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Pretty Good Vibrations

Dan Koch

Pretty Good Vibrations analyzes and celebrates pop and rock music and its crucial role throughout our lives. Podcast veteran and host Dan Koch (You Have Permission Podcast) has been a professional musician for most of the last 20 years: songwriter for the emo-pop band Sherwood, then as a commercial composer since 2012. Multiple episode styles include bracket-style tournaments, chronological walk-throughs, and deep dives into genres, artists, and eras.

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  • 21 episodes
  • Avg 1 hr 33 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • Tuesday · 53 min

    The Album Cycle: Medium Build

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm back with another Album Cycle episode, focusing on the highs and lows of the three main phases of professional musician life: writing, recording, and performing or touring. Nick Carpenter, aka Medium Build, an Alaska-born indie Americana singer-songwriter, is my guest today. His new record, King of Having Fun, is out now. "I'm really asking myself, 'Why are you here? Who are you? What's going on outside of you? Is there a purpose?'" 02:10 – Writing 33:19 – Touring & Performing 46:52 – Recording ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • September 8 · 1 hr 7 min

    The Album Cycle: Emery

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I am back with another Album Cycle episode, focusing on the high's and low's of the three main phases of professional musician life: writing, recording, and performing or touring. Bassist Devin Shelton of the post-hardcore band Emery is my guest today. "You have to write quicker, you have to record quicker, you have to get on the road and tour. It's like everything becomes a part of a cog in the wheel of this machine that you've created, and if you slow down, you're gonna get forgotten or get in trouble." 09:56 – Writing 24:00 – Recording 48:24 – Touring ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • June 23 · 1 hr 35 min

    Underoath - "Young and Aspiring" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** After a long absence, I finally edited the most recent recording of an Emo Diaries episode -- my apologies, especially to Thomas! I'm joined by fellow therapist Thomas Cho for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's one of the all-time album openers in heavy music: "Young and Aspiring" by Florida Exvangelical poster boys Underoath. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • January 20 · 1 hr 26 min

    Dashboard Confessional - "Hands Down" (The Emo Diaries) *Fixed*

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** An earlier version of this episode was edited very poorly (automatically -- it was my fault!), so please listen to this fixed version. I'm joined by psychologist Daryl Van Tongeren for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's the white whale of 2000s emo: "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Dec 5, 2025 · 1 hr 28 min

    Brand New - "Jesus Christ" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm joined by best friend of the pod Jed Payne (Screamo & Post-Hardcore tournament episodes) for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Jesus Christ" by Brand New. Discussion of the song and band begins in earnest around 30:00. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Nov 11, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min

    Blink-182 - "Adam's Song" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm joined by fellow therapist and buddy Chris White for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Adam's Song" by Blink-182 -- and yes, we know they are not an emo band. We unpack how humor, adolescent angst, and grief intersect in the band’s work, and how this anthemic ballad helped normalize talking about depression. Expect music nerd tangents, production breakdowns, and psychological insight into why dark lyrics can be healing. [02:00] Why Chris Chose This Song [06:30] From Dude Ranch to Enema of the State [11:30] Blink’s Humor and Dual Voices [21:00] Jerry Finn, Loss & Grief [33:00] Listening & Emotions [41:00] Dark Lyrics & Healing [56:00] Production Nerd-Out & Wrap-Up ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Nov 6, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min

    Foo Fighters - "Everlong" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm joined by Sherwood's own Joe Greenetz for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Everlong" by Foo Fighters -- and yes, we know they are not an emo band. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 23, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min

    Pedro the Lion - "Magazine" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm joined by my friend Evan Rosa for an in-depth installment of The Emo Diaries (named after the legendary compilation series of the same name), a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Magazine" by Pedro the Lion. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 15, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min

    Death Cab for Cutie - "The New Year" (The Emo Diaries)

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I'm joined by returning guest Lindsay Strannigan for our next installment of The Emo Diaries (named after the legendary compilation series of the same name), a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "The New Year" by Death Cab for Cutie, from their album Transatlanticism. Join us as we travel back, quite specifically, to January 1st, 2003. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: dankochwords.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 9, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

    Top 10 Relient K Songs

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** I am back making Pretty Good Vibrations episodes, including some new ongoing series like this one: a "B-side" episode of The Album Cycle. Joe Greenetz (Sherwood) and I discuss our time on the road with Relient K, their unique strengths as a band, and each of our Top 5 RK songs. ___________________________ Episode playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0LY3FCNjcEUg5eZ3jWdsL4?si=e6f885383d4444bc Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 7, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min

    NEW SERIES: The Album Cycle w/Relient K's Jon Schneck

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** The boys are back in town! I am back making Pretty Good Vibrations episodes, including some new ongoing series like this one: The Album Cycle. These interview-based episodes will focus on the high's and low's of the three main phases of professional musician life: writing, recording, and performing or touring. This inaugural episode features Jon Schneck, guitarist for midwestern pop-punk-and-more legends Relient K. “The most interesting thing about recording is just making something that will be around forever.” 04:16 – Domain 1: Performing & Touring 45:29 – Domain 2: Recording 56:24 – Domain 3: Writing Jon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonschneck ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sep 25, 2025 · 1 hr 32 min

    NEW SERIES: The Emo Diaries (The Dangerous Summer - "No One's Gonna Need You More")

    ** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com ** The boys are back in town! I am back making Pretty Good Vibrations episodes, including some new ongoing series like this one: The Emo Diaries (based on the legendary compilation series of the same name), a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song from an ALL TIME TOP 100 EMO SONGS ranking I compiled using a secret algorithm. We start off with a track you might not be familiar with: "No One's Gonna Need You More" by The Dangerous Summer (#88 on my personal Top 100 list). Join returning guest and philosopher Aaron Simmons and me as we go back to the year 2011 and figure out why we love this band and song so much. ___________________________ Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: dankochwords.com Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Jun 30, 2025 · 2 hr 22 min

    Brian Wilson's Faith & Music

    I'm joined by David Zahl, returning YHP guest and editor-in-chief of Mockingbird's online magazine. David is also a massive Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan like myself, so I knew he would be perfect to talk with about what we know about Brian Wilson's personal faith and spirituality. We also celebrate what his music has meant to us personally, playing a lot of song clips along the way. This is a dual-feed episode on both the You Have Permission and Pretty Good Vibrations feeds because the content feels like it fits in both places. Brian Wilson passed away on June 11th. Although my attempt to have a strong line between the first half of the episode (more focused on his faith) and the second (mostly just focused on the music), things got a little blended up. Nonetheless, if you'd like to skip most of the faith/theology stuff, a good place to start listening is around the 60 min mark. ⁠David's piece on Brian ⁠ ⁠Playlist for today's episode⁠ ⁠Beach Boys Mega Tournament PGV episode Part 1⁠ ___________________________ Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 29, 2024 · 1 hr 59 min

    70s Punk Deep Dive & Tournament (Part 2)

    ** Part 2 of 2 ** The Sex Pistols, Misfits, Clash, Ramones, Stooges, Damned, Black Flag & more... This is where it all began for punk rock, and this week I'm joined by returning guest Roman Honeycutt (Weezer episodes) and our old bandmate and dear friend Jon Hwong. We pit the top bands from this era against each other in another winner-take-all tournament; we also discuss the aesthetics and graphic design of punk rock, how our love for these bands has changed as we've gotten older, and tell some funny stories. Part 2 drops next week. Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/05raKpsJiSZOv10ngevB45?si=79f381a5e0f74b52 Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 22, 2024 · 1 hr 31 min

    70s Punk Deep Dive & Tournament (Part 1)

    The Sex Pistols, Misfits, Clash, Ramones, Stooges, Damned, Black Flag & more... This is where it all began for punk rock, and this week I'm joined by returning guest Roman Honeycutt (Weezer episodes) and our old bandmate and dear friend Jon Hwong. We pit the top bands from this era against each other in another winner-take-all tournament; we also discuss the aesthetics and graphic design of punk rock, how our love for these bands has changed as we've gotten older, and tell some funny stories. Part 2 drops next week. Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/05raKpsJiSZOv10ngevB45?si=79f381a5e0f74b52 Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Oct 12, 2024 · 2 hr

    80s Punk Tournament (Re-Broadcast)

    ** This is a replay of an older episode, in anticipation of the upcoming 70s Punk & Proto-Punk Tournament ** Grab a 6-pack (or don’t if you’re Straight Edge) and get in the van! Your buddy’s copy of Book Your Own Fucking Life doesn’t have too many pages stuck together, and it looks like there’s just enough gas to get to Bakersfield for tonight’s basement show. Comedian Sam Tallent joins me as we pit songs by Black Flag, Bad Brains, Descendents, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks, and more against each other in a winner-takes-the-only-clean-towel tournament. This music has played a massive role in Sam’s life, and this conversation contains both lots of laughter and some pretty heartfelt moments. Part 2 drops next week. https://www.samtallent.com/ https://www.instagram.com/samtallent/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chubby-behemoth/id1527656616 Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rDmujcrBIKA8mv0aFESVi?si=1db09849cc5f44f1&pt=2fe533356ef2bd50cddc301609ba1409 Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Sep 10, 2024 · 1 hr 47 min

    90s Tooth & Nail Records Tournament

    MxPx. Slick Shoes. Project 86. Plankeye. Craig's Brother. Dogwood. Starflyer 59. Chances are good that these band names either 1) mean nothing at all to you, which makes you an average American, or 2) meant EVERYTHING to you for a few years of your life and probably still mean something. The rest of you have probably heard MxPx, but maybe nobody else on this list. For my longtime friend and guest Jon Havens and I, these bands meant pretty much everything to us at one point, and although we've moved on from most of them musically (not all of them!), listening back through the 90s catalog of Seattle Christian indie record label Tooth & Nail was the perfect excuse to revisit the years of our early friendship. We were Christian rock subculture kids, spending a lot of time at Evangelical youth group and swapping discs we got at Berean or Lifeway Christian Bookstore. And how did we not talk AT ALL about using rotary phone cords as wallet chains...? Listen as we pit 16 of these artists against each other in a bracket-style tournament. Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wGEGFcqSzIp34m3KsJOiS?si=31d72f88216d46cb PGV Shirts: prettygoodvibrations.bigcartel.com PGV Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/802347208310205/ Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Aug 27, 2024 · 1 hr 47 min

    70s Pop & Rock Mega Tournament (Part 3)

    **THIS IS PART 3** Ben Bishop is back! This time, we bask in the glow of the FM radio dial as we pit 70s pop and rock superstars against each other. We're talking Bowie, Zeppelin, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Elton John... Episodes will continue to come out during this hectic next year of my life, but not on a weekly basis. A '90s Tooth & Nail Records tournament has been recorded but not edited yet, and we'll see what else gets added to the queue... Thanks everyone for listening! Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Lx7iyk6jvRyANANHQ7XTC?si=840239a748b243c8 PGV Shirts: prettygoodvibrations.bigcartel.com PGV Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/802347208310205/ Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Aug 20, 2024 · 1 hr 43 min

    70s Pop & Rock Mega Tournament (Part 2)

    **THIS IS PART 2** Ben Bishop is back! This time, we bask in the glow of the FM radio dial as we pit 70s pop and rock superstars against each other. We're talking Bowie, Zeppelin, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Elton John... Episodes will continue to come out during this hectic next year of my life, but not on a weekly basis. A '90s Tooth & Nail Records tournament has been recorded but not edited yet, and we'll see what else gets added to the queue... Thanks everyone for listening! Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Lx7iyk6jvRyANANHQ7XTC?si=840239a748b243c8 PGV Shirts: prettygoodvibrations.bigcartel.com PGV Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/802347208310205/ Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  • Aug 13, 2024 · 1 hr 34 min

    70s Pop & Rock Mega Tournament (Part 1)

    Ben Bishop is back! This time, we bask in the glow of the FM radio dial as we pit 70s pop and rock superstars against each other. We're talking Bowie, Zeppelin, Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Elton John... Episodes will continue to come out during this hectic next year of my life, but not on a weekly basis. A '90s Tooth & Nail Records tournament has been recorded but not edited yet, and we'll see what else gets added to the queue... Thanks everyone for listening! Spotify playlist for today's episode: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Lx7iyk6jvRyANANHQ7XTC?si=840239a748b243c8 PGV Shirts: prettygoodvibrations.bigcartel.com PGV Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/802347208310205/ Dan's music licensing library: https://dankoch.net/library Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/ Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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