Episode 5: The sound tracks that raised me

We owe you an apology for the delay. We ran into some major computer issues and had to take an unexpected break — turns out internal storage has limits (who knew). This episode was actually recorded on October 27, and thankfully we had the foresight to move our files to an external hard drive before everything went sideways. In this episode, Chris leads a deep dive into Midwest emo — where it came from, how it grew out of the D.C. hardcore scene, and why its emotional honesty still resonates decades later. We trace the connections between bands like Rites of Spring, Fugazi, Sunny Day Real Estate, American Football, Dashboard Confessional, and beyond, all the way to modern revivals and TikTok rediscoveries.

In 1985, the biggest names in music—from Springsteen to Stevie—crowded into one studio, stayed up all night, and recorded a charity single that became a global phenomenon. But behind the anthem were egos, walkouts, awkward Swahili lessons, and legends guiding legends to the bathroom. In this episode, Hannah and Chris dig into the wild backstory of We Are the World: who showed up, who didn’t, and why the messy, magical chaos still echoes almost 40 years later.

Ever sworn Freddie Mercury ended “We Are the Champions” with “…of the world”? Or found yourself confidently singing “hold me closer, Tony Danza” like it was gospel? Same. In this episode, Chris and I dig into all the little ways music has been messing with our memories — from Mandela Effects that make you question reality to misheard lyrics that prove our ears have been lying to us for decades.

In this episode of Are They Still With Us?, Hannah and Chris keep their word (for once!) and dive into one of rock’s strangest disappearances. Jeremy Spencer, Fleetwood Mac’s original slide-guitar virtuoso, walked out in 1971 to “buy a magazine” — and never came back. Days later, the band found him fully immersed in the Children of God cult. From his blues-driven beginnings with Mac to the surreal intervention attempt by his bandmates, we trace Spencer’s shocking exit, the royalties that funded a notorious religious group, and the allegations that have shadowed him ever since. Hannah and Chris also share their recent concert adventures seeing The Ocean Blue and Black Star Orchestra, before breaking down how one man’s choice shaped the future of Fleetwood Mac forever. Is Jeremy Spencer still with us? Yes — alive, making music, but forever tied to one of rock’s darkest twists.

Fleetwood Mac wasn’t always the shawl-twirling rock soap opera we know today. In this episode, Hannah and Chris trace the band’s wild journey — from Peter Green’s bluesy beginnings and cult disappearances to Stevie and Lindsey’s fiery entrance and the chaotic masterpiece that became Rumours. Expect cults, cocaine, breakups, affairs, and shawls galore — plus a few personal asides (including why Rhiannon almost became a baby name in the Kelly household). As always, we’ll ask the ultimate question: Are they still with us?