MusicArtsPerforming Arts

Wheels Off with Rhett Miller

Rhett Miller

Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for the Old 97s, hosts “Wheels Off” a show about the messy reality of the creative life. Conversations with musicians, writers, artists, actors, and comedians about the pivotal moments that shaped their work, what it means to create in a digital age and grapple with the challenges, and the joy, of living a creative life.

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22 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 35 min
English

Episodes 22

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#256
September 29 · 34 min
Eric D. Johnson on Fruit Bats, Bonny Light Horseman, and Songwriting
The Fruit Bats' frontman on Songwriting, Chicago Indie Rock, and Following Your Creative Instinct
#255
September 15 · 42 min
Hrishikesh Hirway on songwriting, co-writing, and returning to music
The creator of Song Exploder on songwriting, co-writing, and returning to music after almost a decade.
September 1 · 25 min
Singer-songwriter Caleb Caudle on his new album and building his own label
North Carolina singer-songwriter Caleb Caudle joins Rhett ahead of a run of Texas and Louisiana dates with Old 97's. Caleb talks about his new album, Heavy Thrill, and his brand-new label, Handplow Records; recording at Johnny Cash's Cash Cabin studio; and how a punk-rock kid ended up writing alt-country. He and Rhett also get into burning out on the road, and Caleb shares what 13 years of sobriety have taught him. His new album Heavy Thrill (Handplow Records) is available now. Follow Caleb @calebcaudle Follow Rhett @rhettmiller Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer is Kirsten Cluthe, Studio Kairos. Music by Old 97's. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Watch the podcast on YouTube and Spotify, and listen 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, Lucinda Williams, Stewart Copeland, Jennifer Egan, Nick Hornby, and more. New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#254
August 18 · 33 min
Kishi Bashi on 'Sonderlust' at 10, Creative Boredom, and Surfing for Songwriting Inspiration
Violinist and filmmaker Kishi Bashi joins Rhett to explore how to sustain a 15-year career by treating records as snapshots, finding focus in nature, and mastering creative growth.
August 4 · 44 min
Jobi Riccio: Americana Singer-Songwriter on Finding Her Voice
Jobi Riccio is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter with a resume that already includes the John Prine Songwriters Fellowship, a Grand Ole Opry appearance, and tours with Jason Isbell, Lucius, and Iron & Wine. She joins Rhett to talk about her musical path, which runs from bluegrass jams to the indie-leaning rock of her latest record, Face the Feeling. Riccio is candid about quieting her inner critic and the songwriting lesson that helped her face down imposter syndrome. She and Rhett also dig into how climate activism fuels her writing, and what she's learned about holding her own as a solo performer. Face the Feeling is out now. Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer is Kirsten Cluthe, Studio Kairos. Music by Old 97's. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Watch the podcast on YouTube and Spotify, and listen 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, Lucinda Williams, Stewart Copeland, Jennifer Egan, Nick Hornby, and more. New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe wherever you listen. If you like what you hear, please leave us a rating or review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#252
July 21 · 38 min
Jim Ward: New Sparta Record, Punk Rock, and Chasing that Guitar Tone
Jim Ward joins Rhett to talk about songwriting, guitar tone, and learning how to be a frontman
#251
July 7 · 28 min
Tift Merritt on Her New Album Sugar & Making a Life in Music
On Sugar, songwriting, and returning to music after a decade away
#250
June 23 · 30 min
Josh Ritter on Songwriting, Mentorship, and the Creative Life
From Pete Seeger's Postcard to 20 Years on the Road
#249
June 9 · 48 min
Aaron Lee Tasjan on Joy, Songwriting, and Learning to Let Go
Aaron Lee Tasjan joins Rhett for a conversation about joy as armor, the craft of songwriting, and the long game of staying creatively alive. Tasjan talks about why he does his best work from a higher, more positive frequency — and what that actually means for writing songs. He unpacks why creativity gets harder with age, the books that shaped his process, and why the most powerful thing a young artist can do is realize they have more time than they think. Pre-order Get Over It Underdog. Follow Aaron Lee Tasjan @aaronleetassjan Follow Rhett @rhettmiller Aaron will be joining Rhett at his Songwriting Is Magic retreat in September. Learn more here. Wheels Off is hosted and produced by Rhett Miller. Executive producer is Kirsten Cluthe, Studio Kairos. Music by Old 97’s. Episode artwork by Mark Dowd. Show logo by Tim Skirven. Watch the podcast on YouTube and Spotify, and listen 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, Lucinda Williams, Stewart Copeland, Jennifer Egan, Nick Hornby, 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
#248
May 15 · 30 min
Emily Franklin: Love and Other Monsters, Writing 25 Books, and the Creative Life
The author of Love and Other Monsters on writing routines, silencing the inner critic, and why poetry is the scaffolding under everything.
#247
April 28 · 28 min
Anthony Horowitz: Why the World Needs a Good Whodunit
One of Crime Fiction's Most Prolific Writers on Craft, Truth, and A Deadly Episode
#246
April 14 · 35 min
Alexis Krauss (Sleigh Bells): Creativity, Instinct, and the Long Game
Sleigh Bells' Alexis Krauss on Art, Identity, and Longevity
#245
March 31 · 36 min
Kevn Kinney: Songwriting, Sobriety, and 40 Years of Doing It His Way
The Drivin N' Cryin frontman on making the "ultimate" album, learning to listen, and why punk rockers are the real hippies
#244
February 17 · 40 min
Jared Mezzocchi on Creativity, Grief, and Building “Impossible” Theater
Jared Mezzocchi on creativity, technology, and trusting your instincts as an artist
#242
February 8 · 39 min
Rodney Crowell on Intention, Patience, and the Long Game
Inside Rodney Crowell’s creative method
#243
February 3 · 31 min
Lizzie No on Surviving the New Music Economy
Songwriting, community, and why live, imperfect music matters now
#241
January 6 · 42 min
Hayes Carll on Creativity as a Long Game
The acclaimed Texas songwriter reflects on risk, collaboration, silence, and what it takes to keep making meaningful work over decades.
#240
Dec 23, 2025 · 35 min
Will Johnson: Songwriting, Collaboration, and the Long Game
From Diamond City to the 400 Unit—on songwriting addiction, collaboration, and respecting the quiet seasons.
#239
Dec 9, 2025 · 29 min
Clover County
Clover County on Songwriting, Authenticity, and the Creative Life Behind Her Debut Album
#238
Nov 25, 2025 · 36 min
The Bones of J.R. Jones
The Bones of J.R. Jones: Creativity, Identity & the Art of Reinvention

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes