Pat Sansone has always lived at the intersection of melody and meaning. In this episode, Pat joins the show to talk about the long-awaited return of The Autumn Defense, the harmony-rich project he shares with John Stirratt. We trace the new record’s roots through years of friendship, shared playlists, and late-night rediscovery — and back even further to Pat’s Mississippi upbringing, where R.E.M. and Big Star first expanded his sense of what Southern music could be.

Along the way, Pat reflects on his work with Wilco, his syndicated radio show Baroque Down Palace, and his passion for film photography. He shares how observation, patience, and gratitude shape both his images and his songs, and why creativity, at its best, feels a little like “flailing closer to God.”

It’s a deep dive into harmony, memory, and the quiet joy of making art that endures — from the studio to the stage to the backroads of Mississippi.

• Check out Here and Nowhere by The Autumn Defense
• Check out Pat's photography
• Check out Baroque Down Palace, Pat's radio show

Pat Sansone has always lived at the intersection of melody and meaning. In this episode, Pat joins the show to talk about the long-awaited return of The Autumn Defense, the harmony-rich project he shares with John Stirratt. We trace the new record’s roots through years of friendship, shared playlists, and late-night rediscovery — and back even further to Pat’s Mississippi upbringing, where R.E.M. and Big Star first expanded his sense of what Southern music could be.

Along the way, Pat reflects on his work with Wilco, his syndicated radio show Baroque Down Palace, and his passion for film photography. He shares how observation, patience, and gratitude shape both his images and his songs, and why creativity, at its best, feels a little like “flailing closer to God.”

It’s a deep dive into harmony, memory, and the quiet joy of making art that endures — from the studio to the stage to the backroads of Mississippi.

• Check out Here and Nowhere by The Autumn Defense
• Check out Pat's photography
• Check out Baroque Down Palace, Pat's radio show

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, Todd and Tim are joined by Mike Conklin, executive editor of InsideHook, to unpack Jeff Tweedy’s sprawling new triple album, Twilight Override.

Conklin has spoken with every member of Jeff’s solo band — Spencer, Sammy, Sima Cunningham, Macie Stewart, and Liam Kazar — as well as Jeff himself, to explore how this group has quietly become as much of a creative constant for Tweedy as Wilco.

Read Conklin's article here.

Together, they discuss the making of Twilight Override, the interplay of family and community at The Loft, the songs that linger long after the last chord, and what it means for Jeff to treat creativity as a way of life.

Todd mentioned All Songs Considered; Robin Hilton interviews Jeff. Head here to listen to it.

On this episode of Shoving Wilco, Todd welcomes YouTube creator Steve Westman. Known for his channel The Audiophiles, Westman has built a reputation for his deep dives into vinyl pressings, mastering engineers, and the joy of record collecting.

Together, they unpack what it means to experience Wilco on vinyl—why pressing quality matters, which engineers have shaped the sound we love, and how the physical medium continues to bring listeners closer to the band’s music.

They also discuss their favorite Wilco albums ON VINYL. The list is below, with links to Discogs!

Steve's Picks (in no order):

• AM, 2025 Rhino HiFi
• Being There, 2017 Deluxe
• Summerteeth, 2020 Deluxe
• Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, 2022 Deluxe.
• Todd's choice: for YHF: 2002 European Pressing
• A Ghost is Born, 2025 Reissue
• Sky Blue Sky, 2007 Master
• Kicking Television, 2010 RSD Release

Todd's Picks (in no order):

• Cruel Country, 2023 OG
• The Whole Love, 2024 Reissue
• Schmilco, 2016 OG (do not sleep on the Schmilco release)

On this episode of Shoving Wilco, we sit down with Canadian singer-songwriter Kalle Mattson to talk about Jeff Tweedy’s songwriting. Kalle breaks down what makes Tweedy’s lyrics stand out, from surreal fragments to plainspoken truths. We explore how Wilco has shaped his own music and teaching, and why the songs of Wilco continue to cut so deep. If you care about how Wilco’s words work—and why they matter—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

For more on Kalle, head to his website.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, Todd and Tim are joined by Dara Weyna and Chad Brooks for a conversation that you've probably had! What three Wilco songs would you play for someone who’s never heard the band? It’s a deceptively tricky question—one that reveals personal favorites, unexpected picks, and the many eras and sounds of Wilco. Whether you're introducing a friend to the band or rediscovering the songs yourself, this episode is for anyone who's ever tried to explain why Wilco matters.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, we sit down with music journalist and author Bob Mehr to explore the HiFi resurrection of Wilco’s debut album, A.M..

Thirty years after its original release, A.M. is getting the audiophile treatment as part of Rhino’s HiFi series — and it's never sounded better.

Bob joins us to talk about the making of the album, his liner notes for the reissue, and how A.M., once seen as a modest debut, now shines with new dimension and clarity.

Go here to get the record.

Below is Todd's Discogs review:

Unreal how good this is. Kevin Gray’s work here is absolutely stunning. I’ve heard A.M. in every format—CD, stream, vinyl—for most of my life, but I’ve never heard it like this. Instrument separation is razor sharp, and Jeff’s vocals are undeniably front and center—as they should be—but everyone else is brought forward too. It’s cohesive and full without sacrificing presence. No one feels tucked away. This isn’t a nostalgia trip. This is A.M. finally getting the respect it deserves sonically.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, we're thrilled to sit down once again with artist Matthew Pfahlert, who brings a unique perspective to the iconic world of Wilco’s album covers.

Matthew, renowned for his poster designs for Wilco, dives deep into the visual storytelling that accompanies each album. We explore our favorite covers, unpack what makes them uniquely powerful, and reflect on how each piece of album art encapsulates the essence of Wilco.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your favorite Wilco album covers and what they mean to you in the comments.

Check out Matt's latest poster design - a super cool glow-in-the-dark poster!

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, host Todd Rossnagel sits down with fellow Wilco devotee and music industry veteran Chris Campbell, whose YouTube channel is a treasure trove of insight on vinyl, alt-country, and, of course, Wilco.

Todd and Chris dive deep into how Wilco arrived in their lives at the perfect time, with Chris tracing his journey from Uncle Tupelo to Being There, Summerteeth, and beyond. They swap personal connections to songs like “How to Fight Loneliness,” reflect on Jeff Tweedy’s lyrical honesty, and explore what Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sounded like in a post-9/11 New York City—where Chris was front row at the band’s legendary shows.

This one’s for the vinyl nerds, the alt-country lifers, and anyone who has ever felt like Tweedy wrote a song just for them.

On this episode of Shoving Wilco, hosts Todd Rossnagel and Tim Arnold sit down with Wilco’s longtime keyboardist, Mikael Jorgensen. From his early days joining the band to what it's like prepping for a major tour, Mikael shares stories from the road and behind the keys. We dive into his musical influences, what’s currently spinning on his playlist, the value of listening to music with a crowd, and a fascinating documentary he's producing about jazz legend Bob James — a man whose fingerprints are all over your music library, whether you realize it or not.

Follow Mikael on Substack here.

Have an idea for the show? Email us: [email protected]