Episodes

  • Square One
    Feb 25 2026

    Saving Grace is the work of a middle-aged man who fully knows himself and knows how to articulate the past and the present in three very vivid dimensions. Critical to retaining the song’s pathos though, Tom doesn’t project a future down this new path. It’s important that Square One is here and now. It’s important that being present in a moment and recognizing that every day and every minute is a chance for rebirth and reinvention is unconstrained by a prescribed destination. It’s the ultimate expression of freedom.


    Song : https://youtu.be/Ux-RDvSHcI0


    REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE

    Judge Timbers: https://youtu.be/dTiYuYykaMk

    Jake Thistle on American Idol : https://youtu.be/EVUI_FYlScM


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    22 mins
  • Saving Grace
    Feb 18 2026

    “You keep running for another place To find that saving grace” probably doesn’t hit in the same place for most Pettyheads as “Most things I worry about never happen anyway” but I think there’s a comparable profundity to it. That search for spiritual, or social, or emotional redemption is a journey and one that can often feel just out of reach and unattainable, but you run on anyway. Maybe it isn’t given equal billing with the sensational line in Crawling Back to You because this song is more of an uptempo rocker rather than a baleful mid tempo ballad. Either way, it’s another excellent line that examines the human condition without either prescribing a remedy or casting any judgement.


    Song : https://youtu.be/vPYFWnzjIy0


    REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE

    Judge Timbers: https://youtu.be/RVFSiRUAkys

    Jack McNey - Turn this Car Around : https://youtu.be/SGhvLR6dCiw

    Honest and Unmerciful Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/ysz3cd2d

    Boogie Chillen : https://youtu.be/w512YXe75mg


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    26 mins
  • Hitting the Highway
    Feb 11 2026

    There’s a languidity that floats through a lot of this record; Square One, Night Driver, Turn this Car Around, This Old Down, and The Golden Rose... These are songs to cruise to. They’re songs to be chewed on and savoured rather than hastily gulped down. You can feel the evening sun warming your skin as you drive, with the top down, listening to this album before arriving at a house in the woods, where you the songs become much more a cellar aged cognac in front of the fire than they are a light beer on the patio. There’s a depth and colour to the album overall that ties the whole together sonically rather than thematically.


    Check out the "Eat the Pudding" Podcast here!

    Acast: https://shows.acast.com/eat-the-pudding-a-simpsons-podcast

    Apple: https://tinyurl.com/ymbu2asm

    Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3hun8j36


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    12 mins
  • The Last DJ (with John Paulsen)
    Feb 4 2026

    The wonderful John Paulsen is back to talk all things Last DJ! John actually saw one of the two dates at the Olympic, so I get to ask him about that, we dive into the potential reasons why we've never had any previously unreleased tracks surface from this album (including the mysterious Maggie song!), and why half a concept album might not have landed with a wider listening audience. As always, this was an incredibly enjoyable chat and I hope you dig it as much as I did!


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    If you want to find John, you can catch him over on Bluesky at: https://bsky.app/profile/4for4-john.bsky.social


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Can't Stop the Sun
    Jan 28 2026

    Everything about this song appeals to me. The soft-loud dynamic of the verse and chorus, coupled with the 4/4 3/4 switch from verse to chorus, along with the minor to major switch. It’s just perfectly internally oppositional. The bridge is one of my very favourites that we have in the entire catalogue with that swinging half funk groove and that outro is just absolutely fire. Can’t Stop the Sun brings in all the conflict and anger that Tom has projected through parts of this album and turns it against itself by becoming a final statement of resolve and indestructible self-reliance. It’s a perfect end to a perfect album.


    Song and links:

    Song : https://youtu.be/QAOfT6M2VtI

    Live at the Olympic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=095uVo507r4

    Shawshank : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKjiD3LBGPo

    Judge Timbers : https://youtu.be/gtLxu7unPpU


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    23 mins
  • Vinyl Review 2025
    Jan 14 2026

    It’s that time of year for me to look back at what I was listening to in the past twelve months and give you some recommendations! I’ve listened to a ton of music in the past year, plenty of which was new to me. Gainesville exposed me to a ton of new indie artists, some of whom I’ve had the good fortune to speak to. I did decide to limit this to only vinyl albums I bought this year, rather than being albums that were released this year. Also, I should call out the Live Anthology RSD release which I picked up but, I’ll most likely be talking about that record as part of a review of the Live Anthology somewhere down the road, so I haven’t included it in this year’s list! Plus, you already know it!


    Albums included in this episode:

    Chris Rea - Auberge

    Vangelis - 1492 - Conquest of Paradise

    Lady Gaga - Mayhem

    St Vincent - All Born Screaming

    Clutch - Sunrise on Slaughter Beach

    Margo Price - Hard Headed Woman

    Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications

    Dream Theatre - Metropolis Pt 2. Scenes from a Memory


    Check out the playlist here : https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9JRklgBG7NwGGKiVU9RlbbwoZX2rlWC4


    Mentioned in the episode:

    Firing at the Sky (Kris Klyne's band) : https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9JRklgBG7NzA77rOX7NnJW7oEY4CVmvx

    St Vincent - Big Time Nothing (live on Graham Norton) : https://youtu.be/oFr1vpF9_lY


    Don't forget to follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tompettyproject.bsky.social

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thetompettyproject


    All music, including the theme song, provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • 10 Questions with Steve Ursell
    Jan 9 2026

    Steve Ursell is back to run through my ten questions and give me his thoughts on his favourite album, which version of Walls he prefers, and which song he'd want to cover with the Heartbreakers. Steve picks a fantastic British artist to cover a Tom Petty song, he picks a great gig to want to go back to see, and a certain autobiography may have coloured his choice for favourite Heartbreaker, other than Tom.


    Follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Boneless Podcast Network : https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app


    The theme song is provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Steve Ursell
    Jan 7 2026

    This week, before we wrap up the last song from The Last DJ, I’m sharing a conversation that I had with an English gent that I met through my Queen podcast and someone I’ve gotten to know a little over the last two or three years named Steve Ursell.


    Steve has kinda been discovering Tom’s catalogue in real time through this podcast, so I thought it would be really interesting to talk to someone who wasn’t a Pettyhead three years ago but has come to love the Heartbreakers in a fairly short space of time. So, we get into that journey into Petty and how the podcast has played a part in that discovery. We chat about Pink Floyd, Rush, and Queen, and we ruminate on the decline of tastemakers in the world of rock and roll, and on whether we’re ever going to see a grunge or Britpop–style movement again in the years to come: especially with the decline of free-form radio and the rise of the all-powerful algorithm.


    Follow me on social media, like, subscribe, and please, leave a rating if you like the show.


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetompettyproject

    Bluesky: https://twitter.com/TomPettyProject

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetompettyproject

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetompettyproject

    Boneless Podcast Network : https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app


    The theme song is provided by my very best friend Randy Woods. Check him out at https://www.randywoodsband.com


    The Tom Petty Project is not affiliated with the Tom Petty estate in any way and when you’re looking for Tom’s music, please visit the official YouTube channel first and go to tompetty.com for official merchandise.


    A last very special thanks to Paul Zollo. Without his book, "Conversations with Tom Petty", this podcast wouldn't be nearly as much fun to research. And further thanks to Warren Zanes for his outstanding book "Petty, the Biography".


    Producer: Kevin Brown

    Executive Producer: Paul Roberts

    Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-tom-petty-project.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins