Kyle Meredith sat down with John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants in this special Rewind episode to talk about the albums Nanobots and I Like Fun, digging into how the band continues to find new ways to be weird 20 albums in. The Johns discuss the strange comfort fans find in their music during chaotic times, how short songs and dark characters let them explore new creative corners, and why they’ve never subscribed to the cliché rock lifestyle. Flansburgh shares how Jack Bruce’s homemade Mellotron choir helped shape “I Like Fun,” and both Johns reflect on writing about death, dread, and Peter Pan syndrome with equal parts humor and sincerity. Plus: opinions about James K. Polk, writing beats by email, and the eternal mystery of Louisville’s incredible junk stores.

Listen to John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants chat about all this and more. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Luciane Buchanan joins Kyle Meredith to talk about starring in Chief Of War, the epic new Apple TV+ series created by Jason Momoa and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett. Set in 18th-century Hawai’i, the show follows warrior Ka’iana as he attempts to unify the islands just before Western colonization, with Buchanan playing Ka’ahumanu—the queen who helped change Hawaiian history. The Night Agent star discusses discovering her character’s legacy, making a spiritual pilgrimage to Ka’ahumanu’s birthplace, and learning the endangered Hawaiian language for the role. Buchanan also reflects on how the project connects to her short film Mother Tongue, her experience on set with Momoa (and a lot of apple boxes), and the importance of telling these stories from an indigenous perspective.

Listen to Luciane Buchanan chat about all this and more our watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Connor Sherry, Ethan Cutkosky, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and newcomer Philip Fine Schneider join Kyle Meredith to talk about what it’s like playing the next generation of Gilmores in Happy Gilmore 2. The guys get into how they each channeled a different flavor of #AdamSandler’s iconic character, how their off-screen bromance added to the on-screen chemistry, and the unexpected Shakespeare-to-Sandler pipeline. MJF (the wrestler-slash-actor) talks about getting back to his theater kid roots, while Connor and Ethan reflect on how producing and directing has shaped their approach to acting. And they absolutely explain why they keep calling Sandler “Daddy.” It’s chaos, it’s heart, and it’s hilarious — all with Kyle Meredith steering the golf cart.

Listen to the cast of Happy Gilmore 2 chat about all this and more on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Director Kyle Newacheck joins Kyle Meredith to talk about taking on the legacy of Happy Gilmore with its long-awaited sequel. The Workaholics and Murder Mystery alum unpacks the challenge of balancing throwback nostalgia with a more modern comedic style, while also explaining why pure comedy is so rare these days. We hear about working with Adam Sandler, how golf became his newfound obsession, and the joy of directing original Happy Gilmore helmer Dennis Dugan. Plus: surprise MVP turns from Jason Kelsey, Bad Bunny, and a post-arrest Scottie Scheffler.

Listen to Kyle Newacheck chat about all this and more our watch it on YouTube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer catches up with Kyle Meredith to dig into SIDEQUEST, his solo album born out of becoming a dad and rediscovering that childlike sense of curiosity. Clifford talks about rewriting songs to better reflect his new phase in life, how parenting inspired the unpredictable structures of tracks like “Eclipse,” and why he intentionally left the drums off “KMFA.” He also opens up about the vulnerability of going solo after years with the band, fourth wall-breaking lyrics, and the push to do something that feels brand new instead of nostalgic. It’s an honest look at finding your own voice while still loving where you came from.

Listen to Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer chat about all this and more. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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On the rewind episode of Kyle Meredith With.., hear from Caroline Polachek and Alison Goldfrapp — two vocalists who could probably sing a grocery list and still make it sound like avant-garde pop bliss.

Polachek, formerly of Chairlift, has turned heartbreak and hyperpop into an art form, floating somewhere between baroque synths and Enya-core. Goldfrapp, meanwhile, has spent decades wrapping disco, glam, and electroclash into one shimmering Goldfrapp package. Lately, she’s stepped out solo just to remind us she can still make the dance floor melt.

Expect stories of sonic reinvention, ghostly falsettos, and why "ethereal" is sometimes just another word for unstoppable.

Listen to Caroline Polachek and Alison Goldfrapp chat about all this and more. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Ben Folds recently sat down with Kyle Meredith to talk about the complicated year that saw him record a stunning live album with the National Symphony Orchestra just before stepping down as Artistic Advisor for the Kennedy Center. Folds opens up about the importance of the Kennedy Center’s mission, how it connects communities beyond the stage, and why that made his exit during the Trump administration’s takeover so necessary. Listen now.

Reflecting on the album, Folds calls it “an absolute honor” to record with the NSO, praising the room’s natural magic and the delicate work of mixer David Boucher. The album arrives like an act of resistance, beginning with “But Wait, There’s More,” which Folds says was born out of the absurdity of the Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference. “It felt so cynical at first, but I do still believe there’s more good than not,” he says.

The conversation also dives deep into the vital role of public funding and arts institutions, and how Folds’ Kennedy Center series aimed to break down barriers and build trust between artists and audiences. “When you bring in people with something to say, the orchestra becomes part of telling that story,” he explains. “That mission — that trust — that’s what makes it special. When the mission’s broken, it all falls apart.” Folds remains hopeful that the simple act of gathering to experience art together is itself a form of resistance. “Maybe this wakes us up,” he says. “We’re all capable of anything — don’t do the bad stuff.”

Listen to Ben Folds chat about all this and more or watch it on Youtube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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On this encore episode of The Story Behind the Song, Blondie are, without question, one of the most successful, iconic, and influential bands in rock and roll history. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 15 years ago, the Debbie Harry-fronted group has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and continues to release new music. But the “rock and roll” label doesn’t do justice to the group’s genre-bending music. What started as a punk band in the mid-1970’s in New York City after Harry and guitarist Chris Stein broke off from their earlier band, The Stillettoes, Blondie (first called Angel and the Snake) always innovated, infusing pop, disco, new wave, reggae, and rap elements into their music.

Which brings us to one of Blondie’s signature songs, the cleverly titled “Rapture." In 1981, the Autoamerican single became the first song featuring rapped vocals to top the US charts, and its accompanying video the first "rap" clip to appear on MTV. Stein and Harry penned the song after experiencing their first rap performance hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, who is prominently mentioned in the song's first rap line and appears in the video.

Listen to Blondie talk about “Rapture” and more. Then, make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Fans can also check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop or via the buy now buttons below!

You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media.

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For the fourth time around, Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Malachi Barton, and Freya Skye sat down with Kyle Meredith to sink their teeth into Zombies 4, the latest chapter of Disney’s monster-mash musical saga. This time, Zed and Addison find themselves caught in the middle of a new supernatural rivalry — Daywalkers vs. Vampires — as they play camp counselors to Seabrook’s most fang-tastic new recruits. Listen to the episode now.

Both Manheim and Donnelly have leveled up as executive producers on the film, and they’re more hands-on than ever. Meanwhile, newcomers Malachi Barton and Freya Skye came prepared for the monster mayhem, with Barton embracing a different kind of bloodsucker. “The whole writing team did such an amazing job of turning vampires into this fun-loving, friendly type of monster,” he said. Meanwhile, Skye studied up on the franchise’s style: “My way of studying was just watching the movies over and over… Zombies has such a distinctive feel to it.” Off-set, the cast bonded over music, game nights, and even boba-filled “blood fruits.”

Listen to Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Malachi Barton, and Freya Sky chat about all this and more or watch it on Youtube. Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg catches up with Kyle Meredith to talk about the band’s wildly anticipated sophomore album, moisturizer. After riding the wave of their self-titled debut — and the indie smash “Chaise Longue” — the CoSigned band doubled down on what made them so joyously chaotic in the first place. Now a five-piece, they holed up in the countryside, turned off their phones, and let their oddball impulses thrive. Listen now.

“A lot of it just came out of GarageBand bedroom demos the first time,” Teasdale says, reflecting on the shift from a duo to a collaborative project. “So it was the most natural thing to write the second record together. We just wanted to shut the world out and jam — the romantic version of a band you read about in music mags.” Those late-night jam sessions were fueled by repeat viewings of Aliens, Braveheart (“six times, but never the full movie!”) and cult fave Jennifer’s Body — which even inspired a song of its own.

Teasdale gets real about the lyrical layers too, exploring love from a queer perspective for the first time. “Music is a self-indulgent beast, so I needed to write about being this deeply in love,” she explains. But that openness doesn’t mean she’s dropped the punk punchlines. “We still wanted songs that feel good to play live — that’s always the point.”

Listen to Rhian Teasdale of Wet Leg chat about all this and more or watch it on Youtube. Then, snag yourself tickets to Wet Leg's upcoming tour dates by heading here.

Please take the time to like, review, and subscribe to KMW wherever you get your podcasts, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

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