The Hardest Podcast to Podcast

Hello. Nice to meet you. Let's shake hands! In 1998, Dave Buick approached Jack White with an idea to produce a single for the White Stripes. Italy Records would go on to release the band's first two singles, playing a significant role in the early days of the group. Dave and Ryan discuss the origins of Italy Records, the release history of "Let's Shake Hands," and the impact the song would have t...

Jack and Meg found an incredible way to avoid signing over the rights to their music, all while honouring one of their biggest influences, Captain Beefheart. It's a party on the podcast this week as Hotel Mira's Mike Noble and Dead Summer's Nate Prevedoros join Ryan to discuss one of the heaviest songs in the White Stripes' catalogue. Their cover of "Party of Special Things to Do" was a shining ex...

It's the White Stripes' breakout hit. Just 110 seconds of fury, 'Fell in Love With a Girl' captures Jack and Meg at their catchiest, creating one of their most explosive songs amid the frantic, stressful environment they built for themselves at Easley McCain Recording in February 2001. Ryan and Strombo discuss George's connection to the White Stripes, from following the band since their debut albu...

Jack and Meg loved Bob Dylan. And with the White Stripes' future still unknown when they recorded their first album in 1999, it made perfect sense to include a Dylan cover on the record. Jack Riedy and Ryan discuss this early White Stripes track, which was being performed live as far back as the summer of 1998. They explore Dylan's impact on music and on the band, and trace how the song evolved li...

Are you finding it harder to be a gentleman every day? That's okay, it happens to the best of us!  Ryan is joined by Toronto musician Marlon Chaplin to discuss one of the countless standout tracks off 2001's White Blood Cells. They dive deep into Jack White's lyrics and word play, and Marlon points out how Meg White's unique drumming gave the song a whole new life and vibe. Marlon Chaplin performs...

Ryan starts and ends the episode recording live from Third Man Records London! 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues perfectly encapsulates the White Stripes and the chaos of their final album, 2007's  Icky Thump. Brett and Ryan sit down to discuss one of Jack and Meg's loudest tracks, and really look at how differently Jack White approaches the acoustic guitar compared to the electric. They chat ab...

The White Stripes recorded and released their cover of "Walking with a Ghost" in December 2005, fourteen months after Tegan and Sara's 2004 album So Jealous was released, with the song chosen as the album's first single. Ryan chats with Sara Quin about the origin of her song, the inspiration behind it, and how it became one of their biggest songs to date. They also discuss the direction the band w...

Effect and Cause is the final song on the White Stripes' album Icky Thump and, subsequently, the final song of the band's album discography. Ryan and Discord discuss the song's clever wordplay and the underlying story Jack is trying to tell about being in a relationship where two people are not at their best, though one person possesses some self-awareness. They also discuss the parallels between...

"Nobody sang the blues like Blind Willie McTell." Jack White said it best, and in late 2000, the White Stripes released an amalgamation of two of McTell's songs, "Lord, Send Me an Angel" and "Ticket Agent Blues." Ryan and Courtney discuss the song, Blind Willie McTell's influence on Jack and Meg's music, and the White Stripes' ambitious tour of Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. Courtney also prov...

After receiving an invitation to an exclusive event featuring Jack White at Reverb in Chicago, Ryan hopped aboard a red-eye flight, made his way to Goose Island, and did what we've all been waiting more than a year for him to do: ask Jack White to be a guest on the podcast. Ryan is joined by the podcast's assistant editorial producer, and his wife, Amanda, to talk about the whirlwind trip to Chica...

The Denial Twist was the third and final single from 2005's Get Behind Me Satan and the final White Stripes music video directed by Michel Gondry. Ryan and Josh discuss the demo recordings of the melody and piano riff captured on Jack White's handheld tape recorder, whether the song felt incomplete according to Pitchfork's review, and how the music video sparked the next chapter in the friendship...

An interesting track off 2001's White Blood Cells, "Offend In Every Way" tells the akward teenage story of not being able to fit in anywhere while battling with imposter syndrome. Ryan and Kyle have a lively discussion about the themes of this song, how it works more as a diary entry of Jack White's younger life, and not a tale written in retrospect.  Kyle Rosse is the host of the ' Hey Smiling St...

One of the biggest and loudest White Stripes songs, and its about slowly becoming more and more like your partner! Ryan and Mike discuss this fantastic track off 2007's Icky Thump that took more than 15 tracks to record the album version. It immediately took on a life of it's own live, and both the White Stripes and Jack as a solo artist loved playing this song. Mike Noble plays bass in Hotel Mira...

Jack White's guitar playing can be summed up in two eras: before "Ball and Biscuit" and after "Ball and Biscuit." Ryan is joined by author and guitar historian Brad Tolinski to break down one of the White Stripes' defining songs. Jack and Meg finally took their shot at the blues, and the result was nothing short of monumental. Together, they explore, at the time, the band's unofficial rule against...

We've got money, and a little place to fight now. Rob Harvilla joins the show to discuss one of the White Stripes' biggest songs and most memorable music videos. Stuck all the way down at track 9 of 2003's  Elephant , this song absolutely explodes off side 2 while Jack White tells the story of a young child who just can't find their place in a new family. Rob Harvilla hosts the incredible podcast...

Next week's episode and additional bonus content is currently available to our monthly backers at  Patreon.com/hardestpodtopod The silly and adorable finale of 2003's Elephant is full of whimsy, colourful lyrics, and accusations of abusing painkillers! Brothers Matt and Charlie Kerr join Ryan this week to discuss the only The White Stripes song that featured someone other than Jack White and Meg W...

He'd like to hypnotize you on the telephone... Ryan is joined by Dwight live in his backyard hammock as they discuss this fast and furious deep cut off 2003's Elephant. They discuss the original origin of the song, how they test drove a potential studio with this track, and it's short life as part of the White Stripes' live set. Editor's note: I was incorrect, Jack White WAS in The Hentchmen, play...

Ryan is joined by Ben Blackwell to discuss one of the White Stripes' biggest singles and share his experiences with the band as they wrote and recorded 2005's Get Behind Me Satan. Whether it's spilling the literal beans on the band's order at Xochimilco in Southwest Detroit, or how an A-list celebrity could have graced the vinyl cover of Get Behind Me Satan, Ben provides amazing insight into this...

Truth Doesn't Make a Noise needs to make MORE noise. An outstanding track that doesn't get nearly enough love! Gigi and Ryan discuss this album cut from 2000's De Stijl , comparing the Dutch art movement to the album it was named after. They explore the emotion behind the track, analyze the lyrics, and examine its influence on Jack White 's later career. Listen to  Gigi Marie 's new single Used To...

Jack and Meg pay their respects to Dylan with this deep cut b-side and live show staple.  Ryan and Kaylie discuss this Dylan cover, it's storied live history, and how the band covering a Dylan song from '98 even impressed Nardwuar! Kaylie Russell is a musician and graphic designer based on the south coast of British Columbia. Hosted and produced by Ryan Schaap Artwork: Catlin Likely Assistant Edit...

We'll you're pretty good sounding, for a song. Ryan and Adam sit down to discuss the first track off of De Stijl. They dive into the catchy hooks and the approach Jack White took to wrting the melody. They discuss the lyrics through 2025 eyes and ears, and wonder what the real story is behind that trendy American remix... Adam Vennendaal performs in the great band Girlfriends and Boyfriends based...

One of the most rambunctious songs off "a very brave record," or so the critics phrased it. "Red Rain" is one of the wildest songs in the Stripes' catalogue. The second-last track off 2005's Get Behind Me Satan , it's a loud, blistering song dripping in slide guitar, Meg's heaviest beats, and Jack's voice, hoarse from telling off the dishonest people around him at one point in time. Listen to Nate...

It's important to remember that Rude Rick runs the southwest side of Detroit. Ryan and Matt discuss an absolute banger of a White Stripes track: the bombastic tapestry that is Red Death at 6:14. They discuss the creation and structure of the song, the possible story behind the lyrics, and the unbelievable story of the distorted voice that starts the track. Recorded as an encapsulation of the early...

Have we discovered the sister song to Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground? Hotel Mira's Mike Noble joins Ryan to discuss the fourth and final single from 2003's Elephant. "There's No Home for You Here" is a standout track, capturing Jack and Meg's sound and their approach to songwriting while breaking many of the rules the band had followed on previous albums. While the song was the fourth single fro...

Seven Nation Army has been streamed over two billion times and chanted by millions at sporting events around the world. The song has entered the pantheon of folk music, and it all began at a soundcheck in Melbourne, Australia, with a disinterested Ben Swank. Steve Bays joins the show to discuss one of the most recognizable songs of the last quarter century. As an artist who also wrote some giganti...