Best Wayne Baker Podcasts (2026)

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Will AI fix music ... or destroy it? 1:25:55

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3d ago1:25:55

1:25:55

As Artificial Intelligence continues its relentless spread into so many parts of all of our lives, it seems like all we can do is sit back with a mix of hope and dread and wonder where this is all going. We know we can't trust anything on social media anymore - be it photos, audio or video - though we see that many of our friends are susceptible to…

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Here's why 2025 didn't totally suck 1:19:11

10d ago1:19:11

1:19:11

2025 won't be remembered as the year for love, peace and harmony. War and military attacks were happening everywhere - from the Ukraine to the Middle East to Venezuela to Nigeria. Natural disasters like wildfires and floods swept the U.S. And not only did we lose beloved celebrities like Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Ozzy Osbourne, other popular…

1
What does your music collection say about you? 1:19:08

17d ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Everyone with a physical music collection - you know, stuff you can hold in your hands like albums and compact discs - has had to decide how to store it all. Organized fans often arrange their collections alphabetically and/or chronologically and/or by popularity. Less organized fans find it harder to keep up with what they have and find what they …

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Mira Nair: Salaam Bombay! 36:22

18d ago36:22

36:22

The writer-director joins Seth to share tales of the making of this gritty and entrancing tale of life in the slums of India. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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These strange songs came out of nowhere! 1:30:45

24d ago1:30:45

1:30:45

You never see them coming, and yet they never stop coming. From the beginning of popular music to today, offbeat songs just keep pushing into our consciousness. As much as we’re conditioned to respond to formula-based songs that fit into established genres, the outliers just keep catching our attention and burrowing into our brains. Over the decade…

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Music In My Soul. Chapter thirty five. Filming with Ronnie Hawkins and meeting various music legends. 11:24

28d ago11:24

11:24

Our filming in Arkansas and Memphis with the legendary Ronnie Hawkins. Filming in Sun Studios and meeting with various local music legends.By Graham Wood.

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Here’s our (satirical?) gift list for your favorite performers! 1:22:00

1M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Snappy holidays, y’all! The snarky Santas of “How We Heard It” have been making a list of what the biggest names in modern music should get for their behavior this year. We’re not talking about golf clubs and spa days. Instead, these are intangible gifts the artists need, even if they don’t realize it. Your hosts bounce from sarcasm to sincerity as…

1
Need to cheer up, calm down or blow off steam? Try these songs! 1:22:59

1M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

Feeling out of sorts? Join the crowd. We're full-tilt into holiday season and most of us might be feeling the blues ... or feeling chaotic ... or feeling like we're about to go off on someone. Or all of the above. We all have our go-to therapy songs that help us get through a rough patch. But sometimes our sonic medicine can't get the job done. Nev…

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Larry Smith: 'Eyes Wide Shut' 51:49

1M ago51:49

51:49

Cinematographer Larry Smith describes executing Stanley Kubrick’s exacting vision on what would be his final film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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William Petersen: 'Manhunter' 40:49

1M ago40:49

40:49

The star of Hollywood’s first take on Hannibal Lecter reveals the obsessive lengths gone to by Michael Mann to craft a procedural masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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This podcast topic took unexpected turns! 1:26:26

2M ago1:26:26

1:26:26

Your hosts of the "How We Heard It" podcast usually have a general goal in mind when they pick a topic ... but when they came up with this idea, they had no clue what they were in for: "Hey, let's dig through our music collections and just see what we find." Keep in mind that these guys have each amassed thousands of albums and compact discs (and e…

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Controversial singers! ... And why we'll never have another Dolly Parton 1:20:49

2M ago1:20:49

1:20:49

Seems like every day another performer has said the wrong thing or done the wrong thing. And if we like them, that's just more spice in the sauce. And if we don't, we just hate them even more. But the controversy wheel just keeps on spinning, regardless of how you feel. It could be a manufactured scandal, like a diss track, or something out of cont…

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Sweet, sour and salty: great songs about giving thanks 1:24:54

2M ago1:24:54

1:24:54

The United States may have an official day of gratitude every November with Thanksgiving, but for many of us, most every day could be a day of appreciation. A sincere "thank you" is rewarding for everyone: It feels good to say it and it feels good to hear it. However, appreciation can be complicated and "thank you" may come with a twist. Sometimes …

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Sometimes words just get in the way 1:24:14

2M ago1:24:14

1:24:14

When we're listening to music, most of us tend to focus on the singer. And why not? Singers spell it out for us. They give us a human voice, and the words, to understand the meaning of songs. But we don't always need someone holding our hand and walking us through a song. Sometimes the lyrics are trite and the vocals are lame. With instrumentals, y…

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Music's biggest feuds - from the vicious to the absurd! 1:24:40

3M ago1:24:40

1:24:40

Face it, everyone loves a good fight. And musicians and singers are always adding an extra layer to their entertainment value - intentionally or accidentally - by engaging in battles with their peers. Some of these feuds are exaggerated and some are underplayed. Some have an obvious bad guy while in others it seems like both parties should share th…

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What's gotten into everybody? We're possessed! 1:23:50

3M ago1:23:50

1:23:50

Summer's done, and now we're hurtling toward the darkest, coldest days of the year. So forgive us if we aren't feeling ourselves. It's as if an evil force has taken over our souls. ... Could this be what it feels like to be possessed? In the spirit of the season, this episode of "How We Heard It" explores the phenomenon of possession as portrayed i…

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Music In My Soul. Chapter thirty four. Funk & Soul Music Explodes in the Seventies and An Era of Black Musical talent begins. 9:30

3M ago9:30

9:30

The rise of Funk & Soul music of the Seventies and an era when a myriad of talented black musicians came to the fore. Soul Train , the Tv show that ran for 35 years. TSOP rules the airwaves and Barry White provides much music for lovers.By Graham Wood.Enter

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These cover songs might blow your mind! 1:18:13

3M ago1:18:13

1:18:13

Cover songs often aren't what they should be. Many are pale and pointless facsimiles of the original songs, and others even take off into some new direction for no reason whatsoever. Rude. So this week the "How We Heard It" guys let their imaginations run wild, freewheeling through music history (from 60-odd years ago to today), mixing and matching…

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More guilty pleasures and shameless infatuations! 1:19:38

3M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

When "How We Heard It" was just a few weeks old in the summer of 2024, we posted an episode about guilty pleasures, featuring your veteran entertainment critics/hosts Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell confessing their love for art that other critics frown on - including Wayne's love of sunshine pop and westerns and Chuck's love of exotica and techno…

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The Return of Wildcat Sports Talk, The BOYS are BACK! - Episode 1 56:47

3M ago56:47

56:47

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wildcat-sports-talk--1374806/support.By Power K Studios

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Adrian Lyne: ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ 27:23

3M ago27:23

27:23

The director revisits the making of his nightmarish 1990 vision of life after the battlefield starring Tim Robbins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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These albums changed who we are 1:23:03

3M ago1:23:03

1:23:03

In modern times, our society is partially shaped by widely praised albums, brilliantly executed works of art that reflect, or even reshape, the direction of our culture. But the effect of music on individuals is more nuanced, and broad generalizations don't always apply. A life-changing album could come from anywhere if the timing is right, such as…

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Patty McCormack: ‘The Bad Seed’ 56:56

3M ago56:56

56:56

The star of the 1956 thriller that introduced the “evil child” genre joins Seth to retell the making of a horror classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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Songs about fall: the sweet, the sad and the strange 1:21:39

4M ago1:21:39

1:21:39

They were supposed to do a straightforward episode about autumn songs, but this week the hosts of "How We Heard It" found themselves in lively debate from the get-go. When is fall? When the kids go back to school in August? Is it the autumnal equinox in September? Maybe when the leaves turn in October? Your host Chuck Campbell doesn't like much of …

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Music In My Soul.Chapter thirty three. Lost Liverpool Legends 10:47

4M ago10:47

10:47

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Philippe Rousselot: ‘Diva’ 41:25

4M ago41:25

41:25

The Oscar-winning cinematographer walks Seth through the making of the gorgeous cult French film from 1981. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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Here are the best men singers from the past 60+ years 1:21:06

4M ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Last week the "How We Heard It" hosts came up with a list of the greatest women singers in modern music, debating Janis Joplin vs. Whitney Houston and Karen Carpenter vs. Barbra Streisand while also finding endless praise for everyone from Aretha Franklin to Linda Ronstadt to Annie Lennox to Billie Eilish. This week, "How We Heard It" pivots to men…

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Rob Reiner: ‘This is Spinal Tap’ 43:57

4M ago43:57

43:57

The director of the landmark 1984 mockumentary joins Seth for an unforgettable conversation about the making of a comedy classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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These are the best women singers in modern music 1:17:59

4M ago1:17:59

1:17:59

Singers often make or break a song. The exceptional ones can lift a bland arrangement into the stratosphere and the mundane ones can sink a great arrangement like a torpedo. This week the "How We Heard It" guys take a look at women vocalists (men singers will come next week), from the clear-voiced vocalists with perfect enunciation to soul singers …

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Charlie Kaufman: 'Synecdoche, New York' 1:00:25

4M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

The Oscar-winner breaks down the making of his 2008 postmodern mindbender starring the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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Songs about friends: They'll have your back and stab it, too 1:16:42

4M ago1:16:42

1:16:42

Friends are our chosen family, the people we can sometimes count on when everyone else has turned their backs on us. But friendships vary. They can be a lifelong commitment or they can end tomorrow without warning. Or they can mysteriously fade away from benign neglect. Friends have inspired numerous songwriters over the years - the ride-or-die fri…

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Music In My Soul. Chapter Thirty Two. Rockabilly, old and New Legends. 11:50

4M ago11:50

11:50

The story of old rockabilly and it's original artists who came to fame via this genre. Also mentioned are the newer generation of rockabilly talent who have taken up their forebears mantle and are producing some fine music.By Graham Wood

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Musicians use these secret tricks to win your love 1:15:11

5M ago1:15:11

1:15:11

Why do we love our favorite songs? We may think it's simply because we love the singer's voice or the guitars or the fact that it's got a good beat and you can dance to it. But often we love songs for reasons we may not understand and can't articulate. They just make us feel a certain way. Musicians know how the brain processes sound and triggers e…

1
On second thought, these acts don't suck 1:21:17

5M ago1:21:17

1:21:17

Have you ever dismissed a band or singer as mediocre (or worse) only to later realize they were amazing and you misjudged them? It can be a blow to the ego to miss the genius that others hear - especially if you're a professional music critic or musician. But this week, your "How We Heard It" hosts put their pride aside and confess to overlooking s…

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These teen movies make us laugh, squirm and cringe 1:21:16

5M ago1:21:16

1:21:16

The teen years can be some of the most tumultuous in our lives - at least internally. Subtle moments can feel glorious, or tragic, while we might not even notice the major events unfolding all around us. The magic of being a teenager, when your life can feel out of control if your crush doesn't even look your way, is captured again and again in mov…

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Music In My Soul. Chapter Thirty One. Wayne Jackson, The Memphis Horns, Syax Records, Memphis Soul. 8:47

5M ago8:47

8:47

The start of Stax Records . The fantastic horn sounds of Wayne Jackson & Andrew Love collectively known as The Memphis Horns. Memhis Soul Superstars- Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave,bBooker T etc.By Graham Wood.

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Death sucks: Here are artists we lost too soon 1:21:04

5M ago1:21:04

1:21:04

It's not unusual for beloved singers and musicians to continue performing well beyond the age most of us plan to retire, and you can find them still packing arenas when they're in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. On the flipside, even the brightest stars can suddenly blink out. They fall out of favor at the drop of a hat, they burn out and quit the bus…

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Music's greatest duets: when two is better than one 1:22:29

6M ago1:22:29

1:22:29

Great duets have surfaced throughout the history of popular music, evoking a magic that one voice simply can't convey by itself. Duets between Bruno Mars and Rose ("APT.") as well as Kendrick Lamar and SZA ("Luther") have commanded the top of the charts in the past year, and you'll turn up other smash duets no matter how far you go back in time - L…

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Kenneth Lonergan: 'You Can Count on Me' 1:11:21

6M ago1:11:21

1:11:21

The Oscar-winning writer-director revisits his landmarkfirst film about the bond between two orphaned siblings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Hollywood Reporter

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Music for travelers - and escapists! 1:23:01

6M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

It can be hard to understand how one song casts a spell on your soul when so many others pass you by. It could be the melody or overall construction of the song, or maybe it's the message of the lyrics that grabs you. But sometimes the magic is just a matter of location, location, location. If you've ever been captivated by a song when you were awa…

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These are the most underrated - and overrated - actors! 1:27:30

6M ago1:27:30

1:27:30

Ever wonder why you hardly ever see one actor who always lights up the screen while you can't get away from another one who always leaves you cold? So do we. This week, the hosts of "How We Heard It" look at a galaxy of stars - from the old guard like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Bradley Cooper and Sandra Bullock to new breakouts like Timothee Chalam…

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Fantastic band names! (also: racy, gross and boring ones) 1:16:47

6M ago1:16:47

1:16:47

Our first impression of a new musical group often comes from their name, which can be creative or shocking or forgettable. We've all learned that a band's name typically doesn't reflect the kind of music they play - sometimes it's even the opposite of how you would expect them to sound. And over time, you'll come to love a great band with an unfort…

1
'Hold me closer, Tony Danza' and other misheard lyrics 1:24:12

6M ago1:24:12

1:24:12

Funny thing about lyrics: They aren't always what you think they are. Whether you hear them the wrong way or someone else heard them the wrong way and passed that misinterpretation on to you, you're often singing along to a different set of lyrics than your favorite singer. What's more, AI and other lyrics you find on Google get them wrong, too. Bu…

1
The UK Guitar Heroes Time Forgot. The guitarists who influenced Eric Clapton, PaulMcCartney, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend and others. 11:18

6M ago11:18

11:18

The stories of the guitarists who were the main influences in the careers of Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Pete Townsend, Jeff Beck, Richie Blackmore and many others.By Graham Wood

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Surprises we've learned about you, and ourselves, in year one 1:23:23

7M ago1:23:23

1:23:23

We've made a full trip around the sun since "How We Heard It" debuted in June of 2024, so for episode No. 52 of the weekly show, your hosts are looking at what worked and what didn't - for the audiences and for themselves - in the first year. They recap what episodes drew the biggest audiences (some shows are more surprising than others) and where …

1
Mixtapes?! What were we thinking? 1:25:08

7M ago1:25:08

1:25:08

Music fans have been making personal soundtracks for some 50 years, starting with the mixtape in the 1970s, then changing with technology to mixed discs in the 1990s (replacing cassette tapes with compact discs), then creating playlists in the 2000s for devices like iPods as well as streaming services like Spotify. Typically, these homemade collect…

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These blockbuster albums were unlike any other 1:22:34

7M ago1:22:34

1:22:34

The music industry has always had its megastars akin to today's super-performers like Taylor Swift, Drake and Morgan Wallen. However, there was a glorious decade from the early 1980s into the 1990s when the planets aligned and money gushed out to a select few artists who commandeered the industry. Major record labels, commercial radio, and MTV cons…

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Album covers inspire, shock and tease 1:25:32

7M ago1:25:32

1:25:32

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, so over the years music artists have relied on the visual cues of their album covers to help sell their product. Sexy photos, dramatic images, optical illusions, striking colors and eye-catching fonts have all been used to grab attention, titillate and intrigue. Album covers were vital in th…

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Music In My Soul. Chapter Twenty nine. Little Richard, Kris Kristofferson, Col. Tom Parker, Elvis-Live. 10:55

7M ago10:55

10:55

My secont trip to Los Angeles. Kris Kristofferson , Little Richard meeting, My talk with Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis- Live in Long Beach. L.A. music Scene of 1972.By Graham Wood.

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Cheaters! These songs about them have us shook 1:19:15

8M ago1:19:15

1:19:15

Why do cheaters cheat? Seems like there are as many reasons as there are songs about cheaters. They cheat simply because they're tempted or because they want revenge or because they're lonely or because they don't care or because they want a thrill or because they're addicted to sex or because they're drunk. There are likewise numerous responses to…