Episode 503

with John Darnielle and Dessa

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello reveal the unexpected expertise of our listeners; novelist John Darnielle, frontman of The Mountain Goats, reflects on America's obsession with True Crime and becoming a writer in his own right; and rapper and podcaster Dessa discusses falling out of love for a behavioral science experiment, plus performs her song "Jumprope" from her album Chime.

John Darnielle

Author and Musician

John Darnielle is best known as the founder and front man of The Mountain Goats, and indie folk band which has released twenty studio albums since the early nineties. As a guitarist, pianist, vocalist, and songwriter, Darnielle was for many years the band’s sole member. He is also a New York Times bestselling author of three novels, including 2014’s Wolf in White Van, which was nominated for the National Book Award. His latest novel, Devil House, came out in January 2022. Website

Dessa

Musician and Podcaster

Dessa is a singer, rapper, writer, and speaker who has made a career of bucking genres and defying expectations. Her résumé as a musician includes performances at Lollapalooza and Glastonbury, co-compositions for 100-voice choirs, and recordings with the Minnesota Orchestra. Her track “Congratulations,” part of the #1 album The Hamilton Mixtape, has over 16 million streams. In 2021, she released two EPs: Ides and I Already Like You. She is the author of My Own Devices, a 2018 memoir-in-essays, and an in-demand public speaker on such topics as art, science, and entrepreneurship. Dessa is also the host of Deeply Human, a podcast created by the BBC and American Public Media. On the stage and on the page, Dessa’s style is defined by ferocity, wit, tenderness, and candor. Listen · Website