Five decades after sparking the counterculture movement, the Grateful Dead are more alive than ever, and filmmaker Emmett Malloy wants to find out how. In this limited-run series from Sonos, join Emmett as he unpacks how a band of misfits changed American music, culture and consciousness forever, as told through the eyes of Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend), Animal Collective, mycologist Paul Stamets, Lila Downs, Margo Price and many more. What can the Grateful Dead tell us... about us?
Produced by work x work for Sonos
Latest episodes
Showing 11 · updated from the feed
Finding Sobriety Through the Dead, with Grateful Don
We arrive at the last episode of our show, and a new understanding of the power of the Dead community. For this one, we’re turning our episode over to Grateful Don, found
Sep 15 2022 22 min
Branford Marsalis Believes in Deadheads
Branford Marsalis is a world famous jazz saxophonist and three time GRAMMY Award winner. Then, in the early 90s, Marsalis joined the Dead onstage for a series of shows no
Sep 15 2022 17 min
The Creation of a Visual Language, with ESPO and Online Ceramics
“The dancing bears, the steal your face logo, they're probably known on Mars at this point,” says artist ESPO. In this episode, we’re asking why these images have such st
Sep 15 2022 15 min
How the Dead Changed Lila Downs’ Life
Lila Downs is a six time GRAMMY winner who has recorded duets with artists from Santana to Nora Jones and even sang for Barack Obama at the white house. But before all th
Sep 15 2022 18 min
Mac DeMarco and Animal Collective are Channeling the Dead
Emmett sits down with Mac DeMarco and members of the band Animal Collective, artists who are keeping the spirit of the Dead alive today – not just in the music they make,
Sep 15 2022 22 min
Paul Stamets Says Eat Your Mushrooms
It all began with a bag of mushrooms… and a bolt of lightning. Today, Paul Stamets is the world’s most famous mycologist (mushroom scientist) but we begin by going back t
Sep 15 2022 21 min
Margo Price and Bob Weir in Conversation
Margo Price is a true force in country music. Political, opinionated, an incredible creative talent. Her latest project is a new podcast from Sonos called Runaway Horses.
Sep 15 2022 30 min
The Strange Hippie Default Mechanism, with Sam Cutler
“The Grateful Dead viewed the very idea of planning as being some kind of fascist concept” says Sam Culter, the Dead’s tour manager from 1969 to 1974. Cutler is the guy w
Sep 15 2022 20 min
The Dead are Channeling God, with Dr. Varun Soni and Sage
“The Grateful Dead saved me,” says Dr. Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California. And he’s not alone. In this episode, Dr. Soni argues t
Sep 15 2022 21 min
Ezra Koenig, in Defense of the Dead
Ezra Koenig is an unlikely evangelist for the Grateful Dead, and that’s exactly why we brought him on the show. In this first episode of America’s Dead, hear the Vampire
Sep 15 2022 25 min
Start Here
Five decades after sparking the counterculture movement, the Grateful Dead are more alive than ever, and filmmaker Emmett Malloy wants to find out how. In this limited-ru
Sep 8 2022 2 min
Chart positions
Where America's Dead ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 13, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Whether you are a Dead Head or not (I am!) this is a good access point for people. Super interesting content and juxtaposition. Keep up the episodes and I love the personal touch that the host offers up every episode. Thanks for the last episode as I am a sober Dead Head as well. BRAVO!
Schooniverse · Dec 2022
This podcast gets into some really important questions that I too think about… the in-between home space that the GD provides. For a long time, although the GD was the background music of my life story and super front and center in my life, as far as my professional activist life I did it “on the side” and didn’t really mention it. This kind of show encourages me to come out of the closet and say it loud: GD is home and a major part of who I am, and I’m proud.
JAHW Ideaz · Sep 2022
I totally missed the Dead when Jerry was alive because I was just too punk rock. Hearing these guys talk about these things 30years down the road was like being in a confessional for me. Never thought about the influence Kurt Cobain had on my totally unfounded hate for the Dead. Paid the ultimate price because Jerry is gone & I missed it. Now they are my favorite band. These pod casts are like having conversations with old high school friends. Loved every one.
EveryNockNameIsTaken76 · Sep 2022
I binged this series in an afternoon, and it was enjoyable! The content and topics were very good and interesting. Some of the flow of the interviews felt a little jagged and awkward, likely due to cleaning up the fluff for time constraints. It felt like reading a magazine interview aloud at points, but that’s okay. The content was and the words spoken were still very fun and entertaining. No better band to talk about for hours on end. Thanks, Emmett!!
bwodon · Sep 2022
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
More podcasts like America's Dead
Popular shows in Music Commentary, for your next listen.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of America's Dead, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
