Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Pushkin
Pushkin
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Music and storytelling meet on Broken Record, where artists across genres and generations sit down to explore the joy, chaos, and vulnerability of creating—and what it means to devote a life to music. From legendary icons to groundbreaking new voices, each episode captures artists in conversation sharing the inspirations and experiences that shape their craft.

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  1. 1d ago

    Revisiting: Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament

    Pearl Jam used to have a drummer. Then Matt Cameron quit the group in 2025 after 27 years. Over a year later, we still don’t know who’ll be joining the group. As we wait, we’ll revisit a conversation Leah Rose had with guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, two of Grunge’s most foundational musicians. Stone and Jeff started playing together in 1984 as members of Green River, which eventually dissolved, leading singer Mark Arm to form Mudhoney. Later, Jeff played bass and Stone played guitar in Mother Love Bone until their lead singer Andrew Wood died of an overdose just days before their major label debut in March of 1990. Reeling from Andy’s death, Jeff and Stone started recording with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell on a side project called Temple Of The Dog that featured vocals from a then unknown singer from San Diego named Eddie Vedder. Later that year, Jeff and Stone asked Eddie to join their new band with guitarist Mike McCready. As Pearl Jam, they released their debut album Ten in August of ‘91—the album went 13 times platinum and charted on Billboard for nearly five years. Since then, Pearl Jam have released 11 more albums and built a die-hard fan base thanks in part to their outstanding live shows. Their last album, Dark Matter, was warmly received by fans and critics alike.  You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Pearl Jam songs HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting: Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament

  2. 3d ago

    Easy Mo Bee

    A 1991 court ruling deciding the case between Warner Music and Biz Markie for his sampling of Gilbert O’Sullivan on the song “Along Again” changed how rap producers approached beat making and helped solidify the unique sound of our guest, Easy Mo Bee. Easy got his start producing multiple tracks on Big Daddy Kane’s sophomore album It’s A Big Daddy Thing but his signature sound came together on Craig Mack’s classic “Flava In Ya Ear.” That was the debut single for Bad Boy Records, a label Mo Bee would continue to have success with through his work with the legendary Notorious B.I.G. on songs like “Going Back To Cali” and “Gimmie the Loot.” Mo Bee also has classic tracks with GZA, Tupac, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy and more. We discuss how he came to his trademark style, the stories behind some of his classic tracks, producing the final Miles Davis album just before his passing and his new book ICONIC BEATS: Easy Mo Bee's Unforgettable Tracks for Biggie, Tupac, & Hip-Hop's Greatest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Easy Mo Bee

  3. Nov 5

    Revisiting: Billy Corgan

    The Smashing Pumpkins are having a revival of sorts. They’re in the middle of their RATS IN A CAGE tour commemorating 30 years since the release of their album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. With no less than four singles—Zero, Bullet With Butterfly Wings, Tonight Tonight and 1979—Mellon Collie was an absolute phenomenon when it was released. 30 years later and Corgan and the Pumpkins are enjoying a true resurgence of interest from young fans, a rededication from long-time fans and if not a full critical reassessment of the band’s legacy, at least an acceptance that The Pumpkins are a band that we’ll always have to contend with when discussing the alternative music surge of the 1990s. As for Corgan, he’s never sat patiently waiting for a new peak. Instead he’s spent the last few decades exploring seemingly any interest: owning the National Wrestling Alliance / NWA and a contract with TNA wrestling, an outspoken advocate of free speech through appearances on InfoWars, Joe Rogan and Bill Maher’s show. He also has his own podcast “The Magnificent Others” that’s a part of Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast network. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Billy Corgan HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting: Billy Corgan

  4. Nov 3

    John Legend

    John Legend has a new album out. This is his eleventh but he hasn’t made anything quite like it before. It’s called Muse and it’s a 16-track record produced in full by Pharrell Williams, who also helped co-wrote and appears on six songs. The two have been friends for more than twenty years, but this is their first full-length collaboration. The project took shape after Legend appeared on Clipse’s comeback album, Let God Sort Em Out last year which Pharell also produced. The result trades the straightforward love-song approach for more of a concept album feel: a narrative story driven by dramatic strings, big horns, and cinematic soundscapes layered over contemporary beats. All the while, Legend has also been working on the theater side of his career. He wrote the music for Imitation of Life, a new musical at The Shed in co-production with the National Black Theatre, starring Tony winner Adrienne Warren.On today’s episode, Justin Richmond talks to John Legend about making Muse with Pharrell, what it meant to make something a little out of his oeuvre and how writing for the stage on Imitation of Life differs from writing for his own repertoire. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from John Legend HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    John Legend

  5. Oct 29

    Revisiting: RAYE

    To close out the year we’ve been revisiting some favorite conversations from over the years. We started a couple of weeks ago with Patti Smith and Raphael Saadiq. This week we’re revisiting a conversation with English pop singer/songwriter RAYE. RAYE just won the Mercury Prize over the weekend for her sophomore release, THIS ALBUM MAY CONTAIN HOPE. that featured the huge single Where Is My Husband?But this conversation covers her debut album, MY 21ST CENTURY BLUES which won Album of the Year and a historic total six wins at the 2024 Brit Awards. In our chat we discuss how a quote from Nina Simone gave her the courage to take control of her career and she explains the inspiration behind her sprawling multi-part single, “Genesis.” You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite RAYE songs HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting: RAYE

  6. Oct 27

    Rhiannon Giddens

    For more than 20 years, Rhiannon Giddens has explored the musical traditions that shaped American culture, often bringing overlooked Black musicians and their contributions into focus. On her new album, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers, she brings together collaborators from throughout her career for a collection of songs deeply rooted in her native North Carolina. In this conversation with Bruce Headlam, Rhiannon talks about the making of the album, how Emily Dickinson’s poetry inspired the title track, and why preserving the human element of music is more important to her than ever. She also discusses her new book, Go Back and Fetch It, which explores the early history of Black music in America and the Caribbean, and the influence of musicians like Elizabeth Cotten and Ola Belle Reed. Along the way, Rhiannon reflects on the importance of making music with other people, the traditions we've lost along the way, and the creative process behind her Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Omar. You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Rhiannon Giddens HERE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Rhiannon Giddens

  7. Oct 23

    Revisiting: Raphael Saadiq

    Today we’re revisiting a conversation with R&B great Raphael Saadiq. Since this conversation aired, Raphael’s brother and bandmate in trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, D’Wayne Wiggins, passed away. In this episode we revisit some of the early days and recordings sessions of Tony! Toni! Toné!, their reunion tour and D’Wayne’s early involvement with Destiny’s Child.  We also dive deep into Raphael’s solo career which has seen him release five albums starting with 2002’s Instant Vintage. His most recent album, Jimmy Lee, is a collection of very personal songs about the real traumas he and his family experienced growing up in Oakland, CA. Raphael’s also done some amazing work behind the board. He’s produced and written for the likes of D’Angelo, TLC, Mary J. Blige, Solange, Earth Wind and Fire and just recently he worked on a handful of songs on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter. He’s also earned an Academy Award nomination for his work as a film composer. Justin Richmond talks with Raphael Saadiq from his studio in Los Angeles about some of the incredible work he’s done recently. Raphael breaks down his collaboration with D’Angelo on the classic track “Lady,” and how Sly Stone bassist Larry Graham influenced a generation of musicians coming up in the Bay Area. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Revisiting: Raphael Saadiq

  8. Oct 20

    Grace Cummings

    Australian singer-songwriter Grace Cummings has one of those voices that’s hard to forget. It’s raw, powerful and deeply expressive, capable of moving from a delicate whisper to a full-throated roar. Broken Record host Justin Richmond first discovered Grace in 2019, when her debut album, Refuge Cove, was released on Flightless Records, the label founded by members of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. With its stripped-down arrangements, plaintive songwriting and commanding vocals, the album quickly became one of Justin’s favorites. Since then, Grace has expanded her sound considerably. For her two most recent albums, 2024’s Ramona and this year’s Bloodhorse!, she teamed up with Topanga Canyon-based producer Jonathan Wilson, who has worked with artists including Angel Olsen, Father John Misty and Margo Price. Together, they’ve moved beyond the spare acoustic sound of her early recordings, building lush, dramatic arrangements around Grace’s unmistakable voice and deeply personal songs. On today’s episode, Grace talks with Justin about making Bloodhorse!, her Irish heritage and the influence of traditional Irish folk music on her songwriting. She also treats us to two performances, playing “Judy’s Pool” and “John Lennon.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Music and storytelling meet on Broken Record, where artists across genres and generations sit down to explore the joy, chaos, and vulnerability of creating—and what it means to devote a life to music. From legendary icons to groundbreaking new voices, each episode captures artists in conversation sharing the inspirations and experiences that shape their craft.

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