Five Things to Know About Host Alice: Beatles Roots, Travel, and a New Substack

Host Alice welcomes listeners back to the Rock and Roll Field Trip Podcast after a break since July, referencing her prior conversation with Harry Fitzgerald of The Inner Light Podcast about Paul McCartney’s Roundhouse Theater listening party.

She shares recent highlights including seeing Bob Dylan and John Cougar Mellencamp and visiting Cooperstown, New York for the “Linda McCartney Retrospective: From the Light” exhibit.

Alice introduces a new Substack and reads her first article, “I’m a Gen Xer Who Grew Up Loving the Beatles and Dreamed of Being a Music Journalist,” outlining five facts about herself.

She invites listeners to subscribe, review, share, and email.

Contact [email protected]

00:00 Welcome Beatles Fans

00:14 Podcast Intro and Host

00:37 Summer Update and Highlights

01:55 Why Substack and Today’s Format

02:35 Five Things About Me

03:11 Greenwich Village Roots

03:42 Hippie Mom Upbringing

04:22 Journalism Dreams to Education

05:06 Living Abroad and Home Base

05:45 Beatles Origin Story

06:38 Looking Aehad and Thanks

07:07 Subscribe Review and Goodbye

Contact: [email protected]

Harry, Co-Host of the Inner Light Podcast, joins host Alice to discuss his experience at Paul McCartney’s Roundhouse Theatre ‘In Conversation’ Night in London and his opinion of ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’. The event took place on June 10, 2026.

Harry recounts the stressful ticket-buying process, describes the venue’s intimate setup and living-room staging, and compares this candid, less-structured format to seeing McCartney in concert.

They both share favorite tracks from McCartney’s new album The Boys of Dungeon Lane and discuss how the event played the album track-by-track with McCartney reacting. Harry relays song specific anecdotes McCartney gave (including the album title story, inspiration for several songs, and studio details), mentions a fan meetup and postcards from McCartney’s team, and concludes with his main takeaway.

00:00 Put On The Spot

00:19 Podcast Welcome Notes

01:42 Meet Harry

01:46 Heatwave Small Talk

03:14 Paul Event Setup

03:38 Ticket Stress Story

04:33 Roundhouse Atmosphere

07:10 Concert Versus Conversation

09:09 Paul Unfiltered Moments

11:25 Favorite Album Tracks

14:01 Flaming Pie Comparison

16:44 Fan Meetup And Postcards

19:31 In Line Stories

20:17 Interview Surprise

21:42 Seats and Ticket Chaos

23:17 Inside the Roundhouse Vibe

23:45 Track Stories Begin

27:10 Mugging Tale and Origins

28:39 Song Meanings

37:07 Big Takeaway and Dylan

39:25 What I'd Tell Paul

40:27 Listening Party and Farewell

41:36 Podcast Wrap Up
Thank you so much for listening!

Please leave The Rock 'N' Roll Fieldtrip Podcast a 5 star review! You can reach me at [email protected]

Inside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum's New Paul McCartney & Wings Exhibit with Head of the Exhibit, Andy Leach

Host Alice welcomes listeners to the Rock and Roll Field Trip Podcast and interviews Andy Leach, Senior Director of Museum and Archival Collections at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, about the new Paul McCartney and Wings exhibit in Cleveland. Leach describes founding the museum’s library and archives, the extensive collaboration with Paul’s MPL team, and how a casual May 2023 meeting at 1 Soho Square evolved into the first major museum exhibition on Wings and the largest public display of McCartney’s personal artifacts.

He explains selecting items such as instruments, clothing, handwritten lyrics, tour memorabilia, and imagery, and recounts coordinating with former Wings members for additional artifacts. Leach highlights the exhibit’s “Heart of the Country” kitchen scene and Linda McCartney’s camera, emphasizing Linda’s underappreciated role in Wings’ sound, aesthetics, and photography, and discusses professional archival handling and the exhibit’s planned run through at least May 2027.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

01:31 Meet Andy Leach

01:59 Opening Night Highlights

04:59 How the Exhibit Began

08:35 Selecting Artifacts

13:17 Linda and Heart of Country

18:42 Archivist vs Fan Mode

23:38 Will Paul Visit

26:41 Wrap Up Email us at: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Paul McCartney and Wings Exhibit

https://rockhall.com/exhibitions/paul-mccartney-and-wings/

Andy Leach 's Substack Article on the Exhibit

https://rockandrollhalloffame.substack.com/p/growing-wings-the-making-of-a-paul

Thanks for listening! Please follow the podcast, leave us a (preferably five star) review, and tell a friend about us!

U2 Turns 50: Fans Gather in Memphis for a 2026 Anniversary Meetup

Host Alice welcomes Scott Calhoun and Verlinda Henning to the Rock and Roll Field Trip podcast to discuss U2’s 50th anniversary and a fan-organized meetup in Memphis, May 15–17, 2026.

They reflect on the band’s longevity, the excitement around two surprise EPs (Days of Ash and Easter Lilly) and Propaganda issues, and why fans are eager to reconnect in person.

Verlinda, a Memphis native, and Scott explain Memphis’s deep musical and civil-rights significance, including U2’s Rattle and Hum-era ties to Sun Studio, Graceland, and the National Civil Rights Museum at the former Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

They preview community-centered meetup plans—group discussions, sightseeing, a fan showcase, and a service project—and describe how U2 fandom provides friendship, civic engagement, and personal meaning.

00:00 Fans Who Found Family

00:29 Welcome to Memphis Meetup

02:34 New Music for Year

4:57 Why Memphis Matters

08:44 Choosing the Host City

10:19 Accents and Local Flavor

11:38 Weekend Schedule Highlights15:35 What Fandom Means

19:15 How Far to Follow U2

21:40 Join In Anywhere

23:21 Podcast Farewell

Email us at: [email protected]

Mentioned in this episode:

Meet Up Details: https://u2conference.com/memphis26/

Verlinda, a long time U2 fan and native of Memphis, Tennessee, tells me why Memphis is the perfect location for a U2 Fan Meet up. U2 celebrates their 50th Anniversary this year and this group of fans are planning a Memphis based celebration.

Email: [email protected]

Host Alice welcomes listeners to part two of her conversation with Beatles scholar Dr. Allison Bumsted, wrapping up discussion of the Paul McCartney documentary Man on the Run with themes around Liverpool, fame, and the impossibility of living privately there despite local sentiment that “the Beatles left us.”

They discuss Liverpool’s post-war and de-industrial history, EU-funded rebuilding, Capital of Culture, and the growth of Beatles tourism and landmarks, plus the film’s use of archival material, family voices, and emotional moments including Stella describing Paul learning of John’s death.

They share personal stories of meeting music figures and traveling, note Paul’s extensive archives, and talk about the Rock Hall’s upcoming Wings exhibit. Both rate the documentary, discuss “spirit Beatle” ideas, and share hopes for more fan perspectives, women’s stories, and future podcast interviews, including dreams of interviewing Giles Martin and Mary McCartney.

Contact host Alice at [email protected]

Find the podcast on Instagram at: Rock ‘N’ Roll Fieldtrip (@rocknrollfieldtrip) • Instagram photos and videosThank you for listening!

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Coming this week: Part two of my conversation with Dr. Allison Bumsted. Can't wait to share the full episode with you soon!

Host Alice welcomes Dr. Allison Bumsted to discuss the new Paul McCartney documentary “Man on the Run". They outline themes from the film including Paul’s “growing up,” reactions to his post-Beatles work, portrayals of John Lennon and John’s death, and Paul’s risk-taking versus sentimental image.

Dr. Bumsted discusses 1970s rock-press criticism , masculinity-coded attacks on McCartney, and sexist treatment of Linda, while also discussing Wings’ band dynamics, pay controversy and Paul’s desire to recreate a “band” experience. Part two to follow.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:45 Meet Dr Bumsted

01:54 First Reactions

06:27 Fandom and Critique

07:26 Book vs Film

11:39 Paul and Toughness

16:29 Rolling Stone Reviews

21:47 Not Cool Enough

27:10 Wings Pay and Ego/ Band Dynamics and Control

32:46 Linda Under Scrutiny

34:28 Sexist Reviews and Criticism

41:19 Linda's Vegetarianism and Influence

45:41 Wrap Up and Sign Off

Email us at: [email protected]

In This Episode: https://www.allisonbumsted.com/

https://www.paulmccartney.com/news/watch-the-trailer-for-man-on-the-run-out-february-2026

Here's a short clip from the upcoming episode. In this clip, Dr. Allison Bumsted, talks about how harshly some music critics reviewed Paul McCartney and Wings in the early 1970's.

Email the show at: [email protected]

Exploring Liverpool with Beatles Tour Guide Jackie Spencer

In this episode of the Rock 'N' Roll Field Trip Podcast, host Alice sits down with Jackie Spencer, a seasoned Beatles tour guide from Liverpool. Jackie shares her connections to The Beatles, including attending the same school as Paul McCartney's mother.

They discuss Liverpool’s unique cultural history, the city's ties to Ireland, and why The Beatles have remained iconic for so many years.

also provides tips for Beatles fans on must-see spots in Liverpool and what makes the city a compelling travel destination. Alongside anecdotes about personal encounters with Sir Paul McCartney and the evolution of her tour guide business, Jackie offers insights into the broad appeal of The Beatles across generations.

00:00 Introduction to the Rock and Roll Field Trip Podcast

00:49 Meet Jackie Spencer: Liverpool's Beatles Tour

:04 Jackie's Personal Beatles Connection

05:10 The Influence of Irish Heritage on Liverpool and The Beatles

10:38 Exploring Liverpool: A Beatles Fan's Guide

13:04 Jackie's Encounters with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

15:08 The Enduring Legacy of The Beatles

20:41 Jackie's Journey to Becoming a Beatles Tour Guide

26:44 Planning Your Visit to Liverpool

30:51 Conclusion and Contact Information
Mentioned in this Episode:

https://www.jackiespencerbeatleguide.com/

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel/liverpool

Reach the podcast at: [email protected]

Or check us out on Instagram at: Instagram

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