On this week’s episode Rhett welcomes Matthew Caws, frontman and founding member of the beloved alternative rock band Nada Surf. With hits like "Popular" and "Always Love," he has built a legacy of thoughtful, emotionally honest music that has captivated indie rock fans since the mid-90s. Matthew explains why living in Cambridge has deepened his connection to music history, shares insights into his songwriting process, and opens up about how meditation has become a crucial tool for managing anxiety and nurturing his creativity.

Nada Surf’s new record Moon Mirror is out now

Follow Matthew @matthewcaws

Rhett Miller website

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Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Award-winning poet, author, editor and educator Maya C. Popa joins Rhett to explore the intricacies of the writing process, managing the artistic ego, and balancing one’s integrity with commercial pressures. They discuss the role of educators in nurturing talent, and Maya shares thoughts on the importance of taking creative work into your own hands and having faith in one's journey as a writer.

Dr. Maya C. Popa is most recently the author of Wound is the Origin of Wonder, named one of the Guardian’s Best Books of Poetry. American Faith was runner-up in the Kathryn A. Morton Prize judged by Ocean Vuong and was awarded the North American Book Prize in 2020. She is previously the author of three chapbooks and has received numerous awards, including from the Poetry Foundation and the Oxford Poetry Society. Her writing has been commissioned by The United Nations and other institutions, and her poetry has been featured on a Louis Vuitton trunk for the Visionaries campaign, as well as in the Van Cleef & Arpels Spring Festival. Popa is the Poetry Reviews Editor at Publishers Weekly and teaches poetry at NYU. She works closely with established and emerging writers through Conscious Writers Collective, her online writing platform and community designed to help writers identify and meet their writing and publishing goals.

Follow Maya @mayacpopa

Read Maya’s Substack newsletter

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Pat McGee, frontman of the Pat McGee Band and a celebrated solo artist, joins Rhett to unpack his career, from his roots as an independent musician in Virginia to his latest projects and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry. Pat opens up about his artistic growth, the challenges he's faced navigating the always-changing music business, and explains why fan connection continues to play a crucial role in his life.

The Pat McGee Band is currently on tour.

Follow Pat @patmcgeeband

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Singer-songwriter Mia Dyson joins Rhett from Los Angeles to talk about her new record Tender Heart, the evolution of her songwriting, and the pursuit of authenticity. Mia and Rhett discuss perseverance, the necessity of making mistakes, and how to get around the negative habit of comparison. Mia shares the story of how she learned to play guitar, and explains the role of discipline in her creative process.

Mia Dyson is a multiple ARIA-nominated & award-winning artist from Melbourne Australia, with a powerful grit and gravel voice and guitar-playing prowess landing her voted amongst the top 25 Australian guitarists of all time. Releasing 6 critically-acclaimed albums and touring the world with the likes of Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt and Eric Clapton, Mia has cemented her place as one of the great Australian troubadours.

Follow Mia @miadyson

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Emmy-nominated comedian, cartoonist, writer, and actor Asher Perlman joins Rhett from Brooklyn to talk about his new book of cartoons, Well, This Is Me and the creative process behind his work. Asher shares insights on the significance of community, the importance of intuition, and the two discuss the importance of focusing on the daily practice of creativity rather than the end result.

Asher Perlman is currently a writer/performer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a cartoonist at The New Yorker, and a performer with the Improvised Shakespeare Company. His award-winning short film, “Accountabilibuddies,” was an official selection at the Just For Laughs Film Festival in Vancouver. He has appeared on Comedy Central, CBS , and Pop TV, as well as several national commercials. He has written humor for The New Yorker, The Onion Labs, and McSweeneys. His book Well, This Is Me, is available now.

Follow Asher Perlman

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it. Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Musician and writer Mike Errico joins Rhett to talk about guitars, finding his voice as a musician, and his latest release, 'Shine’, which represents a shift towards more positive and uplifting music. Rhett and Mike break down the songwriting approach of artists like Taylor Swift and Max Martin, the role of teaching, and the importance of laughter in the creative process.

New York-based recording artist, writer, and lecturing professor Mike Errico has built his name on the strength of critically acclaimed releases and extensive composition for film and TV. He teaches songwriting at universities including Yale, Wesleyan, the New School, and NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. He was nominated for 2019’s David Payne-Carter Award for Excellence in Teaching, and taught the 2022 GRAMMY® Museum’s inaugural Summer Sessions in New York City. In addition to his performing and teaching careers, Errico’s opinions and insights have appeared in publications including The New York Times, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and many others.

His latest musical release is “Shine”.

Follow Mike Errico @mikeerrico

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.

Singer-songwriter Maggie Rose joins Rhett from her home in Nashville to talk about her latest album, No One Gets Out Alive, the evolution of her sound, and how the pandemic influenced her songwriting. Maggie gives us a deep dive into her creative process and explains why her commitment to staying true to herself has finally paid off. Maggie and Rhett discuss why Nashville is still a great place to be a working musician, and the difficulty of balancing social media and artistic integrity.

Maggie has been hailed for her passionate individualism and influences spanning rock, soul, Americana, folk and funk. Rolling Stone declared No One Gets Out Alive one of the best albums of 2024, and NPR Music has called her a “multi-genre powerhouse”. A respected fixture of the Nashville community, she has carved out a unique path for herself, refusing to be pigeonholed in any one genre. A true road warrior, she has shared the stage with an impressive array of artists including Kelly Clarkson, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Heart, Joan Jett, Eric Church, Gov’t Mule, The Mavericks, Fitz & The Tantrums, and The Revivalists to name a few.

Follow Maggie @iammaggierose

Listen to Maggie’s podcast Salute The Songbird

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Singer-songwriter Alisa Amador joins Rhett to talk about her newly released album, Multitudes. She and Rhett discuss what she learned from making the album, her songwriting process, and the challenges of being a full-time musician. Alisa discusses the significance of sharing songs in Spanish, the importance of setting boundaries and advocating for herself, and she asks Rhett to divulge some of his own survival tips.

Alisa Amador is a bilingual singer-songwriter and the winner of the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest. Alisa Amador’s music is a synthesis of the many styles she’s voraciously absorbed: rock, jazz, funk, and alternative folk, all wrapped in the spirit of the Latin music she grew up with. Alisa has opened for artists including Hozier, Lake Street Dive, Madison Cunningham, Watchhouse, Hiss Golden Messenger, and countless others. Her soulful singing, poetically incisive lyrics, and syncopated rhythms are likely to make you cry, laugh, and dance all within one set.

Follow Alisa @alisaamador

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Kurt St. Thomas, filmmaker, author, and radio DJ. joins Rhett to talk about his fascinating career, including time at iconic radio stations and record labels, and his transition into filmmaking. Kurt shares stories from his career in the music industry, his encounters with legendary artists like John Doe and David Bowie, and his unique relationship with Kurt Cobain. The two discuss the effort it took to make his latest film “D.O.A”, and the importance of following your gut instinct.

Kurt St. Thomas is known for his pioneering work at Boston's WFNX radio station, where he made history by being the first to play Nirvana's "Nevermind" on the air. His contributions to the music industry extend to co-authoring "Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects" and producing the interview album "Nevermind It's an Interview." His latest film, "D.O.A.," is available for viewing now.

Follow Kurt @kurtstthomas

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

In this 200th episode, Rhett welcomes Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for The Go-Gos, acclaimed solo artist, actor, and writer. Jane talks about the early days of The Go-Gos, forming the band amidst the punk scene in LA, and surviving the workload that was required to achieve fame and success. Jane discusses her songwriting process, tells Rhett about the genesis of her band Elettrodomestico - who will be on the road supporting the OLD97s in September - and shares news that she’s writing a memoir.

Follow Jane @janewiedlin

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Distributed in partnership with Osiris Media. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.

Singer-songwriter Leslie Mendelson joins Rhett from Brooklyn to talk about her new album After The Party, released this week, and the tour she’s about to embark on. Leslie talks about the musical collaborations that took place during the making of the record, including working with legendary producer Peter Asher. Rhett and Leslie discuss the value of feeling nervous when performing live, and Leslie emphasizes the importance of persistence and staying focused on the journey. 

A Grammy Award-nominated artist, Mendelson returns this summer with her fourth studio album, After The Party. Throughout After The Party’s ten tracks, Mendelson crafts a distinctive folk-rock, pop-Americana flavor, evoking the sounds of Laurel Canyon, but with the downtown grit and sharp wit of Brooklyn, the city she has called home for over two decades now. 

After The Party is available now.

Leslie Mendelson website

Follow Leslie @lesliemendelson

Rhett Miller website

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer Kirsten Cluthe. Editing by Matt Dwyer. Music by OLD 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. 

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also ask Alexa to play it.  

Revisit previous episodes of Wheels Off with guests Rosanne Cash, Rob Thomas, Jeff Tweedy, The Milk Carton Kids, and more. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review.