Why? The Podcast

Gary K Wolf has created a bevy of characters that are beloved by generations of film fans and readers. We got to talk with Gary about how you create an iconic character (easy, right?), his writing process and the one thing he wishes he did when his first Roger Rabbit book came out.For more information and to order copies of any of Gary's books, check out his website.Volleybird Subscription BoxesVolleybird.shop for curated pickleball subscription boxes delivered every 8 weeks

Satori Shakoor has had a fascinating life. From singing in Parliament, to being one of the Brides of Funkenstein, to her life as a mother and everything that has come after, Satori tells it all in her new concert film, "Confessions of a Menopausal Femme Fatale." It's a story only she can tell and she tells it wonderfully.You can stream the film on Amazon, AppleTV and Google Play. For more information, check out Satori's website.Volleybird Subscription BoxesVolleybird.shop for curated pickleball subscription boxes delivered every 8 weeks

What better way to learn about the early days of our country than with a drink in your hand? We talk with Marianne Rosato, creator and producer of the walks/crawls and Ben Franklin, who is one of the founding fathers you'll meet along the way.For more information on events and to find out when the next one will be held, make sure to check out the website for Revolutionary Crawls and Events.

You may not know the name, but you know his sound. From his work as a member of Lipps, Inc, to producing with Prince to bands like Fine Young Cannibals and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, David Z has created a sound that, literally, everyone has danced to. For more information on David and his fascinating career, check out his website.

What is a furry? Who can be a furry? Are you a furry and you just don't know it? Flint and Camille from Anthro New England tell us all about the movement and why you may be a furry and not even know it.Anthro New England is a yearly convention held in Boston, Massachusetts. Next year's convention is January 15th through the 18th. For more information, check out their website.

Catherine Coulson was an artist, in all senses of the word. Most people probably know her from her role as The Log Lady on David Lynch and Mark Frost's TV show, Twin Peaks. But that is just the beginning of Catherine's story.I Know Catherine, the Log Lady, is a fascinating look at a fascinating character and a study of reaching the end of your life with grace and love. The film is now playing at theaters across the country. For more information about screening dates and locations and to pre-order a copy of the film, check out the film's website.

This week, we talk with one of the members of Sex-O-Rama. (What's his real name? What's his band name... we find out!) The group was originally formed to create fake porn music for folks to enjoy and, shockingly, things got out of hand and now they're onto volume 5.Sex-O-Rama volume 5: Invaders from the Pleasure Planet is available wherever you get your music. For more information, check out their website.

They say those who don't learn the past are doomed to repeat it. What does that have to do with our guest? We're not really sure. Dr. Carol Queen, phd is the curator of the Antique Vibrator Museum, located inside the Good Vibrations store in San Francisco. (Other branches of the chain have some items on display too.) What is the history of the vibrator? Did it seriously involve steam power? Where do things go from here? Dr Queen has all the answers.To plan your visit to the Antique Vibrator Museum, check out their website.Travel Trends with Dan Christian #1 B2B Travel Podcast. Execs, Start-Ups, Major TrendsListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Ian Koblick has made a living exploring underwater and learning about how man can live there. From his building of habitats for NASA to turning one habitat into an undersea hotel, Ian has devoted his life to sharing his love of the ocean with everyone.For more information about Ian's work, you can check out the Marine Resources Development Foundation's website. And to learn more about Jules' Undersea Lodge and to book your stay, check out their website.

Exploitation films are always a fascinating study. And some of the most fascinating movies are nudist film. Mark Storey has writing a fascinating history of the naturist film in the book, Cinema au Naturel. Cinema au Naturel is available right now wherever you get your books.

Located in Cleveland, Ohio, the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft offers visitors a fascinating into the world of witchcraft and the history of the practice. Staffed and run by well educated folks, the museum offers both practitioners and non-practitioners a look into the history through objects and artifacts.We sat down with museum director Steven Intermill to learn more about the museum.For more information, you can find the museum online.

As promised, here is part two of our fascinating conversation with Grant Philipo, the founder of the Las Vegas Showgirl Museum. How fascinating? There was so much of it, we had to split it up into two episodes. Though, when you hear Grant's story, you will be aching to see his incredible work on display at the museum.For more information on the museum and to schedule your visit, check out their website.

Mr King is the creator of a fascinating podcast designed for you to not stay awake for the whole thing. Calling back baseball on the radio, The Northwoods Baseball Network is designed to help you fall asleep- no big hits, no exciting plays. It's a wonderful way to drift off to dreamland.You can find Northwoods Baseball wherever you get your podcasts or you can check out their website.

This week is a fascinating conversation with Gran Philipo, the founder of the Las Vegas Showgirl Museum. How fascinating? There was so much of it, we had to split it up into two episodes. (And we barely touch on the museum in the first part.) Though, when you hear Grant's story, you will be aching to see his incredible work on display at the museum.For more information on the museum and to schedule your visit, check out their website.

Isn't annoying when you see someone who parks so terribly, it makes life harder for everyone else? Well, there is a vigilante out there, placing insulting bumpers tickers on offending vehicles. He's called The Bumper Sticker Bandit and his stickers are now turning up all over the world.If you want to see some of his work, you can find him on TikTok and Instagram and you can order bumper stickers of your own directly from his website.Exploring Workplace Mental Health with Dr. Bill HowattLearn the why, what and how of fostering a mentally healthy workplace with Dr Bill Howatt

The Aqualillies are a unique performance group, combining classic water ballet with a much more modern choreography. From movies and TV to weddings and other parties, there is no better way to celebrate than pool-side with synchronized swimming.For more information, check out their website.

Gabriel Meyer has spent his life working towards encouraging peace between everyone. And in his new novel, On a Verge of a Verb, Meyer loosely adapts his own story into a tale of working for peace across the globe.Needless to say, it's a fascinating conversation when you get Gabriel talking about his experiences and what he's learned along the way. On the Verge of a Verb is available right now wherever you get your books. For information, check out his website.

For almost 30 years Paul Rappaport worked at Columbia records in the promotion department. That job led him to crossing paths with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd and many others. His new book (out April 1st) is called "Gliders Over Hollywood" and is available for pre-order.

In another lifetime, Dr Glenn Berger found himself working at A&R studios in New York, along such music legends as Paul Simon, James Brown, Phoebe Snow and Bob Fosse.In his memoir, Never Say No to a Rock Star, Glenn recounts some of the most memorable moments in a career filled with them, at a time when musicians ruled the earth.

JP Riley has had quite the life so far, and he's not even close to done. After making the hit independent film Act Naturally in 2011, he's back with the follow-up, Act Supernaturally. On top of writing, directing and producing, (he's also worked on Eddie Murphy's Axel F and the video for Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down") he also wrote the music with his band Nak'd Lion.Act Supernaturally is scheduled for release in the US on April 20th. (We'll share links when they're available.) And you can find Nak'd Lion's music wherever you get your music.

Refereeing any sport is hard, but boxing? You try keeping a level head and pay attention to the right things with the lights, the judges, the cameras, the crowd... oh, and two people hitting each other very hard.Jack has taken his experience and is helping prepare other referees to be ready to go when the bell rings. For more information on Jack and Sole Arbiter, his ref training school, check out his website.

Alex Therriault might have it all figured out. He's turned his love of animals and dog sledding into a successful business and racing career.Coming from a family of dog sledders, Alex still races and now offers tours and trips for people looking to learn more about these animals and the sport, or just to have a unique weekend in Maine.For more information, check out the Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience website or follow them on Instagram.

It's the only mud that's been used in major league baseball for almost 75 years- there's something about Lena Blackburne's Baseball Rubbing Mud. We talked with Jim Bintliff, the third-generation of his family to farm, harvest and supply rubbing mud for so many professional teams and sports. (The NFL also uses the mud too!)For more information, (and to order your own mud,) check out their website.Plus, has AI come for our jobs?

This week it's another installment in "Tribute: A Tribute to Tributes," where we discuss another tribute album. This time it's one of the most 90's tributes ever made- featuring Liz Phair, Sublime, Sponge, Matthew Sweet and the Butthole Surfers, "Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits."

Welcome to 2025. Please your wipe your feet. This week we thought we'd take a moment, sans guests, to discuss the pressing issues of the moment- namely, the new movie about Bob Dylan. And because we're us, there is a tangent or two, some beauty tips and references to the Titanic. Please enjoy.

When we started Why's sister podcast, Rock n' Roll Grad School, top of our dream list of guests was Redd Kross. We have been longtime fans of the band, and dreamed of discussing their work, along with that of Donny Osmond, Cheap Trick and the Velvet Underground with them. When it finally happened, it did not disappoint.The legendary band Redd Kross started in the early 80's when Steven McDonald was just 11 years old. Along with his big brother Jeff, Redd Kross has been carving their own unique path through rock music.They've just released their 10th album (a double album), a memoir (Now You're One of Us) and a documentary (Born Innocent). We talked with Jeff and Steven about all of this. And which rock drummer would make the best hair dresser.For more information on everything, check out the band's website.World of Work Experts on the People and Performance PodcastInterviews with experts and business leaders focused on ways to inspire employees.

It's our annual Christmas celebration, where we exchange gifts, complain and play music you probably haven't heard in a while. Enjoy!World of Work Experts on the People and Performance PodcastInterviews with experts and business leaders focused on ways to inspire employees.

Several years ago, Nick and Lins decided to chuck it all and do what made them happy. And that was traveling around the world, exploring all the places for nudists to go and experience life. They've parlayed that love of naturism into a job, with a popular website, Patreon and YouTube page. For more information, check out their website.World of Work Experts on the People and Performance PodcastInterviews with experts and business leaders focused on ways to inspire employees.

Movie Madness is a one-of-a-kind video store. Containing over 90,000 movies on a variety of formats, it is also the home to an amazing collection of film memorabilia. We talked with Matt Parnell, the the managing director and head curator for the store.For more information, check out their website.

This week, our guests are from across the pond. As members of British Naturism, Ed and Keith worked together to organize a naked night at the Dorset Museum. And the event was a rousing success with amazing press coverage. (Ed and Keith had just finished up talking with the New York Times when we spoke.) We talked about the organization of the event and the response.

Wait... the CDC has a museum? They sure do. And it's a fascinating collection of items that show the width and breadth of the work the Centers for Disease Control has been doing for almost a century. We talked with Mary Hilpertshauser, the CDC Museum Collections Manager, about some of the unique items in the museums collection. (And there's show and tell!)More more information and to plan your visit, check out the museum's website.

We're not the first people to point out that Johnathan Lee Iverson did what so many of us have considered doing, but it's really true. As the ringmaster at Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, Johnathan Lee Iverson learned his craft from some of the most talented people in the business. Now, as part of Circus Vargas Johnathan is helping the next generation see how it's done.For more information on Circus Vargas and to see Johnathan in person, check out their website.Mr. Pick Me & The ManhaterHosted by Chesko (Mr. Pick Me) and Regan (The Manhater). Join us as we laugh (so as...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

When you want to talk theme park entertainment, you want to talk with Dewey Joe Beene. Starting as a teenager at Six Flags in Oklahoma City, he took to the stage, performing multiple shows a day, and now as an adult, he's consulting and producing the show, bringing a performer's eye to making something that can enchant and entertain any age. 

What records define the '90s as a decade to be remembered? Is it NSync? Nirvana? What about hip-hop?Thankfully, music writer and editor Gary Graff is here to muddy the water and start all sorts of disagreements with his new book, "501 Essential Albums of the '90s: The Music Fan's Definitive Guide," available November 5th from Motorbooks. 

Last week, the great musician Matthew Sweet suffered a stroke while on tour. Thankfully he will recover, but it will be a long hard road. A GoFundMe has been started to help raise money to cover the insane cost of the work he will have to go through.We wanted to re-run out conversation with him because of his generosity with his time and his work. We are sure we didn't deserve it.If you have a few bucks, please kick in to help him on the road to recovery.

If you've seen Coho Connie's videos, you'll remember them. Between her great goaltending, she keeps things interesting with a one-of-a-kind running commentary that really has to be seen to be believed. (To say nothing of the crow she sometimes wears on her head.)You can follow Connie on Instagram where she is @CohoConnie. And if you check out our YouTube page, we have a bonus video where Connie shows off her brand new helmet.

Actor and filmmaker Mark Finnell has had a fascinating career. We had the opportunity to talk with Mark prior to the screening of his documentary about Detroit performance artists Satori Circus screening at the Beaver Island Film Festival.

What can we say about the great DJ Lance Rock? He's great. From his work on Yo! Gabba Gabba! To his work behind the turntables, Lance is wonderful. And we had a great conversation with him about all the joys of music.

Best-selling writer Pete Thron knows of what he speaks. As a police officer in New York city, he wracked up over 100 solo arrests. Now, he's back with his latest #1 best seller. In Deep Cover, Pete tells the riveting story of two rival motorcycle clubs and the battle between good and bad. Deep Cover is now available on Amazon. For more information, you can follow Pete on Facebook.

Gary Grimshaw was a concert poster artist (among other things) and is perhaps best known for his work promoting shows at Detroit's legendary Grande Ballroom. We sat down with his widow, Laura, to talk about his art and the unforgettable music.

If you're like us, you need more Cheap Trick in your life. Thankfully, Ross Warner is here with his new book, American Standard: Cheap Trick from the bars to the Budokan and Beyond. It's a look at one of the great American bands and tries to sort fact from fiction. Ross is a passionate guy when it comes to pop culture, so, of course, we got along like a house on fire.American Standard: Cheap Trick from the bars to the Budokan and Beyond is available right now from Backbeat books.

We say we're not a political podcast. And we're not. But, this time of year, let's be honest, it's something a lot of people are talking about. And for those in South Carolina who are interested in the candidates and the issues, they have a new podcast to help guide the way. Frogmore Stew with Grace Cowan talks with the candidates and covers the issues in a way to help us see where we're going- by looking to where we come from.You can find Frogmore Stew wherever you get your podcasts. For more information, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.

Here we go again, starting a new music show to go along with all our other shows. "Tribute- A Tribute to Tributes" is a study, analysis and celebration of the tribute record. From Leonard Cohen to Victoria Williams to Big Star to Frank Sinatra- we'll look at them all. Each episode, we'll break down and talk through another tribute record and decide whether it's worth listening (or re-listening) to. Here's our first episode, all about the Carpenters tribute record, "If I Were A Carpenter."Grumble GoatThe world can be hilariously annoying! Let's Grumble about life's little pet peeves!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

First off, there is no place really like the Sunsphere. Built for the World's Fair, the sphere is a unique landmark with loads to see.And, it's just going to get better and better. For more information (and tickets) check out the Sunsphere's website. Or you can follow them on Facebook.Hey, let's all go to the Sunsphere!

Beaver Island is one of the most beautiful places in the US, with fascinating stories to boot.This year, the island is kicking off their inaugural film festival. We sat down with reluctant executive producer (and film festival producer) John Sauve to discuss a few of the films playing at the festival.

For music fans, the legend of the Grande Ballroom looms large. The room played host to important shows by band such as The MC5, The Who, Iggy and the Stooges and BB King. While it's not longer a music venue, the room is an iconic part of the history of Detroit music. We talked with Tony D'Annunzio, director of the documentary, Louder Then Love: The Grande Ballroom Story, which is screening as part of the Beaver Island Film Festival, September 21st, 2024.For more information on the film, check out the movie's website. And for more information about the Beaver Island Film Festival, check out their page on Facebook.

We've talked with Lisa St Lou before and had a blast doing so. Her newest album, "Oh Dang," is out September 9th. But if that wasn't enough reason to reconnect with Lisa, she also has wonderful Instagram series called Naked French that was too good an opportunity to let pass by without discussing.You can find Naked French on Instagram @torandlisa, and you can follow Lisa on Facebook for more information about the record, live shows and so much more. Oh dang!

Every cat needs a good home. And what better way to remind people of this fact than by showing off some of their amazing talents?The Rock Cats Rescue and the Amazing Acro-Cat are on the road, showing audiences all across the US the amazing, fascinating and, let's be honest, sometimes a little difficult world of cats. Samantha Martin has been training and exhibiting the talents of these amazing cats for almost 20 years.They're scheduled to bring the show to Arlington, Massachusetts in August, but there are many other dates and cities on the tour itinerary.For more information (and to adopt an amazing cat of your own) check out their website, or follow them on Facebook.

You've likely seen the story in the news and wanted to learn more- a group of dedicated cat lovers in Minneapolis have been gathering every year since 2017 to walk around the their neighborhood and look at cats. That's it. Just look at cats. We talked with John Edwards from Wedge LIVE! about how he created the tour and just why he does it.What It's Like To Be...What's it like to be a Cattle Rancher? FBI Special Agent? Professional Santa? Find out!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Sometimes the best short films leave you thinking and pondering long after the film is over. Mark Strauss' film The Funeral Photographer does all of that in more. The film is showing as part of the Beaver Island Film Festival, but can also be streamed right now.Your Most Interesting StoryEveryone has at least one fascinating story. We help them tell it. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Season two of our other podcast Final Last Words is now out there. Who do we have on the docket? Well, a few weeks ago, we gave a sneak preview with the Wilson Mizner story and this week, we tell the story of Lavina Fisher. Check it out!