The Dylanologists

We put the call out on Instagram for you to ask us out of pocket Dylan questions—"What is your favorite gesture or habit of his that you adopted or would like to?" & "Where do you think Dylan’s career would’ve gone without his conversion to Christianity in 1978?" for example. We share our answers and insights, talk for way too long about Jakob Dylan, and discuss the new Dylan track with Barbara Streisand.    Where to find us online... The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

We are back! And we are mixing up the medicine yet again! This isn't a reintroduction or another rebrand—this is a realignment. On this episode we discuss the idea of "Dylanology" and what constitutes a "Dylanologist." We also give advice to new fans looking to get into Dylan's vast work, offer suggestions to lifelong Dylan fans regarding reevaluating his discography, discuss why we started Bob Dylan fan pages in the first place and more. We will still discuss songs from time to time, but we are getting back to our roots. I guess you could call it our Basement Tapes era.   Where to find us online... The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

As the new millennium drew near, Bob Dylan was reinvigorated and ready to evolve yet again. However, and it may sound strange in retrospect, Dylan was in his mid-50's and seen as a has-been—a relic of a bygone era. What more could he possibly have to say? "Not Dark Yet" is one of the best songs on an album that is overflowing with strong material after many years of lackluster sales and declining interest in Dylan. "Time Out of Mind" was (and still is in many circles) seen as his return to form. It won him a Grammy. It cemented his place in the pantheon of rock gods. It introduced him and his body of work to a new generation of young people. It turns out Dylan was right: "It's not dark yet, but it's getting there..."   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

"Tomorrow Is A Long Time" is one of those strange Bob Dylan songs that has never been officially released on a studio album (much like "Blind Willie McTell" and "Things Have Changed"), yet it is one of his best and most profound tunes. What makes it so alluring? How did it end up on a greatest hits compilation in the first place? Join us as we explore this enigmatic track.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

This week we are locked in tight, but very much in range as we discuss a recent Dylan masterpiece—Things Have Changed. This song from early 2000 showcases Dylan in the new millennium, rejuvenated after the success of "Time Out of Mind." Much has changed since his early days in New York City, but the common refrain throughout the song still rings true: people are crazy and times are strange...   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

We asked and you voted—"Simple Twist of Fate" was declared the winner of a recent Instagram fan poll. Blame it on a simple twist of fate... Track 2 on "Blood On The Tracks" is easily one of the most popular songs on the beloved album. It is a song overflowing with evocative and visceral imagery—you may even feel a spark tingle in your bones or an emptiness inside to which no one can relate. Either way, grab your talking parrot, head for the arcade, and watch out... for a simple twist of fate.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Another interview at last! Nordista Freeze joins us for our first interview as The Dylanologists. He is a musician from Nashville, TN who has been a Dylan fan for many years now. On this episode, he breaks down Dylan's impact on his life and art, while also sharing keen insights about Dylan and the music industry more broadly.    Nordista Freeze: @NordistaFreeze The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Grab your pencils and walk into the nearest room... this week we explore Adam's favorite Bob Dylan song—Ballad of a Thin Man (don't worry—no one is naked here). Ballad of a Thin Man is another song that has been interpreted a multitude of ways—it's about a journalist, the folk scene, Joan Baez, racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and/or Dylan himself. Something is happening here, but you don't know what it is. Perhaps that is the point, Mister Jones...   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

This week we explore Jens's favorite Bob Dylan song—Visions of Johanna. Visions of Johanna is a song that defies simple analysis or explanation. It is overflowing with rich, textured imagery. It is one of Dylan’s most beloved, debated, and surreal epics, yet it all boils down to one simple truth: he misses Johanna, whoever that may be. Infinity isn't the only thing going up on trial...   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Welcome to "episode 1" of The Dylanologists. This week we tackle a song that was voted in by our followers on Instagram. "Changing of The Guards" was a marked shift for Dylan in more ways than one. Endless interpretations abound, but maybe that's the point—sometimes things aren't black and white; a situation can be interpreted 1,000 different ways; life is never really all that straight forward anyway. This song is emblematic of Dylan during a pivotal period in his life and career. It gives us a glimpse into the mind of a legend who was about to shock the world by converting to Evangelical Christianity. The guards really were about to change.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com     Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

The time has finally come for something to be revealed on the podcast. You don't want to miss this.    The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

"Like A Rolling Stone" is undoubtedly one of Bob Dylan's masterpieces. However, were it not for several fortuitous events, it may not have had the immediate impact that it did, and thus, the lasting legacy that exists to this day. The wordplay. The attitude. The volume. The subject matter. This was a sneer turned up to 11—proof that rock & roll could be something more than juvenile. This is the story of "Like A Rolling Stone."   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

According to BobDylan.com, Dylan has 706 songs, but that number is nearly 1,000 when you consider outtakes, alternate takes, unrecorded songs, and material that has never seen the light of day. Given this fact, is it even possible to pick just one song that is universally considered to be his "masterpiece," or is this just a fruitless endeavor? What even is a masterpiece in the first place? On this episode of Nothing Is Revealed, we attempt to do the impossible—permanently enshrine one song as his magnum opus, one that will be studied hundreds of years from now.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

A Deep Dive into a Mysterious Album For all intents and purposes, Bob Dylan, as the world conceived of him, had died after crashing his motorcycle on that fateful July morning in 1966. Now equipped with ample free time, a farm, and a growing family, Dylan had finally escaped the rat race that was very quickly getting out of his control. So, what would Dylan do with his newfound freedom? John Wesley Harding is pivotal in the equation and is the key to answering that question...   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

“Bob Dylan is dead! The CIA killed him. The mafia killed him... or the real Dylan is alive, but can never play music again.” A two-sentence story published four days later in The New York Times under the headline "Dylan Hurt in Cycle Mishap" said he was under a doctor's care. Rumors sprouted over the following months that he was gravely injured, blind, and/or permanently disfigured. So, what really happened in the events surrounding Bob Dylan's famed motorcycle crash? What would've happened if the motorcycle crash never happened? Would he have actually died on tour in late 1966? We consider these questions, and more, on this episode of Nothing Is Revealed.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

An Instagram Live Event with Adam & Jens (recorded live on Saturday, March 29, 2025)   To celebrate our 30th episode and crossing 4,000 followers on Instagram, we hopped on an Instagram Live to engage directly with our listeners. Over 500 people showed up throughout the hour-long event to ask us about meeting characters from Dylan songs, our dream guests to have on the podcast, our thoughts on Dylan's recent social media activity, and so much more! If you missed all or part of the event, tune in now to hear our answers to all of your burning questions.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

A contextual history of the night Dylan was censored by TV executives. In May of 1963, Dylan was a complete unknown—just another aspiring musician with a passionate niche following, but no national profile whatsoever. Despite his lack of fame, he had secured what would surely be his big break with an invitation to perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show." One might have thought the chance to perform for a national audience on one of the biggest shows on TV was too tempting to avoid—but Dylan proved his authenticity when he walked out on the show. This is the story of why Dylan was censored and what it meant for the trajectory of his career.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.  

An Album Deep Dive This week, we dive into Rough and Rowdy Ways, Bob Dylan's 39th studio album and his first collection of original songs since Tempest. Released after his trilogy of Sinatra cover albums, this album is a rich tapestry of themes, including art, death, assassinations, religion, and Dylan's own myth. Clocking in at 70 minutes and 33 seconds, Rough and Rowdy Ways has quickly earned its place as one of his most acclaimed works. Join us as we explore what makes this album stand out in Dylan’s legendary discography.   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

Adam's claim is that the Never Ending Tour is the best thing that Bob Dylan has ever done. That would mean it is above the 1966 world tour, Blood On The Tracks, the Rolling Thunder Revue, and everything else he has ever put to tape, toured, painted, sculpted, and/or malted, mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged. It is a bold claim, but one that Adam backs up with hard facts. On this episode, we (but primarily Adam) explore what the Never Ending Tour is, how it has evolved over time, and why it is the best thing that Dylan has ever done. You may not agree with our conclusions, but you cannot deny how unprecedented the Never Ending Tour really is.   *Notice/Correction: Jens misspoke when referring to Horsegirl as an all female band. Horsegirl is a band composed of Nora Cheng (she/her), Penelope Lowenstein (she/her), and Gigi Reece (they/them).*   NET YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO-inG2Ys329ktE5tpIamCAXVAwYJZFJa&si=fp2uyv5Y1gjWo3lK   The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

Bob Dylan's "Christian Era" is one of his strangest, and perhaps most controversial, eras. The songs were about God, Jesus, and man giving names to all the animals, while his concerts were filled with fire and brimstone sermons between songs. On this episode, we seek to contextualize this often overlooked and misunderstood period in his illustrious career.    The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod Adam: @dylan.ology Jens: @dylan.ologist Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com   Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack. Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.