Longtime music fans, college friends, and children of the South, Chris Ayers and Will Schilling discuss the music of R.E.M. in a nonlinear order, featuring three songs per episode and special guests who bring their own stories about the band.
Our guest for this episoder is Julie Campbell, a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer based in Manchester, England who records under the name of LoneLady. A sense of place is all over this episode, whether it's the folksy southern gothic of Georgia, the working class city of Manchester, or the confines of your own head. Psychogeography is one the defining themes of LoneLady's work, particularly on her 2015 album "Hinterland." Julie brings the Document-era "King of Birds" to chat about, and we dig into its relationship to the creative process. Will wages war on himself with "World Leader Pretend," and Chris takes us back to the Civil War with "Swan Swan H," which really sounds like it could been written in 1860, but is, in fact modern. What noisy cats are we. Literally. (Chris would like to apologize for the intrusion of his cat multiple times on this episode).
Links:
REM - King of Birds (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASokyb7oqdM&list=RDASokyb7oqdM&start_radio=1)
REM - King of Birds (Tourfilm) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veadgtKc7IQ&list=RDveadgtKc7IQ&start_radio=1)
REM - World Leader Pretend (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGMejPNlcIo&list=RDaGMejPNlcIo&start_radio=1)
REM - World Leader Pretent (Tourfilm) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwS9_vqdHcQ&list=RDWwS9_vqdHcQ&start_radio=1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NSJbEeNSe0&list=RD_NSJbEeNSe0&start_radio=1 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NSJbEeNSe0&list=RD_NSJbEeNSe0&start_radio=1)
REM - Swan Swan H (Athens, GA: Inside Out)_ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_QG6tr9mjo&list=RD3_QG6tr9mjo&start_radio=1)
LoneLady: Groove It Out (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDUBvK4d1uc&list=RDFDUBvK4d1uc&start_radio=1)
LoneLady: Hinterland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W6w8fQauwg&list=RD6W6w8fQauwg&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
18 Sept 2025
So. Central Rain, Leave, Untitled
You may have seen our guest, Jonathan Spencer, in Pineapple Express, Shameless, Gilmore Girls, Mad Men, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia...or you may have seen him on stage as a standup comedian. But music was one of his earliest passions, and he continues to explore it with his band The Slightly Famous Somebodies. We're premiering their cover of R.E.M.'s "So. Central Rain" on this episode. Jonathan has long been a fixture of the Athens music scene, and has even played with Peter Buck. He shares a lot of fascinating Athens lore as we dig into one of R.E.M.'s earliest songs about loss and regret. Chris sees similar themes in a song released sixteen years later, "Leave," from New Adventures in Hi-Fi. And Will claims that "Untitled" from Green (hidden track?) may actually be his single favorite R.E.M. song.
Links:
So. Central Rain / R.E.M. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msWi0c4tHV8&list=RDmsWi0c4tHV8&start_radio=1)
So. Central Rain live on The Late Show (1983) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW62Q0TTgS0&list=RDdW62Q0TTgS0&start_radio=1)
Leave / R.E.M. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXj6_-UwkOU&list=RDtXj6_-UwkOU&start_radio=1)
Leave (Alternate Version) / R.E.M. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omMxZBGblho&list=RDomMxZBGblho&start_radio=1)
Untitled / R.E.M. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA2n60NoOwY&list=RDKA2n60NoOwY&start_radio=1)
R.E.M. / Drivin' n' Cryin' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6DBb26BPjk&list=RDQ6DBb26BPjk&start_radio=1)
Left of the Dial / The Replacements (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUmwzgFXfug&list=RDaUmwzgFXfug&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
4 Sept 2025
Episode 10: Nightswimming - You Are the Everything - Talk About the Passion
Novelist Megan Abbott often finds solace in darkness in her books, so it's no surprise that she would be inspired by the beautiful, murky waters of R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming." She reveals how the song was a working title for one of her earliest coming-of-age thrillers. We discuss the newfound vulnerability and earnestness that Michael Stipe was exploring in the Automatic For the People era. Chris finds a strong connection to Nightswimming with the thematically similar "You Are the Everything," while Will brings one of the band's earliest songs, "Talk About the Passion," which suggests R.E.M.'s political leanings were obvious from the start.
Late summer is the perfect time for a night swim...
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
21 Aug 2025
Pylon - Beep, Crazy, Feast on My Heart
Since 1979 Pylon has been a permanent fixture and major pillar of the Athens music scene, and their singular sound has influenced countless bands, including R.E.M. For an art school band that initially considered themselves to be "temporary rock," they've left a lasting legacy and transformed the very concept of alternative music. We are honored to welcome Pylon's lead vocalist Vanessa Briscoe Hay to the show to talk about the band's genesis, a time before the terms new wave and post-punk had even been coined, and her continued involvement with Pylon Reenactment Society. It's amazing to have this opportunity to talk to our favorite band's favorite band.
Links:
Pylon - Beep (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blaq4hdQUTY&list=RDblaq4hdQUTY&start_radio=1)
REM - Crazy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go9t68mQOl0&list=RDGo9t68mQOl0&start_radio=1)
Pylon - Crazy (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxQun7XXd5A&list=RDfxQun7XXd5A&start_radio=1)
Pylon - Feast on My Heart (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78wOtR05IYc&list=RD78wOtR05IYc&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
7 Aug 2025
1,000,000 - Stumble - What's the Frequency Kenneth?
We're getting goth and glam on this episode! We delve into some of R.E.M.'s earliest recordings with the 1982 EP Chronic Town. Will unearths the southern gothic post punk "graveyard duology" with songs 1,000,000 and Stumble, and we talk about some notable residents buried in Athens. Then a jump ahead to the 90's as the band undergoes a major image change and responds to grunge in their own unique way, with the lead single from Monster, "What's the Frequency Kenneth?"
R.E.M. "1,000,000" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATfB3D82VX4&list=RDATfB3D82VX4&start_radio=1)
R.E.M. "Stumble" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2iYVDpE4bI&list=RDz2iYVDpE4bI&start_radio=1)
R.E.M. "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWkMhCLkVOg&list=RDjWkMhCLkVOg&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
24 Jul 2025
Superman - Micky Dolenz covers REM - Love Is All Around
We let our geek flag fly in this episode, talking about our favorite fantastic foursome - R.E.M. Joining us are Bob Leeper and Russ Kazmierczak, contributors to Nerdvana.co. Bob is an conniseur of Superman in pop music, of which there are over 700 songs! We try to determine if R.E.M's cover of The Clique's track about the Man of Steel is top of the pops. Russ joins us to talk about Micky Donlenz (of Monkees fame) and his surprising EP of R.E.M. covers. Will and Chris then round it out with R.E.M.'s cover of "Love Is All Around" by The Troggs. It's all sunshine pop 60's nostalgia geekery on this episode!
Links:
Superman - R.E.M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxQS6lfn0yU&list=RDIxQS6lfn0yU&start_radio=1)
Superman - The Clique (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd26WfTZQ8o&list=RDCd26WfTZQ8o&start_radio=1)
The Monkees theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MADRPuAcKFA&list=RDMADRPuAcKFA&start_radio=1)
Micky Dolenz - Radio Free Europe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkLq3BqSZs8&list=RDKkLq3BqSZs8&start_radio=1)
Micky Dolenz - Shiny Happy People (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npxO2MIJ0m0&list=RDnpxO2MIJ0m0&start_radio=1)
Mickey Dolnez - Man on the Moon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlUyYi-t0IE&list=RDFlUyYi-t0IE&start_radio=1)
[Love is All Aroound (Unplugged) - R.E.M. ](love is all around r.e.m.)
I Can't Control Myself - The Troggs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50-ASt9s6TM&list=RD50-ASt9s6TM&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
10 Jul 2025
Fall on Me - Good Advices - Around the Sun
Long time music fans, children of the South, and college friends Chris Ayers and Will Schilling discuss the music of R.E.M.
Our guest for this episode is Robert Dean Lurie, author of the book Begin the Begin: REM's Early Years, an excellent in-depth exploration of REM's genesis and the Athens scene that nurtured so many amazing bands. Robert was a student at the University of Georgia in the early 90s and saw firsthand the excitement of living in a small town that was also the home to a superstar band. Robert tells of his connection to REM's "Fall On Me." Will brings "Good Advices" to compliment Robert's pick, and Chris closes it out with "Around the Sun."
Links:
Fall on Me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf6vCjtaV1k&list=RDlf6vCjtaV1k&start_radio=1)
Fall on Me (Unplugged) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z4d7zLXKkU&list=RD-Z4d7zLXKkU&start_radio=1)
Good Advices (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn3VB897aXw&list=RDSn3VB897aXw&start_radio=1)
Around the Sun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdUwyfRZeZ8&list=RDxdUwyfRZeZ8&start_radio=1)
Our theme music is composed by Jared Duran
Our podcast was named by Will Hodge
Artwork by Chris Ayers
Athens train trestle photo by Joab Jackson
26 Jun 2025
At My Most Beautiful, Endgame, Beat a Drum
Music fans Chris Ayers and Will Schilling discuss the music of R.E.M. and the influence of The Beach Boys, joined by Jon Wicker of The Digital Gramophone in an interview.
12 Jun 2025
The Lifting - Daysleeper - Time After Time (Annelise)
Hosts Chris Ayers and Will Schilling interview Annie Schilling about introducing R.E.M.'s music to a new generation, revealing surprising perspectives on how young people discover music.
29 May 2025
Strange Currencies, Half a World Away, Oh My Heart
Poet Jared Duran joins hosts Chris Ayers and Will Schilling to analyze R.E.M.'s "Strange Currencies" and discuss the band's influence on the TV show "The Bear" in this interview episode.
13 May 2025
It's the End of the World As We Know It - I'm Gonna DJ - Just a Touch
Music journalist Will Hodge joins hosts Chris Ayers and Will Schilling to analyze R.E.M.'s music, exploring personal connections and favorite albums in this interview episode.
12 May 2025
The Flowers of Guatemala and Belong
Hosts Chris Ayers and Will Schilling explore R.E.M.'s music, focusing on personal connections and favorite albums, offering insights into the band's cultural impact.
Who has been a guest on Podfellows Local 151
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Jon Wicker
Annie Schilling
Jared Duran
Will Hodge
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