Skip to Content
Talkhouse home
Talkhouse home
Music

Phish’s Mike Gordon Talks with Leo Kottke on the Talkhouse Podcast

The virtuosic musical legends discuss never playing predictably, violating ones own musical expectations, and their wonderful new collaborative album.

11:01 AM EST on November 12, 2020

For this week's show, we pair two truly virtuosic musicians — legendary fingerstyle guitarist Leo Kottke and Phish bassist-extraordinaire Mike Gordon. Their wonderful new collaborative album Noon just came out on CD and vinyl, so we knew we had to get these brilliant musical minds together for a deep-diving Talkhouse convo.

Tune in to hear the guys share their superhero origin stories; what The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir taught Mike about rock & roll; Leo’s tricks to never playing predictably; the importance of violating one's own musical expectations; Trey Anastasio's literary recommendation; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Norah Jones with Jeff Tweedy, and then Jeff again(!) with comedian Nick Offerman, and Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla, baby!) with Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys). Next week's show features actor Jude Law with director Sean Durkin and composer Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire) discussing their film The Nest. Plus be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Mike Gordon was recorded by Jared Slomoff, and Leo Kottke by Miles Hanson.

Our incredible producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com. Seriously, I love hearing from you guys, and I won't be around forever.

(Photo Credit: left, Andy Mann; right, Amy Kerwin; Edited by: Keenan Kush)

Related Stories

Mood Board: Semiratruth’s S!M

The Brooklyn-based artist on how Silent Hill 2, Boards of Canada, Everything Everywhere All At Once, and more shaped their new record.

October 2, 2026

Pete Fij (Adorable) Talks with Mark Gardener (Ride) on the Talkhouse Podcast

"We did a press conference with Oasis, which was sort of humiliating."

October 1, 2026

Biita Houdei and Anna St. Louis Have I-70 Series Beef

The Missouri-born artists catch up about their Missouri roots, how their setting influences their songwriting, and more.

October 1, 2026

Hey, Is This Applied Communications? 

Max Wood on how TikTok detectives and a cold call from a stranger resurrected his music career.

September 30, 2026

Swapmeet and Joyer Rank Their Favorite Fruits

The soon-to-be tourmates get acquainted before they hit the road.

September 29, 2026

Mood Board: Emma Ruth Rundle’s These Killing Times

The Portland artist on how Ottessa Moshfegh, Artemisia Gentileschi, climate change, and much more influenced her new record.

September 25, 2026