Our First Thousand Miles Down The Road

We look back on our whirlwind first 1,000 downloads. What started as a living room hobby and grew into a global, multi-format project. From viral clips and Primus encores to London street chats and Bay Area anniversaries, the through-line is simple: the scene lives because the people do.

• origin story and early clips
• viral Primus moment and backlash
• meeting Les Claypool backstage
• London visits and UK Deadhead connections
• Bay Area 60th anniversary highlights
• gratitude for Dave and our creative team
• why the YouTube cut matters
• plans for more interviews, travel, and Substack
• Eyes of the World and community thanks

Speaking of which, if you've only listened to the audio, I really recommend checking out our YouTube channel! 

Thanks for riding along on So Many Roads.
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Find all episodes, videos, and extras here: https://linktr.ee/somanyroadspodcast

Transcript

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How It All Began

SPEAKER_02 0:00

This past summer when we started this thing. It really wasn't a grand plan. I just wanted to see if we could capture some of the spirit that's always lived inside the Grateful Dead community. Stories and music and people who keep it all moving. Despite being a deadhead for close to 40 years, I did this to force myself to learn more. Because I never really did it either. I feel like I hadn't catched up to do. Honestly, I just thought it would be a fun hobby.

The Clip That Went Viral

SPEAKER_02 0:34

So we hit record and we started talking. And within a few days of our first episode, we posted a clip about Jerry 90s raid. Just us fumbling around trying to figure out the year. Suddenly people were watching. Some supportive. Others not so much. I can't believe people are still picking apart the most annoying guitar tone ever. Tens of thousands of views and a bunch of comments in a couple days. Okay? Maybe there's something here. So if you'll indulge me as we hit our thousandth audio download, I'd like to take a quick look back at where we've been and share with you guys where we're headed next. The conversations took us places I expected. Stories about friendships, connections, and favorite songs. But it also took us on less expected journeys on the fringe of the Grateful Dead World.

Primus, Backstage, And Backlash

SPEAKER_02 2:09

This really came through after our second episode dropped. I just wanted to learn more about how Hillary wanted Dead and Company signed guitar, and somehow that interview blew up on social media. She mentioned that she'd had a bad experience seeing Primus. And there's no other way to say it. It went viral. Those clips have been watched over 1.5 million times. That's when, for a few weeks, it stopped feeling like a fun side project I was doing in my living room. It started feeling like something being blasted out into the universe. Because it was. They were showing our clip, our faces, before the Encore at every Primus concert this past summer. It was mind-blowing. So within weeks of starting this project, we were backstage talking with Les Claypool about our podcast. Now the grateful dead hatred from some of the metal fans we were getting online was, according to him, beyond stupid. All of it felt surreal.

London Pilgrimage And Global Deadheads

SPEAKER_02 3:25

This summer I also found myself across the pond in London. I talked to folks outside of Abbey Road, visited Jimi Hendrix's flat, and connected with amazing people who discovered the dead on a completely different continent. Solidifying that it's all part of the same current. A huge shout out to Peter Williams and the UK Deadhead Facebook group for their hospitality and perspective. I can't wait to connect with them again.

Bay Area Anniversary And Living History

SPEAKER_02 3:52

And then unexpectedly at the last minute, I ended up visiting the Bay Area for the dead's 60th anniversary week. From small shows in Berkeley and Novado to Heart of Town and Jerry Day in San Francisco. It was exhilarating to be there at the source. Talking with the people out there at Dead and Company reminded me that this isn't just nostalgia, it's still alive and it's still growing.

Serendipity In Golden Gate Park

SPEAKER_02 4:16

In the middle of all of it came my interview in Golden Gate Park with the Doodad, where he talked about how his buddy introduced him to the Grateful Dead in those early days in Haight Ashbury. Those are the moments I've come to love. Random interactions with strangers, who, despite being on a different path, all found their way to this music that we all love.

Gratitude For The Crew And Community

SPEAKER_02 4:49

There have been a lot of people who helped shape this journey to 1000. Dave, who edits, produces, and makes the YouTube version look incredible. He's the one who keeps things moving technically. When I'm off chasing tangents. And of course, the more well-known folks who I met, like Les Claypool and Daniel Donato, who've connected to this world from their own musical paths. It's wild to see how far those ripples reach. And then there's everyone listening on Apple and Spotify, as well as the people following on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The messages, the comments, the stories you've shared, they keep me going. It's easy to forget that there are real people out there on the other side of the microphone. But every message is a reminder. I can't thank you enough. Speaking of which, if you've

Why The YouTube Version Matters

SPEAKER_02 6:00

only listened to the audio, I really recommend checking out our YouTube channel. Dave puts a ton of work into it. It's not just a static camera feed. The visuals really bring the story to life. The shows, the trips, the interviews. It's become its own little art form.

What’s Next: Places, People, Substack

SPEAKER_02 6:19

As for what's next, we're gonna keep exploring. More interviews, more stories, and more time spent at the places that hold this history. The venues, the neighborhoods, the small corners that still hum with it. We'll also be doing more Zoom conversations, connecting with people wherever they are. And I'll be putting some of these adventures into writing. Reflections, photos, and stories from the road on our new substack site.

Milestones, Connections, And Thanks

SPEAKER_02 6:48

The dead never stood still. And I guess neither should we. So yeah, we hit a download milestone way quicker than I expected. But it's not about the number, it's about the connections. So if you've been part of this journey as a guest, a listener, or just someone who hit a play out of curiosity, thank you. Thank you so much. You're part of this too.

The Song That Started It All

SPEAKER_02 7:14

So I'm gonna lead us out with a song that started me out on this journey when I was fifteen years old. My buddy Tom, may he rest in peace, had an eclectic taste in music. But my life forever changed. The night he spun Eyes of the World from one from the vault. Here's to wherever the road leads us next.

SPEAKER_00 8:49

Right outside, lazy soul, so the pretty ball Right outside the lazy girl in a song Watch in the wheel and that you win some Just Kelly comes to redeemer when you slow you fades away. I don't so fight, it's close to all the day. Sometimes we visit your country and live in your home Sometimes we ride on your horse Sometimes we walk on for you all just all dead as it's season to see the songs of the song.

Credits And How To Reach Us

SPEAKER_02 15:39

Thanks for joining me on the So Many Roads Podcast. I'm your host, Pete Booley. Dave Steinman is our show's technical director, theme music by Sawyer Boolean, original artwork by Ashley Hodson. You can find us on YouTube, Meta, at our website, so many roads podcasts.buzzsprout.com. If you have a unique story or perspective to share, feel free to make a comment on any platform or hit me up at so many roadspodcast at gmail.com. Thanks for listening. Until next time, let's keep the journey going.