The Bret Saunders Podcast

Elvis Costello has just released his 32nd album, titled "The Boy Named If." He returns to the podcast to tell Bret about the abandon with which he and his band, The Imposters, approached the music. He also talks about the ‘imaginary friend’ at the core of the album and the therapy he finds in drawing (he illustrated the story book companion to the music.) Also, Costello talks about how much of a joy it was working on "Spanish Model,” a remake of his pivotal 1978 album "This Year's Model,” featuring a roster of artists from Spanish-speaking parts of the world.

The new album by The Lumineers, 'Brightside' is out today. Founding members Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites took time out to talk about recording the album with a shoot-from-the-hip style, the sacred reasons for playing music, and letting "Jersey Ringo" out of his cage.

Michael Rapaport is an actor and comedian. On Twitter, he is loud and controversial, but never boring. He's also the host of the 'I am Rapaport Stereo Podcast', and he brings his stand up to Comedy Works this weekend. During this episode, Michael tells Bret what to expect from his act (stories of his NYC upbring, politics, sports, and the occasional roasting of the audience), his mission to cancel 'cancel culture', and why he is the Jason Bourne of social media.

The podcast wraps up 2021 with a couple of well know Coloradoans: Sen. John Hickenlooper and comedian Josh Blue.

We start with the Senator, who talks about how the new infrastructure bill will benefit our state, the partisan political divide in D.C., and what he's been listening to lately (Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift!)

Then it's Josh Blue who gives us the inside scoop on his America's Got Talent experience, the evolution of his act, and what it's like to have your pet snake go missing for 7 months (it did show back up and guess where...)

Two astronomers go on a media tour to warn humankind of a planet killing comet hurtling toward Earth. The response from a distracted world: Meh. That's the premise of the new movie "Don't Look Up", its co-creator/co-producer is Coloradan David Sirota. The all-star cast includes Leonardo Dicaprio, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Jonah Hill, and Cate Blanchett. David explains that the film serves as a funny, witty, metaphor, about not taking serious crises, seriously. The film opens Friday and streams on Netflix Dec. 24th.

John Novasad, the Boulder comedian formerly known as Hippieman, joins the podcast this week. In his conversation with Bret, John talks about transitioning away from the Hippieman persona, and how Boulder figures into his stand up (Did you know you can't let a llama graze on public land in Boulder?). They also talk vegetarianism and the worst thing he must deal with as a comedian.

"I never imagined myself having a Vegas residency, for me that's what Frank Sinatra would've done...but I'm very much at home there." This week it's a conversation with Sting about his Las Vegas show and what he loves about it. Also, his new album "The Bridge" and appearing alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short in the Hulu series "Only Murders In The Building." Plus, Sting shares his opinion on the updated version of "Dune" (he was in the original).

Michael Imperioli played the tempestuous Christopher Moltisanti in "The Sopranos." He's co-authored a new book (along with Sopranos co-star, Steve Schirripa, who played Bobby Baccalieri) about their time on the show, "Woke Up This Morning: The Definitive Oral History Of The Sopranos." Bret and Michael discuss, at its core, what "The Sopranos" was all about, missing James Gandolfini, and the link Michael's character plays in the new prequel film, "The Many Saints Of Newark."

It's a pair of conversations for this episode of the podcast. First up: Gina Schock, drummer for the Go-Go's. She talks about the group's recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, lessons learned opening for the Police early in their career, and her new book "Made In Hollywood."

Then it's comedian Joe Pera. The new season of his beloved Adult Swim series, "Joe Pera Talks To You," begins November 7. Joe talks about some of the subjects explored this season, including what Midwesterners keep in their second fridge and what's an appropriate movie to show a middle school choir. Joe and Bret also discuss the therapeutic nature of his comedy.

With two new concert albums out, one with Steely Dan, the other, a live version of his solo album "The Nightfly," Donald Fagen gave us a call to talk about both. He also explained why Steely Dan sounded like no other group, what he's listening to these days, and missing his Steely Dan co-founder, Walter Becker.