Wits
-
Episode 26: Rob Delaney with Neko Case and Kelly Hogan
On this week's show, our Pop Song Correspondences features a customer befuddled by the process of buying a Little Red Corvette from a used car salesman named Prince. Plus, comedian Rob Delaney as a customer service representative from Kleiner Appliance who knows the truth about angels lodged inside household appliances, and Neko Case and Kelly Hogan prove they're more than amazing singer/songwriters – they've got strong comedic chops, too.
-
Episode 25: Patton Oswalt with Ben Lee
In this week's show, comedian and actor Patton Oswalt and host John Moe are John Oates and Daryl Hall: Animal Control Officers in our Maneater Pop Song Correspondence. Singer-songwriter Ben Lee squares off with Patton in our Wits Game Show, and we've got another Charlie Brown story. In this latest installment, featuring John Moe, Patton Oswalt and actress Ione Skye, Linus quits his blanket cold turkey and has a spiritual epiphany.
-
Episode 24: Michael Ian Black with A.C. Newman
This week, comedian, actor and author Michael Ian Black joins Cop Squadron, indie-pop powerhouse singer/songwriter A.C. Newman writes a very catchy theme song for the canceled show Mr. Nebulous, and we hear where babies really come from. Really.
-
Episode 23: Tig Notaro with Kathleen Edwards
On this week's episode, comedian Tig Notaro goes up against singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards in our Wits game show, Bruce Springsteen warns about what happens when you blow up the Chickenman's house, and we get updates from our favorite publications, like Older Brother Magazine and Tiger Beat for Seniors.
-
Episode 22: Kristen Schaal with Rufus Wainwright
In this week's episode, comedian and actress Kristen Schaal appears as a jaded hamster and a cop who's just had her first ever cup of coffee; singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright plays a cat and sings a stunning a cappella version of his song Candles, and the real estate agent for the B-52's has a hard time selling a certain property known as the Love Shack.
-
Episode 11: Henry Rollins and Lissie
In this episode of Wits, punk rock icon Henry Rollins tells us why he wants to be in a constant state of agitation, Lissie bewitches us all with her songs, and the two compete in our Wits game show.
-
Episode 21: W. Kamau Bell with Brendan Benson
On this week's episode, W. Kamau Bell talks with host John Moe about comedy and race, songwriter Brendan Benson, of The Raconteurs, does his best Prince impression, and Charlie Brown's world gets rocked from a conversation with Franklin.
-
Episode 9: Maria Bamford and Brandi Carlile
In this episode of Wits, top touring comedian Maria Bamford transforms into a mermaid obsessed with the Showtime series Homeland, host John Moe becomes a guy at the bottom of the well, dying from Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe, and Brandi Carlile blows us all away with the sheer power of her voice and her solid comedic chops.
-
Episode 20: Paula Poundstone with Robyn Hitchcock
As a regular panelist on Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!, comedian Paula Poundstone is perfectly positioned to compete on this week's Wits Game Show: The Game Show Game Show. Paula explains the rules of fictitious games while one of the godfathers of alternative rock, Robyn Hitchcock, creates the pretend game show's theme songs. Robyn also plays songs from his latest album, Love from London, and we hear an urgent plea from the big coat in the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis hit, Thrift Shop.
-
Episode 12: Patton Oswalt, Neil Gaiman and John Hodgman
On this week's Wits, a look inside the brains of some of our favorite funny authors. We join writers Patton Oswalt, John Hodgman, Neil Gaiman and Julia Sweeney for discussions of grandmothers, Beatles, wine, sex, and Dungeons and Dragons. Plus, music from singer-songwriter-authors (yep, double hyphenates) Josh Ritter and John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.
-
Episode 19: Andy Richter and Reggie Watts
This week on Wits, we visit with comedian, actor and longtime comedy partner of Conan O'Brien, Andy Richter, as well as internationally renowned vocalist/beatboxer/comic Reggie Watts. Check out the next big hit TV show Mummytown, hear letters from the Civil War soldiers long forgotten - the animal regiments, and learn why Elton John gets fired by NASA in our Pop Song Correspondence.
-
Episode 18: Tim Meadows and Rhett Miller
This week, Tim Meadows, one of the longest-running cast members in Saturday Night Live history goes up against singer/songwriter and Old 97's front man Rhett Miller in our Wits game show, Funnier and Poignanter. Who will win? It's a nail-biter. You'll also be able to hear Rhett's powerful hip-swivel on all the rocky-roll songs he plays, and you'll get a letter from Axl Rose's editor in this week's Pop Song Correspondences.
-
Episode 17: Bobcat Goldthwait, Steven Page and Dave...
This week's show features Bobcat Goldthwait, just named Esquire Magazine's Director of the Year for his movie God Bless America, a movie he discussed with host John Moe. We also hear Bobcat make his pitch to become public radio's morning shock jock, and we hear from an exasperated contractor working on Robert Plant's stairway to heaven. Plus, music from singer/songwriter Steven Page, formerly of the award-winning Barenaked Ladies.
-
Episode 16: Amy Sedaris and They Might Be Giants
This week's show features best-selling author and actor Amy Sedaris along with Grammy award-winning They Might Be Giants. We hear what went on behind the scenes when the founding fathers were writing the Declaration of Independence, we hear from the schoolmaster at the school referenced in Pink Floyd's The Wall, and we get a little insight about what would happen if Winnie the Pooh took an office job.
-
Episode 15: Fred Willard and Dan Wilson
This week's show features comedy icon Fred Willard from Best in Show and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy with Grammy-award winning songwriter and producer Dan Wilson, and a Commercial Showdown Throwdown game show with an unforgettable jingle for gravy missiles.
-
Episode 14: Paul F. Tompkins and Aimee Mann
This week's show features comedian and actor Paul F. Tompkins (also host of the Pod F. Tompkast) with the Oscar and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, as well as an EMU ATTACK, and a visit from President James K. Polk the time-traveling repairman.
-
Episode 13: James Adomian and Grant Lee Phillips
A special studio version of Wits this time around, an intimate setting, a show NOT available to radio listeners. We visit with comedian James Adomian about his eclectic choice of impressions, particularly former pro wrestler and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. Also, a chat with Grant Lee Phillips, a Wits alumnus, about the new music he's been making.
-
Episode 12: Patton Oswalt, Neil Gaiman and John Hodgman
On this week's Wits, a look inside the brains of some of our favorite funny authors. We join writers Patton Oswalt, John Hodgman, Neil Gaiman and Julia Sweeney for discussions of grandmothers, Beatles, wine, sex, and Dungeons and Dragons. Plus, music from singer-songwriter-authors (yep, double hyphenates) Josh Ritter and John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats.
-
Episode 11: Henry Rollins and Lissie
In this episode of Wits, punk rock icon Henry Rollins tells us why he wants to be in a constant state of agitation, Lissie bewitches us all with her songs, and the two compete in our Wits game show.
-
Episode 10: Rhett Miller, Tim Meadows and Jan the...
Rhett Miller is a singer-songwriter and front man of the Old 97's and a friend of the show. He stops by to talk about how touring with the same batch of guys is way different in your 40s than in your 20s. He also plays a song that's all about a daydream of romance wherein his heart gets crushed. We listen back to Rhett's appearance in the Wits game show from March of 2012. It is both hilarious and bittersweet. And we get a visit from Jan the custodian.
-
Episode 9: Maria Bamford and Brandi Carlile
In this episode of Wits, top touring comedian Maria Bamford transforms into a mermaid obsessed with the Showtime series Homeland, host John Moe becomes a guy at the bottom of the well, dying from Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe, and Brandi Carlile blows us all away with the sheer power of her voice and her solid comedic chops.
-
Episode 8: Maria Bamford and Hannibal Buress
It's a comedy interview DOUBLE SHOT! First up, Maria Bamford. She's one of the biggest and easily one of the funniest comedians working today. Maria has appeared on The Comedians of Comedy tour, Louie, and in somewhat unsettling Christmas commercials for Target. We climb inside Maria's head in a revealing interview. Hannibal Buress recently starred in the Comedy Central special, Hannibal Buress: Animal Furnace, and is a former writer for SNL and 30 Rock.
-
Episode 7: Julia Sweeney and Martha Wainwright
Folks, this show has it all. Listen up, and you will laugh. Hard. You will cry -- unless your heart is a blackened lump of coal, in which case you will at minimum have strong emotional stirrings. Snoopy might die. Or not. Martha Wainwright sings, Julia Sweeney tells stories. So sit back and enjoy this week's episode of Wits.
-
Episode 6: Theater Ghost and Julia Sweeney
On this week's program, we get a haunting visit from the ghost that haunts the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul. If you listen closely, you can almost hear him attempt to do standup comedy. Also, a look inside Mitt Romney's tax returns. Yes! In the wake of his electoral defeat, he has released them only to us. What? Why wouldn't he? And a chat with Julia Sweeney about how Wits -- yes, this very program -- led her to reassess her literary career and her daughter's taste for fame.
-
Episode 5: Dave Foley and Mike Doughty
It's the first show of our fall season with comedian Dave Foley, much beloved for his work on the sketch comedy favorite The Kids in the Hall and his starring role in the long-running NBC comedy series NewsRadio, and musical guest Mike Doughty: Singer. Songwriter. Guitar player. Poet. Author. Playwright. Photographer. Most Improved Camper, West Point Youth Camp, 1982.
-
Episode 4: John Roderick and War Horse
This week, host John Moe chats with songwriter John Roderick. He's the lead singer and guitarist in The Long Winters, and the co-host of the podcast Roderick on the Line. Roderick has been tweeting about the connection between nuclear war and '80s movies and music and our apparent nationwide insistence that the town we are in would be the first one hit. We also hear Roderick perform his song Not Moving to Portland with our music director John Munson in a Wits appearance. Plus, an interview...
-
Episode 3: John Hodgman, Julia Sweeney and Here Are The...
This week, host John Moe visits with the multi-talented John Hodgman. He's the author of several books of fake knowledge, including the latest, That Is All, which has just been released in audiobook form. We hear Hodgman's thoughts on margarine tub percussion, the hugs one receives while famous, and the model set by George Plimpton. If you don't know who George Plimpton is, go look it up. Please. Also, a Wits classic: Julia Sweeney tells the story of the bumpy road toward explaining sex to...
-
Episode 2: Rosanne Cash, Mike Doughty and a trip to...
Host John Moe welcomes a pair of singer/songwriters/memoirists. Rosanne Cash talks about her love of John Denver, William Shakespeare and Mike Doughty. Doughty returns the love and is enthused over Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and the cavernous cars of the seventies. Plus an update on the lesser Nobel Prizes and a classic from the Wits archive: Andy Richter and Reggie Watts visit, among other places, Mummytown.
-
Episode 1: Paul F. Tompkins
On this, the inaugural Wits podcast, host John Moe visits with comedian and actor Paul F. Tompkins, who provides valuable insight in how to podcast, the liabilities of having 100 podcast hosts speaking at once, and the invigorating powers of Irish music. John also talks with a certain enormously tall bird who was the surprise star of the first presidential debate, and we explore the career of time-traveling history repairman and U.S. President James K. Polk.
Recommended Shows
PROGRAM INFORMATION
- St. Paul, MN
- Comedy
- Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media
- English
-
480 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 551011-800-228-7123 -
Visit the station website
Email the show
Update show info
