The Midlife Critics Podcast

The pleasant breezes of #FreshCuts Vol. 62 wash over Burke Wasson, Wellington Davis, Steve Strait, and Nathan Ferrell. We discuss opening the window (man!), hard times in America, creepy dudes who may or may not be in Steely Dan, a surprise proggy middle section, a hairy old man in a speedo, a Canadian sidebar, the evolution (for better or worse) of Marcus King, sounding like The Beatles, and conf...

Wellington Davis and Nathan Ferrell join Burke Wasson to talk about our Songs of the Week in #FreshCuts Vol. 61. We get into the genre-bending nature of this week’s songs. Nathan and Burke talk about finding meanings for songs, even if the songwriter didn’t intend that meaning. They also relate to some of these songs more than they realized. Wellington and Burke say what we think of Adele, which h...

Our songs of the week for #FreshCuts Vol. 60 are an ethereal trip of heaviness and funk. They’re also maybe a sign that we need to slow things down a little bit. Burke Wasson is joined by fellow Midlife Critics Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, and Wellington Davis to talk all about our songs. We talk life, social issues, and humorous bullshittery. It’s a good hang with great music. Dig it! If you enj...

On this episode, Steve Strait and Wellington Davis join birthday boy Burke Wasson to break down The Midlife Critics’ Songs of the Week for #FreshCuts Vol. 59 (links and song list below). We marvel at a Record Store Day exclusive elected as our #1 song of the week. We contemplate air guitar, making a bumper sticker about one of our fellow critics, and ponder how to get a former Southeastern Illinoi...

This week's #FreshCuts Songs of the Week for Vol. 58 are a treasure trove, a secret stash, and a collection of all kinds of musical genres. We go further out there this week than we have in the past. Burke Wasson is joined this week by Bryan Mosby, Wellington Davis, Steve Strait, and Nathan Ferrell. We get into the songs, make some predictions and give some reveals on future #FreshCuts, and Mosby...

In this immersive episode (with tons of episode info below!), Burke Wasson is joined by Bryan Mosby, Travis Boots, Steve Strait, Nathan Ferrell, and Wellington Davis to discuss the wildest Songs of the Week yet for #FreshCuts Vol. 57. Mosby and Burke kick off the episode talking about adding bonus votes as part of each group member's individual #FreshFour from that week. Lots of prog and jazz talk...

Nathan Ferrell, Wellington Davis, and Steve Strait join Burke Wasson for an engaging talk on our Songs of the Week: #FreshCuts Vol. 56. Wellington and Burke offer relationship advice in our Stray Cuts, Steve and Burke riff on some jazz and ponder a new facial hair style for Bryan Mosby, and Nate and Burke reminisce on lessons that Burke’s mom taught us - as children and as adults. Enjoy the shit o...

In this hybrid episode of both old and new podcast formats, Burke Wasson talks our Songs Of The Week: #FreshCuts Vol. 55 with Wellington Davis, Bryan Mosby, and the return of Jennifer Wasson! This is not one to be missed! Mosby and Burke talk about how people like to be haters, Wellington and Burke nail down the signature sound of The Midlife Critics, and Jennifer is back on her bullshit - and it’...

What happens when life happens and Burke Wasson does the #FreshCuts episode by himself? Find out. Burke shares his pick for album of the year (so far) of 2025, celebrates the group getting into jazz, and reveals a popular band that he's never really enjoyed. Equal parts fanboy and cantankerous bastard, Burke gets it done. #FreshCuts Vol. 54 Songs of the Week Miles Davis - So What (1959)  Cypress H...

For the past month, The Midlife Critics watched 10 movies that most of us hadn’t seen. Nathan Ferrell and Steve Strait join Burke Wasson to discuss. Episode info is below: 0:00-5:32: Intro 5:32-16:02: The Substance 16:02-22:02: Psycho Goreman 22:02-22:42 Strange Darling 22:42-25:37: Burke gets Nate and Steve sidetracked and we talk about Succession: 25:37-28:13: Back to Strange Darling: 28:13-37:1...

Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, Bryan Mosby, and Steve Strait join Burke Wasson to discuss our Songs of the Week and so much more. We discuss Mike McCready being restrained in Pearl Jam in the '90s, engage in some quality Grateful Dead talk, Nate and Burke discuss our favorite late night unwinding albums and the roles in Crosby Stills & Nash, Mosby gives Burke crap for liking one of our Stray Cuts,...

This is a sound experience with songs and discussion. You'll dig it. Every week, we pick songs most of us haven't heard. Out of a record 49 submissions, we have our Songs of the Week with the most votes. Burke Wasson has plenty to talk about with Travis Boots, Wellington Davis, and Nathan Ferrell, who ends the episode sharing his experience as a clown at Long John Silver's in 1998. Dig it. Find Th...

In time for the Facebook group's polls for Saturday, March 8th, Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, and Burke Wasson discuss butt rock. Is there anything more you need? We also get into new nicknames for Kiss and Scott Stapp. And Nate takes this episode to 11, literally. And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps: PayPal at wasson....

Every week, people in The Midlife Critics pick 1 or 2 songs that most of us haven't heard. We vote and then award our top half as our Songs Of The Week. It's a great way to turn ourselves onto music new to us, both from this year and decades ago. Nathan Ferrell and Wellington Davis jump in and out of this episode with Burke Wasson to discuss our Songs Of The Week. You'll also hear clips of those s...

Originally from Baltimore, previously serving in the Coast Guard, and now living in Harrisburg, Illinois, Doug Blimline is a traveled man with a knack for crunchy guitar riffs. HIs 2021 song “[Do I Have] Bad Intentions” recalls the bare-knuckle riffs of AC/DC. Doug talks with Burke Wasson about his path, the music industry and social media in general, how depressed he is to follow the news, and hi...

From Harrisburg, Illinois, Franko Teston is an up and coming craftsman of hooky alternative rock melodies, first with the band Mayfall and now solo alongside friends and bandmates Jake Evans, Garrett Phillips, and Cash Thomas. Franko’s songs are packed with emotion, and his melodies are both fresh and retro at once, owing as much to modern rock as grunge influences. Franko talks here with Burke Wa...

From Carmi, Illinois, to Nashville, Tennessee, Lucas Wayne is making a name for himself in live shows with a breathtaking voice in the high range and a blistering band - The Cottonmouths. With Nate Graham, Tim Whiteford, and Max Senteney backing him, Lucas is carving a path for himself with sweet country songs of everything from Great Value Pizza to abandoned lamps, with plenty of heartbreak and r...

For the first in our ongoing Local Artist Showcase episodes, we have southern Illinois folk singer-songwriter Jonah McGuire. Jonah talks with Burke Wasson about the Harrisburg school band program leading him to develop his songs, which he is also kind enough to pick apart in a very engaging talk. At 21 years old, Jonah is just getting started. His latest EP, Honey I Don’t Love You, can be heard on...

The Midlife Critics' newly elected Grand Poobah Jennifer Bowles Hutchinson joins Burke to discuss her new role in the Facebook group and dive into our top 30 Short Ones (our favorite songs under 2 minutes). And Nathan Ferrell continues his streak of podcast episodes, diving into our new category of polls in the Facebook group - butt rock. What is butt rock? Listen and find out. And Nathan and Burk...

SEASON 3 EPISODE 7: The O.G. (Show Notes Below) 00:00:00: Intro (Burke Wasson) 00:07:22: #FreshCuts Vol. 49 Songs Of The Week (with Nathan Ferrell, Wellington Davis, and Bryan Mosby) 01:24:02: Stray Cuts (with Nathan Ferrell) 01:33:21: #FreshFlicks with Nathan Ferrell (Psycho Goreman, Sweet Darling, Body Double, Heretic) 02:04:31: #FreshFlicks with Steve Strait (The Substance, Sound Of Metal, The...

In a bonus episode, Travis and Burke discuss the star-studded Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary homecoming concert. And then Steve joins us for an in-depth talk on the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominations. Lots of talk. You'll dig this one. And if you enjoy this podcast, you can donate any amount, big or small, to keep it going through the following apps: PayPal at wasson.burke@gmail.com Venmo...

Follow The Midlife Critics private group on Facebook. Subscribe to The Midlife Critics Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts for free, and Amazon Music. Show Times: Season 3 Episode 6: They Not Like Us 00:00: Intro 05:26: Mosby and Burke talk Kendrick Lamar and future Super Bowl halftime shows 19:06: Travis and Burke talk the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame nominees.  29:28-#FreshFlicks: The Midlife Cr...

Travis Boots, Nathan Ferrell, Steve Strait, and Wellington Davis join Burke to discuss our biggest Songs Of The Week yet for #FreshCuts Vol. 47. Nate and Burke close the episode by previewing this year's Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville. But mostly, this episode feels personal, cathartic, and connected. With a lot more sound clips this week! Join The Midlife Critics Facebook private group....

In a historic episode with increased sound clips, Bryan "Ol' Wheeler" Mosby (pictured here) enforces his group tiebreaker status and picks our #1 Dick & Pussy Song Of All Time. Nathan Ferrell and Mosby join Burke for a rousing discussion on our top 50 Dick & Pussy Songs. And Burke breaks down #FreshCuts Vol. 46 with The Midlife Critics' Songs Of The Week. Out of a record number of votes and 40 sub...

THE MIDLIFE CRITICS PODCAST: SEASON 3 EPISODE 3 (Jan. 23, 2025) 00:00: Intro (The Band - Chest Fever)  04:59: #FreshCuts Vol. 45 Songs Of The Week (My Morning Jacket - Time Waited) 18:11: Garth Hudson Tribute/#FreshCuts Vol. 45 Songs Of The Week (The Band - Twilight) 29:17: Riff Of The Week/#FreshCuts Vol. 45 Songs Of The Week (Spiritual Beggars - Magic Spell) 31:43: Our Final Song Of The Week (Je...