Vinyl Emergency

Musicians, record label owners, visual artists and beyond describe how vinyl records have shaped their lives and careers. Previous guests include Hozier, Rosanne Cash, Michael Shannon, Ben Gibbard, Adam Duritz, Lisa Loeb and members of Run-DMC, Foo Fighters, R.E.M. and more.

Glen Hansard, Remembered (2025 Interview) 08/03/2026

Glen Hansard, Remembered (2025 Interview) Following the sudden passing of Glen Hansard, we are revisiting his appearance on Vinyl Emergency, with longtime Swell Season creative partner Markéta Irglová, to celebrate Glen’s songwriting and lasting musical impact. This special ad-free encore presentation begins with new reflections on his career and essential albums before transitioning into the original interview, released in July 2025. Follow on Instagram. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/42294510

Episode 240: The Menzingers' Greg Barnett 07/14/2026

Episode 240: The Menzingers' Greg Barnett Gearing up this week to release their latest album Everything I Ever Saw, Menzingers vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett discusses vinyl’s evolution since the band’s inception two decades ago, their friendship and collaborations with in-demand producer Will Yip, and why allowing the group to be a democracy in the first place has kept it alive. Visit for album info, tour dates, socials and more, including listening party and in-store performance details to celebrate the record's release. SPONSORS: | | /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/42066205

Episode 239: Anthony Mason (Returns!) 06/30/2026

Episode 239: Anthony Mason (Returns!) You’d be hard-pressed to find someone else with as much curiosity and vigor at 70 years old about the creation of art as longtime CBS News journalist Anthony Mason. Over his 40+ years with the network, he’s shaped an Emmy-winning career around making songwriters of all stripes (from Bruce Springsteen to Phoebe Bridgers) feel comfortable enough to get uncomfortable about their motives, fears and process. And though his CBS schedule hasn’t slowed down in the least, he’s now launched 'Alchemy with Anthony Mason' — a new long-form interview program on YouTube, featuring conversations with Paul Simon, Nile Rodgers, Hozier and others — as a way of expanding upon the segues and tangents around songwriting that might normally be left on broadcast television’s cutting-room floor. Returning to the podcast for his second visit, he discusses today how songwriting is a mechanism for the processing of trauma, and the sentiment of the show’s rallying cry, inspired by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Watch , sign up for Anthony’s newsletter at , and follow the program on Instagram -- Check out Episode 173 with Anthony from 2023, further back in this feed. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/41857485

Episode 238: Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie 06/16/2026

Episode 238: Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie Hot on the heels of I Built You A Tower — Death Cab for Cutie’s 11th album, released earlier this month — bassist and founding member Nick Harmer tells us why this LP is the band's loudest in a long time. Plus, a deep dive into his personal record-hunting habits, how the group culled through nearly 100 demos to shape this release, and pinpointing the connecting tissue between Tower’s themes of grief, apathy and change. Tour dates, socials and more are available at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/41659930

Episode 237: Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike / 84 Tigers) 06/02/2026

Episode 237: Mike Reed (Small Brown Bike / 84 Tigers) It seems that Mike Reed's musical journey has been supported and surrounded by family from the very beginning -- whether his dad was building a stage, his uncle was installing a lighting rig, or having his brother Ben Reed at his side through Small Brown Bike, Able Baker Fox or their latest project, 84 Tigers. On this week's show, Mike details the DIY efforts -- usually involving similar DNA -- that it's taken over the years to steer his musical vision. Plus, ahead of a 25th anniversary performance of their landmark album Dead Reckoning at this year's Fest 24, why reuniting Small Brown Bike without guitarist Travis Dopp (who passed away in 2023) wasn't originally an easy place to get to. Visit for tickets, and hear 84 Tigers' new album Nothing Ends wherever you stream music. Find it on vinyl from either or . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/41504445

Episode 236: Erin Osmon, author of 'Won't Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America' 05/19/2026

Episode 236: Erin Osmon, author of 'Won't Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America' Having already penned much-heralded books on both John Prine and Jason Molina, author Erin Osman is now tackling the wide genre of heartland rock — which she defines more by a spiritual and ideological geography, rather than a literal one. And while Bob Seger, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellancamp round out the Mount Rushmore of sorts for this soundtrack of working class 80’s middle-America, Osmon casts a needed spotlight on the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Lucinda Williams and Bruce Hornsby within the pages of 'Won’t Back Down,' available now wherever you get literature. On this week’s show, Osman expands upon the relationship between art and province, and why the subject matter of 'Won’t Back Down' stretches across generations. Plus, details on her current role on the editorial staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, and how her two decades as a music journalist have led her there. Visit for more info, past works and a killer playlist of tunes featured in 'Won't Back Down.' Music on this episode is from The Pretty Flowers, available digitally or on vinyl at or . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/41334735

SECOND SPIN: Hozier (October 2018) 04/28/2026

SECOND SPIN: Hozier (October 2018) This is an encore presentation of a previous episode. --- Global superstar Hozier ("Take Me To Church," "Too Sweet") discusses his appreciation for analog experiences, and some personal anecdotes on how records by Howlin' Wolf, D'Angelo and more -- specifically on vinyl -- have influenced his own creative output. Plus, singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews and Dawes lead vocalist/guitarist Taylor Goldsmith share their thoughts about the importance of wax in a digital world. These conversations were recorded backstage at the 2018 edition of the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival in Franklin, TN. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/41009895

Episode 235: Tenille Townes 04/14/2026

Episode 235: Tenille Townes Thanks to vinyl's nearly two decades of steady growth and new pressing plants popping up almost annually, the physical act of getting LP's pressed as an independent artist is easier than ever. But, that's not to say that it's easy. Canadian singer/songwriter Tenille Townes, for instance, recently found herself taking the leap out of the Nashville country music machine and funding, recording and pressing her new album The Acrobat completely on her own. This included a modest vinyl pre-order goal of 300 copies, still more than she'd ever sold via pre-order while with a proper label. Luckily, the fan base she's been slowly building through Billboard Canada Country chart number ones and (as NPR says) “passionate and empathetic songs that capture the complexities of the heartland" more than tripled that original estimate. On this week's show, Tenille details the nuts and bolts of bringing The Acrobat from a laptop in her bedroom to turntables around the globe, and all the dollars and doubt that came with it. The Acrobat is available now via all digital platforms, and on vinyl from . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/40856105

Episode 234: I'm With Her 03/31/2026

Episode 234: I'm With Her Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan talk this week about their recent Grammy wins, family mixtapes over the years, favorite live albums and more. Sing Me Alive, the trio's own new live 2LP set, drops digitally later this month, with vinyl arriving May 8th. Pre-order it and get tour dates, social media and more via . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/40677830

Episode 233: Mammal Hands 03/17/2026

Episode 233: Mammal Hands Through a sprawling instrumental approach that blends post-rock, jazz, minimalism, electronic elements and more, British trio Mammal Hands still have a knack for ensuring rapturous melody is always part of the equation. On their new album Circadia -- topping the Billboard UK Jazz & Blues Albums Chart this week -- the band sounds at once both freeing and well-structured, finding arcs and chapters within tracks that blend the mysterious tones of Mogwai with the hushed escapism of Eno/Budd collaborations. On today's episode, saxophonist Jordan Smart, brother Nick Smart on piano, and new drummer Rob Turner give their backstory, and delve into how a wide range of influences (from Gétatchèw Mèkurya to John Frusciante to Wayne Shorter) have contributed to their artistic DNA. Circadia is available digitally, and on black or clear vinyl, from . Follow on Instagram for news and updates. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/40489785

Episode 232: Andrew Bird 03/03/2026

Episode 232: Andrew Bird Copping its title from a magic mail-order catalog from the 1920's, The Mysterious Production of Eggs sounds so confident in both its whimsical grandeuer and its pensive, quiet moments, one would have no idea that it took renowned violinist and songwriter Andrew Bird many top-to-bottom rewrites, over nearly half a decade, to complete. Today, he walks us through overcoming those initial struggles, when exactly his trademark whistle became part of his musical DNA, and how the current symphonic tour he's on is strategically sequenced much like a vinyl record. A whopping 3LP anniversary edition of Andrew Bird & the Mysterious Production of Eggs -- with live cuts, alternate takes, a 50+ page book and more -- is available now from your local record store or . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/40292165

Episode 231: Hey Mercedes 02/03/2026

Episode 231: Hey Mercedes Vocalist/guitarist Bob Nanna, bassist Todd Bell, guitarist Mike Shumaker and drummer Damon Atkinson discuss their original start as a band in the early 00's and their upcoming vinyl reissues, dropping this March. Pre-orders and tour dates are available at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/39968355

Episode 230: Jason Narducy (Returns!) 01/20/2026

Episode 230: Jason Narducy (Returns!) On his third visit to the podcast, everyone’s favorite musician-for-hire Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Bob Mould Band, Split Single, Verböten) discusses his new book — Mostly The Van, Volume 1 — and a recent full-circle moment in the childhood bedroom of R.E.M.'s Bill Berry. Jason will be hitting the road again next month alongside Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon, playing that group's legendary fourth LP, Life’s Rich Pageant. Follow for tour dates, copies of the book and much more. (To hear Jason's previous interviews, revisit Episodes 121 and 212) /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/39786510

Episode 229: Patterson Hood (Returns!) 01/06/2026

Episode 229: Patterson Hood (Returns!) As NPR tells it, Drive-By Truckers' "examination of the Southern psyche is a microcosm of how Americans respond to triumph and tragedy," but their early career incline couldn’t have looked more shattered behind the scenes. The band was close to imploding while crafting 2001’s Southern Rock Opera, through a heatwave in a warehouse, for a paltry $7,000. But when the time came to make their follow-up, Decoration Day — in vocalist/guitarist Patterson Hood’s words, “the most openly beloved thing we’ve ever done” — there was new fuel in the band's tank, with the addition of Jason Isbell, and a real studio and budget to help dial in their vision. Hood recalls it being his funnest recording experience to date, and the final product ended up catapulting the group to cult-like status. Today, on his second visit to Vinyl Emergency, Hood discusses the recently released 4LP Definitive Decoration Day box set, and why he feels the more his band is pushed, the better they become. Follow @dbtph on Instagram and hit up for upcoming solo tour dates. (To hear Patterson Hood’s previous interview, revisit Episode 144 from February 2021) /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/39619045

Episode 228: Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World 12/02/2025

Episode 228: Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World This week, singer/guitarist Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World chats about the heavy metal (and instructional breakdance) records of his youth, collaborating on a new track by Jay Som, and how he’s attempting to take his critical ear out of the equation when enjoying music at home. The band’s new EP, titled Something(s) Loud — a collection of post-pandemic material that’s only existed digitally until now — is limited to 1,500 copies on vinyl worldwide and available only at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/39225860

Episode 227: Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids 11/18/2025

Episode 227: Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids Having spent the last thirty years fronting The Get Up Kids, Matt Pryor has earned an honorary doctorate in sharing intimate, vulnerable moments on record and making them sound catchy as hell. Through albums like Four Minute Mile, Something to Write Home About, On A Wire and Guilt Show, he's galvanized thousands of songwriters to similarly lean into the raucous joys of independent touring while pining for the stability and comforts of home. But on his latest solo effort released last week, The Salton Sea, we get inarguably the deepest and most honest look into Pryor's life yet, from the passenger's seat on the road to sobriety. Today, Matt discusses that journey, how writing daily before dawn has opened him up creatively, and why he's inspired by the way country stars like Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson are blurring the lines between punk rock and honky-tonk. Get The Salton Sea on vinyl, as well as 2026 tour dates and more at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/39061205

Episode 226: Tom Petty Producer/Engineer Ryan Ulyate 11/04/2025

Episode 226: Tom Petty Producer/Engineer Ryan Ulyate Hot on the heels of his involvement with a new, one-step vinyl pressing of Wildflowers -- celebrating its 30th anniversary -- Ryan Ulyate talks today about working with Tom on late-career albums like Highway Companion, Mojo and Hypnotic Eye, as well as selecting tracks for The Live Anthology from literally thousands of performances over a three-decade span. Purchase the limited edition one-step pressing of Wildflowers from or . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/38903850

Episode 225: 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' Preview w/ Warren Zanes (Executive Producer) 10/21/2025

Episode 225: 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' Preview w/ Warren Zanes (Executive Producer) If you were tasked with making a feature film about Bruce Springsteen, you could throw a dart and hit any number of career peaks worth covering. Instead, director/writer Scott Cooper chose to zoom in on the Boss' personal low, chronicled by author Warren Zanes in his acclaimed 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. With unbounded access to his subject, Warren's meticulous and poetic account of what he calls "the ultimate underdog of all recordings" is now the basis for 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,' coming to theaters everywhere this Friday, October 24th. Also an executive producer on the film, Warren walks us through the journey from book to script to cineplex, as well as the film's granular attention to the smallest of details, and an emotional, full-circle moment he experienced after the film's first public screening. Plus, the brilliant casting choices of Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, as Springsteen and his longtime manager Jon Landau. Deliver Me From Nowhere is available, , wherever you get literature. Follow , and find his 2024 PBS special, Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska: A Celebration in Words and Music (featuring Noah Kahan, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, The Lumineers and more), at . Music throughout today's episode is from Joelton Mayfield's new LP, Crowdpleaser, also out this Friday, October 24th on Bloodshot Records. Visit for tour dates, social media, pre-order info and more. NOTE: Further context on Warren Zanes' book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska is available from his previous interview on Episode 187 of Vinyl Emergency. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/38645105

Episode 224: Joshua Hedley 10/07/2025

Episode 224: Joshua Hedley He may have only turned 40 this year, but Joshua Hedley figures he's already been gigging for 75% of his life. Infatuated with the fiddle and western swing from an early age, he began performing steadily at 12 and had released his first album by 15, before moving from Florida to Nashville, playing almost 60 hours a week up and down Lower Broadway. Ahead of the late-October release of All Hat -- his third LP, courtesy of New West Records -- Joshua chats today about failing in public, the similarities between pro wrestling and Music City's cutthroat country-western food chain, and why he's finally not nervous to put an album out. Pre-order All Hat from , and keep up with his weekly gigs in and around Nashville via on Instagram. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/38484930

Episode 223: Noah Reid (Schitt's Creek) 09/09/2025

Episode 223: Noah Reid (Schitt's Creek) Before his profile as a musician exploded, actor Noah Reid thought of his songs as "a little closet that I could put my thoughts and feelings into." But in early 2018, that door came off its hinges. As his character Patrick Brewer, on the eventual Emmy-winning Canadian TV comedy Schitt's Creek, Noah performed a remarkably grounded and unfeigned acoustic cover of "The Best," usually known as a reach-for-the-rafters power ballad, made popular in the late 80's by the incomparable Tina Turner. TV Guide went as far as to say that Noah's contribution created "the most romantic scene on television," and the mania around Noah's take on the tune only grew larger once Schitt's Creek came to Netflix. On the cusp an upcoming tour, he checks in this week to discuss the horror story of his first vinyl pressing, the surreal "cosmic needle drops" of his Amazon Prime series Outer Range and the many ways he treasures music's imperfections. Tour dates, merch, social media and more are available at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/38111290

Episode 222: Evan Weiss (Pet Symmetry / Into It. Over It.) 08/26/2025

Episode 222: Evan Weiss (Pet Symmetry / Into It. Over It.) A lot has changed since Evan Weiss last came on this podcast over nine years ago -- marriage, a plethora of new music, and a deliberate "one in, one out" strategy to balancing his record collection. But one thing that's stayed the same (perhaps even increasing) is his steadfast drive to spotlight forgotten records of his heroes, friends or total strangers, which he now accomplishes through a ; giving subscribers exclusive access to limited runs or releases that never came to turntables until now. On the heels of his latest album with Pet Symmetry, Evan walks us through how love songs and LSD shaped the band's "biggest" LP to date, and what dream releases he hopes are in Storm Chasers' future. Get updates, vinyl and more via , plus catch opening for Minus the Bear on select dates this fall. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37943245

SECOND SPIN: Brian Stack (Colbert/Conan; March 2016) 07/29/2025

SECOND SPIN: Brian Stack (Colbert/Conan; March 2016) This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in 2016. --- Currently a writer on CBS' Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Brian Stack started on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1997, winning an Emmy for writing on the show ten years later and appearing as the caped and mustachioed Interrupter, hapless door-to-door salesman Hannigan and the ghost of old-time radio crooner Artie Kendall, among a slew of other characters. He followed Conan to both his truncated tenure at The Tonight Show and his current TBS program, but moved with his family back to New York and joined the Colbert staff in September of 2015. Having also made appearances on 30Rock, The Office, New Girl and Parks & Recreation, Brian talks today about his love for The Replacements, what vinyl box set he recently bought despite no longer owning a turntable, and yes... what it's like to open for Slipknot. Follow on Instagram. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37580255

Episode 221: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (The Swell Season) 07/15/2025

Episode 221: Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (The Swell Season) It's been nearly two decades since the tender indie film Once -- an intimate depiction of two struggling musicians at multiple crossroads -- became a global phenomenon, earning stars and songwriters Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová an Oscar for their tremendous ballad "Falling Slowly." Based in Dublin, the picture won over audiences with its modesty, as director/writer John Carney chose a rather fly-on-the-wall look to the ebbs and flows of artistic collaboration. Together known as The Swell Season, their first LP together in over 15 years arrived last week (titled Forward), bringing in a new generation of fans who may have missed the duo's magic the first time around. Today, Hansard divulges whose handwritten lyrics he keeps in his wallet, Irglová shares the music that quelled her nightmares as a kid, and the pair discuss how they've each managed to balance songwriting with parenthood. Find tour dates, social media and Forward on vinyl at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37402465

Vinyl Emergency Trailer: Spinning Since '16 07/07/2025

Vinyl Emergency Trailer: Spinning Since '16 Vinyl Emergency is where your favorite songwriters, producers, record label owners or other personalities who just love music come to discuss how vinyl's mere existence has shaped their lives and careers. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37307295

Episode 220: Ben Nichols of Lucero 07/01/2025

Episode 220: Ben Nichols of Lucero With a new solo album dropping later this month — In the Heart of the Mountain, his first in over 15 years — Lucero frontman Ben Nichols addresses why some of his recent songs feel like graphic novels, how he’s reconnected with the mythological Arkansas of his youth, and the parts of him that still wrestle with his southern heritage. Vinyl pre-orders, tour dates and more can be found at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37225615

Episode 219: David Lowery (Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven) 06/17/2025

Episode 219: David Lowery (Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven) A vocal advocate for artist rights and a senior lecturer on all things music business at the University of Georgia, David Lowery discusses today the recent losses of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson, learning accounting while on tour, and how Camper Van Beethoven expanded their legend through record store performances. David's latest release -- a 3LP set titled Fathers, Sons and Brothers -- is available now. Tour dates for all of David's projects are available at , and . Also, check out , in beta testing, as David and a group of current and former students attempt to upset the recorded music algorithm. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/37041690

SECOND SPIN: S.G. Goodman (September 2022) 06/10/2025

SECOND SPIN: S.G. Goodman (September 2022) This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in September 2022. "Planting By The Signs," S.G.'s latest album, comes out on June 20th. -- S.G. Goodman delivers both a voice and a lyrical wisdom that feel perfectly worn in -- like that of an artist who's been crafting decades worth of masterful, soul-baring material. What's all the more astounding is that she's only a few albums in to what will hopefully be a long, deep career. The publication Bitter Southerner defines her sound as "driven by love, sometimes by defiance, but always by a delight in singing out... like the declaration of an artist who knows exactly who she is, backed by a band that blows the roof off the studio." On today's show, S.G. shares her affection for Herb Alpert's "Ladyfingers," some candid struggles with diagnosed OCD, the unique way in which her Marantz receiver was acquired, and the underappreciated comforts of house slippers. Find tour dates, social media and more at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/36922130

SECOND SPIN: Sara Watkins (April 2021) 06/03/2025

SECOND SPIN: Sara Watkins (April 2021) This is an encore presentation of a previous episode, originally airing in April 2021. Wild and Clear and Blue, Sara's latest album as a member of I'm With Her, was released on May 9th. --- Over the last twenty-five years with acclaimed acts like Nickel Creek, I'm With Her and Watkins Family Hour (as well as her own solo material), Sara Watkins has become one of the most prolific musicians in folk and bluegrass. Dig into your record collection, and you'll also find her work on albums from Steve Earle, The Decemberists, Mandy Moore, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett and Father John Misty, to boot. Today, Sara discusses how vinyl has played a major factor in her life, right down to how her dad crafted a makeshift turntable out of a sewing needle and paper. Find Sara's socials, upcoming live dates and more info at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/36794530

Episode 218: David Bazan on 20 Years of 'Headphones' 05/20/2025

Episode 218: David Bazan on 20 Years of 'Headphones' Though a rather one-off side-project, David Bazan says his Headphones LP may be his most stressful artistic expression. Though the band Pedro the Lion was his breadwinning endeavor at the time, he admits to losing interest in guitar, album by album. Suddenly, dabbling in synthesizers led to not just a new avenue for songwriting, but a borderline obsession, bringing his gear everywhere from lakeside family vacations to vacant movie theatre parking lots in order to perfect these unconventional sounds, alone. Putting the album to tape was a whole other hill to climb, leading to David staying up several days straight, attempting to finish incomplete songs literal minutes before the rest of his band would hear them for the first time, and then record them. But fast-forward to now, and the lone Headphones album is regarded as a crucial corner of David's discography, one that he's now revisiting with a new deluxe 20th anniversary vinyl edition, available in multiple color variants, from both and . On this episode, David gives us the how’s, where's and why’s on the entire Headphones experience, two decades removed. Catch Pedro the Lion opening for Grandaddy this fall, as well as live streams of their 30th anniversary performances. Details, tickets and more are at . /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/36619935

Episode 217: Dianogah 05/06/2025

Episode 217: Dianogah Jay Ryan and Jason Harvey, bassists for the Chicago-area trio Dianogah, describe the route to -- and surprise release of -- their new, career-spanning 5LP box set. Visit to order this limited pressing, and follow @dianogah_official on Instagram for more updates. /episode/index/show/vinylemergency/id/36449450

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