From Cassy: REM is one of those bands that undeniably impacted our generation. Whether their music is your thing or not – it made its mark. But for us this was so much closer to home, both literally and figuratively. They’re so woven into the tapestry of our lives it seems crazy that in a year and a half this is our first REM episode and it was picked by our friend, Jon Phipps, all the way from Jefferson, North Carolina. But this wasn’t just about REM for us. This was about a very special place that made a huge impact on our young adult selves which carried over into all the corners of our lives. This episode is our love letter to Athens. We’re sorry it took us so long. In the end, Jon Phipps was unable to travel into town for the festival and we had to shoot the episode without him. He’s already picked another fantastic record (but you’ll have to wait to find out what it is) and we’re excited to have him on as a guest soon.