Guess the Year

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In Conversation with Jim Newton at Booksmith in SF Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

In mid-August, I chatted with journalist Jim Newton at Booksmith in SF about his newly released Here Beside the Rising Tide: Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, and an American Awakening, which is out now.

We touched on:

Why Jerry would’ve been the ultimate interview guest
The Dead’s wild growth in the ’80s — was Reagan the backdrop?
Garcia’s allergy to politics and endorsements
Jerry Brown asking for help… and getting turned down

What kept Deadheads coming back, year after year

6/16/25 Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

This week, Dr. Darryl De Marzio curates the setlist as returning champ Adam is joined by John, Jack, and Bryan.

Darryl is the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Institute, Portsmouth Abbey’s Benedictine Center for Catholic Thought, Liturgy, and Culture. Darryl holds a masters and doctoral degree from Columbia University. His scholarship spans philosophy of education, ethical theory, and Catholic educational practice, with articles published in leading journals including Educational Theory, and Studies in Philosophy and Education.

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6/9/25 Jun 09, 2025

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This week, professor Rick Monture curates the setlist as returning champ Scott is joined by Adam, Cory, and Matt.

Rick is the director of the Indigenous Studies Program at McMaster University, where he also teaches in the Department of English and Cultural Studies. Rick is a member of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

Rick is also the author of We Share Our Matters: Two Centuries of Writing and Resistance at Six Nations of the Grand River—which maps the intellectual traditions and ongoing sovereignty of the Haudenosaunee people.

Rick holds a PhD in English from McMaster, is a past Fulbright scholar, and has long served on the boards of cultural and educational institutions at Six Nations. Rick is also a longtime Grateful Dead taper and member of the Grateful Dead Studies Association.

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6/2/25 Jun 02, 2025

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This week, Grammy winning sound engineer David Glasser curates the setlist as returning champ Brendan is joined by Scott, Alec, and Max.

David Glasser is founder and chief engineer at Airshow Mastering. With over 35 years in audio engineering, David has mastered thousands of records, including more than 80 GRAMMY nominees. He’s a three-time nominee himself, earning two Grammys for his work on the Anthology of American Folk Music and Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton. David remastered the Dead’s entire studio album catalog, Europe ’72, Without a Net-- the list is endless.

This week's poster was designed by Billy King.

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5/26/25 May 26, 2025

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This week, author Ray Robertson curates the setlist as returning champ John is joined by Dylan and Brendan.

Ray is the author of multiple novels and nonfiction works, including All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows, a journey through the Dead’s history via fifty iconic performances. Ray’s writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, and Canadian Notes & Queries.

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5/19/25 May 19, 2025

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This week, journalist, author, and music critic Joel Selvin curates the setlist as returning champ Phil is joined by Brian, John, and Paul.

Joel was the longtime pop music critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and has written about rock and roll for over 40 years. He’s the author of many books, including Fare Thee Well: The Final Chapter of the Grateful Dead’s Long, Strange Trip and Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day. His latest book, Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon, is out everywhere now. It tells the story of Jim Gordon, the legendary drummer who laid down drums on classics like “Layla,” “God only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” and many more— before a descent into undiagnosed schizophrenia led him to murder his mother and spend the rest of his life in prison.

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5/12/25 May 12, 2025

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This week, Brian Anderson, author of the upcoming Loud and Clear: The Grateful Dead's Wall of Sound and the Quest for Audio Perfection, curates the setlist as returning champ Denis is joined by Matty, Michael, and Phil.

Brian Anderson has been a Webby Award-winning senior features editor, writer, and producer at VICE. More recently, he did a stint running the Science desk at The Atlantic, where he was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for pandemic coverage, and was later a senior editor at Vox. Loud and Clear is available for pre-order now.

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5/5/25 May 05, 2025

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This week, senior writer at Rolling Stone Angie Martoccio curates the setlist as returning champ Zak is joined by Jackson, Denis, and Josh.

Angie has written cover stories on Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Boygenius, and interviewed icons like Stevie Nicks, Neil Young, and recently, Bob Weir. Her award-winning work often highlights overlooked women in music history.

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4/28/25 Apr 28, 2025

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This week, Bob Bralove curates the setlist as returning champ Corey is joined by Zak, Dave, and Isaac.

Bob Bralove is a musician and producer who worked with Stevie Wonder and the Grateful Dead, helping pioneer the use of synthesizers in live performance. He has continued to release his own music, including his new album with violinist Patti Weiss, Acoustic Conversations.

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4/21/25 Apr 21, 2025

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This week, Parsons School of Design lecturer Annabelle Walsh curates the setlist as returning champ Pete is joined by Adam, Tomas, and Corey.

Annabelle investigates the intersections of subculture, fashion theory, and material culture. Her thesis project at Parsons was entitled Fashion is Dead: The Long Strange History of Deadhead Style. She has presented at the Dead Studies Association Conference.

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Annabelle's Instagram
Deadhead Style Archive (submit stories and photos via deadheadstylearchive@gmail.com)
Guess the Year's Instagram
30k ft's Instagram

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