Episode notes
On today's episode, I talk to musician Elisabeth Esselink AKA Solex. Originally from Voorschoten, Netherlands, Elisabeth eventually moved to Amsterdam and in the early1990s performed in the indie pop band Sonetic Vet, who released one album, Peer, in 1994. She then began to make music on her own as Solex, and in 1998, Matador released her debut album Solex vs. the Hitmeister. Since then, Elisabeth has released numerous albums and EPs, and this year, Matador is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her third album Low Kick and Hard Bop with an expanded vinyl edition out next week! This is the…
Podcast
Beginnings
Andy Beckerman · Arts & Books · English
We all know the stories of how creative people get into the business of creating for a living, but how did they start using their imaginations in the first place? On the Beginnings podcast, writer and performer Andy Beckerman asks well-known and on-their-way-up comedians, musicians, writers, artists
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E738 · 9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr
Episode 738: Chris Brokaw of Come and Codeine
On today's episode, I talk to musician Chris Brokaw. Originally from Scarsdale, NY, Chris attended Oberlin College, a scene that birthed much of the indie rock of the 1990s. After graduating, he played drums for a number of bands, most notably with G.G. Allin, and in 1989 he formed the band Codeine with his fellow Oberlin grad Stephen Immerwahr. The group released two albums on Sub Pop before breaking up, but by that time, Chris had formed the band Come with Thalia Zedek. Starting with their acclaimed record 11:11, the band would go on to release four records in total on Matador before…
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E737 · 2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
Episode 737: Evan Dorkin
On today's episode, I talk to Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comics creator Evan Dorkin. Originally from Brooklyn, Evan has been making comics since 1986. One of his earliest books Pirate Corp$ was published by Eternity Comics and then after that Slave Labor Graphics, who later published his series Milk and Cheese. Other notable comics include Dork, Eltingville and Beasts of Burden, which are all well worth your time. As a TV writer, Evan has written for Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Batman Beyond, Yo Gabba Gabba and many more. This is all just a small sampling of his CV. Just this year, Dark…
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E736 · 25 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode 736: Hutch Harris of The Thermals
On today's episode, I talk to musician Hutch Harris. Originally from New York City, Hutch's family moved to San Jose, California when he was still a kid. After high school, he met Kathy Foster, and they played in various bands until moving to Portland, where they formed The Thermals. In 2003, they released their first album More Parts Per Million on Sub Pop, who would release their next two albums as well. The next four albums were released on Kill Rock Stars and then Saddle Creek, and in 2016, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. Until recently, that is. A few weeks ago, The Thermals…
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E735 · 18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Episode 735: Sweeping Promises
On today's episode, I talk to musicians Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug AKA Sweeping Promises. Originally from Arkansas and Texas respectively, Lira and Caufield met in college and made music together in a number of different bands before forming Sweeping Promises in 2019. Their first album Hunger for a Way Out was released the next year on Feel It Records in the midst of the early stage of the pandemic and garnered them a great deal of acclaim. They then signed to the wonderful label Sub Pop who released their second album Good Living Is Coming for You in 2023, and just this August their…
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E734 · 11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Episode 734: David Rees
On today's episode, I talk to cartoonist and humorist David Rees. Originally from Chapel Hill, NC, David first gained acclaim during the Bush years with his comic strip Get Your War On, which perfectly captured the insanity of the times. In 2010, David started the satirical Artisanal Pencil Sharpening service and followed that up with the book How to Sharpen Pencils. As a TV creator, he hosted Going Deep with David Rees and co-created the FXX animated show Dicktown with John Hodgman, and as a podcaster, David co-hosts the wonderful show Election Profit Makers, which you can get wherever you…
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E732 · 28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode 732: Elanor Moss
On today's episode, I talk to musician Elanor Moss. Originally from Lincolnshire, Elanor grew up in a very creative, devoutly Catholic family and began playing music at church events. She started writing her own music while studying English Lit at the University of York. In 2022, she released her first EP Citrus followed a year later by the Cosmic EP. This garnered her some attention, and her debut album The Knife, The Needle was just released on Merge Records, and it's great! This is the website for Beginnings , subscribe on Apple Podcasts , follow me on Twitter . Check out my free…
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E731 · 21 Aug 2026 · 59 min
Episode 731: Dan Friel of Parts & Labor
On today's episode, I talk to musician Dan Friel. Raised in Amherst, MA, Dan formed Parts & Labor with BJ Warshaw in 2002. In their decade together, the band released five albums, mostly on Jagjaguwar. While Dan had already been recording albums on his own - his first solo LP was released on the fantastic Massachusetts label Important Records - after the band broke up in 2012, he began releasing albums on Thrill Jockey. Most recently, Parts & Labor reunited, and their latest album Set of All Sets - a true banger - came out in July on Ernest Jenning Record Co.! This is the website for…
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E730 · 14 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Episode 730: Josh Olson
On today's episode, I talk to screenwriter and podcaster Josh Olson. Originally from Philadelphia, Josh got his start in showbiz as a PA on Masters of the Universe and in 2002, wrote and directed his first film Infested. This gained Josh some attention, and in 2005, he wrote A History of Violence, which garnered him Oscar, BAFTA and WGA Award nominations. He's collaborated with Harlan Ellison, wrote the original draft of the Jack Reacher film and this is just a small sampling of his CV. As a podcaster, Josh co-hosted The West Wing Thing with Dave Anthony, which broke down the jarringly…
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E729 · 7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode 729: Blockhead
On today's episode, I talk to musician and producer Tony Simon AKA Blockhead. Originally from Manhattan, Tony grew up in an artistic household and started making music when he was a teenager. He went to Boston University for a year, which may not have worked out academically, but did artistically because this is where he met Aesop Rock and began making beats for him starting with 1999's Appleseed EP. Back in New York, he formed the duo Party Fun Action Committee, and in 2003, Def Jux put out their album Let's Get Serious. The following year, Ninja Tune released Tony's first instrumental…
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E728 · 31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 20 min
Episode 728: Emperor X
On today's episode, I talk to musician Chad Matheny. Raised in Jacksonville, FL, Chad began recording music as Emperor X in 1998. Though he had a deep interest in science and pursued an advanced degree in physics, music was his true calling, and in 2012 he moved to Berlin to tour more easily. Chad has recorded almost two dozen albums and EPs as Emperor X, and his latest Unified Field was just released at the end of June on Bar/None, and it is fantastic! This is the website for Beginnings , subscribe on Apple Podcasts , follow me on Twitter . Check out my free philosophy Substack where I…
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