The Tim Andrews Popcast

This week on The Popcast, Tim continues his celebration of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 30th anniversary with guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who has been part of TSO since 2010.

Following his recent conversation with drummer Jeff Plate, Tim catches up with Joel to talk about life inside one of rock's biggest touring productions, the musicianship behind the lasers and pyrotechnics, and the challenges of keeping a massive holiday tradition fresh year after year.

Joel also discusses his career beyond TSO, including his work with Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Cher and his own music projects.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More to Gas South Arena in Duluth, Georgia, on Sunday, December 13, with performances at 3:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Trans-Siberian.com

Then, Tim welcomes his friend and Von Haessler Doctrine colleague Greg Russ for a conversation about Greg's work with Vox Media and his involvement with Happy Hour with Ina Garten, the new podcast featuring the Food Network legend better known as the Barefoot Contessa.

Ina's show features conversations with guests from entertainment, food, sports and culture, recorded in her New York City apartment. Tim and Greg talk about the world of podcast production, working behind the scenes, and what goes into creating a show with one of television's most recognizable personalities.

It's rock and roll, podcasting, pop culture and the Barefoot Contessa — all on this week's Popcast with Tim Andrews!

Remember when a television was actually a piece of furniture?

This week on The Popcast, Tim talks with Shafer Caudle, Atlanta carpenter, builder and creator of MurdleVision, a local company making modern televisions that look like they escaped from another era.

MurdleVision takes today's smart-TV technology and wraps it in handcrafted hardwood cabinets inspired by classic television design — complete with vintage-style knobs, speaker cloth, legs and finishes. Customers can customize the wood, colors, electronics and even add things like upgraded audio, functioning controls and built-in retro gaming systems.

Tim and Shafer talk about where the idea came from, his love of woodworking and old-school design, how the sets are actually constructed, the challenge of combining modern electronics with vintage aesthetics, and why so many of today's TVs have become essentially identical black rectangles.

They also get into nostalgia, mid-century design, the TVs we remember growing up with, some of Shafer's crazier custom creations and the idea that technology can be modern without everything in your house looking exactly the same.

It's woodworking, pop culture, technology and a little nostalgia — built right here in Atlanta.

Check out Shafer's creations at MurdleVision.com.

This week on The Popcast, Tim welcomes longtime friend of the show and original Trans-Siberian Orchestra drummer Jeff Plate.

Jeff looks back on 30 years of TSO, from the unexpected beginnings of “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” to becoming one of America's biggest holiday touring traditions. They talk about the late TSO founder Paul O'Neill, the evolution of the band's enormous live production, what the drummer sees while surrounded by lasers and pyro, and what it's like to play music that has become part of Christmas for multiple generations of families.

And because Tim and Jeff are both Buffalo Bills fans with roots in the same part of New York, the podcast includes some Bills, Josh Allen and hometown talk that didn't make the radio broadcast.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO & More to Gas South Arena in Atlanta on December 13, with performances at 3:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Then it's officially spooky season in Atlanta. Tim looks at some of the area's Halloween traditions and attractions, including Netherworld, Paranoia Haunted House, Folklore Haunted House, Lawrenceville Ghost Tours, Roswell and Decatur ghost tours, Oakland Cemetery's Capturing the Spirit of Oakland, Stone Mountain's Pumpkin Festival, Boo at the Zoo and more.

Plus, Atlanta's horror-movie and TV connections, including The Walking Dead filming locations around Senoia — because living in Georgia means you're never terribly far from someplace where a zombie has fictionally eaten somebody.

This week Tim recalls September 11, 2001 and the post-date ripple effect it had on pop culture and overall culture in general.

This week on The Popcast, Tim sits down with Will Turpin of Collective Soul to talk new music, old influences and bringing one of Georgia’s biggest rock bands back home.

Collective Soul’s new album, Touch and Go, finds the band taking a turn toward the sounds of ’80s New Wave, drawing particular inspiration from The Cars while still sounding unmistakably like Collective Soul. Will talks about the making of the record, the band’s creative process and what keeps them excited about making new music more than three decades into their career.

They also look ahead to Collective Soul live at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater — “The Fred” — in Peachtree City, Georgia, Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM.

Collective Soul:

https://collectivesoul.com/

Tickets — Collective Soul at The Fred:

https://thefred.freshtix.com/

Direct AXS event page:

https://www.axs.com/events/1349579/collective-soul-tickets

Listen to / learn more about Touch and Go:

https://collectivesoul.com/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/collectivesoul/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/collectivesoul/

Tim Andrews welcomes Kevin Spencer, lead vocalist and guitarist for Electric Avenue, one of the country's premier '80s tribute bands.

Electric Avenue has built its reputation by going far beyond costumes and nostalgia, painstakingly recreating the sounds, arrangements and energy of the decade's biggest New Wave and pop records. The band performs more than 100 shows a year and brings together musicians whose careers have included work with artists ranging from Paul Simon and Lionel Richie to the B-52s, Collective Soul, Zac Brown Band and more.

On Saturday, August 15, Electric Avenue takes on something considerably bigger: The '80s Symphonic Experience at Atlanta Symphony Hall. The band will perform alongside the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, conducted by Michael Giel, bringing a full orchestral treatment to music from artists including Tears for Fears, Toto, Prince, Queen, Duran Duran, Phil Collins, David Bowie, George Michael, The Police, A-ha and more.

Tim and Kevin talk about Electric Avenue's origins, the band's obsession with getting the music right, the enduring appeal of the '80s, and what goes into transforming those familiar songs for a full symphonic performance.

THE '80s SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE

Saturday, August 15, 2026 – 8:00 PM

Atlanta Symphony Hall

Electric Avenue with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra

Electric Avenue:

https://www.ElectricAvenueMusic.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/ElectricAvenue

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ElectricAve80s/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/ElectricAvenueMusic

Tickets / Tour Dates:

https://www.ticketmaster.com/electric-avenue---the-80%27s-mtv-experience-tickets/artist/2660247

My guests this week are the director and performers from the Ovations Theater sketch comedy show, "My Dead Cat Rhonda" & we're talking all about their upcoming shows at Stage Door Theater in Dunwoody. Kelly Balzli, director, along with; Cole Kiker, Maya Kelch, Sam Lee & Kaley Strawn talk about their backgrounds and what to expect at the show.

Plus: Hey, I'm playing Trump in one of the sketches!

See it live, Saturday, July 25 - Friday, July 31 & Saturday August 1

TICKETS

Stage Door Theatre

5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody GA 30338

This episode features two guests:

Josh Gates is an adventurer, archaeologist, author, and the host and executive producer of Discovery Channel’s hit series Expedition Unknown. Armed with degrees in archaeology and drama from Tufts University, Gates has traveled to more than 100 countries, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua, participated in underwater excavations in the Mediterranean, and investigated mysteries everywhere from King Tut’s tomb to Chernobyl.

The new season of Expedition Unknown premieres Wednesday, June 24 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.

And comedian Bruce Bruce. See Bruce Bruce & Friends at City Winery Atlanta | July 10 and August 22 | Tickets Available NOW at CityWinery.com or BruceBruce.com

PLUS: Catch Bruce Bruce's Netflix Special: I Ain't Playin' streaming now.

Toy Story 5 is in theaters now. I had a few minutes to chat with Craig Robinson about his new character, which is NOT a Spirograph.

Joining me once again on the show is Atlanta writer, producer, director and co-creator of the popular Adult Swim show, "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." He's also behind 12oz Mouse & Pastacolypse, not to mention a zillion other things, including his very cool YouTube series, "Meat Kingdom."

Next year is the 20th Anniversary of Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters & he has a little info on the celebration and screening next summer.

Michelle Shidlovsky, creator of the Instagram account Forgotten Georgia, which has developed a devoted following by uncovering the hidden stories, abandoned places, lost communities, roadside oddities, and forgotten landmarks that most of us drive past every day without noticing. Also joining is Tony Guerrero, Michelle's partner and host of his own Spanish-language version.