Why Not Both Podcast

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We had way too much fun exploring HANA’s process making her entire album live on Twitch. From audience input about postmodern anxieties to the magic and horror of social media, HANA opened up about what it was like to collaborate 24/7 with her fans. Along the way, she discovered a unique place where vulnerability and technology coincide.

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Welcome to season three of the podcast. (Season two lives on Under the Radar, and season one you can find on the WNB website.), To kick off this next era, we chatted with Joseph Fink, creator of Welcome to Night Vale, about the extraordinary circumstances that inspired his latest podcast, Our Plague Year. Fink talked about the state of the arts in America, and the crucial role that creativity plays in our lives. He points out that we all want to sit in the dark and have someone tell us a story, so it’s vital to have individual and structural support for artists so they can do just that.

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We were so fortunate to spend some time with Juana Molina, who called us from Argentina to talk about her latest album, and the creative surprises that have dropped into her life. She spoke about how the recent world events pushed her to live stream her latest concert and focus on slowing down, or as she put it, “every day is Sunday now.” We agree with Juana that we all can savor the opportuni ty to grow and change now that the world is temporarily on pause.  

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Doing triple duty as a writer, actress, and director, our guest Hannah Marks is as hilarious as she is impressively talented. We chatted about the nature of female friendship, what makes open relationships work, and about the awkward timing of having springtime allergies during a pandemic. We love her new film Banana Split and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

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Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel of Phantogram joined us to chat all about their new album Ceremony and the ups and downs of living your dreams. From recording in barns to creating the visual spell book of your dreams, they let us into their creative process and experience of being a band for the past 13 years. Their new music is proof that that magic works, even when you don’t quite know how.

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This weekend, writer and actress Mara Wilson (a.k.a. the voice of "The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home" from Welcome To Night Vale) joined us for an in-depth, candid interview about the value or storytelling and how we all create our own narratives. Wilson chatted about why her role as a mental health advocate has been so rewarding and how we all struggle with the delicate balance of doing too little or too much. She also touched on one of the deepest rivalries of all: New York vs. LA.

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Thanks to the powers of the internet, we got to catch up with musician and producer Nandi Rose, a.k.a. Half Waif during our very first week of post modern pandemic panic. We talked about her new album The Caretaker and how she was inspired by the ideas of slowing down and the act of how to care for one’s self and the world around us, which is particularly poignant for our troubled times. Consider her love of bird watching and quiet observation a lesson to us all to slow down and tune in while we have the chance.

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During our first week on lockdown (sigh), were fortunate to spend some time with Lane Moore, who is the definition of a multi-hyphenate talent. Writer of the national bestselling book How To Be Alone, frontperson of It Was Romance and brilliant host of Tinder Live which is exactly as surreal and hilarious as it sounds. She is currently hosting a talk show version of How to Be Alone every night at 8pm EST on Twitch to keep us all company—so we highly recommend you tune in as we couldn’t stop laughing throughout our whole interview.

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This week we sat down with Simon Raymonde, the bassist of dream pop legends The Cocteau Twins, one half of Lost Horizons, and owner of the indie record label Bella Union. He talked about what it was like taking several decades off of making his own music to help foster the dreams of a new generation of bands, as well as his return to the stage, which included a surprising number of Mellotrons.

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This week, we had the opportunity to talk to Meghan Remy aka U.S. Girls in anticipation of her new album. She let us in on how the art of meditation and impermanence informs her work as a musician and a writer. As an artist, Remy shows how we can all put our own creative spin on even the most mundane moments. She encourages her audience to stay curious, especially about the art and ideas that challenge us, as those can often be the most valuable of all.

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For this special leap year episode, Grammy nominated producer and writer Rob Graves shares the intimate process behind his stunning new album Solstice. Inspired by the untamed wilderness of Iceland, Rob’s songs speak to landscapes—both physical and emotional. Join us as we talk music, success, and his fascination with the very nature of creativity. (Spoiler: no one can give you permission to be creative but yourself.)

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This week, we had the pleasure of having tea with Sudan Archives at her home on a rainy day in Los Angeles. From fabulous feathered gowns to serious sonic experimentation, the violinist/vocalist/producer gave us a glimpse of her wonderful world. She opened up about how sometimes life was easier when she was making donuts, and how she can find inspiration anywhere she likes (most notably, she’s been taking style cues from her pet snake Goldie).

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Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast joined us this week to chat about how getting outside of her own head helped break the writer’s block she encountered before ultimately crafting her upcoming album. Ranging from political advocacy to getting sober to discovering the best menu hacks at the Cheesecake Factory, Bethany’s journey shows that sometimes the best way to get to your goal is to set your sights on the journey instead of the destination.

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Last November, host Pam Shafer, spent a few days at Iceland Airwaves, the coolest of all music festivals, talking to artists from around the world about their passions. Madame Gandhi let us in on what it was like studying business at Harvard, Mighty Bear told us all about the drag scene in Iceland, while Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles chatted about her life as a stick and poke tattoo artist. And of course, we’d like to say a special thank you to Ian Young for creating original photos to go along with this episode.

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This week’s episode features musician and actress Elena Charbila a.k.a. Kid Moxie. It’s been a big week for her as her soundtrack for the film Not to Be Unpleasant, But We Need to Have a Serious Talk just nabbed a top spot on the Apple Music front page. In true Why Not Both style, Kid Moxie also stars in the film as well. In our interview, Elena tells us all about how it’s important to embrace your imperfections and passions, as well as what it was like coming to the US as a Greek artist. Listen below. For updates, be sure to follow Why Not Both on Instagram and Twitter. You can also revisit past episodes, including our recent season premiere Kate Nash, and Marissa Nadler, via this handy link. 

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This week, host Pam Shaffer chatted with Marissa Nadler about how art led to music and how music ultimately led back to art throughout the course of her life. She revealed some of the remarkable experiences she had teaching older students and how her quiet life in chilly landscapes helps to weave together the life of meticulous and passionate artist. Listen below. For updates, be sure to follow Why Not Both on Instagram and Twitter. You can also revisit past episodes, including recent season premiere Kate Nash, via this handy link.

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For our premiere episode, host Pam Shaffer (herself a musician and therapist) met up with Kate Nash over vegan cookies and PG Tips tea to chat about the versatility and vulnerability of being a musician and actor. Kate opens up about her experiences on the set of GLOW and what she has learned growing as an artist in the ever-changing landscape of the music industry.