Car Con Carne

Car Con Carne is an award-winning interview podcast hosted by legendary Chicago media personality James VanOsdol (Q101, WXRT, WGN, WLUP). Hosted in James's car, at live events, restaurants, brewpubs and recording studios, Car Con Carne offers engaging and honest conversations with people you want to know, mostly from the world of music.

Car Con Carne is a music podcast hosted by James VanOsdol, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

James VanOsdol hosts Car Con Carne, a music show with 100 episodes published.

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  Episode #1114

  Recreating PiL’s ‘The Flowers of Romance’ live w/ Martin Atkins (ex-PiL drummer) (Episode 1114)

  Mar 22, 202650 minS0

  <p>In this episode, Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd., Killing Joke, Pigface) joins the show from his Post-Punk and Industrial Music Museum to discuss the upcoming 45th-anniversary recreation of Public Image Ltd.’s third album, The Flowers of Romance. On Saturday, April 11, Martin returns to Reggie’s in Chicago with a "murderers' row" of talent, including Chris Connelly, Robert Byrne, Leyla Royale, Orville Kline, Alicia Gaines, and Alan Lake, to bring the stark, experimental, and percussive record back to the stage.</p> <p>Martin reflects on the "Music Concrete" nature of the original recording sessions, which were defined by improvisation and...

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  Episode #1113

  Finding community and catharsis: Cat Ayala of Scarlet Demore (Episode 1113)

  Mar 11, 202622 minS0

  <p>This episode of Car Con Carne features Cat Ayala, the frontwoman for the Chicago band Scarlet Demore. James and Cat discuss the band's impressive trajectory, moving from DIY basement shows to playing Thalia Hall and Lincoln Hall and performing at Lollapalooza.</p> <p>The conversation covers several key areas:</p> The Evolution of Sound: Cat explains the shift from their earlier melodic "pop" perspective to the heavier, more experimental, and post-grunge sound found on their upcoming full-length record. The Writing Process: A look into how Cat uses songwriting as a form of catharsis and why she often needs time a...

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  Episode #1112

  The DIY evolution: Cult Canyon’s Josh Chicoine on the making of ‘Smoke Tricks’ (Episode 1112)

  Mar 5, 202631 minS0

  <p>In this episode of Car Con Carne, James VanOsdol welcomes Josh Chicoine, the creative force behind Cult Canyon, to discuss the release of the debut album, Smoke Tricks. The conversation delves into the evolution of Josh's musical projects, from the raw energy of the M's and the acoustic harmonies of Cloudbirds to the collaborative and sophisticated sound of Cult Canyon.</p> <p>Key Highlights:</p> The Making of Smoke Tricks: Josh explains how the album, initially inspired by string arrangements recorded in 2019, was brought to life through a grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE...

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  Episode #1111

  LATTER: Equal Parts Art Project and Band (Episode 1111)

  Feb 24, 202619 minS0

  <p>Episode Overview</p> <p>In this episode of Car Con Carne, host James VanOsdol welcomes Meredith and Jon from the Chicago-based band Latter. Described as "equal parts art project and band," Latter delivers a sound that is jarring, experimental, and unapologetically intense. James talks with the duo about their integration into the local heavy music scene, and the raw, emotional alchemy that defines their creative process.</p> <p>What You’ll Hear in This Episode</p> The "Latter" Origin Story: How a "just for funsies" Instagram post and a mutual friend brought together a New Jersey transplant and the dr...

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  Episode #1110

  The history of Chicago dining told in new ‘oral history’ book (Episode 1110)

  Feb 20, 202641 minS0

  <p >In this episode of Car Con Carne, James VanOsdol welcomes James Beard Award-winning food writer Mike Gebert to discuss his ambitious new book, The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining.</p> <p >The conversation explores the evolution of Chicago’s culinary identity, from the high-stakes "Mad Men" era of the 1960s to the modern, diverse food scene of 2026.</p> <p >Key Highlights:</p> <p >The Evolution of Chicago Dining: Gebert explains how he tracked the city’s change through its restaurants, starting with the formal, male-dominated French dining scene and moving through the neighborhoods that restaurants helped put...

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