Iconic is an overused word these days, but "Weird Al" Yankovic deserves that designation. During our conversation, Al talks about surviving in show business for 40 years and how he dealt with a very public career setback in the late '80s. +

Iconic horror director John Carpenter — the man behind "Halloween" — talks about being an outsider, what inspired him to make films, and how he accidentally became a full-time musician.

Mondo Cozmo frontman Josh Ostrander talks about being an overnight sensation...20 years in the making. He also gets into his recent visit to the Senate and discusses what he calls a "rock and roll freakout" that resulted in hours of surgery.

MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger talks about the band's early days — when it wasn't even a "band" — his time as a folklorist, his need to mean what he says, and the effect Wendell Berry had on both his life and work.

Jack Antonoff of Bleachers, Fun, and Steel Train had very specific ideas of what success in the music industry looked like. When his band Fun blew up, it also blew up those ideas and expanded his horizons. In this conversation, we talk about that explosion, the writing process, and "buying the delusion" as an artist when no one else will believe in you.

Jake Shears might be known as the guy from Scissor Sisters, but he's had a pretty big year on his own. He released an acclaimed memoir, made his Broadway debut in "Kinky Boots," and just announced his first solo album. During our conversation, we talk about the cascade of life changes that brought him to this point.

Jason Molina is one of the most capable, compelling, and confounding musicians of the last quarter century. We're celebrating his life and work as we mark five years since his passing in the spring of 2013. To do so, you'll hear from "Jason Molina: Riding With the Ghost" author Erin Osmon, Jim James, Scott Avett, Strand of Oaks frontman Tim Showalter, and Secretly Canadian Records co-founder Ben Swanson.

Comedian Hari Kondabolu has a lot to say about political correctness, racism, oppression, and the highly polarized nature of our country at the moment. But that doesn't make him a "political comic." During our conversation, we discuss Hari's process, his take on the "Roseanne" reboot, and getting more personal for his new Netflix special, "Warn Your Relatives."

Ted Leo discusses his love for "The Lord of the Rings," growing up as a punk kid, and his complicated relationship with Catholicism. This episode also features a live session recorded at the KEXP studios in Seattle.

Habibi might have formed in New York, but the band's roots are in Detroit — in more ways than one. Rahill Jamalifard and Lenny Lynch both from the Motor City, but the influence of Detroit's middle eastern community and its history of girl group garage rock can be heard loud and clear in their music.

Comedian Martha Kelly discusses her struggles with addiction, how Zach Galifianakis kept her from quitting the TV show "Baskets," and her unironic love of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Last year, Jessica Lea Mayfield opened up about her experiences with domestic violence. The conversation she started on Instagram ultimately culminated in "Sorry Is Gone," a collection of deeply personal, raw songs about her time in an abusive marriage and her journey out of it.

Wyclef Jean casts a big shadow in hip hop, R&B, and pop music. While The Fugees mega-hit "The Score" sold more records, his solo debut "The Carnival" is really what helped him cast that shadow. Some people have described it as a cold, calculated attempt by record execs to push urban music further into the mainstream. According to Wyclef, though, nobody knew if the record would even work!

Joe and Dave Henry, a folk singer and his screenwriter brother, ended up authoring the Richard Pryor biography "Furious Cool." At first glance, the connection makes no sense. Find out how it happened and why the brothers were obsessed with the legendary comedian.

A lot of stand-up comics claim to have a unique perspective, but let's get real: Most of them are shlubby bearded white dudes. Comedian Joel Kim Booster is a whole other story. Unique is an understatement when talking about his story and how it shapes his approach to comedy.

Killer Mike and El-P of Run the Jewels discuss the importance of being upfront with each other about their feelings and how it felt to meet their best friends (each other) later in life.

The new Manchester Orchestra album, "A Black Mile To The Surface," took a lot out of frontman Andy Hull. Not content to rest on his laurels, he decided to take a big swing while recording the new record by pushing himself creatively and emotionally.

Warpaint has always been hard to pin down, with their music sometimes leaning post-punk and other times leaning heavily in the direction of dream pop. Part of that may be due to the band's structure, which they call a "democracy of dictators."

Based on the premise alone, it's amazing that comedian Jon Glaser's "Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter" ended up becoming a real TV show on Adult Swim. Once you know the story behind its genesis, the level of amazement gets ratcheted up a few notches!

Karl Blau talks about how it felt to get a pretty unique gift from producer and longtime friend Tucker Martine — and entire album of '70s country soul covers meant to showcase Blau's voice. The result, "Introducing Karl Blau," was one of the best albums of 2016.

Craig Finn feels like he's finally graduated from "dabbler" to "solo artist" on his third solo record, "We All Want the Same Things." The album is full of stories about people navigating life, love, and teamwork in the middle section of life.

Grandmaster Flash was more integral in the creation of hip hop as we know it today than any other individual. While many people know him as the man behind "The Message," his journey began over a decade earlier as a little kid from the Bronx who was obsessed with his dad's stereo.

Steve Burns just released a new album, "Foreverywhere," with longtime collaborator Steven Drozd. This time it's heavily influenced by his past — specifically his time as the host of Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues." Yes, he's that Steve. We talk about the show, his relationship with Drozd, figuring out a path in life, and how being short helped him become "fame-ish," as he says.

Jim James of My Morning Jacket embraces uncertainty in his songwriting, but the act of writing songs seems to be an exercise in certitude. Sound confusing? Good. That's the best state of mind to be in when attempting to digest Jim's music — whether it's MMJ or his solo work.

Things have been a little slow around these parts, and there's a reason for that. I've been working feverishly on a new project with Kill Rock Stars. I'm excited about it and wanted to share it with you. Don't worry though, things are gonna pick up here again soon.

"Daily Show" co-creator Lizz Winstead discusses what originally inspired her to incorporate politics into her act. Downtown Boys frontwoman Victoria Ruiz talks about how her heritage and experiences in college influenced her approach to punk.

There's no guarantee 2017 will be any better than 2016. It might even be worse. That said, hope exists to spite evil, not despite evil. It's a giant middle finger to hate and fear. So as Beyonce would say...middle fingers up.

Lucius operates a little differently than most bands. Then again, most bands don't have dual vocalists wrapped in an ever-expanding assortment ostentatious matching outfits. Lucius' Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe discuss how they arrived at their unique aesthetic. Then, Jason Narducy of Split Single talks about why album number two took a dark turn.

Andrew Bird might be guilty of using "50 cent words" as he calls them — but he has his reasons. In this conversation, we talk about what those reasons are, as well as why he decided to eschew that approach on his last record, "Are You Serious." You'll also get some live cuts and a duets-only guest DJ set from him.

The Zombies came by the studio for an hour-long live set full of moving, stripped-down selections from their entire catalog — as well as plenty of anecdotes that you might not have heard before. Not gonna lie: I cried a couple of times during the recording.

Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! discusses her early years in punk and feeling out of place on stage before she came out as transgender. Bradford Cox of Deerhunter talks about growing up in a small town and how he discovered the outside world thanks to his local library. That's not a PSA, by the way. It's just a fact!

Aaron Weiss of mewithoutYou gets real about losing his father and how he managed to stay motivated as a musician. Ryan Kattner, aka Honus Honus of Man Man, discusses his very first solo record.

Rabid collaborator Neko Case talks about her desire to share music with others and how music served as her childhood companion. Comedian and host of the Risk! podcast Kevin Allison discusses lessons he learned from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bob Dylan.

Jimmy Eat World stopped by the studios recently to play an acoustic set for members at WFPK, and we've got that for you today. Twin Limb just released their debut album, "Haplo," and we've got a lush live set featuring tracks from the record.

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington discusses the difference between being an amateur musician and a professional. Comedian Cameron Esposito talks about a pious career path she abandoned.

This week on The Guestlist, we're looking back at our first year of existence and revisiting some memorable moments from Ethan Hawke, Bob Odenkirk, Femi Kuti, Margaret Cho, The Zombies, and Sadie Dupuis, among others.

Les Savy Fav frontman Tim Harrington explains the importance of "casual brilliance" in his approach to art. Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad talks about how music can transform mundane moments into epic events.

Longtime Louisville Public Media host James Bickers passed away last week at 45, and it hit us all hard. If you didn't live in Louisville or listen to WFPK and WFPL, you might not understand exactly how large an impact he had on the organization and the community. Since James was a consummate conversationalist, I thought the best way for me personally to pay tribute was to display those skills with this classic Ray Harryhausen interview.

Phosphorescent frontman Matthew Houck discusses his need for solitude when writing music as well as the difference between a musical palace and a musical shotgun shack. Emmy-winning comedy writer Josh Gondelman talks about his unique big break — tweeting about Seinfeld.

Andrew Bird discusses getting personal and being direct on his new record, "Are You Serious," and talks about how it feels to talk about it. Punk rock legend turned author Richard Hell get into the process behind writing his autobiography "I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp."

We'll be back next week, but here is a little tidbit to tide you over.

Okkervil River's new record, "Away," is out this week. In honor of the release, here's an extended cut of our interview with frontman Will Sheff, which includes some live cuts from Okkervil River's last record, "The Silver Gymnasium."

Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller is ageless. Or at least that's how he looks. That said, his boyish good looks belie his sage demeanor. This conversation illustrates that fact, with plenty of discussion about songwriting, life, meditation, and Peter Buck.

Death Cab for Cutie bassist Nick Harmer talks about the past and how it relates to the band's present — and how it doesn't. Music supervisor Thomas Golubic reveals why his dad was both a good and bad parent, which were for the exact same reasons.

Kurt Vile reveals his ultimate professional goal and discusses the first time he realized music could be his life. Comedian and director Bobcat Goldthwait talks about being a real-life Forrest Gump. Sort of.

Open Mike Eagle talks about how he got into the rap game and the importance of pulling back the curtain on the music industry. Former WWE world champ Mick Foley discusses an unlikely source of inspiration for his in-ring insanity.

Garage rocker King Khan talks about mirth, mayhem, magma, and meditation. You'll also hear a live set from The King Khan and BBQ Show recorded at KEXP in Seattle. Plus graphic designer Aaron Draplin talks about getting rid of classic rock ears.

I sat down with Afrobeat luminary and political activist Femi Kuti a few days ago, and it was so moving for me that I scrapped what I was working on and decided to present this interview in its entirety. You'll hear Femi talk about how his grandma changed his life forever, how defying his famous father almost ruined his career, and persevering when things looked bleak.

Margaret Cho isn't your average stand-up comic. She's not your average anything, for that matter. She dreamt of being a comedian in elementary school, she became a comedian in middle school (with Sam Rockwell, no less), and she became an intersectional feminist icon as an adult — one who also happens to be an author, actress, critic, fashion designer, and musician.

We're posting extended versions of some older interviews this week, starting with Aparna Nancherla's chat from a few months back. Over the weekend, she released her debut album, "Just Putting It Out There," on Tig Notaro's Bentzen Ball Records.

Honus Honus of Man Man talks about why he developed his unique onstage persona. Comedian Jenny Zigrino discusses the terror that can accompany a big break.

Old 97's frontman Rhett Miller talks about his approach to songwriting and his desire to make sure you're enjoying yourself. Daniel Ralston talks about a story he spent years contemplating, researching, and reporting — one that involves shady business dealings, impersonation, and cowboy hats.

Luke Wilson talks about working with Cameron Crowe on his new TV show, working with his family, and advice he's accrued over the last 20 years in show business. Adam Turla of Murder by Death discusses his band's beginnings and how he became a Kickstarter celebrity.

Deltron 3030's Del the Funky Homosapien and Dan the Automator discuss authenticity in hip hop, how Mega Man inspired their last record, and resisting the urge to play the game. The music industry game, that is. You'll also hear a live session from The Tallest Man on Earth and a tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali was more than an athlete. He was more than an icon. He was more than a prophet. When it comes to cultural significance, very few people can stand toe to toe with Ali. He contained a rare combination of ability, conviction, kindness, and bombast that'll never be replicated.

Comedian Margaret Cho talks about learning from all of her favorite musicians, constantly explaining her identity to audiences, and how sexual abuse affected her early in life. Lou Barlow of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. talks about how the serenity prayer has helped him. Well, sort of.

Nikki Glaser talks about the thought of quitting stand up comedy, dismantling the male gaze on stage, and her love of Wilco.

David Bazan and Damien Jurado have been close friends since high school. That said, they hadn't seen each other in years when they just so happened to be in Louisville at the same time. So they sat down in the studio and talked about their relationship and how their lives have mirrored each other.

Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff talks about how identity and artifice inform music. Yoni Wolf discusses doubt, discipline, and paying his mortgage.

Prince meant so many things to so many people. As a misfit kid that never really fit into the world around him, Prince was a beacon of hope for me. There's nothing I could say that would do his legacy justice, so here he is — in his own words.

Mike Watt of the Minutemen, Firehose, Dos, and the Stooges, talks about how one formative friendship and a tragic death defined his entire career.

X vocalist and bassist John Doe, a paragon of LA punk, talks about his musical roots and the earliest days of the scene.

Mike Watt of the Minutemen, Firehose, Dos, and the Stooges, talks about how one formative friendship and a tragic death defined his entire career. Another paragon of LA punk, John Doe, talks about his musical roots and the earliest days of the scene.

Ethan Hawke discusses insecurity, success, and failure as an artist. Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack talks about something pretty closely related to that: struggling with addiction and learning to love yourself.

Over a decade ago, Motion City Soundtrack frontman Justin Pierre was in the middle of recording "Commit This to Memory" — and in the middle of a battle with addiction. Needless to say, the influence on both was reflexive, but Justin didn't realize how true that was until celebrating the album's 10th anniversary.

Ethan Hawke has lost friends and loved ones to addiction. That fact gave him a visceral connection to the role of jazz legend Chet Baker in the film "Born to Be Blue." We talk about that, dealing with anxiety, and the transcendence of inhabiting a character.

John Waters didn't come by the nickname "the pope of trash" accidentally. His work — and his life, from a very early age — made it something of an inevitability. Which is just downright delightful.

Ian MacKaye might be known as the godfather of DIY punk after forming Discord Records while playing in Fugazi and Minor Threat, but his musical palate is much more diverse.

Hey, who invented rock and roll? Easy question, right? According to bluegrass legend Del McCoury, it's not who you think. We'll discuss that and his musical history in general. Jenny Lewis also talks about how revisiting her album "Rabbit Fur Coat" has given her new insight into the past.

Del McCoury isn't just a bluegrass legend. He got his start thanks to THE bluegrass legend, Bill Monroe. In this interview, McCoury talks about Monroe's formative role in not just bluegrass, but all popular music of the 20th century.

Jenny Lewis knows a thing or two about running from the past. The irony is that — while trying to run from it — she ended up running toward it and embracing the past in a strange way. It took the 10th anniversary of the album "Rabbit Fur Coat" for her to realize that.

Matisyahu helps me work through some serious issues on a very special anniversary — namely whether or not to shave my beard. I also talk to improvizational musical comedian Reggie Watts. Not about beards, but also about identity and defining yourself.

There's only one Reggie Watts. Not just because his act is unique, but because there are very few people in the world as sure of themselves and as affable — much less in the world of show business.

Matisyahu knows that facial hair isn't so trivial. You might even think it's insignificant at first glance, but you might reconsider after hearing this conversation with the formerly-bearded, formerly-Hasidic rapper.

Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz talks about egalitarianism in music and how she went from math major to major label employee. Mark and Jay Duplass discuss the positives and negatives of being successful filmmakers and family men.

Speedy Ortiz frontwoman Sadie Dupuis has experienced a lot of transition over the last year. The idea of transition is a recurring theme throughout this conversation, whether it's regarding her former life as a math major or her newfound flamboyance as a frontwoman.

Mark and Jay Duplass usually field film and TV projects involving family and identity. As it happens, they've built a small empire by focusing on those two things. It's no surprise those topics came up in earnest during this conversation.

Craig Finn talks about the difference between making music with The Hold Steady and making music on his own, as well as how his attitude has changed relative to those creative endeavors. Mike Birbiglia talk about his life story, because he wrote a story about his life — and turned it into a movie.

This interview with Mike Birbiglia is not for the faint of heart. I'll just go ahead and say that you shouldn't listen to it if The Backstreet Boys make you sick to your stomach.

For Craig Finn, it's not so much about raging and pounding beers these days. His solo records — which contain what he calls "age appropriate music" — seem to reflect that fact.

"Saturday Night Live" alum and stand-up comedian Brooks Wheelan discusses his one-year stint on the show and some of the reasons he didn't make it to a second season. Jesse and Sebastien of Death From Above 1979 talk about why they couldn't have made a second record if they hadn't broken up first.

Death From Above 1979's Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler are brothers. Maybe they aren't genetically or legally related, but the bond is there. It's palpable, and it shows in this conversation about their reunion, their latest record ("The Physical World"), and the joy of Merle Haggard.

Brooks Wheelan opens up about his time as a "5 to 1" guy on SNL, his former career as a biomedical engineer, and his recent quest to "become an adult."

Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies talk about realizing rock and roll could be a career and sitting in the back of the tour bus with the black musicians in the US. Colin Newman of Wire discusses the differences between British punk and American punk.

Wire was so secretly influential in American music that frontman Colin Newman didn't even know it for a couple of decades. We discuss the reasoning behind that, as well as the band's history and the differences between punk in the US and the UK.

The Zombies are quietly one of the most influential rock bands of all time. Part of it is the songwriting. Part of it is the production on their masterpiece, "Oddesey

Wayne Kramer of the legendary proto-punk outfit The MC5 talks about his time in prison on drug charges and gives you the lowdown on The MC5's surprisingly religious roots. We're also jump starting the Secretly Canadian Records 20th anniversary celebration with a chat from founder Chris Swanson.

Secretly Canadian has grown from a bedroom label to an indie rock behemoth over the last 20 years, with three other labels, a distribution arm, a publishing division, and a management company. Chris Swanson was there for it all. We talked about the label's past and present.

The MC5 and guitarist Wayne Kramer used to take people to church, so to speak. The incendiary proto-punk band's fervency and social conscience were second to none. But it's still hard to believe that their schema was influenced by the actual church.

Andrew WK talks about learning to embrace the entirety of the human experience, including the parts that don't necessarily feel good. Comedian Aparna Nancherla talks about diversity in the writers room and the importance of developing your own voice.

Andrew WK's mantra, "party hard," sounds simple. And maybe it is. And maybe it's simultaneously a rallying cry for embracing what we consider the binary existence of good and bad to transcend the usual definitions of those constructs. No, seriously. Just ask Andrew WK.

David Bowie always did it his way. In life — and in death.

Musician Damien Jurado discusses a spiritual awakening that took hold on a beach in Florida and how that affected his music. Actor Jesse Eisenberg talks about how it feels when your roles inhabit you — and not the other way around.

Yeah, Jesse Eisenberg does the big budget Hollywood acting thing. He's not just an actor, though. He's a playwright and an author — and not the same way most actors "try their hand at" writing. He can do it. And he needs to do it.

Five years ago, Damien Jurado began a musical journey that ultimately became a spiritual journey. It culminated in a trio of concept albums telling an outlandish story about a famous musician who becomes a conduit Jesus' return via space ship.

Josh Homme has his own radio show on Apple's Beats 1 these days, but this guest DJ session with Homme might just be the genesis of the Alligator Hour.

Dwight Yoakam started his career as a country music reject, touring with punk bands and feuding with Nashville. He ultimately became part of the establishment — only to find himself right back where he began all these years later, coloring outside the lines again. He talks about how it felt to recapture that early energy by working with Beck and what it was like to hear himself on the radio for the very first time.

You'll hear a live session from Bobby Bare Jr, and he'll tell you about the biggest mistake his famous father ever made. David Koechner of Anchorman fame emphasizes the importance of accruing wisdom for the sake of your family and breaks down his one year stint on Saturday Night Live.

We've got a live session from The Decemberists, and frontman Colin Meloy talks about how not quote enquote "making it" until he was a little older was a good thing. You'll also hear from Jon Glaser, star of the new show "Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter," as explains the ridiculous way he arrived at the show's equally ridiculous premise.

Neil Hamburger — comedian, musician, and star of the new film "Entertainment" — talks about life on the road, failure, and Ralph Kramden. You'll also hear a live set from Oklahoma indie rockers Broncho, as well as a conversation with frontman Ryan Lindsey about planning, performing, and mental health.

It's Thanksgiving week, so you should be less concerned with podcasts and about spending time with those Trump-loving aunts and uncles of yours. As such, we've got a Guestlist short this week. It's a quick guest DJ set from Henry Rollins.

Comedian and former Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac talks about why he gets on stage as a stand-up — and why comedy matters. Olivia Jean discusses her history with Third Man Records, from her time with the Black Belles up to the release of her solo debut, "Bathtub Love Killings."

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth talks about how playing acoustic living room shows helped him feel more connected to folks than he had in years. You'll also hear indie wrestling superstar Colt Cabana talk about why you should give pro wrestling a shot. And he's pretty convincing.

Musician and producer Ethan Johns discusses the unique perspective he gained from growing up in the music industry and how it feels to experience studio magic. Meanwhile, Ira Glass gets down to brass tacks on whether he prefers Nicki or Gaga. Don't worry, though, he's a fan of both.

Actor, Hobbit and former record label impresario Elijah Wood discusses the joy that stems from expanding your musical horizons. You'll also hear Bhi Bhiman talk about how it feels to be a musician's musician, and what it was like growing up as a first generation Sri Lankan-American.

Chef Edward Lee — of "Top Chef," "Mind of a Chef," and "Iron Chef America" fame — recounts how he got into the game and discusses why eating is even more important than most folks realize. You’ll also hear Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne talk about obsession, stubbornness, and being shown the future by Stanley Kubrick as a kid in Oklahoma.

Comedian and director Bobcat Goldthwait assures us that he is indeed alive — and he's making indie movies. Pocket square aficionado Jon Wurster takes us through his peculiar career path, starting out as an indie rock drummer and becoming a pioneer in the world of comedy podcasts. We also go undercover with The Hold Steady.

Strand of Oaks frontman Timothy Showalter talks about how he felt before recording his latest record, "HEAL," and how the record helped him get through it. The Sklar Brothers, Randy and Jason, take us into the strange nexus of comedy, music, and sports. We'll also call dibs on the showeroke. Yes, I said showeroke.

The After Dark podcast is no more. Not because it died, though. In fact, the show emerged from its cocoon as a rejuvenated senior citizen. No wait, that's something else. What you have here is both a more polished and weirder version of the old show. It's called The Guestlist. Steer into it!

"I try hard."

My conversation with musician Cass McCombs might've been the most "out there" 45 minutes on the show thus far. God, the nature of reality, truth, society, existing in the moment, the separation and fragmentation of the self — and just the first five minutes. OK, not really. But we did hit on all of that and more during our chat.

Since Thursday is Christmas, I won't be airing an interview on the radio. That also means no interview online this week. So in lieu of that, I have a mighty fine Christmas present for you. All you've gotta do is put up with my list of the best records from 2014...

Carl Newman isn't just the frontman of The New Pornographers. He's also a dad, a husband, a homeowner, a fan of The Monkees, and a down-to-earth member of the indie rock elite. We talked about his preference for Nesmith over Parsons, his appreciation for Mark Kozelek's honesty (even when it comes across as pettiness), and having no idea what works musically — until the moment you hear it, anyway.

Now that he's three records into his return to music, Yusuf Islam (better known as Cat Stevens before his conversion to Islam) sounds comfortable but not complacent. "Tell 'Em I'm Gone" isn't exactly the record you'd expect from him, but it's one that was a few decades in the making.

Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Tony Millionaire did something during his guest DJ set that no one had ever done before — he serenaded me. If you heard the sound collage in episode 233.5, you already know that. If not, go listen to it. In addition to that, though, Tony gave me some insight into his accidental development into a professional cartoonist.

During my interview with Tony Millionaire, instead of doing what most folks do for the guest DJ portion, tony decided to sing his picks to me. So I ended up being serenaded by the man behind Drinky Crow for almost half an hour. Sadly, I lost big chunks of the audio, but I've pieced some of it together here as a beautiful sound collage.

It probably won't surprise you that Black Lips bassist/vocalist Jared Swilley's reckless abandon on stage is tied to his religious upbringing. However, it might surprise you to find out that it's not because of rebelliousness, but because of how much he enjoyed being in church.

Hopefully the name "The Handsome Family" rings a bell. Even if it doesn't, there's a good chance you'll recognize at least one of the husband-and-wife duo's songs. That's thanks to the HBO sensation "True Detective," which used "Far From Any Road" as its theme.

Six albums in, Laura Jane Grace and the gang have given us quite possible the best Against Me! full-length to date. With the record comes a newfound freedom for Laura Jane as well, considering this is her first since coming out as transgender two years ago. She and I talk about the transition, her early years in punk, and 90 Pound Wuss. Plus she performs an acoustic version of "True Trans Soul Rebel."

My interview with King Khan is prefaced by a few words about the passing of Robin Williams and the frailty of life. That might seem like an odd pairing dictated solely by circumstance at face value, but my conversation with Arish "King" Khan was largely about living life to its fullest and being present with those around you (in addition to some hilarious and NSFW stuff). So it ended up all fitting together in a strange way.

I knew this was going to be a special time when I walked in on Del the Funky Homosapien and Dan the Automator (two thirds of Deltron 3030) arguing with one another about disco. Sure enough, it was a spirited conversation about hip hop, authenticity and secret mandolins. Oh and by the way, their new record, "Event 2," is badass!

When something goes wrong, it's comedian Rory Scovel's fault. Or at least that's how he seems to feel most of the time. That said, it's hard to believe Scovel is capable of doing any wrong. In addition to being incredibly funny, he's just so darn likeable.

I didn't have long to chat with Andrew Bird during Bonnaroo, but thankfully I had something to dive right in with: his new album, full of songs written by The Handsome Family (whose music you may recognize thanks to "True Detective"). It's out now, and it's called "Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of..."

In my second interview with comedian Chris Gethard, we talk a bit about Chris's transition from improv to stand-up, handling failure, our first interview, and plenty of punk rock similes.

Just in case you were worried (or, conversely, in case you got your hopes up), I'll go ahead right now and say that Bob Mould and I didn't talk about professional wrestling for half an hour during our second interview. Instead, we discussed the genesis of his new "Beauty and Ruin" LP, as well as how he's still being affected by a recent period of self-reflection.

Murder by Death recently relocated from their longtime home of Bloomington, Ind., to right here in Louisville. So I sat down with frontman (and apparent tech guru, thanks to Kickstarter) Adam Turla to discuss the move, the band's history, his songwriting process, and utilizing technology.

Jordan Kurland moved to San Francisco 19 years ago with the plan to learn the ropes as a band manager, then move somewhere else. Well, he's still there and still managing bands (like Death Cab, The New Pornographers, and Bob Mould) all these years later. Jordan and I talked about how his locale has affected his outlook on the music industry, as well as where things are in general in the music world.

I sat down with Lou Barlow in a makeshift arcade to discuss his relationship to his songs, his relationship to live music and his relationship to bad reviews. You know, lots of relationships.

Yoni Wolf of Why? is a homeowner...with a mortgage. And his place is beautiful. But we didn't spend the entire interview talking about how he bought and renovated his home (although we do spend a little time on that). Instead, Yoni and I go through his musical history and discuss the ins and outs of how he plies his trade.

Sometimes it's all about context, and that definitely seemed to be the case for Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. He was in the midst of his first acoustic living room tour when I sat down with him, and it looked like that change of context completely reinvigorated him. Part of it was obviously the change in scenery (from a rock club to a small room with no stage). But it also seemed like part of it was being divorced from the narrative that had developed around the band years ago during the music blog boom. Either way, it was interesting to talk with him about the newfound energy and his take on songwriting.

Ryan Kattner doesn't consider himself a songwriter or a frontman or even a musician. Never mind the fact that actually fronts Man Man and writes most of the music. But according to him, that approach is what makes it possible to do what he's done with the band over the last decade.

Wax Fang just released a 42-minute space rock concept album, and it is epic in every sense of the word. More importantly, though, it's amazing, too! Frontman and guitarist Scott Carney sat down to discuss the record, as well as Wax Fang's recent involvement with the show "American Dad."

Mick Foley is a modern day renaissance man — wrestler, author, comedian, Santa impersonator, feminist, Disney Channel enthusiast. Well, I'm not sure about that last one, but he did take his favorite porn star to watch the dress rehearsal of a Disney TV show. That counts for something, right?

During my conversation with Les Savy Fav frontman Tim Harrington, I realized that he is a paradox wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a beard. He simultaneously embodies what might be seen as a folk art mentality (both in his musical performances and his other work), even though he was trained at RISD. Oh yeah, and he's also not into "freaky creepy funky fusion." Sorry, Mike Patton.

In honor of The Best Show on WFMU ending its run of 13 glorious years, I'm revisiting my conversations with Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster. The show has been such a huge influence on me – not just as a guy on the radio, but as a human being who loves ridiculous, endearing, hilarious things.

Not only did Richard Hell belong to the blank generation, he helped create it. He and I talked about what it was like to become a punk rocker when there was no punk rock, his transition from full-time musician to full-time author, and what it was like to condense his entire universe into a book (his recent autobiography, "I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp").

At first glance, it might seem a little odd that the Henry brothers wrote a Richard Pryor biography (titled "Furious Cool"). But after you hear the story behind the story, it all makes sense — and in many ways, the uinque nature of their journey makes the book even more interesting. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Here's the first interview from my recent trip to New York City, and it's with a quintessential New York comedian. Sure, Todd Barry spent most of his adolescence in Florida, but his heart was always in NYC.

When it comes to musicians with a punk rock past (and a punk rock present, for that matter), there aren't a lot of folks that are as legit as Ted Leo. I'm not just referring to aesthetics or the knowledge of punk rock history. I'm talking about someone who really attempts to embody the best aspects of what punk rock has represented over the decades. Plus he's written a ton of badass songs in the last 25 years – including a few with Aimee Mann for their upcoming album as The Both, which we hit on during our conversation.

There are way too many things I could say about Mac McCaughan and his various endeavors (whether it's Merge Records, Superchunk or his other bands from the past), because they helped shape who I am today. And if you're a fan of indie/alt/college rock, or whatever they've called it in the 24 years that Merge and Superchunk have been around, there's a pretty good chance the feeling is mutual. So I'll just let my conversation with Mac (which touches on the new 'Chunk record "I Hate Music," getting older, running a label and being intentional about listening to music) do the talking.

Kelly Hogan is such a charmer. If you don’t believe me, consider this: How many people could make you feel like being a centerfold in Sexy Santa Quarterly is a good thing? Yeah, see what I mean? In addition to her enchanting disposition, Kelly gets around a bit (musically speaking). So that comes up in our conversation, as does her love of Kiss.

For this episode, I was tempted to come up with an incredibly personal, possibly gross story that I'd never told before in honor of my interview with Kevin Allison. That's what he does, and what he encourages others to do, on his show Risk: tell bold stories, and tell them boldly. But instead, I decide to let our conversation about Cincinnati, coming out, Catholicism and 45s speak for itself.

I've never really believed that Wayne Coyne is the crazy musical Willy Wonka that some people make him out to be. Sure, he makes weird art and dances in the street at the intersection of music and commerce, but I've always felt like he was just a down-to-earth guy who also happened to have the balls to run his freak flag up the pole and salute it proudly. And after my conversation with him, I'm more convinced of that fact.

For fans of pocket squares, perfect timekeeping and weekly phone call-based comedy, Jon Wurster is about as high profile as it gets. It was a pleasure to sit down with him before Forecastle Fest and try to figure out exactly what makes him tick (here's a hint: it doesn't involve practice).

When Baroness played Bonnaroo during their first tour back after a near-fatal bus crash, I got to sit next to John Baizley and talk about what it was like to come back from that. Watching him talk about "getting on the fucking horse" after almost losing everything was a pretty intense and moving intense experience.

When I sat down with Japandroids, I didn't expect to talk about being a duo and how their "origin story" affected the rest of their career. Those subjects have been covered heavily. Very heavily. But they both came up. That said, it was in a different context than usual — namely how those topics relate to mystique in music and the relational dynamic between bands and fans.

Here's the last entry in the series of interviews about the film "A Band Called Death." This time, I talk to the band members themselves: Bobby Hackney, Dannis Hackney and the latest addition to the band, Bobbie Duncan.

My interview with Scott Mosier is a testament to just how engaging and compelling the story of (and the story behind) "A Band Called Death" is. I wanted to cover some other subjects during our conversation, since Scott is an accomplished filmmaker, writer and podcaster — but we never made it past "A Band Called Death," which he produced. We geeked out about it for 45 minutes, and both of us could've kept going for at least another hour.

This is the first in a series of interviews (which I previewed a few weeks back) about the documentary "A Band Called Death." I'm kicking it off with the directors, Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino. The film tells the story of arguably the first punk rock record — which eventually became known as "...For the Whole World to See" after sitting on the shelf for 35 years — and the brothers who wrote and recorded the music (Bobby, Dannis, and the late David Hackney).

You know that guy who can offer a seemingly authoritative opinion on just about any topic extemporaneously and sound like an expert in the subject at hand? So do I. That guy is Billy Bragg. We covered so much ground during our 45 minute conversation, and it was amazing to sit across from him and soak it all up.

My conversation with comedian Andy Kindler may end up having a life-changing effect on me. It ultimately depends on what the doctor says, but you can figure out exactly what I'm talking about when you listen. Too many words to type on that front. Plus we covered a lot of other good stuff, like comic books, music, spirituality and The Best Show.

It's been an interesting year for Mike Bridavsky. He went from running a recording studio in Bloomington to traveling around the country so people can stare at his cat. And no, that's not a euphemism. He owns Lil Bub, one of the most popular cats on the internet. Mike and I talked a bit about balancing Lil Bub duties with recording work and what it's like when flying your famous cat around becomes a full-time job.

I always suspected that Jake Fogelnest was something of a kindred spirit. Those suspicions were confirmed at SXSW, when I chatted with him about music, the '90s nostalgia onslaught, the importance of context and, last but certainly not least, The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling.

Girl Germs, Bratmobile, Lookout!, Indivision Management, Simple Social Graces, eMusic. Molly Neuman has been involved in just about every facet of the music business at a pretty high level. Like many industry veterans, however, she didn't set out to play the game. So it was nice to hear about her journey from enthusiastic zinester to digital music trailblazer.

My conversation with Ian MacKaye covers a lot of ground, but one of the most inspiring threads therein is the idea of lifelong adherence to the punk ethos. Listening to MacKaye talk about his steadfast approach to the world around him serves as a palpable reminder that you can indeed navigate life without compromising who you are.

During SXSW, I had the pleasure of screening a documentary near and dear to my heart: "A Band Called Death." It tells the story of the Detroit band Death, who arguably invented punk in the '70s, only to have their music sit on the shelf for almost 35 years. I also had a chance to chat with the band and the directors of the documentary.

During SXSW 2012, one of my favorite conversations was with a gentleman that now goes by the name Jonny Fritz (who, we decided during our chat, is what you might call an inlaw goodass). When I found out that he would be back this year, I had to sit down with him again and talk about things that've changed in the intervening months.

In celebration of Dogfish Head Brewery's latest core beer, Sixty-One, founder Sam Calagione and Will Oldham planned a special event at Louisville's Holy Grale to feature the beer and the Bonnie "Prince" Billy song it inspired. I had a chance to sit down with Sam and Will beforehand to talk about the new beer and their longstanding friendship.

I'm still giddy about this one. There are so many things I want to say about having the opportunity to speak with Dick Cavett (Dick Cavett!!) for my 150th episode. But instead of writing 3,000 words, I'll just let you listen to it.

During my conversation with Radiolab co-creator Jad Abumrad, I had a chance to explore his approach to storytelling. Turns out, it has more to do with film than it does with radio - which starts to make sense when you look at his life pre-Radiolab. Jad also took some interest in my love of The Beach Boys, because neither of us are head over heels in love with The Beatles.

There aren't many people — much less comedians in the public eye — who are willing to candidly discuss their professional failings. That said, Chris Gethard is an exception to the rule, and it was pretty inspiring to see how those career hardships have shaped his worldview in a positive way. Plus he loves artisanal soda, which I can get behind.

147: Kevin Ratterman by The Guestlist

142: Henry Rollins by The Guestlist

121: Kris Kristofferson by The Guestlist

114: Steve Albini by The Guestlist