I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats
Channel Details
I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats
Welcome to Night Vale creator Joseph Fink and the Mountain Goats singer/songwriter John Darnielle discuss what it means to be an artist, a fan, and, as many people are, both at once. Season Two explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With...
Recent Episodes
37 episodes
219: Hand of Death
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 ab...
218: In League with Dragons
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.
217: Maureen Johnson
Writer Maureen Johnson gets loopy with a very tired Joseph and John on today’s episode.
The Mountain Goats’* In League With Dragon...
216: Doc Gooden
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....
215: Passaic 1975
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...
214: Mal Blum
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 l...
213: Clemency for the Wizard King
Joseph and John talk writing, musicals, mythology, and Clemency for the Wizard King from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons. Fea...
212: Waylon Jennings Live!
John and Joseph are back in Brooklyn to discuss outlaw country, public figures in decline, and Waylon Jennings Live! from the Mountain Goats’ new albu...
211: Possum by Night
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 th...
210: Divided Sky Lane
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 o...
209: Anja Keister and Iris Explosion
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 abo...
208: Younger
In this episode, John and Joseph — with the help of a guitar, engineer Vincent Cacchione, and some prune hamentashen — walk through the evolution and...
207: An Antidote for Strychnine
This week, John and Joseph talk about their relationships to work, art, and family, our attraction to dark imagery, and what An Antidote for Strychnin...
206: PJ Vogt
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.
W...
205: Cadaver Sniffing Dog
This week, John Darnielle and Joseph Fink talk tea shops, guitar solos, expanding your musical vocabulary, and Cadaver Sniffing Dog from the Mountain...
204: Going Invisible 2
John Darnielle and Joseph Fink discuss growth through destruction, the value of creative constraints, and Going Invisible 2 from the Mountain Goats’ u...
203: Done Bleeding
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of addiction and self-harm.
On today’s episode, Joseph Fink and John Darnielle tal...
202: Sicilian Crest
For the first time ever, a single is being released simultaneously with an hour-long discussion of the making of the song. In our first full episode o...
201: Introduction
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 mea...
Season 2 Trailer
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 mea...
116: Steal Smoked Fish (Live)
Our next season won’t be out until sometime next spring, so to hold you over, here’s a recording of our first ever live show at Thalia Hall in Chicago...
115: Listener Questions and Kate Leth
In this post-season bonus episode, John and Joseph answer some of your questions, chat with artist Kate Leth, and talk about what the next season of I...
114: Absolute Lithops Effect
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...
113: Source Decay
John and Joseph are back in the basement to talk about treasuring the unknown. Emil Amos (Holy Sons) joins to discuss the heyday of indie rock and his...
112: Blues in Dallas
This week: Bible translations, conspiracy theories, and the power of silence. Robbie and Matte from Nana Grizol join to talk about their cover of “Blu...
111: Distant Stations
John and Joseph discuss radio signals in Texas, Chaucer, and the origin of the phrase “I only listen to the Mountain Goats.” Andrew Bird joins to talk...
110: Jeff Davis County Blues
“Jeff Davis County Blues” is a song with a particular meaning to Joseph's life. Julian Koster of The Music Tapes and The Orbiting Human Circus (of the...
109: The Mess Inside
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 a...
108: Riches and Wonders
John and Joseph are back at basement mattress headquarters to talk about their artistic influences and the meaning of home. Eliza Rickman and Jherek B...
107: Pink and Blue
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 Mo...
106: Balance
John and Joseph discuss artistic restraints, Silver Age Latin, and why theaters should stop producing Shakespeare. Dessa joins to talk about and premi...
105: Fault Lines
Craig Finn, lead singer of The Hold Steady and solo artist, joins to talk Catholicism, music stands, and KISS.
Buy Craig Finn’s co...
104: Jenny
Erin McKeown, incredible songwriter and former tourmate to both John and Joseph, joins to talk technique, showtunes, and how songwriting is like baseb...
103: Color in Your Cheeks
“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 her...
102: Fall of the Star High School Running Back
Subjects covered: Choosing what music to put in your body, mandatory minimum sentences, and what the desert does to artists. Plus Kym Register of Loam...
101: The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton
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 upco...
Season 1 Trailer
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 mea...