Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

Latest Episodes:

Evan Felker Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

This week on Wheels Off, Rhett welcomes longtime friend, collaborator, and Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker. Evan joins Rhett from his ranch in Oklahoma for a candid conversation about the Troubadours’ resurgence, his creative process, and why stepping away from the road made the band even more popular. The two dig into songwriting—where ideas come from, the discipline it takes to finish them, and why sometimes the best songs start with a line overheard in passing.

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, 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ray Benson Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

In this wide-ranging conversation, Rhett welcomes the legendary Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel to Wheels Off for a candid, wisdom-packed chat about music, longevity, and learning by doing. Ray shares stories from his early days as a folk-singing kid, reflects on collaborating with icons like Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, and offers practical advice for young musicians navigating today’s music industry. From tuba lessons to Grammy wins, Ray reveals how staying open, curious, and grounded has shaped his remarkable creative life.

Follow Ray @raysroadhouse

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, 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Rouse Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Rhett welcomes singer-songwriter Josh Rouse for a wide-ranging conversation about carving out a life in music. Josh reflects on coming of age in a different era of the music business—when CDs still mattered and labels took chances—and how the ground beneath that world has shifted. The two dive into fatherhood, the struggle to stay creatively motivated, and what it means to be a working musician in a culture obsessed with virality.

Follow Josh @ joshrouse.com

Follow Rhett @rhettmiller

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

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristina Murray Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Singer-songwriter Kristina Murray joins Rhett to discuss the creative journey behind her new record Little Blue (New West Records), a project that was years in the making. From long nights in honky-tonks to building her own community of musicians and collaborators, Kristina’s story is one of grit, heart, and unwavering commitment to the work. She opens up about the lessons of patience, learning from and celebrating other women in music, and what it means to finally feel supported—while still doing the heavy lifting herself.

Listen to her new album LIttle Blue

Follow Kristina @kristinamurray_

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.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Trapper Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Chris Trapper joins Rhett to talk about his winding, decades-long path through music—from lip-syncing Tom Jones as a kid to signing a major label deal with The Push Stars and building a solo career defined by resilience, honesty, and hustle. From his early days with The Push Stars to his recent solo album—written in the wake of personal loss—Chris opens up about creativity as therapy, the business of being an artist, and how a lack of a backup plan can sometimes be the best motivator. He shares the importance of optimism, the necessity of forgetting bad gigs, and the quiet power of sticking with it—even when there’s no backup plan.

Listen to his new album Watching Sparks Fly By

Follow Chris @christrapperofficial

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.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Wax May 27, 2025

Show notes

Rhett is joined by multi-instrumentalist, folklorist, and genre-defying artist Jordan Wax to discuss his emotionally rich new album, The Heart Deciphers. With roots in Missouri and a home in rural New Mexico, Jordan brings a rare blend of intergenerational storytelling, Jewish diasporic heritage, and indie rock sensibility to his work.

The two explore the complexities of honoring tradition while making art that feels alive in the present moment. Jordan opens up about the deeply personal nature of his latest songs, sung partly in Yiddish, and the surprising universality of intimate, hyper-niche creative expression. He also shares what it's like to build music from micro-communities, how he wrestles with internal doubts, and why the best antidote to creative paralysis is showing up for your art—even when it's hard.

Listen Now: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and all major platforms.

Stream The Heart Deciphers wherever you listen to musicLearn more at jordanwax.com

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.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Gedge May 13, 2025

Show notes

Rhett is joined by indie legend David Gedge, frontman of The Wedding Present and Cinerama, for an in-depth conversation that spans four decades of creativity, resilience, and evolution. David shares stories behind the band’s origin, his distinctive strumming style, and why he still writes songs after more than 300 under his belt. Rhett and David discuss what keeps him inspired—from his early love of music and DIY spirit to recent projects including a 40th anniversary retrospective, a new EP inspired by Mini, and the continuing joy of songwriting.

Follow David @weddingpresent

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, 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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Esther Rose Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Singer-songwriter Esther Rose joins Rhett to discuss her transformative new album WANT, her journey into music, and the evolution of her sound. Dialing in from Santa Fe, Esther shares why this record feels like her most personal yet, how she confronts anxiety through songwriting, and the importance of agency in art and life.

Follow Esther @therealestherrose

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nathan Hill Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Wheels Off, bestselling author Nathan Hill (The Nix, Wellness) joins Rhett for an open-hearted conversation about creativity, resilience, and the slow, surprising process of writing novels. From the trauma of losing three years of work in a car break-in to the lessons he learned from video games and Judy Blume, Nathan offers both practical advice and poetic metaphors—yes, slime is involved—for navigating the emotional highs and lows of the creative life.

Follow Nathan @nathanhillbooks

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Martin Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Wheels Off, acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and activist Rebecca Martin joins Rhett for a candid conversation about her decades-long music career, her passion for water protection and civic engagement, and the release of her new acoustic album, She.

Rebecca shares insights from her early days in New York's jazz scene to the deeply personal process behind her latest solo work. The two also discuss the intersection of music and activism, the value of creative solitude, raising children in a creative household, and learning to let go of social media in favor of real connection.

SHE is available now.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices