Pod Only Knows: A Beach Boys Podcast

Do you get around?? The hosts of Pod Only Knows do! And so does this week's guest - David Beard! David is the Editor-in-Chief of Endless Summer Quarterly, The Beach Boys publication of record and the group’s sole officially endorsed magazine! David's new book, All Summer Long: Conversations with The Beach Boys from Surfin' to SMiLE, is an "unforgettable and in-depth exploration of The Beach Boys' incredible output during their early to peak years, from 1961 to 1967, and interweaves recollections by group members, family, friends, and musical colleagues."It only felt right to have David on to discuss the album of the same name! Listen as we dive into a truly incredible album that captures a band in complete motion, having fun in the sun, being young, and finding their footing as one of the most important musical voices to come out of 1964. We talk Smoky the Bear, go long on chili dogs (David says add celery salt, thank him later), and learn why Five Guys burgers should really be called Beach Boys Burgers.

Don't Worry Baby! Alt-pop extraordinaire Henry Hall joins the gang to discuss the Beach Boys' fifth album Shut Down Volume 2 on episode 5 of Pod Only Knows! Henry's new album, Kids, Your Mother and I came on on October 24, and we discuss the killer tracks on it like "The Mirror Store" and "That's Cool," Henry filling us in on the Brian Wilson inspirations, T-Bird family history in Santa Barbara, Beach Boys Halloween costumes and more!

Five automobile neophytes spend 90 minutes talking all about the one Beach Boys album that's all about cars! Some cars are fast! Some are blue!Baroque pop extraordinaires The Mellons join us for an episode dedicated to The Beach Boys' Little Deuce Coupe!The Mellons' new album, The Mellons in Color, is a delightfully symphonic pop opus full of self-aware '60s-style humor, non sequiturs, and Partridge Family-meets-Monkees silliness. Andrew and Denney from the band bring find that same kind of fun on Little Deuce Coupe, diving into tracks like "Be True to Your School," "Cherry, Cherry Coupe," and "No-Go Showboat," as well as the title track, "Custom Machine," "409," and "Shut Down!"

Musician and composer Emily Bjorke joins Josh, Giggens, and Jenny in Episode 3 of the irresponsible odyssey that is Pod Only Knows: A Beach Boys Podcast! The gang gets into the 3rd Beach Boys album in which Emily has *at least* three physical copies of, Emily's history with the Boys (spoiler: think Disney's California Adventure with a bowl cut), what car each of the Beach Boys would be, and Emily's debut album - 'Are You Going to Heaven or Hell,' which is out on October 16!

Josh goes to EastWest Studios in Hollywood, meets Bruce Johnston & Dean from Jan & Dean, and witnesses Inside Track present a two hour special Pet Sounds 60th Anniversary Celebration where David Wild interviewed Beach Boy Bruce Johnston - with a very special performance of God Only Knows featuring Elizabeth Bartsch. Elizabeth's mother, Carrie Bartsch, played violin with Brian Wilson on the SMiLE tour, and watching her beam as her 15-year-old daughter played alongside Bruce made the moment even more special. Carrie and Elizabeth lost their Altadena home in the Eaton Fire earlier this year.Also on hand last night was Altadena Musicians, raising money to help musicians impacted by the fires replace the instruments, gear and resources they lost. The organization was born out of that same devastation: founders Brandon Jay and Gwendolyn Sanford lost their home, music studio and nearly all of their instruments in the Eaton Fire, then turned the generosity they received from fellow musicians into a way to help the larger music community rebuild.Carrie told me The Beach Boys are everything to Elizabeth, which made seeing her play “God Only Knows” with Bruce, at the very studio where the song was recorded, feel especially beautiful.

Shermy Freeman of The Surfrajettes joins Josh, Giggens, and Jenny in Episode 2 of the irresponsible odyssey that is Pod Only Knows: A Beach Boys Podcast! The gang picks Shermy's surf rock brain on all things surf music and how Surfin' U.S.A. is a turning point in the early Beach Boys trajectory.

The inaugural episode! Josh, Giggens, and Jenny talk about why they’re doing another Beach Boys podcast—and why now. Then, they dive into the Beach Boys’ 1962 debut album, Surfin’ Safari, featuring “Surfin’,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “409,” and one of our personal favorites, “Chug-A-Lug”—all about chuggin’ that sweet, sweet root beer.

Pod Only Knows: A Beach Boys Podcast is coming September 1. Join Josh Kitchen, Giggens, and Jenny Jamball as they make their way chronologically through the Beach Boys catalog and try their darndest to Keep The Summer Alive. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts.