Jennifer Husbands, a true Chicago Wilco fan, talks to Mary and Meredith about her fandom origin story, the things that make Chicago Wilco fans distinct, and her uplifting experiences with the "Wilco-mmunity."

• In lieu of links, we'll share Jennifer's self-penned bio today:

While school improvement is Jennifer Husbands' vocation, her avocation is seeing live music. Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Jenn grew up in a house filled with music (Motown, Jazz, Reggae, and Pop). In her teens, Jenn's lifelong obsession with live music was initially sparked by the Grateful Dead, but soon she branched off into Folk, Americana, Hip-Hop, and R&B. Music that heals, espouses positivity, and speaks to the human condition has informed and fueled her passion for education, philanthropy, and social change over her life, and she still attends 2 or 3 live music shows a month in her adopted hometown of Chicago.

Throughout her 25 plus years in educational leadership and administration, she has convened networks of schools, consulted leaders at low-performing schools on improvement strategies, and trained staff starting new schools. She led the nation’s first charter school-based, state-approved teacher certification program and launched an innovative graduate school of education within a K-12 charter network in San Diego.

Jennifer earned her PhD in Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University's Graduate School of Education and her BA with Highest Honors in Rhetoric & Communications and Afro-American Studies from the University of Virginia. She is committed to lifelong learning, whether from her colleagues, her child, or through reading and listening to music and podcasts.

"The Mares" got another Wilco on the pod: Nels Cline! Meredith and Mary speak with the Wilco guitarist about his many collaborative projects and, of course, his time in Wilco.

• Here's the man's website, so that you can find all of his wonderful projects
• Frantone is one of the women-owned guitar pedal companies that Nels brought up during our conversation
• This is the other pedal maker Meredith couldn't think of during our chat: Heather Brown Electronicals
• As of this posting, Consentrik Quartet is Nels Cline's latest release over on Blue Note Records
• "Quiet Amplifier" is the song Nels referenced that they've found it impossible to play live as a band (and it's a great one)
• Nels shouts out bandmate (and past guest) Patrick Sansone as contributing lovely guitar work to the album Cruel Country, so why not revisit this video of the Carol's Pub show from October of 2022 to see it in action?

(RECORDED 10/9/2023) Mary and Meredith kick off season 3 by chatting with Diane Kyrus, moderator of the Wilco Facebook group "A Shot in the Arm," and devoted "rail rider" at Wilco shows across the USA.

• Here is the fundraiser link for the Wilco fan-supported Lucy Saladino Spaghetti Dinner that Diane told us about
• You can see Diane's Tweedy show birthday serenade neatly at the 6 minute mark of this video
• This is how Jeff Tweedy's famed Living Room Show will be going down this year (a little different, but still very cool!)