This week’s theme was Irresistible Dance Music. Dave & Steel were joined by Steel’s old friend Alice to talk about her love of ecstatic dance and play great dance tracks by Michael Jackson, Sly & the Family Stone, Bag Raiders, MGMT, Disclosure,

Theme Songs, Episode 16: Songs You’ve Listened to >1000 Times

Mar 22nd, 2018 32m 23s

This week’s theme was songs you’ve listened to >1000 times. Dave and Steel were joined by Steel’s sister Sarah and played beloved music by the Fruit Bats, Weezer, Sufjan Stevens, The Beatles, Martin Sexton, and Otis Redding.

Theme Songs, Episode 15: Hair

Mar 15th, 2018 32m 55s

This week’s theme was hair. Not only did Dave and Steel cover the greatest hair in Minnesota High School boy hockey and their profound appreciation for what Ricky Rubio and Elfrid Payton are doing to revolutionize basketball hair this year, but

Theme Songs, Episodes 14: Reading, Writing, & Arithmetic

Feb 14th, 2018 48m 44s

This week’s theme was “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic.” Dave and Steel were joined by their old friend Mark and played songs by Dan Baird, Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, RJD2, and The Ramones.

Theme Songs, Episode 13: ROBOTZ!!!

Jan 31st, 2018 31m 16s

This week’s theme was robots. Dave and Steel were joined by their old friend Spencer to play robot-related music by Rock Plaza Central, Dan Mangan, Grandaddy, Daft Punk, The Flaming Lips, and Andrew Thompson.Featured image by Steel’s co-worke

Theme Songs, Episode 12: Oceania

Jan 24th, 2018 29m 42s

This week’s theme was Oceania, meaning that the show focused on music by artists from Australia and New Zealand. This week Steel and Dave played songs by Tjupurru, AC/DC, Sarah Blasko, Flight of the Conchords, Sampa the Great, and Camp Cope.F

Theme Songs, Episode 11: Sea Shanties

Jan 2nd, 2018 44m 54s

Happy New Year! Our first episode of the year features sea shanties and is dedicated to the Aubrey-Maturin novels, which Steel read for the first time in 2017. Steel & Dave play classic naval themed songs from Stan Rogers, The Decemberists, Jac

Theme Songs, Episode 10: Songs to Clean Your House To

Dec 15th, 2017 38m 23s

This week Dave and Steel were joined by Dave’s sister Melissa to talk about music to clean your house to, with great tunes from LCD Soundsystem, Rufus Wainwright, James Brown, The Eagles, Radiohead, and Bomba Estéreo. You’re in for a couple of

Theme Songs, Episode 9: Kids Music You Don’t Hate

Dec 5th, 2017 32m 53s

This week’s theme was “kids music you don’t hate.” Every parent knows that there’s plenty of kids music out there that’s just plain dreadful. This episode is designed to help you find great music that you and your kids will both like. Our old f

Theme Songs, Episode 8: Strange Voices

Nov 8th, 2017 28m 54s

The theme of this week’s episode was “Strange Voices” meaning that we played music by beloved artists with unusual vocal stylings. This week’s show featured music by Victoria Williams, The Mountain Goats, Anonhi (formerly Antony of Antony & the

Theme Songs, Episode 7: Spooky Songs

Oct 28th, 2017 31m 51s

Ooooooooooh! This week Dave and Steel were joined by their old friend Jordan Faux for a special Halloween edition of Theme Songs. The theme for the week was “spooky songs,” and we played bonechilling tunes by Interpol, Mick Gordon, Napoleon XIV

Theme Songs, Episode 6: Codependency/Independence

Oct 24th, 2017 37m 51s

This week’s theme was Codependency/Independence. Steel’s sister-in-law Jennie Bastian joined the two hosts to discuss how we can prevent sexual assault and harassment and best support its victims, and then the trio played great tunes from Waxah

Theme Songs, Episode 5: Secretly Inappropriate

Sep 18th, 2017 37m 10s

Our theme this week: songs that, despite their popularity, were secretly (and sometimes) wildly inappropriate. Dave and Steel are joined by Steel’s old friend Katie and play shockers by Benny Mardones, Bob Seger, Lour Reed, The Police, Dave Mat

Theme Songs, Episode 4: Story Songs

Sep 18th, 2017 35m 52s

This week’s theme: “Story Songs,” featuring songs that tell a story and tell it well. This week Dave and Steel were joined by their old friend Alan and share miniature gems from The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, Cat Power, Jens Lekman, Bis

Theme Songs 3: Desert + Island = Desert Island

Sep 11th, 2017 23m 56s

This week’s theme was Desert + Island = Desert Island. Steel and Dave discuss and play desert music, island music, and pick their ‘desert island’ songs. The episode features music by U2, Steve Reich, Tinariwen, The Mantles, Israel Kamakawiwo’ol

Theme Songs, Episode 2: “That Wasn’t What I Was Expecting”

Sep 4th, 2017 35m 15s

This week’s theme was ‘That Wasn’t What I Was Expecting’ and we featured songs by bands whose musical sound doesn’t match their name. On this week’s episode Dave & Steel are joined by their old friend Spencer to play music from bands with misle

Theme Songs, Episode 1: Firsts!

Aug 28th, 2017 33m 52s

This week Dave and Steel present the first episode of their new podcast Theme Songs. This week the theme is “Firsts!” and they play groundbreaking music by Kono Michi, Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), Bill Haley & His Comets, Harry Belafonte, Bruce S

Episode 77: The Last One

Aug 4th, 2017 1h 15m

We’ve got some bittersweet news. The sweet part: Spencer and Jordan rejoined us for another terrific episode. The bitter part: it’s our last ever Off the Chain. This week, our old friends and frequent guests Spencer and Jordan come back for one

Episode 76: Physics Hair

Jul 6th, 2017 1h 2m

This week Dave and Steel are joined by Dave’s physicist friend Jason. Together the three of them discuss proton therapy, Jason’s top three physicists of all time, describe the new “Physics Hair” calendar they’re working on, answer Dave’s questi

Episode 75: Ken, Yakov, and an Ornamental Hermit Walk Into a Bar …

Jun 23rd, 2017 1h 10m

This week Dave and Steel are joined by Steel’s friend Sigrid. Together the three of them discuss transportation options for families with tons of kids, Dave and Sig’s shared loved of drawing and illustration, play a few rounds of Indie Band Nam

Episode 74: Lawyer Up

May 8th, 2017 1h 7m

This week Dave and Steel by Dave’s high-rent lawyer friend Grayson. Together the three of them discuss quick favorites from this year’s NBA playoffs, do a special legal-themed edition of Ask OTC, rank the on/off chainness of various categories

Episode 73: Mark Davis’ “Rube Do”

Apr 4th, 2017 1h 10m

This week Dave and Steel were joined by Jack Bangerter to talk about the best haircuts and best names of the year, share spring musical memories from 2007 and 1997 by Okkervil River, Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean, Ben Folds

Episode 72: Market This!

Mar 16th, 2017 1h 18m

This week Dave and Steel are joined by their old friend and marketing professional Alan Stoffer, who fills us in on top-level marketing strategies, what it’s like to live in Silicon Valley, the joys of having your garage rented out to a guy nam

Episode 71: We’re Baaaack!

Mar 3rd, 2017 1h 1m

It took Steel three weeks to get this episode edited (which explains all the Valentine’s Day references in early March) but we’re back! This week Dave and Steel make a new induction to the OTC Hall of Fame (congratulations public libraries!), g

Episode 69: 2016 in Review, part 2

Dec 23rd, 2016 54m 16s

Here’s the second part of our 2016 year in review podcast. Think of it as an early Christmas present from us to you! On this episode Jack Bangerter joins us to talk about the year in art, culture and food, and Aaron Peck comes to talk about all