Singer-songwriter, actor, and poet John Doe joins Rhett from Austin, TX to talk about the concept record he just released about the pre-industrial U.S., why he enjoys writing high-stakes tales, and the importance of getting bad songs out of the way early in one’s songwriting career. John also discusses the importance of not sweating the “small stuff,” how gratitude helps him find balance, and the life lessons he learns from horses. John Doe is a musician, actor, and poet from Illinois best known...
Jun 28, 2022•36 min•Ep. 135
Singer-songwriter Jenny O joins Rhett from Los Angeles to talk about her upcoming record, her songwriting process, and the moment she realized her musical power. Jenny and Rhett talk about the importance of taking time when finalizing lyrics, the very real demand for more female musicians, and the complicated variables of social interaction. Jenny O is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Long Island, NY best known for her captivating studio records and her honest and poignant songwrit...
Jun 21, 2022•34 min•Ep. 134
The godfather of Americana music, Delbert McClinton, joins Rhett from Nashville, TN to discuss his 27th studio album, why writing music still feels great after 60 years, and well-kept secrets about artistic longevity. Delbert shares some advice on songwriting and gives us an insightful look back on his fruitful career in music, while optimistically looking forward to all of the music he’s yet to play. Delbert McClinton is a four-time Grammy Award winner best known for his extensive solo discogra...
Jun 14, 2022•40 min•Ep. 133
Singer-songwriter Lauren Calve joins Rhett this week to talk about the making of her debut album, the importance of finding “quiet” in music, and . Lauren tells Rhett about how religion affected her musical development, and shares a story about the moment Nina Simone changed her perception of singing. Lauren Calve is a singer and songwriter from Virginia. While she has found her ground in the sounds of blues and Americana, her true strength lies in her ability to defy tradition. Lauren daringly ...
Jun 07, 2022•47 min•Ep. 132
Raymond Pettibon is recognized for his early work created in the midst of the Southern California punk rock scene in the late 1970s-early 80s, most notably his hand drawn concert flyers and logo design for his brother’s band, Black Flag. On this week’s episode of Wheels Off, he joins Rhett to talk about his creating his own place in the art world and the DIY approach that he continues to maintain. Raymond and Rhett discuss the unique way he combines art with words in his work, and why it’s impor...
May 31, 2022•45 min•Ep. 131
Writer Jillian Medoff joins Rhett to discuss her upcoming book release, balancing her career with the creative obstacles of being a writer, and persevering through adversity. Jillian shares the story behind becoming a writer, and explains why her work is a ‘life-sustaining force’. Jillian Medoff is the author of four (soon to be 5) acclaimed novels including Hunger Point, which was made into an original movie in 2003. A former fellow at MacDowell, Blue Mountain Center, VCCA and Fundacion Valpara...
May 24, 2022•56 min•Ep. 130
Keyboard wizard Marco Benevento joins Rhett from his newly-renovated studio in Woodstock, NY to talk about his upcoming record. Marco tells Rhett about learning to unlock the artist within, the importance of practicing without taking any shortcuts, and the musical relationship that deepened his understanding of simplicity. Marco Benevento is a pianist, songwriter, and producer, best known for his solo work as well as his playing in the Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. Marco has b...
May 17, 2022•42 min•Ep. 129
Singer-songwriter Michaela Anne joins Rhett from her home in Nashville, TN to talk about her new record, converting lyrics into children’s books, and why being a new mother doesn’t give her the time or energy to feed into negativity. Michaela explains how she found her lane,, and why you don’t need to fit into the country music mold to be a country musician. Michaela Anne is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, NY who currently lives in Nashville, TN. Her music incorporates elements of country, po...
May 10, 2022•29 min•Ep. 128
Eric Pulido, front man for indie rock pioneers Midlake, joins Rhett on this episode to talk about celebrating failure, finding balance while grappling with ambition, and recognizing the moment when you have to take a leap of faith. Eric tells Rhett about the inspiration behind their song Bethel Woods, and shares the advice he would give to his younger self. Indie Folk Rock pioneers Midlake formed in Denton, Texas, in 1999. Currently comprised of Eric Pulido, McKenzie Smith, Eric Nichelson, Jesse...
May 03, 2022•37 min•Ep. 127
Walter Martin is a multi-award-winning songwriter first known for his work with New York rock 'n' roll bands The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater. In this episode, Walt joins Rhett to talk about his prolific and varied songwriting career, the importance of separating art and commerce, and the creative freedom he enjoys as an independent artist. In 2014 Martin launched a solo career and has subsequently released five studio albums: two Parents’ Choice award winning family albums (2014's We're All ...
Apr 26, 2022•20 min•Ep. 126
Songwriter, guitarist and singer, Kristin Hersh joins Rhett from her home in Rhode Island to talk about recording with 50FOOTWAVE, a musical collective she founded in 2004 under the theory that ‘music doesn’t belong in the music industry’. Kristin shares stories from her days as a young artist in the Boston music scene, grappling with the pressures of the industry, and what it means to lose yourself in the work. The two discuss the difference between creating art for art’s sake versus selling yo...
Apr 19, 2022•43 min•Ep. 125
This week Hillary Fretland joins Rhett to talk about her band, Fretland, and the making of their latest album, Could Have Loved You. You’ll hear Hillary and Rhett discuss being gentle with the lessons you learn along the way, breaking the rules in music, and Hillary does a deep dive on her fan-favorite song “Do You Think of Me” from Fretland’s last album. Hillary Fretland is the leader of the sensational Americana band, Fretland, whose sound mixes fragile alt-country with passionate gushes of in...
Apr 12, 2022•28 min•Ep. 124
Frontman and fiddler for Old Crow Medicine Show, Ketch Secor, joins Rhett from his longtime home of Nashville to talk about the upcoming Old Crow Medicine Show album, the difficulty of writing songs about social and political issues, and why there are so many things to sing about today that make the heart heavy. Ketch explains why moving around a lot as a kid helped to shape him as an artist, and discusses his incredible career in one of the top Americana acts of the last 20 years. Ketch Secor i...
Apr 05, 2022•33 min•Ep. 123
Jack Torrey, one half of the indie band The Cactus Blossoms, joins Rhett from his home in Minneapolis to talk about getting back on the road, writing and recording a new record during the pandemic, and why he was content to not have a plan other than playing music. Jack tells Rhett about the impact that Bob Dylan had on his writing, and explains what he means when he says he’s the “eye of the storm”. “Hey baby, do you wanna take a trip with me? / I’ve got a feeling there might be a silver lining...
Mar 29, 2022•27 min•Ep. 122
Paz Lenchantin is an Argentinian-American musician who has played bass for The Pixies since 2014. She joins Rhett to talk about recording the latest Pixies album, writing music for film, and why she feels that there are more opportunities for female artists now that ever before. Paz explains why she likes to switch things up musically when she’s home by returning to the violin; and, why she thinks that social media is detrimental to the artistic process. Paz Lenchantin has been the bass guitaris...
Mar 22, 2022•33 min•Ep. 121
Duquette Johnston, a founding member of the breakout 90s indie band Verbena and now an acclaimed solo artist, joins Rhett from Birmingham, AL. to talk about his new album, Social Animals, and the road to his creative life. Duq explains the evolution of his creative process, why he’s never had a Plan B, and how he eventually worked through the fear of success that was holding him back. By his own admission Duquette Johnston has lived a "wild, incredible life," but even that might be underselling ...
Mar 15, 2022•36 min•Ep. 120
Guitarist Scott Metzger joins Rhett from his home in Brooklyn to talk about his forthcoming album Too Close To Reason, which is his first solo effort. Scott tells Rhett about his early days as a sideman and shares the story of meeting James Brown, which was a pivotal moment in his career. The two discuss The Alexander Technique and why being aware of your body can help you navigate through stress, and Scott tells Rhett why it’s cool to be uncool. Scott Metzger has performed, recorded, and toured...
Mar 08, 2022•31 min•Ep. 119
Musician Suz Slezak joins Rhett from her home in Charlottesville, VA to talk about her new solo album, the moment when she realized that she could make a living as a musician, and talks about her struggle with bipolar disorder. The two discuss managing one’s self critic and why it’s important to remember that your fantasies might come true. Suz Slezak is a fiddle player and one half of the pioneering folk duo David Wax Museum. Our Wings May Be Featherless is the debut solo album from Suz Slezak,...
Mar 01, 2022•24 min•Ep. 118
Comedian John Poveromo joins Rhett from the Jersey Shore to talk about the road that led to his stand-up career and why his podcast, Dystopia Tonight, was a saving grace during the pandemic. Poveromo discusses opening for Jimmy Fallon, why comedy can help in the midst of disaster, and the innate curiosity that helped him navigate through depression. John Poveromo is a nationally touring comedian, cartoonist, writer, actor, and the host of Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo on TwitchTV, ApplePod...
Feb 22, 2022•37 min•Ep. 117
Singer-songwriter Margo Price joins Rhett from her home in Tennessee to talk about finishing up the memoir that she’s been writing, the challenges of the process, and what she learned from the experience. The two discuss her uniquely heartfelt musical style, benefitting from a healthy lifestyle, and what it will take for the music industry to turn things around. Margo Price is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and producer who is originally from Illinois. Her debut solo album, Midwest Farmer's...
Feb 15, 2022•29 min•Ep. 116
Singer-songwriter Steve Poltz joins Rhett from Portland, ME (in the middle of his tour with the Wood Brothers) to tell wild stories from the early days of his career, growing from failed performances, and his morning routine. You’ll hear Steve tell Rhett about a practical lesson that helps him eliminate internally-generated negativity, making less money from performances after destroying venues, and much more. Steve Poltz is a musician from Nova Scotia who grew up in San Diego, CA. He gained ini...
Feb 08, 2022•29 min•Ep. 115
An encore episode: Liz Phair. In this episode, singer-songwriter Liz Phair joins Rhett from her home in LA to talk about her creative journey as a musician. The two discuss how being home during the pandemic has changed their lives, why social interaction is crucial for creative inspiration, and dig into her memoir Horror Stories. Liz explains why you “just have to go for the ride” in order to conquer feelings of self-doubt and shares a few other savvy insights gleaned from her extraordinary car...
Feb 01, 2022•34 min•Ep. 114
Television and film director Noah Hawley joins Rhett from his home in Austin, TX to discuss his circuitous journey of writing three novels before his first novel sold, Kurt Vonnegut’s impactful influence on his creativity, and growing up in a household of artists. Noah and Rhett discuss the making of the final season of Fargo, and Noah walks us through a conceptual trick that he used in the first season of the show. Noah Hawley is a television director, producer, and author from New York City. H...
Jan 25, 2022•29 min•Ep. 113
An encore episode of one of the most popular episodes of 2021. Grammy-winning musician Jeff Tweedy joins Rhett to talk about his new book and what the process of writing music has been like during the pandemic. The two discuss songwriting as a reaction to stress, how he discerns between imposter syndrome and anxiety, and why the power of observation is a useful writing trick. Jeff explains his above-average music consumption habit and the sense of awe he experiences when discovering a new album....
Jan 18, 2022•43 min•Ep. 112
An encore presentation of one of the top episodes of 2021. Bestselling author Julia Cameron joins Rhett from her home in Santa Fe to talk about channeling creativity during the pandemic, what it means to ‘step past your inner censor' and why her book, The Artist’s Way, caught on. Julia tells Rhett about the critic that’s been with her since she was 18, and what she learned when she decided to become a teacher. Wheels Off is brought to you by Osiris Media. Hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Co-...
Jan 11, 2022•24 min•Ep. 111
An encore presentation of one of the top episodes of 2021. Rhett welcomes actress Paget Brewster to talk about her career as an actor, and the immense gratitude she holds for the artistic journey she’s on. Paget and Rhett talk about why voice excites her, how pre-performance nerves are a blessing in disguise, why it’s fun to die in a movie as an actor, and much more. Paget is incredibly thoughtful in the way she analyzes her work, and her exuberance about her art is refreshing and inspiring. Pag...
Jan 04, 2022•46 min•Ep. 110
Musician, actor, and record producer Jesse Dayton joins Rhett fresh off of the road to talk about his recent acoustic tour, revisiting his life through writing a memoir, and playing music with his heroes. You’ll also hear the two friends discuss Chuck Berry’s lyricism, lifestyle changes that Jesse made in order to improve his health, and the importance of loving yourself. Jesse Dayton is best known for his guitar contributions to albums by country musicians including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings...
Dec 28, 2021•38 min•Ep. 109
Singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson joins Rhett to talk about releasing an album during the pandemic, finding value in not having a plan, and the darker moments that occur during the creative process. They discuss Laura’s new album and why she can’t wait to start writing new music. Laura Stevenson is a singer-songwriter from Long Island, NY. She made her recording debut in 2009 and was a keyboard player for the musical collective Bomb the Music Industry! In 2016, Stevenson released her first live ...
Dec 21, 2021•40 min•Ep. 108
Nicole Atkins joins Rhett from her home in Nashville to talk about the new album that she’s working on, accidentally getting a record deal, and writing songs about Twitter. You’ll hear the two old friends (and songwriting partners) discuss her most recent record, Memphis Ice, why shyness is a waste of time when you’re a musician, and how “doing the work” is the only thing that you can control. Nicole Atkins is a singer-songwriter from Neptune, NJ. Her style combines 50s-style crooning with psych...
Dec 14, 2021•26 min•Ep. 107
Chris Shiflett joins Rhett from his home in LA to talk about his quarantine recording project, the conceptual differences between albums and singles in today’s music world, and holding grudges against your own songs. The two longtime friends also discuss the pros and cons of social media relevance, and what an audience truly wants in a live performance. Chris Shiflett is a musician from Santa Barbara, California, best known for his role as the lead guitarist in the Foo Fighters. He was also a me...
Dec 07, 2021•46 min•Ep. 106
