Yasi is joined by journalist Natalie Weiner to unpack the four-decade reign of Reba, Queen of Country, from her humble Oklahoma rodeo origins all the way through her world domination as a multiplatinum-selling artist, award-winning star of screen and stage, and intrepid entrepreneur.Follow Natalie Weiner on Twitter @natalieweiner and check out her podcast, Rebawatchables. Check out Reba’s podcast, Living & Learning with Reba McEntire, only on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gina Arnold—author, academic, and architect of Yasi’s youth—graces us with her perspective on Pixies, the seminal cult indie rock band from Boston. Follow Gina Arnold on Twitter at @ginanarchy and check out her books Route 666: On the Road to Nirvana, the 33 ⅓ book on Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville, and Kiss This: Punk in the Present Tense. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re gonna scream, scream with us. Glenn Danzig’s iconic punk outfit The Misfits get the Bandsplain treatment thanks to Mike Gitter, A&R man and progenitor of XXX Fan Zine. Yasi and Mike traverse the spooky landscape of The Misfits, from the history of horrorcore to punks pumping iron on tour, and the countless drummers in between it all. Follow Mike Gitter on Twitter at @TheGitter and pick up his book, “XXX Fanzine 1983-1988: Hardcore & Punk n the Eighties,” wherever fine books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here is part two of our Metallica episode, because nothing else matters. Journalist Joe Gross takes us through the latter years of Metallica. We investigate the ups and downs of their musical explorations, personnel changes, and famously documented self-help odyssey, all of which follows their 16x platinum blockbuster, the self-titled Black Album.Follow Joe Gross on Twitter at @joegross and pick up his 33 ⅓ book on Fugazi’s In On the Killtaker wherever fine books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For whom the pod casts: we bring you part one of our mega-episode on Metallica, the biggest heavy metal band of all time. Rolling Stone senior writer Kory Grow has spent years writing about the band, and takes us through the beginning half of their career, from their origins to tragedy to triumph, and off to never never land. Follow Kory Grow on Twitter at @korygrow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re back with guns blazing. Yasi dons her top hat and talks with storied Guns N’ Roses associate Riki Rachtman, former host of MTV’s Headbangers Ball and original co-owner of the legendary rock n’ roll hangout the Cathouse Hollywood.Follow Riki Rachtman on Twitter at @RikiRachtman. Further reading:“Reckless Road: Guns N' Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction” by Marc Canter“Slash” by Slash“It's So Easy: and other lies” by Duff McKagan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Yasi and Producer Dylan open up the listener mailbag to dish out flawless and meaningful life advice, as well as compelling answers to your burning questions. We do it for you, Reply Guy Army. We do it for you. We’re taking a week off and Bandsplain will be back on October 7th! In our break, check out our new show, The 33 ⅓ Podcast, hosted by Prince Paul. Each week we dive into one iconic album with a brilliant guest, using the source material of the 33 ⅓ book series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Scottish dreampop progenitors Cocteau Twins have a surprisingly dramatic backstory for being known as the ultimate band of ethereal, cryptic musicians. We get into all of it with Rolling Stone alum Claire Shaffer, who helps us decode their mystique, as well as to champion the “no English, just vibes” lyrical philosophy of one brilliant Elizabeth Fraser. Follow Claire Shaffer on Twitter at @claireeshaffer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cosmic country pioneer, Emmylou Harris collaborator, Keith Richards bestie, and spiritual grandfather of any country-twinged rock of the last half century, the one and only Gram Parsons is celebrated by our new friend John Strohm, president of Rounder Records, founding member of the Blake Babies, and former member of the Lemonheads. Follow John Strohm on Twitter at @johnpstrohm and Rounder Records at @RounderRecords. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writer Ann-Derrick Gaillot takes us through the decades-spanning career of Tracy Chapman, whose breakout hit Fast Car propelled her into the canon of singer-songwriters when she was just 24 years old.Follow Ann-Derrick Gaillot at @AnnDerrickG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices