Michael Rosenbaum, Part 2 – “Where’s the Glitter?” – TWP052
What happens when reality doesn’t meet your expectations? Hilarity ensues. Always.
Nov 26, 2019•9 min
The Well
Stories and Interviews about Creativity & Inspiration
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Episodes
Michael Rosenbaum – “The Power of Fear” – TWP051
Michael and Anson go back a while, but it’s also been a minute since they’ve seen each other. Two friends analyze the odd truths that come with age; then Michael discusses his relationship to fear, and how meeting that fear head-on through music has led him to greater growth and happiness. You can find Left on Laurel’s first album “Saved By The Ground” on iTunes or by clicking here . You can also find their facebook page here ....
Oct 14, 2019•46 min
The Drop – Part 2
Branan shares his adventures in Greece, he and Anson share what they’re reading and listening to this autumn season, and they catch up with Leon “The Martini Samurai” Ingulsrud. If you’d like to learn more about the Greek island of Delos, there are many resources on line including this article and the Delos museum website . Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s book BEHAVE helps us understand why and how we do the things we do. Buy it here . Take a look at this video of Dr. Sapolsky discussing his book on Book ...
Sep 24, 2019•39 min
Welcome to THE DROP! – Part 1
We did it! We have a title for our weird little, between-season installments. Thanks to Mee Chang and to Bogdan Orlic for helping us find it! Mentioned in this episode: Sebadoh’s official site can be found here . You can order “A Canticle for Lebowitz” here . And you can learn more about Walter M. Miller, Jr. here . You can order “The Animal Dialogues” here . You can find the podcast “S-Town” here ....
Aug 13, 2019•38 min
End of Season 2 – “Mind the Gap”???
Anson and Branan bring Season 2 to a close and tell you about everything that’s making the excited in the worlds of music, movies, anime and more. AND… they need your help with naming the episode. Listen to find out how you can become a creative member of the team!
Jul 13, 2019•23 min
“Call Your Dad” – TWP050
Anson asks Branan to delve into his father’s mysterious past, a request which leads our hosts into a discussion about aging, the vagaries of the unconscious, and the incredible power of responsibility. Now call your dad. Episode links: Radiolab’s amazing episode “What’s Up, Doc?” Travel Light by Jason Shaw is provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license ....
Jun 20, 2019•36 min
Jake Weber – “The Photograph” – TWP049
Many years ago, Anson saw a photograph on Jake’s wall. It was a young Mick Jagger sitting next to an eight year old boy. When Anson asked if the boy was Jake’s younger self, he only got a one word answer: “Yeah.” Fifteen years later, Jake finally shares the story of how that photograph came to be on his wall and the heartbreaking childhood surrounding it. “Treated Acoustic Guitar” is provided by Sleep You Resting Giant via a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license . “Overdriven Me...
Jun 14, 2019•41 min
Dr. Douglas Vakoch, Part 2 – “To Work Without Guarantees” – TWP048
Our species cannot comprehend the time and distances inherent in interstellar communication. But noone understands this conundrum better than astrobiologist Douglas Vakoch. A year and a half after our first interview we catch up with his METI project to find out what it is like to dedicate one’s life to the longest term project in the history of human endeavor. Episode Links: METI Georgina Torbet Sonar Calling – The organization that collaborated with METI to send music to a distant solar system...
Jun 07, 2019•49 min
Dr. Douglas Vakoch, Part 1 – “To Risk Imagination” – TWP047
Our species has always wondered if we are alone in the universe, Douglas Vakoch is an astro biologist beginning a multi-generational endeavor to finally answer this question. Episode links: METI Georgina Torbet Doritos commercial link
May 31, 2019•36 min
Melissa McCracken, Part 2 – “Memory Landscapes” – TWP046
Branan tries to get to the bottom of the Synesthesia phenomenon with help from painter Melissa McCracken and neurologist Dr. Robert Algar. Their conclusion? Maybe we all have synesthesia!
May 17, 2019•46 min
Melissa McCracken, Part 1 – “Dancing About Architecture” – TWP045
Melissa McCracken is a painter living in a parallel dimension to ours: her synesthesia fills her world with colors and other atypical sensory experiences. She tries to explain what this world is like and in doing so reminds us all of the importance of communication, tolerance and patience. Please take a moment to review her work here: www.melissasmccracken.com
May 02, 2019•35 min
Alice Cooper, Part 2 – “Rock’n’Roll Vaudeville” – TWP044
Rock legend Alice Cooper shares a surprising and touching story about one of the most interesting connections ever to come out of Hollywood: his friendship with Groucho Marx; and about how their respective work wasn’t all that different.
Apr 25, 2019•21 min
Alice Cooper, Part 1 – “Shock Golfer” – TWP043
Most people know Alice Cooper as the original Shock Rocker and a foundational pillar in the house of Metal. But few know that his journey into sobriety involved replacing one addiction with a new and more healthy one: golf. At 71 years of age, having played more courses than almost anyone alive, Cooper still plays 6 days a week and once even considered going pro. Join Anson as he picks the decapitated brain of Alice Cooper.
Apr 18, 2019•32 min
Doug Jones, Part 3 – “The Diamond Dave Face/Off” – TWP042
THE WELL becomes the morning zoo as Doug Jones tells us a little more about his acting career without a mask and Branan tells a story about his first and last gig as a monster maker in Morocco! Plus, competitive sheep herding with David Lee Roth for some reason. Aaaaaahayaaaeah!!!
Apr 11, 2019•45 min
Doug Jones, Part 2 – “Acting While Drowning” – TWP041
Actor Doug Jones talks about how it feels to be the muse for our culture’s most influential monster maker, Guillermo del Toro. Music in this week’s episode: The Cemetery by Sinqlogue provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license . Worky Worky by Andy G. Cohen provided via a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license . Tennessee Hayride by Jason Shaw provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license ....
Apr 04, 2019•36 min
Doug Jones – “The Bug Who (almost) Killed Randy Quaid” – TWP040
Doug Jones envisioned an acting career playing the wacky neighbor in sitcoms, but his career had other plans. In this episode Doug shares war stories from his life as a creature performer, including an incident where he accidently maimed fellow actor Randy Quaid. Music for this episode: Workdaze by Nctmm provided via a Creative Commons 4.0 license . Piscoid by Andy G. Cohen provided via a Creative Commons license . Jenny’s Theme by Jason Shaw provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 license . Snappy ...
Mar 28, 2019•36 min
“Lucky to Be Here” – TWP039
Anson and Branan share their own near-death stories.
Mar 25, 2019•22 min
Ethan Peck, Part 2 – “Touching Death” – TWP038
Ethan was afraid to live his life until he almost lost it.
Mar 14, 2019•32 min
Ethan Peck, Part 1 – “Spock” – TWP037
The first of four Star Trek episodes, Ethan Peck shares with us the story of auditioning for one of the most iconic characters in film and television history, and how he overcame his own misgivings. When the shoes look way too big, we think only of feet.
Mar 07, 2019•35 min
“Starstruck” – TWP036
Anson and Branan each share a story about an awkward brush with fame.
Feb 28, 2019•13 min
Illeana Douglas, Part 2 – “Meeting Marlon” – TWP035
What would you think if someone told you that you were about to meet your idol? How would you prepare? What would you wear? What would you say? Illeana shares a hilarious and heartwarming story about finding herself in exactly this situation when, one day, she realized she would be meeting Marlon Brando. And Branan shares a story about his own (rather embarrassing) brush with fame.
Feb 21, 2019•28 min
Illeana Douglas, Part 1 – “I Blame Dennis Hopper” – TWP034
Illeana Douglas wasn’t always a movie star, but her life has always been strangely intertwined with the American cinema. In fact, long before she knew she wanted to act, her life was forever changed when her parents saw the 1969’s indie “Easy Rider” and decided it was time to become hippies. Join us as we hear Illeana explain how her conservative, Connecticut childhood was ruined, how her father drove goats around town in a station wagon, and how her life was set on a course of creativity that w...
Feb 14, 2019•30 min
Mac Barnett, Part 2 – “What Is Water?” – TWP33
Mac knew he wanted to be a children’s book author. But how does one go about that? Join us to find out how Mac carved his way through a conventional education in an unconventional way, studied life and art with literary giant David Foster Wallace, and managed to land his first book deal.
Feb 07, 2019•20 min
Mac Barnett, Part 1 – “The Golden Ticket” – TWP032
As a child, Mac desperately wanted to believe that there was a magical world in which anything was possible. Later, when he began working with children, he began to realize that world was real, and that he could help to shape it. Join us as we venture deep into the heart of The Chocolate Factory.
Jan 31, 2019•38 min
“The Great Eagle God” – TWP031
Branan shares a story of guilt and conscience from his own family history. And it’s a doozy. Extra music for this episode was provided by Jason Shaw under a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license . To hear the track “Hoedown” go here .
Jan 24, 2019•14 min
Xzibit, Part 2 – “The #1 Rule of Acting” – TWP030
In 2002, Xzibit was offered a role in a movie which he accepted. And then reality hit: he wasn’t an actor. Yet. Join us for this short, but entertaining story of how Alvin Joiner made the transition from rapping to acting.
Jan 16, 2019•12 min
Xzibit, Part 1 – “Moral Compass” – TWP029
When Alvin Joiner was sixteen, he lost his home, his family, and his direction in life. Eventually, after living a life of violence and anger, he decided to make a change. But his past would come back to haunt him in a strange but familiar voice, the one that had been implanted in him by his long deceased mother: his conscience.
Jan 10, 2019•34 min
Todd Komarnicki, Part 3 – “Discipline” – TWP028
Most writers will tell you that their most useful weapon is self-discipline. During our interview with Todd Komarnicki, he shared with us a useful insight into this concept. All that, and take a hike with Branan and Anson as they try to uncover the whereabouts of missing beavers!
Jan 03, 2019•23 min
Todd Komarnicki, Part 2 – “Christmas Movies” – TWP027
Todd produced what has become one of the seminal Christmas movies of all time: “Elf”. Join us as Todd unveils the little-known cookies hidden inside his film that allude to many other holiday classics, and why Christmas movies have to power to make us laugh, cry and hug.
Dec 24, 2018•20 min
Todd Komarnicki, Part 1 – “Spectacularly Saved” – TWP026
Writer/Producer Todd Komarnicki is a man of profound love and profound faith. Both have served his pursuits as an artist. Join Anson & Branan as they venture deep into a Christmas story that took them over a year to unearth: how Todd once lost his faith, and in-so-doing, almost lost his life. Happy holidays to one and all.
Dec 24, 2018•42 min
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