Tripping on My Roots

American Prankster is a deep dive with the iconic Wavy Gravy, unfolding his fascinating,historic and hilarious lifestory as an original Beatnik, comedy pioneer, hippie icon and pioneering activist who uses humor as a weapon.  

Sharing stories that even he’d forgotten with producer/host, Rainbow Valentine, of Disorganized Crime: Smuggler’s Daughter, Wavy gets down to the very nit of the grit and reminds us what it means to be human.

From Ben and Jerry’s ice cream to Woodstock to the Acid Tests and running a pig for president, Wavy Gravy is an essential part of American counter culture history and more. 

You will hear stories of his childhood, teen, army, college and beatnik years with Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, Martha Graham plus tales of his comedy life with Lenny Bruce, Del Close, Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and his friendships with music icons like Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Mama Cass, Joan C. Baez and more! 

Wavy shares absurdist yarns from his lifelong activism using humor as a weapon, along with pals, Abbie Hoffman, Jackson Browne, the Yippies and traveling roadshows of hippies. Plus how psychedelic globetrotting led to the SEVA Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.  Wavy’s 8+ decades of embodying American Pranksterism, inspiring millions down the tie-dye colored path of life and spreading his ethos of Basic Human Needs, is a fundamental part of American, comedy, activist, music, food and global history. Plus he’s hilarious and a born storyteller.

"When you get to the very bottom of the human soul, when the nit is slamming into the grit and you are sinking but you reach down to help someone else, that is when everyone gets high and you don't even need LSD to do that...and that's when I passed the acid test." – Wavy Gravy, American Prankster

"He's like our Rabbi..." - Trixie Garcia

American Prankster is a proud part of Pantheon Podcasts

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“The Real Me,” a new production from Pantheon Podcasts premiering Tuesday, Oct. 5, follows the emotionally powerful stories of young songwriters and performers with cancer who found hope, healing and connection through music.

Presented by Teen Cancer America (TCA), the national non-profit founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

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Before 1971's "Sunshine" established Jonathan Edwards as an acoustic folksinger whose songs combined pop melodies, country roots, and first-rate guitar picking, Jonathan struggled to find his place in the East Coast's folk scene. "[I'd play] six 40-minute sets, six nights a week, every week," he remembers, adding, "but that's where you learn your craft… and how to cook Ramen noodles."

In this episode of Tripping On My Roots, Jonathan Edwards shares stories — and a few songs — with host Jesse Colin Young. Many of those recollections focus on the early days of his career, from his years in military school (where a classmate taught Jonathan his very first guitar riff) to the self-booked tours of college campuses that helped launch his solo career. Along the way, Jesse and Jonathan join forces for impromptu renditions of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright," the Youngbloods' "Sugar Babe," and Edwards' newly-written wedding song, "First Day of Forever."

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This episode of Tripping On My Roots finds Jesse Colin Young reuniting with blues legend Taj Mahal before the all-star Capricorn Revival show in Macon, GA. Back in the 1960s, Jesse and Taj both kickstarted their careers on Greenwich Village's coffeehouse circuit, playing gigs for tips and beer money. They've remained friends and mutual friends ever since, with Jesse singing the praises of Taj Mahal's double album, Giant Step/De Ole Folks at Home, and Taj applauding Jesse's vocal performance on the Youngbloods' signature hit, "Get Together."

Recorded backstage at the Macon City Auditorium, this installment of Tripping On My Roots finds the musicians talking about Taj's creative childhood in Springfield, Massachusetts; his lifelong appreciation for blues pioneers like John Lee Hooker, BB King, Lightnin' Hopkins; and the time he borrowed a guitar from Jesse before a last-minute show in Greenwich Village. To tie it all together, the two jam their way through a loose, improvised version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby What You Want Me To," trading plenty of blues licks throughout.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts

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Jesse sits down with Steve Miller to talk and share stories from their careers before performing the re-recorded version of Jesse's hit song from The Youngbloods, "Get Together."

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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Jesse travels to Macon, GA to see Little Richard’s house in its new location. He also talks about Little Richard’s childhood and shares how he influenced the beginnings of Jesse’s music and career.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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Jesse travels to Thompson, GA to explore the roots of "Statesboro Blues" and learn more about Piedmont blues and ragtime singer, Blind Willie McTell.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

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