If You're an Old Soul

As the film industry continues to build its "Musical Cinematic Universe," Danny and Speedy explore the upcoming slate of biographical movies about legendary entertainers - and list the five biopic ideas that make them say, "Yes!" or "Ehhh." Plus, Danny is having technical difficulties (that no one seems to notice but him), and he starts off the podcast on a rampage. As always, if you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Danny gives his Top 10 Oscars Thoughts after the 96th Academy Awards (while joined by his wife, Tina, who is infamously not a fan of awards shows). Then (21:27), the show welcomes movie podcaster Jihad Shatara and "Dune" expert James Newlin to satiate Danny's thirst to talk about a giant worm (Danny proudly, definitely-not-annoyingly-at-all...read the books). As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Danny and Speedy are back in 2024! They dive into: Speedy's new gig at "After Midnight," lingering sentiments on Academy Award nominations, stars who are just one award away from EGOT status (in honor of Elton John claiming his), and favorite stories about filmmaker Norman Jewison and singer/songwriter Melanie, two entertainment legends who recently passed away. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

While Speedy is in London, Danny's wife, Tina, joins him to chat with unique social media star Rosie Grant. Over the last two years, Rosie has become famous for her mission to make recipes engraved into gravestones all across the country. We discuss her unconventional rise to fame (i.e. interning at a cemetery and having two parents who are ghost tour guides), favorite recipes she has discovered and shocking facts about the resting places of famous people (i.e. Julia Child was buried underwater???). As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Danny and Speedy quickly assemble to discuss the release of The Beatles' "final" song, "Now and Then." They dive into its origins, the controversial decisions behind its reproduction (such as removing parts of John Lennon's original demo), the potential connection to Lennon's reportedly last words to McCartney, and our overall review of the track. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

If you enjoy hearing Danny be uncomfortable, this is the episode for you. While recounting an awkward encounter with an Oscar-winning actor, compounded with needing to filibuster because Speedy has a work-emergency…His pain is almost palpable during the entire episode. They also discuss their shared crush on the first "Golden Bachelor," as well as honor Rudolph Isley, of The Isley Brothers. Then, to celebrate its 30th birthday, Speedy watches "Hocus Pocus" for the first time - which is one of Danny's favorite movies. One note: This was recorded on October 13th, so we just want to make sure it is mentioned here that we love you, Suzanne Somers. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Danny is back after settling into his new job and apartment in New York City! He and Speedy discuss a bonus Old Phrase of the Day, the passing of The Band's Robbie Robertson and legendary game show host Bob Barker, and the merits of a DJ-show that plays older music. Then, beloved indie band The Lemon Twigs join the show, with Brian and Michael D'Addario breaking down their new album, the drama behind their lost Quibi show and the artists that inspire their music. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Danny returns from his honeymoon and ironing out a professional transition (more on that during the episode) to reunite with Speedy on our podcast's two-year anniversary. However, there is no time to dwell on the last two years, when there are 96 wonderful years to celebrate of one of the greatest singers ever, Tony Bennett. To properly honor the titan of music who passed away this month, Danny calls upon his father to join the podcast and open his vault of music history and trivia. Plus, Danny makes Speedy guess who will be receiving a Kennedy Center Honor this year, and we react to Fall Out Boy's sequel to "We Didn't Start the Fire." As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

If You're an Old Soul, please join us in: Remembering and honoring Tina Turner, reacting to the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, making fun of Danny's awkward interview with Oscar-winner Diane Keaton (Danny is begrudgingly playing the entire interview for everyone, which has not aired in-full yet), hearing Danny's tirade after his first time watching "Dirty Dancing," and enjoying an interview with legendary 1960s rockstar Tommy James about being signed to a label run by the mafia. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Ever since Danny saw the now-viral video of Peter Rugman (from the band, The Nonstick Pans) doing impersonations of a "John Lennon Christmas song vs. a Paul McCartney Christmas song," he knew this Brit was a fellow Old Soul. Millions of views and likes later, we welcome the actor, comedian and musician onto the podcast to explore a wide array of subjects, ranging from serious topics, like the historic paradox of musicians turning tragedy into their best work, to a goofy game we invented, called, "Do Brits love the British thing as much as Americans love the British thing?" We also discuss our favorite Beatles albums and stories, worst impressions of America, and then try to program ChatGPT to create parodies of songs by David Bowie and The Beatles. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Aaasdflaksjdfhaskdfjhasfasdfasdfs. Sorry, tried typing with hotdog fingers. Nearly a year after the first podcast episode about their love of "Everything Everywhere All At Once," Danny and Speedy take a victory lap on their favorite movie of the year sweeping the 2022 Academy Awards. Later in the podcast (29:39), Danny also remembers that he wanted to discuss how terrifying the score from "All Quiet on the Western Front" sounded every time the movie won an award. Oh, and they react to the podcast's biggest obsession, Nicole Kidman's AMC commercial, receiving a couple jabs in Jimmy Kimmel's monologue. In addition, Danny and Speedy revisit a favorite from Danny's childhood, "That Thing You Do!" After the movie's viral resurgence on Twitter these past few weeks, they discuss the 1996 movie about a mid-1960s band, The Wonders. The Oneders? The Oh-nee-ders. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Danny's frenemy and sports anchor Nick Rothschild joins the podcast to review Netflix's mega hit, "Wednesday." He's mainly here because Danny needs backup, as he tries to defend the series against Speedy's disdain for its repurposing of the original 1960s TV show. Plus, they give their thoughts on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations, Smokey Robinson's spicy new album title (this part is a little adult), and read a ChatGPT parody of an old song. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Here's looking at you, Old Souls. Danny and Speedy are giddy to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Danny's favorite movie, "Casablanca." They explore the many still-beloved aspects, like Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's performances and Captain Renault's best quips. However, they also dive into the now confusing components, like Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman's age difference and Captain Renault's vague brand of corruption. They also tackle the idea of this movie actually coming out during World War II, the fear of having braces in the 1930s, and if this movie could be remade today. Plus, Danny really loved the vibe of "Glass Onion" and its Old Soul-soundtrack. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

On today's episode, Danny and Speedy debate how much to celebrate that ABBA once again got nominated in some of the biggest categories for the Grammy Awards, and explore the history of animated movies' songs (i.e. "We Don't Talk About Bruno") getting ignored for Record of the Year. Plus, they share their thoughts on the silly fun of "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story," and Speedy recalls attending the "Funny or Die" screening of the film, which Weird Al attended. Finally, Danny and Speedy attempt to discuss a relevant, dramatic TV show, by watching "Severance," which came out in January. This is a big deal for them. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Oscar-winning icon Paul Newman suddenly has a memoir, even though he passed away in 2008. How is that possible? We bring on "The New York Times" culture reporter and bestselling author Dave Itzkoff to discuss the discovery of transcripts that were locked away for decades - and how they were since edited into a brand new autobiography, "The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man." Plus, Dave discusses his 2018 biography, "ROBIN," and the insights he found about the secretly sullen genius behind beloved comedies like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Good Morning, Vietnam." They also dive into the fresh start for "Saturday Night Live," Dave's recent interview with James Corden, and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Danny and Speedy honor Dame Angela Lansbury, the legendary actress who passed away at the age of 96 this week. From Tony awards for Broadway classics like "Sweeney Todd" to 12 consecutive Emmy-nominated seasons on "Murder, She Wrote" to an iconic tune in "Beauty and the Beast," they attempt to unpack her legacy for the many generations she touched. Plus, they celebrate the 45th birthday of Billy Joel's breakout album, "The Stranger," by trying to figure out if you can find a collection of five better Billy Joel tunes from all of his other works combined. Finally, they must tackle the announced sequel to Nicole Kidman's infamous AMC commercial, and they try to figure out what the heck is left to be said about a place where "heartbreak feels good." As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Al Green, Steely Dan, Curtis Mayfield, and Paul Simon. Somehow, all of these legendary artists released one of their quintessential albums in the exact same year, 1972. Danny and Speedy peruse this iconic catalog from exactly 50 years ago, and explore how influential these pieces of art still are today. Plus, the "Piano Men" are still at it! Elton John drops a song with Britney Spears to ignite her return to music, and Billy Joel welcomes Olivia Rodrigo onstage at Madison Square Garden. And, most importantly, the podcast must pay tribute to the most angelic singer of any Old Soul millennial's VHS-filled childhood, Olivia Newton-John. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

The Old Souls are getting a little older, as Danny and Speedy celebrate the podcast's first birthday. In order to commemorate this modest milestone, they reflect on favorite moments and rank the show's Top 5 Least Relevant Episode Topics (We know our subjects are niche). Plus, Danny recounts seeing Elton John's farewell tour, and explores all of the lyrics he learned he's had wrong for his entire life (something all Elton-heads can probably relate to). They also discuss this year's nominees for the Kennedy Center Honors, as well as who needs to be included next. Finally, Danny and Speedy try to guess the selections on Wikipedia's list of "Signature Songs" for famous artists. However, that segment gets terribly derailed - happy birthday to us! As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

One week after Stranger Things' fourth season finally wrapped up, Danny and Speedy feel it's finally safe to come out and discuss the dramatic events in spoiler-heavy fashion. WARNING: THE FOLLOWING TEASE TO GET YOU TO LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST HAS SPOILERS, EVEN THOUGH WE FEEL THAT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS BY NOW. Danny and Speedy dive into questions they still have heading into the final season, and try to imagine what would happen if Robin did play The Beatles to rescue Nancy from Vecna's trance. Plus, why exactly did Eddie have to die? Did this season draw more from Star Wars or The Bible? And wait, since when was this not the last season? As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Say "Good Morning!" because we are ready to "Make 'Em Laugh" while "Singin' in the Rain!" Okay, that was revoltingly corny, and we will not be doing any of those things - but Gene Kelly did! And we're here to celebrate by shoehorning in as many puns as possible.  In this episode, we celebrate the 70th birthday of "Singin' in the Rain," a movie that was virtually shutout from the Academy Awards and barely featured any original songs, yet somehow went on to be crowned the greatest movie musical ever by the American Film Institute. We explore the tyrannical directing style of Gene Kelly, the charming and captivating performances of Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, and try to figure out why there is a Broadway-themed medley in the middle of a movie about a cavalier. Plus, was "Make 'Em Laugh" ripped off from another movie? Did this film about lip syncing actually have lip syncing itself? Do we kind of feel bad for Lina Lamont now? As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Thank you, "Stranger Things," for bringing Kate Bush back! Or, at least, for introducing her music to a new audience. We celebrate the English icon's resurgence on the charts, thanks to the Netflix show's new season, and give some backstory on her extremely influential career (And if you want to avoid some minor spoilers, that segment runs from 23:46 - 34:55). We also discuss Mick Jagger's recent quotes about the comparisons drawn between him and Harry Styles, salute Nicole Kidman's AMC commercial reportedly winning a Pulitzer Prize, and take a victory lap for our "successful" pleas for Dolly Parton to finally get inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And, perhaps most importantly, we honor the life of one of the podcast's earliest heroes, Kane Tanaka. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Danny and Speedy are serving up an Old Soul Casserole, stuffed inside with recent stories and events that somehow relate to our niche. We discuss Pink Floyd's first song in three decades, the tragic passings of Gilbert Gottfried and Taylor Hawkins, and our admissions of adulation for Harry Styles. Plus, Danny plays a clip from his interview with director Judd Apatow about his new movie and book, which includes an old story about David Letterman and Buddy Hackett. We also breakdown the new sci-fi thriller "Everything Everywhere All At Once," and try way too hard to relate one of the most innovative, original movies in years to a previous decade. As always, If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Did you know there was once a streaker at the Oscars? In light of what happened between Will Smith's palm and Chris Rock's face, Danny and Speedy explore the catalogue of the most "awkward" moments in the history of the Academy Awards. Some of these instances were immediately ill-received, like David Letterman's infamous "Oprah...Uma" shtick and the internet-breaking reveal that "La La Land" had not, in fact, won Best Picture. Others have become more unfathomable and controversial in retrospect, with questionable decisions by stars like Adrien Brody, Clint Eastwood and Seth McFarlane. Ultimately, do any of these moments come close to what happened at this year's awards? Danny and Speedy try to decide. If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

Danny and Speedy take a trip back to the 1950s, when married couples couldn't share a bed on TV and apparently J. Edgar Hoover was a charitable sweetheart with his time. In preparation for the upcoming Academy Awards, they take a look at Aaron Sorkin's "Being the Ricardos," which depicts a week-in-the-making of one of the greatest television shows ever, "I Love Lucy." Topics include: the controversial hirings of Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, the most egregious historic alterations, and the quippiest quips of the Aaron Sorkin quips. Plus, they attempt not to "gaslight" each other. If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

We are back for 2022! Our first guest of the year is comedian Sara Schaefer ("Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Nikki & Sara Live"), who truly embodies the old soul spirit and lifestyle. She pitches us the benefits of tangible hobbies like crafting miniatures, and even delves into “extreme quilting.” Sara also discusses the highs and lows of being a stand-up comic, and fills us in on her biggest influences. We even bond over sharing the quintessential childhood experience of an old soul, where your best friends are really just older siblings and teachers. Plus, we ask Sara to take a Buzzfeed quiz that claims it can guess her age, based on her Internet habits. If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

75 years after George Bailey tried to lasso the moon, this Frank Capra staple has cemented itself on the Mount Rushmore of winter classics. To celebrate, Danny and Speedy honor one of their all-time favorites by diving into its fittingly underdog history (Did you know it was once in the public domain?), lovingly nitpicking unique aspects of the movie (i.e. "How do they have a retractable pool inside their small-town gymnasium?"), and evaluating how much this heartwarming tale qualifies as a Christmas movie. In addition, Danny shares his thoughts on the new Beatles documentary series, "Get Back," as one of the few people who actually watched all seven hours.  If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Comedy fans, get ready. Legendary late-night writer Brian Stack takes us behind the scenes of his nearly 25-year tenure working for Conan O'Brien and now Stephen Colbert. He provides us with his favorite celebrity moments, as well as origin stories for the iconic characters he has become famous for playing (including one from Danny's favorite sketch, "Frankenstein Wastes A Minute of Our Time"). He also brings us back to his early improv days, including memories with Chris Farley, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler. Plus, Brian is a kindred spirit with his taste in music, so we discuss the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony airing this weekend and make our picks for artists who need to be recognized next. Also, we talk about anxiety. If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Sebastian makes Danny's dreams come true, as he talks about his historic run with The Lovin' Spoonful during the 1960s and his solo career. He answers questions about the origins of their biggest hits, how he accidentally performed at Woodstock, and whether their name really had to do with drugs. Plus, John plays the game, "Were They Nice?" where we ask if certain celebrities were actually kind people - you know, the important stuff. John also tells us about his new album, "John Sebastian and Arlen Roth Explore the Spoonful Songbook," where he revisits many of the band's classics. If you have have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Emmy-nominated actor Jeremy Swift (8:50) discusses his scene-stealing role as Leslie Higgins on Ted Lasso, the breakout show that just won "Best Comedy" at the Emmy's. The beloved Brit gives us an inside look into making this football-based phenomenon (European football, that is), and details how he and his real-life wife came to be involved with the show. Plus, he tells us how he almost played Sam in "Lord of the Rings," his favorite British bands from the 1960s and 1970s and updates us on his own music career. If you have comments, questions, or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

ABBA has reunited for its first album in nearly 40 years, and we're saying, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" Thankfully, the curator of Sweden's ABBA-museum (that's a real place), Ingmarie Halling, was nice enough to join our show from Stockholm and help us celebrate. In fact, she actually toured with the band in the 1970s, and has öödles of stories about being on the road with Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid. We also discuss ABBA's new music and virtual "ABBAtar" performances, myths about the band, how Sweden apparently doesn't find ABBA as cool as America does, and famous misheard lyrics of their songs (our favorite pastime). If you have any comments, questions, ideas, celebrity impressions or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com.

We welcome comedian and "American Ninja Warrior" host Matt Iseman (11:00) to discuss topics such as: favorite stand-up comics, hosting "American Ninja Warrior" in a pandemic, covering the Olympics in Tokyo, comically-low moments during 2020, and the catchiest one-hit wonders from the 1970s. Naturally, the last one leads to a sing-a-long. On a serious note, Danny and Matt also take a moment to share their cancer journeys. If you any have comments, questions, ideas, celebrity impressions or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com   Also, one editor's note: The Steppenwolf single, "Sookie Sookie" is a cover of a song by Don Covay, which he co-wrote. This will all make sense in a second. 

As we remember the September 11 attacks on their 20th anniversary, Danny welcomes "Quartz" writer Scott Nover to discuss an album, by Wilco, that is surprisingly linked to them. The record was actually made prior to the tragic events, but, somehow, its lyrics, mood and artwork appear like they were created directly in response. Since emerging as the band's most acclaimed and popular LP, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" now represents a keyhole to a time when America needed artistic translation of a day that turned its "orbit around." 

Few bands have more legendary recording, touring and partying stories than what some consider the greatest rock group ever, the Rolling Stones. Now, imagine being the guy who served as the drummer across six decades, while also being the old soul who opted to stay in his hotel room and sketch in his diary instead of attending the most fabled festivities of music lore. Charlie Watts, who passed away at the age of 80 last week, was a unique pillar for Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, cementing himself as the backbone and resident adult for a group often plagued by its indulgence. Then again, he did once punch Jagger in the face (we'll get to that). Joining us to celebrate one of music's most iconic drummers is writer Stuart Berman, who has been a contributor for "Pitchfork" since 2006. If you any have comments, questions, ideas, celebrity impressions or personal misheard-lyric stories, you can send them to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

What are the words to that opera part of "Bohemian Rhapsody?" Did Manfred Mann really leave a female hygiene product rolled up in the middle of the night? Did Jimi Hendrix actually pardon you, so he could smooch a man? Danny and Speedy dig into some of the most famous commonly-misconstrued lyrics in music history, and, more importantly, they read their favorite  submissions from you. Got some of your own? Send your misheard lyrics to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com

Many know about Charles Manson and the horrible crimes his cult committed, but most aren't aware that a lot of his animosity stemmed from a failed music career. Well, it wasn't a total failure, since the Beach Boys actually used one of his songs. Danny and Speedy take a quick dive into the backstory of this notorious cult leader's Hollywood pursuits, and the famous people along the way whom he encountered. Plus, get ready for samples from the best and worst attempts by famous people to start a music career, including: Christopher Lee, Joe Pesci, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Pattinson, Audrey Hepburn, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, and, of course, William Shatner. 

From Jimi Hendrix to Adele to William Shatner, artists have covered Bob Dylan's extensive catalog for decades. And, for whatever reason, Danny and Speedy have been taking inventory of these renditions, like it was their Olympics. Which holds up the best? Which is the most surprisingly good? Can any of them be better than Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower?" Danny and Speedy seem to disagree on that one. The Old Phrase of the Day: Pang Wangle. You can send us your comments, feedback, topic ideas and celebrity impressions to IfYoureAnOldSoul@gmail.com or @DannyNewTV on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.