The Well

LeVar Burton is an actor, producer, director, writer, podcaster, and education advocate. In this segment of WHATRYADOIN’, LeVar shares with us his thoughts on representation in fiction, his memories of his friend and fellow advocate Fred Rogers, and why the Holodeck will one day be realized. For more information about LeVar and everything he’s doing, check out his website here . Links...

In the wake of murder of George Floyd, and the national outcry that has followed, Branan and Anson discuss the importance of listening and taking accountability. Yes, this is two white guys trying, very clumsily, to talk about racial justice in our nation. We ask for your patience because this is, embarrassingly, a little new for us. The documentary about James Baldwin entitled “I Am Not You...

American author and journalist Jack Hitt returns for part 2 to speculate upon a post-corona world. Topics include how what we hoard says about us, how nature is enjoying a quiet respite from us noisy humans, what is an essential worker, the end of cruising and the return of outdoor theater. 

Jack Hitt  is an American author. He is a contributing editor to  Harper’s ,  The New York Times Magazine , and  This American Life .  In this episode Jack sits down with Anson and Branan to look into their crystal balls and speculate upon what a post-corona world may look like, Jack suggests a John Prine song as our new national anthem and Branan is attacked by an animal on air! Mentioned i...

David Waddell is CEO and Chief Investment Strategist for Waddell & Associates. He also plays a mean guitar and has a knack for distilling the complex maze that is our national economy down to an easily digestible form. Which is a good thing given that Anson was a theater major and Branan studied “Fine Arts”. Dave also explains what he learned about the Chinese economy while spendin...

Jonathan Meiburg (from TWP004 and TWP005) returns as our first ever return guest. We check in with Jonathan who is staying very productive under lockdown producing two albums for his two bands  SHEARWATER  and  LOMA  while editing his first book about the evolution of his favorite South American raptor –  the striated caracara . Among other topics discussed: The unsu...

Actor Ryan Robbins tells us what it’s like to battle COVID-19 and why we need to take this seriously.

We’ve all probably heard one or two good country music stories. Well, Brad Paisley is about to raise the bar. For more information on Brad’s music, charities and everything else, check out his website . For more information on Lou Barlow’s music and adventures, make sure to check out his highly entertaining website .

In our new segment, we’re calling folks to see what they’re doing to stay creative during the coronavirus lockdown. Brad Paisley kicks us off by telling us about how his charitable, free grocery THE STORE was open only two days when the virus took hold in the US. Now he’s figuring out how to get the food TO the people who need it. You can find out more about Brad’s music an...

Anson and Branan come to you straight from Anson’s Connecticut property where they are literally quarantined from one another. Join us for a deep dive into the history of pandemics and the mystery of viruses. You can find out more about Carl Zimmer and his book “A Planet of Viruses” here . You can see the preview for the film “The One I Love” (2014) here . It is avail...

Branan opens class in the School of Hardcore with the help of author Michael Azerrad, and Anson shares his adventures in Vietnam. You can find Michael Azerrad’s book “Our Band Could Be Your Life” here . You can find Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven” here .

Anson shares stories from his trip to Portugal. Branan and Anson share what’s making them excited in the worlds of film, TV, books and podcasts. Anson pours some port and Branan tells the amazing story of “The Port Loophole”. NOTE: Listen and find out how you can become a co-producer of an upcoming episode (which involves helping him to not die on a deserted island).

What happens when reality doesn’t meet your expectations? Hilarity ensues. Always.

Michael and Anson go back a while, but it’s also been a minute since they’ve seen each other. Two friends analyze the odd truths that come with age; then Michael discusses his relationship to fear, and how meeting that fear head-on through music has led him to greater growth and happiness. You can find Left on Laurel’s first album “Saved By The Ground” on iTunes or by...

Branan shares his adventures in Greece, he and Anson share what they’re reading and listening to this autumn season, and they catch up with Leon “The Martini Samurai” Ingulsrud. If you’d like to learn more about the Greek island of Delos, there are many resources on line including this article and the Delos museum website . Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s book BEHAVE helps us u...

We did it! We have a title for our weird little, between-season installments. Thanks to Mee Chang and to Bogdan Orlic for helping us find it! Mentioned in this episode: Sebadoh’s official site can be found here . You can order “A Canticle for Lebowitz” here . And you can learn more about Walter M. Miller, Jr. here . You can order “The Animal Dialogues” here . You can...

Anson and Branan bring Season 2 to a close and tell you about everything that’s making the excited in the worlds of music, movies, anime and more. AND… they need your help with naming the episode. Listen to find out how you can become a creative member of the team!

Anson asks Branan to delve into his father’s mysterious past, a request which leads our hosts into a discussion about aging, the vagaries of the unconscious, and the incredible power of responsibility. Now call your dad. Episode links: Radiolab’s amazing episode “What’s Up, Doc?” Travel Light by Jason Shaw is provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license .

Many years ago, Anson saw a photograph on Jake’s wall. It was a young Mick Jagger sitting next to an eight year old boy. When Anson asked if the boy was Jake’s younger self, he only got a one word answer: “Yeah.” Fifteen years later, Jake finally shares the story of how that photograph came to be on his wall and the heartbreaking childhood surrounding it. “Treated Aco...

Our species cannot comprehend the time and distances inherent in interstellar communication. But noone understands this conundrum better than astrobiologist Douglas Vakoch. A year and a half after our first interview we catch up with his METI project to find out what it is like to dedicate one’s life to the longest term project in the history of human endeavor. Episode Links: METI Georgina Torbet...

Our species has always wondered if we are alone in the universe, Douglas Vakoch is an astro biologist beginning a multi-generational endeavor to finally answer this question. Episode links: METI Georgina Torbet Doritos  commercial link

Branan tries to get to the bottom of the Synesthesia phenomenon with help from painter Melissa McCracken and neurologist Dr. Robert Algar. Their conclusion? Maybe we all have synesthesia!

Melissa McCracken is a painter living in a parallel dimension to ours: her synesthesia fills her world with colors and other atypical sensory experiences. She tries to explain what this world is like and in doing so reminds us all of the importance of communication, tolerance and patience. Please take a moment to review her work here:  www.melissasmccracken.com

Rock legend Alice Cooper shares a surprising and touching story about one of the most interesting connections ever to come out of Hollywood: his friendship with Groucho Marx; and about how their respective work wasn’t all that different.

Most people know Alice Cooper as the original Shock Rocker and a foundational pillar in the house of Metal. But few know that his journey into sobriety involved replacing one addiction with a new and more healthy one: golf. At 71 years of age, having played more courses than almost anyone alive, Cooper still plays 6 days a week and once even considered going pro. Join Anson as he picks the decapit...