Beginnings artwork

Performing Arts · Andy Beckerman

Beginnings

by Andy Beckerman

We all know the stories of how creative people get into the business of creating for a living, but how did they start using their imaginations in the first place? On the Beginnings podcast, writer and performer Andy Beckerman asks well-known and on-their-way-up comedians, musicians, writers, artists and thinkers about their earliest creative acts, their formative childhood experiences, and how they've developed both creatively and emotionally over the years. Beginnings is part therapy, part philosophy and almost all fascinating (95% according to FDA studies).

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Episode 737: Evan Dorkin

On today's episode, I talk to Eisner and Harvey Award-winning comics creator Evan Dorkin. Originally from Brooklyn, Evan has been making comics since 1986. One of his ear

Oct 2
1 h 34 min

Episode 736: Hutch Harris of The Thermals

On today's episode, I talk to musician Hutch Harris. Originally from New York City, Hutch's family moved to San Jose, California when he was still a kid. After high schoo

Sep 25
1 h 03 min

Episode 735: Sweeping Promises

On today's episode, I talk to musicians Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug AKA Sweeping Promises. Originally from Arkansas and Texas respectively, Lira and Caufield met in c

Sep 18
1 h 14 min

Episode 734: David Rees

On today's episode, I talk to cartoonist and humorist David Rees. Originally from Chapel Hill, NC, David first gained acclaim during the Bush years with his comic strip G

Sep 11
59 min

Episode 733: Solex

On today's episode, I talk to musician Elisabeth Esselink AKA Solex. Originally from Voorschoten, Netherlands, Elisabeth eventually moved to Amsterdam and in the early199

Sep 4
1 h 01 min

Episode 732: Elanor Moss

On today's episode, I talk to musician Elanor Moss. Originally from Lincolnshire, Elanor grew up in a very creative, devoutly Catholic family and began playing music at c

Aug 28
1 h 06 min

Episode 731: Dan Friel of Parts & Labor

On today's episode, I talk to musician Dan Friel. Raised in Amherst, MA, Dan formed Parts & Labor with BJ Warshaw in 2002. In their decade together, the band released fiv

Aug 21
58 min

Episode 730: Josh Olson

On today's episode, I talk to screenwriter and podcaster Josh Olson. Originally from Philadelphia, Josh got his start in showbiz as a PA on Masters of the Universe and in

Aug 14
1 h 17 min

Episode 729: Blockhead

On today's episode, I talk to musician and producer Tony Simon AKA Blockhead. Originally from Manhattan, Tony grew up in an artistic household and started making music wh

Aug 7
1 h 06 min

Episode 728: Emperor X

On today's episode, I talk to musician Chad Matheny. Raised in Jacksonville, FL, Chad began recording music as Emperor X in 1998. Though he had a deep interest in science

Jul 31
1 h 20 min

Episode 727: Daniel Bessner

On today's episode, I talk to historian and journalist Daniel Bessner. Danny is a true renaissance man, but not in the Danny DeVito sense. As an academic, he is the Anne

Jul 24
1 h 06 min

Episode 726: Matthew S, founder of Illegal Art

On today's episode, I talk to musician and academic Matthew S. Originally from Fresno, CA, Matthew founded the sample-based label Illegal Art in 1998 and ran it under the

Jul 17
1 h 10 min

Episode 725: Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater

On today's episode, I talk to musician and writer Jonathan Meiburg. Born in Baltimore, MD, Jonathan started playing music in the early 1990s in Austin and towards the end

Jul 10
1 h 13 min

Episode 724: Jeff Mueller of Rodan, June of 44 and Shipping News

On today's episode, I talk to musician Jeff Mueller. Originally from Louisville, KY, Jeff formed the band Rodan in 1992 with his friend Jason Noble, releasing the seminal

Jun 5
1 h 18 min

Episode 723: Ron Regé Jr.

On today's episode, I talk to cartoonist Ron Regé Jr. Raised in Plymouth, MA, Ron began making minicomics in the late 1980s, and about a decade later, his first book Skib

May 29
1 h 04 min

Episode 722: Dusty Reske of Rocketship

On today's episode, I talk to musician Dusty Reske of the band Rocketship. Born in San Francisco, CA, Dusty moved around a bit as a child before ending up in Sacramento w

May 22
1 h 11 min

Episode 721: Michael Edison Hayden

On today's episode, I talk to journalist and writer Michael Edison Hayden. Originally from Port Washington, Long Island, Michael started out his career as a playwright be

May 15
1 h 12 min

Episode 720: Doug Gillard of Guided by Voices, Cobra Verde and Many More

On today's episode, I talk to musician Doug Gillard. Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Doug performed in a number of punk groups in high school, and in the early '80s joined the Cl

May 8
59 min

Episode 719: Felicia Douglass of Ava Luna, Dirty Projectors and Gemma

On today's episode, I talk to musician Felicia Douglass. Originally from New York City, Felicia studied ballet for a long time before deciding that wasn't the path for he

May 1
1 h 10 min

Episode 718: Josh Margolin

On today's episode, I talk to filmmaker Josh Margolin. Originally from Los Angeles, Josh always aimed his life in the direction of acting and filmmaking. He majored in th

Apr 24
1 h 10 min

Chart trend

Position in the Performing Arts chart (US), last 90 days.

#79
all-time peak
10
days in the top 100 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Beginnings ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 4, 2026).

#144 NEW Performing Arts US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Andy is a gifted interviewer who pulls on the threads of interesting parts of artists’ lives. I always learn something new when I listen.

Clair8047 · May 2025

Andy is quick-witted and blunt in his humor but conducts a very sincere and thoughtful interview. If I had started listening earlier he could have saved me $$$ on therapy!

Wedybird · Mar 2017

Andy Beckerman is special. His interviews are deeply thoughtful yet appear like a conversation, he's got an incredible sense of humor yet is full of gravity, I'm excited to track his progress! I highly recommend his show.

Karan Bajaj01 · May 2016

I have just started listening to Beginnings, but I’m already loving it. Andy’s voice is so comforting, I love the self-conscious humor, and his clear vision for the show is inspiring.

MPolish · Jun 2015

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

More podcasts like Beginnings

Popular shows in Performing Arts, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About Beginnings on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Beginnings, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00