On today's episode I talk to rapper and podcaster Open Mike Eagle. Originally from Chicago, Mike moved to LA where his hip hop career began, first as part of the collective Project Blowed and the trio Thirsty Fish, and later as a solo artist. He's released five albums: Unapologetic Art Rap, Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes, 4NML HSPTL, Dark Comedy, and his latest Hella Personal Film Festival. As a podcaster, he hosts two great shows: an interview one called Secret Skin and an Adventure Time show with John Moe called Conversation Parade! This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to musician Ohal Grietzer. Born and raised in Ashkelon, Israel, Ohal moved to New York in 2001, where she began collaborating on a number of musical projects with people like Tunde Adebimpe of TV On The Radio, Tyondai Braxton, and Kyp Malone's Rain Machine. Her latest album Acid Park is out this month on Styles Upon Styles Records. Separate from her work as a musician, Ohal is also a Palestinian-rights activist, a member of Anarchists Against the Wall, and is involved in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, having recently written an article with Brian Eno urging musicians to support the movement. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode I talk to musician Todd Goldstein. Originally from Boston, Todd started ARMS as a musical outlet for himself when he first moved to Brooklyn. ARMS was put on the backburner though when in 2006 he joined the indie rock band Harlem Shakes. They released one album on Gigantic Music before disbanding three years later, at which time, ARMS became Todd's primary musical focus. He's recorded a number of EPs under the moniker, as well as three albums: Kids Aflame, Summer Skills, and Patterns, his latest, which will be released in June on Paper Garden Records. This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to stand-up and writer Bonnie McFarlane. Bonnie hails from Canada, where she grew up on a small farm in Alberta. An accomplished stand-up, she's appeared on everything from The Tonight Show to Letterman to Last Comic Standing and has her own HBO One Night Stand and Comedy Central Presents. In addition to being the director of the wonderful documentary Women Aren't Funny, Bonnie is also an author, and her memoir You're Better Than Me was recently published by Anthony Bourdain's Ecco imprint. (And it's quite fantastic!)This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to Peabody Award-winning and Emmy nominated stand-up and writer Josh Gondelman. Originally from Boston, Josh is currently based in New York where he previously wrote for Billy on the Street and currently writes for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. In addition, Josh is the co-author (along with Joe Berkowitz) of the book You Blew It, and his latest comedy album Physical Whisper was released just last month. (And heck is it wonderful!)This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to writer and actor Dylan Marron. Dylan is a Drama Desk-nominated writer & performer based in New York City. He is the voice of Carlos on the hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale and the co-creator and performer of Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite, a 17-character middle school talent show, in which he and Jo Firestone play every role. Dylan's also an ensemble member of the New York Neo-Futurists, as well as the creator of Every Single Word, a video series that edits down popular films to only feature the words spoken by people of color.This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to musician Larkin Grimm. A descendent of the Brothers Grimm themselves, Larkin grew up in a monastic order called The Holy Order of MANS. Spending her childhood in rural Georgia, Larkin eventually earned a scholarship to Yale, which she attended on and off for many years, using the intervening sabbaticals to travel all over the world. At Yale, she met Dave Longstreth and became a member of Dirty Projectors for a time, and after began recording music on her own, which includes four albums: Harpoon, The Last Tree, Parplar and Soul Retrieval.This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to musician Scott "Spiral Stairs" Kannberg. Scott grew up in Stockton, California where he met his childhood friend and future bandmate Stephen Malkmus. Along with drummer Gary Young, the two formed Pavement in 1989, and went on to release five albums and a number of EPs, eventually becoming one of the biggest indie rock bands of the time. After the band broke up in 1999, Scott went on to record two albums as The Preston School of Industry and one album under his own name. He is currently finishing up his latest as-yet unnamed record, which is his first in seven years.This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.

On today's episode, I talk to TV writer Curtis Gwinn. Originally from Chicago, Curtis grew up in the suburbs outside of New York City, eventually finding his way to UCB. There he became a teacher and performer, and co-founded the team Death by Roo Roo, one of the best improv groups to come out of the theatre. His first professional jobs included writing for The Man Show and Human Giant, and from there he went on to co-create the Adult Swim show Fat Guy Stuck in Internet. Since moving to Los Angeles, he's written for NTSF:SD:SUV, The Walking Dead, The Leftovers, The Bastard Executioner and the forthcoming NTSF spin-off Filthy Preppy Teen$.This is the website for Beginnings, subscribe on iTunes, follow me on Twitter.