Part 1 of my conversation with guest James Gralian as we discuss the future of podcasting. I've also got music from Mean Creek, Foxy Shazam and Nothing.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Check out James' show The Avs Hockey Podcast

- Also produces podcast for Denver Symphony Orchestra

- We last spoke on this topic four years ago

- 10th anniversary of podcasting

- Tools are more accessible than ever

- James: Don't see as many quality podcasts as I expected

- Apple has played big role, positive and negative

- James listens to Radiolab, Welcome to Nightvale, Definitely Not the Opera, 99% Invisible, among other podcasts

- There are many "two white guys talking" podcasts

- Waiting for the next interesting thing

- Most podcasters aren't in it for the money

- James: Not sure whether sponsors are getting a good return

- Trying to have fun and be creative with Avs Hockey Podcast

- Professional podcasters vs. hobbyists

- Marc Maron is a podcasting success story; turned his entire career around

- Commercial radio is much less interesting these days

- Parallels with late night TV and Letterman's retirement

- More freedom on basic cable for Stewart and Colbert

- Are podcasters using their voice?

- Having guests can bring new energy to a show

- What constitutes success in podcasting?

- To be continued

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

Music:

Mean Creek - Johnny Allen

Foxy Shazam - Brutal Truth

Nothing - Bent Nail

The Mean Creek song is on the album Local Losers on Old Flame Records. Download the song for free at Soundcloud.

The Foxy Shazam song is on the self-released album Gonzo. Download the album for free (in exchange for your email address) at Noisetrade.

The song by Nothing is on the album Guilty of Everything on Relapse Records. Download the song for free at Amazon.

Part 2 of my conversation with guest Brian Salvatore as we look back at the music of 1984. I've also got music from Hallelujah the Hills, Feral Jenny and Red Sea.

Show notes:

- Recorded via Skype

- Check out Brian's comics podcast The Hour Cosmic

- Brian's #5

- Pretenders are very underrated

- Chrissie Hynde got a late start in rock

- Jay's #5

- Saw R.E.M.'s first national TV appearance on Letterman

- Brian's #4

- Minutemen covered a wide range of styles

- Mike Watt's interesting career

- Scott Asheton, R.I.P.

- James Williamson went from playing with Iggy to become a Silicon Valley exec

- Jay's #4

- Van Halen inadvertently helped create hair metal

- Brian's #3

- Meat Puppets created a unique sound

- Most people became aware of them a decade later

- Jay's #3

- Replacements' sound evolved from punk to more mature rock

- Brian's #2 was his #1 when we started talking

- Jay's #2

- Husker Du was coming into its own in '84

- So much good music on SST in the early to mid-'80s

- Brian's #1

- Gordon Gano wrote first two Violent Femmes albums while in high school

- Serious gospel undertones

- Jay's #1

- Purple Rain was a masterpiece

- Jay chronicled 1984 in a diary reprinted on Kumar's Blizznog

- Next up: 1986

Completely Conspicuous is available through the iTunes podcast directory. Subscribe and write a review!

Music:

Hallelujah the Hills - Pick Up an Old Phone

Feral Jenny - Law & Order

Red Sea - Down with the Crown

The Hallelujah the Hills song is on the album Have You Ever Done Something Evil? on Discrete Pageantry. Download the song for free at Stereogum.

The Feral Jenny song is on the EP Bedrooms. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.

The Red Sea song is on the EP Yardsticks for Human Intelligence. Download the song for free at Bandcamp.