Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

Author Ben Greenman joins Rhett from his home in New Jersey to talk about the two books that Ben is releasing next month with Questlove and Steven Van Zandt, his approach to success, and why fear of failure can be a good thing. The two compare the process of writing books with the process of songwriting, and how creative output changes as you get older. 

Ben Greenman has written both fiction and non-fiction books, as well as many collaborations with musicians including Questlove, George Clinton, Brian Wilson, Gene Simmons, and others. Ben served as an editor at The New Yorker from 2000 to 2014, and as a writer he’s amassed an incredible oeuvre of novels, short stories, and other descriptive works over the span of his career.  

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

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In this special, double-whammy episode of Wheels Off, singer-songwriter and podcast host Joe Pug joins Rhett from Prince George's County, Maryland to talk about his creative pursuits as a musician, the importance of staying present as a young artist, and how to save the world through beauty. Joe tells Rhett about the inspiration for starting his podcast, and what he would tell his 21-year old self about being a musician. After the Wheels Off interview, we transition to Joe’s podcast, The Working Songwriter, where Rhett tells Joe about his life as a musician, and details his own path of inspiration.

Joe Pug is a singer-songwriter from Greenbelt, Maryland. His lyrics echo the aura of all-time great songwriters such as John Prine, Bob Dylan, and Warren Zevon, and his 5 studio albums have all received favorable reviews. Pug also hosts a podcast, The Working Songwriter, which allows him to talk in-depth with some of the greatest songwriters of this era. He’s talked with Marcus King, Oliver Wood, Hiss Golden Messenger, and many other talented artists on the show, and in this conversation with Rhett he explains the genesis of the idea.

Check out Joe’s podcast, The Working Songwriter, here.

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor, comedian, and podcast host John Ross Bowie joins Rhett from his home in Los Angeles to talk about his new podcast Household Faces, and his creative development over the course of his career. John shares the story about how improv changed his outlook on acting, the professional ups and downs he's experienced, and he and Rhett talk about why they enjoy being “middle class” artists.

John Ross Bowie is an actor, comedian, and podcast host best known for playing Barry Kripke on The Big Bang Theory and Jimmy DiMeo on Speechless. John has made guest appearances on shows such as Reno 911!, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, and Good Luck Charlie, and he’s a regular standup comedy performer in New York City and Los Angeles. Besides his extensive resume in film and TV, John also hosts a podcast called Household Faces, which he launched in August. The podcast consists of in-depth interviews with some of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors, where they impart listeners with wisdom about their craft. 

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer, rapper, and writer Dessa joins Rhett from her apartment in Manhattan to talk about how the pandemic has affected her life, the trope of the troubled artist, and touring in the age of COVID. Dessa explains why science is so important to her work, and delivers an unexpected response to the question of what she would tell her 21-year old self.

Dessa has made a career of bucking genres and defying expectations—her résumé as a musician includes performances at Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, co-compositions for 100-voice choir, performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, and top-200 entries on the Billboard charts. She contributed to the #1 album The Hamilton Mixtape: her track, “Congratulations,” has notched over 16 million streams. She’s been published by The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler, broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio, and published a memoir-in-essays (My Own Devices, 2018) in addition to two literary collections. She’s also delivered a TED Talk about her science experiment on how to fall out of love.  

Dessa is the host of Deeply Human, a podcast created by the BBC and American Public Media. You can find the NY Times article referenced in the episode. “5 Notes From a Quiet Year: How Music Survived The Pandemic” here.

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer-songwriter Shannon McNally joins Rhett from Austin, Texas to talk about her life as a songwriter, and her recent collaboration with Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band. Shannon tells Rhett about her songwriting process, and the new methods of collaboration that she’s enjoyed through writing with a full band. You’ll also hear about a transformative experience that she had when she was 15 at a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert, her “unreasonable standard for guitar playing,” and why it’s a good thing that it’s become harder to make money as a musician.

Shannon McNally is a singer-songwriter from Hempstead, New York. She has released 9 studio albums and contributed valuable additions to many others, including records with Dr. John, Neal Casal, Luther Dickinson, and many more talented musicians. In this episode you’ll hear about some of those collaborations, and about her unique path as an artist. She recently released an album titled The Waylon Sessions, which is now available on all streaming platforms.  

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Nick Hornby joins Rhett from Islington, North London to talk about the book that he’s currently working on, which happens to be about Charles Dickens (the writer) and Prince (the artist). Nick and Rhett discuss Nick’s evolution as a writer, his unique ability to write about music in a realistic way, and why the secret to success is doing the work and getting something done every day.  

Nick Hornby is an English writer and lyricist best known for his memoir Fever Pitch, and novels High Fidelity and About a Boy. Much of his writing is centered around sports, music, and the aimless and obsessive nature of his characters. His books have sold over 5 million copies worldwide and in 2004, BBC named Nick the 29th most influential person in British culture. He’s also written several screenplays, and some of his books have even been adapted into films, musicals, and television shows.  

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Kelly McCartney joins Rhett from Upstate New York to talk about her multifaceted career as a journalist and broadcaster, her show Record Bin Radio and why it’s “the dreamiest gig ever,” and why she thinks it’s important to trust your gut, while still trusting in the universe. You’ll also hear Kelly discuss her time as a personal assistant to Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, and the various grant funds that she’s started including Rainey Day Fund, which provides grants to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled roots music artists.

Kelly McCartney is a music journalist, broadcaster, playwright, and activist born in Louisiana. She’s worked a variety of jobs in the music industry ranging from processing copyrights, to booking live shows, to writing album reviews, to serving as an assistant for artists. She has hosted several podcasts, and currently hosts Record Bin Radio on Apple Music. On top of her work in music, she also devotes her time to organizations that help support marginalized artists, including Rainey Day Fund, Color Me Country, and Rosetta Fund.

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. 

Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most renowned songwriters and producers in the music industry, Sam Hollander joins Rhett to talk about “failing his way up the charts” and the intense creative process that’s led to his success. Sam tells Rhett why a conversation between his parents and Nile Rogers led to his career path, and shares a life lesson from basketball’s Steve Nash that changed how he approaches his work.

Sam has had multi-platinum success writing and producing for the likes of Panic! At The Disco, One Direction, Fitz and the Tantrums, Weezer, Katy Perry, Train, blink-182, Banners and Gym Class Heroes amongst many others. To date, he’s achieved 22 US Top 40 Hits, as well as 10 Number 1's, 10 top fives, and 87 Top 10 chart positions globally. His songs have been streamed over 5 billion times, and in 2019, he held the #1 position on the Billboard Rock Songwriters Chart for nine weeks, a year-end record. Sam has also been chosen to be on Variety's Hitmakers list, as well as being named Rolling Stone's Hot List Producer of the Year.

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. 

Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erika Wennerstrom joins Rhett from Mount Hood, Oregon to talk about the latest Heartless Bastards record, the intricacies of her creative process, and the concept of “music as medicine”. They discuss the importance of self-awareness and challenging oneself, and Erika shares the details of writing the epic, powerfully soulful song “Revolution”. 

Erika Wennerstrom is a singer-songwriter from Dayton, Ohio. She is the leader of the Ohio-based band Heartless Bastards, and she also has a career as a solo artist. Heartless Bastards have released six studio albums since they formed in 2003, and Erika released her debut album Sweet Unknown in 2018.  She’s currently working on a follow-up. The upcoming Heartless Bastards album, A Beautiful Life, comes out on September 10th and you can pre-save it here. 

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. 

Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Sarah Hepola joins Rhett from her home in Dallas, Texas to talk about her writing career, which began unofficially when she wrote a Shawshank Redemption-inspired story in 7th grade and sold a copy to a fellow classmate. Sarah tells Rhett about the importance of freeing her mind in order to be creative, and what she does to achieve the meditative state that allows her to write. The two discuss struggling with one’s inner monologue and whether self-doubt can be a useful tool, and Sarah’s got some wardrobe advice for her 21-year old self.

Sarah Hepola is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Blackout, an unblinkingly honest memoir about her past history with alcohol. She has written articles and essays for the New York Times Magazine, Elle, Bloomberg Businessweek, The Guardian, Salon, and Texas Monthly. She also contributes short personal essays to NPR’s Fresh Air. Sarah is currently working on a podcast for Texas Monthly about the cultural impact of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, which will be released this fall.

Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-produced by Kirsten Cluthe in partnership with Nick Ruffini (Revoice Media). Editing by Justin Thomas. Production Assistance by Matt Bavuso. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Katherine Boils. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Photo credit: Brandon Thibodeaux

Revisit Season One of Wheels Off with Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Will Forte, Lydia Loveless, Allison Moorer, Ted Leo, Paul F. Tompkins, Jen Kirkman, and more. This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Please leave us a rating or review on iTunes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices