Free Daily Podcast Summary
The Female Bob Dylan: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Female Bob Dylan
A new music podcast from writer, researcher & producer Sophie Abramowitz, artist & musician Sarah Bachman, and folklorist, writer & SPINSTER co-owner Emily Hilliard. The tongue-in-cheek name is inspired by the phenomenon of women folk musicians of the 20th-21st centuries being dubbed, for better or worse (usually worse), “the female Bob Dylan.” This is a podcast about gender & genre, singer-songwriters, the idea of tradition, and what we need to do to find Connie Converse (according to ChatGPT). Join us as we hang out, talk a little trash, and reassess the women of the folk scene.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Sep 28, 20261h 9m
S2 Episode 7: The Divine Ecstasy of Judee Sill wsg Jason P. Woodbury
Entering the world of rebel Christian mystic Judee Sill! Joined by Jason P. Woodbury of Aquarium Drunkard's Transmissions Podcast, we ponder Judee's divine inspiration, ambitions, and spiritual/sensual/extraterrestrial desires, and parse the ways her music draws from and exceeds her moment. We also tour her monastic bedroom, explore her “occult holy western baroque gospel” originals, and admire the self-styling of our very own "student body president of the rejects."
- Aug 31, 20261h 14m
S2 Episode 6: The Only Freedom is the One You Exercise: On Bernice Johnson Reagon
Our ode to the prolific and multidimensional musician, scholar, activist, Freedom Singer, and co-founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942-2024). Guided by her writings, interviews, and "song talks," we explore her congregational coalition politics, revolutionary organizing through song in the civil rights movement, transformative contributions as a culture worker at institutions like the Smithsonian, Highlander, and the Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project, and clarity of vision that was the backbone of everything she did.
- May 27, 202649 min
S2 Episode 5 Bonus: Alice Gerrard in Her Own Words (LIVE)
Emily interviews old-time music legend and reigning “deviled egg queen” Alice Gerrard live at The Celebration of Women in Old-Time at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville. Alice calls her new memoir Custom Made Woman: A Life in Traditional Music “a scrapbook”—those scraps are the meat of this far-ranging conversation about the DC + Baltimore scenes, Alice’s collaboration with Hazel Dickens, the Southern Folk Cultural Revival Project’s integrated tours in the South “chas(ing) after a better world,” and the women musicians she met who didn’t “play out” but were known in their communities. She also divulges the secrets to her pandemic pet-project in which she taught her dog to bring her a beer from the fridge. Recorded March 7, 2026 as a part of the celebration of Women in Old-Time Music weekend event in Knoxville, TN. Special thanks to Eric Dawson at the East Tennessee History Center and to Knoxville Community Media.https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/album/celebration-women-old-time-music
- May 1, 20261h 0m
S2 Episode 5: They'll Never Keep Us Down: On Hazel Dickens wsg Jessie Wilkerson (LIVE)
We took the podcast on the road to Knoxville and invited our friend Jessie Wilkerson to join us in celebrating the late great labor songwriter and groundbreaking bluegrass musician Hazel Dickens (1925-2011)! In front of a live audience at the Celebration of Women in Old-Time Music event at the East Tennessee History Center, we discuss Hazel's life and her powerful songs that narrate the Appalachian migrant experience, advocate for working people (including sex workers & migrant workers), and outline an intersectional working class feminism. Recorded March 7, 2026 as part of the Celebration of Women in Old-Time Music weekend event in Knoxville, TN. Special thanks to Eric Dawson at the East Tennessee History Center and to Knoxville Community Media. https://www.knoxcountylibrary.org/celebrating-women-old-time-music
- Feb 13, 20261h 9m
S2 Episode 4: Sing Out!: On the Singer-Songwriter and Protest Music
We caught up with Rolling Stone Senior Research Editor Jonathan Bernstein about his recent interview with Lucinda Williams on her (and Dylan's) take on "the female Bob Dylan" label. Then we ponder the concept and construction of "the singer-songwriter" and go off the rails a little as we grapple with the role and efficacy of protest songs in our current political hellscape. In the mix: Tiktok-ification, mass movements (and the loss thereof), hopelessness and hope, the violence of the state, and the songs of the people. Special thanks to Ian Lynch and Lankum for the use of "Rocks of Palestine." We highly recommend Ian's excellent podcast Fire Draw Near: https://campsite.bio/firedrawnearSpecial thanks also to our guest Jonathan Bernstein. Read his article, “Lucinda Williams on Trump Bashing, New Album: ‘Should I Be Afraid?’” in Rolling Stone and check out his new book What Do You Do When You're Lonesome: The Authorized Biography of Justin Townes Earle: https://www.dacapopress.com/titles/jonathan-bernstein/what-do-you-do-when-youre-lonesome/9780306833274/
- Dec 19, 202534 min
S2 Episode 3 Bonus: Documenting Dory Previn wsg Julia Greenberg
We talk with Julia Greenberg, co-director of the excellent 2024 documentary, Dory Previn: On My Way to Where. The film recounts Dory's far-flung creative life at the intersection of classic Hollywood, pop music, and Laurel Canyon bohemia. As a close friend of Dory's, a performer of her music, and one of the carriers of her legacy (and her microphone !), Julia shares stories of Dory's painting and needlepointing in her Berkshire farmhouse, Frank Sinatra's deaf cat, and plans for the Dory Previn archive. Learn more about Dory Previn: On My Way to Where at https://www.doryprevindoc.com/The outro music on this episode is "Quiet Day" by Julia Greenberg
- Nov 21, 20251h 2m
S2 Epsiode 3: Screaming in the Car with Dory Previn
Paying our respects to lyricist, truth-teller, and style icon Dory Previn (1925-2012). Previn was an accomplished songwriter for film and TV for years before pivoting to the spotlight as a cult-famous singer-songwriter in her 40s. We deep dive into her writing and the way she translates emotion and experience into song, detouring to talk mental health advocacy, Valley of the Dolls, Catholicism, and more. As a wise man (Sarah Bachman) once said, you will love Dory Previn if you've ever really snapped. Hop on into the Gorgon Revelator 240 Coupe with us, we're blasting "Twenty-Mile Zone"....
- Oct 24, 202554 min
S2 Episode 2: Inside Inside Llewyn Davis wsg Ana Gavrilovska
Detroit music writer and film buff Ana Gavrilovska joins us on our podcast time machine to revisit the 2013 Coen Brothers' anti-biopic Inside Llewyn Davis. We discuss the film's moody representation of the Greenwich Village folk scene and the flattened renderings of its women, the protagonist's "bleak circle of failure," and the hero's journey of the cat Ulysses—and consider where it ranks on our "golden dulcimer" scale of folk music films.
About The Female Bob Dylan
A new music podcast from writer, researcher & producer Sophie Abramowitz, artist & musician Sarah Bachman, and folklorist, writer & SPINSTER co-owner Emily Hilliard. The tongue-in-cheek name is inspired by the phenomenon of women folk musicians of the 20th-21st centuries being dubbed, for better or worse (usually worse), “the female Bob Dylan.” This is a podcast about gender & genre, singer-songwriters, the idea of tradition, and what we need to do to find Connie Converse (according to ChatGPT). Join us as we hang out, talk a little trash, and reassess the women of the folk scene.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from The Female Bob Dylan in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's The Female Bob Dylan daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of The Female Bob Dylan as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the The Female Bob Dylan podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official The Female Bob Dylan product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by The Female Bob Dylan.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts, any in the catalog. Basic raises that to 15, Pro to 40 and Max to 100. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does The Female Bob Dylan release new episodes?
The Female Bob Dylan publishes monthly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does The Female Bob Dylan cover?
The Female Bob Dylan covers topics including Music, Commentary. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting The Female Bob Dylan summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.