Episodes

Flea sat with Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his newly released memoir, "Acid For the Children," for the very first live taping of Broken Record! The book is a journey through Flea's childhood: from Australia to the seedy streets of 1970's and 80's Los Angeles to the earliest incarnation of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea brings his book to life in this intensely intimate conversation about his friendships with bandmates Anthony Kiedis and Hillel Slovak, the LA of his childhood and picks up the bas...

Norah Jones sits with Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam at The Bridge Studio in New York to talk about — and play through — her latest album, Begin Again. The album is the result of a new way of working in the studio that's invigorated her. She discusses this new process, working with Jeff Tweedy and Danger Mouse and more! Oh, and her voice and playing are angelic. Visit: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ for more episodes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

Leonard Cohen died three weeks after releasing his last record, You Want It Darker, in 2016. It was the first album he worked on with his son, Adam. In mourning, Adam turned his attention to poems of his father's that he recorded while putting that last record together. He then decided to set those poems to music. The result is Leonard Cohen's new album, Thanks for the Dance. Adam talks with Rick Rubin from Shangri La about his father's musical legacy, family life and how this album came togethe...

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney join Rick Rubin at Shangri La to talk about their first tour in five years, scalpers screwing fans out of tickets, their new album—"Let's Rock"—and play some never before heard songs from their vault. Visit https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ to listen to our playlist for this episode Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brandi Carlile grew up adoring Tanya Tucker for her rebellious spirit. But it's that same nature that almost derailed Tanya's comeback album, "While I'm Livin," co-produced by Brandi. Tanya quit the album multiple times during its making. Leaving Brandi no choice but to summon Rick Rubin to help right-ship. You'll hear this story and tons of great road stories from one of country music's living-legends and one of its fastest rising talents. Here's Brandi, Tanya and Rick from Shangri La in Malibu...

Rick Rubin sits with 21 year old British songwriter Rex Orange County to discuss his major label debut, "Pony." While Rex is still mostly performs solo on the record (aside from some expert bass playing by Pino Palladino and some vocals courtesy of his girlfriend), the album is a departure from the DIY sound that earned him his following on his early, self-released records Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Wyclef Jean, who's had solo hits and with the Fugees, and produced hits for Destiny's Child, Shakira, and Carlos Santana came back this year with a new project, "Wyclef Goes Back To School." Every song is a collaboration with college-aged musicians—his way of giving back but also appealing to a whole new generation of kids. Host and producer Justin Richmond \talks to Wyclef about his latest effort, about his childhood in Haiti, moving to the U.S. and reflects on his own childhood listening to th...

After years honing her craft in the UK Yola finally lands with her beautiful album, "Walk Through Fire." Produced by the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, the album combines classic country, soul and rock and roll. Bruce Headlam talks to Yola about her journey to this album. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyler, the Creator spent three days this summer in Italy with Rick Rubin. At the end of the three days they sat down to record a conversation about Tyler's new album, "Igor". They play through some tracks off the album and Tyler even plays some piano. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack White and Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs play through some songs off their new record, "Help Me Stranger" and talk with Malcolm Gladwell from Jack's Detroit home. Rick Rubin joins by phone. Jack talks through his theory that references to modern technology don't work in modern Rock and Roll, what they've picked up as a band by living in Nashville, how perfect performances can sometimes be unconvincing, the songwriting process on the new record & more! Learn more about your ad-choices at ...

From Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record Season 3: Coming to your podcast feed on October 1st. Featuring: Jack White, Tyler, the Creator, Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Andre 3000, The Black Keys, Bon Iver, Kenny Beats, the xx, Norah Jones, Glen Hansard and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Broken Record/Revisionist History crossover episode on cultural appropriation. The case study is Taco Bell. Oh, and Pat Boone is involved. And so is our old friend, Dave Hill. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vampire Weekend returned this month with their first record in six years, "Father of the Bride". And long before it sat on top of the Billboard album chart, the band's leader, Ezra Koenig and producer Ariel Rechtshaid stopped by Shangri La Studios in Malibu to talk with Malcolm and Rick. Ezra explained how he and Ariel have been laboring over the new album, re-working some songs hundreds of times before finally feeling like they got it right. To listen to the full album, go to https://brokenrec...

Bruce Headlam discovered J.S. Ondara listening to his car radio late last year. And with a great showing at South By Southwest and a spot opening for Neil Young this summer, it seems like the rest of America is discovering him too. In this episode of Broken Record, J.S. Ondara talks about leaving his native Kenya six years ago for Minnesota — the home of his idol, Bob Dylan — and creating his debut album, "Tales of America". Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c...

Linda Perry is one of the only women considered a go-to producer in the music industry. After finding success with her band 4 Non Blondes and their ubiquitous single, "What's Up?" (1992) Perry went on to write and produce for other artists. She’s worked with Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Celine Dion, Adele, James Blunt, Britney Spears. And reinvented the careers of Pink and Christina Aguilera. Most recently she wrote with and produced a Dolly Parton record for the Netflix movie Dumplin’ — which ...

T Bone Burnett helped launch the careers of Los Lobos, Counting Crows, Gillian Welch; revive the careers of Roy Orbison and Robert Plant; course-correct Elvis Costello’s career in the mid-eighties and just recently produced a beautiful record by Sara Bareilles. Of course, there’s all of his film work as well. But while visiting Rick Rubin, himself a legendary producer and co-host of Broken Record, T Bone said he has stopped producing other artists. Instead he’s focusing on releasing his own musi...

Malcolm Gladwell, along with guest-host, Daisy Rosario, talks with the five members of Pentatonix from GSI Studios in NYC. The quintet, who got their start on YouTube, discuss their approach to arranging a cappella versions of pop songs, writing original music, their collaboration with Dolly Parton and so much more! Pentatonix kick off their summer tour of the U.S. in Oakland this May 11. Go to http://ptxofficial.com/ for details and https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ for a playlist of songs we've...

Lori McKenna, Liz Rose and Hillary Lidnsey—known as the Love Junkies—write some of the best songs in Nashville today. Between the three of them, they've helped launch Taylor Swift, pushed Lady Gaga into country music—with her album "Joanne"—and gave country music one of its more controversial hits: "Girl Crush." In this episode of Broken Record they give Malcolm a glimpse into their songwriting process and break down some of their more successful songs. To hear a playlist of our favorite Love Ju...

Mary Gauthier is one of the most unique songwriters in Nashville. Forgoing the city's often conventional pop sound, Gauthier's songs are unafraid to probe into what she calls "the extremely personal." Gauthier talks to Bruce Headlam in this episode of Broken Record about getting her start as a songwriter in her 30's and co-writing her last album, "Rifles and Rosary Beads", with U.S. Military Veterans and their families. It's one of Malcolm Gladwell's favorite records of 2018 and here she perform...

Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell talk with David Byrne (formerly of Talking Heads) about protest music: some of his favorite protest songs, the earliest ones he heard, how they affected his songwriting, and what makes them effective. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questlove talks about how he got involved with D’Angelo’s Voodoo record, the evolution of his drumming style, how he approaches DJ’ing, and tells the best Obama story ever. Part 2 of 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questlove talks about how he got involved with D’Angelo’s Voodoo record, the evolution of his drumming style, how he approaches DJ’ing, and tells the best Obama story ever. Part 1 of 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Malcolm Gladwell, Rick Rubin, and Bruce Headlam: Conversations. Arguments. Stories. Remembering old music. Discovering new music. Broken Record: Coming to your podcast feed on March 26th. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the season one finale of Broken Record, Malcolm Gladwell talks with Rick Rubin about Tom Petty, who died in October 2017 at the age of 66. Rubin and Petty worked together for two years on his beloved 1994 album “Wildflowers.” Rubin talks about Petty’s writing style, and how half the songs they recorded for Wildflowers ended up on the cutting room floor. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.