This week, I'm joined by an Australian musician whose career I’ve been following since I first interviewed him in a Detroit club 20 years ago. I’m talking about BEN LEE here, and  we’ll be discussing his music (from the 20th anniversary of his seminal album 'Awake Is the New Sleep' to his stunning new single 'The Fall of America'), the death of the American myth that once inspired us to chase our dreams, and our complicated relationships with the country we once called home.

This episode includes Ben performing 'The Fall of America', so no need to hunt that down elsewhere. You can follow along with the lyrics found here: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benlee/thefallofamericaacoustic.html

A BONUS EPISODE with Ben is available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠. In it, we discuss a foundational piece of art from his life - the iconic short story 'THE BALLOON' by Donald Barthelme, first published in The New Yorker in 1966.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-ben-lee-talks-donald-barthelmes-the-balloon/id1807437928?i=1000738078697

Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-ben-lee-talks-donald

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LINKS

• Learn more about Ben Lee: https://www.ben-lee.com/
• If you live in Australia, Ben is on tour from January to May 2026. Find his show list here: https://www.ben-lee.com/tour-dates
• Listen to 'The Fall of America': https://open.spotify.com/album/6t1Rkg2CTLX5aeL6b5NRoS?si=VeQojEbUTeaaVZwkKvUNdg
• Read Donald Barthelme's 'The Balloon': https://engl211-ux1.community.uaf.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/432/2021/01/The-Balloon-Donald-Barthelme.pdf

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5AM StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.

This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠. https://www.carybrothers.com/