It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And also the darkest… literally. The solstice is a time of reflection, when we acknowledge past struggles and victories, joys and sorrows. The holiday edition of Dead to Me explores how the Grateful Dead’s music helps us heal. Dead To Me Executive Producer Kevin Hill joins us to talk about how the band’s music helped him recover from a near-death experience. Later, Maria Spinella, executive producer of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, reflects on the band’s transformative role in her life—from her days as a teenage concertgoer to the aftermath of profound personal loss. Feed Your Head profiles reluctant Deadhead Trixie Garcia, daughter of Jerry and the executor of his estate. At the end of the day, this show is about family and the powerful connections forged between human beings. Our frailties and hardships, as well as our grace and resilience. Oh, and also that fat guy with the beard.

Good tidings from all of us at Dead to Me, and we’ll see you in the New Year.

We’ve already established that are so many roads to Dead fandom. But with decades’ worth of music and lore to sift through, cultivating a deeper appreciation can be a challenge. This episode looks at the tools we use to dig the Dead, and how context is key to finding your seat on the bus. Ed and Casey examine the band’s online presence from the days of dial-up to our current era of 24/7 access, along with the digital platforms that make it easier to get your Dead on. Here’s a heavy trip: at some point in the not-too-distant future, the people who made this music—and everyone who saw the original band live—will be dust and bones. Is access a valid surrogate for experience? Will Dead culture perpetuate when the legacy is archive-only? Later, Casey gets down with Neal Casal, guitarist for the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Circles Around the Sun. A thoughtful and engaging player and thinker, Neal has also collaborated with Cass McCombs’ Skiffle Players, Beachwood Sparks, Phil Lesh, and Bob Weir. He shares tips on where to dive in and offers a heartfelt account of his own Dead devotion. Plus a Feed Your Head profile on the biggest Deadhead around: the internet.

A ChunkyGlasses Production

Neal Casal of Circles Around The Sun and The Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Show Notes

Grateful Dead Resources:

Live Music Archive

Relisten

Grateful Dead Archive Online

Headyversion

Grateful Dead Guide

Save Your Face

At first blush, the Grateful Dead have nothing to do with punk and metal. Or do they? Ed and Casey look at the surprising ways the Dead connect to other musical movements on the underground and elsewhere. Have the walls separating punk, hardcore, metal and jam finally come down? We brought in two special guests to help us investigate. Jay Coyle is the founder of Music Geek Services and an instructor at Berklee Online. He talks about the Dead’s trailblazing direct-to-fan efforts and how DIY became the going rate in today’s music marketplace. Michael Brunetto is a self-professed “metal kid” and musician who shares his experiences as a longtime Deadhead who also loves the heavier stuff. Plus another Feed Your Head, this time featuring punk rock icon and Deadhead Henry Rollins.

A ChunkyGlasses Production

We don’t blame you if you’re burned out on politics. The lead up to the 2018 midterm elections has been relentless. This episode is a great way to decompress while staying plugged in. Special guest Robert Costa—national political reporter for the Washington Post and moderator of Washington Week on PBS—talks about music, culture and political movements along with his love of all things Dead. Casey and Ed examine the Dead’s influence on politicians and pundits across the political spectrum and challenge the conventional wisdom regarding the band’s apolitical outlook. All that plus a Feed Your Head profile on news icon and Deadhead Walter Cronkite. Don’t forget to vote!

People tend to think of the Grateful Dead as a hippie band spreading sunshine and light. While the good vibes are for real, there’s also an otherworldly darkness in throughout their story. For the Halloween edition of Dead to Me, Casey and Ed take a look at everything from the occult ambience in the early scene to the band’s hair-raising improvisations. Special guest Jason George, a longtime taper and horror buff, talks about Jerry Garcia’s love of the macabre and how the Dead embraced the uncanny. Feed Your Head profiles the academics who conducted mass-ESP experiments at six Dead concerts in 1971. Happy Halloween!

How does a Dead-skeptic become a Dead enthusiast? For host Casey Rae, the transformation was gradual but profound. Co-host Eduardo Nunes offers insights on his own path to Headdom, while visual artist and live music veteran Susan Norton describes how the culture within and around the Dead affected her creative trajectory. Plus Feed Your Head, a micro-profile of unusual and interesting Deadheads—this edition featuring mythologian Joseph Campbell.