As published: the erudite Cheryl King joins us for a deep dive, this time plunging into a brilliant essay, "Eluding The Authorities" by Tim Scherman on popmatters.com. A well intentioned but half-baked, feckless, fumbling conversation ensues about the author's mind-bending examination of the positive effect left behind by Tom Waits' music.

I add: If you think this podcast is un-academically "zany," listen to their episode on Tom Waits and the Marx Brothers (earlier in their first season), where they begin with a fascinating explanation of the origin of the term "zany," and continue with a brilliant argument demonstrating the cultural connections between (yes) Tom Waits and the Marx Brothers, starting (but in no way ending) with the way they move on stage.