Episode 506

with Chris Gethard, Julia Rosen, and Shakey Graves

Host Luke Burbank and announcer Elena Passarello go deep as why we struggle with our favorite things becoming popular; comedian Chris Gethard chats about his latest road-tripping comedy special Half My Life and why he made a pit stop at the dubious Gatorworld theme park; science journalist Julia Rosen schools us on the invasive nature of earthworms, which could be threatening the maple syrup supply; and Americana singer-songwriter Shakey Graves recounts his daunting days as an auditioning actor, before performing the title track of his re-released debut album Roll the Bones.

Chris Gethard

Actor, Comedian, and Writer

Chris Gethard is an actor, comedian, writer, and telephone call enthusiast. He hosted The Chris Gethard Show, a New York City-based TV talk show that aired from 2011 to 2018, and he currently hosts the podcasts Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People and New Jersey Is The World. He is the author of three books: Weird New York, A Bad Idea I’m About to Do, and Lose Well. His writing has also appeared in Vulture and The New York Times. Known for finding humor in dark places, Chris has been called “one of our great cultural commentators on comedy/tragedy juxtaposition” (NPR). Twitter · Website

Julia Rosen

Portland-based Journalist

Julia Rosen is an an independent journalist covering science and the environment from Portland, Oregon. She writes about how the world works and how humans are changing it. Her feature story "Cancel Earthworms," was originally published in The Atlantic in 2020 and then anthologized in Best American Science and Nature Writing 2021. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, Science, Hakai, High Country News, and many other publications. Twitter · Website

Shakey Graves

Americana Singer-Songwriter

Shakey Graves is a guitarist and singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas, whose music combines blues, folk, country, and rock and roll. His breakout debut album, Roll The Bones, was released in 2011 on Bandcamp, where it ranks among the website’s top selling records of all time, selling over 100,000 units even while being available for free download. Shakey Graves has since garnered a massive audience, representation by Dualtone Records, and appearances on Conan, the Late Show with David Letterman, and Austin City Limits. Roll The Bones X, a special-edition double LP reissue celebrating the 10th anniversary of Shakey Graves’ debut album, was released in 2021. Listen · Instagram