PRI: The Sound of Young America

Bill Withers

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Bill Withers is the singer-songwriter behind soul classics like Ain't No Sunshine, Lean on Me, Use Me, Just the Two of Us, Lovely Day and more.

Paul and Storm: Nunfight

Mon, 6 Jul 2009 02:08:00 GMT

Paul and Storm offer a cultural commentary in song.

Au Revoir Simone

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:13:00 GMT

Au Revoir Simone are an all-female, all-keyboard indie pop band from Brooklyn, New York. Their new CD is Still Night, Still Light.

The Language of Things

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:43:00 GMT

Deyan Sudjic is the director of the Design Museum in London, and the author of The Language of Things. He talks about the history and significance of design.

Remembering Michael Jackson

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:13:00 GMT

Oliver Wang and Jay Smooth join Jesse to consider the life and music of Michael Jackson.

MaxFunCon: Friday Comedy

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:26:00 GMT

Comedy from Chris Hardwick, Kasper Hauser and Jordan Morris, recorded live at MaxFunCon.

MaxFunCon: Merlin Mann on Creative Work

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:18:00 GMT

Merlin Mann talks about the process of doing creative work.

MaxFunCon: John Hodgman Keynote

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:05:00 GMT

John Hodgman welcomes attendees to MaxFunCon 2009 with remarks on Malort &etc.

Pharoahe Monch

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:42:00 GMT

Pharoahe Monch is a legend of underground hip-hop. His most recent album is "Desire."

Brother Ali

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 19:54:00 GMT

Brother Ali is a Minneapolis-based MC with a reputation for raw, soul-searching lyrics and passionate delivery.

Jonathan Coulton

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 20:09:00 GMT

Jonathan Coulton is a singer-songwriter known for his heartfelt, hilarious songs. He talks with us and performs a number of tunes from his catalog.

Never Not Funny

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 16:31:00 GMT

Jimmy Pardo and Matt Belknap are the hosts of the popular comedy podcast Never Not Funny.

Brian Michael Bendis

Thu, 28 May 2009 21:51:00 GMT

Comics writer Brian Michael Bendis joins us from the stage of the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland.

Reggie Watts (video)

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:02:00 GMT

Comedian/singer/artist Reggie Watts performs on The Sound of Young America Live! at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival.

Mirah (Video)

Sun, 24 May 2009 17:03:00 GMT

Mirah performs live on the Sound of Young America at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland.

Blitzen Trapper (Video)

Wed, 20 May 2009 19:24:00 GMT

Blitzen Trapper perform live in Portland on The Sound of Young America.

Nick Kroll

Tue, 19 May 2009 19:06:00 GMT

Nick Kroll has been featured in the television shows Cavemen, Sit Down & Shut Up, The Human Giant and The Life & Times of Tim. He's also the author of Bar Mitzvah Disco.

Rian Johnson

Thu, 14 May 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Rian Johnson is a film director best known for his 2006 film Brick. His new film is The Brothers Bloom.

The Right Questions (video)

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:09:00 GMT

A short video directed by Adam Lisagor for maximumfun.org.

Trailer Park Boys

Tue, 12 May 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Mike Clattenburg is the creator of The Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian sitcom that has become an international phenomenon.

TV Pilot

Sat, 9 May 2009 01:07:00 GMT

Last year we made a TV pilot, which was ultimately derailed by a network format change. As a special pledge drive treat, I've uploaded it.

Bad Cop

Thu, 7 May 2009 16:48:00 GMT

Paul Bacon is the author of Bad Cop, a memoir about his brief stint in the NYPD, a career for which he was monumentally ill-suited.

Bun B

Mon, 4 May 2009 21:42:00 GMT

Bun B is half of the legendary hip-hop group UGK. His partner, Pimp C, died in 2007. Their new album is UGK For Life.

MaxFunDrive 2009

Sun, 3 May 2009 19:17:00 GMT

Hey friends --

If you're reading this, you're subscribed to the podcast feed of The Sound of Young America in a feed reader like Google Reader or bloglines.

Bully to you for that, says I.

I'm writing to remind you that May 1st-15th is our annual MaxFunDrive. We only ask you for money once a year, and now is that time.

There are tons of amazing thank-you gifts, and pledge levels from $2 a month to $200 a month. If you care about this show, please support it.

Click here to donate.

Jesse

Shoe Store DJ

Sun, 3 May 2009 16:35:00 GMT

In a commentary, Scott Simpson says he'll never go into the family business.

Lloyd Kaufman

Fri, 1 May 2009 03:39:00 GMT

Lloyd Kaufman is co-founder of Troma Entertainment, one of the oldest continuously operating independent film companies in the country. Troma are best known for their often bizarre cult films, like the iconic Toxic Avenger series.

Eleni Mandell

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:55:00 GMT

Eleni Mandell is a Los Angeles singer-songwriter. She talks with us and performs some songs from her new album, Artificial Fire.

Jane Lynch

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:26:00 GMT

Actress Jane Lynch has been seen in films like The 40 Year Old Virgin, Role Models and Best in Show. She's featured on the new show Party Down, and stars on the upcoming FOX show Glee.

The Age of Persuasion

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 18:18:00 GMT

Terry O'Reilly is the host of the CBC's Age of Persuasion, a radio program about the history and practice of advertising.

On the Media

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:56:00 GMT

Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield are the hosts of On the Media, a weekly NPR show about the media industry.

Adam Scott

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Adam Scott is an actor who's been seen in films like Stepbrothers, and is now the star of the new Starz comedy series Party Down.

Martin Starr

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 19:53:00 GMT

Martin Starr first rose to prominence as Bill Haverchuck on the cult series Freaks and Geeks. He's now featured in both the Starz series Party Down and the new film Adventureland.

Dana Gould

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 18:18:00 GMT

Dana Gould is a comedian and writer whose credits include six years as a writer and producer on The Simpsons.

John Mulaney

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:12:00 GMT

John Mulaney is a standup comic and writer for Saturday Night Live. His first comedy CD is The Top Part.

Integrated Media with Merlin Mann, Bros. Chaps & Jeff Olsen

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:07:00 GMT

Merlin Mann, The Bros. Chaps (Homestar Runner) and Jeff Olsen (adultswim.com) talk with Jesse about building a brand online at the 2009 Integrated Media Association conference.

Steven Johnson

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Steven Johnson is a writer on the history of ideas whose books include The Ghost Map and Everything Bad Is Good For You. His latest is The Invention of Air.

Free Darko

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:50:00 GMT

We talk with three of the writers behind the strange and irreverent basketball blog Free Darko. Their new book is The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac.

The Whitest Kids U Know

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:46:00 GMT

The Whitest Kids U Know are a sketch comedy group based in New York. Their eponymous television series is in its third season on IFC.

Jeffrey Tambor

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 17:41:00 GMT

Jeffrey Tambor is a veteran actor best known for his roles as Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show and the patriarch of the Bluth family on Arrested Development.

Miss Piggy

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 19:31:00 GMT

Miss Piggy is a model, actress and now author. Her new book is The Diva Code.

Jenna Fischer

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 18:06:00 GMT

Jenna Fischer is an actress, best known for her portrayal of the secretary Pam on NBC's The Office.

Kasper Hauser: Wedding Announcements

Mon, 2 Mar 2009 17:35:00 GMT

Wedding Announcements from Kasper Hauser's upcoming book Weddings of the Times.

Sean Cullen & Zion I in San Francisco

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 05:53:00 GMT

Sean Cullen is a Canadian comic, seen on Last Comic Standing and on his own Comedy Central Presents special. Zion I are a Bay Area hip-hop group whose new album is The Takeover. They performed at our live recording in San Francisco.

Tom Ammiano Live in San Francisco

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:38:00 GMT

California State Assemblymember Tom Ammiano is a fixture of the San Francisco political scene. He was the first openly gay man elected to a school board in California, and went on to become president of the City's board of supervisors. He's also been a standup comic for over thirty years.

Jello Biafra Live in SF

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:44:00 GMT

Jello Biafra is a legendary free speech advocate and punk rock vocalist. We talked with him at our live show in San Francisco.

Jeffrey Tambor on the Arrested Development Movie

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:39:00 GMT

Jeffrey Tambor updates us on the state of the Arrested Development film.

How's Your News

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:46:00 GMT

How's Your News is a new series on MTV which follows a group of reporters with disabilities across the country. Arthur Bradford created How's Your News many ten years ago at a summer camp for the disabled, and Jeremy Vest is a member of the reporting team.

Larry Wilmore

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:24:00 GMT

Larry Wilmore is a comedy writer and performer. He's the author of "I'd Rather We Got Casinos," and is The Daily Show's Senior Black Correspondent. He also wrote for In Living Color and created the sitcoms The Bernie Mac Show and The PJs.

Alien Vs. Predator

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:44:00 GMT

Poet Michael Robbins reads his poem "Alien Vs. Predator."

Spike Feresten

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:10:00 GMT

Spike Feresten wrote for David Letterman, The Simpsons, Seinfeld and Saturday Night Live before going in front of the camera. Now he's hosting an hour-long late-night talkshow on FOX called, appropriately, "Talk Show with Spike Feresten."

Neil Gaiman and Henry Selick on Coraline

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 17:38:00 GMT

Neil Gaiman is the author of the dark children's fantasy novel "Coraline." Henry Selick is the director of the new stop motion animated film based on Gaiman's book.

Meshell Ndegeocello

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:49:00 GMT

Meshell Nedgeocello is a soul singer and bass guitarist. Her most recent album is "The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams."

Letterman's Writers

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:14:00 GMT

Eric and Justin Stangel are the co-Head Writers of The Late Show with David Letterman, and Bill Scheft is a long-time monologue writer on the show. The Letterman writers have just published a new book compilation of one of the show's recurring bits, Late Show Fun Facts.

Scott McCloud

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:38:00 GMT

Scott McCloud is the comics artist behind the seminal "Understanding Comics," among many others. His newest is a collection of his 1980s series "Zot!"

Mike Birbiglia

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:21:00 GMT

Comedian Mike Birbiglia's one-man show, Sleepwalk with Me, was just extended at the Bleeker Street Theater in New York.

David Malki !

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:35:00 GMT

David Malki ! is the creator of the webcomic Wondermark. It's a surreal gag strip, with pictures lifted from 19th century magazine illustrations.

Chris Onstad

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 21:48:00 GMT

Chris Onstad is the artist behind the web comic Achewood. There's a new collection of the strip, called "The Great Outdoor Fight."

Broke-Ass Stuart

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Stuart Schuffman is the author of "Broke-Ass Stuart's Guide to Living Cheaply in New York," a follow-up to his "Guide to Living Cheaply in San Francisco."

Donuts

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:03:00 GMT

Dr. Paul Mullins is a cultural anthropologist and the author of Glazed America: A History of the Donut.

Rob Corddry

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:15:00 GMT

Rob Corddry is an actor and comedian. For four years, he was a correspondent on The Daily Show. His most recent project is a web series for thewb.com called Children's Hospital.

The Last Christmas

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:40:00 GMT

Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan talk about their post-apocalyptic Santa Claus story The Last Christmas, plus a holiday sketch from Elephant Larry.

Holy Headshot (Enhanced for iPod)

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:51:00 GMT

Patrick Borelli and Douglas Gorenstein are the authors of Holy Headshot, a book of bizarre and amazing head shots from actors and performers across the country. Note that this podcast is in .m4a (enhanced podcast) format, and should play in iTunes, on iPods and on Zunes. An MP3 of this show can be found at our website.

Ben Folds

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:14:00 GMT

Singer-songwriter Ben Folds' new album is called Way to Normal.

The Kids in the Hall

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 19:21:00 GMT

Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald are founding members of The Kids in the Hall. The group has reformed for a national tour of the US and an upcoming miniseries on Canadian television.

Alan Zweibel

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 21:17:00 GMT

Alan Zweibel was an original writer on Saturday Night Live, a co-creator of the groundbreaking sitcom It's Garry Shandling's Show, and is a producer on and contributor to Curb Your Enthusiasm. His new book is Clothing Optional.

John Hodgman

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:55:00 GMT

John Hodgman is a contributor to the Daily Show and the author of two books, the more recent of which is More Information Than You Require.

Gideon Yago

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:55:00 GMT

Gideon Yago is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist, best known for his work on MTV News. He's the host of The IFC Media Project.

The Dirtbombs

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:19:00 GMT

The Dirtbombs are a Detroit-based rock and roll band. Their newest album is We Have You Surrounded.

Raphael Saadiq

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:06:00 GMT

Raphael Saadiq is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was a founding member of the groups Tony! Toni! Tone! and Lucy Pearl.

Found Magazine

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:33:00 GMT

Pete Rothbart is an editor at Found Magazine, a magazine composed exclusively of things people have found -- from shopping lists to personal notes to (once) a dead frog.

Dan Savage

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:10:00 GMT

Dan Savage is the writer of the sex and relationship advice column Savage Love, which runs in alternative newspapers around the country. He also edits the Seattle newspaper The Stranger. This interview was recorded live on stage at Seattle Sketchfest.

Graham Linehan

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 19:17:00 GMT

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer, who co-created the sitcom Father Ted, and created the series The IT Crowd. He also worked on shows like Big Train, Brasseye, and The Day Today.

Comedy Spooktacular

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:22:00 GMT

Election comedy from Jordan Morris, an essay from Simon Rich and a SPOOKTACULAR sketch from Elephant Larry.

Mikita Brottman

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:01:00 GMT

Mikita Brottman is the author of The Solitary Vice: Against Reading.

Sarah Vowell

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:14:00 GMT

Sarah Vowell is the bestselling author of numerous books of memoir and popular history. Her most recent is The Wordy Shipmates.

Calexico

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:05:00 GMT

Calexico are a Tucson, Arizona based band known for their unique blend of traditional Mexican music and Southwestern sound.

Marianna Palka

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Marianna Palka is the writer, director and star of the independent film Good Dick, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently in theaters.

Jonathan Coulton, PWRFL Power and Rhett Miller at Bumbershoot

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:26:00 GMT

Music from Bumbershoot, with Jonathan Coulton, PWRFL Power and Rhett Miller of the Old 97s.

Tig Notaro & Greg Behrendt at Bumbershoot

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:22:00 GMT

Comedy from Greg Behrendt and Tig Notaro, plus a bonus interview with Behrendt.

Janeane Garofalo at Bumbershoot

Mon, 6 Oct 2008 19:24:00 GMT

Janeane Garofalo is an actress and standup comic. She's currently a co-star on the FOX series 24, and is working the road as a standup as part of the "Satiristas."

Sandra Tsing Loh

Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:53:00 GMT

Sandra Tsing Loh is a performer, commentator and writer based in Los Angeles. Her most recent book, about sending her daughter to school, is Mother On Fire: A True Mother*#$(ing Story About Parenting.

Louis CK

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:44:00 GMT

Louis CK is a comedian, writer and director. His new Showtime comedy special is Louis CK: Chewed Up. He created and starred in the HBO series Lucky Louie and wrote and directed the cult film Pootie Tang.

Andy Daly

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:46:00 GMT

Andy Daly is an actor and comedian. He's probably best known as a former cast member on Mad TV, or as a mad announcer in last summer's Semi-Pro. He's just released his first CD, Nine Sweaters.

Ratatat

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:14:00 GMT

Ratatat are an instrumental music duo whose their album, LP3, was recently released. Their sound combines elements of rock, hip-hop and dance music.

Chip Kidd at Bumbershoot

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:38:00 GMT

Chip Kidd is one of the world's best-known designers; he's designed book covers for innumerable authors. He's also a comic novelist. His most recent novel is The Learners.

Human Giant at Bumbershoot

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:17:00 GMT

The Human Giant are a sketch group whose eponymous series airs on MTV. We talked with them live on stage at Bumbershoot.

Adrian Tomine

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:46:00 GMT

Comics artist Adrian Tomine is the creator of the series Optic Nerve. His most recent book is "Shortcomings."

The Submarines

Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:24:00 GMT

Chris Bowman interviews the Los Angeles indie pop group The Submarines. Their most recent album is Honeysuckle Weeks.

Robert Popper

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:06:00 GMT

Robert Popper was co-creator of the British comedy series "Look Around You." He's also the author, as "Robin Cooper" of "The Timewaster Letters," which are smash bestsellers in the UK, and have just been released in the US.

Seun Kuti

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:57:00 GMT

Seun Kuti is the leader of the band Egypt 80, which was founded by his father, the legendary creator of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti.

Bob Powers

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:57:00 GMT

Bob Powers is the author of the new choose-your-own-adventure-style book "You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero."

The Hold Steady

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:17:00 GMT

The Hold Steady are a Brooklyn-based, Minneapolis-bred rock and roll band. They're known for grand songs about teenagers and tough times.

Chris Parnell

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:08:00 GMT

Chris Parnell is an actor best known for his long stint on Saturday Night Live. He's also appeared in films like Anchorman and recently, Kabluey.

Camp Camp

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:48:00 GMT

Roger Bennett is co-author of "Camp Camp: Where Fantasy Island Meets Lord of the Flies." It's a collection of reminiscences and ephemera related to summer camp.

Explorers Club

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:37:00 GMT

The Explorers Club are a South Carolina-based rock band, whose music recalls the Southern California rock of the 1960s and the melodramatic pop of Phil Spector.

Ze Frank

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:39:00 GMT

Ze Frank is an internet super-celebrity, and the principal of zefrank.com. His year-long daily video blog project, The Show, was one of the first great successes of the video blog world.

Jay Smooth

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:44:00 GMT

Jay Smooth is a hip-hop radio host, blogger and vlogger. This interview was recorded live at Sketchfest NYC at the UCB Theater in New York.

Live in NYC: Music & Comedy

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:55:00 GMT

Comedy from Michael Showalter and Pangea 3000, music from Dawn Landes. Recorded live in New York.

Kabluey

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 21:58:00 GMT

Scott Prendergast is the writer, director and star of the indie comedy Kabluey. The film, which also stars Lisa Kudrow, concerns a young man helping tend to his brother's children while his brother is serving in Iraq.

Blu of Blu & Exile

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:55:00 GMT

Blu is the MC half of the hip-hop duo Blu & Exile. They released their critically-acclaimed first album, "Below the Heavens," last year.

Bomb It

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:10:00 GMT

John Reiss is the director of the documentary film "Bomb It". The film focuses on the world wide phenomenon of graffiti.

The Pixar Touch

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:22:00 GMT

David A. Price is the author of The Pixar Touch: The Making Of A Company. The book traces the history of Pixar from technology company to entertainment behemoth.

American Nerd

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:05:00 GMT

Benjamin Nugent is the author of "American Nerd: The Story of My People," a combination of memoir, sociology and reportage on the nerd in American life.

Ariel Schrag

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:08:00 GMT

Ariel Schrag wrote the autobiographical comics Definition, Awkward and Potential while still in high school in the late 90s. The books were just re-published.

The Eels

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:34:00 GMT

Mark Oliver Everett, sometimes known as E, joins us. He's the frontman of the rotating cast that makes up the rock band The Eels.

Comedy At The Edge

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:29:00 GMT

Richard Zoglin is the author of "Comedy at the Edge: How stand-up comedy in the 1970's changed America".

The Chris Farley Show

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 23:52:00 GMT

Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby talk about their book "The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts."

TSOYA is Live in NY June 14th!

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 00:10:00 GMT

TSOYA is live at Sketchfest NYC at the UCB Theater in New York on June 14th, with guests Ze Frank, Jay Smooth, Pangea 3000 and Dawn Landes.

The Grouch

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 18:21:00 GMT

The Grouch is a fixture in the West Coast independent hip-hop scene, as a solo artist and as a member of The Living Legends. The group help blaze the trail for independent, underground hip-hop in the early to mid 1990s.

Jack Handey

Fri, 30 May 2008 22:56:00 GMT

Jack Handey is the creator of "Deep Thoughts," and now the author of "What I'd Say To The Martians (and Other Veiled Threats)."

Maximum Fun Drive

Wed, 28 May 2008 15:09:00 GMT

Hey! You there who reads the podcast feed with a feed reader! Have you donated to support Maximum Fun yet?

Kenny Mayne

Tue, 27 May 2008 23:31:00 GMT

Kenny Mayne is a long-time ESPN personality. He's now also an author, with "An Incomplete & Innacurate History of Sport."

Reno 911 Creators

Fri, 23 May 2008 03:11:00 GMT

Guests Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney-Silver are the co-creators and stars of Reno 911. The Comedy Central series, which spoofs COPS-style reality shows, is entering the second half of its fifth season. The trio also collaborated on the series "Viva Variety," and first worked together as members of the MTV sketch series The State.

Nellie McKay

Tue, 20 May 2008 18:48:00 GMT

Nellie McKay is a singer-songwriter who's garnered broad acclaim for her spectacular singing voice and her wry, funny songs.

Mike Birbiglia

Fri, 16 May 2008 18:38:00 GMT

Mike Birbiglia is a standup comedian. His new special "What I Should Have Said Was Nothing: My Secret Public Journal Live" adapts stories from his popular online diary.

Kirby: King of Comics

Thu, 8 May 2008 21:23:00 GMT

Mark Evanier is that author of Kirby: King of Comics, a lavishly illustrated biography of comic book legend Jack Kirby. He also worked with Kirby in the 1960s and 70s.

The Ten-Cent Plague

Fri, 2 May 2008 13:20:00 GMT

David Hajdu is an award-winning cultural historian. His book The Ten Cent Plague: The Great Comic Book Scare and How It Changed America, about the censorship of comics in the mid-1950s.

Bill James

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:56:00 GMT

Bill James is the father of sabermetrics, that objective analysis and study of baseball. His bright, funny writing brought baseball analysis to the masses in the 1980s, and helped revolutionize the management of baseball teams in the 21st century. Today, he works for the Boston Red Sox.

Sloane Crosley

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:26:00 GMT

Sloane Crosley is author of the humorous essay collection "I Was Told There'd Be Cake." It recently debuted on the New York Times bestseller list.

Ego Trip

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:14:00 GMT

Gaberiel Alvarez and Brent Rollins are members of the hip-hop media collective Ego Trip. The group produced the acclaimed magazine Ego Trip in the 1990s, and has since written two books and created several series and specials for VH1, the most recent of which is Ego Trip's Miss Rap Supreme.

Conservatize Me

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:25:00 GMT

John Moe is the author of Conservatize Me: How I Tried to Become a Righty With The Help of Richard Nixon, Sean Hannity, Toby Keith and Beef Jerky. He's also a contributor to American Public Media's Weekend America.

David Mitchell of Mitchell & Webb

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 21:58:00 GMT

David Mitchell is half of the British comedy team Mitchell & Webb. They're the stars of the acclaimed UK TV series "Peep Show" and "That Mitchell & Webb Look," the latter of which is running in the US on BBC America.

Dan Kennedy

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 21:22:00 GMT

Dan Kennedy is the author of "Rock On: An Office Power Ballad." It's a comic memoir about his time in the music industry.

Comedy by the Numbers

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:45:00 GMT

Prof. Eric Hoffman and Dr. Gary Rudoren are comedy researchers who've created Comedy by the Numbers: 169 Secrets of Humor and Popularity.

T-Shirt Contest!

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:56:00 GMT

We're having a t-shirt contest, looking for a design for a special, super-limited-edition T for our upcoming Maximum Fun Drive. Anyone can enter and anyone can vote on the entries. Visit pixish.com and search for TSOYA.

Ben Karlin

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:34:00 GMT

Ben Karlin was editor of The Onion, Executive Producer and Head Writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a writer on America: The Book and co-creator of The Colbert Report. He's just edited a book called Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me.

Comedy: Andy Kindler & Morgan Murphy

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

One of the LA alt-comedy scenes newest faces and one of its veterans perform standup.

Ask for it by name!

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 02:30:00 GMT

A special video request from Jesse: ask your local public radio stations to carry The Sound of Young America. The stakes are huge for the future of the show, and a quick phone call or email can make a huge difference.

Tony Millionaire

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 21:24:00 GMT

Tony Millionaire is the creator of the cartoon strip Maakies, which runs in alternative newspapers around the country. The strip has recently been picked up as a television series on adult swim called The Drinky Crow Show.

Joel Hodgson and Cinematic Titanic

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:25:00 GMT

Joel Hodgson was the original host of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He and his cohorts J. Elvis Weinstein and Frank Conniff discuss their new venture, Cinematic Titanic, which is, format-wise, a followup to MST3K.

RadioLab - Complete

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:42:00 GMT

Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich are the hosts of the public radio program RadioLab. It's a boldly artful show about big ideas, seen largely through the lens of science. The program's aesthetic combines Krulwich's extensive reportorial background with Abumrad's history as an experimental radio producer and music composer. (If you got a partial download of this show last week, delete that file and re-download.)

Seven Second Delay

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:41:00 GMT

Ken Freedman and Andy Brechkman are the hosts of the cult comedy-talk radio program Seven Second Delay on Jersey City freeform radio giant WFMU. Their show might be the highest concept talk show in the world. Ken also manages WFMU; Andy is the creator of the USA series Monk.

Zach Rogue Live in SF

Fri, 8 Feb 2008 16:20:00 GMT

Zach Rogue is frontman of the San Francisco indie rock band Rogue Wave. High-quality downloads of his songs can be found online at our site, maximumfun.org.

Danny Hoch Live in SF

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 06:04:00 GMT

Danny Hoch is an Obie award-winning actor and writer, and the founder of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival. His newest show, Takin Over, concerns the gentrification of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Bucky Sinister Live in SF

Mon, 4 Feb 2008 17:36:00 GMT

Bucky Sinister performs a poem from his collection All Blacked Out and Nowhere to Go.

Merlin Mann Live in SF

Fri, 1 Feb 2008 01:03:00 GMT

Merlin Mann is the founder of 43folders.com and a leader in the field of "lifehacking."

Jeffrey Blitz

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:27:00 GMT

Jeffrey Blitz is the director of the film "Rocket Science." He also directed the documentary "Spellbound."

Comedy: Help Me Help Me

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:05:00 GMT

Comedy from Stephen Bropy as self-help guru Bill Weatherall.

Swamp Dogg

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:35:00 GMT

Swamp Dogg is a soul legend, both as a performer and as a songwriter and producer. His eccentric and funny albums are beloved by soul afficianados.

Les Savy Fav

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:54:00 GMT

We are joined by Tim Harrington and Syd Butler of the band Les Savy Fav. Their new album is called Let's Stay Friends.

Eric Lax on Woody Allen

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:40:00 GMT

Eric Lax is the author of Conversations with Woody Allen as well as Woody Allen: A Biography.

The Wire's Wendell Pierce and Andre Royo

Mon, 7 Jan 2008 21:33:00 GMT

Wendell Pierce and Andre Royo play Bunk and Bubbles, respectively, on HBO's The Wire.

TSOYA Live in San Francisco Jan 14th!

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:34:00 GMT

The Sound of Young America is LIVE in SF on January 14th. Buy your tickets now for just ten dollars!

2007s Best Music and Movies

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:13:00 GMT

The AV Club's editors join us to tell us about the best music and movies of 2007.

Chris Hardwick

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:05:00 GMT

Chris Hardwick is the host of PBS TV's Wired Science, and half of the comedy music duo Hard N Phirm.

Chris Elliott

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:44:00 GMT

Chris Elliott is a legendary comic writer and actor. Now he's also a novelist.

Comedy: Wyatt Cenac

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:04:00 GMT

Comedy from Wyatt Cenac.

Steve Albini

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 17:44:00 GMT

Steve Albini is one of the world's most accomplished rock producers. He's recorded over 1000 albums for more than 1000 bands, including Nirvana, The Stooges and Joanna Newsom. Recorded live in Chicago at the Second City.

Live in Chicago: Comedy

Mon, 3 Dec 2007 18:40:00 GMT

Comedy from Hannibal Burress, Schadenfreude, Team Submarine and The Second City. Recorded live in Chicago.

Nick Hornby

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:03:00 GMT

Nick Hornby is the author of High Fidelity, About a Boy and most recently Slam.

Simon Rich

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:49:00 GMT

Simon Rich is the author of the humor book Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations. He's also a former editor of the Harvard Lampoon and a writer for Saturday Night Live.

Sarah Lamm

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:09:00 GMT

Sarah Lamm is director of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox, a new documentary about the legendary Dr. Bronner and his peppermint soap, which has become a counter-cultural icon.

Tim and Eric

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:55:00 GMT

Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim are the creators of two Cartoon Network [adult swim] shows -- Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim and Eric, Awesome Show, Great Job!

Bryan Coffee: Shrimp

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:57:00 GMT

Comedy from Bryan Coffee's stage show The Weekly Armenian.

Ira Glass

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:05:00 GMT

Ira Glass is the host of This American Life. He recently edited the book The New Kings of Nonfiction.

The Upright Citizens Brigade

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 16:36:00 GMT

An interview with Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade, and improvisation from the UCB Theater.

Colin Hay

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 21:28:00 GMT

Colin Hay is a Scotland-born, Australia-raised, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter. He was also the frontman of the 1980s rock group Men at Work.

Dan Deacon

jesse@maximumfun.org — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:50:00 GMT

Dan Deacon is an electronic pop musician with a background in electronic art music. His latest album of frenzied ecstatic tunes is Spiderman of the Rings.

Kenna

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:25:00 GMT

Rocker Kenna was born in Ethiopia and raised in Cincinatti and Virginia. His dramatic, new-wavey records are co-produced by Chad Hugo of the super-producing duo The Neptunes.

The Sklar Brothers

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:11:00 GMT

The Sklar Brothers, standup comics and television and radio hosts, return to The Sound of Young America. They have a new standup comedy CD called Sklar Maps, as well as a new series on Superdeluxe.com.

Brian Posehn and Steve Agee

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:12:00 GMT

Brian Posehn and Steve Agee are co-stars of The Sarah Silverman Program. They play Brian and Steve, Sarah's gay, nerdy neighbords.

Ask the Optimist

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:17:00 GMT

An audio adaptation of a piece from George Saunders' most recent book, The Braindead Megaphone. Features Dan Klein of Kasper Hauser, Andy Daly (The Office, Mad TV), John Hodgman, Xeni Jardin, Jonathan Katz and more.

George Saunders

Thu, 4 Oct 2007 23:31:00 GMT

George Saunders is a MacArthur grant-winning satirist. His newest book is The Brain-Dead Megaphone.

Ten West - Jimmy and Jeb

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:31:00 GMT

Comedy from Los Angeles sketch group Ten West.

Austin Grossman

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:26:00 GMT

Austin Grossman's new novel is called Soon I Will Be Invincible. Before he started writing superhero literature, he was a writer for video games.

Cynthia Hopkins

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 19:34:00 GMT

When she's not fronting the band Gloria Deluxe, Cynthia Hopkins creates acclaimed multi-media theater performances.

Comedy: Jarrett Grode

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:18:00 GMT

Standup comedy from Jarrett Grode.

Paul F. Tompkins

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:43:00 GMT

Comedian Paul F. Tompkins is a regular on VH1 talking head series, was a castmember of HBO's Mr. Show and Real Time with Bill Maher, and is really really funny.

John Sellers

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 18:31:00 GMT

John Sellers is the author of Perfect From Now On How Indie Rock Saved My Life.

Check the Technique

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:40:00 GMT

Brian Coleman is the author of the book Check the Technique Liner Notes for Hip Hop Junkies. The book is an oral history of the hip hop canon.

Oh, You and Your Bone Spurs: Cineastes

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 18:30:00 GMT

Comedy sketch from LA's Oh You and Your Bone Spurs.

Mick Brown on Phil Spector

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:09:00 GMT

Mick Brown was the last journalist to speak with Phil Spector before the legendary music producer murdered a young woman. He is the author of Tearing Down the Wall of Sound.

The Lifesavas

jesse@maximumfun.org — Mon, 6 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The Lifesavas are the leading light in the Portland, Oregon hip-hop scene. Their new record is conceived as the soundtrack to a lost blacksploitation film.

Lifesavas Bonus Audio

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The Lifesavas talk about their Portland roots, their introduction to the Native Tongues, and more.

Comedy: Dan Mintz

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 10:32:00 GMT

Live performance from standup comic Dan Mintz

Miranda July

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:21:00 GMT

Miranda July is an artist, author and filmmaker. Her latest book is No One Belongs Here More Than You.

Live in Los Angeles

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:11:00 GMT

Guests Brent Weinbach, Rob Thomas and Eleni Mandell. Recorded live at the Westside Eclectic in Santa Monica, California.

They Might Be Giants

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:10:00 GMT

Rock band They Might Be Giants are in their 25th year. Their newest record is "The Else."

Patton Oswalt

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:32:00 GMT

Comedian and actor Patton Oswalt stops by. He has a new comedy CD on Sub Pop, and he's also the star of the new Pixar film Ratatouille.

Want to Intern at TSOYA?

Mon, 9 Jul 2007 20:40:00 GMT

Elmore Leonard

Tue, 3 Jul 2007 17:53:00 GMT

Elmore Leonard is the author of 41 novels, including "Get Shorty," among many other best-sellers. He's perhaps the most critically-acclaimed popular fiction writer in the country. His most recent is "Up in Honey's Room."

Dave Hill

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:19:00 GMT

Comedian Dave Hill is the host of the popular New York stage show The Dave Hill Explosion, as well as the star of the television program King of Miami.

Betty Davis

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:29:00 GMT

Betty Davis is a funk and soul legend. This is her first radio interview since the 1970s.

Soul Sides with Oliver Wang

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:19:00 GMT

Oliver Wang is a popular blogger and DJ, and a professor at CSU Long Beach. His new CD compilation of classic soul music is Soul Sides Volume Two: The Covers.

Michael Cera

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 03:28:00 GMT

Michael Cera starred as George Michael on Arrested Development. He currently stars in the web series Clark and Michael, and will soon star in the film Superbad.

Comedy-Copia

Tue, 5 Jun 2007 18:08:00 GMT

Comedy from Greg Proops, Jen Kirkman, Jonathan Coulton, Kasper Hauser, Coyle and Sharpe, The 3rd Floor, The Farce Side, Two Girls for Five Bucks and Drop Six.

Deerhoof's Greg Saunier

Fri, 1 Jun 2007 18:04:00 GMT

Greg Saunier is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist in the rock band Deerhoof. The band is one of the most critically acclaimed in rock, and has toured with Radiohead, Wilco, The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth and The Roots, among others.

Sa-Ra Creative Partners

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:39:00 GMT

Sa-Ra are a group of three hip-hop producer/performers whose first album The Hollywood Recordings is now available. They've worked with artists ranging from Dr. Dre and Ice T to Bilal and Pharoahe Monch.

Marty Krofft

Wed, 23 May 2007 03:10:00 GMT

With his brother Sid Krofft, Marty Krofft produced many of the 1970s best remembered childrens shows, including HR Puffnstuff and Land of the Lost, as well as a number of variety shows. The latter included Donnie and Marie Osmond, the Brady Kids, and Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.

Bob Odenkirk

Wed, 16 May 2007 19:52:00 GMT

Bob Odenkirk is the co-creator of Mr. Show with Bob and David, and a feature film director. His newest project is the web series Derek and Simon.

Celebrity Snark

Fri, 11 May 2007 16:40:00 GMT

Guests Amelie Gillette of The AV Club and Alex Blagg of BestWeekEver.TV discuss the proliferation of celebrity snark.

The Lobotomist

Wed, 9 May 2007 00:18:00 GMT

Jack El-Hai is the author of The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and his Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness.

Sarah Thyre

Thu, 3 May 2007 22:24:00 GMT

Sarah Thyre is the author of the memoir Dark at the Roots. As an actress, she's been seen on Strangers with Candy and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, among other venues.

Anne Beatts

Tue, 1 May 2007 21:50:00 GMT

Anne Beatts was an original writer on Saturday Night Live as well as the first female editor of the National Lampoon. She also created the cult sitcom Square Pegs.

Louis Theroux

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:09:00 GMT

Louis Theroux is the author of The Call of The Weird: Travels in American Subcultures. He has been the host of several television series, including Weird Weekends, which aired in the US on Bravo.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:18:00 GMT

Dave Willis is the co-creator of The Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a cult comedy series on Cartoon Network. He and his partner Matt Maiellaro also made the new film adaptation Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Moviefilm for Theatres.

Steven Wright

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:56:00 GMT

Steven Wright is a legendary standup comedian. He's also an Academy Award winner, and has been featured in films including Reservoir Dogs and Half Baked.

Ted Leo

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:11:00 GMT

Ted Leo is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Their newest album is Living with the Living.

Ted Leo - Bottle of Buckie

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:59:00 GMT

Live on The Sound of Young America.

Ted Leo - La Costa Brava

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:58:00 GMT

Live on The Sound of Young America

Ted Leo - Bleeding Powers

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:58:00 GMT

Live on The Sound of Young America.

Brian P. Stack

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:24:00 GMT

Brian P. Stack is a writer and performer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Among his beloved characters are Frankenstein and The Ghost Crooner, and he created Peirre Bernard's Recliner of Rage.

Jack McBrayer

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:47:00 GMT

Jack McBrayer portrays the lovable NBC page Kenneth on the sitcom 30 Rock. He's also a veteran of the New York and Chicago improv scenes.

Faking It

Thu, 5 Apr 2007 23:48:00 GMT

Yuval Taylor is the author of Faking It: The Quest for Authenticity in Popular Music.

The Human Giant

Tue, 3 Apr 2007 16:05:00 GMT

The Human Giant are a comedy group formed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Their eponymous series premiers this week on MTV.

Cornucopia!

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 21:07:00 GMT

Comedy from Clifford and Kidd and from Jonathan Katz. Also a sample of the new maximumfun.org podcast, Coyle and Sharpe: The Imposters.

Scott Dikkers of The Onion

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 00:34:00 GMT

Scott Dikkers is editor-in-chief of The Onion, and is overseeing their new ventures in video.

Simon Lovell

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 23:03:00 GMT

Former con-man Simon Lovell is the author of How to Cheat at Everything.

Acceptable TV

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:32:00 GMT

Guest Dan Harmon is the Executive Producer of Acceptable TV, and was the co-creator of Channel 101 and the cult TV pilot Heat Vision and Jack.

Zach Galifianakis

Tue, 6 Mar 2007 17:15:00 GMT

Zach Galifianakis is a standup comedian who has been seen on Comedy Central's The Comedians of Comedy, and in his own VH1 series, "Late World with Zach."

Rhymefest

Fri, 2 Mar 2007 11:13:00 GMT

Chicago rapper Rhymefest won a Grammy award before releasing his first LP. His debut record was "Blue Collar," and he's preparing his follow-up, called "El Che."

Rhymefest bonus audio

Fri, 2 Mar 2007 11:05:00 GMT

Guest Rhymefest talks about tour with legends like A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan, and about his upcoming album.

Maria Bamford

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:28:00 GMT

Comedian Maria Bamford talks about impersonating Star Trek characters, collective living and how much comedians actually make.

Neal Pollack

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:43:00 GMT

Neal Pollack is the author of "Alternadad."

The Venture Brothers

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 06:05:00 GMT

Jackson Publick is the co-creator of The Venture Brothers, a series on Cartoon Network's [adult swim].

Peedi Peedi aka Peedi Crakk

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:53:00 GMT

Philadelphia rapper Peedi Crakk is a member of the group State Property. His solo album, "Prince of the Roc" is due later this year.

Vendela Vida

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:11:00 GMT

Vendela Vida is the author of "Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name" and the co-editor of The Believer magazine.

This American Comedy

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 23:47:00 GMT

Comedy from Jonathan Coulton, Maria Bamford and Clifford & Kidd.

This American Life

Tue, 6 Feb 2007 20:36:00 GMT

Julie Snyder is senior producer of the public radio program This American Life.

Andrew W.K.

Fri, 2 Feb 2007 01:53:00 GMT

Rock star Andrew W.K.'s most recent album is "Close Calls with Brick Walls."

Brandon Bird

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 05:03:00 GMT

Brandon Bird's paintings place minor celebrities into bizarre situations, which often combine ridiculousness with banality.

Japanese Robots

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:25:00 GMT

Guest Tim Hornyak is the author of Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots.

Japanese Toy Culture

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:41:00 GMT

Guest Woodrow Phoenix discusses his book "Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys Conquered the World."

Comedy: Clifford & Kidd "Models"

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:14:00 GMT

Sketch comedy from Los Angeles' "Clifford & Kidd"

Jeff Chang on Jay-Z

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:35:00 GMT

Jeff Chang won the American Book Award for his book, "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation." We talk about Jay-Z.

Bonus Audio: Jeff Chang on Crack Rap

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:34:00 GMT

Jeff Chang talks about the "crack rap" phenomenon.

Omar

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:53:00 GMT

Soul singer Omar started the new classic soul movement in the late 1980s in the UK. It's taken fifteen years and the professed admiration
of US stars like Erykah Badu and D'Angelo to bring him to US audiences.

The Naked Trucker & T-Bones

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:46:00 GMT

David Koechner (Anchorman, SNL) and Dave (Gruber) Allen (Freaks & Geeks) talk about their new Comedy Central series, "The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show."

Jamie Hewlett

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:17:00 GMT

Jamie Hewlett is co-creator of The Gorillaz, as well as an award-winning designer and the creator of Tank Girl.

Brendan Canty

Fri, 5 Jan 2007 20:36:00 GMT

Brendan Canty is the creator of the film series Burn to Shine, and a member of the band Fugazi.

The Knights of Prosperity

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 18:43:00 GMT

Guests Rob Beckerman and Rob Burnett. Beckerman and Burnett are the creators of the new series "The Knights of Prosperity," as well as the cult favorite dramedy "Ed."

Holiday Special 2004

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 11:48:00 GMT

Guests John Waters, Christopher Moore, Davy Rothbart & Moustaches for Kids.

Holiday Special 2006

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:20:00 GMT

Guests Paul Feig, Mike Birbiglia & Kasper Hauser. Paul Feig is the director of the new film Unnacompanied Minors, as well as the creator of Freaks & Geeks.

Live in New York Two 12-8-06

Fri, 8 Dec 2006 19:08:00 GMT

Guests Kurt Andersen, Andres du Bouchet, Elephant Larry and Jonathan Coulton. Kurt Andersen is the host of PRI's "Studio 360" and was the co-founder of Spy Magazine. Andrew du Bouchet is a New York comedian. Elephant Larry are a sketch comedy group, also from New York. Jonathan Coulton sings songs, and I believe lives in Connecticut.

Live in New York One 12-1-06

Fri, 1 Dec 2006 19:15:00 GMT

Guests David Wain, Heather Lawless, Mike Daisey and Tanya Morgan. Our first live-on-stage program, recorded at The People's Improv Theater in New York City.

Tanya Morgan - Stay Tuned

Fri, 1 Dec 2006 19:14:00 GMT

Recorded live on The Sound of Young America.

Tanya Morgan - We Be

Fri, 1 Dec 2006 19:13:00 GMT

Recorded Live on The Sound of Young America

Special: Radio Open Source on Borat

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:31:00 GMT

Mal Sharpe and I guest on Public Radio International's Radio Open Source, talking about Borat.

Zines 11-17-06

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 23:21:00 GMT

Guests V. Vale and Josh Karp. V. Vale is the legendary underground publisher behind Re/Search Publications, a series of zine-like books on the counter-culture. Josh Karp's new book examines the history of the National Lampoon, and how it changed American comedy.

Entertaining 11-10-06

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:26:00 GMT

Guests Amy Sedaris and Jimmy Carr. Amy Sedaris is an entertainer and now, a home economics maven. Jimmy Carr is a British comic and the author of a new book on jokes and comedy.

Video Bonus: Kasper Hauser's Glinder & Glinder

Wed, 8 Nov 2006 06:08:00 GMT

From the Kasper Hauser Comedy Podcast. I'm producing a podcast for our friends in Kasper Hauser, and I thought I'd share this hilarious video with you. Their book "SkyMaul" is in stores, and it's hilarious. I personally reccomend it extremely highly.

New York Stories 11-3-06

Fri, 3 Nov 2006 22:47:00 GMT

Guests Roz Chast and Bill Hader. Roz Chast is a long-time New Yorker cartoonist. Bill Hader is a castmember of Saturday Night Live.

If you're not subscribed to the text blog...

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:55:00 GMT

You oughta be!

What you get:
* Exclusive interviews and bonus audio from shows.
* A heads up on things worth knowing about from comedy to music to everything else.
* A delightful sense of community.

World of Wonder

Fri, 27 Oct 2006 22:30:00 GMT

Guests Chris Elliott and Terry Gilliam. Chris Elliott is an actor and author, best known for his work on "Get A Life" and "Late Night with David Letterman. Terry Gilliam is a filmmaker and member of Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Your Brain on Music 10-20-06

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:13:00 GMT

Guests Matmos and Dan Levitin. Matmos are avante-garde electronic music artists, who create music from non-musical sound. Dan Levitin is a neuroscientist, and the author of "This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession."

Bonus Audio: Todd Barry

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 23:12:00 GMT

The Sound of Young America presents Todd Barry live in San Francisco Saturday, October 8th at the Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk St. Shows are at 9 and 11:30 PM.

Best Friends 10-13-06

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 23:59:00 GMT

Guests John Hodgman and Jonathan Coulton. Our guests were college classmates, and remain close friends today. Hodgman is an author and is regularly seen on The Daily Show. Coulton is a comic singer-songwriter.

Hodgman vs. Coulton

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:40:00 GMT

Bonus material for 10/13 show. John Hodgman and Jonathan Coulton fight over cat care.

John Hodgman on Dungeons and Dragons

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 17:37:00 GMT

Bonus Material for 10/14 show.

Grind Time 10-6-06

Sat, 7 Oct 2006 03:19:00 GMT

Guest Killer Mike. Killer Mike is an Atlanta-based rapper, best known for his affiliation with Outkast and Big Boi's Purple Ribbon Records.

Let's Put On A Show

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 01:48:00 GMT

Guests Joe Flaherty & Allison Silverman. Joe Flaherty was a cast member on the seminal sketch comedy program SCTV. Allison Silverman is the Emmy-winning co-head writer and supervising producer of The Colbert Report.

TSOYA BLOG MOVED!

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 17:20:00 GMT

For those of you who read The Sound of Young America Blog, it has moved!

You can find the blog at http://www.maximumfun.org/blog/ . Please point any links to www.maximumfun.org.

To subscribe:

The Sound of Young America Blog - http://feeds.feedburner.com/tsoyablog

Science Fiction 9-22-06

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:32:00 GMT

Guests Michael J. Nelson, Ron Moore and Steve Eley. Mike Nelson was the host of Mystery Science Theater 3000, now he makes commentaries for Rifftrax. Ron Moore is co-creator of the SciFi Network series Battlestar Galactica. Steve Eley is editor of the sci-fi podcast Escape Pod.

Bonus Interview: Stephen Eley of The Escape Pod

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 22:05:00 GMT

Guest Steve Eley. Stephen Eley is the editor of Escape Pod, one of the world's most popular science fiction podcasts.

Observations 9-15-06

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:33:00 GMT

Guests Merrill Markoe and Caleb Crain. Merrill Markoe is the author of the novel "Walking in Circles Before Lying Down," and was co-creator of "Late Night with David Letterman." Caleb Crain writes for the New Yorker; we speak with him about the Mass Observation movement of the 1930s and 40s.

Sticking it to the Man 9-9-06

Fri, 8 Sep 2006 21:58:00 GMT

Guests Maz Jobrani, Lisa Jervis & Andi Zeisler. Maz Jobrani is an actor and standup comedian who's the star of the upcoming sitcom The Knights of Prosperity. Lisa Jervis & Andi Zeisler are the founding editors of Bitch Magazine, "A Feminist Response to Popular Culture."

The Impostors 8-26-06

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 00:52:00 GMT

Guest Mal Sharpe. Mal Sharpe was half of Coyle & Sharpe, a ground-breaking team of put-on artists who terrorized 1960s San Francisco.

Are you reading our blog?

Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:40:00 GMT

Hey... you getting this feed in your feedreader and not a podcatcher...

Are you reading The Sound of Young America blog? It's like the show, only in bloggier form. News, reviews, criticism, laffs. All delivered to your feedreader every day.

Here's the feed. Copy and paste it into your feedreader, or left click for lots of auto-subscribe buttons. And enjoy!

The Symphony 8-19-06

Fri, 18 Aug 2006 23:00:00 GMT

Guests Patton Oswalt and Masta Ace. Patton Oswalt is a standup-comic, the creator of "The Comedians of Comedy," and the co-star of CBS' The King of Queens; he is also star of the upcoming Pixar film "Ratatouille." Masta Ace is a hip-hop legend and original member of the Juice Crew.

Formed a Band 8-12-06

Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:18:00 GMT

Guests Eddie Argos of Art Brut and Paul Malmont. Paul Malmont is the author of "The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril." Eddie Argos is the frontman of the acclaimed rock band Art Brut.

Wonder 8-5-06

Sat, 5 Aug 2006 20:22:00 GMT

Guests The Flaming Lips' Michael Ivins and Lawrence Weschler. Michael Ivins is a bassist and idea man with The Flaming Lips. Lawrence Weschler is a long-time New Yorker writer, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of "Everything That Rises: A Book of Convergences."

Two Sides of a Coin

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 20:01:00 GMT

Guests Dave Attell and Michael Showalter. Dave Attell is a celebrated standup comedian, and the former host of Comedy Central's Insomniac. Michael Showalter is best know for his work on MTV's The State and Comedy Central's Stella; he also wrote and directed the feature film The Baxter.

ComedyCopia

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 04:24:00 GMT

Comedy from Jonathan Coulton, Hard n Phirm, The Hazzards, Todd Barry, Mike Birbiglia, Marc Maron, and Brent Weinbach.

Kasper Hauser Preview

Sat, 8 Jul 2006 22:25:00 GMT

A special preview of the Kasper Hauser Podcast, due in late summer.

Klosterman & Foley

Sun, 2 Jul 2006 04:52:00 GMT

Guests Chuck Klosterman and Dave Foley. Klosterman is the author of "Killing Yourself to Live" and other pop-culture commentary. Foley is a member of The Kids in the Hall, and was the star of the sitcom Newsradio and the Pixar film A Bug's Life.

Found-stravaganza 6-24-06

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 21:47:00 GMT

Guests Davy Rothbart and Jason Bitner. Davy Rothbart is editor of Found Magazine, a compendium of lossed and tossed documents and items. Jason Bitner is co-editor, and the editor of the book LaPorte, Indiana.

The Indies 6-17-06

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 04:33:00 GMT

Guests Doug Martsch of Built to Spill and Bill Plympton. Bill Plympton is the Oscar-nominated animator of numerous short films. Doug Martsch is the frontman of Built to Spill, one of the indie rock world's most influential bands.

What's Wrong With This Country 6-10-06

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 02:54:00 GMT

Guests Henry Owings and George Saunders. Henry Owings is the editor of Chunklet Magazine; we talk about their new publication, "The Overrated Book: The Only Book You'll Ever Need." George Saunders is an acclaimed satirist, we talk about his new book of short stories, "In Persuasion Nation."

Put-Ons 6-3-06

Sat, 3 Jun 2006 15:11:00 GMT

Guests Matt Walsh and Charlie Todd of Improv Everywhere. Matt Walsh the star of the Comedy Central series Dog Bites Man, and a former correspondent on the Daily Show and co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Charlie Todd is the creator of the street prank group Improv Everywhere.

Goof-around Gang

Sat, 27 May 2006 16:56:00 GMT

Guests Paul F. Tompkins, Tim & Eric and Will Franken. Tim & Eric are the creators of the Cartoon Network [adult swim] series Tom Goes to the Mayor. Paul F. Tompkins is a standup, and has been a regular on series including The Daily Show, Best Week Ever, Mr. Show and Real Time with Bill Maher. Will Franken was recently chosen "Best Comedian" in San Francisco by the SF Weekly.

Analog and Digital 5-20-06

Sun, 21 May 2006 00:55:00 GMT

Guests John Vanderslice, Xeni Jardin and Mark Frauenfelder. Mark Frauenfelder and Xeni Jardin are among the co-authors of Boing-Boing.net, the weblog visited by 1.75 million people every day. John Vanderslice is a recording artist, producer, and recording studio owner who has worked with MK Ultra, Spoon and The Mountain Goats. His Tiny Telephone Recordings is the country's premier all-analog recording studio.

Bonus Interview: The Future of Books

Sun, 21 May 2006 00:54:00 GMT

Guest Kevin Kelly. Kevin Kelly of Wired Magazine tells us about the digital future of the old-fashioned book, and the copyright issues that complicate it.

Career Killers - 5-13-06

Sun, 14 May 2006 01:51:00 GMT

Guests Dan Clowes and Annabelle Hurwitch. Dan Clowes is the screenwriter of the film "Art School Confidential," which is based on a short comic story from his anthology series Eightball. Eightball was also the birthplace of "Ghost World." Annabelle Hurwitch is the former host of TBS' "Dinner and a Movie," and the author of "Fired," a collection of firing stories from "entertaining people," including David Cross, Felicity Huffman, and Robert Reich. Also: a comedy sketch from Free Love Forum.

Joketacular 5-6-06

Sun, 7 May 2006 02:45:00 GMT

Guest Brian Posehn. We're joined by comedian, writer and actor Brian Posehn (Mr. Show, Just Shoot Me, Seinfeld, Newsradio, Comedians of Comedy). We talk about his long career in comedy. Plus comedy from Todd Barry, Meat, Hard n Phirm, Jonathan Coulton, and Flight of the Conchords.

Hollywood Outsiders

Sun, 30 Apr 2006 03:44:00 GMT

Guests Philip Lopate, Sharon Waxman and Sean Uyehara. Philip Lopate is the editor of the Library of America's Anthology of American Film Criticism. Sharon Waxman is Hollywood reporter for the New York Times and author of "Rebels on the Backlot," which examines the indie film explosion of the mid-90s. Sean Uyehara is a programmer for the San Francisco International Film Festival. Also: a message from Jen Kirkman.

Jonathans 4-22-06

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 07:01:00 GMT

Guests Jonathan Katz and Jonathan Goldstein. Jonathan Katz is a comedian, and the co-creator and star of "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist." Jonathan Goldstein is an acclaimed radio producer (This American Life, Wiretap) and the author of the novel "Lenny Bruce is Dead."

Bonus Interview: Jimmy "The Shooter" Pardo

splangy@splangy.com — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:37:00 GMT

Guest Jimmy Pardo. Jimmy Pardo is a nationally headlining comedian and the former host of "National Lampoon's Funny Money" and AMC's "Movies At Our House." His long-running stage talk show "Running Your Trap" is a fixture in Los Angeles. He also recently began podcasting.

Santa Cruz, You're Not That Far

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 03:09:00 GMT

Guest Andrew WK. This week is our last broadcast from our long-time home base, KZSC in Santa Cruz. We bid an affectionate farewell to the station with two of our favorite segments from our six years in Santa Cruz. The first is a chat with Andrew WK -- he talks about his philosophy of life, and offers some rock & roll advice to Jesse's younger brother Brendan. Then, we hear the original old time radio-style serial "Mace Detective, Private Detective." Mace investigates the mystery of Popinjay's Whizbang, when he's not being distracted by Goofus & Gallant. Also: a brand new sketch from the Kasper Hauser Skit Club.

Rip It Up and Start Again

Sun, 9 Apr 2006 01:18:00 GMT

Guest Simon Reynolds. This week our theme is "Rip It Up & Start Again," and we investigate the history of Post-Punk music.

Our guest is Simon Reynolds, a British pop music critic, and the author of the book which gives our show its name. His book aims to retrofit the reputation of the rock music of the early 80s, describing the sonically disparate artists who created something new in the wake of the first punk movement's self-destruction.

(Un)Clean 4-1-06

Sat, 1 Apr 2006 17:32:00 GMT

Guests Jim Gaffigan and the creators of Wonder Showzen. Jim Gaffigan is an actor and comedian who's been seen in films like "Super Troopers," and is one of the most popular touring comics in America. John Lee and Vernon Chatman created Wonder Showzen, one of the most bizarre, dark, and hilarious half-hours on television.

Elements of Style 3-25-06

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 01:18:00 GMT

Guests Maira Kalman and George Pelecanos. This week, two looks at style. Maira Kalman created lyrical illustrations of the classic writing handbook The Elements of Style. George Pelecanos is a noted crime author, and a writer/producer for HBO's The Wire.

Joke Warfare 3-18-06

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 00:40:00 GMT

Guests Terry Jones and Dino Stamatopoulos. Terry Jones is a founding member of Monty Python, as well as an author, historian, actor and director. We talk about Python and all that other stuff. Dino Stamatopolous is the creator of Moral Orel on Cartoon Network's [adult swim], and a former writer for Conan O'Brien, Mr. Show, and the Ben Stiller Show.

Making Friends with Black People

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 23:54:00 GMT

Guests Nick Adams and Calvin Levels. Nick Adams is a comedian and the author of the new book "Making Friends with Black People." Calvin Levels is a Tony-nominated actor and the star of the one-man show "James Baldwin: Go Tell It On the Mountain."

The Sound of Young America Blog

Tue, 7 Mar 2006 16:20:00 GMT

Have you subscribed to The Sound of Young America blog yet? Besides expanded show notes for our podcasts, it contains oodles of cool links, pop culture analysis, and other cool stuff. Visit and subscribe at http://tsoya.blogspot.com !

The Great Communicators

splangy@splangy.com — Thu, 2 Mar 2006 17:24:00 GMT

Guests Chris Hardwick and Patton Oswalt. A classic from the vaults of The Sound of Young America featuring two of our best comedian pals... Chris Hardwick is half of Hard N Phirm, and the former host of Singled Out on MTV. Patton Oswalt is a co-star of CBS' The King of Queens, and the creator of The Comedians of Comedy. Both talk about their comedy, Chris talks about how he ended up hosting "Shipmates," and Patton talks about his passion for deep-fried Mac & Cheese.

Monty Python Footage

Thu, 2 Mar 2006 06:23:00 GMT

This Monty Python footage hasn't been seen in over 30 years. Originally broadcast on Dallas' PBS affiliate KERA the day after Holy Grail was released, and discovered only recently. The nice folks at KERA and the Python organization were nice enough to share it exclusively with Sound of Young America listeners. Please note that this is a video cast -- it can be viewed on the video iPod or on your computer.

Moustaches, Etc. 2-25-06

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 01:21:00 GMT

Guests Andy Daly and Richard Montoya. Andy Daly is a former castmember of MadTV, and a correspondent on Comedy Central's "The Showbiz Show with David Spade." He's also invented a "hip party game that's sweeping the nation," called "Mustache TV." Richard Montoya is 1/3 of the legendary Latino/Chicano sketch comedy group Culture Clash. Their newest play is "Zorro in Hell." He can also be seen in the upcoming Jack Black film "Nacho Libre."

The American Dream 2-18-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 05:54:00 GMT

Guests Louis CK, Florian Keller, and Neil Hamburger. Louis CK is one of America's best standup comics -- we talk with him about his new kind of old-fashioned sitcom. Florian Keller writes in his book "Andy Kaufman: Wrestling with the American Dream" that Kaufman's work was a satire of that cherished ideal. Also, America's Funnyman, Neil Hamburger stops in to talk about his sad, sad, sad life.

The Future 2-11-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 23:48:00 GMT

Guests Chad Trujillo, Paul Moller, and Dippin Dots. A look deep into the future. We talk with the inventor of the Skycar, with the discoverer of a new planet, and with a representative of the Ice Cream of the Future, Dippin' Dots. Plus the future of scrapbooking, reptiles, and more, and relationship advice from The Evil Computer Bent on World Domination.

All World Knowledge 2-4-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 5 Feb 2006 00:07:00 GMT

Guests John Hodgman and Fred Rees. Is it possible to contain all of the world's knowledge within the boundaries of one book? One radio show? We find out here. John Hodgman can be seen on the Daily Show, heard on This American Life, and read in his new book The Areas of My Expertise. The book is a compendium of made-up facts more valuable than the vastest library. Fred Rees is creator of The Book of Cool, a DVD set (and book) that teaches you every cool skill you need in life, from pen-spinning to behind-the-back dribbling.

Rockets! 1-28-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 01:30:00 GMT

Guests Dan Piraro, Josh Kornbluth, Amanda Congdon, and Andrew Baron. This week's show features a mish-mash of folks. Dan Piraro is the creator of the popular newspaper comic "Bizarro." Josh Kornbluth is a monologuist and host of "The Josh Kornbluth Show." We talk with Josh about his show "Ben Franklin: Unplugged," in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth. Also, Andrew Baron and Amanda Congdon are the co-creators of Rocketboom, the world's most popular video blog, or v-log.

Southern Soul 1-21-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 01:25:00 GMT

Guests Todd Bowman and Devin the Dude. Devin the Dude is a Houston-based rapper whose self-depracating, hilarious, and sometimes profane raps has made him a favorite of Dr. Dre. DJ Premier, and other hip-hop insiders. Todd Bowman is one of the world's foremost experts on Stax Records. We talk to him about the DVD release of the concert film "Wattstax."

Wholphin! 1-14-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 15 Jan 2006 01:13:00 GMT

Guests Fred Armisen and Brent Hoff. Fred Armisen is a star on Saturday Night Live, and he's really, really nice (funny, too). Brent Hoff is the editor of McSweeney's new DVD magazine, Wholphin. Also, music from the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and a comedy sketch from Kasper Hauser.

Dog Days 1-7-06

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 8 Jan 2006 00:18:00 GMT

Guests H. Jon Benjamin and Demetri Martin. Jon Benjamin is best known as the voice of Ben, the layabout son in the long-running Comedy Central series Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. He's also a stage comedian. Demetri Martin is a standup comedian, former writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the winner of the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinborough Fringe. He's also a graduate of Yale University, and an NYU Law dropout. Also... how did that dog get in here?

Vaudeville 12-31-05

splangy@splangy.com — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 22:00:00 GMT

Guest Trav S.D. This week we put on a show! Trav S.D. is the author of "No Applause: Just Throw Money," about the history of Vaudeville in America. We also hear from Hard n Phirm, Aziz Ansari, Dragon Boy Suede, Skillz, and more.

Holiday Special 12-24-05

splangy@splangy.com — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 16:49:00 GMT

Guests John Waters, Christopher Moore, Davy Rothbart, and more. It's our annual Holiday Special, which we made last year and plan to play annually. Merry Christmas!

New Sincerity Holiday 12-31-05

splangy@splangy.com — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 02:13:00 GMT

Guests Alex Blagg and Jarrett Krosoczka. With help from Alex Blagg of The Blagg Blogg and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of "Punk Farm," we choose winners of the New Sincerity Holiday Activity Contest.

Holiday Party 12-17-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 20:34:00 GMT

Guest Chris Elliott. On this week's show, we sit down with Chris Elliott, the comedian who has retained his bizarre sensibility through a variety of media the past 25 years. Also, a vintage audio put-on by Coyle & Sharpe and Hang It Up / Keep It Up.

Brendon Small (Bonus Interview)

splangy@splangy.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:42:00 GMT

Guest Brendon Small. Brendon Small is the creator of Home Movies, but he's also an accomplished guitarist. In this bonus interview, you can hear Brendon talking about his new show "Dethclok," due in the Spring. The show concerns the world's most popular death metal band.

Fawlty Towers Revisited (Bonus Interview)

splangy@splangy.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:40:00 GMT

Guest Lars Holm. Lars Holm is the author of "Fawlty Towers: The Worshipper's Companion." We talk about the show, in recoginition of the PBS TV special "Fawlty Towers Revisited," which is running on local PBS stations this week. Also... a contest to win two copies of the book.

The Movies 12-10-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 11 Dec 2005 01:02:00 GMT

Guests Brendon Small, Mark & Michael Polish, and Peter Molyneux. Brendon Small is the creator of the Cartoon Network [adult swim] series Home Movies. Mark & Michael Polish are the directors of several films, including Twin Falls Idaho; they're also the authors of "The Declaration of Independent Filmmaking," a book about how to make an independent film. Peter Molyneux is the designer of the computer game "The Movies," which allows users to create films in-game. He's also designed quite a number of groundbreaking games, like "Populous" and "Black & White."

Canada, et al. 12-3-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 4 Dec 2005 00:16:00 GMT

Guests Eugene Mirman, Kyle MacDonald, and Brandon Bird. Eugene Mirman is one of New York's top alternative comics. He not long ago released his first CD, "The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman." Brandon Bird is a painter, whose work has been celebrated across the country. It often features fringe celebrities and historical figures engaged in fantastical activities. Kyle MacDonald write the blog "One Red Paperclip." He's been trying to trade up, little by little, from a red paperclip to a house.

Comics and Comics Three 11-26-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 01:24:00 GMT

Guests Sarah Silverman, Brad Meltzer, Kasper Hauser. We return to our nerdiest theme. Sarah Silverman is the hottest comedian in the country as her film "Jesus is Magic" hits theaters. Brad Meltzer is a best-selling novelist, and the author of the controversial DC Comics graphic novel "Identity Crisis." The Kasper Hauser Skit Club are San Francisco's favorite sketch comedy group... they perform a sketch and read some of their fake Craigslist postings.

Belushi! 11-19-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 01:39:00 GMT

Guests Judith Belushi Pisano and Tanner Colby. John Belushi was one of the great comics of the late 20th century. Belushi Pisano and Colby are the editors of the new book Belushi, an oral history of his life and times. The show also features clips from the National Lampoon Radio Hour which feature Belushi. Oh! And be sure to visit maximumfun.org for a neat web-only bonus mp3.

The Best Show 11-12-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 20:10:00 GMT

Guest Tom Scharpling. This week's show is given over to our pal Tom Scharpling, host of the cult radio program "The Best Show on WFMU." We hear two tracks from Tom's new CD with partner-in-joke Jon Wurster, recorded live on The Best Show. The program features comics calling in with assumed personae, being interviewed by the unflappable Scharpling.

How to win stuff from us.

splangy@splangy.com — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:03:00 GMT

A little message with some info on how you can use your status as a Sound of Young America listener to win a copy of the new Onion compilation, a DVD of "Martin & Orloff," or even a DVD set of Arrested Development season two.

On the Road 11-5-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 6 Nov 2005 01:02:00 GMT

Guests Henry Rollins and John Hodgman. Henry Rollins' 25 years on the road with Black Flag and The Rollins Band have left him really, really awesome. Also, John Hodgman, This American Life and McSweeney's contributor, talks about his new book, The Areas of My Expertise, and about hobos.

Comics and Comix Part Two 10-29-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 22:23:00 GMT

Guests Harvey Pekar and Andy Kindler. Andy Kindler is a standup comic best known for eviscerating the comedy industry in his annual "State of the Industry Address" at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. He's appeared numerous times on Letterman, and was a featured player on Everybody Loves Raymond. Harvey Pekar is the author of the celebrated comic series "American Splendor," which was made into a film starring Paul Giammatti. He recently published a comic memoir entitled "The Quitter."

Comics and Comix 10-22-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 23:01:00 GMT

Guests Matt Walsh, Art Spiegelman, and Chris Elliott. Matt Walsh is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, and has appeared in numerous films. He talks with us about "Martin and Orloff," a film he starred in and co-wrote. Art Spiegelman is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus, among other books and comics. Spiegelman talks with us about his newest book, "In the Shadow of No Towers." Chris Elliott is a comedy hero for his work on the David Letterman show, as well as on his anti-sitcom "Get A Life," and the film "Cabin Boy." He's written a comic mystery novel, "The Shroud of the Thwacker."

Dream Boogie 10-15-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 23:11:00 GMT

Guest Peter Guralnick on Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke is perhaps the most important figure in 20th century American pop music who isn't a household name. Cooke has been described as the man who invented soul. Peter Guralnick is his biographer, as well as the author of the definitive, two-volume biography of Elvis Presley among other texts.

Perceived Slights 10-8-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 8 Oct 2005 23:27:00 GMT

Guests Robert Weide and Bruce Bridgeman. Bruce Bridgeman is a professor at UC Santa Cruz, and recently published a paper on legenday Santa Cruz tourist attraction The Mystery Spot. Robert Weide is the executive producer of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Larry David. Also, we play some improvised Van Morrison recordings that are so bizarre, they must be heard to be believed.

The Power of Love - 10-1-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 1 Oct 2005 23:25:00 GMT

Guests Dan Savage and Neil Strauss. A pair of heterogenous perspectives on relationships. Dan Savage, the sex columnist, talks about his new book "The Commitment," about gay marriage. Neil Strauss, former New York Times music critic, talks about his book, "The Game: Penetrating the Secret Societ of Pickup Artists."

The Gift of Gab 9-24-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 23:08:00 GMT

Guests Blackalicious and David Rakoff. David Rakoff's humorous essays enliven PRI's This American Life; his new collection is "Don't Get Too Comfortable." The hip-hop duo Blackalicious having been holding down the California alternative hip-hop scene for more than ten years. Their new album is "The Craft."

International Waters - 9-17-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 00:08:00 GMT

Guests Dick Blasucci and Talk Like a Pirate. This week, we travel to international waters... or at least Canada. We talk with Dick Blasucci, head writer of SCTV, the seminal sketch comedy show, and executive producer of Mad TV. Also, we chat with the creators of International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Classic Material - 9-10-05

splangy@splangy.com — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 03:40:00 GMT

Guests Chris Hardwick and Patton Oswalt. We take a trip back in time for a classic episode of The Sound. Patton Oswalt isn't just a co-star on The King of Queens. He's also one of America's best comics. Chris Hardwick is no slouch in that department, either -- though you may know him as the host of MTV's "Singled Out."

Life Changes 9-3-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 3 Sep 2005 23:50:00 GMT

Guests Matt Besser and Rodney Rothman. Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade talks about their new sieries on Bravo, "Asssscat Improv." Rodney Rothman, former Late Show with David Letterman head writer, talks about his memoir "Early Bird." He retired to Florida at age 28. Also, music from New Orleans music legends. Please visit the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org , and make a donation for disaster relief.

New Sincerity Contest Results

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 3 Sep 2005 21:06:00 GMT

Jesse and Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade judge the results of a New Sincerity Contest. This time around, it's all about showing someone that you love them, New Sincerity style. Three good people win copies of "Created in Darkness By Troubled Americans," the McSweeney's humor anthology.

People Helping People 8-27-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 23:24:00 GMT

Guest Bob Edwards. We talk with Bob Edwards, long-time host of NPR's Morning Edition, and now host of the Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio. Also, we help a listener impress his girlfriend, and Jesse's little brother tells a joke.

Real vs. Fake 8-20-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 04:58:00 GMT

Guests Ricky Jay and Brian Copeland. Ricky Jay is a magician, actor, and scholar of the history of strange performance. He talks with us about his book "Extraordinary Exhibitions" and his career. Also, Brian Copeland is a top-rated San Francisco radio personality and standup comic. He talks with us about his one-man show "Not A Genuine Black Man," which is the longest running solo show in San Francisco history.

High and Low 8-13-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 22:52:00 GMT

Guests Louis CK and Chip Lord. This week, we examine the fuzzy lines between high and low culture. Louis CK is a standup comic, writer and producer, whose HBO sitcom premiers in January. Chip Lord is a founding member of the seminal art & architecture group The Ant Farm. Plus a song from NY sketch comics Elephant Larry.

Revenge of the Nerds 8-6-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 6 Aug 2005 23:11:00 GMT

Nerds attack on The Sound of Young America! Prince Paul and Maria Schneider are our guests. Prince Paul is the producer of De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and more. Maria Schneider is the creator of Pathetic Geek Stories, the comic strip that dramatizes the most awful shameful experiences of nerdy childhood. Also... Jesse's lady friend Theresa hosts, in an absurdly complex effort to attract playwright Tony Kushner to the show.

Welcome! This isn't really our website.

splangy@splangy.com — Tue, 2 Aug 2005 16:03:00 GMT

If you're interested in learning more about The Sound of Young America, or browsing our gargantuan website (OK, not that gargantuan), visit us at http://www.splangy.com/radio/.

Odd Ends - 7-30-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 14:56:00 GMT

Some of the strangest things that have ever happened on The Sound of Young America. Our guests Kasper Hauser, the briliant San Francisco sketch group, talk about scamming scammers, we talk with Robert Hamburger, webmaster of realultimatepower.net about ninjas, and when we try to interview a lady from Steve Harvey's Big Time, disaster ensues.

Del Close Marathon - 7-23-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 23 Jul 2005 21:40:00 GMT

Del Close was the great genius of improv theatre -- he trained and directed generations of performers, including John Belushi, Mike Meyers, and the Upright Citizens Brigade. We talk about his legacy with Ian Roberts of the UCB, Anthony King of the UCB Theatre, and Jeff Griggs, author of a book on Close, "Guru."

Go! For It 7-16-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 02:56:00 GMT

This week we talk with Paul Feig, creator of the series "Freaks and Geeks," and author of the new book, "Superstud: How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin." We also talk with Ian Parton, founder of the UK hip-hop/rock/dance band The Go! Team.

So Into You!

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 9 Jul 2005 22:13:00 GMT

This week: interviews with Greg Behrendt, comic and superstar author, and The Fun Bunch, Hollywood super-writers, Mr. Show alums, and comedy empresarios.

The Second City - 7-2-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 3 Jul 2005 03:51:00 GMT

"The Second City," with guest Anne Libera, author of "The Second City Guide to Improvisation." We talk about the history of the illustrious comedy school, and hear some audio from it's archives.

Welcome to The Sound of Young America

splangy@splangy.com — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 04:33:00 GMT

Thanks for visiting us! Since iTunes version 4.9 launched earlier today, we've sent out over 1000 episodes of The Sound of Young America. If you came from iTunes, and you're interested in learning more about the show, visit our real website. There are bios, huge audio archives, and much more. And you can also sign up for our mailing list. Anyway, thanks for coming by. If you have thoughts about the show, email us at splangy@splangy.com.

Good Friends and Great Times 6-25-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 05:28:00 GMT

This week it's Good Friends and Great Times on The Sound of Young America. We talk about Summer movies with Doug Benson of The Marijuanalogues. We also chat with James Frey, author of "A Million Tiny Pieces," as well as the brand new "My Friend Leonard."

Dirty Mind with Blowfly and Legs McNeil

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 19 Jun 2005 04:43:00 GMT

Our "Dirty Mind" show... featuring guests Blowfly, the oft-sampled original king of dirty rap and Legs McNeil, author of "The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry." (This episode contains some language that may be offensive to sensitive listeners)

Potpourri with Paula Poundstone

splangy@splangy.com — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 19:06:00 GMT

We chat with comedy legend Paula Poundstone about... well, all kinds of stuff, she's very chatty. Plus... Would You Rather, Hang It Up / Keep It Up, and an odd new segment called "BBC Sports News."

The Nucular Option

splangy@splangy.com — Mon, 6 Jun 2005 00:20:59 GMT

This week's program explores The Nucular Option... our guests are Geoffrey Nunberg, Stanford Linguist and regular Fresh Air commentator, and Stella, the comedy trio (Michael Ian Black, Michael Schowalter, David Wain) behind a new eponymous Comedy Central series. You may know them from their work in MTV's The State, from the film Wet Hot American Summer, or from their appearances in various VH1 talking head shows. Original broadcast date June 4th, 2005.

New Sincerity Summer - 5-28-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sat, 28 May 2005 05:55:16 GMT

This week we celebrate the New Sincerity Summer. We adjudicate the New Sincerity Summer contest, in which we asked listeners to contribute New Sincerity Summer activities. We also talk with Mike Veeck, minor league baseball empresario, son of baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, and author of "Fun is Good." Mike talks with us about some of the promotions he's concocted, like "Disco Demolition Night" and "Mime-O-Vision." He also tells us about his son, who he has named "Night Train."

Finders Keepers - 5-21-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 22 May 2005 02:54:31 GMT

This week, we look talk with our old friend Davey Rothbart, editor of Found Magazine, a magazine composed completely of things people have found. Davey brings us some wonderful found sound, and reads a note or two. Lorca Shepperd talks with us about her film "Other Peoples' Pictures," about collectors of vintage snapshots. Also... we're running a contest this week to celebrate The Summer of the New Sincerity.

Laugh Riot!

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 15 May 2005 21:49:22 GMT

This week's show highlights the artists performing at the annual KZSC Laugh Riot. We hear from comedians Brent Weinbach and Jasper Redd, and have a live performance from Chris Hardwick and Mike Phirman.

The Onion, the Sklars, and Hard N Phirm

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 8 May 2005 01:02:27 GMT

This week, we talk with Carol Kolb, editor-in-chief of The Onion, America's Finest News Source. We also talk with Joe Garden, a writer for the paper who's running a campaign to replace Conan O'Brien as host of Late Night in 2008. Plus... comedy from the Sklar Brothers and Hard N Phirm.

Old Men - 4-30-05

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 1 May 2005 02:22:40 GMT

On today's progam, we talk with two awesome old guys -- legendary comedian Shelley Berman and television science hero Mr. Wizard. Originally broadcast 4-30-05

Hip-Hop Heads

splangy@splangy.com — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 07:25:28 GMT

Our guests on this week's show are solo performer Danny Hoch, founder of the NY Hip-Hop Theater Festival, and Sway & Tech, hosts of the World Famous Wakeup Show.

Rock Snobs

splangy@splangy.com — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 00:19:48 GMT

This week, we examine Rock Snobbery, with guests Ira Kaplan of indie rock legends Yo La Tengo, comedian Greg Proops, and Steven Daly, author of "The Rock Snob's Dictionary." Originally broadcast 4-16-05.