Definitely Dylan
A podcast about Bob Dylan, his music and anything else. Featuring conversations and original analysis of Bob Dylan's work.
Episodes
Bob Dylan's Early Murder Ballads: "Her heart blood did flow"
When Bob Dylan began his career, murder ballads were having a bit of a moment. In this episode, we’ll look into the influence these songs had on the young artist, and how they inspired a particular subset of his own early songs.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.
Bob Dylan's Pronouns (Bob Dylan Hotline #9)
This week on the Bob Dylan Hotline Laura and Rebecca are talking about Bob Dylan's pronouns! In 1978, Bob Dylan told Craig McGregor, "Tangled Up In Blue [was] the first [song] I ever wrote that I felt free enough to change all the... what is it, the tenses around, is that what it is? [...] The he and the she and the I and the you, and the we and the us–I figured it was all the same anyway – I coul
The Sinatra Trilogy (with Sam Sodomsky)
This week Laura talks to writer, editor, and musician Sam Sodomsky about the trilogy of Great American Songbook albums, Shadows in the Night (2015), Fallen Angels (2016), and Triplicate (2017) – a move that for some legacy artists might be predictable, but that for Bob Dylan was a real curveball.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydy
Do we still need the album? (Bob Dylan Hotline #8)
In this week’s Bob Dylan Hotline Laura and Rebecca about the way we listen to music – how do shifts in technology affect the way artists present their work and does that change the way we relate to it? Is the album still relevant or on its way out? And how does all this affect what we consider to be part of the Bob Dylan canon?I barely ended up quoting from it, but do yourself a favour and read Gr
Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney (Bob Dylan Hotline #7)
This week on the Bob Dylan Hotline we're talking about Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney – two extraordinary artists whose paths have crossed several times over the decade, and whose influence on the other has been significant. They're similar in some ways, very different in others – let's talk about it! Watch the video of this conversation on YouTube.Check out Dean's radio show the TEN AM here: If you
Bob Dylan and Nostalgia (with Court Carney)
In this episode, Laura talks to history professor Court Carney about Bob Dylan and Nostalgia – Dylan’s relationship to the past and the future, The Odyssey, and Don Draper. Here are a few things we reference that you might want to check out: Eric Lott’s book, Love and Theft: Blackface Minstrelsy and the American Working Class, from which Dylan took the title of his 2001 album. Mad Men - Carousel p
Bob Dylan, Magic & Alchemy (Bob Dylan Hotline #6)
In today's Bob Dylan Hotline, Laura and Rebecca get a little mystical. Bob Dylan himself has often described the creative process as magical, and through the years has also been drawn to mysticism like the Tarot. We talk about creativity as alchemy, which Tarot card Bob Dylan most identified with, and the spell that music can cast. The Tarot deck we’re referring to is the Rider-Waite-Smith de
"Brownsville Girl": Bob Dylan's Most Cinematic Song (Bob Dylan Hotline #5)
Buried on one of Bob Dylan's lesser 80s albums, "Brownsville Girl" is consistently cited as one of his greatest and most ambitious songs. Co-written by playwright/screenwriter/director/actor Sam Shepard, the song originally came to life as "New Danville Girl”. It was recorded, put aside, and then ultimately rewritten and overdubbed before finally seeing the light of day.Laura and Rebecca talk abou
Bob Dylan Hotline #4: Dylan for Beginners (We love the 80s)
This week on the Bob Dylan Hotline, Laura and Rebecca brainstorm the best songs and albums to introduce someone to Bob Dylan’s music.Send us your question to bobdylanhotline@gmail.com (itsdefinitelydylan@gmail.com for all other inquiries)Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan and The Beatles (with Jim Windolf)
Laura talks to Jim Windolf, music journalist and features editor at the New York Times, about his new book Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other – and the World, out now with Scribner (US) and White Rabbit (UK).You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan Hotline #3: What does Bob Dylan owe us?
Laura and Rebecca answer some more listener questions and talk parasocial relationships, the artist's humanity, and fan loyalty.Send us your question to bobdylanhotline@gmail.com (itsdefinitelydylan@gmail.com for all other inquiries)You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan Hotline #2: Bob Dylan's Patreon & AI
Laura and Rebecca discuss the new Bob Dylan Patreon, AI, and eventually answer a question.Send us your question to bobdylanhotline@gmail.comYou can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan Hotline #1: Movie Soundtracks and Dream Collabs
A new podcast segment, in which Laura and Rebecca answer your questions about all things Bob.This one's about movie soundtracks, collaborations, and Geese!Send us your question to bobdylanhotline@gmail.comYou can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan as Filmmaker (with Michael Glover Smith)
In this episode I talk to Chicago-based filmmaker, author, and college professor Michael Glover Smith about Bob Dylan the filmmaker, specifically his work on Eat the Document (1972), Renaldo & Clara (1978), and Masked & Anonymous (2003).Michael’s new book Bob Dylan as Filmmaker: No Time to Think is published by McNidder & Grace on 2nd of March. If you’re in the Chicago area and interes
Can Bob Dylan be trusted? (with Elizabeth Cantalamessa)
Being a Bob Dylan fan is a spectrum –whether you identify as a casual enjoyer if his music or a die-hard Bobcat, the umbrella is large and leaves room for multitudes. Over the past year, many Definitely Dylan episodes have circled around the relationship between artist and audience, how Bob Dylan presents himself and how he is perceived. In the final conversation of 2025 (which you’re hearing
Bob Dylan vs. The Fans (with Rebecca Slaman)
Recently the founder of The Daily Dylan was asked to leave a Bob Dylan concert, apparently for having shared illegally recorded concert videos. Today we’re talking about the relationship between Bob Dylan and his fans, particularly their ideas of how his music should be engaged with are at odds with the artist’s own. Find more Rebecca Slaman on her Substack and Twitter. Book a Walking Tour of Bob
"Like a Complete Unknown": Bob Dylan the Stranger
Bob Dylan – the myth, the legend, the enigma? In this episode I revisit an old radio episode on Bob Dylan the Stranger.Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan at Farm Aid 2025 (with Rebecca Slaman and Britt Eisnor)
Just over a week after I published a whole episode about how Bob Dylan doesn’t want to be filmed or photographed, he appeared as part of the 40th Farm Aid benefit concert, which was broadcast and live streamed, giving us rare good quality footage of a present day Bob Dylan set!I invited friends of the pod Rebecca Slaman and Britt Eisnor to discuss the occasion with me. The discussion of the actual
"I'm Not There": Why is Bob Dylan Hiding? (also, a new Bootleg Series!)
At the most recent Outlaw shows, Bob Dylan has been shielding himself from view and it’s become a pretty popular talking point last week. I’ve been thinking about that as well as the upcoming Bootleg Series, filtered it through a 90 year old essay on art and technology and this is the result. 🧡Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off
Bob Dylan the Gemini: Twins, Doubles, and Duality
An episode about twins, doubles & duality from the radio archives.Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan's iPod (with Tim Swaddling)
Legend has it that Bob Dylan once left his iPod behind and someone copied the contents. With Canadian musician and songwriter (and future Bob Dylan podcaster) Tim Swaddling). Find the Spotify playlist “Bob Dylan’s iPod” here.Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.Fred Bals’ blog on Mediu
"April is the cruelest month": Shipwrecks, Heartbreak & TS Eliot
Laura revisits a radio episode from the archives about April anniversaries, some good, many disastrous. And there’s a little side quest about Bob Dylan and Modernist poetry.One note – I forgot to mention that the performance of “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most” is by Betty Carter.Get your Definitely Dylan baseball cap here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donati
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN II with Rebecca Slaman and Britt Eisnor
Laura is joined by Britt and Rebecca to talk about A Complete Unknown, the new Bob Dylan biopic directed by James Mangold, starring Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, and Monica Barbaro. We talk about letting go of the pressure to be chill about the film, biopics as acts of translation, and the sexual tension between Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash.Rebecca would like to add that she re
A COMPLETE UNKNOWN with Michael Glover Smith
It’s taken over five years, but the new Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown (directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet) is finally hitting cinemas. So… is it good?I called up Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith to talk about the film, what it gets right, what it gets wrong, and how it compares to other films like I’m Not There.You can watch Michael’s short film Handle With
Bob Dylan’s Tweets (with Rebecca Slaman and Britt Eisnor)
Bob Dylan has been tweeting and it’s high time we talk about it. In this conversation with Rebecca and Britt we cover what’s been going on the World of Bob, including his social media presence and the TWO biopics he’s involved in this year!Follow Rebecca on Twitter and Britt on Instagram or Twitter.Theme music by Robert ChaneyYou can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation a
"Slow coming home": Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour Finale (with Ray Padgett)
Ray and I sit down in the garden of the Troubadour to talk about the final shows of Bob Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour (2021-24) at London’s Royal Albert Hall.Subscribe to Ray’s Substack, Flagging Down the Double E (but get the paid membership if you can), and buy his book Pledging My Time: Conversations with Bob Dylan Band Members.Music that appears in this episode:All Along the Wat
Post Bob Dylan Giddiness with Ren Harvieu (Royal Albert Hall 13/11/24)
A conversation with Ren Harvieu after seeing night two of Bob Dylan’s three night stay at London’s Royal Albert Hall.Ren Harvieu is on Patreon, Instagram, and her music is available on all streaming platforms.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Bob Dylan and the Truth
In this episode, Laura revisits a radio episode from September of 2018, all about Bob Dylan's relationship to the truth, and his different attempts to define, grasp, or circumscribe it.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
Outlaw Festival Recap with Britt Eisnor
A conversation with Britt Eisnor about the recent Outlaw Festival shows and more.Follow Britt on Instagram.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.Songs that appear in the episode:“Desolation Row” (Buffalo, NY, 17 September, 2024)“Love Sick” (Mountain View, CA, 3 August, 2024)“Cold, Cold Heart” (Hank Williams cover, Alpharetta, GA,
The Female Bob Dylan
A new podcast reconsiders the legacy of female singer songwriters that have all at one point been dubbed “the Female Bob Dylan”. Laura talks to its creators, Sophie Abramowitz, Sarah Bachman, and Emily Hilliard. Find The Female Bob Dylan on the podcast app of your choice, and follow them on Instagram and Twitter/X.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoff
!["Just to think that it all began": Beginnings, Births, and Rebirths [from the Radio Archives]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b7adeac36099b28bcb7a782/1585761861822-QFAPVMIL7KLT7TANMDGC/podcastlogo.png?format=1500w)
"Just to think that it all began": Beginnings, Births, and Rebirths [from the Radio Archives]
This is a slightly updated version of the first ever Definitely Dylan episode, which aired on Resonance.FM in January of 2018.You can find a version with the full length songs over on Patreon, where I will also be revisiting other radio episodes in the future, so follow along if you're interested in hearing more!In this episode:1. Forever Young2. Subterranean Homesick Blues3. It’s Alright Ma (I’m
"Someday everything's gonna be beautiful": The Resurrection of "When I Paint My Masterpiece"
Today’s episode is a story.Songs that appear in the episode:“When I Paint My Masterpiece” (More Greatest Hits)“When I Paint My Masterpiece” (demo, Another Self Portrait)“When I Paint My Masterpiece” - The Band (Cahoots)“When I Paint My Masterpiece” (demo, Another Self Portrait) “When I Paint My Masterpiece” (Live at Harvard Square Theatre, Cambridge, MA, 20 November, 1975)“When I Paint My Masterpi
2023 Recap with Rebecca Slaman
“Life is short even on its longest days”, Bob Dylan sang in Indianapolis, covering John Cougar Mellencamp. But a year is pretty long, so I invited Rebecca Slaman to do a recap with me. We talk about the releases, live shows, and our general highlights of 2023.Check out Rebecca’s PhilosopHER of Modern Song series on her Substack.Find the extended version of our conversation on Patreon!You can suppo
"She's an Artist, She Don't Look Back": A Conversation With Cat Power
In this episode, Laura talks to the one and only Chan Marshall (Cat Power) about her project of recreating Bob Dylan’s iconic 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert. In our conversation about art, love, and resilience, she shares stories about meeting Bob Dylan, how she first got into his music, and which song makes her feel empowered.Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert is out now on
Mixing Up the Medicine: an "Inside-Out Biography"
In this episode, Laura talks to Mark Davidson and Parker Fishel, the authors of Mixing Up the Medicine, the 600 page “inside-out biography” that tells the story of Bob Dylan’s career through pieces from the Bob Dylan Archive.Buy the book at your local bookshop (or check it out at your local library – it’s unfortunately pretty pricey).Music by Robert Chaney.You can listen to the full Beatles bootle
Bob Dylan & The Heartbreakers at Farm Aid '23 with Rebecca Slaman
In this episode Laura talks to writer and friend of the pod Rebecca Slaman about Bob Dylan’s surprise appearance at this year’s Farm Aid, where we played a short set with the Heartbreakers.Here’s a fun fact I only figured out after the episode was finished: the song that preceded Dylan’s remarks about American farmers during Live Aid was in fact The Ballad of Hollis Brown!I erroneously said that S
"Dear Bob": Sinéad O'Connor's Letters to Bob Dylan
In this episode, Laura welcomes back Harry Hew for a conversation about Sinéad O’Connor’s open letters to Bob Dylan.A quick note – after converting to Islam in 2018, she adopted the name Shuhada’ Sadaquat, but since she continued to work under her birth name, we refer to her as Sinéad O’Connor in this episode.Head over here to read all the letters Sinéad O’Connor wrote to Bob Dylan.Thank you to Th
Robbie Robertson's Legacy with Harry Hew
In the light of Robbie Robertson's recent passing, I really wanted to have a conversation about this artist whose life not just ran alongside Dylan's a decade, but converged for crucial periods of both their careers. So I asked the biggest The Band fan I know, my Canadian friend Harry Hew, to jump on a call and talk to me.One note: I make a reference to "Dominique", and thought I should clarify th
"Oh Mama!": Women & Dylan with Rebecca Slaman
In this episode, Laura and Rebecca talk about the ladies, babies, mamas, girls, and many many queens that inhabit Bob Dylan’s songs.Subscribe to Rebecca’s Substack, and watch her Tulsa paper here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
"Her heart blood did flow": Bob Dylan's Murder Ballads of the Early 1960s
TW: murder, suicide, racial violenceWhen Bob Dylan began his career, murder ballads were having a bit of a moment. In this episode, we’ll look into the influence these songs had on the young artist, and how they inspired a particular subset of his own early songs. You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.
"Make You Feel My Love": The Song Dylan Fans Love to Hate
No other Bob Dylan song has provoked such a diverse range of responses as "Make You Feel My Love". Initially dismissed by reviewers as a failure, it has since grown into a wildly successful pop hit. It's the song that's loved by the masses, but hated by Dylan purists. Perhaps what's at the heart of this fundamental disagreement is a different question altogether: is this a banal love song, or does
An Even Closer Look at "Fragments" with The Popular Show
Laura and James A. Smith from The Popular Show have a late night conversation about the Bootleg Series and Time Out of MindWatch the video of our conversation on Patreon, where you can also show your support for the podcast, or you can make a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.Consider supporting The Popular Show at patreon.com/thepopularpod.
A Closer Look at: "Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions"
Laura and Robert talk about Bob Dylan's new Bootleg Series, what it tells us about Time Out of Mind, and whether or not accordions can be sexy.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation at buymeacoffee.com/definitelydylan.Graley Herren’s book Dreams and Dialogues in Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" is available here.Listen to the interview with Mark Howard on the Dylan.fm pod
Infinity Goes Up On Trial – A Tale Of Two Bob Dylan Museums
Stories, myths, and narratives – as the Bob Dylan Center opened this May, another Bob Dylan exhibition was coming to a close. What stories are these two Dylan museums telling & what do they reveal about how Bob Dylan wants to be seen?In part two of this series on the crafting of Bob Dylan's legacy, we take a look at the stories told by two very different museums dedicated to Bob Dylan's work:
Will Timothée Chalamet Save Dylan Fandom? - A Conversation With Rebecca Slaman
This is the first of two conversations about the crafting of Bob Dylan’s legacy.My guest is freelance writer Rebecca Slaman. Follow Rebecca on Twitter: @ithrewtheglass.The version of “Desolation Row” is from 12 April, 2009 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. You can watch it in full along with others from that year here.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation.For more informa
I Flew to America to See Bob Dylan - Here are My Thoughts!
The pandemic forced Bob Dylan to take a two year break from performing live. Now he’s back and he’s embarked on the Rough and Rowdy Ways World Wide Tour.I was lucky to be able to fly from London to Washington, DC to catch the last show of the year on 2nd December, 2021.In this episode, I’m giving you my thoughts on the performances, the setlist, and how this tour relates to the latest album and Sh
Shadow Kingdom: A Midsummer Night's Dream
In this episode, Laura considers Shadow Kingdom in the context of Bob Dylan’s career and what it tells us about the artist at 80 years old. We’ll touch on Dylan’s relationship with the past, the language of dreams, and we’ll find out what all of this has to do with Shakespeare.You can support Definitely Dylan on Patreon or with a one-off donation.For more information, see http://definitelydylan.co
A Closer Look At: "Most Of The Time"
For this episode, we’re going to take a little break from the series on Rough And Rowdy Ways!I want to take you on a journey towards the heart of one of my favourite Bob Dylan songs of all time: “Most Of The Time” from Dylan’s 1989 album Oh Mercy. Deceptively simple, this song about pain and denial is wonderfully subtle in its development of the singer’s feelings, while also playing with the liste
Chapter 2: The Other Side Of The Coin - The Myth and Mystery of Creation on Rough And Rowdy Ways
In Chapter 2 of Definitely Dylan’s mini series on Bob Dylan’s Rough And Rowdy Ways, Laura discusses the myth and mystery of creation in “My Own Version Of You” and “Mother Of Muses”.What insight can these very different songs give us into the creative process of the songwriter? How do they portray the creator’s role in society? And what does any of this have to do with the Nobel medal?Here's the r
Chapter 1: "Sing In Me, Oh Muse" : Rough And Rowdy Ways, the Nobel Prize & the Shaping of Bob Dylan's Legacy
On the 19th of June, 2020, Bob Dylan released his 39th studio album, Rough And Rowdy Ways, his first collection of original songs in eight years.In the first chapter of this Definitely Dylan mini-series, Laura begins her exploration of the new album by going back to Dylan’s 2016 Nobel win. What’s the difference between songs and literature? Who’s the secret hero of Rough And Rowdy Ways? And what d
In Conversation with Emma Swift about "Blonde On The Tracks"
This month, the Australian, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Emma Swift releases her album of Bob Dylan cover songs, Blonde On The Tracks.In our conversation, Emma tells me about the story behind the album, how she came up with the song selection, the advantages of singing Dylan as a woman, and the autobiographical dimension of cover songs.You can listen to and order your copy of Blonde On The Tr
In Anticipation of Rough And Rowdy Ways - What You Need To Know Before Its Release!
On Friday 19 June, Bob Dylan releases Rough and Rowdy Ways, his first album of original songs in eight years. Here's all the info you need to know to bring you up to speed on the whats, the whys, and the whos.Here is the link to the Dylan interview with Douglas Brinkley in the New York Times.Definitely Dylan is now on Patreon, where you can support my work and get access to bonus episodes and more
Bob Dylan's "I Contain Multitudes" - What Does It All Mean?
On the 17 April, Bob Dylan released his second surprise song in one month, "I Contain Multitudes". Borrowing more than just the title from Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself", Bob Dylan paints a vivid modern portrait of a country divided.For more info, please visit the Definitely Dylan website.Don’t forget to follow the show on Twitter and Instagram.Definitely Dylan is on Patreon, where you can s
Bob Dylan's "Murder Most Foul": JFK, Conspiracy Theories, and the Soul of America
In the midst of a terrifying pandemic, Bob Dylan has released his first original song in eight years. “Murder Most Foul” is a 17 minute long epic about the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But as with much of Dylan’s work, a closer look reveals much more.So what is Bob Dylan’s brand new song “Murder Most Foul” about?This episode is a reflection not only on this song, but also on what it means to
Recommended
Bible Tea
2819 Church
Markus Schulz presents Global DJ Broadcast
The Daily
The Joe Rogan Experience
The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
The Bread and Banter Podcast
Solved Murders - True Crime Stories
紐約鳥｜New York Aperture
Stand In The Circle
Doctor Zhivago Slow Read
