The LIFERS Podcast

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219. LIFERS - Deanna Belos #3 May 15, 2025

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Returning champion Deanna Belos just released a new documentary about her band called NOBODY’S GONNA DO IT FOR YOU: TEN YEARS OF SINCERE ENGINEER. You can watch it for free on YouTube right NOW (just like 2 out of the 3 of us did — guess who didn’t) and then you can come back and listen to us talk about it on this episode. We also talk about real amps vs. fake amps, Big Boi vs. Andre 3000, Scott vs. Deanna, and we try to pick our favorite comedies of the ‘90s.

218. LIFERS - Bethany Dwyer May 09, 2025

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This week we’re all about the art of the hustle in the land of multi-hyphenates. Or the art of multi-hyphenating in the land of the hustle. Whichever the case — we’re facing our fears and talking shop with Chicago expat and longtime lifer-ing comrade Bethany Dwyer. The LA-based comedian-actor/writer-director-musician has a new self-help book out (BREAK FREE FROM FEAR) that’ll fit in nicely with the media-spanning body of work that she’s amassed through her single-minded willingness to try everything. Of course, who knows if she’d even agree with that assessment? It’s hard to pin Bethany down. And she likes it like that. PLUS!: Scott’s voice is cashed while we dive into conspiracy theories, tease a new Haunted Heir single, and pick the movies that shaped us. Or something like that.

217. LIFERS - Ooh, Baby! May 02, 2025

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Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome: Scottie Rose Lucas.

216. LIFERS - Donita Sparks Apr 26, 2025

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One of the all time great bands, L7 fused laugh out loud humor with a caveman punk aggression that made them stand out like a blistered sore thumb against the L.A. hair metal landscape of the late ‘80s. But they were chicks, man — so rather than be spoken about in the same righteous breath as the Stooges or the Ramones, the members of L7 had to put up with inane questions about Vixen(?!?). No matter. As with most awesome things, L7 are still here and their influence looms larger than ever. On this episode we talk to co-founder Donita Sparks about Matthew Sweet covers, Epitaph records, the siren song of LA surf music, Slash records, Sub Pop, yacht rock, Rock For Choice, Milwaukee book makers, fights at Exit, John Waters, SMELL THE MAGIC, and we play the best round of what’s the best ever!

215. LIFERS - Cars: Ten and Two Apr 18, 2025

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This week: They finally killed Gabe’s car. Don’t worry. My dad’s got this ultimate set of tools. He’ll be able to buff it out, no problem. Trust us! ALSO: Mulholland Drive, roundabouts, red Barchettas, crosswalks, red 4-doors, fender benders, band vans, manic mechanics, Chevy Novas, and what’s the best songs about cars? (By the way — you’re gonna wanna stick around for the end of this episode. You’re welcome!)

214. LIFERS - Tim Hunter Apr 04, 2025

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To a generation of misfits not all that interested in what John Hughes was serving up in the ‘80s, writer-director Tim Hunter is a god. And his twin teen-movie testaments OVER THE EDGE and RIVER’S EDGE remain quotable sacred texts that serve as a secret language to communicate to other like-minded individuals that you too are a member of the anti-Breakfast Club. And in the land of television, he’s a bona-fide legend — filling the director’s chair on some of the greatest shows ever made: TWIN PEAKS, MAD MEN, BREAKING BAD, HOMICIDE, DEADWOOD and that’s right, Gabe! He even directed the pilot of BEVERLY HILLS 90210. So how do you interview THAT?!? That’s the kind of gravitas that turns Scott into something resembling an awestruck 12 year-old backstage at a Led Zeppelin concert in 1973. Or a 54 year-old talking to Tim Hunter via Zoom. At any rate — it was a thrill. PLUS!: The complete and total breakdown of WHAT’S THE BEST?!?

213. LIFERS - Jim Healy Mar 28, 2025

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Operating in direct opposition to the never ending barrage of anonymous content being foisted on us by algorithmic goose-steppers - film programmers are cultural rebels and excavationists entrusted with the sacred duty of helping you find your new favorite movie. The best ones even manage to turn it into an art. And Jim Healy —director of programming for the Cinematheque at the University of Madison-Wisconsin— is definitely one of the best. On this episode we talk to Jim about the upcoming 2025 Wisconsin Film Festival, 16mm, The Clash on “Fridays”, Argentinean noir, David Koepp and “Apartment Zero”, George & Linda Eastman, Steve Buscemi, Richard Widmark, working with Ben, Jim’s brother Pat, “Conan The Barbarian”, the filthy mouth of Groucho Marx, and we pick the best movies about movies. Oh, yeah. It’s about to get real nerdy up in here. Gabe’s gonna have to wait.

212. LIFERS - Dag Juhlin Mar 21, 2025

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Dag Juhlin hasn’t NOT been in a band since 1978. A mainstay since he formed The Slugs with his brother Gregg in 1983, Dag has wandered the Chicago music scene —ronin-style— lending his guitar prowess to bands like Poi Dog Pondering and, most recently, Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy’s successful REM tribute tour. In between all the gunning for hire, Dag keeps himself busy with (among other things) solo records, his cover band Expo ‘76, a daily podcast with Steve Dahl, and the project closest to his heart: Sunshine Boys. If you want to know what it takes to be a successful working musician — check out this interview. PLUS: We pick the best solo Beatle tracks.

211. LIFERS - Road Report #23: The LIFERS movie tour edition #1 Mar 14, 2025

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Scott started the LIFERS movie tour last week in St. Louis at the Arkadin Cinema & Bar — and this episode finds him in his hotel after a particularly long day that took him from a showing in Portland, Oregon at the Clinton Street Theater to a showing at the Clairidge Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. The dude was a little rough. (AND there was a fucking Tesla involved!) PLUS!: Micro-cinemas, cat-pigs, Enuff Z’nuff at The Whiskey, The Lumiere in L.A., Gabe’s face in IMAX at the Esquire in Sacramento, cineastes, Ryan’s nipples, Married Men at the Metro on March 15, the fall Everclear tour, ripping off Amadeus, English accents, and the royal “we” game. (Not discussed, but definitely felt — The Coolidge in Boston and the Film Society Center in Philadelphia.) Remaining dates on the LIFERS movie tour: MARCH 19 — Oriental Theatre — Milwaukee, WI APRIL 6 — Wisconsin Film Festival — Madison, WI APRIL 7 — Screenland Armour — Kansas City, MO APRIL 8 — The Varsity Cinema — Des Moines, IA APRIL 9 — The Trylon — Minneapolis, MN

210. LIFERS - Michael Christopher and the BEST?!? Best Picture Mar 07, 2025

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ANORA dominated the 97th Academy Awards last Sunday and as Sean Baker superfans — we’re still riding high. Well, maybe not Gabe. Nevertheless! We invited our good buddy and Boston-based music writer Michael Cristopher on the show to talk to us about movies, DVD collections, Philly pride, interviewing Brian Johnson and Tony Iommi, Van Halen vs. Depeche Mode, Scott’s movie tour, uninvited guests, Scott Ian, the Duck of Death, and we pick the BEST?!? best picture winners of all time. None of that made sense, right?

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