My Weekly Mixtape: Music Discovery & Nostalgia

This week, I am joined once again by Jim Loughlin , multi-instrumentalist & percussionist for moe. , to dive into their 14th studio album “Circle of Giants,” including the stories behind the songs “Yellow Tigers,” “Bat Country,” “Giants,” “Band In The Sky,” “In Stride,” Don’tcha Know,” “Ups & Downs” & “Living Again.” We also discuss: a studio recording of “Bearsong” that was recorded d...

This week, Original Counting Crows Drummer Steve Bowman joins me to take a deep dive into the band’s debut 1993 masterpiece, “ August & Everything After ,” including the stories behind tracks such as: “ Round Here ,” “ Omaha ,” “ Mr. Jones ,” “ Anna Begins ,” “ Time & Time Again ,” “ Rain King ,” “ Sullivan Street ” & “ A Murder of One .” We also discuss: the lessons learned from T-Bon...

This week, I’m joined by Ed Toth of The Doobie Brothers to talk about a musical journey that truly comes full circle — from being a kid jamming along to Doobie Brothers songs, to spending nine years as the drummer for Vertical Horizon , to ultimately stepping behind the kit for the very band that inspired him , a role he’s held for more than two decades . We dig deep into Ed’s time with Vertical H...

Today is Vol. 3 of The Ultimate Mixtape , the final chapter in the 100th episode celebration , where I asked 65 different people one question: If you could choose one song — from any genre or era — to be preserved in a time capsule for future generations… which song would you choose, and why? I’ve taken all 65 of those answers and curated them into a fully sequenced mixtape - just like we did when...

My Weekly Mixtape ’s 100th episode celebration continues with Volume 2 of The Ultimate Mixtape — a three-part series built around one deceptively simple question: If you could choose one song — any artist, any genre — to be sealed inside a time capsule for future listeners to discover years or decades from now… what would it be, and why? For this project, I asked 65 past guests, friends of the sho...

This week, My Weekly Mixtape hits Episode 100 , and I'm stretching the celebration across three episodes to build The Ultimate Mixtape . To create it, I asked 65 different people — past guests and the incredible Patreon Mixtapers — one simple question: If you could choose one song — any artist, any genre — to be locked away in a time capsule for future listeners to discover years (or decades) from...

This week, I’m joined by Jason Whissell , host of both the It’s Not That Bad and There Can Only Be One podcasts, to celebrate a specific — and often overlooked — musical superpower: short songs that leave a lasting impact . We’re spotlighting 20 short songs that prove runtime has nothing to do with memorability . These are the tracks that knew exactly when to get in , make their statement , and ge...

This week, I spotlight 10 cover songs released in 2024 that take already familiar tunes and turn them into something fresh, unexpected , and genuinely conversation-worthy . Cover songs have always been a litmus test for creativity — and something I’ve long had a personal affinity for — and in 2024 , artists continued to push reinterpretation in smart , inventive ways. By reworking melodies , resha...

This week, I’m extremely grateful to welcome Paul Williams to the program to dive into two of his classic soundtrack projects: Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas & The Muppet Movie , with the latter including my favorite song of all time: Rainbow Connection . During the sit down, we talk about the stories behind the songs, the performances, the writing processes & working with Jim Henson . B...

This week, we’re taking a step back and looking at the sound of 2024 through the songs that defined it . Joined by DT Carel , host of the YouTube program SpaceCastle , we’re crafting a carefully curated playlist of 20 essential songs from 2024 — tracks that captured the mood , creativity , and musical conversations of the year. From widely celebrated releases to personal favorites that stayed on r...

This week, I’m joined by Leah Jones , co-host of The Struts Life Podcast , as we dive into the best country songs of 2024 and build a playlist celebrating the artists and tracks that defined the year . From breakout hits to under-the-radar gems , we’re spotlighting the new country music that kept the genre evolving — blending tradition , modern production , and bold songwriting . Along the way, we...

This week, we’re turning the tempo way up with a punk rock workout playlist built for maximum intensity . Joined by Patreon Mixtaper Tom Hutchinson , we’re cranking through 20 high-energy punk rock songs designed to keep you moving — whether you’re lifting heavy , running hard , cycling , or just trying to survive that last brutal set . From blistering tempos and shout-along choruses to relentless...

This week, I take a deep dive into six radically different cover versions of Taylor Swift’s chart-dominating hit single “Cruel Summer,” exploring how artists from across the rock, punk, pop, and alternative worlds reinterpret one of the most recognizable songs of the modern pop era. From high-energy punk makeovers to emotionally stripped-down vocal performances , each cover brings something distin...

This week, I’m joined by Kevin Brown , host of The Tom Petty Project , to create the ultimate Tom Petty playlist . We’re taking a deep dive into the songs that defined his legendary career —from the driving rock of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers to his introspective solo work , the early sounds of Mudcrutch , the collaborative magic of the Traveling Wilburys and more! Along the way, we break do...

This week, I’m joined by guest curator Jason Whissell , host of both It’s Not That Bad and There Can Only Be One , for a stripped-down episode celebrating the best acoustic performances of the 1990s . We’re unplugging the pedals , turning the amps off , and revisiting the songs that proved great rock music didn’t need distortion to hit hard . Together, we dig into iconic acoustic renditions and un...

This week, I’m joined by Jay Sweet , my former Tunestiles co-host, along with friend of the show Jimmy Mitchell , as we return to the well for Volume 2 of our Golden Oldies & Doo-Wop mixtape series. Together, we’re curating another nostalgic collection of classic songs from the 1950s and 1960s — an era defined by street-corner harmonies, jukebox romance , and the early building blocks of rock...

This week, I’m joined by Dan Dissinger and Manny Coelho from The Nostalgia Test , and together we’re diving deep into a mixtape celebrating the universal feeling of nostalgia . These aren’t just songs that make us personally nostalgic —they’re songs that are about nostalgia itself , capturing memories of past times , old friendships , first loves , childhood moments , favorite places , and even fl...

Have Mercy! This week, Patreon Mixtaper David Lee Smith joins me to craft The Absolute ZZ Top — a definitive look at 20 songs that capture the spirit , style , and groove of “that little ol’ band from Texas.” With 15 studio albums , countless hits , and fan favorites spanning decades , we carefully curated a playlist that honors both the chart-toppers and the hidden gems that make ZZ Top legendary...

This week, I’m joined once again by legendary songwriter and producer Desmond Child for a deep dive into the stories behind some of the most iconic songs in rock and pop history . From arena-shaking anthems to unexpected chart-toppers , Desmond pulls back the curtain on the creative process behind songs he’s written and co-written with KISS , Bon Jovi , Aerosmith , Alice Cooper , Joan Jett & T...

This week, I’m joined by singer-songwriter ⁠ ZZ Ward ⁠ to explore the stories behind every track on her new EP Mother , released on the iconic ⁠ Sun Records ⁠ label. This EP includes songs that will appear on her upcoming Liberation album, as well reinterpretations of two songs originally recorded for her Til The Casket Drops album: "Put The Gun Down" and "Lil Darlin." We dig into the creative pro...

This week, I’m joined by guest curator and musical powerhouse Emily Wolfe to build a playlist spotlighting the best female rock artists and bands of the 1990s . From grunge to alt-rock , we’re celebrating the women who helped define the decade with bold songwriting, fearless performances, and era-shaping records. We also dig deep into Emily’s 2023 album The Blowback , exploring why she chose to se...

This week, I’m joined by legendary bassist Billy Sheehan of ⁠ Mr. Big for a deep dive into the stories behind some of the band’s most iconic songs. We explore the history of their global #1 hit “To Be With You” (a track that was never meant to be a single), along with fan favorites like “Addicted to That Rush,” “Colorado Bulldog,” “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song),” and...

This week, I’m joined by modern blues-rock guitar icon Joe Bonamassa for an in-depth conversation exploring the stories behind key songs from across his entire discography . We also dig into Bonamassa’s massive collection of over 650 vintage guitars, his approach to volume swells —like the one in the title track of Blues Deluxe , which served as my own introduction to his music—and his unique appr...

This week, I’m joined by Ed Cunard —co-host of Fawkes & Friends —as we curate a karaoke-themed playlist that hits all the right notes. On one side, we break down the most overplayed karaoke songs and clichés we’ve seen over the years. On the other, we spotlight the ultimate karaoke crowd-pleasers : songs guaranteed to spark a sing-along and bring any house down . We also dive into karaoke etiq...

This week, I’m joined by Tony G. , co-host of Podioslave , as we craft the ultimate playlist celebrating the best of Rage Against The Machine’s politically charged and powerful catalog . Even with only four studio albums , a handful of B-sides , soundtrack contributions , and standout live tracks , narrowing it down still wasn’t easy. And, to make it even more challenging, we’ve limited ourselves...