41:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 43:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 44:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"ShareButton"] 45:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 46:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/0sxns9k8ywops.js","/_next/static/chunks/11fk-1ie3w6mp.js","/_next/static/chunks/1uc4qdk4uj22c.js","/_next/static/chunks/0jvahffpql9nd.js","/_next/static/chunks/0agcep-t686m_.js","/_next/static/chunks/2_mrasy1s2owt.js","/_next/static/chunks/1nsk8jrr9fqe6.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3a:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 font-mono text-[12px] uppercase tracking-[0.1em] text-[color:var(--fg-3)]","children":[["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-05-13T17:30:00.000Z","children":"May 13, 2026"}],["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"00:22:35"}],false]}] 3b:["$","p",null,{"className":"max-w-[60ch] text-[18px] leading-[1.5] text-[color:var(--fg-2)]","children":"Author and bookstore owner Emma Straub on the impact the Magnetic Fields album ‘69 Love Songs’ had on her life."}] 42:T407,

My guest today is the bestselling author Emma Straub. Her books include 'This Time Tomorrow,' 'Modern Lovers,' 'The Vacationers,' and more. And with her husband, Michael Fusco, she co-owns the beautiful Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic.

I'm so thrilled to have her on because, not only is she a wonderful writer, but Key Change is a series about music fandom and identity. And Emma's newest novel 'American Fantasy' is also about music fandom and identity. That story is set on a cruise ship centered around a nineties boy band and their fans.

But today, Emma's going to tell me her story about her own relationship with the music of The Magnetic Fields. Stephin Merritt from the Magnetic Fields was just named one of the greatest living American songwriters by the New York Times, and Emma’s introduction to their music was their 1999 triple album, '69 Love Songs.'

For more info, visit songexploder.net/emma-straub.