Best Mark B Writing Podcasts (2025)

1
Inside the world of reissues with producer Rob Caiger 46:50

1d ago46:50

46:50

Rob Caiger is one of those special people who turned their teenage obsession with music into a job … from being the only one in ELO’s office who knew where the old tapes were … to learning that what it says on the outside of the box isn’t always what’s on the tape … through embarking on a ten-year project to put out the last Small Faces album from …

1
Genuinely ‘iconic’ rock pictures, words we should ban and how Freddie Mercury still makes headlines 48:57

2d ago48:57

48:57

Hoary old tales retold – ideally in an Irish accent - and new ones prized from the giddy carousel of rock and roll news which, this week, features … … was there a better stage name than Rick Derringer? … Linda Ronstadt, Ronnie Spector, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and other new biopics under construction. … genuinely ‘iconic’ rock images – the Ziggy light…

1
Martha Wainwright - ‘never nervous, always ballsy’ and onstage from the age of eight 24:27

4d ago24:27

24:27

Martha Wainwright is a key member of the Wainwright/McGarrigle clan, all of them big favourites of ours. She’s currently on her 20th anniversary tour and looks back here at the first shows she ever saw and played which involves … … growing up in a folk dynasty in Montreal. … the sight of Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen, backing singers on Leona…

1
Budgie of Siouxsie And The Banshees started out in nightclub cabaret acts, aged 13 41:27

5d ago41:27

41:27

Small boy begins breeding budgerigars in Liverpool, makes enough to buy a drum kit and becomes the power behind Big In Japan, the Slits, the Creatures and Siouxsie and the Banshees. And one half of punk rock’s most famous couples. The immensely engaging Budgie has finally written his memoir, ‘The Absence’, and talks to us from Berlin about … … are …

1
Anaïs Mitchell: 2019 Pre-Broadway interview on Hadestown, Lamb Rearing, and Untangling Third Wave Feminism (REISSUE), ep. 312 51:22

5d ago51:22

51:22

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. Enjoy!) Listening back, I feel like this 2018 interview with Anaïs Mitchell holds up. Originally published on Jan…

1
How to Start Making your Micro Budget Feature with Daniel Talbott & Andrew Klaus-Vineyard 26:53

7d ago26:53

26:53

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #film #indiefilm #microbudget I usually talk to filmmakers at the end of their journey, when the film has been shot and released, but this week I thought it would be interesting to chat to two filmmakers at the very beginning of their journey. So I spoke to Andrew Klaus-Vineyard and Daniel Talbott who are about to …

1
Books rock stars want you to read, sacked drummers and how Dylan spent his birthday 38:14

8d ago38:14

38:14

The two-man pedalo of enquiry sets out on the Bank Holiday boating lake of news pausing to consider … … Florence Welch, Dua Lipa and the rise of the rock and roll book club. … the 92 year-old that Bob Dylan supported at the Cascades Amphitheatre, Ridgefield. … the Beatles had 18 drummers! … the sad end to Billy Joel’s tour schedule. … is Hollywood …

1
Dylan Jones bangs the drum for 1975, an explosion of talent and creativity 32:22

9d ago32:22

32:22

Dylan Jones – writer, former editor of i-D, Arena and GQ - was 15 in 1975 and dressed like Jimmy McCulloch of Wings (“a lot of denim and silk scarves”), a time he thinks had enormous influence on the following five decades. There are many highlights in his latest book ‘1975: The Year The World Forgot’, a lot of them discussed here with David and Ma…

1
Morgan Toney on Circles, Elders, and Phil Collins, ep. 311 1:00:58

12d ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Circles have played a huge role in fiddler and singer Morgan Toney's life thus far: from drum circles, to talking circles, to the Earth itself (a circle!). In our Basic Folk conversation, Morgan talks about his L'nu (also known as Mi'kmaq) heritage and growing up on what's now called Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where his ancestors have lived since ti…

1
Cracks of Light.... 1:03:21

13d ago1:03:21

1:03:21

The Resurrection Trilogy Part 2. Where does the light come in after months of darkness? When do we start to feel piece of ourselves again? In this episode, Krysta speaks from the tender edge of healing—where nothing is fully formed, and everything feels like falling. This is about terror, bravery, and finally feeling the sun on your face. Themes: P…

1
How to get a Famous Actor in your £30k Micro Budget Feature with Mitchell Tolliday 31:08

14d ago31:08

31:08

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #film #indiefilm #microbudget Do you want to know what it takes to make your first feature film and get it released? Well I spoke to Mitchell Holliday and he's done just that with his debut film Murder Ballads: How to Make it in Rock 'n' Roll starring Simon Callow. We talked about how he put the film together, how …

1
The great lost Beach Boys SMiLE album – David Leaf unravels rock’s Holy Grail 51:45

15d ago51:45

51:45

The Beach Boys’ SMiLE was abandoned by Brian Wilson in 1967 and eventually performed at an emotional gathering of the faithful in London 37 years later. For writer and lecturer David Leaf it became an obsession. He made a documentary about it in 2004 and has just published ‘SMiLE: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson’ drawn from detailed…

1
The best songs written in seconds, Lennon’s legs and Springsteen’s chimes of freedom. 36:10

17d ago36:10

36:10

Slapping the beanburger of news on the sizzling grill of scrutiny and served with relish by Alex Gold and Mark Ellen (David’s in Spain with his bucket and spade). This week’s specials include … … Springsteen’s unprecedented speech onstage in Manchester about his nation’s “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration” and the Dixie Chicks’ car…

1
Kris Delmhorst: Inching Forward through Sleepless Nights, ep. 310 52:20

19d ago52:20

52:20

Kris Delmhorst is not a good sleeper. The Western Massachusetts songwriter is usually awake from 2 or 3 am to about 4 or 5am. Sometimes it feels nice and floaty, but other times she is wide awake worrying about anything her brain can get a hold of. This is similar to a feeling with which she ended her tenth record, 'Ghosts in the Garden,' with the …

1
Dennis Greaves, Nine Below Zero – old-school R&B, police and thieves and the agony of white clogs 41:26

20d ago41:26

41:26

Dennis Greaves took a week off from Nine Below Zero in 1980 but otherwise kept his nose firmly applied to the grindstone. They broke up in 1983 when he formed the Truth, who broke up in 1989 when he rebooted the old band. He looks back here at the first gigs he ever saw and played – a world with the attractive scent of spilt beer and tobacco – stop…

1
Funding, Filming & Finding an Audience - Micro Budget Movie Hustle with Jake C. Young 36:19

21d ago36:19

36:19

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #microbudget #filmmaking This week on the podcast I chat to filmmaker Jake C. Young about his movies, how he funded them through Indiegogo, working with what you have and how he handled sales and distribution. He also told me about how he managed to release his film on Blu-ray through Makeflix. Find out more about …

1
Episode 56: Nicola Weldon & Chitra Watson, Ellisons Solicitors - talk wills, trust funds and careers in law 28:01

21d ago28:01

28:01

If you're thinking about writing a will, setting up a trust fund or getting on the career ladder within a successful law firm - this podcast episode is definitely for you! Nicola Weldon - Partner, Solicitor and Head of Private Client and Chitra Watson Head of HR, talk about their personal experiences of working at Ellisons Solicitors, and how appro…

1
Peter Capaldi’s life in a teenage Glasgow punk band and a public apology to the Cocteau Twins 49:29

21d ago49:29

49:29

Peter Capaldi – aka Malcolm Tucker, Dr Who, the universal screen delight and an Oscar-winning film director – was the singer in the punk band the Dreamboys in the late ‘70s who put out a single when he was at the art school in Glasgow. And then became an actor. And then - in the grand tradition of actors who’ve made albums, Hugh Laurie, Scarlett Jo…

1
Alan Parsons – from the rooftop of Savile Row to Pink Floyd, Steve Harley and some singing pigs 34:42

22d ago34:42

34:42

The teenage Alan Parsons was hired as a tape op by EMI and worked with the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Steve Harley, orchestras, comedians, Pinky And Perky and countless others in the control room at Abbey Road, and saw almost 60 years of technical revolution. He’s just finished a 50th anniversary box set of Harley’s the Best Years Of Our Lives and talks …

1
Mom Rock v Dad Rock, the Oasis rumour mill and Kanye West’s devious dentist. 40:10

23d ago40:10

40:10

Perched outside the Vatican Of News awaiting puffs of white smoke, which this week arrive in the following fashion … … Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend and her genius for publicity. … Jim Morrison is alive and living in Syracuse, New York!: barrel-scraping new rock documentary incoming. … Hip Hop Wealth v Rock Wealth: the $57m house Kayne West b…

1
Going Big on Defense: A Conversation with Chairman Mike Rogers 21:33

26d ago21:33

21:33

In this episode of Reaganism, Chairman Mike Rogers discusses the critical state of national defense funding, emphasizing the need for increased investment to address the lowest defense spending levels since World War II. He highlights the challenges facing the defense industrial base, the importance of sustained investment in munitions, and the nec…

1
Dennis McNally saw the Summer Of Love in London, New York and California 39:54

26d ago39:54

39:54

Dennis McNally was the Grateful Dead’s publicist in the mid-‘80s, one of many reasons why he’s supremely qualified to write his new book about the birth of the counterculture in America’s West and East Coast and Britain. ‘The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies And Created the Sixties’, a celebration of music, beat poetry, radical thinki…

1
Sara Watkins on I'm With Her's Witchy AF New Record, ep. 309 54:09

26d ago54:09

54:09

Sara Watkins joins Basic Folk to talk about 'Wild and Clear and Blue,' the new album from I'm With Her, her band with Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. The new LP was inspired by looking back on your life in order to move forward, with a very witchy manner of speaking that encompasses the ancient, mysterious, and spiritual. Sara shares insights int…

1
Everything Burned… 52:19

27d ago52:19

52:19

The Resurrection Trilogy Part 1. I'm back ❤️‍🔥 What happens when your body, identity, and life fall apart—at the same time? In this raw return to the mic, Krysta shares her personal collapse, what it revealed about the nervous system, and how she's learning to rebuild from the ashes. This is the beginning of Season 3: a resurrection story, a love l…

1
How to have an Acting Career in L.A. with Kerstin Schulze on The Honest Filmmaker Podcast 24:46

28d ago24:46

24:46

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #acting #moviemaking This week on the podcast, I’m joined by the incredibly dynamic Kerstin Schultze — fitness guru, trainer, actor, and performer. Kerstin’s journey began in competitive athletics, representing Germany in the Junior Olympics. After moving to the U.S., she transitioned into acting, landing roles tha…

1
The greatest duet, rock cameos in Miami Vice and the rebirth of Mississippi John Hurt 49:39

29d ago49:39

49:39

Passing the thermometer of conversation over the rock and roll news to see where the mercury rises, which this week includes … … the new Barbra Streisand duets album. Duets are ‘playlets’, small intense dramas that depend on human interaction, but so many are recorded separately (including, tragically, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye a…

1
Al Murray and James Holland talk the ending of the war in 1945 and the afterlife of The Beatles 42:51

1M ago42:51

42:51

In which comedian Al Murray and historian James Holland talk about their new book Victory ’45 and our twin national obsessions, the Second World War and The Beatles. Includes: ….how being emotionally shut down enabled Montgomery to collect the surrender at Luneburg Heath ….how a profound sense of duty helped Harry Truman make the most dreadful deci…

1
Mary Gauthier & Jaimee Harris on THE Three Shoes, Alchemy and Weeding out Baddies, ep. 308 57:54

1M ago57:54

57:54

Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris talk to Lizzie and Cindy for Basic Folk on-board the Cayamo cruise in front of a live audience. We get down to business in addressing NICE things by asking Mary what kind of shoes she's wearing – as she has a reputation for enjoying the good stuff, especially on her feet. After that, we asked and Jaimee Harris enthus…

1
Derek Shulman – when Simon Dupree and Gentle Giant were “the darlings of the English Mafia” 42:21

1M ago42:21

42:21

Derek Shulman was at the heart of two great transformations – Simon Dupree & the Big Sound switching to psychedelia, and then sensing the prog-rock trade winds and becoming Gentle Giant. One minute he was singing Kites, the next Pantagruel’s Nativity (Gentle Giant’s rebooted ‘Playing The Fool: The Complete Live Experience’ is just out). After which…

1
Indie Film Marketing Masterclass with Jim Fredrick 46:14

1M ago46:14

46:14

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #moviemaking #filmmakerscommunity This week I’m joined by film Marketing Guru Jim Fredrick whose incredible body of work includes Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Fantastic Beasts. Jim’s career spans some of the biggest blockbuster franchises, and in our conversation, he shares his insights on everyt…

1
The entertaining fictions of Max Romeo and Robert Smith and tech that actually works! 36:27

1M ago36:27

36:27

While Mark Ellen is hanging out with the other old ruins in Athens, David Hepworth and Alex Gold compare and contrast the organisation of the London Marathon with the Travellodge in Frimley and wonder… …Rolling Stone cover stars or members of Trump’s clown cabinet? …if you were interviewed as often as a rock star would you too make stuff up? …was M…

1
Episode 55: Cathy Frost - Business owner, entrepreneur and shining advocate for Ipswich 49:03

1M ago49:03

49:03

Cathy Frost is a force of nature – her boundless passion, infectious optimism, and love for life, business and Ipswich, shine through in everything she does. Cathy - a retail business owner and entrepreneur talks to us about life (past and present), ambition and passion - how she has become one of Ipswich’s most successful businesswomen and her ext…

1
Writing for the Crusader with Dr. Paul Kengor 42:50

1M ago42:50

42:50

On this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim is joined by Dr. Paul Kengor a prominent scholar on Ronald Reagan, and author of ‘The Crusader’. They discuss the significance of the ‘Evil Empire’ speech, exploring how it framed the Cold War in moral terms and the role of speechwriting in shaping Reagan’s legacy as a communicat…

1
Susan Werner on Defining Hard Work, Paid Vacations, and Relaxing as Indie Musician, ep. 307 46:29

1M ago46:29

46:29

The dynamic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Susan Werner talks to us onboard the Cayamo cruise, which she describes as a "paid vacation." Reflecting on her upbringing on a working farm, Susan discusses the hard work that shaped her, but also how she’s learning to embrace rest and relaxation. With humor and insight, she navigates the balance be…

1
Moon Zappa remembers life with her father Frank. ‘Pagan absurdists’ aren’t great parents 49:54

1M ago49:54

49:54

Moon Zappa grew up in what appeared, on the outside, to be an enviably free-wheeling and creative household in Laurel Canyon. On the inside, not so much. Her extremely funny, soul-baring and colourful account of dysfunctional family life in her memoir Earth To Moon is as gripping as it’s unsettling. A typical day: “Your mother’s on the rampage, I n…

1
How to sell your film direct to Distributors with Marc Marriott 31:44

1M ago31:44

31:44

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #filmmakerscommunity How do you get your independent film into cinemas without a sales agent? In this episode, filmmaker Marc Marriottreveals how he sold his debut feature Tokyo Cowboy directly to distributors—landing theatrical releases in both the U.S. and Japan. Marc takes us through his filmmaking …

1
Daryl Hall - ‘60s soul session work, the right shoes and a barge trip with Bob Dylan 29:14

1M ago29:14

29:14

We like to think of Daryl Hall as a kindred spirit, his home-recorded Live At Daryl’s House series with its magnificent roster of guests now racking up 90 episodes. He’s about to tour in May and talks to us here from his house in the Bahamas – straw hat, roosters crowing! – looking back at the first gigs he ever saw and played and other delights su…

1
The Significance of US-India Relations with Shruti Rajagopalan 49:27

1M ago49:27

49:27

On this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity Dan Rothschild is joined by Shruti Rajagopalan who is a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center. They discuss the evolving relationship between the United States and India, emphasizing the significance of economic engagement, the impac…

1
Rock star pilots, sacking Zak Starkey and bold pioneers of the psychedelic moustache 52:19

1M ago52:19

52:19

The chocolate Easter bunny of rock and roll news in highly nutritious and digestible fragments, such as … … the Who’s very public sacking of Zak Starkey. … why no band ever wants to play quietly. … how a magazine in a shop window sparked the Neil Tennant/Mark Springer album. … Katy Perry’s space ‘mission’ and the trenchant observations by her and t…

1
Dave Pegg, Fairport’s “longest-serving member” (fnarr!) looks back at hippie chaos and old heroes 42:53

2M ago42:53

42:53

Dave Pegg joined Fairport Convention 56 years ago and fully deserves some sort of medal. They’re playing their 49th Cropredy in August and touring the UK later in the year. He talks to us here about the first gigs he ever saw and played which, delightfully, involves … … the night Hank Marvin took him to see Bjork. … an all-nighter in Birmingham wit…

1
Jon Muq: Uganda, Cruise Ship Food and His Googly-Eyed Guitar, ep. 306 34:55

2M ago34:55

34:55

Originally from the village of Mutungo, Uganda (near the country's capital of Kampala), Jon Muq's journey to his current life of touring with an Austin, Texas home-base has been unconventional. Onboard the Cayamo cruise earlier this year, we talked to Jon about his childhood experiences, including fetching water with friends and "We Are the World,"…

1
How to write a Kurt Cobain Biography with Kelly Catlin 30:44

2M ago30:44

30:44

Send us a text #podcast #nirvana #creative #writingcommunity Have you ever wondered if you could write a book, maybe a biography? Well I spoke to Kelly Catlin who did just that. Inspired by a family tragedy she decided to write a book about Kurt Cobain and wrote "Kurt Cobain - Forever in Bloom". Her book, Kurt Cobain: Forever in Bloom, offers a fre…

1
Withering reviews of famous albums, Jaws versus Jeeves and the genius of Blondie’s Clem Burke 52:55

2M ago52:55

52:55

Boldly pursuing tariff-free trade in rock and roll news, nostalgia, gossip and old hokum since 2007 and, this week, featuring … … the romantic allure of life as a critic. … Sting’s part in the success of ‘Adolescence’. … Mick Jagger’s long engagement to Melanie Hamrick (born when Steel Wheels came out!) … "Contained within these grooves are twelve …

1
Episode 54: Owen Calvert-Lyons, Artistic Director at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds - backstage insights, delighting audiences and bold game-changing work 41:15

2M ago41:15

41:15

Owen talks about the past 4 and a half years since he began his role at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds - touching on some of the theatre’s highlights and ground-breaking shows for the region including A Christmas Carol which was staged outdoors in the deep of a pandemic winter and the enchanting The Christmas Cabin, a play for under 7's performed in…

1
DOGE’s Impact on Government Efficiency with Joseph Lonsdale 29:31

2M ago29:31

29:31

On this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim is joined by Joseph Lonsdale who is Founder and Managing Partner at 8VC. They discuss the impact of Doge on government transparency and efficiency, the need for budget cuts in Congress, and the importance of technology in improving government operations. Mr. Lonsdale also address…

1
Ani DiFranco & Carsie Blanton: Menopause, The Wild Child, and Naps to fight Capitalism, ep. 305 43:44

2M ago43:44

43:44

Basic Folk is making trouble at sea with Ani DiFranco and Carsie Blanton! Hosts Lizzie and Cindy had the opportunity to speak with the two like-minded radical songwriters aboard the 2025 edition of Cayamo, a roots music cruise. Our conversation kicks off with Ani sharing her transformative experience performing as Persephone in the Broadway show 'H…

1
How to Make a Feature Film for $10,000 with Sean & Taylor King 50:54

2M ago50:54

50:54

Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #moviemaking #filmmakerscommunity This Week on the Podcast: Making Feature Films for Under $10K with Sean and Taylor King On this episode, I sit down with father-son filmmaking duo Sean and Taylor King, who have been consistently creating feature films on micro-budgets of under $10,000. Since starting in 2015, they…

1
Why Sparks’ Russell Mael preferred British acts to the ‘faux honesty’ of Laurel Canyon 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

Sparks are touring – playing dates in the UK and Ireland in June and July – and with a new (and 28th) album, Mad!. Russell Mael looks back at the first shows he ever saw and played which entails … … sitting on the floors of LA clubs watching Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Move, the Faces, the Who and Tyrannosaurus Rex. … his Mum taking him to see th…

1
Seven ‘lost’ Springsteen albums, romance in sitcoms and the age of spectacle 38:09

2M ago38:09

38:09

The runners and riders in the rock and roll steeplechase first past the post this week include … … how Ed Sheeran protects himself against song theft claims. … ‘lost’ Hendrix, Beach Boys, Amy Winehouse and Jeff Buckley records: is anything unfinished ever any good? … “The Unauthorised Breakfast Item”: can YOU tell a Bob Newhart sketch title from a …

1
Trump’s Foreign Policy with Alexander B. Gray 42:49

2M ago42:49

42:49

On this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim is joined by Alex Gray who serves as CEO of American Global Strategies LLC. They discuss the strategic importance of Greenland and the Panama Canal in U.S. foreign policy, particularly during the Trump administration. Gray emphasizes the historical context of U.S. interest in Gre…

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Mark B Writing Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen