In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Mark Blake discuss Led Zeppelin and the practices & influence of their manager, Peter Grant, as detailed in Blake's book, “Bring It On Home: Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin, and Beyond--The Story of Rock's Greatest Manager”.

In this episode, author Ben Yagoda and host Nate Wilcox discuss the pre-World War II era of American song, when significant songwriters and musicians like Frank Sinatra dominated the charts prior to the rise of rock and roll.

In this episode, author Jesse Jarnow and host Nate Wilcox discuss the struggles of progressive artists like the Weavers in the late '40s and early '50s American folk music and pop landscape as detailed in Jarnow's book, “Wasn’t That a Time: The Weavers, the Blacklist and the Battle for the Soul of America”.

This episode features author Peter Doggett and host Nate Wilcox discussing 1930s and World War II-era artists and music that were popular at the time, including jazz and swing.

In this episode, Nate and author Peter Doggett discuss how innovations in recording technology influenced the musical style and resulting success of artists like Bing Crosby during the era of swing music.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Dan Charnas discuss the rise of the hip-hop business and how two record companies played a key role in increasing the genre's publicity and popularity.

Continued from last week, host Nate Wilcox and Author Jonathan Gould discuss Otis Redding's popularity with vastly different audiences as well as the end of his career and death.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and Jonathan Gould discuss the life and career of soul legend Otis Redding as detailed in Gould's book, "Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life".

Continued from last episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Robert Gordon discuss the latter years of Stax Records and the musicians associated with it in 1970s Memphis, Tennessee.

In this episode, Nate Wilcox and Robert Gordon discuss the origin of Stax records and the artists associated with the label, as well as the sociopolitical circumstances surrounding the Memphis music scene in the '60s.

In this episode, Host Nate Wilcox and author Joe Bonomo talk about the one-of-a-kind rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, including his chaotic career trajectory, interactions with other musicians, and divisive public reception.

In this episode, Nate Wilcox and author Robert Gordon discuss the life, influences, and music career of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters as well as his impact on blues, jazz, rock, and American music in general, as detailed in Gordon's book, "I Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters".

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author David Wondrich discuss the origins of American music and its connection to African music, highlighting key artists and musical developments in the 19th century amidst the racist environment within the United States and slavery era.

Continued from last episode, Peter and Nate discuss the substantial historical developments in both music technology and the music business detailed in Peter's book, "Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone – 125 Years of Pop Music".

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Peter Doggett explore the advent of recorded music, the technological circumstances surrounding the proliferation of music in the 19th century, and how musicians were permanently affected by it.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Adam Caress explore the commodification of music through the lens of controversial yet popular "alternative" acts from the 1960s to the 21st century and discuss how Nirvana's legacy has shaped the music industry.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Elijah Wald discuss how various outstanding musicians such as the Beatles drastically changed the trajectory of rock and roll and American popular music in the 20th century, as detailed in Wald's book, "How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'n' Roll: An Alternative History of American Popular Music".

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Elijah Wald discuss Robert Johnson, the pioneer of Mississippi Delta Blues, and explore his career and history as detailed in Wald's book, “Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues”.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Robert Gordon about his book, "Memphis Rent Party: The Blues, Rock & Soul in Music's Hometown".

This episode is the finale of a 3-part series where Nate Wilcox and Joe Nick Patoski discuss the life and music career of Willie Nelson. In this episode, Nate and Joe Nick talk about Willie's musical expansion in the 1970s, followed by his immense commercial success in the '80s.

This episode is the second part of Nate Wilcox and Joe Nick Patoski's exploration of Willie Nelson's musical career as detailed in Patoski's book, "Willie Nelson: An Epic Life".

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Joe Nick Patoski discuss the life and career of the legendary musician Willie Nelson as portrayed in Patoski's biography ,"Willie Nelson: An Epic Life".

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author Paul Trynka discuss the genre of American blues and its pioneers, all of which are explored in Trynka's book, "Portrait of the Blues".

This week's episode is a continuation of Nate Wilcox and Dr. Cam Cobb's discussion centered around Dr. Cobb's book, “What’s Big and Purple and lives in the Ocean - The Moby Grape story”.

In this episode, host Nate Wilcox and author James Burns talk about Burns' book, “Let’s Go to Hell: Scattered Memories of the Butthole Surfers”.