From Revisionist History: The Origin of “You” with John McWhorter

Today, we’re joined by one of the most inventive and electrifying vocalists in modern soul music: Bilal.  Since the release of his debut album 1st Born Second in 2001, Bilal has defied categorization by design and by circumstance. With a voice that shifts effortlessly from a whisper to a wail, and from jazz to gospel to outer space, he’s carved a singular path through the world of music. Whether lending hooks to Kendrick Lamar or collaborating with Erykah Badu, Bilal has long been your favorite singer’s favorite singer. Now, he’s back with a brilliant new project: Adjust Brightness. Bold, cinematic, and emotionally raw, it’s his most cohesive work since his debut—a swirling, psychedelic blend of soul, jazz, hip-hop, and feeling. And as if that weren’t enough, Bilal has also just released Live at Glasshaus, an intimate and explosive set that captures the unpredictable energy of his live shows. Today, Bilal opens up to Justin Richmond about the making of Adjust Brightness, how he prepares for those electrifying live performances, and why chasing musical and spiritual freedom has always been his true north. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Bilal songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Shinoda took a bold step last fall when he reintroduced Linkin Park with a new lineup featuring drummer Colin Brittain and singer Emily Armstrong as lead vocalist—taking on the role once held by Chester Bennington, who died by suicide in 2017. Mike, who co-founded Linkin Park in 1996, has long served as the group’s de facto producer, as well as its MC and keyboardist. The band rose to massive success in the 2000s, with a run of genre-blending albums that have collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. In November, Linkin Park released From Zero, their eighth studio album and the first with Emily Armstrong as frontwoman. The record has already surpassed three billion streams online. On today’s episode, Leah Rose talks to Mike Shinoda about why he chose not to retire Linkin Park—and instead took the creative risk of reinventing the band nearly 30 years after its formation. Mike also shares his favorite Linkin Park songs of all time and explains how the band managed to stand apart from the bro-centric, frat-boy culture that defined much of early-2000s nu-metal. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Mike Shinoda and Linkin Park HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesse Malin quite literally came of age onstage in the gritty clubs of New York City. At just 12 years old, he fronted Heart Attack—one of the earliest hardcore punk bands. After the band broke up in ‘84, Jesse went on to play in other groups, including Hope, and later co-founded D Generation, a glam-punk band that toured extensively through the '90s, opening for acts like Kiss, the Ramones, and Social Distortion. In the early 2000s, Jesse launched a solo career, trading hardcore for a more singer-songwriter-driven approach. As a solo artist, he’s collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, and Billie Joe Armstrong. A true musician’s musician, Jesse has long been a beloved figure in the rock community. So when he suffered a rare spinal stroke in 2023 that left him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, that community rallied around him. The result was Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin—a 2024 tribute album featuring covers of his songs by friends and admirers. Jesse is also debuting a musical this fall called, Jesse Malin’s Silver Manhattan: A Musical Guide To Survival, at the Gramercy Theatre in New York. On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks with Jesse Malin about his colorful upbringing in Queens, how he found the nerve to try out for a gig at CBGB’s at age 12, and what it was like during the formative years of New York’s hardcore scene. Jesse also shares how his “positive mental attitude” helped him through the toughest chapter of his life—recovering from the stroke that nearly ended his ability to walk. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Jesse Malin songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The youngest Haim sister, Alana, started playing music with her older sisters, Danielle and Este, when she was just four years old. Back then, the three of them were part of their family band, Rockinhaim, playing charity gigs all over L.A. and the San Fernando Valley where they grew up. After high school, Danielle was jamming in Laurel Canyon when Jenny Lewis spotted her and invited her to join her touring band. Not long after, she hit the road again—this time playing guitar and drums for Julian Casablancas. But eventually, Danielle came back home, ready to start a band with her sisters. In 2012, Haim dropped their first EP, Forever, to critical acclaim. Pretty soon they were opening for A-listers like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. On today’s episode, Leah Rose sits down with Alana, Danielle, and Este to talk about their new album, I Quit—co-produced with longtime collaborator Rostam. The album dives into the highs and lows of single life in your 30s. The sisters also share why they still think like an opening band—even when they’re headlining stadiums—and the moment they realized not everyone grew up playing in a band with their parents. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Haim songs HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malcolm Gladwell sits down with the linguist John McWhorter, to discuss his new book, "Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words." Among other things in their wide-ranging conversation, John makes an impassioned case for the return of “thou.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Broken Record, we’re joined by the one and only Bootsy Collins. Bootsy burst onto the scene in the early ’70s as James Brown’s young, electrifying bass player. But it was with Parliament-Funkadelic that he truly found his voice—or rather, his voices—balancing raw, uncut funk with a psychedelic, intergalactic persona that would go on to inspire artists from Prince to Thundercat. In this conversation with Justin Richmond, Bootsy reflects on what it’s been like to navigate life as both William Collins—the introspective, spiritually grounded man from Cincinnati—and Bootsy, the rhinestone-rimmed avatar of groove. He also opens up about his legendary songwriting partnership with George Clinton and keyboard genius Bernie Worrell, and how the three of them helped create some of the most joyful and mind-bending music in American history. Even now, more than 50 years into his career, Bootsy remains on the cutting edge—embracing new technology, collaborating with a new generation of artists, and continuing to spread The One with his latest release, Album of the Year #1 Funkateer. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Bootsy Collins songs HERE. Get ad-free episodes to Broken Record by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Justin Richmond is joined by the Starchild himself—KISS co-founder and frontman, Paul Stanley. Born and raised in New York City, Paul fell in love with music at an early age, attending shows at iconic venues like the Fillmore East. Over the course of more than 50 years with KISS, he helped build one of the most devoted fan bases in rock history, turning theatrical spectacle into an art form. Now that KISS has officially retired from touring, Paul reflects on life beyond the stage. He opens up about what continues to fuel his creativity, and what it means to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the KISS Army. He also shares his personal top five KISS albums—and gives us a preview of KISS: Storms Vegas, the upcoming Las Vegas residency that proves the end of touring doesn’t mean the end of the show. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Paul Stanley and Kiss HERE. Get ad-free episodes to Broken Record by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shirley Manson rose to '90s fame as the magnetic front woman of Garbage, but she was already a seasoned singer when guitarist Steve Marker spotted her in a music video for her previous band, Angelfish. She joined the Garbage in 1994. The band was made up of Steve Marker and producers Duke Erikson and Butch Vig—renowned for his work with Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins. Nearly 30 years and over 17 million albums later, Garbage is preparing to release their eighth studio album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light. Shirley’s voice remains as sharp and compelling as ever. On today’s episode, Leah Rose sits down with Shirley Manson to discuss how an unexpected piece of advice from an acting coach during her time on the Fox sci-fi series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles continues to shape her creative process. Shirley also opens up about the challenges of communicating with her bandmates—and shares a hilarious story about meeting one of her musical heroes, Patti Smith—only to discover she had green curry smeared across her face. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Shirley Manson & Garbage HERE.  Get ad-free episodes to Broken Record by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're revisiting a gem from our archives. In late 2020, Wilco's frontman and acclaimed songwriter Jeff Tweedy released his compact yet powerful book, "How to Write One Song" – a remarkable guide for unlocking anyone's creative potential through songwriting. This exploration of creativity immediately resonated with Broken Record host Malcolm Gladwell, leading to a fascinating conversation about the book and examining what has established Tweedy as one of the most distinctive songwriters of the 21st century so far. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Jeff Tweedy & Wilco HERE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For close to three decades, Ben Kweller’s been crafting deeply personal indie rock that's both intimate and expansive. From his early days fronting the band Radish as a teenager in the '90s to his acclaimed solo career that began in the early 2000s, he's consistently delivered songs that feel raw, honest and almost conversational. But his latest album, Cover the Mirrors, finds Ben in a different place entirely. It's an unflinching examination of grief, healing, and the complicated process of moving forward after unimaginable loss. In today’s episode we’ll talk with Ben about the death of his teenage son, Dorian. How Ben and his family embraced grief and managed to not retreat from their lives and work. And what it means to return to making and releasing music. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Ben Kweller songs HERE. Get ad-free epsiodes to Broken Record by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows. Subscribe on Apple: apple.co/pushkinSubscribe on Pushkin: pushkin.fm/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.