Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

This week, chef Silvia Barban joins Rhett to spread some positive energy and share the story about how she learned to cook the food that would make her a culinary star. Silvia tells Rhett about spending time in the kitchen with her Grandmother in Italy, and the moment when she realized that she wanted to make everyone feel good with her food. The two discuss why creating food is like creating art, Silvia explains her approach of “transporting people” through meals she makes, and why her family called her “Earthquake” when she was a kid.

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Suzanne Santo joins Rhett from her home in Los Angeles to talk about focusing on self-care during the pandemic, the pressure to create, and how the forced downtime for the music industry could result in a new and improved model. The two wax ecstatic about Ohio, discuss live streaming and Zoom performances, and Suzanne recalls the time she sang “River” for Joni Mitchell.

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Jack Burditt is an American producer and screenwriter who has worked on television shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Frasier, Modern Family, 30 Rock, and The Mindy Project. He joins Rhett from his home in California to talk about getting his start with a spec script for Seinfeld, balancing creative bravery with the need to pay the bills, and how staying away from social media (and television) finally allowed him to finish his novel. He tells Rhett about what he’s learned from writing sitcoms, and the two reminisce about that time he convinced Rhett (and friends) to appear on an episode of 30 Rock.

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Emily Wolfe joins Rhett from her hometown of Austin to talk about writing music for her next record, why she was drawn to the guitar at a very young age, and where she developed her strong work ethic. The two discuss why the music industry is more challenging now than for previous generations, the enormous power of her live performances, and the unstoppable drive that keeps her going.

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This week, comedian Wyatt Cenac joins Rhett to talk about figuring out his next creative project while adjusting to a new normal, what it feels like to perform online, and recalls the days when he was an intern at SNL. Wyatt tells Rhett about that time he took a test to determine what career path he should take, the unexpected impact of his “Happy Hour Record Club” (Instagram), and what it really means to be persistent.

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Poet and author Maggie Smith joins Rhett from her home outside of Columbus, OH. to talk about getting naked emotionally and how her new book, Keep Moving, came together through a series of notes she was writing to herself. The two talk about finding silver linings during the pandemic, and Maggie explains why it’s important to bring a sense of wonder to your work.

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In this episode, Rhett chats with musician Kevin Morby about his latest album, Sundowner, and what he’s been up to creatively since the album’s release. Kevin tells Rhett about growing up in the midwest, his early influences and the impact that a particular Nick Cave performance had on him, and what happened when he sent Jon Hamm an email. 

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Joey Santiago, composer and lead guitarist for The Pixies, joins Rhett to talk about what he’s been up to during the pandemic, his renowned career and friendship with Pixies lead Charles Thompson, aka Frank Black. Joey tells Rhett about the first time he saw a live guitar performance and why it inspired him to learn to play. They discuss the benefits of seeing cover bands and that time at Largo when Joey was due to perform with Rhett (but didn’t show up).

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Musician, writer, and actor Joe Pernice joins Rhett from his home in Toronto to talk about his career in music, which began when he joined the Scud Mountain Boys while in grad school. Joe tells Rhett about the complex musicality of Barry Manilow songs, which he covers on his new album, what he does to clear his head, and the importance of replacing ‘micro-damaging things’ with micro positive things.

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Gordy Quist, singer-songwriter and guitarist for the Band of Heathens, joins Rhett from his studio in Austin to talk about how he went from being a linebacker at Dartmouth to a successful “middle class” musician, the sense of brotherhood he gets from being in a band, and why being an independent artist has given Band of Heathens longevity.

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