredibly talented group of four Australian musicians—vocalist and guitarist Nai Palm, drummer Perrin Moss, bassist Paul Bender and Simon Mavin on keys. But those aren’t permanent stations for any of them, they often move between instruments and all contribute to writing some of the most beautiful soulful music of the last decade. Their latest album, Love Heart Cheat Code, came out earlier this year. It's the group’s fourth proper album and features some of their strongest

Dec 3, 2024 • 1:03:40

Aoife O’Donovan

Today we have Aoife O’Donovan on the show who was nominated for two Grammy awards this year: Best Folk Album for her latest release, All My Friends, as well as Best American Roots Song for the album’s title track. Aoife is a wonderfully prolific singer and songwriter from the Americana tradition—who also has an academic background, having studied improvisation at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her latest album is a gorgeous set of songs inspired by the life and work of suffragist Carrie

Nov 26, 2024 • 1:09:02

Kim Deal

Kim Deal is an indie-rock icon. In the mid-80s, she joined The Pixies as the band’s original bassist and co-vocalist. After the release of their debut album Come On Pilgrim in 1987, followed by the alt-rock classics Surfer Rosa and Doolittle, Kim took a break from The Pixies to form her own band, The Breeders. With the help of Kim’s twin sister Kelley on lead guitar, The Breeders released a couple EPs and four studio albums, including the platinum-selling ‘90s hit, Last Splash. This year after a

Nov 19, 2024 • 49:08

Soccer Mommy

Soccer Mommy is one of the stand-out singer/songwriters to emerge over the last half decade. She was born Sophia Allison and raised in Nashville, Tennessee where she started playing guitar at six years-old. Sophia started posting her songs on Bandcamp in 2015 under the name Soccer Mommy the summer before moving to New York to study the music business at NYU. Two years later she dropped out after signing her first record deal with Fat Possum. Since then she has released four albums and toured wit

Nov 12, 2024 • 1:15:14

Billy Bragg

Billy Bragg came up in East London—Barking, Essex to be exact. It's fitting given the characteristic howl of his vocals. Listening to him these days, it’s hard not to recall the late-great Joe Strummer or the modern brilliance of Archy Marshall, a.k.a. King Krule. In the mid-80s, a musical era driven by production, Billy Bragg was all about songs. He was one of the great standard bearers of political music carried on from both the folk and punk traditions. On today's episode Bruce Headlam talks

Nov 5, 2024 • 1:16:15

Julian Lage/Don Was

We occasionally field emails and DMs from Broken Record listeners telling us who they’d like to hear on the program. The past handful of years, one name has come up more than others: Julian Lage. Now, if you’re not part of the converted, not a member of one of his devoted legion of fans that may come as a surprise. But if you get the chance to spend some time with his music after listening to this episode… I have one word for you: welcome. Julian’s path in music has been as unique as his gifts.

Oct 29, 2024 • 1:12:23

Charles Lloyd/Don Was

A conversation with Charles Lloyd feels like a veritable interaction with the pages of history. I was continuously surprised throughout my conversation with Charles, along with Don Was, about the depth of his experiences…and the wisdom too. Charles is an inordinately beautiful tenor player from Memphis, Tennessee - who grew up at a time where the region was brimming with talent… Elvis Presley, Howlin' Wolf, Junior Parker, Billy Lee Riley, B.B. King and so many more were from there or made their

Oct 24, 2024 • 1:33:38

Meshell Ndegeocello/Don Was

Meshell Ndegeocello doesn’t fit neatly into any “jazz” label - or any label of any kind for that matter. She’s a phenomenal bass player, deep songwriter, beautiful interpreter of song, wonderful band leader and has had one bad ass career. It’s fitting that after a circuitous journey through the industry that started as one of the premiere artists on the Madonna helmed Maverick Records in the early 90s, that she’s now released two albums on Blue Note Records under Don Was. The first was last year

Oct 22, 2024 • 1:16:17

Ron Carter/Don Was

We’re continuing our celebration of Blue Note Records’ 85th Anniversary this week with a conversation with a certified living legend: Ron Carter. For starters Ron Carter was a key member of a group that’s on the shortlist for greatest band of all time: The Second Great Miles Davis Quintet featuring Mr. Carter, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams and, naturally, Miles Davis. And although many conversations with Ron start and end with that period of his life from 1964 to 1968, at 87 years

Oct 17, 2024 • 1:23:29

Norah Jones/Don Was

Blue Note is one of the first and longest standing institutions of Jazz music. Since its formation in 1939 the label has put out albums by Robert Glasper, Lee Morgan, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Gergory Porter, Bobby McFerrin, and so many more. To celebrate 85 years of music from this iconic label, Justin Richmond and Blue Note’s current President Don Was recorded a series of interviews with the label’s past present and future: Ron Carter, Meshell Ndegeocello, Charles Lloyd, Julian Lage and to

Oct 15, 2024 • 1:21:30

Wesley Morris & Robert Margouleff on Stevie Wonder

We have a two-part episode for you today in honor of the great Stevie Wonder. First we will hear the Pulitzer Prize winning writer Wesley Morris talk about the making of his new Audible original, The Wonder of Stevie. Then, Justin Richmond talks to the pioneering electronic music producer Robert Margouleff, who in 1968 together with Malcolm Cecil, built the world's largest analog synthesizer known as TONTO. Over a four year period, Stevie Wonder worked closely with Robert, Cecil, and TONTO to re

Oct 10, 2024 • 1:15:59

Lainey Wilson

At just 8 years-old, Lainey Wilson announced to her family that she was destined to become a country music star. There were no other musicians in her family to speak of—for five generations her people had been farmers in a tiny Northern Louisiana town with the population of 180. After graduating high school, Lainey drove North to Nashville in a camper trailer that she lived in alone for three years. Success did not come easy. In those first three years, Lainey wrote over 300 songs, and it wasn’t

Oct 8, 2024 • 1:01:57

Crowded House

Crowded House had one of the most enduring hits of the 80s with “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” The commercial and critical success of that song launched the Australian-New Zealand band and its esteemed Kiwi songwriter, Neil Finn, to pop stardom. The band made three more critically acclaimed albums before breaking up in ‘96. But over the years the band has come back together at various times to put out new projects including their latest, Gravity Stairs. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite

Oct 1, 2024 • 1:24:00

Raphael Saadiq

Raphael Saadiq is one of the great R&B writers and producers of the last 30 years. He started out fronting and playing bass in the group Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother D’Wayne Wiggins on guitar. The Tony’s had an amazing four album run from ‘88 through 1996 with hit singles like "It Never Rains (In Southern California)," "Feels Good," "Anniversary," and "If I Had No Loot." Raphael’s also released five solo albums starting with 2002’s Instant Vintage. His most recent album, Jimmy Lee, is

Sep 24, 2024 • 1:22:58

Suki Waterhouse

Suki Waterhouse started professional life as a model and actress in the UK. A full-fledged music career might’ve seemed far-fetched but she quickly found an authentic voice as a singer-songwriter. And put out some beautiful demos that caught the attention of the legendary Sub Pop label which put out her first album, I Can’t Let Go and her latest, Memoir of A Sparklemuffin. Suki’s music first started catching on with audiences through TikTok. But her sophomore album wasn't made for social media a

Sep 17, 2024 • 1:05:20

Introducing One Song: The Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"

This week we're sharing an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, One Song. You'll hear hosts Diallo Riddle and Luxxury tackling “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins. The guys go deep on the early 90’s indie rock scene, band frontman Billy Corgan’s quest for musical family, and the Pumpkins’ complicated relationship with the indie rock community. On each episode of One Song friends Diallo Riddle (Emmy-nominated star and creator of HBO Max’s South Side and IFC’s Sherman’s Showcase) and Blak

Sep 10, 2024 • 1:04:23

Madeleine Peyroux

Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz-inspired singer songwriter who got her start singing in street bands in Paris as a teenager. In 1996, Atlantic Records released Madeline’s debut album where she covered tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s by artists like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday—and then later she recorded songs by Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. This year Madeleine Peyroux released Let’s Walk, her first album of all-original songs co-written with her long-time touring guitar player, Jon Herington. On to

Sep 3, 2024 • 54:07

Remi Wolf

Singer, songwriter Remi Wolf burst out of the pandemic like a ray of light, spreading joy with her infectious production, capricious outlook and jaunty hooks. She appeared to come to us fully formed. But Remi’s been working hard on her craft for the last decade. She started performing with local bands around the Bay Area during high school and she eventually wound up studying music in LA at USC where she met many of the people she still collaborates with. On today’s Broken Record, Remi Wolf talk

Aug 27, 2024 • 1:01:01

Captain Kirk Douglas

Captain Kirk Douglas is the longtime guitarist for The Roots. Over the past 21 years he’s seen the group evolve from a touring act, to the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to having their own successful music festival in Philly. All the while continuing to record albums for themselves and others. Between The Roots' many commitments, Kirk has also found time to record a solo project under the name Hundred Watt Heart. His most recent offering “New Unknown”  was recorded in th

Aug 20, 2024 • 1:00:15

Interpol's Paul Banks

While Paul Banks is technically the lead singer of Interpol, he sees himself more as a member of a gang of musicians. Interpol formed in 1997 after lead guitarist Daniel Kessler invited Paul—who was a student at NYU at the time—to watch the band rehearse. In 2002 Interpol released their era defining album, Turn On The Bright Lights, to widespread critical acclaim. At the time they were lumped together with New York City’s emerging “indie sleaze” movement with bands like The Strokes, and the Yeah

Aug 15, 2024 • 56:28

Tinashe

Tinashe’s changing what success in pop music can look like. Back in 2014 her song "2 On" featuring Schoolboy Q hit big on Billboard. With major success looming, Tinashe released projects that missed the charts but gained her a strong, loyal fanbase. In 2019 she left her major label to go independent. And judging from her massive online following today, her fans have stuck behind her. In April, she dropped the highly meme-able track "Nasty" that many are calling the song of the summer. “Nasty” co

Aug 13, 2024 • 50:04

Heavy MakeUp

True to her Texas roots, Edie Brickell can seemingly find a song anywhere—including out of thin air. Here It Comes is the new album from Edie and her collaborators, CJ Camerieri and Trever Hagen who are known as Heavy MakeUp. Heavy MakeUp is, of course, only the latest musical iteration for Edie who’s found herself ever evolving over her career. From her first hit with the New Bohemians, co-writing their massive 1988 single “What I Am,” she’s never stopped looking for songs. She even spent the b

Aug 6, 2024 • 1:01:54

Pushkin Goes to the Olympics

Legends are made at the Olympics and this summer shows across the Pushkin network are bringing their unique takes to Olympic stories. This special episode includes excerpts from a few: a Cautionary Tale about underestimating female marathoners, a Jesse Owens story from Revisionist History’s series on Hitler’s Olympics, and—from What’s Your Problem—the new technology that’s helping Olympic athletes get stronger. Check out other show feeds as well, the Happiness Lab and A Slight Change of Plans ar

Jul 26, 2024 • 38:40

Shannon & The Clams

Shannon & The Clams were long time regulars in the Bay Area music scene. The band’s two main songwriters—Shannon Shaw and Cody Blanchard met in college in Oakland, California. They remained there for about a decade until a number of events set them adrift physically and spiritually. The band’s new album, The Moon Is In the Wrong Place, is taken from a phrase Shannon’s fiancé, Joe Haener uttered shortly before his passing. Much of the album is anchored around Shannon’s grief. On today's episo

Jul 23, 2024 • 48:49

Randy Bachman

Randy Bachman is the Canadian guitarist and songwriter behind a slew of hits with the bands The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive. Although he was based far from the '60s powerhouse music scenes of Laurel Canyon and Swinging London, Bachman first made a name for himself performing across the Great White North. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Randy who dissects his hits including “American Woman” and “These Eyes.” He also explains how he became one of the great guitarists of his ge

Jul 16, 2024 • 1:01:54

Serj Tankian

Serj Tankian made his first foray into public life as the idiosyncratic lead singer of the late ‘90s metal band System Of A Down. After releasing five platinum-selling albums with the band, and establishing himself as one of modern-day music’s most outspoken human-rights activists, in 2007, Serj left System to pursue his own artistic pursuits. Since then he’s released solo albums, composed symphonies, scored documentaries, and most recently started producing a line of Armenian coffee. In May, Se

Jul 9, 2024 • 1:00:32

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello is in the midst of a creative revival. Her brand new album, C,XOXO was recently dubbed “hyper-pop” by Rolling Stone in the wake of the frenetic first single, “I Luv It,” featuring Playboi Carti. The track is an entirely new direction for Camila who first rose to fame in 2012 as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. On her new album Camila is racing into uncharted territory with her sound. She enlisted producers Jasper Harris and El Guincho, who’s known for his work with Rosali

Jun 25, 2024 • 54:55

John Leventhal

John Leventhal is a bit of a secret weapon in music. Though he started out as a session musician in the '80s, he quickly found writing and producing music for other artists was his true calling. That gift has led to six Grammy Award wins and songs like “Sunny Came Home” by Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn’s “Walk Through the World” and “Crossing to Jerusalem” by his wife Rosanne Cash. John and Rosanne have been married for almost 30 years and over the course of their union have become great collaborators

Jun 18, 2024 • 1:01:59

RAYE

"Genesis" the new work from RAYE discussed in this episode is out now: https://raye.orcd.co/genesis RAYE is an English pop singer/songwriter whose debut album, My 21st Century Blues, snagged Album Of the Year at this year’s Brit Awards. One of a historic six wins that evening. For a 26 year old artist who's already survived a tumultuous ride through the music industry, the ceremony was a coup. On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to RAYE about how a quote from Nina Simone gave her the courag

Jun 11, 2024 • 49:58

Michael McDonald and Paul Reiser

Michael McDonald’s husky baritone is one of the most instantly recognizable voices from the ‘70s and ‘80s. As a member of The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and a hitmaking solo artist, Michael McDonald’s career is one for the books. Enter Paul Reiser—the comedic actor and writer behind New York Times best-selling books, popular movies and TV shows. Before the start of the pandemic, Paul met Mike McDonald at a party and the two became fast friends. Listening to Michael’s incredible stories, Paul f

Jun 4, 2024 • 1:04:08

Sarah Jarosz

Sarah Jarosz is a singer/songwriter who also happens to be a killer banjo, guitar, and mandolin player. The Wimberly, Texas-native's latest album, Polaroid Lovers, was produced by former Broken Record guest Daniel Tashian. It’s her seventh album and so far the best at highlighting the power of Sarah’s songwriting over her virtuosity. In this episode you’ll hear Sarah Jarosz tell Bruce Headlam about the Friday night bluegrass jams that shaped her playing, and why she’s turned down co-writing song

May 28, 2024 • 1:07:44

DJ Premier

DJ Premier is one of the most celebrated producers in hip-hop history. Known as the architect of hip-hop’s venerated boom-bap sound, Preemo first caught people’s attention with Guru in Gang Starr in the late ‘80s. Guru’s lyrical precision over Premier's jazzy, sample-based beats made Gang Starr one of the most influential rap duos of the next decade. Outside of Gang Starr, DJ Premier has produced classic records for a long list of hip-hop luminaries including New York’s big three—Biggie, Jay-Z,

May 21, 2024 • 56:37

Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae independently released one of our favorite albums of 2023: Black Rainbows. Justin Richmond spoke to Corinne over Zoom at the end of the year about the place that inspired the album, the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago. And then when she came to Los Angeles around Grammy time they decided to meet up to discuss Reflections / Refractions At the Stony Island Arts Bank, a beautiful new book Corinne put together to catalogue the items that inspired her new music and creative awake

May 14, 2024 • 58:14

Heart's Ann Wilson

Ann Wilson is the powerhouse lead singer of the band Heart, whose celebrated classic debut album, Dreamboat Annie, came out nearly 50 years ago. Last week we featured an interview with her sister and longtime bandmate Nancy Wilson, so make sure to check that out if you haven’t already. Today we’ll hear from Ann, who’s responsible for belting out and co-writing some of Heart’s most iconic early hits, like “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” and “Crazy On You.” Four years older than Nancy, Ann was the first

May 7, 2024 • 51:35

Heart's Nancy Wilson

Guitarist and songwriter Nancy Wilson is one half of the rock band Heart, along with her older sister Ann Wilson. Nancy and Ann have been the face of the band since the mid-70s. Heart’s first album, Dreamboat Annie, was released in 1976 right as the band was making traction opening for big acts like Rod Stewart and The Bee Gees. Soon their songs, like “Magic Man” and “Crazy On You,” started to take off in the States, and Heart quickly became a headlining act. Nearly 50 years since their debut al

Apr 30, 2024 • 50:06

Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament

Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament are two of the Seattle scene’s most foundational musicians from the 80’s and 90’s. Stone and Jeff started playing together in 1984 as members of Green River, which eventually dissolved, leading singer Mark Arm to form Mudhoney. Later, Jeff played bass and Stone played guitar in Mother Love Bone until their lead singer Andrew Wood died of an overdose just days before their major label debut in March of 1990. Reeling from Andy’s death, Jeff and Stone started recording

Apr 23, 2024 • 58:27

Chris Robinson

16 years have passed since The Black Crowes released an album of new material. The world has changed a lot since then—and so have the Robinson brothers. Chris and Rich Robinson are, of course, the backbone of the band. They started playing together back in Georgia in 1984 as Mr. Crowe’s Garden before moving to NYC, signing to Def American, and changing their name to The Black Crowes. The band’s debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, set them up as the torchbearers of Southern rock for the '90s and

Apr 16, 2024 • 42:23

Stewart Copeland

Famed drummer for the Police and composer Stewart Copeland has one of the more fascinating bios in modern music. His father was a founding member of the CIA and his mom worked in British Intelligence. After playing in the successful UK prog rock band Curved Air in the mid 70s, Stewart started a new band called the Police with bassist and lead singer, Sting—and eventually guitarist Andy Summers. Over the next decade the Police would go on to become one of the top-selling rock bands of all time, s

Apr 9, 2024 • 1:01:32

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake is one of the most high achieving pop phenomenons of the past three decades. In 1993 he helped relaunch the Mickey Mouse Club where he sang and danced alongside Rylan Gosling and other now luminaries. Then he broke records and sold over 70 million albums worldwide with *NSYNC. And if that weren’t enough, he launched an incredibly successful solo career in the early aughts where he found a musical soulmate in Timbaland who Justin's worked with in some capacity over the course of

Apr 2, 2024 • 1:09:36

Brandi Carlile and Tish Melton

Brandi Carlile’s knack for uplifting the musicians she loves is exemplary. After her own hard-earned ascent to fame over the course of seven studio albums, Brandi started to turn her sights to producing albums for artists she deeply admires, including Tanya Tucker who she’s been on Broken Record with in the past but also Brandy Clark. Then there’s Joni Mitchell—who, thanks to Brandi’s encouragement—has recently made a glorious return to performing live. Brandi’s passion for the projects she work

Mar 26, 2024 • 56:04

Happy World Happiness Day!!!!

To mark International Day of Happiness and the release of the annual World Happiness Report, Dr Laurie Santos talks to fellow Pushkin podcasters Dr Maya Shankar, Tim Harford and Malcolm Gladwell about the happiness topics that they would like to see raised on this day of global wellbeing awareness.    The discussion ranges from how to quiet your inner monologue; though the misery of running in a Canadian winter; to the happiness lessons to be learned from a colonoscopy.   See omnystudio.com/list

Mar 20, 2024 • 48:05

Natalia Lafourcade

Natalia Lafourcade is a force. As you’ll hear when she sings during our conversation today she has a gorgeous voice. But she’s also a deft songwriter who’s able to weave together traditions that feel both modern and old at once. And she’s also a beautiful interpreter of song—take for instance the phenomenon that was the song “Remember Me” from Pixar’s film Coco. Or take the many instances where she’s recorded some of the classic songs from across Latin America—performing on songs by greats like

Mar 19, 2024 • 52:26

Janelle Monàe and Nate Wonder: World Happiness Day Bonus

In recognition of this month's World Happiness Day, we are presenting one of our favorite episodes from last year with Janelle Monàe and her longtime collaborator, Nate Wonder. Janelle's latest album, The Age Of Pleasure, was created in part as a celebration of black love and community. And as Nate Wonder shares in this interview with Justin Richmond, one of his guiding principles when making the album was to make Janelle smile. As part of Pushkin Industries' network-wide celebration of World Ha

Mar 14, 2024 • 1:05:10

Kim Gordon

At 70 years-old, Kim Gordon—the former bassist and founding member of Sonic Youth—is just now making the most abrasive music of her career. She just dropped her second solo album, The Collective, with producer Justin Raisen, who’s previously worked with artists like Drake, Lil Yachty, and Charli XCX. Kim’s spoken-word-like vocals on The Collective are the perfect accompaniment to Justin’s distorted trap-style beats. On today’s episode Leah Rose talks to Kim Gordon about her latest solo album, as

Mar 12, 2024 • 43:31

PJ Harvey & John Parish

To kick off our month-long celebration of Women's History Month, today we're featuring an interview with Polly Jean Harvey, a.k.a. PJ Harvey, who is without question one of the most gifted songwriters of our time. Her debut album, Dry, came out in 1992 and was what the LA Times called a near “instant classic.” The same with her sophomore release, Rid of Me—which became an inspiration for Nirvana’s last album: In Utero. Ten albums later and Polly continues to be not only a remarkable songwriter o

Mar 5, 2024 • 46:15

Sonny Rollins

For the last installment of our Thursday Black History Month drops, how could we not revisit our episode with the incomparable Sonny Rollins? Listening to Sonny is like history coming right off the page. He’s living, breathing black history and one of the greatest tenor players of all time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 2, 2024 • 39:42

Jason Isbell

The last couple of years have been huge for Jason Isbell. The Alabama-born singer-songwriter’s latest album Weathervanes won the Grammy for Best Americana album this year. He also snagged a role in Martin Scorsese's film, Killers Of The Flower Moon, which is up for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars. There was also a critically acclaimed HBO documentary released last year about the making of Isbell’s previous album with the 400 Unit, Reunions, that put his personal life on full display. On today

Feb 27, 2024 • 54:20

Rhiannon Giddens: Black History Month Bonus

We’re halfway through Black History month and although we didn’t intend to rerun some of our older conversations to celebrate the month, after realizing we needed to do something to mark Usher’s Super Bowl performance and the release of the new Bob Marley biopic “One Love,” we figured we might as well keep going and celebrate the whole month long…because now we have a country album from Beyonce on the way. Beyonce released two songs from her upcoming album the night of the Super Bowl—“16 Carriag

Feb 22, 2024 • 49:04

IDLES

Since releasing their critically acclaimed debut album, Brutalism, in 2017, the British band IDLES have dropped four other albums in quick succession. The band’s bombastic sound brilliantly balances joy, chaos, and an often critical take on the powers that be. IDLES latest album, TANGK, was produced by the band's guitarist Mark Bowen, Kenny Beats, and Radiohead producer, Nigel Godrich. On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Joe Talbot and Mark Bowen from the greenroom of the Tonight Show wi

Feb 20, 2024 • 47:48

Ziggy Marley: Black History Month Bonus

Last week we revisited our conversation with Usher to celebrate his Super Bowl performance and the incredible career resurgence he’s had over the last couple of years. In thinking about our catalog, I thought there was another conversation worth revisiting - Malcolm Gladwell speaking with Ziggy Marley about the cultural influence the tiny country of Jamaica and Ziggy’s dad, Bob Marley, have had over the last half a century. The Bob Marley biopic One Love was released in theaters yesterday. I hop

Feb 15, 2024 • 45:03

Duff McKagan

In the minds of many rock fans, Duff McKagan will forever be known first and foremost as the bassist for Guns N' Roses. The band’s white-hot reign in the late '80s through the early '90s is the stuff of hedonistic, hard rock legend. And for anyone interested in reading a detailed account of that wild ride, check out Duff’s memoir, “It’s So Easy and Other Lies.” After turning 30, Duff got sober, eventually left GNR, and then went on to play stints in Alice In Chains and Jane’s Addiction—and he he

Feb 13, 2024 • 1:01:48

Usher: Super Bowl Bonus

Four decades into his career, Usher is at the peak of his powers. In the year since he was on Broken Record, Usher became the king of the Las Vegas strip. According to Billboard, he grossed over $100 million dollars during his beloved Vegas residency. To celebrate his much anticipated halftime performance at this year's Super Bowl, along with his upcoming arena tour, and the release of his new album “Coming Home,” here's Justin Richmond's conversation with the one and only, Usher.See omnystudio.

Feb 8, 2024 • 34:35

Love Me Do: McCartney A Life in Lyrics

Countless decisions, large and small, aided The Beatles’ ascent to the top of popular culture. The release of their debut single, “Love Me Do,” in the UK in the fall of 1962 was one of those decisions. Their debut on American television was another. In this first episode of season two, Paul McCartney and Paul Muldoon discuss the early evolution of The Beatles. Season Two of McCartney: A Life in Lyrics comes out weekly starting February 7th, and features the stories behind songs like Yesterday, B

Feb 7, 2024 • 25:58

James Fauntleroy

James Fauntleroy is one of the most prolific pop songwriters of the past 15-plus years. Some of his most prized placements include writing songs for Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars. He’s also contributed background vocals to songs by Travis Scott, Jay-Z and his longtime friend, the late Nipsey Hustle. Similar to his music industry idol and mentor Babyface, James Fauntleroy is also an artist in his own right. While his songs have lived on streaming platforms over the past decad

Jan 30, 2024 • 1:01:02

Future Islands

The Baltimore-based synth-pop band Future Islands was first thrust into the national spotlight in 2014 after making their TV debut on The Late Show With David Letterman. The band’s unassuming frontman Samuel T. Herring danced ecstatically around the stage seething with emotion. The performance quickly went viral, making it one of Letterman’s most memorable live appearances of all time. At the time of their big break, Future Islands had already released three albums and been touring relentlessly

Jan 23, 2024 • 54:31

Sleater-Kinney

Sleater-Kinney has long been a safe space for band members Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker. What started as a group born out of the feminist punk riot grrrl scene in Olympia, Washington in the early 90s, has grown into a life-affirming artistic endeavor. In late 2022, tragedy struck when Carrie’s mother and stepfather were killed in a car accident overseas. In the months after, Carrie found a respite from her immense grief by playing the guitar for hours on end, and writing new music. Sleater

Jan 16, 2024 • 50:38

Noah Kahan

2023 has been a helluva year for singer/songwriter Noah Kahan. Just three years ago he started uploading snippets of his indie-folk songs to TikTok while waiting out the pandemic at his dad’s house in rural Vermont. Those songs quickly caught fire across social media and eventually turned into Noah’s most recent album, Stick Season. After releasing collaborations with Kacey Musgraves, Hozier, and Post Malone, Noah has amassed 4 billion streams globally. It’s no surprise that last month he was no

Dec 26, 2023 • 53:38

Ludwig Göransson

Ludwig Göransson is one of the most accomplished and distinctive film composers of the 21st century. In 2020, after working on the movie Tenet together, acclaimed director Christopher Nolan hired Göransson to score what has become one of the biggest movies of 2023: Oppenheimer. Ludwig, who emigrated to Los Angeles from his native Sweden in 2007, has racked up dozens of writing, producing and scoring credits. He started out working in TV and he eventually started scoring films with his old colleg

Dec 19, 2023 • 51:45

Janelle Monáe & Nate Wonder

Janelle Monáe has had a lot to smile about this year. After a run of successful albums over the last decade, in June she released her fourth album, The Age of Pleasure. The album was just nominated for two Grammys including Album of the Year. This project is important—it signaled a big tone shift for Janelle whose past albums have centered in part around a recurring character named Cyndi Mayweather, an android who represents society’s new “other.” Esthetically Janelle has always been buttoned up

Dec 12, 2023 • 1:05:44

Too Many People

Many observers have tried to pinpoint the specific events that lead to Lennon-McCartney, the formidable songwriting partnership, transitioning to Lennon v. McCartney. But the fact is there is no single truth regarding why the beloved duo split. So instead of investigating the why, we look at the aftermath: legal battles, hurtful accusations in song and, ultimately, a sense of resolution. “Too Many People” opens Paul and Linda McCartney’s 1971 album, “RAM” and serves as an opening to explore Lenn

Dec 6, 2023 • 25:32

Corinne Bailey Rae

Corinne Bailey Rae is an English singer/songwriter whose career started with a bang. In 2006 her debut album topped UK charts and was certified triple platinum with the help of her first hit single, “Put Your Records On.” A slew of awards and other “best new artist” distinctions followed. As she released subsequent albums, Corinne aspired to stretch herself as an artist beyond neo-soul pop-music success. In September, Corinne Bailey Rae released her excellent, genre-hopping fourth album, Black R

Dec 5, 2023 • 49:24

David Paich

David Paich is a prolific musician and songwriter who’s perhaps most well known for writing and co-producing Toto's classic song, “Africa.” Before David co-founded Toto with drummer Jeff Porcaro in 1977, he was an innovative keyboardist and session player. David honed his chops early growing up in L.A. where he worked under the tutelage of his father Marty Paich—an esteemed composer who worked with artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Mel Tormé. While in college at USC David started pla

Nov 28, 2023 • 55:05

Susanna Hoffs

As a founding member of the iconic all-girl band The Bangles, Susanna Hoffs is perhaps most associated with 80s hits like “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame,” and “Walk Like An Egyptian.” After releasing three platinum-selling albums, in 1989 The Bangles broke up. Two years later, Susanna started to release solo material before reuniting with The Bangles at the end of the 90s. Over the years Susanna has continued to release music and act in movies. She even appeared in all three Austin Powers films

Nov 21, 2023 • 50:56

Marty Stuart

Marty Stuart has dedicated his life to playing and preserving old country music. During his 40-plus years as a solo artist, Marty has released more than 20 albums and racked up numerous honors, including five Grammys, and an induction into the Country Music Hall Of Fame. Marty started his career at the age of 12 playing mandolin in a gospel band. By 21, he’d joined Johnny Cash’s touring band, and eventually became a solo artist who combined classic rockabilly sounds with bluegrass and cosmic cou

Nov 14, 2023 • 1:27:59

Lol Tolhurst

Lol Tolhurst, drummer and co-founder of The Cure, first met lead singer Robert Smith when they were just five years-old. Together with their other Catholic school friend Michael Dempsey, they would go on to make dark, brooding music that reflected the isolation they felt as the only punks living in their small English town. As The Cure’s sound developed in the 1980s, they released a string of three albums that Lol now defines as the band’s “goth period.” Today we’ll hear Lol talk in detail about

Nov 7, 2023 • 1:00:45

Mark Mothersbaugh

The lead singer and keyboardist for Devo, Mark Mothersbaugh, is an avant-garde, new wave pioneer. Although critics sometimes classify Devo as a joke band, the Akron, Ohio art-punks’ ethos was created in response to a very serious event—the 1970 shooting at their college, Kent State. Following the incident, the band took on the name “Devo,” short for what they felt was organized society’s “de-evolution.” Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s Devo helped lay the groundwork for DIY, anti-establishment bands

Oct 31, 2023 • 1:06:57

Laufey

Laufey’s fast rise to fame is a pandemic success story. During lockdown, the 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist built a substantial following on social media where she was known as “jazz girl.” Since then the Icelandic-Chinese singer/songwriter has released two studio albums that blend classical, pop and jazz. The first single from her most recent release, Bewitched, has been streamed over 20 million times globally since its release a couple months back. Raised in Iceland, Laufey started playing

Oct 24, 2023 • 52:12

Hermanos Gutiérrez

Hermanos Gutiérrez may be an instrumental guitar band, but they have zero interest in shredding. Instead the Swiss-Ecuadorian brothers, Estevan and Alejandro Gutiérrez, take a minimalist approach to playing. They create hypnotic, sweeping compositions inspired by classical Latin guitar and film scores from old Spaghetti Westerns. In 2022, after releasing three albums independently, Hermanos Gutiérrez signed to Easy Eye Sound, a label owned and operated by Dan Auerbach, guitarist and vocalist of

Oct 17, 2023 • 56:18

Pete Townshend

Pete Townshend, the legendary guitarist and songwriter for The Who, is one of the most decorated rock stars alive. He’s been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, received Kennedy Center Honors, and lifetime-achievement awards from both the Brit Awards and the Grammys. Pete's iconic power chord-guitar style and early use of synthesizers established him as a musical innovator in the '60s and '70s. After a string of chart-topping singles in the early '60s, Pete set to work writing the first-

Oct 10, 2023 • 1:13:32

Introducing: McCartney: A Life in Lyrics

Today we are sharing a very special project we've been working on at Pushkin, a new podcast with the one and only, Sir Paul McCartney. The show’s called McCartney: A Life in Lyrics and it's full of insightful conversations between Paul McCartney and his friend, the Irish poet Paul Muldoon. Together they taped years of conversations digging into Paul’s lyrics and songwriting process. And because it’s impossible to separate the art from the man, a lot of McCartney's personal life gets revealed alo

Oct 4, 2023 • 18:57

Amanda Shires

Amanda Shires is a Texas-born singer/songwriter who got her start at 15 when she joined Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys on fiddle. After starting her solo career in 2005, Shires continued to play with a number of other bands including her husband Jason Isbell's band, the 400 Unit. In 2019, she started the all-female country supergroup The Highwomen, which includes Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby and Maren Morris. After the 2022 release of Amanda Shires’ seventh solo album, Take It Like A Man, s

Sep 26, 2023 • 47:18

Introducing: Ludwig Göransson on Talk Easy

Today we are sharing an episode of one of our favorite shows on the Pushkin network, Talk Easy, hosted by Sam Fragoso. In this episode Sam talks to the renowned Swedish music producer and composer, Ludwig Göransson. Ludwig is a Grammy and Academy award winning producer and composer who scored Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, The Mandalorian, and most recently he scored Christopher Nolan's epic, Oppenheimer. He’s also produced records and wrote songs for HAIM, Rihanna, Adele, and Childish Gambino. H

Sep 19, 2023 • 59:15

DJ Drama

DJ Drama is one of the most iconic mixtape DJs of all time. His legendary Gangsta Grillz tapes helped propel artists like T.I. and Young Jeezy to stardom. His classic Dedication series reinvigorated Lil’ Wayne’s career in the early and mid-2000s. By 2007, the underground mixtape market was booming. But in January of that year DJ Drama and his longtime business partner Don Cannon were arrested by federal agents and charged with bootlegging and racketeering. The much publicized raid only boosted D

Sep 12, 2023 • 56:41

Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr is an acclaimed British guitarist who’s played with a ton of bands including, most famously, The Smiths. Marr started playing guitar as a young teenager growing up in Manchester. When he turned 15 he dropped out of school and moved to London to join the band Sister Ray. A couple years later he would help form The Smiths with Morrissey, Mike Joyce, and Marr’s friend and bassist, Andy Rourke. After The Smiths broke up in 1987, Marr went on to collaborate with an array of different musi

Sep 5, 2023 • 1:18:55

Introducing: Norah Jones is Playing Along

Today we are sharing an episode from one of our favorite podcasts, Norah Jones is Playing Along. Norah is a multi-grammy winning artist who loves to collaborate with other musicians, so she started a podcast to do just that. Today's episode features the legendary Mavis Staples. You’ll hear stories from her time as a member of the iconic Staples Singers. We will also hear Mavis and Norah play a gospel classic, as well as pay homage to Mavis’s father, Pops Staples, along with a few other surprises

Aug 29, 2023 • 1:32:16

James Blake

Since his major-label debut in 2011, James Blake's haunting vocals and brilliantly edited, collage-style tracks have helped usher in a new sound in popular music. James has both produced and contributed vocals to a ton of artists including Travis Scott, Jay-Z, and Spanish megastar, Rosalia. He even earned a Grammy for best rap performance alongside Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and Future on the song “King’s Dead” from the Black Panther soundtrack. This month James is releasing his sixth solo album,

Aug 22, 2023 • 1:02:09

Joan Baez (Broken Record Live)

Of all the groundbreaking musicians to come out of the ‘60s, few were as engaged socially and politically as Joan Baez. A lifelong proponent of non-violent activism, Joan marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and has continued to advocate for non-violent, civil disobedience ever since. With the release of her debut album in 1960, Joan Baez became the preeminent female folkie. With just her exquisite soprano and her guitar, she reworked classic American folk songs and eventually wrote songs tha

Aug 15, 2023 • 51:36

Rewind: Robbie Robertson

In honor of Robbie Robertson’s passing, we’re replaying an old episode of Broken Record featuring Robbie in conversation with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam. When Robbie Robertson turned a house perched above a Malibu beach into a home studio in the 1970's, he had no idea it'd remain a refuge for artists decades later. In this episode, Robbie returns to Shangri La—now the home of our own Rick Rubin—to discuss creating the studio, helping Bob Dylan go electric with The Band, writ

Aug 9, 2023 • 54:41

Introducing The Last Archive

Today we're sharing an episode from another Pushkin podcast we love called The Last Archive. The fourth season of The Last Archive just dropped and it's full of truly unexpected stories and big ideas. The episode you will hear today, "Player Piano," is an audio biography of one of the most famous composers of the 20th century who most people have never heard of: Raymond Scott. He wrote tons of hits in the '30s and since then his music has been sampled by Lizzo, J. Dilla and the Gorillaz. Aside f

Aug 8, 2023 • 54:39

Santigold

Santigold is an artist who exists at the cross-section of punk, dub, new wave and indie pop. Long frustrated with attempts like these to classify her style, Santi has always been a proud outlier among the restrictive categories used to divide music. Santi’s anti-establishment bent was in part a reaction to working as an A&R for Epic Records’ black music department. Frustrated with what they categorized as “urban music” in the early aughts, Santi left her job, went home to Philly, and started

Aug 1, 2023 • 53:54

Albert Hammond Jr

Albert Hammond Jr. first rose to prominence as the lead guitarist of The Strokes—a band at the forefront of New York City’s indie rock renaissance in the early aughts. In 2007 Albert Hammond Jr. launched his solo career, putting his songwriting and abilities as a frontman to the test. He’s now released five albums, including, Melodies On Hiatus, which came out just a couple months ago. It’s a double album that he co-wrote with Canadian singer Simon Wilcox, and features collaborations with GoldLi

Jul 25, 2023 • 56:09

Paul Simon

Paul Simon is one of the greatest living songwriters. Since debuting with Art Garfunkel in 1957, Paul Simon has written countless songs quintessential to the American psyche. This year, at 81 years old, he’s released the latest addition to his beloved catalog, Seven Psalms, to an outpouring of critical acclaim. In 2021, Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam released the audiobook, Miracle And Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon. It’s an intimate look into Simon’s songwriting alongside never-befor

Jul 18, 2023 • 52:13

Damon Albarn

Over the course of his 35-year career, Damon Albarn has reached international fame with two very different bands. In 1988, Damon created the rock band Blur with three friends in his native London. Blur started out as what Damon calls a “classic art school band.” They quickly moved to the forefront of the ‘90s Britpop explosion along with their formal rivals, Oasis. After a series of successful albums with Blur, Damon started Gorillaz in 1998 with cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. Dubbed as the world’s f

Jul 11, 2023 • 43:16

Ben Gibbard

In September, Ben Gibbard, the founder of Death Cab For Cutie, will set out on a nationwide tour to celebrate the two very different albums that have come to define his career. Both albums came out in 2003. The first was called Give Up, and it was a collaboration with his friend and producer Jimmy Tamborello. They’d made it while Gibbard was taking a break from the relentless cycle of touring and releasing music with Death Cab. They called their new band The Postal Service. Give Up steadily buil

Jul 4, 2023 • 1:28:22

Kesha

Long regarded as pop music’s resident party animal, Kesha is now dead-set on slowing down and speaking up. Since debuting on the hook of Flo-Rida’s mega smash “Right Round” in 2009, Kesha has released five albums—two of which debuted at number one. And until very recently, she was involved in a decade-long court case with her former producer and label head. Somehow despite the bitter legal battle and a public struggle with an eating disorder, Kesha has remained steadfast in sharing her art with

Jun 27, 2023 • 50:58

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee Jones hit it big with her debut album in 1979. The following year she won the Grammy for Best New Artist, and over the course of the next four decades, she released numerous albums that pulled inspiration from jazz, rock, electronic music, and even musical-theater. In late April, Rickie released her latest album, Pieces Of Treasure, where she sings songs from the American songbook with a jazz slant. Producer Russ Titelman, who produced Rickie’s first two albums, reunited with her on h

Jun 20, 2023 • 1:03:12

Caroline Rose

Singer/songwriter Caroline Rose has always been a character. Her music videos often feature Caroline as the screwball lead, navigating ambition, desire and super stardom. Now, on her latest album, The Art of Forgetting, Caroline is shedding all of the past pretense and offering up an unflinching look into her inner life in the midst of personal turmoil. The result is an album packed with clever lyricism and soaring arrangements produced by Caroline with help from Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso. On

Jun 13, 2023 • 37:39

Hit-Boy

Hip-hop super producer Hit-Boy has helped create some of the biggest hits of the last decade. His discography includes classic songs with Jay-Z and Kanye West, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, and Rihanna. His crowning achievement however are the series of albums he's produced for Nas including King's Disease and Magic. On today's episode Justin Richmond talks to Hit-Boy about how he recently introduced a new, but old, piece of equipment into his beat-making process. He also talks about th

Jun 6, 2023 • 59:04

Moby

Moby never stops working. His first taste of mega-success came in the early aughts after the release of his multi-platinum album, Play. In the years since, he's released 19 more studio albums including his latest, Resound, NYC, where he re-orchestrates songs he recorded between 1994-2010. Moby has also spent a good deal of the last two decades unpacking his own unconventional upbringing and his meteoric rise to fame. He’s released two extensive memoirs, and he recently directed “Punk Rock Vegan

May 30, 2023 • 57:56

Arlo Parks

Arlo Parks is one of the most compelling voices of her generation. Born in London, the 22-year-old snagged the Best New Artist trophy at the Brit Awards in 2021 in part because of her breakout single “Eugene,” about an unrequited crush. Arlo’s songwriting is a vivid exploration of the euphoria and heartbreak that comes with being young and in love. This month, Arlo Parks will release her sophomore record, called “My Soft Machine.” She collaborated with producers who worked with Brockhampton, SZA

May 23, 2023 • 46:29

Feist

Canadian-born singer/songwriter Feist has been one of the most dynamic indie voices of the last two decades. Last month she released her sixth album, Multitudes. She recorded it in the aftermath of tremendous personal loss and change. In late 2019 Feist adopted a baby just months before the pandemic started. About a year later, her father died suddenly. Multitudes is a raw, intimate look at how she grappled with deep-seated grief and a new kind of love. On today’s episode Leah Rose talks with Fe

May 16, 2023 • 44:51

Babyface

Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds is a pillar of contemporary R&B. As a producer and songwriter, Babyface’s discography includes hits for powerhouse vocalists like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and Stevie Wonder. Although Babyface’s career is most often associated with pop hits, he started writing songs in the singer/songwriter tradition, pulling influence from James Taylor and The Beatles. On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Babyface about the childhood crushes he

May 9, 2023 • 1:09:19

Introducing So Many Steves, A New Audiobook from Steve Martin and Pushkin

Today, we’re bringing you a preview of a new audiobook, So Many Steves. Steve Martin is more candid than he’s ever been about his creative life in this engrossing audio-biography centered around a series of conversations recorded over many afternoons at home with his friend and neighbor, writer Adam Gopnik. You can get So Many Steves, exclusively on audio, now at https://www.pushkin.fm/audiobooks/so-many-steves-afternoons-with-steve-martin or wherever you get your audiobooks.See omnystudio.com/l

May 4, 2023 • 22:29

Matt Berninger

Today we have part two of our run of interviews with The National in celebration of their new album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. Last week Broken Producer producer Leah Rose talked to guitarist and composer Aaron Dessner, and today Leah picks up the conversation with the band’s lead singer, Matt Berninger. Matt, whose fear and anxiety are often on full display in his songwriting, talks about overcoming a debilitating bout of depression in the period before he started writing songs for the n

May 2, 2023 • 57:40

Aaron Dessner

Today we’re kicking off a two-part series of interviews with members of The National, who just released their ninth album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein. Today’s conversation is with Aaron Dessner, The National’s guitarist and oftentimes lead composer. Outside of The National, Aaron is also a prolific producer, having worked with a slew of artists, including, most famously, Taylor Swift. During the pandemic Dessner and Swift teamed up to write music that would eventually become Taylor’s critic

Apr 25, 2023 • 1:03:56

Roger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn is best known as the driving force behind The Byrds. But McGuinn is also a preservationist of traditional folk music. For the past 27 years he’s been re-recording traditional folk songs and sharing them on  a section of his website called The Folk Den. On today’s episode Rick Rubin talks to Roger McGuinn about his decades-long career, which started in the early ‘60s at Greenwich Village cafes where he played with the likes of Bob Dylan and Richie Havens. McGuinn reminisces about th

Apr 20, 2023 • 1:07:31

Introducing Louder Than A Riot

Today, we’re sharing a fantastic episode from a podcast we love, Louder Than A Riot from NPR Music. Louder Than A Riot connects the stories of hip-hop's biggest artists to socio-political changes we’re going through right now. This season, Louder Than A Riot is tackling the connection between hip-hop and misogyny. Hosts Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael dig into the unwritten rules of rap that have marginalized Black women for decades, and highlight the rule breakers who refuse to play nice. T

Apr 18, 2023 • 48:47

George Clinton

George Clinton revolutionized funk music with Parliament Funkadelic, whose theatrical, sci-fi, performance art has captivated audiences worldwide for over five decades. P-Funk’s blend of psychedelic rock and deep, repetitive funk grooves helped bridge the R&B and rock worlds in the ‘70s along with acts like Sly and The Family Stone. Known as Dr. Funkenstein, George Clinton orchestrated multiple solo acts under the P-Funk umbrella. By the ‘80s, Clinton was also charting as a solo artist with

Apr 11, 2023 • 53:02

Graham Nash, Part 2

Today we have the second part of Rick Rubin’s conversation with legendary singer/songwriter Graham Nash. We dropped part one a couple of weeks ago, so definitely go check that out if you haven’t already. On today’s episode Graham tells Rick about the time the Grateful Dead were recording next to CSNY and how Jerry Garcia improvised a near-perfect pedal steel solo on “Teach Your Children.” Graham also describes a bizarre encounter with the judge who sentenced his father to prison, and he shares t

Apr 4, 2023 • 50:31

The Edge

U2’s The Edge is one of only a handful of guitarists who's as recognizable as his band’s wildly successful frontman. U2 has been playing together since 1976, when they were all teenagers in Dublin. Nearing their 50-year anniversary as a band, U2 just released their latest album, Songs of Surrender—a 40-track collection of reimagined and stripped down songs that span the entirety of their catalog. On today’s episode Rick Rubin talks to The Edge about his theory behind the band’s longevity. The Ed

Mar 28, 2023 • 1:07:26

Graham Nash, Part 1

At 81 years-old, Graham Nash describes his life as, “a magic story from beginning to end.” Graham’s career began in 1962 as a singer/songwriter in the British pop band The Hollies. After a string of hits in the UK, Graham left the Hollies, and moved to L.A. to start a band with the former Byrds vocalist, David Crosby, and Stephen Stills, whose band Buffalo Springfield had just broken up. From the start, Crosby Stills & Nash were dubbed a folk-rock supergroup, and they went on to become one o

Mar 21, 2023 • 48:08

Introducing Started From The Bottom: Charlamagne Tha God

Today we're excited to share a preview of Justin Richmond's new Pushkin Industries podcast, Started From The Bottom. Every week on Started from the Bottom, Justin interviews successful people who grew up on the outside—women, people of color, anyone not part of the old boy's network—to find out how they were able to beat the odds. Today's episode features an interview with Charlamagne Tha God. Over his 25 year career, Charlamagne clawed his way to the top of the radio industry. On today's episod

Mar 16, 2023 • 49:03

Giles Martin, Part 2

Today we have part two of Rick Rubin’s conversation with producer and composer, Giles Martin. In part one, Giles talked about his delicate work remastering classic Beatles albums. Today we’ll hear Giles talk about his dad, Sir George Martin, who never second guessed his own genius. Giles also shares hilarious stories from his time as a teenager living at his father’s storied studio that was destroyed by a volcano in the Caribbean. Plus, he talks about the time he was fired and then rehired by Ma

Mar 14, 2023 • 46:29

Usher

Usher is one of few R&B acts from the ‘90s who has gone on to become a global superstar. Since the start of his 30-year career, Usher has sold over 65 million records worldwide. He’s also starred in the Broadway musical Chicago, been a coach on The Voice, and recently added a Las Vegas residency to his long list of artistic achievements. On today's episode Justin Richmond talks to Usher about why conflict has always been a big motivator in his songwriting—especially when working with produce

Feb 23, 2023 • 35:21

Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian: Broken Record Classic

The legendary composer and songwriter Burt Bacharach passed away last week at 94. Today we are re-running an interview Bruce Headlam did with Burt and Daniel Tashian, who released an EP together in 2020 called Blue Umbrella. Justin Richmond also checks in with Daniel Tashian to talk about Burt Bacharach's tremendous skill as a composer. Danial shares the tips he took away from working with Burt, and he talks about how they were collaborating on new music right up until the end. You can hear a pl

Feb 14, 2023 • 40:56

Giles Martin, Part 1

Giles Martin may be the son of famed Beatles record producer Sir George Martin, but he’s also an acclaimed producer and composer in his own right. He’s worked on projects with The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Metallica, and is celebrated for his work remastering albums from The Beatles, including Sgt. Pepper’s, Abbey Road, and The White Album. Last October Giles’ remaster for Revolver was released along with never-before-heard home demos and outtakes from The Beatles. Giles was able to separat

Feb 7, 2023 • 48:11

Iggy Pop, Part 2

Today we have part two of Rick Rubin’s conversation with proto-punk icon, Iggy Pop. If you didn’t catch part one last week where Iggy talked about his early days with the Stooges and the inspiration behind some of their most seminal songs, make sure you check that out. On today’s episode you’ll hear Iggy talk in-depth about the years he spent working and touring with David Bowie. He also explains how James Brown inspired his legendary performance style, and then Iggy recalls the ridiculous antic

Jan 31, 2023 • 50:25

Iggy Pop, Part 1

Iggy Pop is one of the most outrageous rock ‘n roll frontmen to ever step foot on stage. As the lead singer of The Stooges, Iggy was known for bending and contorting his sometimes-bloodied body while feverishly pacing the stage like a wild animal. Iggy’s 50-year career has been as tumultuous as his performance style. When The Stooges first broke up in the mid-70s, Iggy went solo and recorded a series of albums, some instant classics, others more experimental. At 75 years-old he’s just released h

Jan 24, 2023 • 1:05:17

Rick Rubin in Conversation with Malcolm Gladwell

Today the interviewer becomes the interviewee. In his nearly 40-year career as a producer, Rick Rubin has helped unlock creativity and inspire musical genius time and time again. The artists he’s worked with often say that one of Rick’s superpowers is his expert ability to listen deeply, and to help guide whoever he’s working with to find their deepest expression of truth. This month Rick released his first book, called The Creative Act: A Way Of Being. In it he shares practical principles on ho

Jan 17, 2023 • 1:01:19

From Story of the Week with Joel Stein: The Hallucinogenic Toad Doctor

Here’s a preview of a new podcast from Pushkin, Story of the Week. Each week, journalist Joel Stein chooses an article that fascinates him, convinces the writer to tell him about it, and then interrupts a good conversation by talking about himself. Sometimes the story will be the one everyone is talking about, like the New Yorker article on smoking hallucinogenic toads. Other times we’ll find a story you might have missed, like the one in the Verge about the rock groupie turned hacker who had hu

Jan 10, 2023 • 12:35

Johnny Mathis

Today, we are featuring “The Voice of Christmas,” Mr. Johnny Mathis. Over the years, Mr. Mathis has released six Christmas albums. His iconic first holiday record, Merry Christmas, is a tribute to his mother and father and still stands as one of the most beloved collections of Christmas music ever. Now 87 years-old, Johnny is celebrating his 66th year as a recording artist. And he’s still performing. In fact, we only had a brief 30 minutes to speak with him because he needs to save his voice for

Dec 27, 2022 • 27:55

John Frusciante Returns, Part 4

Today we have part four of our John Frusciante Returns series. This is the latest installment of Rick Rubin’s on-going series of in-depth interviews with the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist. And if this is the first interview you’re hearing, make sure to go back and check out the first three parts. On this episode we'll hear John Frusciante play through more of his guitar parts, and he’ll explain how he came up with some of the best guitar melodies in modern rock history. John also talks about h

Dec 20, 2022 • 1:17:07

John Frusciante Returns, Part 3

We’re back with the third episode in our John Frusciante Returns series. Over the past couple of months Rick Rubin and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers have come together to tape an on-going series of conversations that dives deep into John’s philosophical and practical approach to writing music and playing guitar. If you haven’t heard the previous episodes, make sure to check them out. Today, we’ll hear John talk about his love of electronic music and how he struggled to fall back i

Dec 13, 2022 • 1:14:13

Stormzy

The British hip-hop subgenre grime first started to bubble up in London in the early aughts. Artists like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal developed an entirely new style by rapping over lightning-fast beats inspired by UK garage, techno and jungle. Today’s guest, Stormzy is at the forefront of grime’s newest generation. He rose to prominence in 2015 after uploading a video to YouTube where he freestyled over classic grime tracks. Since then Stormzy has released three number one albums in the UK, won thr

Dec 6, 2022 • 59:46

Stormzy

The British hip-hop subgenre grime first started to bubble up in London in the early aughts. Artists like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal developed an entirely new style by rapping over lightning-fast beats inspired by UK garage, techno and jungle. Today’s guest, Stormzy is at the forefront of grime’s newest generation. He rose to prominence in 2015 after uploading a video to YouTube where he freestyled over classic grime tracks. Since then Stormzy has released three number one albums in the UK, won thr

Dec 6, 2022 • 59:47

Neil Young

If Broken Record had an all-star list, Neil Young would be at the top. He’s been on the show three times now, and his legendary body of work has been brought up by more musicians interviewed on our show than any other artist—except maybe Joni Mitchell. That’s because Neil is a true artist’s artist. His dedication to his craft is resolute. He’s been writing and singing songs since the early '60s and his creative output has been near constant for the last six decades. Neil stopped by Shangri-La fo

Nov 29, 2022 • 1:18:17

Scoring Bad Women

Today we're sharing a fun conversation with the musicians who scored another Pushkin Industries podcast—Bad Women. The first season of Bad Women focused on reconstructing the lives of the five women that Jack the Ripper murdered. Now, the second season centers around a murderer every bit terrifying as Jack the Ripper, the so-called Blackout Ripper. On today's episode, Justin Richmond speaks with sound designer Pascal Wyse and jazz guitarist Ed Gaughan about their music-rich score. They talk abou

Nov 26, 2022 • 59:09

Jacob Collier, Part 2

Today we have part two of Bruce Headlam’s conversation with YouTube sensation turned five-time Grammy winner Jacob Collier. We left off our last episode with Jacob talking about what it’s like to perform to an audience of thousands of people after spending years growing his fan base online. In this episode, we’ll hear Jacob play the piano and go even deeper into music theory. Jacob also talks more about his new album, Piano Ballads, and about how the song “Moon River” taught him the power of cen

Nov 24, 2022 • 47:19

Jacob Collier, Part 1

Musical genius and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier joins us today for part one of a two-part conversation. In 2011, when Jacob was only 17, he began posting videos to YouTube of himself singing and playing music. His break-out video, a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” received millions of views and praise from musical legends like Herbie Hancock, David Crosby, and Quincy Jones. Since then, he’s gone on to release five albums, including his 2016 self-produced debut

Nov 22, 2022 • 56:09

Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers has never been one to mince words. Aside from her powerhouse voice, one of Maggie’s superpowers is her ability to write pop songs fueled by radical emotional transparency. And while it’s thrilling when an artist bares their soul, that level of constant vulnerability can be unsustainable.In 2019, after releasing her Grammy-nominated debut, Heard It In A Past Life, and then touring the album relentlessly, Maggie was desperately in need of time away from the spotlight. Just before the

Nov 15, 2022 • 51:05

From Inside Voice: Lake Bell and the Mechanics of Singing

In her new Pushkin audiobook Inside Voice: My Obsession with How We Sound, actress/writer/director/producer Lake Bell goes down some fascinating rabbit holes, exploring the psychology and social science of our voices.  But you gotta start with the mechanics.  In this excerpt you’ll hear Lake's conversation with ENT doc to the stars Dr. Randolph Schnitman. He's treated the who’s who of music, strengthening and even saving their voices. If you’re interested at all in how our voices make beautiful

Nov 10, 2022 • 10:17

John Frusciante Returns, Part 2

Today we’re excited to bring you the next installment of our John Frusciante interview series. John first came on the podcast back in April to help celebrate the release of the Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Unlimited Love. Then he returned in mid-October to discuss Chili Pepper history, one album at a time. On today's episode we'll hear John talk about the Chili Peppers brand new release—their second number one album in six months—Return Of The Dream Canteen. John also picks up a guitar and walks

Nov 8, 2022 • 1:21:53

Gabriels

Today we are featuring one of the most thrilling new groups in contemporary soul music—Gabriels. And lucky for us, they performed three songs, one of which is still unreleased, live for Broken Record. Gabriels consists of three very distinct pillars of talent: lead singer Jacob Lusk, who was raised in Compton singing gospel. Keyboardist and producer Ryan Hope, who grew up a lover of dance music in his native UK. And Los Angeles native, Ari Balouzian, who serves as Gabriels' in-house composer and

Nov 1, 2022 • 1:00:23

Anaïs Mitchell

Today we will hear from singer-songwriter and playwright Anaïs Mitchell who spent the past 16 years building the world of Hadestown, a career-defining stage musical that has grown from a low-budget community production in Mitchell's native Vermont, to a Broadway phenomenon and the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. But in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered theaters, Anaïs, like so many others, moved back home to Vermont. The move and change

Oct 25, 2022 • 1:00:30

John Frusciante Returns, Part 1

Today we’re sharing one of the most intimate conversations Rick Rubin has ever had on Broken Record. It’s with the famed guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Frusciante. Rick Rubin last spoke to John back in April when the Chili Peppers were getting ready to release their album, Unlimited Love, their first record with Frusciante in 16 years. Unlimited Love debuted at number one in the U.S. and 15 other countries. Today, just a little more than six months later, the Chili Peppers released

Oct 14, 2022 • 1:20:19

Bartees Strange

Bartees Strange is an amalgamation of musical styles. Listen to any given song on his newest release, Farm To Table, and you can hear hints of early aughts emo, auto-tuned hip-hop vocals, and country blues—all housed in an indie rock veneer. Bartees wide-reaching sound makes perfect sense given his Midwest upbringing and early influences. He was raised in Mustang, Oklahoma as one of the few Black kids in an area rife with racial violence. As a  teenager he discovered Christian hardcore punk and

Oct 11, 2022 • 52:13

Sylvan Esso

Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath have been making music together since 2013, when Amelia asked Nick, a music producer and bassist, to remix her band Mountain Man’s hit single “Play It Right.” He did, and the rest is history. Sylvan Esso has always had a very sleek, electro-pop feel to their production. Amelia’s powerful voice is front and center, surrounded by harmonies and samples of her own voice. Nick’s genre-destroying bass creates intricate, pulsing grooves for Amelia’s voice to

Oct 4, 2022 • 55:20

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Today we have Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of the Tedeschi Trucks Band on the show. Derek Trucks made his name as a slide guitar prodigy with a Hall of Fame pedigree. He’s the nephew of Butch Trucks, drummer of the Allman Brothers Band, who Derek toured with extensively throughout the 2000s before forming the Derek Trucks Band. Somewhere along the road, Derek met another great guitarist with a Berklee-pedigree, Susan Tedeschi, who is one of the best singers working today. Eventually the two m

Sep 27, 2022 • 56:30

Jack White

We have friend of the show Jack White back on the show today along with a legendary special guest. This conversation with Rick Rubin is full of fascinating ideas, asides and musical history that let you know just how deep Jack White is. Jack's work and a business ethic is unparalleled. His label Third Man Records has a rich roster of artists and three retail stores. They also own one of the few fully operational vinyl pressing plants in the U.S. which has been working overtime to keep up with th

Sep 20, 2022 • 1:33:01

Malcolm Gladwell is Experimenting on Revisionist History

Sharing a preview of the new season of Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast about things misunderstood and overlooked. This season, Malcolm is obsessed with experiments – natural experiments, scientific experiments, thought experiments. This month, you'll hear a saga about self-sacrifice. Plus, Malcolm offers a mea culpa for an unintended consequence of his book Outliers. You can hear more Revisionist History at https://link.chtbl.com/rhs7part2.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

Sep 15, 2022 • 1:07

Bon Iver: Broken Record Classic

Today we are re-visiting one of our favorite episodes from 2019 featuring Rick Rubin in conversation with Justin Vernon and his engineer Chris Messina. In 2006 Justin Vernon started Bon Iver as a solo project after the end of a romantic relationship and the break up of his college band. Justin recorded Bon Iver's first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, alone over three months in his dad’s hunting cabin deep in the woods of Western Wisconsin. His setup consisted of a small recording rig and a couple

Sep 13, 2022 • 36:59

Nile Rodgers: Broken Record Classic

Today we are revisiting one of our favorite early episodes of Broken Record with the legendary producer, Nile Rodgers. Over the course of his five decade-long career, Nile Rodgers has performed on, written, and produced some of the greatest dance songs of all time, including Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out,” Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” and Madonna’s “Like A Virgin.” Back in Fall of 2018, Nile met up with Bruce Headlam at the same New York City recording studio where 35 years earlier, Nile recorded the

Sep 6, 2022 • 34:54

Kaytranada

Kaytranada’s futuristic, soulful disco sound is suddenly everywhere—including on his new hit song “Twin Flame” with Anderson .Paak. The Haitian-Canadian DJ/producer got his start as a teenager by uploading J. Dilla and Flying Lotus-inspired beats to SoundCloud. In 2012 his edit of Janet Jackson’s “If” exploded and became a massive viral hit. In the 10 years since, Kaytranada has remixed dozens of records and released two studio albums, including the Grammy award-winning Bubba. On today’s episode

Aug 30, 2022 • 43:43

Old Crow Medicine Show

Today we are featuring a chat with two members of the Nashville-based string band, Old Crow Medicine Show—lead singer Ketch Secor and drummer Jerry Pentecost. Since forming in 1998, Old Crow has helped preserve folk and blues songs that often pre-date World War II. Old Crow has also released a number of their own songs, and in the folk tradition, put their own spin on their favorite artists’ tunes. Their most successful song to date, the platinum-certified “Wagon Wheel,” was written around a Bob

Aug 23, 2022 • 55:39

Béla Fleck

Today we are featuring a conversation with the world’s preeminent banjo player, Béla Fleck. Over the course of his four-decade career, Béla has won numerous Grammys in a variety of surprising genres including Jazz, Latin, Pop, and Classical. Last year, his latest release, My Bluegrass Heart, scored the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. In addition to Béla’s innovative style and expert technique, he is also an advocate for keeping the banjo’s rich historical tradition alive. In 2008, Béla made a p

Aug 16, 2022 • 48:20

Nilüfer Yanya

Nilüfer Yanya is a 27-year-old singer/songwriter from West London. After several years of hitting small stages with her guitar, Nilüfer broke through in 2016 with a series of soulful, indie-pop EPs and singles. Justin Richmond spoke with Nilüfer in April, just after her performance at Coachella, about the release of her second album, PAINLESS. The album’s tracks are laden with electronic drums and raucous guitar. They play like a diary entry, wrenched with heartbreak, loss, and hope. On today’s

Jul 26, 2022 • 42:43

Neneh Cherry

Swedish-born singer Neneh Cherry’s four-decade-long career has ricocheted between a number of genres including hip-hop, jazz, and trip-hop. Her first single in 1988, “Buffalo Stance,” cemented her standing as a no-nonsense Black feminist voice in contemporary urban music. This year Neneh released her sixth album, “The Versions.” It’s a collection of cover songs of some of Cherry’s biggest hits, and is performed exclusively by female artists including Robyn, Sia, and Neneh’s daughter Tyson. On to

Jul 19, 2022 • 42:33

Lyle Lovett

Today on the show, we're welcoming Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, Lyle Lovett. Lovett follows in the footsteps of Texas troubadours like Guy Clark, Walter Hyatt, and Townes Van Zandt. In 1986, Lovett helped lay the foundation for the alternative country and Americana movements with his debut, self-titled album. Since then, he has continued to light up country music with a rich blend of country, big band, blues, folk, and jazz. All of those sounds are on display in 12th of June—his first

Jul 12, 2022 • 57:18

The Doors: Robby Krieger and John Densmore

Today we have a fun follow-up to last week’s episode with Johnny Echols from the band Love. This week we’ll hear Rick interview the last two living members of The Doors—guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore—about coming up in the LA rock scene alongside the band Love, who The Doors idolized and then later eclipsed. The Doors formed in 1965 and burned white-hot, releasing six albums in five years, until the death of their larger than life lead singer, Jim Morrison. In their brief time

Jul 5, 2022 • 53:38

Danny Brown and Johnny Echols on Love's Forever Changes

Today we’re closing out Black Music Month by celebrating one of Rick Rubin’s favorite albums of all time—Forever Changes by the band Love. Formed in 1965, Love was a groundbreaking, interracial L.A. group. While their name isn’t usually mentioned alongside historic psychedelic bands like The Byrds or The Grateful Dead, Love’s influence is vast. Their charismatic, fashion-forward black frontman, Arthur Lee, inspired Jimi Hendrix’s look, and in the mid-60s Love was one of the hottest bands in Holl

Jun 28, 2022 • 1:16:38

Sonny Rollins

Today we’re continuing our celebration of Black Music Month with the incredible jazz legend, Sonny Rollins. Rollins is an American tenor saxophonist and composer who is widely regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time. Sadly, now at 91 years-old, Rollins no longer plays as a result of pulmonary fibrosis. Fortunately for us though, he's able to look back over an eight-decade career that started at the beginnings of Bebop, and included playing with the Rolling Stones, and

Jun 21, 2022 • 39:42

Adrian Quesada

Today on the show, we’re talking to Grammy award-winning musician, Adrian Quesada who's best known as one-half of the Black Pumas. During the pandemic Adrian started working on a solo project inspired by his longtime love of psychedelic music and Latin American love songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s. The result is an album called Boleros Psicodelicos that reached number one on the Billboard Latin album chart when it was released earlier this month. On today’s ep

Jun 18, 2022 • 40:59

J Dilla: Dan Charnas on the Life and Legacy of Jay Dee

Today we’re talking to Dan Charnas—author, hip-hop journalist, professor, show runner, former A&R person for Def American, and also a longtime friend of Rick Rubin's. Charnas's latest book, Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, The Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm is the product of four years of exhaustive research and nearly 200 interviews. On today’s episode, Rick Rubin speaks with Dan Charnas about how the roots of his new book go all the way bac

Jun 14, 2022 • 1:07:08

PJ Morton

Today we begin our month-long celebration of Black Music Month with PJ Morton—the New Orleans based singer/songwriter, producer, and keyboardist for Maroon 5. Morton recently released his eighth studio album Watch The Sun featuring collaborations with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Nas, Jill Scott, and Wale. On today’s episode, PJ Morton talks to Bruce Headlam about what it was like growing up as a preacher’s son and how his relationship with gospel music has impacted

Jun 7, 2022 • 38:19

Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten joins us today—the singer/songwriter who Pitchfork recently crowned an “indie rock institution.” Earlier this month, Van Etten released her sixth and arguably best album, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong. On today’s episode, Broken Record producer Leah Rose talks to Sharon Van Etten about recording her new album in her L.A.-based home studio during lockdown while attempting to balance domestic life. Sharon also explains how her inner Jerse

May 31, 2022 • 50:09

Tom Jones

Today we’ll hear Rick Rubin talk to one of his all-time favorite vocalists, Tom Jones. With his soulful baritone and unique interpretation of the American R&B and gospel, Jones became a mainstay at hip venues in London, New York and Las Vegas with now-timeless hits like “It’s Not Unusual,” and “Green Green Grass Of Home.” On today’s episode, Tom Jones shares stories with Rick from his remarkable career, including the first time he met Elvis on a movi

May 24, 2022 • 54:49

Belle and Sebastian

Today we’re talking to Stuart Murdoch and Stevie Jackson from the Scottish folk-pop band, Belle & Sebastian. After seven years, the indie pop band is releasing their ninth studio album, their first in seven years – A Bit of Previous. The album was recorded in Belle & Sebastian’s hometown of Glasgow, after plans to record in LA fell through because of the pandemic. Bruce Headlam talks to Stuart and Stevie about their new album and the band plays songs live from the

May 17, 2022 • 44:55

Listen to This: Voyage to Montréal from Not Lost

Sharing a sneak preview of Pushkin's new podcast Not Lost, a show about finding yourself in places you’ve never been. Host Brendan Francis Newnam takes us around the world, learning about new places by getting invited to a stranger’s house for dinner. From New Orleans to Mexico City, Brendan and his guests drink, dance, and eat, learning as much about themselves as the places they visit. In this episode, Brendan and his friend Danielle Henderson navigate the icy streets of Montréal, making a pil

May 11, 2022 • 47:03

Listen to This: Talk Easy featuring Questlove

Here's a special episode from Talk Easy, another podcast in the Pushkin portfolio. Talk Easy is a weekly interview podcast, where writer Sam Fragoso invites actors, writers, activists, and musicians to come to the table and speak from the heart in ways you probably haven't heard from them before. Driven by research, curiosity, and compassion, he has revealing conversations with guests like David Byrne, Lorde, and Syd tha Kid. In this episode, you'll hear Sam in conversation with the legendary Gr

May 3, 2022 • 55:03

Michael Stipe

Today we have a conversation between old friends Rick Rubin and Michael Stipe. Along with his former band R.E.M., Stipe's expert, open-hearted lyrics gave voice to the sensitive and misunderstood among us with hits like “The One I Love,” “Everybody Hurts,” and “Losing My Religion.” After R.E.M. broke up a little over a decade ago, Stipe followed other creative pursuits like photography. But now Stipe has found his way back to music and is working on his first

Apr 26, 2022 • 52:04

Chad Smith

Today we have the final interview in our month-long series with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in celebration of their new album, Unlimited Love, produced by Rick Rubin. There’s only one Chili Pepper left, Mr. “I eat-drums-for-breakfast” himself, Chad Smith.Chad has always been a bit of an outlier in the band, he’s the only member who isn’t from L.A. He’s from the suburbs of Detroit and he was reared more on classic rock than punk like the rest of the band. But Chad is an integral member of the Peppe

Apr 19, 2022 • 1:31:23

Flea

This is the third episode in our four episode run with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, celebrating their new album, Unlimited Love.Today you’ll hear a very special conversation between Rick Rubin and Flea. Flea’s one of the most iconic bass players of all time and, along with singer Anthony Kiedis, one of the all time great musical ambassadors of Los Angeles.Flea talks with Rick on today’s episode about how he “rock-starred” his way into USC recently to study music theory. He remembers tearfully tell

Apr 12, 2022 • 1:07:54

John Frusciante and Anthony Kiedis

We’re continuing our run of episodes celebrating the release of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ new album, Unlimited Love, produced by Rick Rubin. We left off our episode last week with Anthony Kiedis popping in to join Rick’s conversation with Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante. Today we have part two of Rick’s conversation with John and the band’s iconic frontman.On this episode we'll hear Anthony talk about how some of the new song lyrics came together, the lengths he went to commute to the

Apr 5, 2022 • 1:34:46

John Frusciante

Today is the start of a month-long run of episodes in celebration of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ newest album, Unlimited Love. We kick things off with Rick Rubin in conversation with the Chili Peppers' guitarist, John Frusciante. If you’re a diehard fan you know why the release of their new album is so exciting. Unlimited Love is their first record with John in 16 years.In this episode, you’ll hear John tell Rick about his deep musical exploration as a young guitar player. He also talks about how

Apr 1, 2022 • 56:42

Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott is one of popular music's greatest innovators. This year is the 25th anniversary of Missy’s classic debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. When that album dropped, Missy’s unconventional rhyme schemes paired with her childhood friend Timbaland’s futuristic production set a precedent for what was creatively possible in hip-hop. And throughout her career, Missy’s maintained that same level of playful creativity.This year Missy broke records when she was recognized as having more platinum albums

Mar 29, 2022 • 54:25

Patti Smith

Today we have the one and only Patti Smith on the show. Patti is the prototypical downtown, New York City artist. Her 1975 debut album Horses is credited as one of the masterpieces of its time. It also cemented her as one of rock n roll's great lyricists. But her writing extends far beyond music. Her 2010 memoir, Just Kids, won the National Book Award for its brilliant portrayal of the ‘70s bohemian art scene in New York, and Patti’s experience living in the Chelsea Hotel with the famed photogra

Mar 22, 2022 • 1:09:07

Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt is many things—a Rock ‘n Roll Hall-of-Famer, an incredible blues guitarist, an underrated songwriter, and a fierce advocate for social justice. Bonnie was offered her first record deal as a college student in 1971 after a reporter saw her play an early gig in NYC, but it took almost two decades before she peaked commercially with her tenth album, Nick Of Time. Throughout her long career Bonnie has helped preserve American blues music by recording songs from little-known but classic

Mar 15, 2022 • 52:49

Beach House

Beach House is a psych-pop band with a die-hard cult following. Since their 2006 debut album, their lush, cinematic sound has been sampled by artists like Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd. And Kanye recently posted a picture on Instagram collaborating with Beach House in the studio. In January, Beach House began releasing their most ambitious project yet—a double album that debuted at number one. It’s called Once, Twice, Melody and it’s their first entirely self-produced album and the most dynamic

Mar 8, 2022 • 42:57

Judy Collins

To kick off our month long celebration of Women's History Month, today we are featuring an interview with the great Judy Collins. At 82 years-old, Collins is in the midst of a creative shift. She first made a name for herself in the 60’s folk revival covering songs by artists like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. But this year, for the first time in her career, she’s released an album written entirely by herself. The album’s called Spellbound. And the music feels right at home with some of the best

Mar 1, 2022 • 37:03

Robert Plant

Robert Plant is arguably the most iconic rock vocalist of all time. As the frontman for Led Zeppelin, his dynamic, soaring vocal style was the perfect lead for the band’s unparalleled musicianship. After Zeppelin broke up in 1980 following the death of drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, Plant set out on his own and recorded songs that drew inspiration from North African music, psych rock, and the Blues. In 2007 Plant began collaborating with Alison Krauss, the famed bluegrass singer and fiddle player.

Feb 22, 2022 • 56:55

Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste is an overachiever. Batiste is the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and an Oscar-winning composer for the Pixar animated movie, Soul. He also received the highest number of Grammy nominations this year, with eleven, including Album of the Year for his most recent release, We Are.On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks to Jon Batiste about what it was like coming up as a young musician in legendary New Orleans bar rooms. Batiste also reminisces about setting up a piano

Feb 15, 2022 • 53:30

Stevie Van Zandt

Stevie Van Zandt is the ultimate underboss. His first big break came in the mid-70s as Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man, guitarist, and occasional co-producer in the E Street Band. Later he seamlessly made the jump to acting as one of Tony Soprano’s key consiglieres, Sil, on The Sopranos. Van Zandt recently released his memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, which details his career over the past 50 years. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Van Zandt about the budding New Jersey rock n’ roll

Feb 8, 2022 • 42:36

Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren is a multi-talented musician who has made a name for himself both as a solo artist and a visionary music producer. Rundgren’s crowning achievement though was producing Meatloaf’s album Bat Out Of Hell, which is to this day one of the highest-selling albums of all time. In addition to recently being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rundgren has been busy working on a new album of collaborations called Space Force with artists like Sparks, Rivers Cuomo, and Ben Folds tha

Feb 1, 2022 • 52:10

Jackson Browne

In the 1970’s Jackson Browne was known as one of the originators of the carefree, California classic rock sound with hits like “Doctor My Eyes” and “Running on Empty.” As his career progressed, Jackson Browne’s knack for writing soul-searching lyrics turned more political. Browne continues to use his music as a vehicle for change today. His latest album, Downhill From Everywhere, was inspired by a documentary about the Pacific garbage patch and our impact on the planet.On today’s episode Bruce H

Jan 25, 2022 • 38:09

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Since debuting in the late ‘60s, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has made a sizable contribution to the folk canon with tender, contemplative songs like “Wild World,” “Moon Shadow,” and “The Wind.” Stevens recently reissued one of his most seminal early albums, Teaser And The Firecat, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its release. The new edition features remastered versions of the original album along with 41 previously unreleased demos and alternate mixes. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Yusuf/

Jan 18, 2022 • 44:37

Sam Sanders on Janet Jackson's Legacy

Today we're sharing an episode from our friend Sam Sanders over at NPR’s It's Been a Minute podcast. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Janet Jackson's classic album, Control. That album was her first real commercial hit and, looking back, helped redefine all of pop music. It also helped establish two star producers in Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In the late 80s and 90s, Janet was one of the biggest stars of our time—right up there with her brother Michael and Madonna. And yet, Jackson isn't

Jan 11, 2022 • 43:19

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills

Pino Palladino and Blake Mills are renowned session musicians who recently collaborated on their own album, Notes With Attachments. It’s an experimental, jazz-leaning project that blew Rick Rubin’s mind. Pino Palladino is a bass player who has played on records with everyone from D’Angelo to The Who to Adele. Guitarist Blake Mills co-founded the band Dawes in 2005, and he has gone on to release critically acclaimed solo albums and produce records for the Alabama Shakes, John Legend and Fiona App

Dec 30, 2021 • 37:00

Neil Young, Part Two

Welcome to part two of Rick Rubin’s conversation with Neil Young. Today we'll hear how Neil's song “I Believe In You” from his 1970 masterpiece After the Gold Rush inspired a mystical experience for Rick. Neil also talks about recording After the Gold Rush and the parallels between that album and his latest release, Barn. And, Neil explains why he started writing and recording music around the cycles of the moon, and his massive archive of unreleased material that spans several decades.Subscribe

Dec 28, 2021 • 42:45

Neil Young, Part One

When we first talked about making Broken Record, we had a short list of absolute dream guests for the podcast and Neil Young was at the top of that list. So when Neil’s new record, Barn, was announced and we were told he wanted to speak with Rick about it we were beyond excited.On today’s episode, Rick and Neil talk about the new album, and all of the archival projects he plans on releasing in the coming year. They also reminisce about the time they spent working together on some abandoned songs

Dec 21, 2021 • 52:15

Faye Webster Takes Off

24 year-old singer/songwriter Faye Webster stopped by Shangri-La earlier this month in between stops on her tour opening for Wilco to chat with Justin Richmond and play some songs off of her latest album, I Know I’m Funny haha. Faye started releasing music independently when she was just 16 years-old. In 2017 her second album was released through Awful Records—home to the Atlanta hip-hop collective. Faye was a bit of an outlier on the rap-heavy label but working with them gave her a different pe

Dec 14, 2021 • 44:22

Amanda Shires For Christmas

Today we have a special Broken Record Holiday episode with Nashville singer Amanda Shires. Shires’ new holiday album, For Christmas, isn’t meant to make you feel merry and bright. Instead it’s an acknowledgment of the complicated feelings that can come along with the holidays, like disappointment, longing and maybe a little bit of lust.In addition to her solo career, Amanda Shires plays fiddle and sings in her husband Jason Isbell’s band, The 400 Unit. She is also a founding member of the female

Dec 7, 2021 • 41:08

Mary Gauthier: Saved By A Song

Mary Gauthier is a folk singer/songwriter whose songs have quite literally saved her life. Writing music did not come easily to Gauthier. She began abusing drugs and alcohol as a young girl growing up in Louisiana. After years of struggling with addiction, Gauthier got clean at age 27 and began frequenting open mics around Boston. She released her debut album, Dixie Kitchen, in 1997 and moved to Nashville not long after. She has since become known for her ability to write vivid, literary-style l

Nov 30, 2021 • 49:03

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast

Michelle Zauner is the lead singer and creative force behind the indie, dream pop band, Japanese Breakfast. This year Zauner released a series of career-defining projects that propelled her band to widespread critical acclaim including her New York Times best-selling memoir, Crying In H Mart, and Japanese Breakfast's third and most ambitious album, Jubilee.On today’s episode Broken Record producer Leah Rose talks to Michelle Zauner about her triumphant year, and exactly how big she wants her ban

Nov 23, 2021 • 39:48

An Excerpt from Miracle And Wonder: Conversations With Paul Simon

Justin Richmond shares the first chapter of a new book he's been working on with Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam. It’s called Miracle And Wonder, Conversations with Paul Simon. Download the audiobook today at miracleaudiobook.com and receive an exclusive listener's guide featuring additional commentary from Bruce Headlam and the producers of Miracle and Wonder.Miracle and Wonder is culled from 30 hours of conversations between Malcolm, Bruce and Paul himself. Paul breaks down his musical evol

Nov 16, 2021 • 37:50

Angelique Kidjo: Africa’s Premier Diva

According to Time Magazine, singer Angelique Kidjo is “Africa’s premier diva.” Kidjo started out singing traditional music in her native Benin, West Africa when she was a teenager. In 1983, she escaped the conflict-riddled Benin for Paris, where she studied music and eventually signed her first record deal with Island Records. Kidjo has since released 16 albums and won four World Music Grammys. Her latest album, Mother Nature, was released in June and features young African musicians like Sampa

Nov 9, 2021 • 50:28

Pastor T.L. Barrett’s Gospel

Pastor T.L. Barrett has been known on Chicago’s South side as a religious and community leader for 50 years. But it wasn’t until recently that people started to uncover Barrett’s trove of gospel music. In the 1970s, Barrett began making recordings of the music performed in his church. These were sermons he’d turn into songs that sat around for years until rappers started sampling them in the last decade. People like Kanye West, T.I., DJ Khalid, Alicia Keys. All this recent attention on Pastor T.

Nov 2, 2021 • 40:16

Singing Secrets of the Stars with Backstage Pass

Today we are sharing an episode of Pushkin’s newest show, Backstage Pass, hosted by Eric Vetro, the voice coach to the stars. From Camila Cabello, to Shawn Mendes, to John Legend, Eric Vetro has guided your favorite singers during some of the most iconic moments of their musical lives.Today we'll hear Justin Richmond talk to Eric about his journey to becoming the most trusted celebrity voice coach. Then you'll get a preview of Backstage Pass with Ariana Grande, where she talks to Eric about her

Oct 27, 2021 • 50:07

Diane Warren: Songwriter Extraordinaire

If you’ve sung along to a power ballad in the last 30 years, chances are you’re already intimately familiar with Diane Warren’s songs. Some of her biggest hits include Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” and Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.” Over the span of her 35 year-career, Diane Warren has penned hits for hip-hop, country, R&B, and adult contemporary artists. In late August she finally released her own album, The Cave Sessions Volume 1, Th

Oct 26, 2021 • 42:41

Amythyst Kiah Sings Her Truth

On her intimate new album Wary + Strange, Amythyst Kiah sings her heart out about losing her mom to suicide, and what it’s like being the only black person in the room at country gigs. She created the album with Phoebe Bridger’s producer, Tony Berg, and the result is a project expertly fuses Kiah’s love for ‘90s alt-rock with her old-time, country sensibility.Amythyst Kiah performs two of her new songs on today’s episode and talks to Bruce Headlam about what it was like for a black teengager to

Oct 19, 2021 • 46:58

Scarface: The Reunion

Houston rapper Scarface is one of the most recognizable, respected voices in hip-hop. When he was just 17 years-old, Scarface was recruited to join Bushwik Bill and Willie D in the Geto Boys. The group was one of Rick Rubin’s earliest rap signings for his post Def Jam label, Def American.On today’s episode, Scarface and Rick reminisce about working together, and Face talks about how his recent experience with covid was eerily similar to his classic verse on “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.” Scarface

Oct 12, 2021 • 32:44

White Lotus Composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer

Cristobal Tapia de Veer is the composer and musician behind Mike White’s HBO show, White Lotus. The sounds in the score range from percussive African and Latin American instruments to guttural human chants. On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to de Veer about how he came up with White Lotus’ striking soundscape. De Veer plays stems from the score and explains about how he initially set out to create a Hawaiian Hitchcock sound. He also talks about how he created the signature tribal-sounding

Oct 5, 2021 • 34:38

Lindsey Buckingham: Going His Own Way

Lindsey Buckingham’s signature finger-style guitar is perhaps as recognizable as the countless classic songs he wrote while he was in Fleetwood Mac. Buckingham is a self-taught guitar virtuoso and songwriter who famously joined Fleetwood Mac in the mid ‘70s with his then girlfriend, Stevie Nicks. The band had been around since ‘67 with various singers, guitarists and songwriters. The only constant was their rhythm section: drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. But the band didn’t blow u

Sep 28, 2021 • 51:51

Ringo Starr: Peace and Love

Ringo Starr is one of the most iconic musicians living today. Famed drummer for The Beatles and a prolific songwriter in his own right, at 81, Ringo’s gearing up to release his latest EP, Change The World. Rick Rubin and Ringo recorded this interview on the day it was announced that Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passed away. On today’s episode you’ll hear Ringo reminisce about partying with Charlie and Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham. Ringo also talks about how he was a drunk heckler a

Sep 21, 2021 • 47:46

John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas

John Hiatt is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter whose songs have been covered by a wide range of popular artists including Iggy Pop, Paula Abdul and Jimmy Buffet. Hiatt recorded his latest album, Leftover Feelings, with the Jerry Douglas Band. Douglas, who’s a famed producer and session musician, has won 14 Grammys for his solo work and collaborations with a slew of successful musicians. On today’s episode John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas perform three songs off their new album and talk to Bruce H

Sep 14, 2021 • 46:07

Henry Rollins

Henry Rollins speaks with Rick Rubin from Shangri-La pre-pandemic and in full Rollins fashion, the stories just poured out of him. Henry talks about the time he was christened a lead singer by H.R. from Bad Brains, the day he woke up and realized he was done writing music, and why he’ll never be the old guy on stage performing his greatest hits.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear all of our interviews:  https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast and follow us on Twitter @Broken

Sep 7, 2021 • 49:18

Jaden Smith Gets Trippy

Jaden Smith has proved to be much more than just the sum of his famous parents. At 23 he’s spent more than half of his life working as an actor, a musician, and an entrepreneur. Since the release of Jaden’s debut mixtape in 2012, he has gone on to put out three studio albums that loosely follow a semi-autobiographical character named Syre who chases sunsets after a painful breakup. Jaden’s latest album, Cool Tape Volume 3: Day Tripper’s Edition, picks up with Syre’s personal journey—but this tim

Aug 31, 2021 • 53:24

Lukas Nelson: A Star Is Born

Growing up in a family full of musicians, Lukas Nelson was basically raised on stage. He started playing guitar in his dad Willie Nelson’s band when he was just 11 years-old. In 2008, Lukas formed his acclaimed band, Promise of the Real, who’ve also spent the last six years as Neil Young’s touring band. In 2017 Lukas was hired as Bradley Cooper's authenticity consultant for A Star Is Born. Lukas also co-wrote songs on the movie's soundtrack including the unforgettable opening riff of "Shallow."O

Aug 24, 2021 • 41:28

Extended Cut: Brian Eno and Rick Rubin

The Broken Record team has been revisiting some of our favorite episodes and releasing new extended cuts via PushNik, our Apple Podcasts subscription program. Today we’re giving you a taste of what those cuts sound like with the extended, ad-free cut of Rick Rubin's conversation with Brian Eno. This episode was recorded just before the debut of Eno’s Sonos radio station, The Lighthouse, where Eno’s programmed days worth of unreleased tracks from various eras in his career. In this episode we get

Aug 17, 2021 • 1:35:09

Revisionist History vs. The Little Mermaid

This week, we're presenting something fun from Malcolm Gladwell, co-founder of Pushkin. In a special series from his podcast, Revisionist History, Malcolm is launching a massive frontal assault on The Little Mermaid. You might wonder, "what's Malcolm doing? It's a children's classic!" But according to Malcolm, it's not a classic... It's a cinematic dumpster fire. And Revisionist History is devoting no fewer than three episodes to explain why. In the finale, Malcolm enlists an all-star cast to ma

Aug 10, 2021 • 4:53

Daryl Hall The Hit Man

Daryl Hall and John Oates are the definition of Blue-Eyed Soul. After a string of monster hits that stretched from the 70’s into the mid-80s, the RIAA named Hall and Oates the number-one selling duo in music history. And they still hold the record today. But even with that distinction, and the Philadelphia duo’s undeniable chemistry, Hall and Oates have always maintained they are two individual artists. Like an old married couple, Daryl Hall says the duo has managed to stay together for the sake

Aug 3, 2021 • 33:58

Jeff Goldblum Gets Jazzy

Over Jeff Goldblum's 50-year acting career, he’s played dozens of unforgettable roles. Off-camera, Jeff Goldblum is also a surprisingly dedicated Jazz pianist who has been playing in clubs and bars for over 30 years. He’s released two albums with his band the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Their latest, I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This, features vocals from Gregory Porter, Fiona Apple, and Miley Cyrus.On today's episode Broken Record host Justin Richmond and producer Leah Rose talk to Goldblum about

Jul 27, 2021 • 51:07

Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen

Rick Nielsen is best known as Cheap Trick’s lead guitarist and main songwriter. In the late '70s, Cheap Trick helped popularize power pop with their songs “Surrender” and “I Want You To Want Me," which were precursors to the pop punk explosion in the '90s with bands like Green Day and Blink-182. In June, Cheap Trick released their 20th studio album, In Another World that's chock full of Rick Neilsen’s monster riffs that recall their glory days in the 1970s.On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks

Jul 20, 2021 • 33:34

Mark Ronson Finds The Perfect Sound

Mark Ronson's big break as a producer came from working with Amy Winehouse to find the perfect sound for her career defining album, Back To Black. Since then, Ronson has gone on to win an Oscar, a Golden Globe and seven Grammys for producing chart-topping hits for artists like Lady Gaga, Adele and Bruno Mars. Ronson’s sound is often associated with danceable, driving rhythm sections—which makes sense, considering his background as a renowned DJ. In today’s interview with Rick Rubin we’ll hear Ma

Jul 13, 2021 • 55:28

BROCKHAMPTON's Kevin Abstract

BROCKHAMPTON's original members formed after posting on a Kanye West fan message board in 2010, and then started making music in The Woodlands, Texas. Since then, they’ve turned the idea of a boy band on its head. With as many as 14 members at times, BROCKHAMPTON's deconstructed the traditional pop star/rap ethos by being unapologetically inclusive of racial and sexual identities. Today BROCKHAMPTON's frontman Kevin Abstract talks through the group’s sixth and latest album, Roadrunner: New Light

Jul 6, 2021 • 40:14

Archie Shepp: Activist of the Avant-Garde

Archie Shepp is a tenor saxophonist and composer who's spent over half a century contributing to the evolution of Black music. Shepp has long fought for Black musicians to get their fair share of credit, recognition and recompense for their contributions to popular music. Shepp's been considered a leader of avant-garde jazz since the 60's. He's famously played alongside John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, and the great free jazz pianist, Cecil Taylor. But 84-year-old Shepp doesn’t consider the music he p

Jun 29, 2021 • 42:37

Craig Finn Holds Steady

Craig Finn, the lead singer and songwriter of The Hold Steady, is known for his vivid, literary-style songwriting. He often writes about characters going through an existential crisis. The Hold Steady released their eighth album, Open Door Policy, earlier this year. This time around, the Minneapolis-born Finn says his focus is on themes related to the trappings of technology and late-stage capitalism. On today’s episode Craig Finn talks to Bruce Headlam about how the Drive By Truckers inspired h

Jun 22, 2021 • 37:42

Pushkin Honors Juneteenth

At Pushkin, we think of Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect on the past and think about the future: How do we build a more just and equitable society? We strive to make podcasts that help answer that question, and in honor of Juneteenth, we’re highlighting two of them. In this episode, you'll hear previews of our new shows Be Antiracist and A Slight Change of Plans. We hope these episodes inspire thinking and conversation around issues of race in your own lives.You can listen to more episode

Jun 17, 2021 • 27:51

Moby Reprised

Moby may be one of the most highly recognizable dance-music artists of all time, but he’s also a talented multi-hyphenate whose unconventional 30-year career includes massive success as a producer and DJ, and notoriety as an animal rights activist. Moby’s latest project, Reprise, is a greatest hits album that revisits the highlights of his extensive catalogue. Recorded with the Budapest Art Orchestra and various vocalists like Jim James, Moby’s most well known electronic songs are reimagined on

Jun 15, 2021 • 1:00:09

Brian Eno: The Innovator

Brian Eno’s 50-year career is teeming with innovation. He started out playing synths in the early ‘70s as a member of the UK glam-rock band Roxy Music and went on to create an entirely new musical genre—ambient music, and later he recorded a series of solo albums and eventually produced career-defining albums for a host of bands including U2, Devo and Coldplay.On today’s episode Rick Rubin talks to Brian Eno about his new radio station through Sonos Radio HD called The Lighthouse, and his love f

Jun 8, 2021 • 55:26

Liz Phair's Soberish

Liz Phair helped lay the foundation for a generation of fierce, independent artists on her gritty 1993 debut album, Exile In Guyville. Early in her career, she pushed for freedom and creative control, especially for female artists. It's something she’s finally seeing become the norm in the industry. That progress inspired her new record, Soberish where she reunites with the producer of her first two albums: Brad Wood.On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Liz Phair about how her approach to r

Jun 1, 2021 • 46:47

Rhiannon Giddens Comes Home

Rhiannon Giddens is a brilliant fiddle and banjo player who’s one of the few musicians alive today trained in the centuries-old black string band tradition. Giddens is a North Carolina native but now lives in Ireland, not far from her partner Francesco Turrisi. During lockdown, the duo recorded their latest album, They’re Calling Me Home. On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks to Giddens about her decision to write from a cultural point of view rather than her own. Giddens also talks about how

May 25, 2021 • 49:27

Superwolves: Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Matt Sweeney

In 2005 singer Bonnie "Prince" Billy a.k.a. Will Oldham and guitarist Matt Sweeney released the Superwolf album, which has developed a cult following that includes Rick Rubin who absolutely fell in love with the project. Now, 16 years later, they’re back with the follow-up, Superwolves.The new album was five years in the making—a leisurely pace that allowed Oldham and Sweeney to be incredibly intentional with their creative choices. On today’s episode, Rick Rubin talks to Oldham and Sweeney abou

May 18, 2021 • 49:28

Presenting: An Excerpt from The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell

The Bomber Mafia is the new audiobook by Revisionist History host (and Pushkin co-founder) Malcolm Gladwell. It examines the rise of air power, which created one of the greatest moral challenges of the Second World War. In The Bomber Mafia, you’ll hear the voices of the generals, aircraft soaring, and bombs crashing. It is history brought to life through the power of audio. Buy the audiobook at bombermafia.com and receive an exclusive Listener's Guide full of photos and commentary. Print and ebo

Apr 29, 2021 • 10:28

Peter Frampton Forgets the Words

Peter Frampton is a classic rock guitar god who rose to international fame in the late ‘70s with his chart-topping double album, Frampton Comes Alive! Justin Richmond caught up with Frampton recently to talk about his new album of cover songs, Frampton Forgets The Words, that provides insight into his expansive 50-year career. Songs like “Loving The Alien,” a David Bowie song that Frampton says is a tribute to his childhood friend who helped revitalize his career. And George Harrison’s “Isn’t It

Apr 27, 2021 • 36:27

Serj Tankian Talks Toxicity and Activism

System of a Down’s classic Rick Rubin-produced album, Toxicity, turns 20 this year. Released in 2001 one week before 9/11, the politically charged and wildly bizarre album provided the perfect soundtrack for a world descending into chaos. Serj Tankian, the lead singer of System, is no stranger to conflict. His family is Armenian and migrated to Los Angeles from Lebanon to escape a civil war when Serj was seven years-old. Today we’ll hear Rick Rubin talk to his good friend Serj about how hearing

Apr 20, 2021 • 58:07

Andrew Bird + Jimbo Mathus

Listening to Jimbo Mathus and Andrew Bird’s new album, These 13, is like taking a trip down South … a century ago. It’s new territory for Andrew Bird, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist from the Chicago suburbs who’s been a successful indie folk singer/songwriter and also recently acted on the fourth season of Fargo. But for Jimbo, as a Mississippi resident, some of this music can hit too close to home. Surrounded by the ghosts and old battlefields of the Civil War, some songs he finds

Apr 13, 2021 • 34:54

Barry Gibb's Wild Ride

Few bands have experienced such extreme highs and lows as the Bee Gees. Throughout their decades-long career, the band of brothers managed to be both grossly underrated and one of the best-selling acts of all time. Barry Gibb and his younger twin brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb started out in the late ‘50s as a teenaged pop group in Australia. On today's episode Rick Rubin talks to Barry Gibb about how the Bee Gees' impeccable three-part harmony caught the ear of the prominent UK manager Robert

Apr 6, 2021 • 59:27

Merry Clayton Finds Redemption

Merry Clayton is a legendary backup singer who has managed to consistently steal the spotlight. Merry’s journey from a renowned backup singer to a solo artist was documented in the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom in 2013. Almost exactly one year after the film was released, Merry was involved in a near-fatal car accident that resulted in her losing both of her legs. After years of intensive physical therapy, Merry is back and set to release a brand new album, Beautiful Scars.On to

Mar 30, 2021 • 46:55

Marianne Faithfull Fights Back

Marianne Faithfull has been many things throughout her half a century in music—a close confidant of the Rolling Stones, a pop star, a homeless drug addict and a critically acclaimed comeback artist. Despite a career filled with personal and professional turmoil, Marianne Faithfull has always managed to find her footing. Last year, just as Europe went into quarantine, Marianne started recording a series of spoken word renditions of 19th Century Romantic poems scored by Brian Eno, Nick Cave and he

Mar 23, 2021 • 31:29

Valerie June Shines Bright

Valerie June has helped widen the scope of contemporary Americana music. She’s one of few African American women in the category and her unique combination of gospel and Appalachian folk is a shimmering example of what's possible in the roots-music tradition. Broken Record producer Leah Rose caught up with Valerie to talk through her stunning new album, The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers. They also talk about Valerie’s new collaboration with the legendary Stax singer, Carla Thomas, a

Mar 16, 2021 • 47:27

Ziggy Marley Reminisces About Jamaica and His Father

Malcolm Gladwell recently spoke with Ziggy Marley as part of the Live Talks Los Angeles series. Their conversation centers around a book of photographs Ziggy curated called Bob Marley: Portrait of the Legend. Ziggy has gone on to become a reggae icon in his own right and is now an eight-time Grammy winner, a philanthropist, author and keeper of his dad’s legacy along with the rest of the Marley family. Today we’ll hear Malcolm and Ziggy talk about the turbulence in '70s Jamaica caused by two opp

Mar 9, 2021 • 45:19

Mike Shinoda on Beats, Rhymes and Linkin Park

Since forming in 1996, Linkin Park has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Their enormous success mixing genres like hip-hop, metal and anthemic pop was spearheaded by the band’s ultra-talented founder, Mike Shinoda. In this episode Rick Rubin talks to Mike about the albums he produced with Linkin Park that helped redefine the band’s sound. Mike also reminisces about the band’s early inner-personal dynamics. And Mike talks about the community of thousands of followers he's amassed on Twitch

Mar 2, 2021 • 52:52

Kenny Beats + Rick Rubin, Part 2

Since his first conversation with Rick, Kenny Beats’ star has continued to rise. In the past couple of years he has produced songs with Ed Sheeran, Da Baby and Vince Staples. He’s also taken several trips to the UK, and produced over 30 songs with British artists like FKA Twigs and Slowthai. Today, Kenny explains how for the first time in the history of hip-hop, an American sub-genre made its way across the pond to the UK, only to come back to the States in an updated form that is now influencin

Feb 23, 2021 • 41:50

Kenny Beats on the Regional Sounds of Hip Hop

There’s a reason Kenny Beats is one of the great young producers in Hip Hop. Because he has a vast understanding of the regional sounds and histories of cities to pull from when making beats for an artist. This allows him to find a common musical language with rappers. Which is super important in an art form as hyper-local as rap. We’re kicking off a two part series of interviews with Kenny Beats, in the one you’re about to hear which was taped a while back, Kenny maps out the evolution of regio

Feb 16, 2021 • 56:38

Joan Baez

Rick Rubin speaks with the great Joan Baez fresh off her birthday and the announcement that she'll be among this year's Kennedy Center honorees! Joan was known the world over as the Queen of Folk at the height of her career in the 60s. She used her fame to help spread the tenets of the non-violence movement, and was a close ally to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Joan also helped introduce Bob Dylan to the world by giving him stage time at her shows when she was the biggest ticket in town and he was

Feb 9, 2021 • 47:47

Rivers Cuomo on Weezer's New Approach and a Wild Nirvana Conspiracy

Most people know Rivers Cuomo as Weezer’s brilliant, quirky lead singer. But one thing people may not know, is that several years ago, a bizarre conspiracy theory made its way around the Web that Rivers was actually Kurt Cobain. To mark the release of Weezer's incredibly catchy new album, OK Human, Rivers explains to Rick Rubin why the band ditched their classic guitar-based style for an orchestral sound. They also talk about the specific substances Rivers took to write his hit song “Hash Pipe,”

Feb 2, 2021 • 51:12

Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White with Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin connected with Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White to talk about the early days of the band and about their producer, Charles Stepney, who Verdine calls their George Martin. Also Rick reads to Verdine a poignant note from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea about what makes Verdine’s bass playing so special. Earth Wind and Fire are the black Beatles. Their influence simply can't be overstated. You’d be hard pressed to find a wedding or graduation party in the last 50 years where their

Jan 26, 2021 • 46:43

Nas In Conversation with Rick Rubin

Nas dropped one of the most universally loved rap albums of all time in 1994 with Illmatic. Few legends in Hip Hop have been able to maintain their relevance over several decades based on their skill alone. Nas has never chased headlines or crossover success. He’s always seemed focused on elevating his craft and the culture. And that dedication has paid off. King’s Disease is Nas’ 12th album, and earned him his 14th grammy nomination. It’s up for Best Rap album at this year’s awards. Rick Rubin

Jan 19, 2021 • 50:21

Legendary Music Journalist Lisa Robinson

Rick Rubin speaks with friend, pioneering rock journalist, Lisa Robinson about her over 40 year career that's seen her interview everyone from John Lennon to Lady Gaga, from Jay Z to Eminem, and even an 11 year old Michael Jackson. They also talk about her new book, Nobody Ever Asked Me About The Girls. Lisa’s career started in the 1970s when she embedded on world tours with Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. In the decades since, she’s partied with Bowie, dined with Beyonce, and talked throug

Jan 12, 2021 • 50:00

Ben Folds

Singer/songwriter, pianist, alt-rocker Ben Folds has been releasing records since the 90s. Sometimes with his band Ben Folds Five, sometimes solo. In this episode of Broken Record, he connects with Bruce Headlam to discuss the origins of his biggest hit, "Brick," the time Kesha dove into a pool fully clothed to rescue his phone, and the time he unknowingly destroyed a priceless Steinway piano on Australian TV, plus other anecdotes from his memoir, A Dream About Lightning Bugs. Enjoy this episode

Jan 8, 2021 • 53:41

Broken Record Presents: A Musical Episode of Solvable

Mike Dickey is co-founder and chairman of the JackTrip Foundation and the creator of Virtual Studio.The awkward and disjointed experience of making music over the internet is a solvable problem. Virtual Studio is a device that works with the open source software application JackTrip to enable musicians of all ages to collaborate across locations online.Virtual StudioJackTrip Open Source Software ApplicationJamKazam11 Tools for Collaborating on Music Remotely Learn more about your ad-choices at

Dec 24, 2020 • 20:43

Dave Cobb: Nashville's Super Producer

Nashville producer Dave Cobb has earned six Grammys for his standout work with artists like Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile and Chris Stapleton. Over the past 15 years Dave's managed to inject some much-needed soul into country music. In this interview with Rick Rubin, Dave talks about coming up as a session player in Atlanta in the early ‘90s with hip-hop and R&B producers Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin. They also talk about the power of being an outsider, and the value of goofing around in

Dec 22, 2020 • 1:02:42

My Morning Jacket's Jim James

Jim James talks about and performs some songs off My Morning Jacket's The Waterfall 2. The album of holdovers from the band's 2015 album came out in July. Jim explains to Bruce Headlam why these songs finally came out five years after The Waterfall. And other exciting projects the band are sitting on. Plus what it was like to tour with Bob Dylan and Wilco and why My Morning Jacket might not exist if it wasn't for Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection."Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel

Dec 17, 2020 • 50:43

James Blake

James Blake speaks with Rick Rubin about his new Covers EP. Since his debut album in 2011, the British-born James Blake has gone on to win England's top musical honor, the Mercury Prize, and a Grammy. He’s also produced and collaborated with a ton of musicians including Jay-Z, Beyonce, Billie Eilish, and Travis Scott. A few years back in 2016 James flew from England to Malibu to work with Rick Rubin at Shangri-La. They worked together on his third album, The Colour In Anything. As you'll hear in

Dec 15, 2020 • 1:05:19

Pharrell Williams

Rick Rubin connected with Pharrell Williams over Zoom recently to talk through and listen to some of the biggest hits from Pharrell’s illustrious career. They chat about what Pharrell is currently working on (Rihanna!), the French powdered drink mix that helped P write “Get Lucky” with Daft Punk, and why Pharrell thinks he sounds like a sick billy goat on the hook for Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful.” And be sure to check out Pharrell's new podcast OTHERtone - https://link.chtbl.com/brokenrecordSubscrib

Dec 10, 2020 • 49:20

Andrew Watt: Producer on the Rise

It’s hard to believe Andrew Watt is only 30 years old. He's built up an impressive and diverse roster of collaborators over the last five years including Ozzy Osbourne, Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, and Justin Bieber. He’s quietly become one of the biggest producers in the industry … leading to a nomination at the upcoming Grammys for Producer of the Year. Rick Rubin chats with Andrew Watt this episode about getting his start in music interning with the Roots, working with Miley Cyrus on her newest al

Dec 8, 2020 • 1:00:13

Black Pumas

The runway to success was short for Black Pumas. Five months after releasing their debut album in 2019, the Austin-based band was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys. And now, one year later, Black Pumas are up for Album of the Year for the deluxe version of their debut. Guitarist/Producer Adrian Quesada and Singer Eric Burton met at a crossroads in both of their careers. Adrian left his first band, Grupo Fantasma after a successful run, including a years-long mentorship by Prince. Whil

Dec 3, 2020 • 42:07

Jeff Tweedy's Songwriting Master Class

Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy is a prolific songwriter and he's ready to share his secrets. They're all in his new book, How to Write One Song. On today's episode, Tweedy shares some of his techniques with Malcolm Gladwell and explains why songwriting isn't, in his view, a mystical practice but a practical one. And at the end of the episode, he holds his own master class where he breaks down the song "Opaline" from his new solo album, Love Is The King.Subscribe to Broken Record’s YouTube channel to hear o

Dec 1, 2020 • 50:25

Leslie Odom Jr. of Hamilton

Leslie Odom Jr., best known for playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton, speaks to Bruce Headlam about his career on stage and in music and also his new Christmas album. The Christmas Album is Leslie's second crack at a holiday album but his first time not having to do it on a budget. They also discuss Leslie's favorite Christmas music, what it was like playing a Founding Father as a Black Man, and lessons he learned from the incomparable talents of Nat King Cole and Sammy Davis Jr.Subscribe to Broken Re

Nov 24, 2020 • 57:15

Mike Campbell On First Album Post Heartbreakers

Mike Campbell, guitarist, co-writer and original Heartbreaker talks to Rick Rubin about growing up with Tom Petty, working on Wildflowers and about his new album, Wreckless Abandon, with band The Dirty Knobs. It’s the first band Mike’s ever been a part of without Petty - who he started playing with in the early 70’s in Mudcrutch. And it’s the first time Rick’s been able to catch up with Mike since Tom’s passing. They talk about their work together and how the Heartbreakers always managed to find

Nov 19, 2020 • 53:36

Deep Sea Diver

There’s no playbook for successfully releasing music during a pandemic. Especially if you’re an indie artist, the stakes really couldn’t be higher. But Deep Sea Diver has managed to put all that aside to drop a thrilling and relevant new album. While the Seattle-based band’s only recently started to find their place in the indie rock landscape, Jessica Dobson has played in some of the genre’s most defining bands. She toured the world as the lead guitarist for Beck and The Shins, and played keybo

Nov 17, 2020 • 40:37

Sturgill Simpson

Kentucky singer/songwriter Sturgill Simpson was in his mid-30s when he found fame as a country artist in Nashville. He had already lived a full life including a stint in the Navy, and years spent working in Salt Lake City rail yards. His outsider status in Nashville boosted his outlaw appeal. But as time passed, Sturgill began to despise the relentless expectations of the major label system. In true rebel fashion, Sturgill has now taken back control of his career and returned to his independent

Nov 12, 2020 • 53:08

Lenny Kravitz

In the opening lines of his New York Times bestselling memoir, Let Love Rule, Lenny Kravitz writes that he is deeply two-sided. His young life was all about opposites and extremes—black and white. He grew up between his West Indian grandparent’s home in Brooklyn, and his parent’s home on the Upper East Side where he was surrounded by his family’s famous friends like Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. When Lenny was 11, his mother, Roxie Roker, landed a starring role on the iconic sitcom, The Jeffer

Nov 10, 2020 • 56:41

S.G. Goodman

S.G. Goodman turns traditional Southern storytelling on its head with songs that present a deeper, more complex look at life below the Mason-Dixon line. As a queer person who lives with mental illness, she often sings about the social and political change she'd like to see in her part of the country. Goodman talks to Bruce Headlam about her new album, produced by My Morning Jacket's Jim James, and plays some of the songs live from her home in Murray, Kentucky.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube

Nov 5, 2020 • 32:55

Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke has managed to escape the long shadow of her very famous parents, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. She’s made a name for herself, first as an actor in Stranger Things, Little Women, and Tarantino’s latest, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. And now Maya Hawke is breaking new ground as a singer/songwriter. Maya’s debut album, Blush, is an invitation into her vivid inner life. On it, she’s figuring out who she is out in the world alone. The songs are clever, poetic, and raw. They touch on the d

Nov 3, 2020 • 34:39

Carlos Santana & Cindy Blackman

Carlos Santana, along with his wife and drummer, Cindy Blackman got together with Rick Rubin to discuss the 2019 album they recorded together, Africa Speaks, and also to talk about Santana's early days in San Francisco. They discuss how Santana found his unique playing style, his friendship with Miles Davis and more.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes

Oct 29, 2020 • 34:17

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen is a national treasure. Since his debut album nearly 50 years ago, Springsteen has helped define the American working-class psyche through a collection of world-renowned hit songs. In this interview with Malcolm Gladwell and Rick Rubin, Bruce talks about how listening to Born To Run 45 years after it was released made him realize just how good he really is. He also talks about how his Irish and Italian sides physically manifest into songs, and how he recorded his stellar new al

Oct 27, 2020 • 1:01:34

Win Butler

Rick Rubin talks to Arcade Fire's Win Butler on the occasion of the The Suburb's tenth anniversary. The band's third record was their first number one album in the US.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privac

Oct 20, 2020 • 51:17

Benmont Tench on life with Tom Petty

To celebrate the release of Tom Petty's Wildflowers & All The Rest box set, Rick Rubin connected with Heartbreakers keyboardist, Benmont Tench for a conversation. Benmont started playing with Tom back in Florida with a band called Mudcrutch. He stayed with Tom as they became the Heartbreakers, moved to LA, created some of the most memorable music of all time and was ultimately with him all the way until the last Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017. Benmo

Oct 16, 2020 • 34:22

Tom Petty's Wildflowers II with Adria Petty

Tom Petty crafted another of his many perfect albums back in 1994, this time with Rick Rubin producing. Wildflowers was released as a single disc, Petty's first for Warner Brothers. But Petty had always intended for it to be a double record. Those unreleased songs have been the holy grail for Petty fans for years. And now they're finally being released, thanks to the careful work of Tom's daughter, Adria Petty. In this special episode of Broken Record, Rick Rubin talks to Adria about her memorie

Oct 15, 2020 • 57:26

Joe Henry

Joe Henry is likely one of the best living singer-songwriters that you've never heard of. But even if you don't recognize his name, you've probably heard his work. He's been at it for 34 years: having released 15 solo albums, won three Grammys and produced music for the likes of Elvis Costello, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, and his sister-in-law, Madonna. During her cowgirl phase in the early 2000's she turned Joe's song "Stop" - the one you're hearing now - into her hit "Don't Tell Me." Bruce He

Oct 13, 2020 • 48:28

Khruangbin

Khruangbin will tell you they did everything wrong. Gave their band a Thai name, play mostly instrumental music, two members wear wigs, they record in barn ... and yet, they've had a charmed existence since they released their first record almost exactly five years ago. They've crushed the festival circuit, opened up for Wu Tang and found themselves on Obama's summer playlist. Justin Richmond chatted with them about their new album, Mordechai, coming off the road for lockdown right before they w

Oct 6, 2020 • 35:41

Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian

Burt Bacharach is a living legend. He's written hits sung by Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Elvis Costello, Dusty Springfield and so many more. With that kind of a resume, he doesn't need to still be working at 92. But he recently found a new muse in collaborator Daniel Tashian. Daniel just won Album of the Year at the Grammy's for co-writing and producing Kacey Musgrave's breakout, Golden Hour. Now he and Burt have teamed on 5 song EP, Blue Umbrella and have even more songs on the way soon. B

Sep 29, 2020 • 28:29

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Buffy Sainte-Marie tells Rick Rubin there's a reason she isn’t a household name in the U.S. A pioneering artist in the Greenwich Village folk scene, she could've been Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell or Paul Simon. But in the early days of Vietnam when Buffy was singing protest songs about the casualties of war, she was blacklisted by the U.S. government. Her music was barely played on radio. But she still managed to find an audience with her classic songs, like Universal Soldier, which have been covere

Sep 22, 2020 • 55:14

Don Was

Rick Rubin talk to Don was about his early days in Detroit, his time in Was Not Was and his wide ranging career producing defining-albums for the B-52's, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. He also talks about how he became the president of legendary Jazz label Blue Note Records. Plus he explains how he messed up an audition to be in Dead and Co. with Bob Weir and John Mayer.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https:/

Sep 15, 2020 • 49:57

Flying Lotus

Flying Lotus is one of those producers who creates an entire aesthetic world with the music he makes. Over the past 13 years he’s released four solo albums, and produced tracks for a ton of artists including Kendrick Lamar, Thom Yorke, and Thundercat. In this episode FlyLo talks to Rick Rubin about visiting his great aunt Alice Coltrane’s ashram, his peak creative hours, and why he directed a horror movie despite being scared to death by the Thriller video as a kid.Subscribe to Broken Record's Y

Sep 8, 2020 • 42:31

Broken Record Presents: Into the Zone

Into the Zone is a podcast about opposites, and how borders are never as clear as we think. Country? Rap? Lil Nas X’s chart-topping “Old Town Road” revived a long debate about borders and boundaries in American popular music. To sort out this strange history, Hari heads down to the foothills of Virginia, where a legendary collection of blues records holds the key to understanding the insidious separation of “black” vs. “white” culture. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca

Sep 5, 2020 • 43:24

Emma Louise: Fresh Find

In a bonus Fresh Find episode, Bruce Headlam interviews Australian singer-songwriter Emma Louise about having an accidental overseas hit and pitching her voice down so that it's unrecognizable on her latest album.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet

Sep 4, 2020 • 30:40

Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile came by Shangri La last year to talk to Rick Rubin with Tanya Tucker about the album they made together, While I'm Livin'. After Tanya left, Brandi stayed behind to talk about her love of Joni Mitchell's music, how she was present for a star studded jam that led to Joni singing for the first time since her stroke, and also about the beginning of her career, when Rick helped to discover her. Plus, Brandi plays an intimate version of her song "The Mother" for Rick.Subscribe to Broke

Sep 1, 2020 • 45:20

Justin Townes Earle: In Memoriam

Our episode with Justin Townes Earle was scheduled to run next month. But after we heard about Earle's passing over the weekend, we decided to put it out sooner. It's a deeply sad conversation in some places. Especially given his passing. However, it's also incredibly soulful, funny and searching. And the performances, culled from Earle's last release, The Saint of Lost Causes, are brilliant. Bruce Headlam takes the reigns this episode for what's turned out to be a fitting tribute to one of the

Aug 25, 2020 • 37:39

Vagabon: Fresh Find

This week’s Fresh Find, Vagabon, is a self taught, Cameroonian-born musician whose haunting voice and genre defying style has won over critics at both The New Yorker and Pitchfork. In this episode she talks about emigrating from West Africa to Harlem as a teenager, sneaking out of her parent’s house to play D.I.Y. punk shows in Brooklyn, and how bouts of writer’s block can cause her to dream of writing code instead of new music. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo

Aug 18, 2020 • 36:10

Run The Jewels Return!

***Run the Jewels are raw and so is the language in this episode***Killer Mike and El-P return to Broken Record to discuss the creation of their fourth album, RTJ4, and the tumultuous world it was released into. Rick Rubin, who was present during some of the album's recording sessions at Shangri La, digs into the record's production and themes with the duo, calling the message and tone of the album "almost prophetic." They also discuss working with Pharrell and Zack de la Rocha and why they had

Jul 28, 2020 • 1:34:44

Berhana: Fresh Find

Broken Record is bringing you a Fresh Find this week. We discovered Berhana after a key placement in Donald Glover’s show Atlanta. In this episode, Berhana talks about growing up in the real Atlanta, being first generation American born to Ethiopian parents, recording his newest album in Tokyo and how he started earning enough on music to make a living before he ever played a show.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.

Jul 21, 2020 • 33:30

Margo Price

A tornado raged through Margo Price's home-base of Nashville right as she was preparing to release her third album in March. A month later Margo’s husband and longtime collaborator, Jeremy Ivey, tested positive for coronavirus. While taking care of her sick husband and two young kids, Margo decided to push back the release of her new album. Now, "That's How Rumors Get Started" is finally out. Margo's written her way through personal devastation before and does so on the new album too. Although i

Jul 14, 2020 • 56:09

Broken Record Presents: Questlove Supreme with Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin joins Questlove and crew on their Questlove Supreme podcast. They discuss Rick's early Def Jam days, working with the Geto Boys, his process for taking on production work and so much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 9, 2020 • 2:25:22

Broken Record Presents: Aim Higher

Broken Record Presents: Aim Higher — the last episode of Against the Rules Season 2.Can everyone be coached — or are some people beyond help?The transformative power of coaching is put to the test as Michael enlists a coach to help him tackle his greatest fear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 2, 2020 • 45:27

Huey Lewis

Back to the Future is turning 35 and there's no better way to celebrate than a conversation with Huey Lewis who turned in one of the more memorable movie themes of all time: "The Power of Love." The song was a sensation when it was released, propelling Huey Lewis and the News further than even their hit album Sports had. Bruce Headlam talks to Huey Lewis about how this song came together and mines form him some wild stories about his family, upbringing and success.Subscribe to Broken Record's Yo

Jun 30, 2020 • 54:29

Beastie Boys and Spike Jonze

It's been nearly 35 years since the Beastie Boys released their classic debut album, Licensed To Ill. In this candid conversation, Rick Rubin, who started out as the Beastie's DJ, reconnects with Mike D and Ad-Rock. Spike Jonze, who directed the new Beastie Boys documentary, Beastie Boys Story, also sits in and plays moderator. It's been nearly 20 years since Ad-Rock and Rick have talked and like old friends, they jump right into a slew of inside jokes and hilarious memories of their lives leadi

Jun 23, 2020 • 1:02:07

Lucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams is defying convention. While most of her peers have settled into a well worn groove, the alt-country icon just released an album that's way more punk than country. She spoke with Bruce Headlam from her home in Nashville about her evolving sound and how her new album was influenced by politics and an abusive relationship. She also plays a few acoustic versions of her new songs.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: h

Jun 16, 2020 • 35:40

RZA Talks Wu-Tang and Creativity In Quarantine

Rick Rubin checks in with RZA on Zoom and finds out he's been peaking creatively while in quarantine. Their wide-ranging conversation covers RZA's first experiences with Hip Hop, ODB's parkour-like skills as a child, the spontaneity of classic Wu-Tang recording sessions, and how RZA almost gave up all of his earthly possessions to live with monks in China's Wudang Mountains.https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcasthttps://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ww

Jun 9, 2020 • 1:09:28

Revisionist History Presents: The Limits of Power

Malcolm has been writing about race and policing for a very long time, going back to the killing of Amadou Diallo in 1999. Sometimes, it is useful to take a step back and consider policing in a broader context. Here we present a chapter from Malcolm's book David and Goliath, which includes an analysis of a riot in Northern Ireland in 1970. Many miles and many years away. About divisions of religion and class and not divisions of race. But the core questions to be asked in 1970 and 1999 and today

Jun 2, 2020 • 46:33

Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe wrote the classic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" (made famous by Elvis Costello), produced one of the UK's first punk records ("New Rose" by the Damned), and started one of the great independent record labels (Stiff Records). In this episode Bruce Headlam talks to him about producing the first five Elvis Costello records, marrying into Johnny Cash's family and his hilarious first encounter with the great Keith Richards. Learn more about your ad-choices at htt

May 26, 2020 • 50:36

Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell is one of the most important Southern voices in music today. He started writing and releasing his own songs in 2007, after a stint with the Drive By Truckers. Since then has slowly built a catalogue of songs and a resume—which includes a key songwriting contribution to Bradley Cooper's version of A Star Is Born—that should put him on anyone's short list of the best songwriters currently working. Isbell and Rick Rubin met for the first time just before this conversation where they di

May 19, 2020 • 36:08

PREVIEW: Against the Rules Season 2

Previewing the first episode of Against the Rules Season 2 by Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short, The Blind Side):It wasn’t that long ago that coaches were confined to sports. Now they’re everywhere. You can hire a life coach or a death coach, an executive coach, a dating coach, even a charisma coach. Journalist and bestselling author Michael Lewis asks who’s getting all this coaching, and who isn’t? Lewis brings his wry wit and mastery of storytelling to topics as diverse as sports, consum

May 5, 2020 • 45:19

Tame Impala

Rick Rubin talks to Tame Impala's Kevin Parker about his newest release, The Slow Rush, and his creative process. Kevin shares key influences on some Tame Impala songs and also plays Rick a demo for an unrealized song from his voice memos. Then Kevin turns the tables on Rick, asking about his work on Californication and Yeezus, which yields sage advice on record making. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 28, 2020 • 54:06

Drive-By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers play music from and talk about their twelfth album, The Unraveling. The band of Alabamans—represented here by Mike Cooley and Patterson Hood—discuss how the political climate shaped the themes of their latest record. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 21, 2020 • 38:04

Richard Russell on Building the Greatest Indie Label Ever

XL Recordings has released music from Adele, Tyler the Creator, MIA, Dizzee Rascal, Radiohead, The White Stripes, King Krule and many other beloved, boundary-pushing artists. Richard Russell has been with the label since its early days and at the helm since '96. He talks with Rick Rubin about the origin of their friendship, which dates back to the earliest days of XL, and how the label grew from a small electronic label into the greatest Indie of all time. Russell also talks about his career as

Apr 14, 2020 • 54:10

BONUS: David Blaine with Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin, like all of us, has been thinking a lot about fear lately. And few people on the planet understand fear in the same way that Rick's good friend, David Blaine, does. David has made a career of pushing his mind and body to the limit. So Rick thought David might be a great person to talk to about facing fear. Ok obviously this conversation isn’t about music. But it does touch on one of Rick’s other great loves—magic. When he was a kid, Rick studied magic. Since then magic has become so

Apr 9, 2020 • 48:34

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys talks with Malcolm Gladwell via Zoom about her newly released book, More Myself: A Journey and how writing it influenced her upcoming album, Alicia.You can order her book at https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/alicia-keys/.And to find out more about her upcoming album (and tour) you can visit https://alicia.aliciakeys.com/. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 7, 2020 • 54:13

BONUS: Guided Meditation with Jack Kornfield

Rick Rubin talks with his friend, world-renowned Buddhist and meditation teacher, Jack Kornfield. He's long been one of the most influential figures in American Buddhism.He connects with Rick by Zoom to guide him and you through a couple of different guided meditations. A gift for these stressful times.You can find the first of those meditations at 8:00 and the second meditation at 42:32.And if you're interested in learning more about meditation or Jack's work you can visit https://jackkornfield

Mar 31, 2020 • 53:47

Glen Hansard

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, and star of the movie Once, talks to Bruce Headlam about his newest solo album, "This Wild Willing" and how he nearly sampled a Queen and David Bowie jam unwittingly.Find the playlist for this episode at https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 31, 2020 • 33:48

John Legend

During these tough times, Rick Rubin wanted to have a chat with an artist he finds inspiring. Top of mind was John Legend. So he called him up via Zoom, while both were sheltering in place, for a quick chat about his career and the creative process behind two of his biggest songs. Plus they discuss the song Legend is currently obsessed with. This is our first remote recording, so it's a little shorter and a little more lo-fi than usual.Make sure to listen to John Legend's new single "Actions" an

Mar 26, 2020 • 39:57

Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel Rateliff talks to Bruce Headlam about his new solo album, And It’s Still Alright, a deeply intimate project that reflects on the loss of his former producer and good friend Richard Swift. Nathaniel plays songs off his new record and recounts his journey as a musician, starting with his family’s gospel band up until his recent success as the frontman of the critically-acclaimed group, The Nightsweats.Nathaniel Rateliff made an awesome playlist of his favorite songs you can listen to her

Mar 24, 2020 • 32:37

Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir talks to Rick Rubin about why the legendary band was never focused on their studio recordings, and how they were always more interested in seeing where their live shows would take them. Bob also plays a new song from an opera he's writing and tells Rick about a recent dream where he and Jerry Garcia performed a new song that materialized into a room-sized sheep dog.Bob Weir's Jug Band Playlist & our favorite Weir songs: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6K125dako

Mar 17, 2020 • 47:58

Esperanza Spalding

Bassist, songwriter, and composer Esperanza Spalding sits with Bruce Headlam to discuss her latest work and the opera she’s writing with the legendary saxophonist Wayne Shorter. They also discuss why Esperanza shies away from being labeled a prodigy, what it’s like jamming at Joni Mitchell's house, and how, despite her improvisational approach, she’s so much more than just a jazz musician. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for pr

Mar 10, 2020 • 51:00

Run The Jewels

Run the Jewels recently took a (smoke) break while working on their fourth album at Shangri-La and taped this podcast with Rick Rubin. Killer Mike and El-P tell Rick about the music that first caught their imaginations as kids, how Run-DMC inspired their philosophy as a group, and who would be the court jester—and who would be a tribe leader—in their post-apocalyptic fantasy world. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in

Mar 3, 2020 • 46:12

James Taylor Comes Clean

James Taylor's voice sounds sweet and carefree. It's a gift that hides the darker side to his lyrics and life. He and Malcolm Gladwell sat and uncovered some of the more troubling moments from his early life in this conversation. James also talks about it in his audio memoir, Break Shot, available now through Audible.They also discuss the beach music scene of the Carolinas and the music that got James interested in music. Some of those tunes are represented on his new album, American Standard. W

Feb 25, 2020 • 53:36

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels: The King of Rock

RUN DMC were the first rap group on the cover of Rolling Stone. The first to go gold, platinum and multi-platinum. They were true pioneers of Hip Hop in the 80’s, releasing classic albums like “Raising Hell” and “Tougher Than Leather” — both collaborations with Rick Rubin. But by the 90s Hip Hop and changed. RUN DMC were struggling to find their way and so was Darryl “DMC” McDaniels. The self-proclaimed "King of Rock" tells Rick that at one point, the only thing giving him the will to live, was

Feb 18, 2020 • 57:21

Robbie Robertson: Leader of The Band and Architect of Shangri La

When Robbie Robertson turned a house perched above a Malibu beach into a home studio in the 1970's, he had no idea it'd remain a refuge for artists decades later. In this episode, Robbie returns to Shangri La—now the home of our own Rick Rubin—to discuss creating the studio, helping Bob Dylan go electric with The Band, writing "The Weight" and collaborating with Martin Scorsese on his films."Once Were Brothers" a documentary about The Band, comes out in theaters on February 21st. Visit https://w

Feb 11, 2020 • 57:42

Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne

Just before the release of his first solo album in over a decade, Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon sat with Rick Rubin to talk about his tumultuous career that's spanned five decades. Friends since the early '80s, they discuss the early days of Black Sabbath, Ozzy's first encounter with his late guitarist Randy Rhoads, and how blown away Rick is by the power of Ozzy's voice at 71 years old. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for

Feb 4, 2020 • 45:18

Booker T of the MG's: Time Is Tight

Booker T. Jones—as leader of Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Stax record's house band—helped popularize the sound of Southern soul music. Working alongside Stax legends like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Albert King and more, his finger prints were everywhere. He details it all in his new book "Time Is Tight: My Life, Note By Note." He sat with Bruce Headlam in Brooklyn to discuss his time at Stax, including some of the great songs he had a hand in writing, and about his incredible career

Jan 28, 2020 • 49:09

Broken Record Presents: Slow Burn - Biggie and Tupac

Broken Record brings you Season 3, Episode 2 of the podcast Slow Burn. Season 3 is focused on the murders of rap legends Tupac and Biggie. This episode of the series dissects a time in the 1990s when rappers pushed America to confront police brutality—and police claimed rap lyrics were turning black listeners into cop-killers.Listen to more of this season and series at https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s3/biggie-and-tupac Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c

Dec 27, 2019 • 30:24

Bowie, Jazz, and the Unplayable Piano

Broken Record presents an episode of "Cautionary Tales": Bowie, Jazz and the Unplayable PianoIt was the biggest concert of Keith Jarrett's career - but the pianist was in for a shock when he entered Koln's opera house. The only piano at the venue was a broken-down wreck. Should he risk humiliation and play anyway or simply walk out? The collaboration between pop superstar David Bowie and arch disruptor Brian Eno offers a lesson that staying in your comfort zone isn't always the best option. Lea

Dec 20, 2019 • 31:50

Brittany Howard Goes Solo

Lead singer of the Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, talks to Rick Rubin about making her first solo album, Jamie. She shares a never before heard demo from the album and talks about her high school band days, The Shakes first live show, and how she's overcome serious bouts of writer's block with just about every project she's ever released. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 19, 2019 • 28:57

Andre 3000 and Rick Rubin In Conversation

Andre 3000 opens up to Rick Rubin in one of his most candid interviews ever. He talks about the early days of OutKast, how he first found his voice, how his mental health diagnosis has been both a blessing a curse, why it’s so hard for him to write new material, and why he would rather perform at flea markets these days than sold-out arenas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 17, 2019 • 46:44

Bon Iver's Past and Present

Justin Vernon and producer Chris Messina from Bon Iver, discuss the new album "i,i" with Rick Rubin. Listen as they bond over their love for remote recording spaces, the importance of self care while making music, Justin’s love for the Indigo Girls, and how the ‘90s cult classic TV show Northern Exposure helped inspire the creation of Bon Iver. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 12, 2019 • 34:41

FKA Twigs Heals with Magdalene

FKA Twigs and Rick Rubin dive deep into the creative journey that lead to Twigs’ stunning new album, Magdalene. They cover the physical and emotional trauma that inspired the album, how she found solace in the brilliant musicians she collaborated with on the record, and how FKA Twigs’ tireless attention to detail led her to make some of the most exciting music of her career. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati

Dec 10, 2019 • 40:57

Flea: Acid For the Children

Flea sat with Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his newly released memoir, "Acid For the Children," for the very first live taping of Broken Record! The book is a journey through Flea's childhood: from Australia to the seedy streets of 1970's and 80's Los Angeles to the earliest incarnation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea brings his book to life in this intensely intimate conversation about his friendships with bandmates Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak, the LA of his childhood and picks up the bas

Dec 3, 2019 • 1:10:24

Norah Jones Begins Again

Norah Jones sits with Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam at The Bridge Studio in New York to talk about — and play through — her latest album, Begin Again. The album is the result of a new way of working in the studio that's invigorated her. She discusses this new process, working with Jeff Tweedy and Danger Mouse and more! Oh, and her voice and playing are angelic.Visit: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ for more episodes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Nov 26, 2019 • 41:52

Leonard Cohen's Legacy with Adam Cohen: Thanks for the Dance

Leonard Cohen died three weeks after releasing his last record, You Want It Darker, in 2016. It was the first album he worked on with his son, Adam. In mourning, Adam turned his attention to poems of his father's that he recorded while putting that last record together. He then decided to set those poems to music. The result is Leonard Cohen's new album, Thanks for the Dance. Adam talks with Rick Rubin from Shangri La about his father's musical legacy, family life and how this album came togethe

Nov 19, 2019 • 46:18

The Black Keys: Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney join Rick Rubin at Shangri La to talk about their first tour in five years, scalpers screwing fans out of tickets, their new album—"Let's Rock"—and play some never before heard songs from their vault. Visit https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ to listen to our playlist for this episode Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 12, 2019 • 42:47

Brandi Carlile & Tanya Tucker

Brandi Carlile grew up adoring Tanya Tucker for her rebellious spirit. But it's that same nature that almost derailed Tanya's comeback album, "While I'm Livin," co-produced by Brandi. Tanya quit the album multiple times during its making. Leaving Brandi no choice but to summon Rick Rubin to help right-ship. You'll hear this story and tons of great road stories from one of country music's living-legends and one of its fastest rising talents. Here's Brandi, Tanya and Rick from Shangri La in Malibu

Nov 5, 2019 • 1:08:12

Rex Orange County Is Major

Rick Rubin sits with 21 year old British songwriter Rex Orange County to discuss his major label debut, "Pony." While Rex is still mostly performs solo on the record (aside from some expert bass playing by Pino Palladino and some vocals courtesy of his girlfriend), the album is a departure from the DIY sound that earned him his following on his early, self-released records Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information

Oct 29, 2019 • 36:11

Wyclef Jean Goes Back To School

Wyclef Jean, who's had solo hits and with the Fugees, and produced hits for Destiny's Child, Shakira, and Carlos Santana came back this year with a new project, "Wyclef Goes Back To School." Every song is a collaboration with college-aged musicians—his way of giving back but also appealing to a whole new generation of kids. Host and producer Justin Richmond \talks to Wyclef about his latest effort, about his childhood in Haiti, moving to the U.S. and reflects on his own childhood listening to th

Oct 22, 2019 • 52:01

Yola's Walk Through Fire

After years honing her craft in the UK Yola finally lands with her beautiful album, "Walk Through Fire." Produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the album combines classic country, soul and rock and roll. Bruce Headlam talks to Yola about her journey to this album. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 15, 2019 • 37:51

Tyler the Creator

Tyler, the Creator spent three days this summer in Italy with Rick Rubin. At the end of the three days they sat down to record a conversation about Tyler's new album, "Igor". They play through some tracks off the album and Tyler even plays some piano. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 8, 2019 • 32:24

Jack White & Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs

Jack White and Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs play through some songs off their new record, "Help Me Stranger" and talk with Malcolm Gladwell from Jack's Detroit home. Rick Rubin joins by phone. Jack talks through his theory that references to modern technology don't work in modern Rock and Roll, what they've picked up as a band by living in Nashville, how perfect performances can sometimes be unconvincing, the songwriting process on the new record & more! Learn more about your ad-choices

Oct 1, 2019 • 57:59

Broken Record Season 3 ... Is Coming!

From Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record Season 3: Coming to your podcast feed on October 1st. Featuring: Jack White, Tyler, the Creator, Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Andre 3000, The Black Keys, Bon Iver, Kenny Beats, the xx, Norah Jones, Glen Hansard and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 17, 2019 • 4:01

In a Metal Mood

A Broken Record/Revisionist History crossover episode on cultural appropriation. The case study is Taco Bell. Oh, and Pat Boone is involved. And so is our old friend, Dave Hill. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 8, 2019 • 39:24

The Return of Vampire Weekend: Ezra Koenig with Ariel Rechtshaid

Vampire Weekend returned this month with their first record in six years, "Father of the Bride". And long before it sat on top of the Billboard album chart, the band's leader, Ezra Koenig and producer Ariel Rechtshaid stopped by Shangri La Studios in Malibu to talk with Malcolm and Rick. Ezra explained how he and Ariel have been laboring over the new album, re-working some songs hundreds of times before finally feeling like they got it right. To listen to the full album, go to https://brokenreco

May 21, 2019 • 49:53

J.S. Ondara: Knockin' on America's Door

Bruce Headlam discovered J.S. Ondara listening to his car radio late last year. And with a great showing at South By Southwest and a spot opening for Neil Young this summer, it seems like the rest of America is  discovering him too. In this episode of Broken Record, J.S. Ondara talks about leaving his native Kenya six years ago for Minnesota — the home of his idol, Bob Dylan — and creating his debut album, "Tales of America". Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.

May 14, 2019 • 25:00

Linda Perry

Linda Perry is one of the only women considered a go-to producer in the music industry.After finding success with her band 4 Non Blondes and their ubiquitous single, "What's Up?" (1992) Perry went on to write and produce for other artists.She’s worked with Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Adele, James Blunt, Britney Spears. And reinvented the careers of Pink and Christina Aguilera.Most recently she wrote with and produced a Dolly Parton record for the Netflix movie Dumplin’ — which earned

May 7, 2019 • 58:49

T Bone Burnett: Perfection Is Second-Rate

T Bone Burnett helped launch the careers of Los Lobos, Counting Crows, Gillian Welch; revive the careers of Roy Orbison and Robert Plant; course-correct Elvis Costello’s career in the mid-eighties and just recently produced a beautiful record by Sara Bareilles. Of course, there’s all of his film work as well. But while visiting Rick Rubin, himself a legendary producer and co-host of Broken Record, T Bone said he has stopped producing other artists. Instead he’s focusing on releasing his own musi

Apr 30, 2019 • 46:00

The Art of A Cappella with Pentatonix

Malcolm Gladwell, along with guest-host, Daisy Rosario, talks with the five members of Pentatonix from GSI Studios in NYC. The quintet, who got their start on YouTube, discuss their approach to arranging a cappella versions of pop songs, writing original music, their collaboration with Dolly Parton and so much more! Pentatonix kick off their summer tour of the U.S. in Oakland this May 11. Go to http://ptxofficial.com/ for details and https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ for a playlist of songs we've

Apr 23, 2019 • 45:04

How To Write a Hit Song: The Love Junkies

Lori McKenna, Liz Rose and Hillary Lidnsey—known as the Love Junkies—write some of the best songs in Nashville today. Between the three of them, they've helped launch Taylor Swift, pushed Lady Gaga into country music—with her album "Joanne"—and gave country music one of its more controversial hits: "Girl Crush." In this episode of Broken Record they give Malcolm a glimpse into their songwriting process and break down some of their more successful songs. To hear a playlist of our favorite Love Ju

Apr 16, 2019 • 41:30

Mary Gauthier

Mary Gauthier is one of the most unique songwriters in Nashville. Forgoing the city's often conventional pop sound, Gauthier's songs are unafraid to probe into what she calls "the extremely personal." Gauthier talks to Bruce Headlam in this episode of Broken Record about getting her start as a songwriter in her 30's and co-writing her last album, "Rifles and Rosary Beads", with U.S. Military Veterans and their families. It's one of Malcolm Gladwell's favorite records of 2018 and here she perform

Apr 9, 2019 • 30:22

David Byrne

Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell talk with David Byrne (formerly of Talking Heads) about protest music: some of his favorite protest songs, the earliest ones he heard, how they affected his songwriting, and what makes them effective. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 2, 2019 • 38:11

Questlove Part 2

Questlove talks about how he got involved with D’Angelo’s Voodoo record, the evolution of his drumming style, how he approaches DJ’ing, and tells the best Obama story ever. Part 2 of 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 26, 2019 • 23:43

Questlove Part 1

Questlove talks about how he got involved with D’Angelo’s Voodoo record, the evolution of his drumming style, how he approaches DJ’ing, and tells the best Obama story ever. Part 1 of 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 26, 2019 • 49:30

Introducing Broken Record Season 2

From Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Arguments. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record: Coming to your podcast feed on March 26th. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2019 • 2:18

Tom Petty and the Creation of “Wildflowers”

For the season one finale of Broken Record, Malcolm Gladwell talks with Rick Rubin about Tom Petty, who died in October 2017 at the age of 66.  Rubin and Petty worked together for two years on his beloved 1994 album “Wildflowers.” Rubin talks about Petty’s writing style, and how half the songs they recorded for Wildflowers ended up on the cutting room floor.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 25, 2018 • 29:21

Dave Hill and the Epistemology of Norwegian Black Metal

Malcolm Gladwell sits down with comedian, guitarist, and legendary metalhead Dave Hill, as he recounts how an email exchange between his alter ego Lance and a Norwegian black metal impresario named Saiitham (pronounced “satan”) led to the formation of the darkest metal band of all time. Dave Hill also performs a mediocre rendition of “Hammer Smashed Face,” plus we debut his single "Are You Ready (to Black Metal)?" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnys

Dec 18, 2018 • 30:13

Rosanne Cash

“She Remembers Everything” is the name of the latest Rosanne Cash album, the 14th of her amazing career. Rosanne and her husband and musical collaborator, John Leventhal, sit down with Broken Record’s Bruce Headlam to play songs from the album, talk about songwriting, her musical family and how “She Remembers Everything” grew out of today’s politics. They also perform cover versions of two American classics, “Long Black Veil” and “Farewell Angelina.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://

Dec 11, 2018 • 36:36

Nashville Revolution: Bobby Braddock, Don Schlitz, and Don Henry

Malcolm Gladwell talks to three songwriters who helped transform country music in the 1970s. Gone were cowboy hats, train whistles and church suppers. In came songs about desperation, loss, changes, and regret that changed how Nashville made music and spoke to a new generation of audiences. Bobby Braddock, Don Schlitz and Don Henry talk about their influences, trade stories, and play acoustic versions of their classic hits. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co

Dec 4, 2018 • 27:32

Rufus Wainwright

Elton John has called Rufus Wainwright “the greatest songwriter in the world today.” Broken Record’s Bruce Headlam sits down with Rufus in Los Angeles, where Rufus performs breathtaking solo versions of his songs “Poses” and “In My Arms” from his earliest albums. He also offers a new song, a lullaby for his young daughter. In conversation, he frankly discusses his crazy early life and the inspiration for his music, his move into opera and his relationship with Leonard Cohen, who is, among other

Nov 27, 2018 • 31:41

Nile Rodgers and Chic

Nile Rodgers, the mastermind behind the disco band Chic and producer of artists like David Bowie, Daft Punk and Madonna, plays live with his band and talks about his life and long musical career in the very studio that was built for him to produce Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” album. Rodgers tells Broken Record’s Bruce Headlam about his chaotic childhood and how it led to his love of musical collaboration, how his love of jazz transformed the music of Chic, and he tells the hilarious story of Prince’s o

Nov 20, 2018 • 25:37

Rick Rubin

Our introductory episode is a conversation between Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell, covering everything from Rick’s role in the very beginning of hip-hop to his role in introducing Johnny Cash to a new generation of writers, performers and music lovers. Rick and Malcolm delve deep into Rick’s back catalogue – which is really a history of contemporary music – to reveal more about the artists that defined a new era, and why they are still vital listening today. Learn more about your ad-choices at

Nov 13, 2018 • 41:48

Introducing Broken Record

From Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Arguments. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record: Liner notes for the digital age. Coming to your podcast feed on November 13th. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 6, 2018 • 3:43

Pilot: Walk on Water

In the fall of 2017, Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, and Bruce Headlam sat down with Eminem and talked about his song 'Walk on Water', featuring Beyonce. That interview became the pilot episode of Broken Record. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 10, 2017 • 13:55