Short Takes

Legendary should only be used sparingly, but in this 2021 episode of Short Takes, the legendary musician James McMurtry joins host Blaine Duncan and talks about his new album, songwriting, feeling empowered, disturbing parts of life, whom he finds frightening, and what's done up real good for him. Short Takes is produced by The Alabama Take. Find more at The Alabama Take .

Either you love him or you love to hate him: from 2021, it's the ESPN and SEC Network host and commentator Paul Finebaum in the guest chair. In the episode, Paul discusses how hectic things can get both in the off season and during the season, how he maintains his schedule, his excitement for the 2021 football season, what college football love says about the South, why he could get angry, mainten...

From a 2021 episode of Short Takes, it's Anissa Latham joining the show. If you don't know Anissa, there's still a good chance you've seen her videos. The filmmaker talks about her work with the Birmingham-based production It's a Southern Thing; her short documentary Missing Magic, which was screened at AFI this year and is now streaming on PBS; what she finds uplifting and depressing about Alabam...

In this 2021 episode of Short Takes, it's a true wonder of a musician, an excellent songwriter, and a pleasure to meet, Wanda Wesolowski. She sits with the show to converse about a variety of things, including an upcoming live recording that you can be a part of, an excellent reply to Instagram stories, queer love in Alabama, , beginning music at age twelve, busking in Huntsville at age fourteen,...

In this audio re-release, it's comedian, writer, all-around-roustabout Drew Morgan's appearance from the first season of Short Takes. In the discussion this week, Drew Morgan talks why he loves Trump, advantages of a small town, weird stories from touring, what laws he would enact, and what's done up real good for him. Find Drew and his antics in these places: https://www.drewmorgancomedy.com/ Fin...

In 2021, many of us still huddled in specific areas. It was a time when 'Short Takes' went digital and in this episode, some of those topics arise with author Tessa Fontaine. At the time, she had released her fantastic nonfiction work ' The Electric Woman: A Memoir In Death-Defying Acts' only several months before. Here lies an entertaining bit of insight on Tessa Fontaine, writer of the note-perf...

In this 2021 interview, host Blaine Duncan has an in-depth conversation with the musician and frontman for The Pine Hill Haints Jamie Barrier. Jamie discusses recording music live, his favorite city to play, what provokes humans to create art, the existence of ghosts, the afterlife, and what's done up real good. Find The Pine Hill Haints and their release from 2021 here: https://www.singlelock.com...

Back in 2021 in the first season of the talk show and interview Short Takes, Blaine sat down with a fantastic musician when Matt Patton (Model Citizen, Dexateens, Drive-by Truckers, and more) joined the show. Back then, Matt took some time to discuss the possibility of some Model Citizen tunes, what band practice is or is not for the Truckers, his work with Dial Back Sound, the upcoming Williamson...

Blake Williamson is a Birmingham native, a musician, and the former drummer for Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires. Though 2021 was a different era for everyone, Blake's still one of the most fun people on planet Earth. In this episode, he talks his music with his brother, Adam, which was just coming out that summer under The Williamson Brothers. Blake talks about extroversion, what people don't...

Patterson Hood is a celebrated musician, songwriter, and co-founder of the American rock band Drive-By Truckers. Born in Alabama and a notable figure in both Georgia and Oregon, Hood's career has spanned multiple decades, beginning with the formation of his band in 1996. Renowned for his poignant lyrics that explore the complexities of Southern identity and American life, Hood has received widespr...

Brian Oliu, the author and poet, graces the airwaves from 2021 in a re-release of a heartfelt conversation. This episode of Short Takes gets into the intricacies of creativity, as Brian shares his unique perspectives on writing that veers away from the traditional English class fare. He and host Blaine Duncan reminisce about their friendship, which blossomed over shared experiences in the literary...

Host Blaine Duncan welcomes the ever-charismatic Dave Hill to the show, marking a delightful milestone as he interviews a guest he had no prior connection with. Dave, a multifaceted comedian, musician, and author, brings a unique blend of humor and insight, sharing captivating stories -- mostly hilarious, very few gross. The two dive into the nuances of social media, with Dave candidly discussing...

John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, dives deep into the complexities of race and familial legacy in the latest episode of Short Takes. As he discusses his memoir, 'Shaking the Gates of Hell,' he reflects on his father's role as a minister during the civil rights movement, grappling with the nuances of silence and accountability in the face of racism. The episode offers...

Taylor Hollingsworth, a Birmingham-based musician, takes center stage in this engaging inaugural episode of Short Takes, where he and the host dive into the essence of creativity and the struggles of being an artist in today’s world. They reminisce about their time in the vibrant music scene of Alabama while tackling the ever-relevant question of what it truly means to create and share art. Taylor...

Welcome to the audio version of Short Takes! Listeners may be familiar with the show from the YouTube series, but now it's also as an audio only format as well. Enjoy past episodes and look for new ones! Follow in your favorite podcast app!