Share

cover art for Episode 1539 - Billy Strings

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

Episode 1539 - Billy Strings

When Marc saw Billy Strings play live on stage at Willie Nelson’s birthday show, he watched a born performer make bluegrass music vital to a modern audience. Billy talks with Marc about his joy of guitar playing as an adolescent in Michigan, how his family helped shape his musical sensibilities, and how substance abuse in and around his life worked hard to crush his dreams. Now invested more in playing than in partying, Billy also talks about the music he loves and the musical heroes he’s been honored to meet.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Episode 1587 - Billy Corben

    01:44:04|
    Filmmaker Billy Corben got an early taste of show business as an aspiring child actor. That aborted career path eventually turned into a new vocation as a maker of documentary films, including celebrated projects like Cocaine Cowboys and The U. Billy and Marc talk about the persistent connection to Florida in Billy’s work and how his latest film, From Russia with Lev, is both a cautionary tale about the dangers of a Trump Administration and a meditation on the quintessential Florida Man.This episode is sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, dedicated to the rights of freethinkers and protecting the constitutional principle of Church and State. Visit FFRF.org/vote to get involved. Or text WTF to 511511 and receive a free issue of FFRF's newspaper, Freethought Today.
  • BONUS The Marc and Tom Show #2 (from 2012)

    01:19:16|
    From June 2012, Marc and Tom Scharpling had such a great talk the first time, they met up in a New Jersey hotel room to record another one. They talk about Kubrick, Pink Floyd, diners, dads, gifts from fans, and events that changed their lives. This episode was offered as an a la carte purchase at the time and is now available on Acast+ for the first time.Theme song - Mausoleum by The Tokeleys - Download by clicking here or listen to them on Spotify.
  • Episode 1586 - Robert Patrick

    01:31:12|
    The world learned who Robert Patrick was when he showed up as the T-1000 in Terminator 2, but prior to that break out, Robert saw himself as a failed athlete and alcoholic who was lucky to get a chance at success with this acting thing. Robert tells Marc how his personal struggles continued after T2, how being cast in The X-Files and The Sopranos turned things around for him, and how he’s now challenging himself in more productive ways.
  • Episode 1586 - Robert Patrick

    01:32:21|
    The world learned who Robert Patrick was when he showed up as the T-1000 in Terminator 2, but prior to that break out, Robert saw himself as a failed athlete and alcoholic who was lucky to get a chance at success with this acting thing. Robert tells Marc how his personal struggles continued after T2, how being cast in The X-Files and The Sopranos turned things around for him, and how he’s now challenging himself in more productive ways.This episode is sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, dedicated to the rights of freethinkers and protecting the constitutional principle of Church and State. Visit FFRF.org/vote to get involved. Or text WTF to 511511 and receive a free issue of FFRF's newspaper, Freethought Today.
  • BONUS The Friday Show - Did I Break Your Concentration?

    01:15:01|
    After a celebratory goodbye to the New York Mets' 2024 season, Brendan and Kris discuss this week's episodes with Robert Zemeckis and Keith Urban. Then, in anticipation of next week's final Quentin Tarantino episode, they go over some of the tastiest nuggets from the recent oral history of Pulp Fiction on its 30th Anniversary.Listen to Kris's sonic playlist for Episode 1585 with Keith Urban.Click here to read Variety's 30th Anniversary look at Pulp Fiction.Send us your questions, comments and topic suggestions by clicking here.
  • Episode 1585 - Keith Urban

    01:26:02|
    Keith Urban may seem like an outsider who conquered Nashville, but as he tells Marc, he was an outsider in his home country, too. Coming from what he calls an oddball family in Australia who owned American cars and played American country music, Keith’s journey to international superstardom was not without its roadblocks, some due to the industry, some self-inflicted. Keith also talks with Marc about his eleventh studio album, High, and how he didn’t realize it was so personal until the songs were coming out of him.
  • Episode 1585 - Keith Urban

    01:27:10|
    Keith Urban may seem like an outsider who conquered Nashville, but as he tells Marc, he was an outsider in his home country, too. Coming from what he calls an oddball family in Australia who owned American cars and played American country music, Keith’s journey to international superstardom was not without its roadblocks, some due to the industry, some self-inflicted. Keith also talks with Marc about his eleventh studio album, High, and how he didn’t realize it was so personal until the songs were coming out of him.This episode is sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, dedicated to the rights of freethinkers and protecting the constitutional principle of Church and State. Visit FFRF.org/vote to get involved. Or text WTF to 511511 and receive a free issue of FFRF's newspaper, Freethought Today.
  • BONUS Producer Cuts - Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Robinson, Jason Ritter and more

    48:02|
    From the September episodes of WTF, here are parts that didn't make it into the show proper, including talks with Elisabeth Olsen, Jason Ritter, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, and Marc's monologues involving health questions, reflections on Vancouver, and trips to Tucson.
  • Episode 1584 - Robert Zemeckis

    01:18:03|
    Many films in the career of Robert Zemeckis, including his new one called Here, involve some form of time travel. As Robert explains to Marc, nothing does time travel better than movies. Robert talks with Marc about becoming a filmmaker thanks to Jerry Lewis, his partnership with Steven Spielberg, his collaborations with Tom Hanks, and the making of his beloved films like Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump and more.