What happens when the guy who wrote “Everything Is Awesome” for The Lego Movie sits down with The Dangerous Ones in 2024, when nothing feels awesome anymore? Oscar and Grammy-nominated songwriter Shawn Patterson joins us to talk about his unexpected journey from cult comedy and cartoon scores to writing one of the biggest earworms in pop culture. From childhood piano plinking to a seat at the Oscars, Patterson walks us through the surreal highs and weird industry lows that come with success in Hollywood.

But this conversation goes deeper than music. Patterson is also a fierce pro-democracy voice who brought his scoring talents to The Lincoln Project during the 2020 election and isn’t afraid to rage against the machine or the Mango Mussolini currently dismantling democracy. We talk art, activism, messaging, and why real change happens when people stop shouting and start listening to their neighbors. This one’s got everything: fame, fear, fascism, and a never-before-heard demo of “Everything Is Awesome.” Buckle up.