Mike Shinoda took a bold step last fall when he reintroduced Linkin Park with a new lineup featuring drummer Colin Brittain and singer Emily Armstrong as lead vocalist—taking on the role once held by Chester Bennington, who died by suicide in 2017.

Mike, who co-founded Linkin Park in 1996, has long served as the group’s de facto producer, as well as its MC and keyboardist. The band rose to massive success in the 2000s, with a run of genre-blending albums that have collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

In November, Linkin Park released From Zero, their eighth studio album and the first with Emily Armstrong as frontwoman. The record has already surpassed three billion streams online.

On today’s episode, Leah Rose talks to Mike Shinoda about why he chose not to retire Linkin Park—and instead took the creative risk of reinventing the band nearly 30 years after its formation. Mike also shares his favorite Linkin Park songs of all time and explains how the band managed to stand apart from the bro-centric, frat-boy culture that defined much of early-2000s nu-metal.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite songs from Mike Shinoda and Linkin Park HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesse Malin quite literally came of age onstage in the gritty clubs of New York City. At just 12 years old, he fronted Heart Attack—one of the earliest hardcore punk bands. After the band broke up in ‘84, Jesse went on to play in other groups, including Hope, and later co-founded D Generation, a glam-punk band that toured extensively through the '90s, opening for acts like Kiss, the Ramones, and Social Distortion.

In the early 2000s, Jesse launched a solo career, trading hardcore for a more singer-songwriter-driven approach. As a solo artist, he’s collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, and Billie Joe Armstrong. A true musician’s musician, Jesse has long been a beloved figure in the rock community.

So when he suffered a rare spinal stroke in 2023 that left him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, that community rallied around him. The result was Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin—a 2024 tribute album featuring covers of his songs by friends and admirers. Jesse is also debuting a musical this fall called, Jesse Malin’s Silver Manhattan: A Musical Guide To Survival, at the Gramercy Theatre in New York.

On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks with Jesse Malin about his colorful upbringing in Queens, how he found the nerve to try out for a gig at CBGB’s at age 12, and what it was like during the formative years of New York’s hardcore scene. Jesse also shares how his “positive mental attitude” helped him through the toughest chapter of his life—recovering from the stroke that nearly ended his ability to walk.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Jesse Malin songs HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The youngest Haim sister, Alana, started playing music with her older sisters, Danielle and Este, when she was just four years old. Back then, the three of them were part of their family band, Rockinhaim, playing charity gigs all over L.A. and the San Fernando Valley where they grew up.

After high school, Danielle was jamming in Laurel Canyon when Jenny Lewis spotted her and invited her to join her touring band. Not long after, she hit the road again—this time playing guitar and drums for Julian Casablancas. But eventually, Danielle came back home, ready to start a band with her sisters.

In 2012, Haim dropped their first EP, Forever, to critical acclaim. Pretty soon they were opening for A-listers like Taylor Swift, Rihanna, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

On today’s episode, Leah Rose sits down with Alana, Danielle, and Este to talk about their new album, I Quit—co-produced with longtime collaborator Rostam. The album dives into the highs and lows of single life in your 30s. The sisters also share why they still think like an opening band—even when they’re headlining stadiums—and the moment they realized not everyone grew up playing in a band with their parents.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Haim songs HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.