brothers before others

Dana's about to turn thirty and feeling it! Luckily, Hayley Williams and Paramore are here to help her through it. We talk about emotional resonance, growing into a band, and the disconcerting and cool "Caught In The Middle" by Paramore.

Pedro Tejeda is a Queens cat, and he grew up with a strong appreciation for New York rap. Noreaga's classic cut Banned From TV features some of the illest lyricists of their day, a hot beat, and at least a dozen unforgettable bars.

Leila del Duca draws comics for a living, and when she needs a break from our traumatic political situation right now, she goes to "The Chariot," by The Cat Empire, a song about finding new ways to fight and making sure you have a good time.

The artist Morgan Jeske is fascinated by several aspects of "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" by The Talking Heads. It's composed of non-sequiturs, but the resulting openness makes the song intensely relatable. Let's dig in.

Erika Schnatz is an illustrator and designer, and she makes a compelling case for Smash Mouth's "All Star," often seen as a punchline, being a really endearing and enjoyable song. You know what? She's right.

David Brothers delivers a solo Speakertalks, as he discusses how Kid Cudi's "Soundtrack 2 My Life" and music in general helps him navigate through depression. Hip-hop saved his life.

Leonard Cohen's "Tonight Will Be Fine" has been there for Raf Gaitan right when he needed it. Raf digs into the subtle ways songs affect us and why Cohen was so good at being blue in this episode.

Jonathan Chan grew up playing tennis at a high level, and when he needed a push to energize his career, he turned to one song from one man: MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Join us for a trip down memory lane...

Kelly Kanayama discusses the finer pleasures of Trina, especially on the song "Look Back At Me" with Killer Mike. Which foods make the best sex metaphors? Can any man ever measure up to Trina's expectations?

Julian Lytle explains the gospel of Heartbreak Drake through the lens of Drake, Jorja Smith, & Black Coffee's "Get It Together," from the album More Life. What's up with house and rap music? What kind of storytelling wave is Aubrey on?