Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Bullseye from NPR is your curated guide to culture. Jesse Thorn hosts in-depth interviews with brilliant creators, culture picks from our favorite critics and irreverent original comedy. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world." (Formerly known as The Sound of Young America.)

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This isn't our actual webpage!! If you'd like to learn more about the show, please visit us at maximumfun.org. For regular updates, visit The Sound of Young America Blog.

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Syndication

Vaudeville 12-31-05

Guest Trav S.D. This week we put on a show! Trav S.D. is the author of "No Applause: Just Throw Money," about the history of Vaudeville in America. We also hear from Hard n Phirm, Aziz Ansari, Dragon Boy Suede, Skillz, and more.

Direct download: tsoya123105.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:00pm EDT

Guests John Waters, Christopher Moore, Davy Rothbart, and more. It's our annual Holiday Special, which we made last year and plan to play annually. Merry Christmas!

Direct download: tsoya122405.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:49am EDT

Guests Alex Blagg and Jarrett Krosoczka. With help from Alex Blagg of The Blagg Blogg and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of "Punk Farm," we choose winners of the New Sincerity Holiday Activity Contest.

Direct download: newsincerityholiday.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:13pm EDT

Guest Chris Elliott. On this week's show, we sit down with Chris Elliott, the comedian who has retained his bizarre sensibility through a variety of media the past 25 years. Also, a vintage audio put-on by Coyle & Sharpe and Hang It Up / Keep It Up.

Direct download: tsoya121705.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Brendon Small (Bonus Interview)

Guest Brendon Small. Brendon Small is the creator of Home Movies, but he's also an accomplished guitarist. In this bonus interview, you can hear Brendon talking about his new show "Dethclok," due in the Spring. The show concerns the world's most popular death metal band.

Direct download: tsoyabrendonsmall.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:42am EDT

Fawlty Towers Revisited (Bonus Interview)

Guest Lars Holm. Lars Holm is the author of "Fawlty Towers: The Worshipper's Companion." We talk about the show, in recoginition of the PBS TV special "Fawlty Towers Revisited," which is running on local PBS stations this week. Also... a contest to win two copies of the book.

Direct download: tsoyafawltytowers.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:40am EDT

The Movies 12-10-05

Guests Brendon Small, Mark & Michael Polish, and Peter Molyneux. Brendon Small is the creator of the Cartoon Network [adult swim] series Home Movies. Mark & Michael Polish are the directors of several films, including Twin Falls Idaho; they're also the authors of "The Declaration of Independent Filmmaking," a book about how to make an independent film. Peter Molyneux is the designer of the computer game "The Movies," which allows users to create films in-game. He's also designed quite a number of groundbreaking games, like "Populous" and "Black & White."

Direct download: tsoya12105.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:02pm EDT

Canada, et al.  12-3-05

Guests Eugene Mirman, Kyle MacDonald, and Brandon Bird. Eugene Mirman is one of New York's top alternative comics. He not long ago released his first CD, "The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman." Brandon Bird is a painter, whose work has been celebrated across the country. It often features fringe celebrities and historical figures engaged in fantastical activities. Kyle MacDonald write the blog "One Red Paperclip." He's been trying to trade up, little by little, from a red paperclip to a house.

Direct download: tsoya120305.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:16pm EDT

Comics and Comics Three 11-26-05

Guests Sarah Silverman, Brad Meltzer, Kasper Hauser. We return to our nerdiest theme. Sarah Silverman is the hottest comedian in the country as her film "Jesus is Magic" hits theaters. Brad Meltzer is a best-selling novelist, and the author of the controversial DC Comics graphic novel "Identity Crisis." The Kasper Hauser Skit Club are San Francisco's favorite sketch comedy group... they perform a sketch and read some of their fake Craigslist postings.

Direct download: tsoya112605.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:24pm EDT

Belushi! 11-19-05

Guests Judith Belushi Pisano and Tanner Colby. John Belushi was one of the great comics of the late 20th century. Belushi Pisano and Colby are the editors of the new book Belushi, an oral history of his life and times. The show also features clips from the National Lampoon Radio Hour which feature Belushi. Oh! And be sure to visit maximumfun.org for a neat web-only bonus mp3.

Direct download: tsoya111905.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:39pm EDT

The Best Show 11-12-05

Guest Tom Scharpling. This week's show is given over to our pal Tom Scharpling, host of the cult radio program "The Best Show on WFMU." We hear two tracks from Tom's new CD with partner-in-joke Jon Wurster, recorded live on The Best Show. The program features comics calling in with assumed personae, being interviewed by the unflappable Scharpling.

Direct download: tsoya111205.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

A little message with some info on how you can use your status as a Sound of Young America listener to win a copy of the new Onion compilation, a DVD of "Martin & Orloff," or even a DVD set of Arrested Development season two.

Direct download: specialupdate.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:03pm EDT

On the Road 11-5-05

Guests Henry Rollins and John Hodgman. Henry Rollins' 25 years on the road with Black Flag and The Rollins Band have left him really, really awesome. Also, John Hodgman, This American Life and McSweeney's contributor, talks about his new book, The Areas of My Expertise, and about hobos.

Direct download: tsoya110505.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:02pm EDT

Comics and Comix Part Two 10-29-05

Guests Harvey Pekar and Andy Kindler. Andy Kindler is a standup comic best known for eviscerating the comedy industry in his annual "State of the Industry Address" at Montreal's Just For Laughs festival. He's appeared numerous times on Letterman, and was a featured player on Everybody Loves Raymond. Harvey Pekar is the author of the celebrated comic series "American Splendor," which was made into a film starring Paul Giammatti. He recently published a comic memoir entitled "The Quitter."

Direct download: tsoya102905.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:23pm EDT

Comics and Comix 10-22-05

Guests Matt Walsh, Art Spiegelman, and Chris Elliott. Matt Walsh is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, and has appeared in numerous films. He talks with us about "Martin and Orloff," a film he starred in and co-wrote. Art Spiegelman is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Maus, among other books and comics. Spiegelman talks with us about his newest book, "In the Shadow of No Towers." Chris Elliott is a comedy hero for his work on the David Letterman show, as well as on his anti-sitcom "Get A Life," and the film "Cabin Boy." He's written a comic mystery novel, "The Shroud of the Thwacker."

Direct download: tsoya102205.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:01pm EDT

Dream Boogie 10-15-05

Guest Peter Guralnick on Sam Cooke. Sam Cooke is perhaps the most important figure in 20th century American pop music who isn't a household name. Cooke has been described as the man who invented soul. Peter Guralnick is his biographer, as well as the author of the definitive, two-volume biography of Elvis Presley among other texts.

Direct download: tsoya101505.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:11pm EDT

Perceived Slights 10-8-05

Guests Robert Weide and Bruce Bridgeman. Bruce Bridgeman is a professor at UC Santa Cruz, and recently published a paper on legenday Santa Cruz tourist attraction The Mystery Spot. Robert Weide is the executive producer of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Larry David. Also, we play some improvised Van Morrison recordings that are so bizarre, they must be heard to be believed.

Direct download: tsoya100805.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:27pm EDT

The Power of Love - 10-1-05

Guests Dan Savage and Neil Strauss. A pair of heterogenous perspectives on relationships. Dan Savage, the sex columnist, talks about his new book "The Commitment," about gay marriage. Neil Strauss, former New York Times music critic, talks about his book, "The Game: Penetrating the Secret Societ of Pickup Artists."

Direct download: tsoya100105.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:25pm EDT

The Gift of Gab 9-24-05

Guests Blackalicious and David Rakoff. David Rakoff's humorous essays enliven PRI's This American Life; his new collection is "Don't Get Too Comfortable." The hip-hop duo Blackalicious having been holding down the California alternative hip-hop scene for more than ten years. Their new album is "The Craft."

Direct download: tsoya092405.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:08pm EDT

International Waters - 9-17-05

Guests Dick Blasucci and Talk Like a Pirate. This week, we travel to international waters... or at least Canada. We talk with Dick Blasucci, head writer of SCTV, the seminal sketch comedy show, and executive producer of Mad TV. Also, we chat with the creators of International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Direct download: tsoya091705.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:08pm EDT

Classic Material - 9-10-05

Guests Chris Hardwick and Patton Oswalt. We take a trip back in time for a classic episode of The Sound. Patton Oswalt isn't just a co-star on The King of Queens. He's also one of America's best comics. Chris Hardwick is no slouch in that department, either -- though you may know him as the host of MTV's "Singled Out."

Direct download: tsoya091205.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:40pm EDT

Life Changes 9-3-05

Guests Matt Besser and Rodney Rothman. Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade talks about their new sieries on Bravo, "Asssscat Improv." Rodney Rothman, former Late Show with David Letterman head writer, talks about his memoir "Early Bird." He retired to Florida at age 28. Also, music from New Orleans music legends. Please visit the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org , and make a donation for disaster relief.

Direct download: tsoya090305.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:50pm EDT

Jesse and Matt Besser of the Upright Citizens Brigade judge the results of a New Sincerity Contest. This time around, it's all about showing someone that you love them, New Sincerity style. Three good people win copies of "Created in Darkness By Troubled Americans," the McSweeney's humor anthology.

Direct download: newsinceritycompliments.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:06pm EDT

People Helping People 8-27-05

Guest Bob Edwards. We talk with Bob Edwards, long-time host of NPR's Morning Edition, and now host of the Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio. Also, we help a listener impress his girlfriend, and Jesse's little brother tells a joke.

Direct download: tsoya082705.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:24pm EDT

Real vs. Fake 8-20-05

Guests Ricky Jay and Brian Copeland. Ricky Jay is a magician, actor, and scholar of the history of strange performance. He talks with us about his book "Extraordinary Exhibitions" and his career. Also, Brian Copeland is a top-rated San Francisco radio personality and standup comic. He talks with us about his one-man show "Not A Genuine Black Man," which is the longest running solo show in San Francisco history.

Direct download: tsoya082005.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:58am EDT

High and Low  8-13-05

Guests Louis CK and Chip Lord. This week, we examine the fuzzy lines between high and low culture. Louis CK is a standup comic, writer and producer, whose HBO sitcom premiers in January. Chip Lord is a founding member of the seminal art & architecture group The Ant Farm. Plus a song from NY sketch comics Elephant Larry.

Direct download: tsoya081305.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:52pm EDT

Revenge of the Nerds 8-6-05

Nerds attack on The Sound of Young America! Prince Paul and Maria Schneider are our guests. Prince Paul is the producer of De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and more. Maria Schneider is the creator of Pathetic Geek Stories, the comic strip that dramatizes the most awful shameful experiences of nerdy childhood. Also... Jesse's lady friend Theresa hosts, in an absurdly complex effort to attract playwright Tony Kushner to the show.

Direct download: tsoya080605.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:11pm EDT

If you're interested in learning more about The Sound of Young America, or browsing our gargantuan website (OK, not that gargantuan), visit us at http://www.splangy.com/radio/.

Category:general -- posted at: 12:03pm EDT

Odd Ends - 7-30-05

Some of the strangest things that have ever happened on The Sound of Young America. Our guests Kasper Hauser, the briliant San Francisco sketch group, talk about scamming scammers, we talk with Robert Hamburger, webmaster of realultimatepower.net about ninjas, and when we try to interview a lady from Steve Harvey's Big Time, disaster ensues.

Direct download: tsoya073005.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:56am EDT

Del Close Marathon - 7-23-05

Del Close was the great genius of improv theatre -- he trained and directed generations of performers, including John Belushi, Mike Meyers, and the Upright Citizens Brigade. We talk about his legacy with Ian Roberts of the UCB, Anthony King of the UCB Theatre, and Jeff Griggs, author of a book on Close, "Guru."

Direct download: tsoya072305.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:40pm EDT

This week we talk with Paul Feig, creator of the series "Freaks and Geeks," and author of the new book, "Superstud: How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin." We also talk with Ian Parton, founder of the UK hip-hop/rock/dance band The Go! Team.

Direct download: tsoya071605.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:56pm EDT

This week: interviews with Greg Behrendt, comic and superstar author, and The Fun Bunch, Hollywood super-writers, Mr. Show alums, and comedy empresarios.

Direct download: tsoya070905.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:13pm EDT

The Second City - 7-2-05

"The Second City," with guest Anne Libera, author of "The Second City Guide to Improvisation." We talk about the history of the illustrious comedy school, and hear some audio from it's archives.

Direct download: tsoya070205.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:51pm EDT

Welcome to The Sound of Young America Thanks for visiting us! Since iTunes version 4.9 launched earlier today, we've sent out over 1000 episodes of The Sound of Young America. If you came from iTunes, and you're interested in learning more about the show, visit our real website. There are bios, huge audio archives, and much more. And you can also sign up for our mailing list. Anyway, thanks for coming by. If you have thoughts about the show, email us at splangy@splangy.com.
Category:general -- posted at: 12:33am EDT

Good Friends and Great Times 6-25-05

This week it's Good Friends and Great Times on The Sound of Young America. We talk about Summer movies with Doug Benson of The Marijuanalogues. We also chat with James Frey, author of "A Million Tiny Pieces," as well as the brand new "My Friend Leonard."

Direct download: tsoya062505.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:28am EDT

Dirty Mind with Blowfly and Legs McNeil

Our "Dirty Mind" show... featuring guests Blowfly, the oft-sampled original king of dirty rap and Legs McNeil, author of "The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry." (This episode contains some language that may be offensive to sensitive listeners)

Direct download: tsoya061805.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:43am EDT

Potpourri with Paula Poundstone

We chat with comedy legend Paula Poundstone about... well, all kinds of stuff, she's very chatty. Plus... Would You Rather, Hang It Up / Keep It Up, and an odd new segment called "BBC Sports News."

Direct download: tsoya061105.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:06pm EDT

The Nucular Option

This week's program explores The Nucular Option... our guests are Geoffrey Nunberg, Stanford Linguist and regular Fresh Air commentator, and Stella, the comedy trio (Michael Ian Black, Michael Schowalter, David Wain) behind a new eponymous Comedy Central series. You may know them from their work in MTV's The State, from the film Wet Hot American Summer, or from their appearances in various VH1 talking head shows. Original broadcast date June 4th, 2005.

Direct download: tsoya060405.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:20pm EDT

New Sincerity Summer - 5-28-05

This week we celebrate the New Sincerity Summer. We adjudicate the New Sincerity Summer contest, in which we asked listeners to contribute New Sincerity Summer activities. We also talk with Mike Veeck, minor league baseball empresario, son of baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, and author of "Fun is Good." Mike talks with us about some of the promotions he's concocted, like "Disco Demolition Night" and "Mime-O-Vision." He also tells us about his son, who he has named "Night Train."

Direct download: tsoya052805.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:55am EDT

Finders Keepers - 5-21-05

This week, we look talk with our old friend Davey Rothbart, editor of Found Magazine, a magazine composed completely of things people have found. Davey brings us some wonderful found sound, and reads a note or two. Lorca Shepperd talks with us about her film "Other Peoples' Pictures," about collectors of vintage snapshots. Also... we're running a contest this week to celebrate The Summer of the New Sincerity.

Direct download: tsoya052105.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:54pm EDT

Laugh Riot!

This week's show highlights the artists performing at the annual KZSC Laugh Riot. We hear from comedians Brent Weinbach and Jasper Redd, and have a live performance from Chris Hardwick and Mike Phirman.

Direct download: tsoya051405.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:49pm EDT

The Onion, the Sklars, and Hard N Phirm

This week, we talk with Carol Kolb, editor-in-chief of The Onion, America's Finest News Source. We also talk with Joe Garden, a writer for the paper who's running a campaign to replace Conan O'Brien as host of Late Night in 2008. Plus... comedy from the Sklar Brothers and Hard N Phirm.

Direct download: tsoya050705.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:02pm EDT

Old Men - 4-30-05

On today's progam, we talk with two awesome old guys -- legendary comedian Shelley Berman and television science hero Mr. Wizard. Originally broadcast 4-30-05

Direct download: tsoya043005.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:22pm EDT

Hip-Hop Heads

Our guests on this week's show are solo performer Danny Hoch, founder of the NY Hip-Hop Theater Festival, and Sway & Tech, hosts of the World Famous Wakeup Show.

Direct download: tsoya042305.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:25am EDT

Rock Snobs

This week, we examine Rock Snobbery, with guests Ira Kaplan of indie rock legends Yo La Tengo, comedian Greg Proops, and Steven Daly, author of "The Rock Snob's Dictionary." Originally broadcast 4-16-05.

Direct download: tsoya041605.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 8:19pm EDT