This week, I’m joined by Lawrence Gowan — keyboardist and singer for Styx — for a deep dive into the stories behind some of the band’s biggest songs and their musical evolution over the last five decades.

We talk about how Styx’s sound has grown and shifted over time and what it’s like stepping into a legacy band while still carving out your own creative voice. Lawrence also reflects on his solo career, including the songs that defined it, and how writing on his own differs from collaborating within a band as storied as Styx.

Along the way, we get into his experiences writing and recording with some of the most influential names in progressive rock — including Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, and David Rhodes (of Peter Gabriel’s touring band), Jon Anderson of Yes, and Alex Lifeson of Rush.

It’s an inside look at a catalog that’s still evolving, and the creative relationships that continue to shape it.

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This week I'm joined by Bobby Shultz of the Effin’ Cultured Podcast, and together we’re curating a fun and flavorful mixtape filled with our favorite summer cookout and BBQ-themed songs—but with a delicious twist: every track is centered around food and drinks you’d find at a classic backyard gathering.

That’s right—this isn’t your typical playlist of songs for a summer BBQ. Instead, we’re serving up songs about the burgers, hot dogs, beer, lemonade, corn on the cob, watermelon, and every tasty treat that makes summer cookouts so iconic. From (ahem) "cheesy" anthems and novelty tunes to clever lyrical nods to your favorite picnic staples, we’ve cooked up the perfect menu of music that celebrates the flavors of summer.

So bring your appetite, fire up the grill, and join us for a lighthearted and mouthwatering playlist that’s all about the sounds of food, fun, and summertime indulgence. It's the ultimate BBQ playlist you didn’t know you needed—until now!

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This week, I’m joined by Bill Gibson — drummer and percussionist for Huey Lewis & The News — to help curate the ultimate playlist celebrating one of the most enduring American rock bands of the last 40 years.

Together, we’re pulling from every corner of the catalog: massive radio staples, longtime fan favorites, and a handful of deeper cuts that deserve a little more love. What makes this curation especially unique is the perspective — it’s built through the lens of both a lifelong fan and a founding band member who was there when these songs came to life.

Beyond the music, Bill and I dig into what’s next for the band, including the possibility of new music, upcoming reissues, and even the potential for a remix of their self-titled 1980 debut album. It’s part playlist, part history lesson, and a rare inside look at a band whose songs are still woven into the fabric of rock radio.

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This week, I’m joined by DJ Doug Miller of Elite Sound Entertainment, and we’re dialing it back to 1993 — a year that didn’t just deliver great hip-hop, it reshaped the culture.

With landmark albums like Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Doggystyle, and Midnight Marauders all dropping within months of each other, 1993 felt like a nonstop run of instant classics. This episode pulls 20 standout tracks from that era — the songs that rattled car speakers, dominated house parties, and still hit just as hard decades later.

From gritty East Coast lyricism to West Coast swagger, this playlist captures the sound, energy, and attitude of one of the greatest years in hip hop history — no skips, no filler, just certified classics.

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This week, I’m joined by Jason Whissell — host of It’s Not That Bad and There Can Only Be One — to curate a playlist packed with great songs from critically panned movies. These are the soundtrack moments that outshined the films they were attached to — songs that stuck around long after the credits rolled.

To be clear, these aren’t movies we necessarily think are bad — we actually enjoy a lot of them! Our only rule? Each film had to score below 60% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. So if you’re side-eyeing the “bad movie” label, blame the critics, not us.

What you’ll hear instead is a collection of undeniable soundtrack highlights — proof that even movies with rough reviews can deliver all-time great songs. And honestly, if Rotten Tomatoes listens to this episode, there’s a good chance these films get retroactively certified fresh.

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This week, I’m joined by Alex Jacob — Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner and 2006 United States Poker Champion — to curate a playlist celebrating the best songs from 2000s movie soundtracks.

The 2000s marked a turning point for film soundtracks. As digital downloads and early streaming changed how we discovered music, soundtrack albums stopped being guaranteed cultural events — which made this the most challenging decade I’ve tackled in this movie soundtrack series. Still, the era delivered plenty of unforgettable moments where the right song met the perfect scene.

From alternative and indie standouts to pop, rock, and genre-blurring deep cuts, this playlist highlights the must-hear soundtrack songs that defined 2000s movies — even when you didn’t realize it at the time. Alex and I dig into the tracks that stuck with us and prove the decade had far more to offer than it often gets credit for.

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This week, I’m joined by Ryan Pak, host of Soundtrack Your Life, and we’re traveling back to the ‘90s, a decade when movie soundtracks mattered just as much as the movies themselves!

We’re curating a full ’90s soundtrack snapshot — from the songs everyone remembers to a few deeper cuts that might’ve slipped through the cracks. From late-night video store runs to CDs that lived permanently in your Discman, these are the songs that followed us out of the theater and straight into our everyday lives!

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This week, I sit down with Alex Gomez — host of The Sleevie G. Show — to put together a soundtrack playlist that could only come out of the 80s. If you’re familiar with our old podcast Playlist Wars, you already know Alex’s love of movies runs deep… and that passion is on full display here.

We’re diving deep into the era of big hair, bigger emotions, and some of the most unforgettable songs ever tied to a film. Expect the classics that defined a generation, plus some lesser-known gems that’ll make you want to rewind and play again.

Whether you came for the hits or you’re chasing that perfect deep cut, there’s a little something here for every 80s movie fan.

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This week, I’m joined by JT — guitarist and vocalist for The Uninvited — and we’re dialing into the deeper frequencies of ’90s indie and alternative music.

These are the songs that shaped the era from the underground up and influenced a generation — the ones that lived on college radio, burned CDs, and late-night drives, even if they never cracked mainstream rotation. If you came of age in the ’90s alternative scene, this playlist is going to feel very familiar… in all the best ways.

Along the way, JT and I dig into The Uninvited’s story — from winning the MTV Beach House Band Contest, to releasing a major-label album on Atlantic Records, to returning with their first new music in nearly 20 years, Broken Promiseland. It’s a conversation about longevity, influence, and what it means to reconnect with the music that started it all.

Think fuzzy guitars, melodic hooks, and that unmistakable ’90s indie alternative DNA — this one’s for anyone who knows the best songs didn’t always live at the top of the charts.

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This week, I’m joined by Sean Faust to celebrate the era when power ballads ruled the radio, the arena, and your feelings. We’re curating a playlist packed with towering choruses, emotional guitar solos, and slow-burn anthems that demanded a lighter in the air — preferably before venue security noticed.

From hair-metal to arena-rock, these songs lived at the intersection of romance, drama, and unapologetic volume. Whether they blasted from a car stereo, closed out a concert set, or soundtracked a breakup you swore you were “fine” about, these tracks still hit just as hard decades later.

And if the lighter reference feels ancient? Think of it as the original concert cell phone moment — only with more denim, more Aquanet, and a very real chance of singed fingers.

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🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠

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