Writers & Authors Episodes

The reggae historian joins us to discuss 'Dub Revolution,' his account of how King Tubby, Prince Jammy, and Scientist pulled reggae records apart at the mixing desk and sent the pieces back out.

The pop-chart analyst and 'Hit Parade' host joins us to discuss what better data revealed about hit songs, the slow end of the monoculture, and the cultural rules that keep outsiders off country radio.

George Grella joins the podcast to discuss his book Minimalist Music and argue that the genre has nothing to do with sparse materials and everything to do with time.

From Boris Johnson's pandemic parties to climate change denial, the author of 'The Hypocrisy Trap' traces how exposed inconsistency poisons trust and how societies can balance calling out harmful behavior with tolerating human imperfection.

Cultural anthropologist Graham St. John spent ten years assembling McKenna's story, documenting the rogue scholar who argued that interfacing with tryptamines was evolution's missing link and that rave was its modern revival.

Writer Chris O'Leary discusses his revised book 'Rebel Rebel,' revelations from the past decade of David Bowie archival releases, and why chronicling artists may become impossible for future generations.

The New York Times bestselling author discusses his latest book, 'The Jazzmen,' revealing how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became civil rights pioneers who wrote the soundtrack for social change in twentieth-century America.

Craig Mod, author of Things Become Other Things, explains how his love of independent publishing remains uncompromised despite a book deal with Random House and why books represent the perfect focused technology in an age of constant digital distraction.

Through a hundred interviews and decades of observation, Baker's busking chronicle, Down on the Corner, reveals how the distance between Grammy-winning stages and subway platforms may be shorter than we imagine.

The music scholar and author discusses Jazz Revolutionary, his groundbreaking biography of Eric Dolphy, and how the revolutionary multi-instrumentalist navigated artistic boundaries from 1940s Los Angeles to the avant-garde jazz scene of the early 1960s.

The acclaimed jazz critic discusses his updated biography of Marian McPartland, revealing how the Piano Jazz host's complex personality and vast musical connections created both challenges and opportunities in documenting her remarkable life.

The veteran music journalist joins the podcast to discuss his book Neu Klang: The Definitive History of Krautrock and how a disparate group of musicians shaped a distinctly German sound in the shadow of World War II.

The author and 'countercultural icon' discusses his latest book, Blotter: The Untold Story of an Acid Medium, which details a fascinating intersection between art and the illicit drug market.

The storied musician, songwriter, and music journalist talks about recording his album The Last Day of Summer during the pandemic, his approach to interviewing artists, and his friendships with some of his musical heroes.

In our special 200th episode, the former editor of the seminal magazine Mondo 2000 opens up about his musical activities, how his view of technology has changed, and his enduring curiosity about the chaos all around us.

The author grapples with the unknown and the extraordinary in his many books, which include Heroes In The Night, American Madness, and Monster Hunters.

Saxophonist Benjamin Koppel talks about Perspective, his latest album with KCB Collective, and how his collaborators in jazz are part of a family.

Authors and musicologists O'Brien and Robin discuss On Minimalism, their comprehensive book on the history of minimalist music.

The influential author, entrepreneur, and teacher digs into the empowering and empathic team-building themes of his latest book.

A deep dive into the life and thought crimes of Robert Anton Wilson, the subject of Gabriel Kennedy's forthcoming book.

Harold Sherrick visits to talk about his book "A Pigs Tale" which tells the story of one of the most famous bootleg labels, Trade Mark of Quality.

Songwriter, SiriusXM Volume host, and music-writer, Jeff Slate tells the whole story of his spat with Paul Simon, talks about why the Clash are massively underrated, what music will be remembered in 200 years and more.

Gabrielle joins LP to talk about her work at the Joseph Campbell Foundation and breaks down Joseph Campbell's influence on the modern world, philosophy, writing, film, etc.

Richard Brent Turner is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies and the African American Studies Program at the University of Iowa.