Billy Corgan welcomes legendary manager Freddy DeMann, the architect behind Michael Jackson and Madonna’s rise to global dominance. He breaks down the exact moment he knew Michael was different, the fight to pair him with Quincy Jones, and how one bold call turned “Shake Your Body” into a global smash. He reveals how MTV was forced to finally play newly transcendent artists, what it took to push past label politics, the high-stakes power struggle with Joe Jackson, shaping Madonna’s rise and working alongside Billy Idol.

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Billy Corgan welcomes guitar virtuoso Jeff "Skunk" Baxter for a journey through music history starting with the guitar he didn't even want. Baxter shares incredible stories from his early days in Mexico City, from writing fan letters to his heroes The Ventures to eventually producing their records. He reflects on playing alongside Jimi Hendrix and what made the legends truly magnetic: joy, not just skill. Along the way, he breaks down the philosophy behind his signature sound and how his work with Steely Dan helped redefine studio perfection.

But there's tension in the story too, walking away from Steely Dan at their peak and reinventing the Doobie Brothers. Baxter also reveals his second act as a defense consultant, drawing surprising parallels between jazz improvisation and military strategy, while he and Corgan dig into AI's growing threat to the music business and the irreplaceable humanity at the heart of a live performance.

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Billy Corgan sits down with Disturbed frontman David Draiman for an unfiltered conversation about music, identity, and what happens when an artist steps into the political firestorm. What starts as a reflection on a surreal Black Sabbath/Ozzy tribute quickly turns into something deeper. Draiman shares how the October 7 attacks reshaped his worldview, why he felt compelled to go public, and the personal toll it’s taken, from media narratives to fractured relationships. Corgan pushes on the bigger questions: Where’s the line between free speech and responsibility? Should artists use their platform for politics or stay out of it? This is a tense but thoughtful exchange about conviction, consequence, and the role of artists in a divided world.

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Billy Corgan sits down with icons Billy Idol and Steve Stevens for a conversation about how a genre gets built from scratch—and what it really takes to make something last. Idol and Stevens trace their origin story from a chance meeting in New York to a 40+ year creative partnership that fused punk, dance, and rock before anyone thought it could work. Corgan pushes deeper into the creative decisions behind it all—rejecting “punk purity,” trusting instinct over rules, and using technology as a tool instead of a crutch. They also get into MTV-era fame, excess, and what it’s like building an identity in real time while the culture is both shifting and blowing up around you.

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In this long-awaited conversation, Billy Corgan sits down with Courtney Love. Courtney reflects on her fractured childhood, counterculture upbringing, and complicated family history—growing up around drugs, instability, and radical independence. From juvenile hall to early psychedelics, she traces the shift from feeling like a victim to becoming a force. Together, they take direct aim at the myths: the gatekeeping of the ’90s indie scene, the class politics hiding behind “authenticity,” and the real price women in rock paid for ambition. Along the way: punk beginnings, ABBA vs. Zeppelin, and an unflinching look at confidence, control, and survival.

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Billy Corgan sits down with Jesse Rutherford for a candid look at fame, creative identity, and the unexpected journey from child actor to frontman of his ground-shifting band, The Neighbourhood. Jesse reflects on being ‘discovered’ at just five years old, growing up in Hollywood, and the moment everything clicked—picking up drums to a Nirvana track. The conversation dives into how the industry has shifted—from the raw individuality of the ’90s to today’s algorithm-driven sound—touching on using Auto-Tune, perfection as a guiding aesthetic, and why imperfection in and of itself might be what audiences connect with most.

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Billy Corgan sits down with Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, granddaughter of Disney animation pioneer Ub Iwerks, for a fascinating conversation about family legacy, creative ambition, and the stories history almost forgot.

Leslie traces her journey from USC film school to becoming one of Hollywood’s most respected documentarians, with credits including The Pixar Story, Industrial Light & Magic, and her latest film, Disneyland Handcrafted.

Along the way, Billy and Leslie dig into Ub Iwerks’ indispensable role in creating Mickey Mouse, explore Walt Disney’s visionary drive, Roy Disney’s underrated role as the financial backbone of the company, and the near-impossible feat of building Disneyland in less than a year.

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In this deeply personal conversation, Billy Corgan and Melissa Auf der Maur reunite after 25 years to unpack the full story: how a $1 Tuesday night show sparked one of rock's most unlikely friendships, how Billy secretly recommended Melissa to Courtney Love, and why she almost said no — twice. The two dive into the early days of the Smashing Pumpkins, the chaos of underground rock clubs, Courtney's Hollywood pivot that gutted the band, the rise of grunge, and how a single moment of pure rock-and-roll intensity changed both of their lives.

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