A Hopeless Endeavor: A Joanna Newsom Podcast

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A podcast in which we analyze Joanna Newsom songs, one song at a time.

Recent Episodes
  • 146. Joanna Newsom Jeopardy
    Oct 22, 2023 – 00:42:30
  • 145. Make Hay, Part 4
    Sep 30, 2023 – 00:52:28
  • 144. Make Hay, Part 3
    Sep 16, 2023 – 00:46:11
  • 143. Make Hay, Part 2
    Sep 10, 2023 – 00:41:39
  • 142. Make Hay, Part 1
    Sep 2, 2023 – 00:55:59
  • 141. Talking With Michael Hicks, Part 2
    Aug 20, 2023 – 01:03:44
  • 140. Talking With Michael Hicks, Part 1
    Aug 12, 2023 – 01:02:31
  • 139. Time, As a Symptom, Part 6
    Aug 5, 2023 – 00:53:12
  • 138. Time, As a Symptom, Part 5
    Jul 29, 2023 – 01:09:26
  • 137. Time As a Symptom, Part 4
    Jul 22, 2023 – 00:58:36
  • 136. Time, As a Symptom, Part 3
    Jul 15, 2023 – 00:46:27
  • 135. Time, As a Symptom, Part 2
    Jul 8, 2023 – 01:10:50
  • 134. Time, As a Symptom, Part 1
    Jul 1, 2023 – 00:58:40
  • 133. A Pin-Light Bent, Part 5
    Jun 24, 2023 – 00:54:39
  • 132. A Pin-Light Bent, Part 4
    Jun 17, 2023 – 00:40:32
  • 131. A Pin-Light Bent, Part 3
    Jun 10, 2023 – 00:40:01
  • 130. A Pin-Light Bent, Part 2
    Jun 3, 2023 – 00:56:13
  • 129. A Pin-Light Bent, Part 1
    May 27, 2023 – 00:59:56
  • 128. You Will Not Take My Heart Alive, Part 4
    May 20, 2023 – 00:43:22
  • 127. You Will Not Take My Heart Alive, Part 3
    May 13, 2023 – 00:54:31
  • 126. You Will Not Take My Heart Alive, Part 2
    May 6, 2023 – 00:39:08
  • 125. You Will Not Take My Heart Alive, Part 1
    Apr 29, 2023 – 01:03:28
  • 124. Same Old Man, Part 2
    Apr 15, 2023 – 00:46:46
  • 123. Same Old Man, Part 1
    Apr 8, 2023 – 00:51:25
  • 122. Freakout and Initial Impressions of The Air Again
    Apr 1, 2023 – 01:12:16
  • 121. Divers, Part 8
    Mar 25, 2023 – 01:02:29
  • 120. Divers, Part 7
    Mar 18, 2023 – 00:55:06
  • 119. Divers, Part 6
    Mar 11, 2023 – 00:51:11
  • 118. Divers, Part 5
    Mar 4, 2023 – 00:45:38
  • 117. Divers, Part 4
    Feb 25, 2023 – 00:58:24
  • 116. Divers, Part 3
    Feb 18, 2023 – 00:55:24
  • 115. Divers, Part 2
    Feb 11, 2023 – 01:05:46
  • 114. Divers, Part 1
    Feb 4, 2023 – 00:54:37
  • 113. The Things I Say, Part 4
    Jan 28, 2023 – 01:03:17
  • 112. The Things I Say, Part 3
    Jan 21, 2023 – 00:50:15
  • 111. The Things I Say, Part 2
    Jan 14, 2023 – 00:41:42
  • 110. The Things I Say, Part 1
    Jan 7, 2023 – 01:01:43
  • 109. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 8
    Dec 24, 2022 – 01:06:49
  • 108. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 7
    Dec 17, 2022 – 00:58:19
  • 107. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 6
    Dec 10, 2022 – 00:51:16
  • 106. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 5
    Dec 3, 2022 – 00:46:08
  • 105. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 4
    Nov 26, 2022 – 00:40:16
  • 104. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 3
    Nov 19, 2022 – 00:46:51
  • 103. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 2
    Nov 5, 2022 – 00:49:52
  • 102. Waltz of the 101st Lightborne, Part 1
    Oct 29, 2022 – 00:54:50
  • 101. Goose Eggs, Part 3
    Oct 22, 2022 – 00:48:40
  • 100. Goose Eggs, Part 2
    Oct 15, 2022 – 00:46:56
  • 99. Goose Eggs, Part 1
    Oct 8, 2022 – 00:57:59
  • 98. Leaving the City, Part 5
    Oct 1, 2022 – 01:09:50
  • 97. Leaving the City, Part 4
    Sep 24, 2022 – 00:56:09
Recent Reviews
  • Billium99
    Disappointing
    I wasn’t sure what expect and perhaps it improved over the hours and hours of content but I just can’t do it. It is two fans speculating, with very little scholarship on the meaning of Newsom song lyrics. Nothing wrong with some speculation but who are these hosts? Why do they have authority to discuss (with way too much vocal fry) these complex lyrics? “I feel like it could mean this” “Totally!” Eek. If you’re looking for superlative content about a superlative artist, this isn’t it, again, at least in the first few hours of content. It would be a lot of work to assess the full suite of episodes.
  • jillemon
    love it!
    I’m so happy to have found Joanna content in podcast form! I really appreciate the research and insight the hosts bring to these discussions. Love that each song is reviewed in several lengthy episodes. The only thing keeping me from giving 5 stars is the (lack of?) editing. There are a lot of pauses and ums and setup and “what was I going to say”, that imo, could be edited out for a better listening experience. Thank you for the great content, looking forward to each new episode!
  • Tommy Stein
    The best
    I have sleep issues and this is one of the few tools I’ve found that help me come down enough to sleep. It’s so amazing and such an interesting podcast. Just listen if you’re on the fence
  • Isa7592648572
    💗
    Nikki and Sam are so thoughtful and fun to listen to. It’s the best getting to listen to other people be this passionate about Joanna and her work.
  • Professor Underhill
    Essential for Joanna Newsom fans
    Excellent discussions of the deeper meanings of Newsom’s lyrics.
  • mae Rain
    I needed this !
    I’ve been a Joanna Newsom fan for so many years and I feel so seen every time I tune in to this podcast! hearing Nikki and Sam fully delve into all their theories rocks my world, I love it. thank y’all for making this podcast it’s a gift to JN fans who don’t have somebody to endlessly talk at abt Joanna’s music.
  • xisfoxis
    I fell for ya, honey, easy as falling asleep~~
    Yes, so easily in love with this podcast. And so much to say. I’ll just say: I adore it. Nikki and Sam are wonderful, and their enthusiasm and deep digging and laughter and breadth of love for Joanna and her music is incredible. Their openness to anyone and everyone’s insights is so inviting and dear and illuminating. Their humility in admitting that sometimes it’s hard to know what’s what is VERY refreshing and real. Listening while driving, cleaning, cooking, walking, etc…just feels like I’m in good company, whatever I’m doing. The amount of time and heart and energy they put into this is such a treat and gift and I feel so THANKFUL! To be in deep analysis & then crack some silly joke is my favorite approach & they do it so well. And it’s just so good to hear fellow fans gush 😭 As I feel I am constantly messaging them, again: thank you, THANK you.
  • AJM30931
    Iconic, interpretive, and entertaining
    Hearing two true friends tackle these topics brings me such joy. I hope JN community is having as much fun as I am harping around with these songs. I also bet Joanna herself is in a disguised account listening to these podcasts silently smiling!
  • RalphWaldoTecumseh
    The best
    Honestly where else will you find a 2hr 40min discussion of the elements of one album cover
  • maika326
    THANK U THIS IS AMAZING
    soooo so happy i found this podcast!! thank you! i love joanna sm ❤️❤️❤️❤️incredible podcast !!!!!!!!!
  • knock-kneed & upright
    wonderful!
    now when my friends tease me for only listening to joanna newsom i can say “no! i also listen to podcasts insightfully analyzing her music.”
  • Knigt
    Wonderful for a snowy walk through the park
    Thanks to these ladies to finally giving us the JNew content the people crave
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