Podcast Summary: "Singing in the New Year with Carolyn Kendrick and Each Machine"
You're Wrong About
Host: Sarah Marshall
Guest: Carolyn Kendrick
Release Date: January 1, 2025
1. Introduction and New Year's Reflections
The episode kicks off with Sarah Marshall welcoming her producer, Carolyn Kendrick, marking a special New Year's Day collaboration. Their conversation quickly delves into the significance of the holiday as a moment of reflection and ritual.
Sarah Marshall opens the dialogue by expressing the paradox of time during the holidays:
"There is no time. Time is both forever and nothing. And the sense of the past year is just kind of... it's hard to compute."
[00:59]
Carolyn Kendrick shares her love for New Year's over Christmas, highlighting its role in providing a moment to honor time spent with each other and their audience:
"New Year's is my favorite holiday by far. And I find a lot of fondness in having, like, a bit of a moment to kind of reflect and honor the time that we've spent not just with each other... but also just with the audience."
[02:14]
2. Navigating Media Overload and Mental Health
Sarah and Carolyn discuss the overwhelming nature of modern media consumption, especially for neurodivergent listeners. They draw parallels between the past scarcity of media and today's abundance, likening the current state to a cacophonous restaurant where everyone's voices blend into an overwhelming noise.
Sarah Marshall articulates the challenge:
"It was a moment when we had access to more stuff than we could process or even know how to want past a certain point."
[05:03]
They emphasize the importance of selective engagement, advocating for meaningful conversations that empower listeners rather than contribute to the mental clutter.
3. Personal Routines as Sources of Peace
Carolyn delves into her morning routine, which serves as her anchor amidst the chaos of the year. Her practices include making coffee, reading poetry (currently Billy Collins), journaling extensively, and pulling tarot cards daily.
"I pull tarot cards every morning... I want to see which cards I've pulled statistically most often."
[07:58]
She shares her favorite tarot cards, such as the Knight of Wands and the Star, explaining their personal significance:
"It's like a purification card. And in some sense, it also has to do with hope and like, what your guiding light is through this world."
[09:05]
Sarah Marshall adds her own sources of peace for the year—gardening, cooking, and drawing—highlighting the therapeutic benefits of engaging in creative hobbies.
4. The Intersection of Art, Community, and Political Engagement
The conversation shifts to the broader societal context, addressing the tumultuous political climate and ongoing global conflicts. Carolyn reflects on balancing activism with personal well-being, emphasizing the need for sustainable engagement to prevent burnout.
Carolyn Kendrick remarks on the importance of creating an ecosystem of wellness:
"How do I pace myself? How do I connect? How do I recharge?... all interconnected."
[15:40]
They discuss the psychological impact of political polarization, advocating for understanding and compassion over anger towards those with differing views.
Sarah Marshall offers a poignant analogy related to personal relationships and political frustrations:
"If I sort of stay in a place of outrage about like, how could you do this?... it's like I'm giving them the same power that a person, like, gives parents who can't love them the way they need."
[18:43]
5. Carolyn Kendrick’s New Album: "Each Machine"
Introducing her latest work, Carolyn unveils her new album titled Each Machine. The album is a collection of reimagined folk songs inspired by themes explored in their podcast, particularly the Satanic panic era.
Carolyn Kendrick explains the album's concept:
"It's an album of folk songs that are reimagined. And most of the folk songs have to do with the devil and with allegory and with femininity and with, like, the political reality of being a woman."
[22:36]
She emphasizes the communal roots of her music, drawing from traditions of sharing songs around campfires and preserving historical folk narratives.
Sarah Marshall reflects on the artistic process and the challenges within the music industry:
"We do so much fame studies on this show that it can run the risk of being like, well, why bother?"
[25:12]
6. Art vs. Content in the Modern Media Landscape
The duo explores the blurring lines between art and content in today's digital age. They critique the commodification of personal expression, where authentic art is often overshadowed by content designed for likes and viral trends.
Sarah Marshall observes:
"Media has become content and art has become content. And like, your personal, like, vlog of your life and like, by extension, your life as well, can also become content."
[27:20]
Carolyn Kendrick counters by reaffirming the importance of creating art with intentionality and personal significance, regardless of external validation:
"I really had to kind of recenter being like, I am making music and putting music out because it is like the primary lens of my life."
[25:26]
They encourage listeners to pursue creative endeavors driven by personal passion rather than external approval.
7. Conclusion and Musical Sharing
As the episode nears its end, Carolyn shares an excerpt from her song "A Perfect World," which ties together the themes discussed throughout the conversation. The song reflects on the complexities of perfection and the inherent flaws within.
Carolyn Kendrick presents the lyrical snippet:
"I dreamt I saw a perfect world... The devil is in me. The devil lives in me."
[29:50]
Sarah expresses her excitement for the album release and thanks Carolyn for sharing her creative journey.
8. Where to Find "Each Machine"
Carolyn provides information on how listeners can access her new album:
"If you want physical copies... you can order the physical vinyl or a CD, which comes with a zine... If you want to stream it on the Internet, it's on Spotify, it's on Apple Music, it's on Tidal."
[24:09]
She also mentions a complementary zine available with physical purchases, enriching the listener's experience.
Key Takeaways
-
Balancing Media Consumption: The episode underscores the importance of selective engagement with media to maintain mental well-being, especially in an age of information overload.
-
Personal Rituals for Peace: Establishing daily routines, such as journaling and tarot reading, can provide stability and introspection amid societal chaos.
-
Artistic Integrity vs. Contentious Pressures: Carolyn advocates for creating art driven by personal passion and community connection, rather than succumbing to the pressures of virality and external validation.
-
Sustainable Activism: The conversation highlights the necessity of balancing activism with self-care to avoid burnout, emphasizing compassionate understanding over anger.
-
Community and Collaboration: Emphasizing collective effort, Sarah and Carolyn encourage listeners to engage with existing communities and contribute meaningfully rather than pursuing solo endeavors.
Notable Quotes:
-
Sarah Marshall:
"It feels like we're all already traumatized and we can use that information to deal with the large scale political trauma."
[18:47] -
Carolyn Kendrick:
"I am making music and putting music out because it is like the primary lens of my life."
[25:26] -
Sarah Marshall:
"If you like this show already, you're not allowed to not like it. So sorry."
[27:20]
Conclusion
In this reflective and introspective episode, Sarah Marshall and Carolyn Kendrick navigate the complexities of the past year, blending personal experiences with broader societal observations. Carolyn's introduction of her new album, Each Machine, serves as a testament to her commitment to authentic artistic expression and community engagement. Listeners are left with a sense of hope and encouragement to pursue their passions mindfully amidst the noise of the modern world.