The Well

LeVar Burton is an actor, producer, director, writer, podcaster, and education advocate. In this segment of WHATRYADOIN’, LeVar shares with us his thoughts on representation in fiction, his memories of his friend and fellow advocate Fred Rogers, and why the Holodeck will one day be realized. For more information about LeVar and everything he’s doing, check out his website here. Links to all the authors LeVar mentions in this segment: Octavia Butler Samuel R. Delaney Nnedi Okorafor – Her Binti Series can be found here. Ken Liu Lesley Nneka Arimah Cat Rambo Amal El-Mohtar Isaac Asimov – you can find his Foundation Trilogy here. Extra music for this episode was provided by The Twin Atlas under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-a-Like 3.0 United States License. You can find out more about them and their music at their official website.

In the wake of murder of George Floyd, and the national outcry that has followed, Branan and Anson discuss the importance of listening and taking accountability. Yes, this is two white guys trying, very clumsily, to talk about racial justice in our nation. We ask for your patience because this is, embarrassingly, a little new for us. The documentary about James Baldwin entitled “I Am Not Your Negro” is currently streaming on Netflix and Youtube. Here is the official trailer. You can stream the documentary series “Eyes On the Prize” for free on the Facing History & Ourselves website. It is also available on Youtube, with the first episode here. Nikole Hannah-Jones’ amazing “1619” podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and on Stitcher, as well as the WNYC website. The Pulitzer Prize winning “Uncivil” podcast featuring Wellpod guest Jack Hitt and Chenjerai Kumanyika can be found on all podcast platforms as well as the Gimlet Media website.

American author and journalist Jack Hitt returns for part 2 to speculate upon a post-corona world. Topics include how what we hoard says about us, how nature is enjoying a quiet respite from us noisy humans, what is an essential worker, the end of cruising and the return of outdoor theater.

Jack Hitt is an American author. He is a contributing editor to Harper’s, The New York Times Magazine, and This American Life. In this episode Jack sits down with Anson and Branan to look into their crystal balls and speculate upon what a post-corona world may look like, Jack suggests a John Prine song as our new national anthem and Branan is attacked by an animal on air! Mentioned in this episode:– A tale of a theatrical production gone horribly wrong, FIASCO!:https://www.thisamericanlife.org/510/fiasco-2013– The story of the remote island of Nauru’s involvement in the bankrupting of the Russian economy, global terrorism, and the late 1980s theatrical flop of a London musical based on the life of Leonardo da Vinci called Leonardo, A Portrait of Love. (30 minutes): No Island is an Islandhttps://www.thisamericanlife.org/253/the-middle-of-nowhere/act-one-0– Jack’s Peabody award-winning podcast, Uncivil: the time our divisions turned into a war, and bring you stories left out of the official history.https://gimletmedia.com/shows/uncivil

David Waddell is CEO and Chief Investment Strategist for Waddell & Associates. He also plays a mean guitar and has a knack for distilling the complex maze that is our national economy down to an easily digestible form. Which is a good thing given that Anson was a theater major and Branan studied “Fine Arts”. Dave also explains what he learned about the Chinese economy while spending a year living in Hong Kong, and how robots are now controlling a surprising amount of trade. Yes. Robots.

Jonathan Meiburg (from TWP004 and TWP005) returns as our first ever return guest. We check in with Jonathan who is staying very productive under lockdown producing two albums for his two bands SHEARWATER and LOMA while editing his first book about the evolution of his favorite South American raptor – the striated caracara. Among other topics discussed: The unsung role of the Antarctic in evolution, working with a legend in modern music, the comfort and nostalgia of a ring tone, and what Texas pastime he shares with George W. Bush. 

Actor Ryan Robbins tells us what it’s like to battle COVID-19 and why we need to take this seriously.

We’ve all probably heard one or two good country music stories. Well, Brad Paisley is about to raise the bar. For more information on Brad’s music, charities and everything else, check out his website. For more information on Lou Barlow’s music and adventures, make sure to check out his highly entertaining website.

In our new segment, we’re calling folks to see what they’re doing to stay creative during the coronavirus lockdown. Brad Paisley kicks us off by telling us about how his charitable, free grocery THE STORE was open only two days when the virus took hold in the US. Now he’s figuring out how to get the food TO the people who need it. You can find out more about Brad’s music and charitable work at his website.

Anson and Branan come to you straight from Anson’s Connecticut property where they are literally quarantined from one another. Join us for a deep dive into the history of pandemics and the mystery of viruses. You can find out more about Carl Zimmer and his book “A Planet of Viruses” here. You can see the preview for the film “The One I Love” (2014) here. It is available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon and many other platforms. Addition music for this episode provided by Greivous Angels under a Creative Commons Attribution No-Derivatives Non-commercial 3.0 US License. You can find out more about them at their website here, and the track “Home Sick Home” can be found here.

Branan opens class in the School of Hardcore with the help of author Michael Azerrad, and Anson shares his adventures in Vietnam. You can find Michael Azerrad’s book “Our Band Could Be Your Life” here. You can find Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven” here.

Anson shares stories from his trip to Portugal. Branan and Anson share what’s making them excited in the worlds of film, TV, books and podcasts. Anson pours some port and Branan tells the amazing story of “The Port Loophole”. NOTE: Listen and find out how you can become a co-producer of an upcoming episode (which involves helping him to not die on a deserted island).

What happens when reality doesn’t meet your expectations? Hilarity ensues. Always.

Michael and Anson go back a while, but it’s also been a minute since they’ve seen each other. Two friends analyze the odd truths that come with age; then Michael discusses his relationship to fear, and how meeting that fear head-on through music has led him to greater growth and happiness. You can find Left on Laurel’s first album “Saved By The Ground” on iTunes or by clicking here. You can also find their facebook page here.

Branan shares his adventures in Greece, he and Anson share what they’re reading and listening to this autumn season, and they catch up with Leon “The Martini Samurai” Ingulsrud. If you’d like to learn more about the Greek island of Delos, there are many resources on line including this article and the Delos museum website. Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s book BEHAVE helps us understand why and how we do the things we do. Buy it here. Take a look at this video of Dr. Sapolsky discussing his book on Book TV here. Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Malcolm Gladwell can be found here. You can buy Neal Stephenson’s Seveneves here, and you can also find it on audible. The Hmongumentary Podcast can be found here. Hmongumentary is a play on the word “Hmong” and the word “documentary.” The Hmong people have a history of resilience and adapting to the larger, dominant culture. But what does this evolution actually look like? What gets compromised and what is gained in the process? This podcast explores what it means to be part of the Hmong community whether you live in it or not; whether you’re Hmong or not. Hmong people do not have a country and are scattered across the globe so what’s keeping us together? Scott Carrier’s “Home of the Brave” podcast can be found here. DE STAAT – Torre Florim is the ambitious young man behind DE STAAT, bringing innovation and a much-needed sense of fun to the business of making popular music. This first video caught the world’s attention for the strong and creepy visuals and won many music video awards. Their next album featured the song PEP TALK, about breaking up. The music video for it is one of the most entertaining things I’ve ever seen and includes a sly inside joke referencing the WITCHDOCTOR video.

We did it! We have a title for our weird little, between-season installments. Thanks to Mee Chang and to Bogdan Orlic for helping us find it! Mentioned in this episode: Sebadoh’s official site can be found here. You can order “A Canticle for Lebowitz” here. And you can learn more about Walter M. Miller, Jr. here. You can order “The Animal Dialogues” here. You can find the podcast “S-Town” here.

Anson and Branan bring Season 2 to a close and tell you about everything that’s making the excited in the worlds of music, movies, anime and more. AND… they need your help with naming the episode. Listen to find out how you can become a creative member of the team!

Anson asks Branan to delve into his father’s mysterious past, a request which leads our hosts into a discussion about aging, the vagaries of the unconscious, and the incredible power of responsibility. Now call your dad. Episode links: Radiolab’s amazing episode “What’s Up, Doc?” Travel Light by Jason Shaw is provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license.

Many years ago, Anson saw a photograph on Jake’s wall. It was a young Mick Jagger sitting next to an eight year old boy. When Anson asked if the boy was Jake’s younger self, he only got a one word answer: “Yeah.” Fifteen years later, Jake finally shares the story of how that photograph came to be on his wall and the heartbreaking childhood surrounding it. “Treated Acoustic Guitar” is provided by Sleep You Resting Giant via a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. “Overdriven Melancholic Guitar” is provided by Monplaisir via a Creative Commons 1.0 Universal license. Some photos from Dominique Tarle’s book “Exile”.

Our species cannot comprehend the time and distances inherent in interstellar communication. But noone understands this conundrum better than astrobiologist Douglas Vakoch. A year and a half after our first interview we catch up with his METI project to find out what it is like to dedicate one’s life to the longest term project in the history of human endeavor. Episode Links: METI Georgina Torbet Sonar Calling – The organization that collaborated with METI to send music to a distant solar system. His Master’s Voice by Stanislav Lem Carl Sagan’s hysterical but brilliant description of Flatland.

Our species has always wondered if we are alone in the universe, Douglas Vakoch is an astro biologist beginning a multi-generational endeavor to finally answer this question. Episode links: METI Georgina Torbet Doritos commercial link

Branan tries to get to the bottom of the Synesthesia phenomenon with help from painter Melissa McCracken and neurologist Dr. Robert Algar. Their conclusion? Maybe we all have synesthesia!

Melissa McCracken is a painter living in a parallel dimension to ours: her synesthesia fills her world with colors and other atypical sensory experiences. She tries to explain what this world is like and in doing so reminds us all of the importance of communication, tolerance and patience. Please take a moment to review her work here: www.melissasmccracken.com

Rock legend Alice Cooper shares a surprising and touching story about one of the most interesting connections ever to come out of Hollywood: his friendship with Groucho Marx; and about how their respective work wasn’t all that different.

Most people know Alice Cooper as the original Shock Rocker and a foundational pillar in the house of Metal. But few know that his journey into sobriety involved replacing one addiction with a new and more healthy one: golf. At 71 years of age, having played more courses than almost anyone alive, Cooper still plays 6 days a week and once even considered going pro. Join Anson as he picks the decapitated brain of Alice Cooper.

THE WELL becomes the morning zoo as Doug Jones tells us a little more about his acting career without a mask and Branan tells a story about his first and last gig as a monster maker in Morocco! Plus, competitive sheep herding with David Lee Roth for some reason. Aaaaaahayaaaeah!!!

Actor Doug Jones talks about how it feels to be the muse for our culture’s most influential monster maker, Guillermo del Toro. Music in this week’s episode: The Cemetery by Sinqlogue provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license. Worky Worky by Andy G. Cohen provided via a Creative Commons 4.0 Attribution license. Tennessee Hayride by Jason Shaw provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license.

Doug Jones envisioned an acting career playing the wacky neighbor in sitcoms, but his career had other plans. In this episode Doug shares war stories from his life as a creature performer, including an incident where he accidently maimed fellow actor Randy Quaid. Music for this episode: Workdaze by Nctmm provided via a Creative Commons 4.0license. Piscoid by Andy G. Cohen provided via a Creative Commons license. Jenny’s Theme by Jason Shaw provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 license. Snappy by Jason Shaw provided via a Creative Commons 3.0 license. h

Anson and Branan share their own near-death stories.

Ethan was afraid to live his life until he almost lost it.

The first of four Star Trek episodes, Ethan Peck shares with us the story of auditioning for one of the most iconic characters in film and television history, and how he overcame his own misgivings. When the shoes look way too big, we think only of feet.

Anson and Branan each share a story about an awkward brush with fame.

What would you think if someone told you that you were about to meet your idol? How would you prepare? What would you wear? What would you say? Illeana shares a hilarious and heartwarming story about finding herself in exactly this situation when, one day, she realized she would be meeting Marlon Brando. And Branan shares a story about his own (rather embarrassing) brush with fame.

Illeana Douglas wasn’t always a movie star, but her life has always been strangely intertwined with the American cinema. In fact, long before she knew she wanted to act, her life was forever changed when her parents saw the 1969’s indie “Easy Rider” and decided it was time to become hippies. Join us as we hear Illeana explain how her conservative, Connecticut childhood was ruined, how her father drove goats around town in a station wagon, and how her life was set on a course of creativity that will leave you astounded, perhaps asking yourself if there really is a design to our lives.

Mac knew he wanted to be a children’s book author. But how does one go about that? Join us to find out how Mac carved his way through a conventional education in an unconventional way, studied life and art with literary giant David Foster Wallace, and managed to land his first book deal.

As a child, Mac desperately wanted to believe that there was a magical world in which anything was possible. Later, when he began working with children, he began to realize that world was real, and that he could help to shape it. Join us as we venture deep into the heart of The Chocolate Factory.

Branan shares a story of guilt and conscience from his own family history. And it’s a doozy. Extra music for this episode was provided by Jason Shaw under a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution license. To hear the track “Hoedown” go here.

In 2002, Xzibit was offered a role in a movie which he accepted. And then reality hit: he wasn’t an actor. Yet. Join us for this short, but entertaining story of how Alvin Joiner made the transition from rapping to acting.

When Alvin Joiner was sixteen, he lost his home, his family, and his direction in life. Eventually, after living a life of violence and anger, he decided to make a change. But his past would come back to haunt him in a strange but familiar voice, the one that had been implanted in him by his long deceased mother: his conscience.

Most writers will tell you that their most useful weapon is self-discipline. During our interview with Todd Komarnicki, he shared with us a useful insight into this concept. All that, and take a hike with Branan and Anson as they try to uncover the whereabouts of missing beavers!

Todd produced what has become one of the seminal Christmas movies of all time: “Elf”. Join us as Todd unveils the little-known cookies hidden inside his film that allude to many other holiday classics, and why Christmas movies have to power to make us laugh, cry and hug.

Writer/Producer Todd Komarnicki is a man of profound love and profound faith. Both have served his pursuits as an artist. Join Anson & Branan as they venture deep into a Christmas story that took them over a year to unearth: how Todd once lost his faith, and in-so-doing, almost lost his life. Happy holidays to one and all.

We’re back! Anson and Branan give an update about the upcoming Season 2 and Branan shares a story of gross bodily injury.

Anson and Branan recap the first season of The Well Podcast and talk about plans for season 2.  Also, Anson talks about filming “Star Trek: Discovery” and what it’s like to join the larger Star Trek family.  Oh… Anson Branan his a tree with his truck.  Enjoy, and don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list on our website.  We’ll be sending updates via newsletter.  Have a great summer! Music for this episode was provided by Little Glass Men under a Creative Commons Attribution license.  Tracks: Cloud Launching Simplify Open Door  

Playfulness is it at the heart of the creative process and it can take many surprising forms. Lou Barlow has been playing with his sound, his process and his ideas since he was a kid. In this episode of THE WELL we look at the importance of staying loose and indulging in play. Music from this episode in order of appearance: Up From the Well You Fell Down the Stairs Mr. Genius Eyes I Feel Good Inside About Me Pet Your Puppy Winslow Colix Jauntarah Ride a Hearse, Build a Throne Mary  

Lou Barlow is one of our generations most unique and prolific singer songwriters. In this episode he reflects upon his resistance to identity as a songwriter and performer. He shares what drives him as a writer and how it feels after 20 years to be playing with J Mascis in Dinosaur Jr again. To see the last known photo of Ray, the Day Kitty, go here. Music from this episode in order of appearance: Rise Below Slowly Lou Rap Cougar Hood That Kind of Year Don’t Call Me Writer WWJD Freed Pig Ballad of Day Kitty  

Lou Barlow’s creative output goes by many names, Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr., Folk Implosion, Sentridoh, and Loobiecore. Throughout his career he’s carved out a niche for himself as a the unofficial godfather of low-fi folk music and/or emo. For some he is the Bob Dylan of the alternative music scene; uninhibited, brutally honest, sensitive and a touch avant garde.  Our own Branan Edgens has been a big fan for over 25 years and is excited for you to join him on part 1 “A Partial History of Lou Barlow”.   Music from this episode in order of appearance: “Poledo” – Dinosaur Jr.  “Meaningless Dead End” – Sentridoh “Severed Lips” – Dinosaur Jr.  “My Own Religion/Ride the Darker Wave” – Sebadoh “Brand New Love” – Sebadoh “The Freed Pig” – Sebadoh “Sexual Confusion” – Sebadoh “Natural One” – The Folk Implosion “Free To Go” – The Folk Implosion “Caterpillar Girl” – Lou Barlow “Goin’ Down” – Dinosaur Jr.

Ward may have invented the pinscreen, but just because someone made something doesn’t someone else won’t be happy to take all the credit.  This is the story of an inventor and his imposter, and how one man had to fight off a swarm of people looking to profit off of his life’s work.  Enjoy. Additional music for this episode was provided by Podington Bear under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.  Tracks: Golden Hour, Pythagoras, Skeptic, Blue Highway. Music also provided by Krowne under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license.  Their track “Detective” can be found here.

Artist and inventor Ward Fleming invented one of the most famous and lucrative toys of the last fifty years.  But it was only one step in a personal research project that has spanned the majority of Ward’s life, with implications that extend deep into molecular activity and even deep into the heart of Jupiter.  Enjoy! Extra music for this episode was provided by Podington Bear under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.

We normally bring you stories of creative inspiration, but this week we have two stories of creative stupidity, courtesy of our own Branan Edgens. Co-host Anson Mount asks Branan to expound upon how his pursuits of genius rarely mix well with electricity. And then… THE SQUIRREL STORY!!! Additional music for this episode was provided by Jason Shaw under a Creative Commons Attribution license.  The track “Rocky Top” can be found here.