This week, John and Joseph discuss an important point of real artistic disagreement between the two of them, cute animals, and Possum by Night from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.

Divided Sky Lane

Jul 18th, 2019 37m 51s

Today Joseph and John talk time signatures, why great songs don’t always make it onto great albums, and Divided Sky Lane, a song that didn’t end up on In League With Dragons. Featuring two versions of the song: the guitar version that was rele

Anja Keister and Iris Explosion

Jul 4th, 2019 51m 40s

Anja Keister and Iris Explosion, creators of burlesque shows based on both the Mountain Goats and Welcome to Night Vale, talk with Joseph and John about burlesque, art, and fandom.I Only Strip to the Mountain Goats 2 — a drag, music, go-go, a

An Antidote for Strychnine

Jun 6th, 2019 56m 12s

This week, John and Joseph talk about their relationships to work, art, and family, our attraction to dark imagery, and what An Antidote for Strychnine is really about. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song. The Mountain Goats’ new album, I

Going Invisible 2

Apr 25th, 2019 49m 39s

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink discuss growth through destruction, the value of creative constraints, and Going Invisible 2 from the Mountain Goats’ upcoming album, In League With Dragons, out April 26 on Merge Records. Featuring an exclusive d

Introduction

Apr 4th, 2019 10m 52s

A collaboration between Night Vale Presents, the Mountain Goats, and Merge Records, I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats is a podcast about what it means to be an artist, what it means to be a fan, and what it means to be, as many people are, bo

Absolute Lithops Effect

Apr 5th, 2018 52m 53s

John and Joseph talk about the final song on All Hail West Texas, endings, and what happens after the ending has ended. Carrie Elkin joins to discuss bringing kids on tour and her cover of “Absolute Lithops Effect.”Buy Carrie Elkin’s cover of

The Mess Inside

Jan 25th, 2018 51m 2s

John and Joseph discuss why simple songs have to be perfect and how our experience of a place will always be subjective. Amanda Palmer joins to talk about feeling compelled to finish books and recording her cover of "The Mess Inside" in an empt

Riches and Wonders

1 Jan 11th, 2018 49m 17s

John and Joseph are back at basement mattress headquarters to talk about their artistic influences and the meaning of home. Eliza Rickman and Jherek Bischoff join to talk about their cover of “Riches and Wonders.”Buy Eliza Rickman and Jherek

Pink and Blue

Dec 28th, 2017 41m 21s

This week, John and Joseph look up some stuff on the Mountain Goats wiki and then ease into a discussion of “Pink and Blue.” Kristine Leschper from Mothers joins to talk about their approach to covering the song.Buy Mothers’ cover of “Pink an

Jenny

Nov 9th, 2017 37m 22s

Erin McKeown, incredible songwriter and former tourmate to both John and Joseph, joins to talk technique, showtunes, and how songwriting is like baseball.Buy Erin McKeown’s cover of “Jenny” on iTunes, Bandcamp, or wherever you buy digital mus

Color in Your Cheeks

Oct 26th, 2017 44m 21s

“Color in Your Cheeks” is a song about immigration, refugees, and welcoming—the simple act of saying “You are not from here, but we’re glad you’re here now.” It seemed like a good year to talk about that. Featuring guests Eno Williams and Max G

Fall of the Star High School Running Back

Oct 12th, 2017 39m

Subjects covered: Choosing what music to put in your body, mandatory minimum sentences, and what the desert does to artists. Plus Kym Register of Loamlands joins to talk about the local Durham scene and how to tell diverse stories. Premiering a

The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton

Sep 28th, 2017 35m 28s

John Darnielle and Joseph Fink discuss the role in their lives of art, faith, and satan with John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars and the upcoming Turtles All The Way Down. And we learn why making the job of creating art more difficult

Hand of Death

Nov 21st, 2019 40m 58s

We’ve reached the end of the season, and we saved the first song written for this album for last. Today, John and Joseph have one more conversation about what it means to be a fan, an artist, and both at once — and talk about “Hand of Death,” w

In League with Dragons

Nov 7th, 2019 56m 28s

John and Joseph talk touring, books, and the title track from the Mountain Goats’ In League with Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song. The Mountain Goats’ In League With Dragons is out now on Merge Records. Get it at mergerecords.

Maureen Johnson

Oct 24th, 2019 48m 15s

Writer Maureen Johnson gets loopy with a very tired Joseph and John on today’s episode.The Mountain Goats’* In League With Dragons* is out now on Merge Records. Get it at mergerecords.com/in-league-with-dragons. For more information, go to io

Doc Gooden

Oct 10th, 2019 1h

On today’s episode, John and Joseph talk baseball, tragedy, and rhythm — and Doc Gooden from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.In League With Dragons is out now on Merge Records.

Passaic 1975

Sep 26th, 2019 55m 15s

This week, Mal Blum sticks around to talk Black Sabbath, touring, live albums, and Passaic 1975 from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.In League With Dragons is out now on Merge

Mal Blum

Sep 12th, 2019 59m 4s

Mal Blum joins John and Joseph to talk about making a living as an artist and their relationship with fans.Check out Mal Blum’s latest album, Pity Boy, here: https://lnk.to/Pityboy. And for more Mal, go to malblum.com.The Mountain Goats’ In

Clemency for the Wizard King

Aug 29th, 2019 49m 15s

Joseph and John talk writing, musicals, mythology, and Clemency for the Wizard King from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.In League With Dragons is out now on Merge Records. Get

Waylon Jennings Live!

Aug 15th, 2019 48m 55s

John and Joseph are back in Brooklyn to discuss outlaw country, public figures in decline, and Waylon Jennings Live! from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.In League With Dragons is

Younger

Jun 20th, 2019 53m 37s

In this episode, John and Joseph — with the help of a guitar, engineer Vincent Cacchione, and some prune hamentashen — walk through the evolution and production of Younger, from The Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons. Featuring a

PJ Vogt

May 23rd, 2019 47m 56s

On today’s episode, PJ Vogt of Reply All stops by the studio to talk with Joseph and John about story building and sword buying.We’ll be back with more song discussion and exclusive demos on our next episode. In the meantime, get the Mountain

Cadaver Sniffing Dog

May 9th, 2019 54m 57s

This week, John Darnielle and Joseph Fink talk tea shops, guitar solos, expanding your musical vocabulary, and Cadaver Sniffing Dog from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons, out now on Merge Records. Featuring an exclusive dem