Alexander 23’s path to this point has been anything but a straight line. He was studying mechanical engineering at university before he quit to pursue music full time with the band The Heydaze, which signed a deal with Island Records. When they split he decided to focus on songwriting and producing, but when he found that unfulfilling he returned to playing music and building his solo career. It’s all worked out well – not only is his solo career flying off the back of songs likes "IDK You Yet" and his debut album Aftershock, but he was also nominated for a GRAMMY for co-producing Olivia Rodrigo’s "good 4 u", all of which we talk about in this interview.

Alexander 23’s path to this point has been anything but a straight line. He was studying mechanical engineering at university before he quit to pursue music full time with the band The Heydaze, which signed a deal with Island Records. When they split he decided to focus on songwriting and producing, but when he found that unfulfilling he returned to playing music and building his solo career. It’s all worked out well – not only is his solo career flying off the back of songs likes "IDK You Yet" and his debut album Aftershock, but he was also nominated for a GRAMMY for co-producing Olivia Rodrigo’s "good 4 u", all of which we talk about in this interview.

Alexander 23

Ken Casey

Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys' 11th studio album is called This Machine Still Kills Fascists. The record features a collection of Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics set to music. The seeds of the project were sown some years ago when the band befriended Woody’s daughter, Nora. Her son was a fan of the Dropkick Murphys and saw in the band a group of kindred spirits who embodied Woody’s everyman working class ethic. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as going deep into Ken’s life and career with the Dropkick Murphys, from fighting Nazis at punk shows to the DIY spirit that’s driven them from the day they formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1996.

Dropkick Murphys' 11th studio album is called This Machine Still Kills Fascists. The record features a collection of Woody Guthrie’s unpublished lyrics set to music. The seeds of the project were sown some years ago when the band befriended Woody’s daughter, Nora. Her son was a fan of the Dropkick Murphys and saw in the band a group of kindred spirits who embodied Woody’s everyman working class ethic. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as going deep into Ken’s life and career with the Dropkick Murphys, from fighting Nazis at punk shows to the DIY spirit that’s driven them from the day they formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1996.

Ken Casey (Dropkick Murphys)

There aren't many artists touring the world right now who can say they were once part of the Obama administration. Bartees Strange can, thanks to his time as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Federal Communications Commission. He also worked in the labour and climate movements, but before that he was an active member of the music scene in and around Oklahoma, where he was raised. He admits he strayed from music for a few years after he moved to DC to pursue politics, but playing and performing kept calling him back. Little by little he started to refocus his energies on his music career. In the years since he’s enjoyed a steady climb up the indie ladder, and he’s now two albums deep into his career, with his latest, Farm To Table, drawing on influences as diverse as country, pop, hip-hop and hardcore to make a sound that is uniquely his own. We talk about it all in this interview!

There aren't many artists touring the world right now who can say they were once part of the Obama administration. Bartees Strange can, thanks to his time as the Deputy Press Secretary for the Federal Communications Commission. He also worked in the labour and climate movements, but before that he was an active member of the music scene in and around Oklahoma, where he was raised. He admits he strayed from music for a few years after he moved to DC to pursue politics, but playing and performing kept calling him back. Little by little he started to refocus his energies on his music career. In the years since he’s enjoyed a steady climb up the indie ladder, and he’s now two albums deep into his career, with his latest, Farm To Table, drawing on influences as diverse as country, pop, hip-hop and hardcore to make a sound that is uniquely his own. We talk about it all in this interview!

Bartees Strange

My guest for this 100th episode is bona fide musical legend Don Was. Don was a founding member of Was (Not Was), and he’s a GRAMMY-winning producer who’s worked with artists such as Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss and John Mayer, to name a few. He’s currently playing bass with Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir in Bobby Weir &amp; Wolf Bros, and he’s also the president of one of the world’s most famous record labels, Blue Note Records. We talk about it all in this interview!

My guest for this 100th episode is bona fide musical legend Don Was. Don was a founding member of Was (Not Was), and he’s a GRAMMY-winning producer who’s worked with artists such as Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss and John Mayer, to name a few. He’s currently playing bass with Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir in Bobby Weir &amp; Wolf Bros, and he’s also the president of one of the world’s most famous record labels, Blue Note Records. We talk about it all in this interview!

Don Was

Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams' voice has been turning heads since he was a teen singing in the church choir – it was enough to convince Bradley Cooper to cast him in A Star Is Born, in which his character performed a beautiful version of Roy Orbison’s "Pretty Woman" alongside Brandi Carlile. He continues to act to this day, but it’s music for which Marlon is perhaps best known. He was raised in the small New Zealand town of Lyttelton, and cut his teeth in New Zealand before relocating to Australia, after which he toured the world on the back of his 2015 self-titled debut album and its follow up, Make Way For Love. Marlon now lives back in New Zealand, which is where he was when we caught up in late July. And while we talk about his entire life and career in this interview, we started by talking about his new album, My Boy…

Marlon Williams' voice has been turning heads since he was a teen singing in the church choir – it was enough to convince Bradley Cooper to cast him in A Star Is Born, in which his character performed a beautiful version of Roy Orbison’s "Pretty Woman" alongside Brandi Carlile. He continues to act to this day, but it’s music for which Marlon is perhaps best known. He was raised in the small New Zealand town of Lyttelton, and cut his teeth in New Zealand before relocating to Australia, after which he toured the world on the back of his 2015 self-titled debut album and its follow up, Make Way For Love. Marlon now lives back in New Zealand, which is where he was when we caught up in late July. And while we talk about his entire life and career in this interview, we started by talking about his new album, My Boy…

When Orlando Higginbottom – AKA Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – releases his new album When The Lights Go on September 9, it will be 10 years since his previous LP, Trouble. Orlando wasn’t completely quiet over that period, having toured the world and released a series of EPs and singles. But after the success of Trouble he went through something of a personal and creative crisis as he struggled to figure out how to operate in the music industry, which was one of the things that contributed to the 10-year gap between albums. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as Orlando’s upbringing in Oxford, his path into music, his memories of playing with Flume in Sydney while touring Trouble and, of course, the making of When The Lights Go.

When Orlando Higginbottom – AKA Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – releases his new album When The Lights Go on September 9, it will be 10 years since his previous LP, Trouble. Orlando wasn’t completely quiet over that period, having toured the world and released a series of EPs and singles. But after the success of Trouble he went through something of a personal and creative crisis as he struggled to figure out how to operate in the music industry, which was one of the things that contributed to the 10-year gap between albums. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as Orlando’s upbringing in Oxford, his path into music, his memories of playing with Flume in Sydney while touring Trouble and, of course, the making of When The Lights Go.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

In 2016, Moonchild Sanelly wrote down a list of goals she wanted to achieve in the next 10 years, and they included collaborating with Beyoncé, Diplo and Damon Albarn. She achieved those goals in half the time, singing on Gorillaz' 2020 album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, collaborating with Beyoncé on the song “My Power” from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, and singing with Diplo on DJ Raybel’s song “Whole Night”. Driven by an unshakable self belief, an image that turns heads, and a genre of music that she calls Future Ghetto Funk – which incorporates South African house, R&amp;B, electro, pop, funk and rock – Moonchild Sanelly’s rise from the South African city of Port Elizabeth has been nothing short of spectacular. She calls herself the president of the female orgasm and preaches messages of sexual positivity and emancipation, and her latest album Phases seeks to give a voice to women from all walks of life. We talk about it all in this interview.

In 2016, Moonchild Sanelly wrote down a list of goals she wanted to achieve in the next 10 years, and they included collaborating with Beyoncé, Diplo and Damon Albarn. She achieved those goals in half the time, singing on Gorillaz' 2020 album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, collaborating with Beyoncé on the song “My Power” from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, and singing with Diplo on DJ Raybel’s song “Whole Night”. Driven by an unshakable self belief, an image that turns heads, and a genre of music that she calls Future Ghetto Funk – which incorporates South African house, R&amp;B, electro, pop, funk and rock – Moonchild Sanelly’s rise from the South African city of Port Elizabeth has been nothing short of spectacular. She calls herself the president of the female orgasm and preaches messages of sexual positivity and emancipation, and her latest album Phases seeks to give a voice to women from all walks of life. We talk about it all in this interview.

Moonchild Sanelly

Alex Lynn – AKA Sydney singer-songwriter Alex The Astronaut – is one of those people who can seemingly do whatever she puts her mind to. She might be one of Australia’s most popular singer-songwriters, but after she left school she won a soccer scholarship to Long Island University, where she graduated with a degree in maths and physics. While she was still studying her music had started to get airplay in Australia, and luckily for us she decided to dedicate herself to that career rather than sport or science. The past few years have been a period of intense growth for Alex, as she became a carer for a sick loved one, and came to terms with being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her new record How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater chronicles these experiences, but in a way that’s as whimsical and observational as it is emotionally moving. We talk about it all in this interview, as well Alex's upbringing in Australia and the UK, her path into music, the influence of artists like Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, and loads more. 

Alex Lynn – AKA Sydney singer-songwriter Alex The Astronaut – is one of those people who can seemingly do whatever she puts her mind to. She might be one of Australia’s most popular singer-songwriters, but after she left school she won a soccer scholarship to Long Island University, where she graduated with a degree in maths and physics. While she was still studying her music had started to get airplay in Australia, and luckily for us she decided to dedicate herself to that career rather than sport or science. The past few years have been a period of intense growth for Alex, as she became a carer for a sick loved one, and came to terms with being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Her new record How To Grow A Sunflower Underwater chronicles these experiences, but in a way that’s as whimsical and observational as it is emotionally moving. We talk about it all in this interview, as well Alex's upbringing in Australia and the UK, her path into music, the influence of artists like Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly, and loads more.

Alex The Astronaut

James Bay

British singer-songwriter James Bay recently released his third album, Leap. He finished recording it early in 2020, but – in an all too familiar scenario – the pandemic hit and put all of James’s release and touring plans on hold. The silver lining was that it gave him time to write more songs, and re-evaluate what he wanted to say with the record. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as his upbringing in the UK, surviving the explosion of success that came with his debut album Chaos and the Calm, and loads more.

British singer-songwriter James Bay recently released his third album, Leap. He finished recording it early in 2020, but – in an all too familiar scenario – the pandemic hit and put all of James’s release and touring plans on hold. The silver lining was that it gave him time to write more songs, and re-evaluate what he wanted to say with the record. We talk about that whole journey in this interview, as well as his upbringing in the UK, surviving the explosion of success that came with his debut album Chaos and the Calm, and loads more.

mxmtoon is the definition of a modern pop star. She grew up in Oakland making music in her bedroom and posting covers of pop songs she'd perform on her ukulele to YouTube. Eventually she started uploading original songs to SoundCloud, and by the time she left school she had more than 10,000 followers on the platform. That trajectory hasn’t really slowed since, and part of the reason for that – besides the fact she makes incredibly captivating indie pop – is the deep bond she’s formed with her audience. As she says in this interview she’s pretty much grown up online, and her social media and YouTube presence helped her forge an organic connection with her fans without the help of traditional music industry gatekeepers like record labels. It’s a fascinating story and one we go deep on in this interview.

mxmtoon is the definition of a modern pop star. She grew up in Oakland making music in her bedroom and posting covers of pop songs she'd perform on her ukulele to YouTube. Eventually she started uploading original songs to SoundCloud, and by the time she left school she had more than 10,000 followers on the platform. That trajectory hasn’t really slowed since, and part of the reason for that – besides the fact she makes incredibly captivating indie pop – is the deep bond she’s formed with her audience. As she says in this interview she’s pretty much grown up online, and her social media and YouTube presence helped her forge an organic connection with her fans without the help of traditional music industry gatekeepers like record labels. It’s a fascinating story and one we go deep on in this interview.

mxmtoon

Former Rolling Stone editor Rod Yates sits down with some of music’s biggest stars and behind-the-scenes players and asks: How did they get where they are today? What made them who they are? How have they navigated the ups and downs of life and their career, and what have they learned along the way? The results are frequently funny, occasionally heartbreaking, often educational and always very, very revealing. Come behind the scenes and discover what makes these music-makers human.

Humans of Music

Butch Walker

Over the past three decades Butch Walker has lived the ups and downs of the music industry. In the early '90s his glam metal band Southgang were signed to a major label, only for changing musical trends and record label politics to put an end to their career; it all  happened again a decade later with his band the Marvelous 3. Despite these setbacks Butch has built a career as an acclaimed solo artist and a songwriter and producer whose credits include P!nk, Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer and many, many more. We talk about all this, as well as his latest solo album, American Love Story.

Over the past three decades Butch Walker has lived the ups and downs of the music industry. In the early '90s his glam metal band Southgang were signed to a major label, only for changing musical trends and record label politics to put an end to their career; it all  happened again a decade later with his band the Marvelous 3. Despite these setbacks Butch has built a career as an acclaimed solo artist and a songwriter and producer whose credits include P!nk, Taylor Swift, Green Day, Weezer and many, many more. We talk about all this, as well as his latest solo album, American Love Story.

Brian Fallon

For a brief period before Brian recorded his latest album, Local Honey, he considered giving up music as a full-time profession. With 40 just around the corner, and a career that had far exceeded what he could have hoped for while working construction in New Jersey in his early 20s, he found himself wondering where he fit in, and what he had left to do. It wasn’t the first time he’d had something of a career crisis. As he explains in this interview, the success he experienced in The Gaslight Anthem was tainted by external pressures and an at-times combative media, which ultimately contributed to the band’s breakup. We talk about all that and more in this interview, as Brian takes us through his upbringing in New Jersey, his early days with The Gaslight Anthem and the ups and downs of their success, the decision to split that band and how it’s all led him to where he is today.

For a brief period before Brian recorded his latest album, Local Honey, he considered giving up music as a full-time profession. With 40 just around the corner, and a career that had far exceeded what he could have hoped for while working construction in New Jersey in his early 20s, he found himself wondering where he fit in, and what he had left to do. It wasn’t the first time he’d had something of a career crisis. As he explains in this interview, the success he experienced in The Gaslight Anthem was tainted by external pressures and an at-times combative media, which ultimately contributed to the band’s breakup. We talk about all that and more in this interview, as Brian takes us through his upbringing in New Jersey, his early days with The Gaslight Anthem and the ups and downs of their success, the decision to split that band and how it’s all led him to where he is today.

Addiction has touched the lives of The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz. Jeremiah’s brother, with whom Wes was also close, was just 19 when he died of a heroin overdose. Wes meanwhile has been dealing with the addiction of an anonymous family member for years. And it’s these experiences that inform The Lumineers latest album, III. It’s a concept album split in three chapters and focused on three generations of the fictional Sparks family, who are torn apart by drug addiction, alcoholism and tragedy. Not surprisingly, writing it touched on a lot of raw emotions for both Wes and Jeremiah as they explain in this interview. We also talk about the band’s formative years, the intense levels of dedication it took the duo to find success, how music helped them with their grief and much more.

Addiction has touched the lives of The Lumineers' Jeremiah Fraites and Wesley Schultz. Jeremiah’s brother, with whom Wes was also close, was just 19 when he died of a heroin overdose. Wes meanwhile has been dealing with the addiction of an anonymous family member for years. And it’s these experiences that inform The Lumineers latest album, III. It’s a concept album split in three chapters and focused on three generations of the fictional Sparks family, who are torn apart by drug addiction, alcoholism and tragedy. Not surprisingly, writing it touched on a lot of raw emotions for both Wes and Jeremiah as they explain in this interview. We also talk about the band’s formative years, the intense levels of dedication it took the duo to find success, how music helped them with their grief and much more.

The Lumineers

Adam Lambert

What do you do when your life becomes tabloid fodder? When your sexuality becomes a subject of public interest? For Adam Lambert, coming second in the 2009 season of American Idol exposed him to that kind of scrutiny and he had to adapt quickly, while also navigating the ups and downs of a skyrocketing career in pop. Of course, when it comes to scrutiny it would be hard to think of a more pressure-filled position than singing for Queen, something Adam has been doing with great aplomb since 2012.   We cover all that and more in this in-depth interview.

What do you do when your life becomes tabloid fodder? When your sexuality becomes a subject of public interest? For Adam Lambert, coming second in the 2009 season of American Idol exposed him to that kind of scrutiny and he had to adapt quickly, while also navigating the ups and downs of a skyrocketing career in pop. Of course, when it comes to scrutiny it would be hard to think of a more pressure-filled position than singing for Queen, something Adam has been doing with great aplomb since 2012.   We cover all that and more in this in-depth interview.

Adam Lambert (Queen)

Bethany Cosentino

What does it take to find happiness? For Best Coast frontwoman Bethany Cosentino, it had a lot to do with getting sober. She’d spent much of her 20s self-medicating as she dealt with mental health issues and the sudden success of the band’s first album, Crazy For You. It wasn’t working, though: as she sings in the song "Everything Has Changed" off the band’s latest album Always Tomorrow: "I used to drink nothing but water and whisky, now I think those were the reasons why I used to fall deep down in a hole." The chorus to that song, however, is "Everything has changed/I like it this way." And it’s the optimism and self-realisation in that sentiment that drives much of Always Tomorrow. In this interview Bethany talks about getting sober and the events leading up to it. She also talks about her journey from a spotlight-loving kid doing TV commercials to high school dropout playing clubs around LA, and how she navigated her way to Best Coast.

What does it take to find happiness? For Best Coast frontwoman Bethany Cosentino, it had a lot to do with getting sober. She’d spent much of her 20s self-medicating as she dealt with mental health issues and the sudden success of the band’s first album, Crazy For You. It wasn’t working, though: as she sings in the song "Everything Has Changed" off the band’s latest album Always Tomorrow: "I used to drink nothing but water and whisky, now I think those were the reasons why I used to fall deep down in a hole." The chorus to that song, however, is "Everything has changed/I like it this way." And it’s the optimism and self-realisation in that sentiment that drives much of Always Tomorrow. In this interview Bethany talks about getting sober and the events leading up to it. She also talks about her journey from a spotlight-loving kid doing TV commercials to high school dropout playing clubs around LA, and how she navigated her way to Best Coast.

Bethany Cosentino (Best Coast)

John Butler

As John Butler's popularity grew, he spent a significant part of that ride just holding on for dear life, never stopping to take stock or deal with any of his niggling personal baggage. That all changed in 2015, when he and his partner Danielle Caruana took their two children and moved to the south west of Western Australia. And for the first time he slowed down long enough to feel the full weight of his demons. It was a period that informed much of John’s 2018 album Home, and in this interview he talks frankly and openly about his personal issues, and about the challenges he’s faced throughout his career. He also talks about his upbringing and the alienation he felt upon his arrival in Australia, why he connected deeply with the Indigenous community, and how he went from a skateboard-loving kid to world-renowned musician.

As John Butler's popularity grew, he spent a significant part of that ride just holding on for dear life, never stopping to take stock or deal with any of his niggling personal baggage. That all changed in 2015, when he and his partner Danielle Caruana took their two children and moved to the south west of Western Australia. And for the first time he slowed down long enough to feel the full weight of his demons. It was a period that informed much of John’s 2018 album Home, and in this interview he talks frankly and openly about his personal issues, and about the challenges he’s faced throughout his career. He also talks about his upbringing and the alienation he felt upon his arrival in Australia, why he connected deeply with the Indigenous community, and how he went from a skateboard-loving kid to world-renowned musician.

Tove Lo

The first time Tove Lo held her microphone out to the crowd and asked them to sing the words, she closed her eyes and hoped for the best. When the crowd sang the chorus back to her she turned to the side of the stage and saw her parents in tears. As she says in this interview it was a big moment – an indication to her parents that their daughter was going to be okay pursuing music.  That was all the way back in 2014 when Tove was in New Zealand supporting Katy Perry, riding high on the success of her debut album, Queen of the Clouds. Her journey since has been punctuated by incredible highs and devastating lows – on the one hand she’s co-written chart-topping hits like 'Habits (Stay High)' and Ellie Goulding’s 'Love Me Like You Do', as well as being welcomed into Max Martin’s songwriting collective Wolf Cousins; on the other Tove has dealt with bouts of depression and potential career ending vocal surgery.  Tove talks about all that and more in this interview, which took place late last year just after she’d released her fourth album, Sunshine Kitty. 

The first time Tove Lo held her microphone out to the crowd and asked them to sing the words, she closed her eyes and hoped for the best. When the crowd sang the chorus back to her she turned to the side of the stage and saw her parents in tears. As she says in this interview it was a big moment – an indication to her parents that their daughter was going to be okay pursuing music. That was all the way back in 2014 when Tove was in New Zealand supporting Katy Perry, riding high on the success of her debut album, Queen of the Clouds. Her journey since has been punctuated by incredible highs and devastating lows – on the one hand she’s co-written chart-topping hits like 'Habits (Stay High)' and Ellie Goulding’s 'Love Me Like You Do', as well as being welcomed into Max Martin’s songwriting collective Wolf Cousins; on the other Tove has dealt with bouts of depression and potential career ending vocal surgery. Tove talks about all that and more in this interview, which took place late last year just after she’d released her fourth album, Sunshine Kitty.

Billy Bragg

When most people think of Billy Bragg they probably think of the political firebrand who championed the miners' strike in Wales in '84/'85, and who in the mid-'80s founded Red Wedge, a coalition of musicians who aimed to engage a younger generation in politics in the hope of ousting Margaret Thatcher. But there has always been much more to Billy than his politics, and we talk about some of the misconceptions about his reputation in this interview. We also discuss fatherhood, his work with artists like Wilco, what it was like being around for the birth of punk rock, why he sticks clear of cynics, his involvement in helping rehabilitate prisoners in the UK and so much more.

When most people think of Billy Bragg they probably think of the political firebrand who championed the miners' strike in Wales in '84/'85, and who in the mid-'80s founded Red Wedge, a coalition of musicians who aimed to engage a younger generation in politics in the hope of ousting Margaret Thatcher. But there has always been much more to Billy than his politics, and we talk about some of the misconceptions about his reputation in this interview. We also discuss fatherhood, his work with artists like Wilco, what it was like being around for the birth of punk rock, why he sticks clear of cynics, his involvement in helping rehabilitate prisoners in the UK and so much more.

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Relationships & Love

The best podcast episodes of the most interesting stories and things. From skyping someone while they're in space, to tracking down and meeting a telephone scammer in person, to the story of a Galapagos. These episodes will keep you and all your friends entertained and captivated for hours. Learn something new in every episode! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!