On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with writer, director, actor and memoirist Desiree Akhavan, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning filmmaker behind such films as The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Appropriate Behavior. Over the course of a very connected and open conversation, Akhavan talks about her evocative first memory of learning to swim, writing her show Friday Night Live at age 9, her urge to return to Japan … or just learn how to take a vacation period, finding joy beyond validation, reckoning with her path forward during a current time of transition, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a deep, enlightening conversation between two talented wordsmiths who also happen to be admirers of each other’s work: Mick Jenkins and Aja Monet. Mick Jenkins first found some notice a little over a decade ago with a mixtape called The Waters, a sophisticated, politically minded group of songs that sounded wiser than his years and got him tons of attention from his homebase of Chicago and beyond. Early collaborators include Chance the Rapper and and Vic Mensa, which should tell you a little bit about what to expect from Jenkins’ sound, but not the whole story: He’s since released a bunch of records that take plenty of left turns, including last year’s jazzy A Murder of Crows, made with producer EMIL. Check out “Worker’s Comp” from that album right here. Speaking of jazzy, the other half of today’s conversation is Aja Monet, who’s taken her poetry from the page and straight readings to a place bursting with music and rhythm on a pair of albums, including a brand new one called The Color of Rain. Jenkins and their mutual friend Vic Mensa join on one song, “Melting Clocks” but it’s most Monet’s show throughout, with her poetry set over zigzagging instruments and tempos. It never feels forced, but rather a natural extension of what she’s all about—complex, lyrical, and sometimes intense. Check out “Melting Clocks” right here. This conversation starts a little slowly—Jenkins is just waking up and has been having a rough few months. But these two draw inspiration and life from chatting with each other: They cover Jenkins’ early years, when he wasn’t sure if his religion would allow him to pursue secular music; and they get deep into how to deal with the crazy world we’re living in at the moment—specifically how to manage anger. It’s a deep conversation with a lot of wisdom coming from both directions. Enjoy. 0:00 Intro 3:04 Start of Conversation 3:29 On new projects and working through grief with family 4:53 On things women weren’t told about, and learning about ourselves 6:27 On the broken healthcare system, and prioritizing wellness with age 9:23 On self-care, supporting friends, and community 11:25 On expanding your worldview while traveling, and healthcare abroad  18:21 On reacting to US politics and “righteous rage” 22:29 On power dynamics and understanding experiences with anger 26:40 On how Aja’s art expresses anger and love 27:24 On Mick’s career, and what he wanted to express with his early work 29:19 On seeing love in nature, and unique expressions of anger in art 29:56 On reaching people with deeply personal and honest art, and how Mick’s background influences his music 37:10 On feeling afraid of speaking up, and grappling with spirituality 39:45 On empathy, giving others grace, and Aja’s religious upbringing 42:37 On living your truth, growing as a person, and recognizing ignorance 45:07 On finding balance, being humbled by nature, and “warrior spirits” 47:32 On being peers, and learning from each other Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Aja Monet and Mick Jenkins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with comedian John Early, whose excellent debut feature as writer-director-star, Maddie’s Secret, is now in theaters. In an engrossing and very funny conversation, the two talk about one of the most unlikely anagrams of all time (and its deep resonance in Early’s life), the pros and cons of death by anvil, why Early’s shoes are his superego, the specific confluence of things that put him in a “blissed-out golden retriever mood,” his tornado dreams around the premieres of Maddie’s Secret, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

This episode originally aired on May 20, 2026. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Music Person⁠. Kevin Morby from Los Angeles, CA and Kansas City, MO. Kevin and Dylan discuss butterflies, his return to Los Angeles, the nuances between Kansas and Missouri culture, his life with partner and fellow songwriter Katie Crutchfield, a canon of indie musicians who play the long game, examining your own mythos, Elvis, and tennis. + Kevin gives a letter of recommendation. ++ Kevin asks the Magic 8 Ball on Dylan’s coffee table some questions. Artists we mentioned: David Berman/Silver Jews/Purple Mountains, Hand Habits, Woods, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Joan Baez, The National, Taylor Swift, Waxahatchee, the Babies, Geese, Elvis Presely. Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with Goran Stolevski, the Macedonian-Australian writer-director whose films You Won’t Be Alone, Of An Age and Housekeeping for Beginners are arguably the best first three features by any filmmaker in recent memory. Over the course of a strikingly frank conversation, Stolevski talks about why writing a shitty script is a quicker road to filmmaking success, why he won’t be making Monopoly: The Movie, his revisionist take on Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, why the apocalypse will not feature anyone who looks like Pedro Pascal, why he wishes he didn’t want to make movies, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Hey Talkhouse listeners, it's Josh Modell. Instead of a new episode this week, we're resurfacing a great one from a few years back between Blondshell and Maya Hawke. Blondshell, aka Sabrina Teitelbaum, released a new song recently and she's about to hit the road for a big tour. Maya Hawke is an actor who just signed on to star in the upcoming Netflix show The God of the Woods and she makes great records as well. Check it out! —Josh Modell, Host of the Talkhouse Podcast  On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two performers who’ve got friends in common, and became fast friends themselves while recording this chat: Maya Hawke and Sabrina Teitelbaum. Maya Hawke is best known for her day job as an actor, most visibly in a little show called Stranger Things, and she was also in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the new Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City. But as you’ll hear in this chat, she might be most excited by a side path as a singer and songwriter. Hawke has released two understated but fantastic albums so far, and she’s basically finished another. The vibe is sort of indie-folk, sort of floating and ambient but lyrically really engaging. She’s worked with some cool folks to realize her musical vision, including Christian Lee Hutson, who’s the “Christian” referenced in this conversation, just so you know. ⁠Check out⁠ a “Sweet Tooth” from Hawke’s 2022 album Moss right here. Sabrina Teitelbaum just released her debut album under the name Blondshell, and it’s one of the best of 2023 so far. She describes it in this conversation as an emergency album—meaning a bunch of songs that she felt almost desperate to write, record, and unleash on the world. It’s direct and angry in spots, but also darkly funny and completely unafraid. She’s toured with the likes of Horsegirl and Porridge Radio, which might give some indication of what you’re in for. Or I could just play you Blondshell’s opus, “Salad,” right here. ⁠Check it out⁠. These two have a fantastic conversation, and just in case it’s not clear from the context, they’re both good friends with the singer Samia, and each has contributed to a Samia covers series called Honey Reimagained. Blondshell did a song called “Charm You,” which is available now. Elsewhere in this chat, they talk about Hawke’s playing “body air guitar,” the weird emotional hit you get when a tour is finished, and the difficulties of stage banter. Enjoy. 0:00 Intro 3:20: Start of Conversation 3:21: On mutual friends and covering songs 4:58: On “perceived vulnerability” and perspectives in their songwriting 9:08: On sad songs, music you can play for friends, and “Olympus” 10:57: On the writing and jazz experiences that inspired Maya’s music 12:48: On the physicality of performing, feeling the music, and performance art 14:41: On playing live, post-tour loneliness, and active vs. passive time 20:06: On maintaining friendships 21:17: On Maya’s latest record 22:54: On onstage banter, scripting shows, and keeping shows fresh 25:53: On finishing a record and learning from the experience 27:43: On music serving as a snapshot of an artists’ life 28:26: On promoting music creatively and authentically, and social media 33:19: On the songwriting process, and tv show narratives’ influences on our experiences 38:40: On being inspired by friendships 42:13: On Maya titling her album “Moss” 43:40: On writing about past pain, and trying to balance it with joy Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sabrina Teiltelbaum and Maya Hawke for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at ⁠Talkhouse.com⁠. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with one of the greatest living documentary filmmakers, Kirsten Johnson, the director of Cameraperson and Dick Johnson is Dead. In a very personal conversation that draws on their shared history around death and their parents, the two talk about their mutual pursuit of connection, Johnson growing up in the shadow of an imminent apocalypse, the truly remarkable dream she had while shooting in Sudan, a great story about Stephen Colbert’s hands, the disappointing way in which she and a legendary artist have not been collaborating, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an absolute legend of the punk rock world in conversation with one of his band’s biggest fans—who also happens to play bass in one of the world’s most famous rock bands. It’s Joe Keithley and Duff McKagan. Joe Keithley has been known for the vast majority of his life as Joey Shithead, singer and guitarist for the band D.O.A., which is coming up on its 50th year of existence. D.O.A. are absolute legends that have always existed on the margins—I don’t think they’d have it any other way—and who influenced and crossed paths with countless bands over the years. They’re credited with bringing the word “hardcore” into the punk lexicon with their album Hardcore ‘81, and guys like Billie Joe Armstrong and Kurt Cobain were vocal fans. Politics and activism have always been part of D.O.A.’s DNA, so it’s no surprise that Keithley decided to run for office in his native Burnaby, Canada. It was a surprise, even to him, that he actually won, and he’s been representing his area for nearly eight years. There’s a new documentary out now called Something Better Change that covers his life both as a musician and a politician, and it’s definitely worth your time. It even comes as a DVD extra in a new double-LP greatest hits collection called Take on the Tyrants: The Very Best of Punk Rock’s Most Enduring Band. Check out the trailer for the doc right here. Duff McKagan is a lifelong D.O.A. fan; as you’ll hear in this chat, he was onto them super early, including attending a legendary hardcore festival in Canada. McKagan probably needs no introduction here: He’s the longtime bassist and founding member of Guns N' Roses, with whom he still tours—he Zooms into this chat having just landed in Poland for some gigs. But McKagan’s fascinating career and history goes well beyond GnR; he was part of the Seattle punk scene starting as a teen, and he’s been a member of more bands, big and small, than you can count. He’s also an accomplished writer whose autobiography is well worth a read and he’s got a string of solo albums and collaborations. He’s always busy, and he clearly loves music, as you’ll hear in this chat. In addition to talking about his love for D.O.A., McKagan talks with Keithley here about the good old days of punk rock, diving deep on Black Flag in particular. They also chat about Keithley’s political career and his new venture as the face of a Canadian guitar company. It’s a fun, lively conversation—enjoy. 0:00 — Intro 2:40 — Start of Conversation 3:26 — On how D.O.A shaped Duff’s perspectives on music, and on receiving their album 4:47 — On traveling in Europe on tour, and cities with the best rock audiences 7:52 — On traveling through East and West Germany, and how fans got new music in East Germany 9:53 — On D.O.A’s documentary, Something Better Change, and the politics, music, and punk culture that inspired them both 14:05 — On the Vietnam War and its impacts on music 15:05 — On Joe’s political campaigns, door-knocking, and learning about diverse cultures 18:57 — On crossing borders on tour 22:12 — On local politics and aggressive campaign commercials 24:44 — On touring, and attending graduations 26:23 — On Joe’s new line of guitars 27:46 — On D.O.A’s influence on Duff, D.O.A’s early days, and meeting other punk musicians Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Joe Keithley and Duff McKagan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

On the latest episode Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with Charles Lane, the writer-director-actor behind the landmark indie film classic Sidewalk Stories. In a lively and frequently surprising conversation, Lane talks about such disparate subjects as how to make high-school love work (with some creative scheduling), being chased by street gangs and dinosaurs, how he copes with regret, his time as a pre-teen pyromaniac, the places one’s brain goes during a 12-minute (!) standing ovation at Cannes, becoming a Jehovah’s Witness as an act of teenage rebellion, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of old friends who are both multi-hyphenates: film directors, actors, writers, musicians, and perhaps most importantly, opinionated rabble-rousers who’ve spent decades pushing at the edges of culture—especially sexual politics—and gleefully widening its scope. It’s John Cameron Mitchell and Sook-Yin Lee. Mitchell is perhaps best known for co-writing and starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the late-'90s stage musical that became a cult-classic movie. It was the beginning of a career that has championed queerness and otherness, pushing those things into a mainstream that has sometimes been welcoming, but most times not so much. He followed Hedwig with Shortbus, whose frank depictions of sexuality were probably a little too intense for wider audiences. Mitchell has also done really interesting work as an actor in other people’s projects, including playing Tiger King Joe Exotic in a miniseries not too long ago. As you’ll hear in this chat, he’s working on a project about Alan Ginsberg in 1968, a time that should be more distant than it feels like at the moment. Mitchell is heading out on a Hedwig anniversary tour that will include screenings of the film plus live performance and conversation; check out hedwig25.com for info. The other half of today’s chat, Sook-Yin Lee, met Mitchell way back when, as you’ll hear, when she auditioned for him—sort of. She had roles in both Hedwig and Shortbus, but has also lived other lives as a TV presenter in Canada and a prolific film director. For the past couple of years she’s taken her latest film, Paying For It, straight to audiences along with her friend Chester Brown, whose graphic novel is the film’s basis. It’s a comedy about a couple that opens their relationship, and one of them decides to experiment by paying for sex. You can stream it most anywhere now, but that’s not all Lee has been up to: She just released a new album of catchy, skewed electro-pop called 72RHR. Check out the song “A Hollow” right here. In this funny, fiery conversation, Mitchell and Lee talk about their early days together, about Alan Ginsberg and how the times he lived through don’t seem to be over, about Mitchell’s adopted New Orleans home, the power of art and lots more. Enjoy. 0:00 — Intro 2:39 — Start of Conversation 3:13 — On celebrating Pride, and Allen Ginsberg 5:34 — On their first collaborations, why their earlier projects couldn’t be made in today’s climate and industry, and branching out with new projects 10:43 — On promoting their latest film collaboration, "Paying For It" 13:11 — On their musical backgrounds and finding inspiration from different styles and genres of art 14:10 — On up-and-coming cities and scenes for artists, marginalized communities, and progressive and punk cultures 16:57 — Comparing and contrasting modern times and today’s art to 1968 18:42 — On making a living as an artist, funding for the arts, and affordability 20:23 — On art movements in small regions, and protecting DIY art spaces, and regional culture in New Orleans 22:03 — On promoting “Paying For It” in the US 23:36 — On the frustrations of a digital world, and building connection and attention spans 25:27 — On doing screenings and gigs for the 25th anniversary of “Hedvig,” and screening “Short Bus” 26:13 — On using art to bring people together again to re-connect to reality 28:58 — On fighting ICE and data centers, and uniting over shared issues 31:46 — On using technology to connect, and young peoples’ changing identities 34:23 — On how young people are creating DIY art, and the tools that make art more accessible for creators 38:13 — On the connections between punk culture, art distribution, and resistance 42:29 — On AIDS activism and “applied punk” within the queer community 44:03 — Where you can find their work Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Sook-Yin Lee and John Cameron Mitchell for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great shows in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.