Figure Eights: A Music Podcast

Join me as I talk with my first-ever band, Standard Thompson. Mike Hjelden, Loren Files, and I look back on forming the band 30 years ago, moving to the Twin Cities, smashing instruments, hanging out with Keanu Reeves, and even having a gun pulled on us. And, of course, there were the petty arguments, a nine-year friendship abyss, revolving drummers and eventually finding our way back to each othe...

Join me as I talk with Tyler, lead vocalist and songwriter of the great new Chicago band Trash Kickers. They’ve put out one of my favorite albums of 2026, Way Out, Somehow. Catch them this Thursday at Pilllar Forum, making their Minneapolis debut as they open for my band, High on Stress. Do yourself a favor and check out their record—and come see them Thursday!

Join me as I talk to producer, Sean O' Keefe about his music career, freak gardening accidents and more. Fun talk! Sean O'Keefe is an American record producer, mixer, and engineer based in Chicago , Illinois, United States. O'Keefe is best known for his work with Fall Out Boy , Hawthorne Heights , Til Morning and Plain White T's , and has also worked with artists such as Motion City Soundtrack , [...

Join me as I have an in depth, deep conversation with Kellii Scott from the band, Failure.  Kellii Scott is the drummer for American alternative rock band from Los Angeles Failure .  During the 90’s they  played countless live shows around the world and were revered as one the preeminent bands on planet earth. Sadly we would see the band break up in 1997.After Failures break up Kellii Scott became...

Join me as I talk to Caitlin Cary about her life, Whiskeytown, solo career, visual art and so much more. Really enjoyable chat. https://www.caitlincary.com

I’m joined by Ira Elliot, the incredibly entertaining drummer for indie rock heroes Nada Surf. We talk about "Popular," working with Ric Ocasek, what it's like living in different countries than your bandmates, and much more. Great guy. Great drummer. Great conversation.

David Markey is a resilient and resourceful filmmaker who has sustained a truly independent career in the shadow of Hollywood and against the backdrop of corporate America for over four decades. As a self-taught filmmaker and musician, Markey brings together underground music, experimental cinema and contemporary culture in a direct and insightful way. His unique take on pop culture and sometimes...

I'm back! Check out this mini episode filling you in on what's been happening over the last year. New interviews coming soon!

Join me as I talk about the making of the song "Tethered". It was written by Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum / Golden Smog / the Scarlet Goodbye) and I. Nick Leet - Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar Dan Murphy - Vocals, electric guitar, bass, keys Chad Wheeling - Electric guitar and backing vocals Mark Devaraj - Drums Kayla Wheeling - Backing vocals

Get a first listen of my new solo album "Detours" along with some stories behind the songs. Album is available on the High on Stress Bandcamp page this Friday, May 2nd.

Join Nick as he talks to Peter Jesperson.  Topics include: discovering and managing the Replacements, Twin Tone Records, Oarkolk, New West Records, Curtiss A, Slim Dunlap, board games with Tommy Keene and so much more. Great talk!

Join me as I speak with author, Madeline Bocaro, about her book "In Your Mind - the Infinite Universe of Yoko Ono." Madeline also write the Sparks Fan Club Newsletter! 

Join me as I chat with one of the great rock drummers of today, Jon Wurster. We talk about punk rock, cleaning windows, comedy, Ryan Adams, Tommy Keene, being in the right place at the right time and so much more. Great talk!

This week on the Figure Eights Podcast! I talk with Rebecca Sorensen and Katy Vernon about the Morningside After Dark event. Rebecca founded the event 13 years ago with the late, great Laurie Lindeen. We also pay tribute to Laurie. Morningside After Dark is an arts event in Edina, Minnesota that features musicians, artists and writers performing their works in the Edina Morningside Church basement...

Join me for my conversation with Laurie Kaye. She takes me through her life, career, interviews with Mick Jagger, David Bowie, George Harrison and Paul McCartney, cultiminating with her interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono at the Dakota in NYC on the day of John Lennon's death. Great conversation on a deep and sad topic.

Join me as I chat with award winning filmmaker, Don Hardy. We talk about his new music doc, "Linda Perry - Let it Die Here." It's a fantastic and courageous documentary. We discuss legacy in a disposable culture, living in the moment, taking chances and work results vs self worth. It's a great episode. Hope you dig it as much as I did.

Up and coming band alert! Check out my conversation with Alex Fuller from the rock band, Pullstring. We chat about their formation, influences and their brand new record, "Out with the Old." Oh yeah, lots of the Replacements talk in this one. Check out their band. They are fairly new and they rock like you remember rock to be.

Join me as I chat with Steve Bowman (Counting Crows / Third Eye Blind / the Bittersweets / Luce). We talk about opening for Bob Dylan the Rolling Stones, playing on David Letterman and SNL, working with animals, teaching and more. Nice guy. Tune in!

Join me as I chat with Jim Brunzell (Director of the Sound Unseen Film Festival). Movie Maker calls Sound Unseen  "One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World." The festival is a unique, cutting edge "films on music" festival that started in Minneapolis 25 years ago. We discuss his upbringing, upcoming festival guests, John Doe, Linda Perry and more and I also learn that his dad was a WWF/WW...

Join me for the 4 year anniversary episode as I talk with Lisa Umbarger (the Toadies). We talk about her time in the Toadies, touring in places like North Dakota, her parents hanging out with Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor, the ghost of tour buses past, podcasting and the reasons why the Toadies made the kids sad...

Join me as I talk to record producer/engineer, Steve Fisk. As a musician, he has been in bands such as the instrumental alternative/indie rock band Pell Mell and the electronic band Pigeonhed . He has long been associated with the Pacific Northwest music scenes recording such artists as Nirvana, Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, Unwound, Ben Gibbard, the Wedding Present, Beat Happening and much more!...

Matt Keating is a fantastic songwriter from New York City. We talk about his solo career, Steve Earle, living near the World Trade Center, opening for the Cranberries and ummmm…DAVID BOWIE! You can catch him on Thursday at the Driftwood in MPLS with his band “The Bastards of Fine Arts”. Great guy and fun conversation.

Blake Smith returns to the show and brings along his co-conspirator, Rick Ness. Join us as we talk about coffins, weird shows, unimpressed bartenders, Minneapolis, Oasis and the great yacht rock fall out.  Fig Dish will reunite for two sold out shows next week in Chicago. They are also putting out their previously unreleased third record, "Feels Like the First Two Times." Always a pleasure to dish...

Join me as I chat with Dakota Shakedown about their history as well as their brand new album "We All Spin Together". We talk about run ins with Keanu Reeves, getting played during the Super Bowl and the night that Night Ranger sent them down a dark path.

Join me as I chat with Twin Cities radio icon, Brian Oake. We cover a lot of topics including the ups and downs of the radio industry, the band that changed his life, the greatest concert he's ever seen and the joys and occasional downsides of interviewing musicians. Great chat!