This is “You Gotta Check This Out” With Mike Slater and Dre Alvarez. Each season, we take a deep dive into one of our nerdy obsessions - giving each one as much time as we see fit to get each other and you the listener up to speed with something we love.
Season 1 - Babylon 5 - TV series | free on YouTube
Season 2 - The Power Fantasy - Comic Series | free on Hoopla
Season 3 - Steely Dan - Music | Wherever you listen to music
New episodes release every other Sunday, with a minisode on the off-weeks. Articles on each episode available at https://mikeslater.com/
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Logo artwork by Michael Vincent Bramley.
See Michael's work or ask about commissions at https://mvbramley.art/
All music by Mike Slater
Show Website: www.mikeslater.com
Mike & Dre continue diving into the history and music of the band Steely Dan focusing on "Aja" and "Gaucho". This week's guest is drummer and music teacher Donovan Summers.In This Episode... we got a drummer expressly for the purpose of explaining to Dre the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time. Along the way, tons of talk about the smooth sounds ofd Aja and Gaucho. Hear all about Larry Carlton's unseen contributions to Aja, the insane working process that was Gaucho, and how both albums capped one of the greatest creative streaks in music history.RecommendationsDonovanFantagraphics 8-ball ComicsMad Max MoviesBlame! - Manga SeriesDreTed Lasso Season 4MikeTime to Burn NovelJoin us next Sunday where we talk to Donovan about the song "Home At Last" and a discussion on the Purdy Shuffle. We also present a performance of the song by Donovan and Mike.The following week, we'll be back with another full-length episode on steely dan with special guests Carl Broman and Ted Fraufelder. Join us as we cover the albums "Two Agains Nature" and "Everything Must Go".Chapters00:02 - Opening Monologue 09:03 - Walter Beckons25:00 - Any Major Dre Will Tell You33:22 - David Palmer Memory Quiz49:06 - Dirty WorkRead the show notes hereListen to the lost track from Gaucho, "The Second Arrangement".Mike On InstagramDre On InstagramDre On BlueskyLogo artwork by Michael Vincent BramleySee Michael's work or ask about commissions at https://mvbramley.art/All music by Mike SlaterListen to Mike's daily steely dan songs on instagram for #80daysofdan
11 Oct 2026
YGCTO - Episode 33b - Steely Dan The Fez with Ait Fetterolf
Welcome back to our season on the music of Steely Dan. Today, Mike and Ait perform "The Fez"This week's guest is Ait FetterolfIn This Minisode… recency bias from teaching Steely Dan, understanding tri-tone substitutions, Ait and Mike perform The Fez, I want to be your hoagie man, Ait is Thor, recreating a wah trumpet, scrubs, and a completely off-topic Star Wars / Matrix debate.“The Fez” starts at 10:05Join us next Sunday where we'll be back with another full-length episode on Steely Dan covering the next two Steely Dan albums "Aja" and "Gaucho" with Special Guest Donovan Summers.Read the show notes hereSee Mike and Ait perform a show with Rock Lab on YouTubeMike On InstagramDre On InstagramDre On BlueskyChapters0:18 - Mike’s Intro0:51 - Fez Talk10:05 - The Fez12:51 - Fez Lyrics20:14 - The Nyquist Rate and Overtones25:40 - Ait’s Family Road Trip Mixes29:22 - Recreating the wah trumpet30:59 - Scrubs Season 9 Talk34:18 - Mike’s Outro35:00 - Star Wars / Matrix Outtake4 Chords | Music Videos | The Axis Of AwesomeLogo artwork by Michael Vincent BramleySee Michael's work or ask about commissions at https://mvbramley.art/All music by Mike SlaterListen to Mike's daily steely dan songs on instagram for #80daysofdan
4 Oct 2026
Steely Dan - Katy Lied and The Royal Scam with Ait Fetterolf
Mike & Dre continue diving into the history and music of the band Steely Dan focusing on "Katy Lied" and "The Royal Scam".This week's guest is Ait FetterolfIn This Episode... Ait’s party trick, speeding up songs for radio play, Sim-ese, Dre questions the track selections on Decade, Ait turns the quiz back on the quizmaster, and lots of discussion on the songs of Katy Lied and The Royal Scam.RecommendationsAitMe, Myself & IreneDreRick Glassman Podcast with Dave FrancoMikeStrong Songs PodcastJoin us next Sunday where we talk to Ait about the song "The Fez" before a performance of the song.The following week, we'll be back with another full-length episode on steely dan with special guest Donovan Summers. Join us as we cover the albums "Aja" and "Gaucho".Chapters00:02 - Opening Monologue 22:16 - Walter Beckons25:46 - Any Major Dre Will Tell You33:53 - David Palmer Memory Quiz45:38 - Dirty WorkRead the show notes hereRick Moranis as Michael McDonaldMike On InstagramDre On InstagramDre On BlueskyLogo artwork by Michael Vincent BramleySee Michael's work or ask about commissions at https://mvbramley.art/All music by Mike SlaterListen to Mike's daily steely dan songs on instagram for #80daysofdan
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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