Best Improv Asylum Podcasts (2025)

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The Secret Behind Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and Its Mysterious Drums 24:14

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1d ago24:14

24:14

When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring nonstop in support of their earth-shattering LP. Their Label begged them to get one album #2 ASAP… Their sophomore record came out just months after their debut. Unheard of in music at that …

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481 - "NO WHEY" 1:05:30

1d ago1:05:30

1:05:30

Sketch Spreadsheet by Will Runt: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2HYV7-VcnAV08wyHA7OFbqh_UCnVDUheiNFiqxPX_Y/edit?usp=sharing Think Tank Institute: https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kH2int_ZkuI Pants Illustrated: https://www.instagram.com/pants.illustrated?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Andy's appearance on "Unco…

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Top ’90s TV Theme Songs: Friends, Seinfeld, X-Files & More 34:22

1d ago34:22

34:22

Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over…

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How Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” Saved Lives and Changed the World 19:36

3d ago19:36

19:36

Coming up next, a very interesting interview that was a little off at first but got better as we went along. It’s about Soul Asylum's Runaway Train, a song that started out as one thing and ended up making a powerful change worldwide. It came out of crippling depression and it took years to finish. Initially, the lyrics were too similar to another …

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Exclusive Interview: Gary Numan on His UK Success, U.S. One-Hit Wonder, and Finding Peace 22:24

4d ago22:24

22:24

Up next, an interview with Gary Numan about several songs that shook radio in different parts of the world. The first one, Are Friends Electric, was a hit in the UK and it came from an out of tune instrument that was written as a science fiction story about the future one that seemed far fetched in the late 70s but one that is a reality now about a…

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FROM THE VAULT: How the Bee Gees Rose from Collapse to Conquer the 70s: Top 5 Songs of the Gibb Brothers 23:47

5d ago23:47

23:47

FROM THE VAULT: The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee Gees documentary we celebrate their astonishing run as the most prolific group of the 70s and list their top 5 songs from Lonely Days to Stayin’ Alive, from Jive Talking to How Deep Is Your …

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SNP41: Do Certain Foods Really Cause Inflammation – And Are Anti-Inflammatory Diets the Answer? 16:19

6d ago16:19

16:19

Inflammation has become a nutrition buzzword, often used in extreme or misleading ways. This episode aims to clarify what inflammation is, how it relates to diet and health, and whether specific foods truly provoke inflammatory responses in the body. The episode provides a nuanced, evidence-based look at inflammation and diet. It explains the diffe…

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When Kiedis Bombed Live and Loggins Got Fired—Then They Made History 28:35

6d ago28:35

28:35

Sometimes, taking a bold leap or making a risky move can seem like career suicide—until it isn’t. Coming up, we’ll reveal six incredible stories of artists who faced doubt, backlash, or skepticism, only to turn those moments into their greatest triumphs... including an up and coming singer, Anthony Kiedis, who had written a deeply personal song, Un…

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#423 The Traverse City HAUNTED Asylum 55:19

7d ago55:19

55:19

2025 TOUR TICKETS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thisparanormallife.com⁠⁠ On This Paranormal Life, we spend a lot of time investigating the darkest and creepiest corners of the world, and today is no exception! We’re journeying to North Michigan, to tell the tale of the The Traverse City Asylum, a once booming psychiatric hospital that’s now home to satanists, strange d…

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The Untold Stories of 1972’s Greatest Hits: Bowie, Seals & Crofts, and The Hollies 32:18

7d ago32:18

32:18

Coming up, a year that was so great we had to reformat our countdown to 12 songs, truly compelling masterworks here... including the song All the Young Dudes by David Bowie, which he knew was a can’t miss smash. But he gave it to his favorite band, Mott the Hoople, who needed a hit or they were done. The song saved their career and became an all-ti…

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42. Tales from Novus - Episode 5 - The Hand Job 1:32:19

8d ago1:32:19

1:32:19

Happy Father’s Day! We’re back with another installment of the Tales in Novus side arc to mark the occasion. Arken, Gilgamesh, Salazar, and Randy continue their climb toward the mountaintop, capped by a mysterious giant stone hand. Along the way, they face grueling challenges, strange dwarves, and a deadly puzzle guarding an even stranger door nest…

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The Genius of Brian Wilson: A Farewell to Pop’s Most Profound Composer 24:47

8d ago24:47

24:47

Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history.…

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FROM THE VAULT: How Bon Jovi Rose to Fame with Anthems of Hope and Resilience 17:47

8d ago17:47

17:47

FROM THE VAULT: The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especiall…

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The Wildest Rock Supergroups That Almost Happened: Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, and Llamas 30:50

9d ago30:50

30:50

From rock royalty to wild misfires — today we’re covering the greatest supergroups you’ve never heard of… but won’t forget any time soon. We’re telling the stories of rock legends who almost joined forces but just couldn’t get it together… And others that actually made it to the stage and into the studio. Among them, there’s a soap opera-inspired b…

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480 - "LIPS BEHIND THE TEETH" 1:01:19

10d ago1:01:19

1:01:19

Sketch Spreadsheet by Will Runt: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2HYV7-VcnAV08wyHA7OFbqh_UCnVDUheiNFiqxPX_Y/edit?usp=sharing Think Tank Institute: https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kH2int_ZkuI Pants Illustrated: https://www.instagram.com/pants.illustrated?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Andy's appearance on "Unco…

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He Lost the Bet...Then Wrote Their Biggest Hit in Minutes! 23:37

10d ago23:37

23:37

Coming up next, the evolution of one of the most legendary groups ever through their greatest songs…and we have all three principles here to tell the story of their sound and its impact on the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonie…

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Trump New Craziness and Travel Bans 42:08

11d ago42:08

42:08

By Otis Landerholm

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Kenny Rogers on “The Gambler”: The Song That Made Him a Legend 20:19

11d ago20:19

20:19

Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a c…

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Celebrating Brian Wilson: The Musical Genius Behind The Beach Boys | Bonus Tribute Episode 21:47

11d ago21:47

21:47

Today, we honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this special bonus episode of Professor of Rock, we commemorate Brian’s extraordinary contributions to music following the news of his passing. Through exclusive commentary and historical perspec…

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Gender Based Asylum In Trump 2.0 46:59

12d ago46:59

46:59

By Otis Landerholm

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Banned by MTV, Rejected by Radio: The ’80s Hits Too Hot to Handle 32:59

12d ago32:59

32:59

Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did just that… We’re breaking down six songs that either got themselves banned from radio, blacklisted by MTV, or pulled from live shows. The list of taboo tracks includes Olivia Newton-John Joh…

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Trump's Project Homecoming What You Need To Know! 46:22

13d ago46:22

46:22

By Otis Landerholm

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#566: Can We Maintain Weight Loss? Pharmacology and Behavior – Tara Schmidt, RD 51:13

13d ago51:13

51:13

GLP-1 receptor agonists have changed the landscape of obesity treatment, offering levels of weight loss once thought unattainable without surgery. But what happens after the weight is lost? And can we really talk about success without talking about maintenance? While much of the public discourse fixates on dramatic weight loss numbers, the harder q…

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FROM THE VAULT: How Tom Petty Proved His Label Wrong with Free Fallin’ 20:57

13d ago20:57

20:57

FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this …

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#422 Canada’s Most SHOCKING True UFO Story - Charlie Red Star 56:33

14d ago56:33

56:33

2025 TOUR TICKETS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thisparanormallife.com⁠⁠ Canada is big. So big in-fact that it’s easy to hide things there. Don’t believe me? Maple syrup wasn’t bottled and sold around the world until the 1950s — THAT’S how secret they can keep things. So as it turns out it’s a great place to be a UFO with wide, vast, open plains and mountain ranges to f…

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The 16-Year-Old Who Outsold The Beatles —Top 11 Songs of 1967 31:37

14d ago31:37

31:37

COMING up next, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the greatest songs of that magical time, including a scruffy 16-year-old kid Alex Chilton, who won a high school talent show and got to record a short 2-minute song, The Letter… It ended up hitti…

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How Rick Astley’s Label Hated His Song—Then It Took Over the World 20:34

14d ago20:34

20:34

Coming up next, the fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never happened. When Rick Astley was searching for his first hit, he got picked up by one of the world's premier production teams. Only instead of letting him record an album, they had him doing chores aro…

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Top 10 Most Soul-Stirring Female Vocal Performances of the ’80s: Aimee Mann, Stevie Nicks, and More 33:05

16d ago33:05

33:05

Coming up, we’re moving into the shadows of the '80s to uncover the most chilling, emotionally gripping performances of the decade. They were the songs that ruled the radio dial and haunted our souls with 10 iconic vocal performances from the decade’s best. As we count down the most haunting songs of the 80s, including post-punk icon Siouxie Sioux,…

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How a Paul Simon–Mentored Band Created One of the Most Haunting One-Hit Wonders of the ’80s 24:17

17d ago24:17

24:17

Some songs are just BLESSED…seriously, it just seems like certain songs are touched by the hand of God where the miraculous and unexplained happens… Well that’s exactly what today’s song was and still is. Life in a Northern Town.. It was a mind blowing song in 1986 that didn’t sound like anything on radio. And it was meant to be. Today’s singer Nic…

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The Story Behind “Juke Box Hero”: Lou Gramm’s Vocal Feat and Fan Inspiration 20:21

18d ago20:21

20:21

Up next.. the story of Juke Box Hero, an all-time classic rock song from both its iconic singer, Lou Gramm, and guitarist Mick Jones, who both wrote it. It's one of the '80s greatest anthems. They each had a great song and pretty much combined it into one with dual experiences… Mick said it came from a fan who stood in the rain for 5 hours to get t…

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479 - "SAUSAGES ARE COMING FOR PASTA" 1:03:01

18d ago1:03:01

1:03:01

Sketch Spreadsheet by Will Runt: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2HYV7-VcnAV08wyHA7OFbqh_UCnVDUheiNFiqxPX_Y/edit?usp=sharing Think Tank Institute: https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kH2int_ZkuI Pants Illustrated: https://www.instagram.com/pants.illustrated?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Andy's appearance on "Unco…

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Top 10 Guitar Solos of the ’70s: Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, and More 28:06

19d ago28:06

28:06

Songwriters have stated many times that you never know where or when a clever lyric is going to strike. It’s also that way for a guitarist. A catchy riff can come at any time and from any place. You’ll hear what I mean when we talk about some of the best solos of the 70s. For instance, Ritchie Blackmore improvised a solo to impress a journalist who…

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#421 Operation SAUCER: The Time Dozens of UFO’s Attacked Brazil 1:00:48

20d ago1:00:48

1:00:48

2025 TOUR TICKETS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thisparanormallife.com⁠⁠ When we usually dive into a UFO case, it’s a miracle if we have even 1 reliable witness. Well, back in 1977 on the Brazilian island of Colares, UFO’s began attacking locals, hitting them with laser beams that paralysed them on the spot. And we don’t just have 1 witness, we have over 300... Follow …

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#565: How Zinc Insufficiency Impacts Inflammation, Immunity & Aging – Prof. Emily Ho 44:28

20d ago44:28

44:28

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that often flies under the radar, despite being vital for hundreds of enzymes and transcription factors involved in immunity, antioxidant defense, and DNA repair. A surprisingly large segment of the population may not get enough – an estimated 10% of U.S. individuals consume less than half the recommended zinc int…

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FROM THE VAULT: The Story Behind Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams – Stevie Nicks’ Heartfelt Breakup Anthem 16:12

20d ago16:12

16:12

FROM THE VAULT: When you listen to the modern day standard "Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, you may not immediately hear the sadness. You may not recognize that it is song about a failing relationship. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

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FROM THE VAULT: 5 Forgotten 90s Songs Featuring Tonic, LIT, Sponge, Garbage, and More 20:23

21d ago20:23

20:23

FROM THE VAULT: Hey Music Junkies, the Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time; If you love music, you’ll want to subscribe below and hit the bell so you always get our daily content. You’ll also want to check us out on Patreon as we’ve added a bunch of exclusives and benefits there. Today we're discus…

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The ’70s Hit Randy Bachman Wrote as a Joke—That Hit #1 in 22 Countries 33:37

21d ago33:37

33:37

Coming up next, we're firing up the time machine and heading to an iconic year in the 70s… Can you guess it? It was the year Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record and Muhammad Ali stunned George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. And in music, it was a pummeling, too. One song came when a future rock star Donal Fagen, hit on the wife of on…

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Ranking the Greatest Classic Rock Songs of All Time: The Ultimate Showdown 38:37

22d ago38:37

38:37

I really screwed up a few weeks ago. I was counting down the greatest songs of 1976 and left out More Than a Feeling, one of the greatest songs in classic rock history. I’ve never messed up like this, but here’s the thing: in any other year, it would easily be the #1 song. But in 1976, it would be competing with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. So that g…

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Updates from the Supreme Court of the U.S. 25:48

23d ago25:48

25:48

By Otis Landerholm

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How “The Power of Love” Became a #1 Hit—and a Soundtrack Tragedy 22:31

23d ago22:31

22:31

Coming up, an interview with one of my favorite people, Huey Lewis, about one of the biggest #1 hits of the '80s, The Power of Love. It’s become legendary both because of the feel-good sing-along chorus and the iconic movies it supported. Huey was in the midst of a huge album THAT RULED the mid 80s with 4 big hits, when he was tapped to write the t…

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How Two Teens and a Cheap Synth Launched OMD into Pop History 22:57

24d ago22:57

22:57

Coming up, the legendary duo Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, or OMD for short, tells the story of their career in 5 key songs that helped invent the iconic sound of the 80s. So get this, they wrote their first big song “Electronic” when they were teenagers forming an underground synth duo, and it ended up selling 5 million copies of their single …

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rump's Project Homecoming: What you need to know! 46:22

25d ago46:22

46:22

By Otis Landerholm

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Men at Work Ruled the ’80s—Then Vanished. Colin Hay Explains Why 21:41

25d ago21:41

21:41

Coming up, an interview with a true 80s icon, Colin Hay, who people forget was on a Beatles-like trajectory... if only for a couple of years. But those years, he and his band Men at Work were as big as anyone. They actually pulled off something that not even the Beatles did… when their debut record Business as Usual, spent 15 weeks at #1 and contai…

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478 - "HEIMLICHABLE!" 1:07:22

25d ago1:07:22

1:07:22

Sketch Spreadsheet by Will Runt: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e2HYV7-VcnAV08wyHA7OFbqh_UCnVDUheiNFiqxPX_Y/edit?usp=sharing Think Tank Institute: https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/kH2int_ZkuI Pants Illustrated: https://www.instagram.com/pants.illustrated?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Andy's appearance on "Unco…

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Sex, Cheese, and Controversy: Ranking the 5 Most Ridiculous ’70s Songs 27:24

26d ago27:24

27:24

Coming up, we’re gonna get into the dark underbelly of the 70s, where bad taste reigned supreme, controversy sold millions, and critical acclaim was strictly optional. We are going to take a ride through the songs that you hate to love or the songs that you love to hate, depending on your perspective. You’ll hear the tale of (You're) Having My Baby…

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FROM THE VAULT: Sammy Hagar on Van Halen’s 1988 Hit “When It’s Love” 6:01

26d ago6:01

6:01

FROM THE VAULT: The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar tells the story of Van Halen’s 1988 top 5 hit: “When it’s Love" from their magnificent album 0U812. The song was a #1 hit on the rock charts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

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#420 Ghost of Federici - Melbourne's HAUNTED Princess Theatre 53:54

27d ago53:54

53:54

2025 TOUR TICKETS ⁠⁠www.thisparanormallife.com Phantom of the Opera, The Curse of the Ninth, the play about a Scottish king that we mustn't mention by name — we’ve all heard the stories. Theaters are some of the most paranormal locations on earth, stalked by ghosts and curses. Is it the electric energy of the adoring crowds that seeps into the wall…