

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
Pushkin Industries
Music and storytelling meet on Broken Record, where artists across genres and generations sit down to explore the joy, chaos, and vulnerability of creating—and what it means to devote a life to music. From legendary icons to groundbreaking new voices, each episode captures artists in conversation sharing the inspirations and experiences that shape their craft.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 1, 2020 • 45min
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile came by Shangri La last year to talk to Rick Rubin with Tanya Tucker about the album they made together, While I'm Livin'. After Tanya left, Brandi stayed behind to talk about her love of Joni Mitchell's music, how she was present for a star studded jam that led to Joni singing for the first time since her stroke, and also about the beginning of her career, when Rick helped to discover her. Plus, Brandi plays an intimate version of her song "The Mother" for Rick.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 25, 2020 • 38min
Justin Townes Earle: In Memoriam
Our episode with Justin Townes Earle was scheduled to run next month. But after we heard about Earle's passing over the weekend, we decided to put it out sooner. It's a deeply sad conversation in some places. Especially given his passing. However, it's also incredibly soulful, funny and searching. And the performances, culled from Earle's last release, The Saint of Lost Causes, are brilliant. Bruce Headlam takes the reigns this episode for what's turned out to be a fitting tribute to one of the great, dynamic young performers and songwriters that's now gone way too soon. Rest in peace, Justin Townes Earle [1982-2020].Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 18, 2020 • 36min
Vagabon: Fresh Find
This week’s Fresh Find, Vagabon, is a self taught, Cameroonian-born musician whose haunting voice and genre defying style has won over critics at both The New Yorker and Pitchfork. In this episode she talks about emigrating from West Africa to Harlem as a teenager, sneaking out of her parent’s house to play D.I.Y. punk shows in Brooklyn, and how bouts of writer’s block can cause her to dream of writing code instead of new music. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 28, 2020 • 1h 35min
Run The Jewels Return!
***Run the Jewels are raw and so is the language in this episode***Killer Mike and El-P return to Broken Record to discuss the creation of their fourth album, RTJ4, and the tumultuous world it was released into. Rick Rubin, who was present during some of the album's recording sessions at Shangri La, digs into the record's production and themes with the duo, calling the message and tone of the album "almost prophetic." They also discuss working with Pharrell and Zack de la Rocha and why they had to make a major change to a song after the album was already mastered.You can hear an extended cut of today's episode by subscribing to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcast. We'll be off the next two weeks but will be posting two interviews to our YouTube channel while away.You can also head to our website to checkout past episodes and dig into our artist playlists: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 21, 2020 • 34min
Berhana: Fresh Find
Broken Record is bringing you a Fresh Find this week. We discovered Berhana after a key placement in Donald Glover’s show Atlanta. In this episode, Berhana talks about growing up in the real Atlanta, being first generation American born to Ethiopian parents, recording his newest album in Tokyo and how he started earning enough on music to make a living before he ever played a show.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 14, 2020 • 56min
Margo Price
A tornado raged through Margo Price's home-base of Nashville right as she was preparing to release her third album in March. A month later Margo’s husband and longtime collaborator, Jeremy Ivey, tested positive for coronavirus. While taking care of her sick husband and two young kids, Margo decided to push back the release of her new album. Now, "That's How Rumors Get Started" is finally out. Margo's written her way through personal devastation before and does so on the new album too. Although it also owes a debt to the more care-free music the Stones, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac. Margo tells Bruce Headlam, in this episode, about how playing an open mic at a Best Western hotel made her a better songwriter, she also talks about hocking her wedding ring to record her first album, and how spending a weekend in jail was all the inspiration she needed to re-focus her career. Then we check in with her uncle, Nashville songwriter, Bobby Fischer.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 9, 2020 • 2h 25min
Broken Record Presents: Questlove Supreme with Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin joins Questlove and crew on their Questlove Supreme podcast. They discuss Rick's early Def Jam days, working with the Geto Boys, his process for taking on production work and so much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jul 2, 2020 • 45min
Broken Record Presents: Aim Higher
Broken Record Presents: Aim Higher — the last episode of Against the Rules Season 2.Can everyone be coached — or are some people beyond help?The transformative power of coaching is put to the test as Michael enlists a coach to help him tackle his greatest fear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 30, 2020 • 54min
Huey Lewis
Back to the Future is turning 35 and there's no better way to celebrate than a conversation with Huey Lewis who turned in one of the more memorable movie themes of all time: "The Power of Love." The song was a sensation when it was released, propelling Huey Lewis and the News further than even their hit album Sports had. Bruce Headlam talks to Huey Lewis about how this song came together and mines form him some wild stories about his family, upbringing and success.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 23, 2020 • 1h 2min
Beastie Boys and Spike Jonze
It's been nearly 35 years since the Beastie Boys released their classic debut album, Licensed To Ill. In this candid conversation, Rick Rubin, who started out as the Beastie's DJ, reconnects with Mike D and Ad-Rock. Spike Jonze, who directed the new Beastie Boys documentary, Beastie Boys Story, also sits in and plays moderator. It's been nearly 20 years since Ad-Rock and Rick have talked and like old friends, they jump right into a slew of inside jokes and hilarious memories of their lives leading up to the release of Licensed to Ill.Subscribe to Broken Record's YouTube channel to hear old and new interviews, often with bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/brokenrecordpodcastYou can also check out past episodes here: https://brokenrecordpodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


