Shoving Wilco

Welcome to another episode of the "Shoving Wilco" podcast. In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome a very special guest, Ben Dudley, with Free Guitars 4 Kids. This incredible organization operates on a powerful belief: every child should be able to experience both the joy and the tangible benefits of owning a musical instrument, regardless of his or her ability to purchase one.

They have partnered with over 20 different nonprofits, schools, churches, and after-school program partners to deliver the gift of music.

Ben's journey is as fascinating as it is inspiring. Before founding "Free Guitars 4 Kids," he served as a pastor and finds the music of Wilco to be incredibly theological. Ben shares more on how Wilco can transcend mere entertainment to touch the spiritual. In fact, Todd and Ben find a way to connect Scripture to the Wilco canon. It's a fascinating conversation and one you won't want to miss.

Don't forget to check out Free Guitars 4 Kids.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, host Todd Rossnagel catches up with none other than Paul Suwan, the legendary "Wilco Superfan." Todd and Paul dive into the life and experiences of the man who's been dubbed the most dedicated Wilco enthusiast by none other than Jeff Tweedy himself.

Paul Suwan, a freelance writer and editor, is renowned for his contributions to the Via Chicago forum, a hallowed ground for Wilco fans, where he has shared countless show recaps and setlists over the years. But what truly sets Paul apart is his incredible devotion to the band's live performances – a devotion so profound that even Jeff Tweedy humorously remarked, "Paul has attended more Wilco shows than there have been Wilco shows!"

Learn more about Paul's intimate connection with Wilco. Paul recounts how it all began, sharing heartfelt stories of his early encounters with Wilco's music and pivotal moments, including memorable shows in New York City days after 9-11.

You can follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram: @paulsuwan

Wanna reach Todd? Email him: [email protected]

Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born is an album wrapped in mystery, experimentation, and one of the most strikingly simple album covers in rock history—a single white egg.

In this episode, we sit down with photographer Michael Schmelling, the creative mind behind the iconic image, to explore the story behind its creation.

We dig into Jeff Tweedy’s curiosity about whether an egg had ever graced an album cover, Walter Sear’s belief that the egg is "the greatest marketing package of all time," and the deeper symbolism fans have attached to it over the years.

From the artistic process to the power of minimalism, Schmelling gives us a behind-the-scenes look at one of Wilco’s most memorable visuals.

Click here to browse Michael's work.

Want to reach the show? Send us an email: [email protected]

Hi everyone, and welcome to Shoving Wilco - a podcast celebrating the music of Wilco.

My name is Todd Rossnagel, and I live in Louisiana - just outside of Baton Rouge, LA, and — as you might have guessed, I am a big fan of Wilco. I’ve been a fan - since the very first album.

And in this podcast - we will focus on the band that began in 1994 — based in Chicago, Illinois, and is regarded by many as today’s greatest rock and roll band. But are they a rock and roll band? Are they better classified as alt-country? Could you call them a punk band? Some of the many topics we will explore here on Shoving Wilco.

Now - you might be asking yourself — why is this podcast called SHOVING Wilco? Well, if you know me — and even if you’ve just met me — there’s a good chance you will hear me talking about Wilco. If you come to my house, you’ll listen to Wilco - if you come to my office, you’ll see Wilco posters. Some say I SHOVE Wilco in their faces! (Hopefully, I will do that in a good way!)

Plus, if you go to a concert with me, you’ll likely receive a shove when we jam together at a Wilco show.

Why the love for Wilco? Well, in many ways, they’re one of the few bands that get BETTER with time...ALL of their albums are phenomenal. And more specifically — for me — Wilco is the soundtrack to my life. I first started listening to them in COLLEGE, so think about that - Wilco has been there for every significant LIFE event for me. There’s an album for the year I got married — albums for each of our children’s birth - albums for the toddler year, the pre-teen years, the teen years, and beyond...albums for career changes - albums and songs for the highs in life, the lows in life and everything in between...

And I’ve lost count to how many Wilco shows I’ve been to — and I can’t begin to describe some of those moments...sharing Wilco with friends and seeing their faces light up during Impossible Germany - or any of the countless live songs that — well — just need to be experienced live.

I work in the church space. I am the Director of Communications for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, and if you know me, I am deeply theological, and yes - Wilco is deeply theological. In fact, we will unpack some of the theology of Wilco, and I can’t wait to do that with pastor colleagues of mine across the connection.

I have a number of friends of mine who are Wilco fans — and I hope to be connecting with them and experts in the music space as we study just how Wilco has been able to sustain itself and how the band continues to resonate and — at the same time — re-invent itself while seemingly staying true to itself.

One of my closest friends - Tim Arnold - will be featured in the first few episodes — in fact, I have Tim to thank for this podcast as he and I have been talking about Wilco for — well — thirty years, and you’ll get to eavesdrop into some of those conversations.

Our first four episodes will cover the entire discography of Wilco - we’ll talk about our favorite songs, some songs that are underrated, and lest you think this is a podcast that cannot be critical of Wilco - we will dole out some criticism too.

Have an idea for an episode? Or - just want to comment, email me.

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, host Todd Rossnagel catches up with the legendary "Wilco Superfan," Paul Suwan, for part 2 of their conversation.

Renowned for his contributions to the Via Chicago forum, Paul's undying devotion to Wilco's live performances has earned him the title of "Superfan." As a freelance writer and editor, Paul's passion for the band shines through as he shares his experiences and favorite concert moments during the captivating conversation with Todd.

In this episode, Paul talks about his guest appearance in a Wilco music video and a rather infamous time when Paul shared a bathtub with Jeff Tweedy! Plus, they talk about a rather iconic moment in any Wilco show; the moment when Jeff chants, 'Nothing!'.

Follow Paul on Twitter and Instagram: @paulsuwan

Wanna reach Todd? Email him: [email protected]