Super Awesome Mix

A voice can be an instrument, a mirror, and sometimes a battlefield. That’s the ground we cover with actor-singer Winter Andrews aka the “indie sorcerer”—as we trace how mimicry, rhythm, and empathy shaped both his acting and his music.  From being moved by Regina Spektor’s allegory in Samson to discovering the strange peace inside Hozier’s Shrike, Winter opens up about the songs that taught him t...

What happens when the feature isn’t just a guest, but the gravitational force that reshapes a song’s destiny? This week, we go back to Season 3, and Matt and Sam dive into 12 tracks where the featured artist is bigger than the headliner and map the creative ripple effects—from credibility boosts and audience crossovers to subtle vocal weaves that change how a story is told. It’s a tour through hip...

It's new music for the month of October!  Jenn Tully fills in for Sam again this month alongside Matt Sidhom.  Together they built a mix that moves from David Byrne’s question-rich groove with Ghost Train Orchestra and Hayley Williams to Florence and the Machine’s roof-raising declaration of ambition, with plenty of discoveries and nostalgic detours in between.  We kick off with What Is the R...

From guitar virtuosos to vocal powerhouses, Matt and Sam's "Women Who Rock: Volume 2" showcases twelve artists who represent the extraordinary breadth and depth of women's contributions to rock music. St. Vincent (Annie Clark) kicks things off with "Los Ageless," her scathing take on Los Angeles culture wrapped in irresistible guitar work. Meanwhile, Kate Bush's...

What happens when you search for songs with the word "fall" in the title? A musical journey spanning decades, genres, and emotions that will surprise you at every turn. Matt Sidhom and Sam Abousalbi dive deep into twelve tracks united only by a single word, uncovering fascinating stories behind each song. Did you know Tom Petty's iconic "Free Fallin'" was initially re...

Matt and Samer dive deep into twelve remarkable artists who've successfully bridged the entertainment divide. From Justin Timberlake's smooth transition from boy band heartthrob to serious dramatic actor, to Carrie Brownstein's seamless movement between indie rock and sketch comedy, these performers defy the notion that you must choose a single creative path. The episode explores un...

The musical landscape of September 2024 unfolds like a treasure map of sonic discoveries as Matt Sidhom and guest co-host Jen Tully navigate through twelve diverse new releases that defy easy categorization. They kick things off with the track, "Everybody Scream," from Florence and the Machine's upcoming sixth album, which creates a space where women don't have to "be quie...

This week's Mixtape Rewind goes to our most downloaded episode of all-time.  Our countdown of bullpen closer entrance songs. The bullpen door swings open, and suddenly the energy in the stadium shifts. A familiar song begins to play, and everyone knows what comes next – the closer is about to take the mound. Baseball's most pressure-packed moments have their own soundtrack, and in this e...

From garage band beginnings to arena-filling superstars, Blink-182's three-decade journey through pop-punk represents one of music's most fascinating evolutions. Matt and Sam dive deep into the band's remarkable transformation through twelve carefully selected tracks that showcase their musical growth, shifting themes, and enduring cultural impact. Sam guides us through Blink-182&ap...

Britpop was more than just a musical genre—it was the soundtrack to an entire generation's coming of age. Our guest Mark Jennings opens up his musical time capsule to share twelve tracks that defined not just the movement, but pivotal moments in his own life. The mix takes us chronologically through Britpop's evolution—starting with Oasis's thunderous "Rock and Roll Star"...

The August heat hasn't stopped an incredible wave of new music from washing over us this month. From jazz-soul fusion to K-pop dance anthems, our final summer mix of 2025 captures the season's last vibrant moments. John Batiste opens our collection with "Big Money," showcasing his extraordinary talent for blending genres while maintaining that distinctive New Orleans soul.  Cha...

Movie soundtracks have given us some of the most unforgettable songs in music history, from Adele's haunting "Skyfall" to Seal's unexpected hit "Kiss from a Rose," we explore twelve iconic songs that made their mark through cinema. What happens when legendary artists create music specifically for the silver screen? We dive into Bruce Springsteen's approach to &qu...

Songs Matt and Sam once couldn't stand somehow became some of their favorites—a weird musical paradox that deserved its own mix. The Stockholm Syndrome Mix takes you through twelve tracks that initially made them cringe but eventually earned permanent spots in our playlists. What exactly causes this shift from hatred to devotion? As we discovered, it's partly due to relentless exposure—h...

Twenty-five years after the world braced for Y2K, we're celebrating our 99th mixtape with a journey through the musical landscape of 1999 – arguably one of music's most transformative years. From Latin pop explosions to hip-hop revolutions, this episode captures the diverse soundscape that defined a generation. The late 90s represented a unique cultural moment when music discovery happen...

Matt and Sam share their carefully curated selection of new music for July, featuring unreleased Bruce Springsteen tracks, genre-bending collaborations, and high-energy summer anthems. Apple Music:  https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/sam-new-music-july-2025/pl.u-z6lXtGxoYJ • Bruce Springsteen's "Unsatisfied Heart" from his newly released Tracks 2 collection, featuring seven previou...

This week's Mixtape Rewind takes you back to our first Intro mix ever, when Matt introduced Sam to Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam's music walks a fascinating tightrope—raw, energetic rock paired with profound, often dark storytelling. This episode takes you on a journey through their three-decade evolution, perfect for both newcomers and longtime fans wanting a deeper appreciation of their artistr...

Dive into the musical journey of a true American legend as Matt and Sam explore the extraordinary career of Stevie Wonder. From his groundbreaking beginnings as "Little Stevie Wonder" at Motown Records to his status as one of music's most influential figures, this episode celebrates the artist who transformed popular music across six decades. The hosts trace Wonder's remarkable...

In this week's mixtape rewind, we revisit our motivation mix from the start of 2023, still able to get you going for your 2025 goals.   The motivation mix takes listeners through different facets of achievement, starting with Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat" and its message about releasing your inner fire. We explore self-confidence through DJ Khaled and Drake, persistence through co...

Matt and Sam are back with their June new music mix, where nostalgia meets innovation in unexpected ways. The blurring of entertainment worlds takes center stage as we discover Post Animal's "Pie in the Sky," featuring Stranger Things actor Joe Keery who returned to his musical roots after the show's filming wrapped. This happy rock anthem sits alongside Maiah Mancer's hau...

Music possesses an almost magical ability to transform our emotional state, and nowhere is this more evident than with songs deliberately crafted to elicit joy. On this episode of Super Awesome Mix, we're returning to a favorite theme with Pure Joy Mix Volume 2, featuring twelve tracks scientifically engineered to boost your mood and put an irresistible smile on your face. We've structur...

The first few minutes the audio might get choppy but it's fixed for the majority of the episode afterwards! Apologies for that. The moment Tori Norman Castillo quit her Wall Street job from an LAX terminal after attending the Grammys, she knew her path forward would be different. As co-founder of Kelzana Artist Management, she's now revolutionizing how musicians build sustainable careers...

In this week's Mixtape Rewind, we revisit our new music mix from May of 2023.  Durand Jones immediately transports listeners to the golden era of soul with vocals that would sound right at home on classic Stax Records. Meanwhile, Foo Fighters return from tragedy with "Rescued," a song that not only references the loss of Taylor Hawkins but features Dave Grohl returning to the drums...

From Lorde's triumphant return to The Doobie Brothers teaming up with Mavis Staples, May's releases signal the perfect start to summer's soundtrack. "What Was That" by Lorde kicks off what many are calling a "Lorde summer," with the New Zealand artist returning to the sound that made her famous. Her stripped-down, melodic approach to examining a relationship&apos...

What twelve songs would sustain you if you were stranded on a desert island for the rest of your life? Matt Sidhom finally reveals his carefully curated Desert Island Mix—a musical journey that offers surprising insights into his life, memories, and what matters most. The mix opens with deeply personal selections: his wedding dance song Dave Matthews' "So Damn Lucky" and George Stra...

From the moment we hear those first notes blaring through stadium speakers, something magical happens. Baseball's walk-up songs do more than just fill empty space—they transform ordinary at-bats into cinematic moments, creating instant connections between players and fans. Matt and Sam dive into the fascinating world of MLB entrance music, exploring how these brief musical snippets reveal pla...