The Women in Vinyl Podcast

Maria Rice is one of the busiest professionals in the vinyl game. She’s worked with Bon Iver, Superchunk and restored many of the Numero Group albums which are not only critically acclaimed, but have also received three nominations for the Grammy award "Best Historical Album". Her remastering work also includes the 2018 reissue of Blondie's Heart of Glass. She’s been an active member of the Record...

Today we’re talking with a legend in record pressing, a trailblazer, and disruptor, the amazing and unapologetic Heath Gmucs. He is the founder of the coolest effects in custom vinyl, Wax Mage Records. Most everyone is familiar with his records, even if they’re not completely familiar with the person that makes them! In this episode, we’re talking about making records, making space, making those s...

On this episode, Jenn and Robyn are joined by industry legend Jeri Heiden, co-owner of Smog Design who has been the artistic visionary behind some of your (and our) favorite imagery gracing the covers of record jackets, cassette J-cards, CD packages and box sets. Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac, to Dio, Van Halen and more she’s worked to conceptualize the albums of so many musical legends. From moving...

I just got a reversible jacket for Christmas… I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Dad jokes for days! In this episode, we’re breaking down all things print and packaging. From different kinds of labels, sleeves and jackets, to OBI strips, hype stickers and all the weird things you can stick inside a jacket or epic box set. Learn how art and packaging choices can set a release apart, or better un...

On the 1s and 2s Jenn and Robyn are joined by DJ Monalisa, who brings us to one of the functional areas of vinyl. Monalisa takes us through her origin story, vast collection and shares insider info about being a vinyl DJ. We talk about the pandemic, and how some DJs have started to utilize Twitch to stay connected and fresh in the midst of these strange times. We chat about different technical asp...

On this episode Jenn and Robyn track down a vinyl unicorn, Brianna Orozco, Press Operator and Supervisor at Memphis Record Pressing. Get ready to smash some plastic, and get right into the actual nuts and bolts, or stampers and moulds, of record pressing. We talk about center labels, stampers, PVC, vinyl weight, quality control and everything in between. Brianna has done almost every job at the pr...

On this week’s episode, Jenn and Robyn welcome Katy Clove, friend of Women in Vinyl, and Production Manager for Merge Records. Merge has been the home of The Mountain Goats, Spoon, Arcade Fire, M. Ward, Superchunk and Dinosaur Jr (just to name a few). Hot on the heels of some tweets from Tyler the Creator, we thought it might be time to have a realistic chat about the state of the vinyl industry....

Episode Eleven - Elsie Chadwick, Stamper Discs Our first international visit! The lovely, charming and super diplomatic Elsie Chadwick, from Stamper Discs in Sheffield, UK joins us to offer her insider knowledge on all things electroplating and making stampers! Elsie tells us about her new journey into the industry from her previous life in hospitality, and being the sole female in her facility! J...

We've hit double digits! In this latest tech talk, Jenn and Robyn tackle the real science-y part of record making…. plating.  Playing with chemicals to create the metal parts used to press your records. We talk 1-step, 2-step and 3-step. We talk mothers, fathers and how that all relates to smashing plastic. Different methods, new science, sustainability and learning how to read and write backwards...

In between the RSD drops for 2021, we’re able to grab some time with our friend Lisa Foster, of Guestroom Records in Louisville, KY. A former communications and intersection of music and culture professor who made the pivot into the wild world of record store ownership. We talk everything from the pandemic, collections, misogyny, misconception, and the 2%, to why we actually appreciate the Crosley...

Take 2! The much anticipated second part of our Tech Talk, with Jett Galindo Women in Vinyl board member and mastering engineer at the Bakery in Los Angeles. We resume our conversation about mastering, lacquer and lathe cuts, industry legends, WAVs and all things vinyl! You’ll be a bit lost if you haven’t checked out Part One, so go on... we’ll wait! Thank you to Witch Prophet for the use of her b...

All the little chicks with the vinyl lips, go Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Rocks!  This week, Jenn and Robyn are joined by the multitalented Ren Harcar of Gotta Groove Records, in … you guessed it.. Cleveland!  Ren has been working as the only female QA technician at Gotta Groove for the last 3 years! She candidly talks about her role in Quality Assurance, as well as her journey getting into the vin...

In this week’s episode, Jenn and Robyn are joined by WiV Board Member - Jett Galindo, to talk lacquer cutting and mastering. Jett is one of the mastering engineer’s at The Bakery in Los Angeles! She is one of the hardest working women in the record business, and graciously joins us to talk everything about lacquers, lathes, mastering and the sorcery that is half speed record cutting. We talk about...

In this episode, Jenn and Robyn are joined by Caren Kelleher, who turned in her Silicon Valley street cred for the wild world of record pressing in Austin, Texas. Caren walks the walk of the Women in Vinyl mission, and we couldn’t be more excited to share her story, wisdom and constant forward thinking. We discuss weird records, rock boxes full of ticket stubs, cancelled first dates, the pandemic...

Tech talk returns, with the second part of Vinyl 101.. with Vinyl 101.2! In this episode we’re finishing the side, on all the unanswered questions that we accumulated for Vinyl 101. We’re answering your questions about picture discs, and all the other lesser than audiophile collectibles in the vinyl sphere, including flexie discs, filled records and X-Ray records too! We touch on Scientology, Disn...

This week, Jenn and Robyn speak with the legendary Lisa Fancher. Brains and brawn behind the groundbreaking Frontier Records, who just celebrated their 40th anniversary (COVID style). We talk starting a label, not knowing what you’re doing, just knowing you want to do it differently than it’s being done already, Suicidal Tendencies, Circle Jerks, RUSH and everything in between! We volunteer WiV Al...

In this first technical episode, hosts Jenn and Robyn - give you a basic anatomy lesson of a record. Talking about the physical markings and basic elements that make up a record. Learn the industry jargon, technical, not so technical, reasons and history behind materials, sizes and speeds. Thank you to Dark Time for the wonderful featured track, Peluso Microphones for making us sound amazing, and...

Welcome to episode one of the Women in Vinyl Podcast with your hosts Jenn D'Eugenio and Robyn Raymond! This conversation is centered around what it means to have the role of a buyer or distributor in the vinyl record industry. Our special guest is the very groovy Amanda Schutzman who works with over 100 record stores on a weekly basis. Please remember to support your local record store, subscrib3...