5 Best Dennis McNally Podcasts in 2026

1. Life Inside the Grateful Dead’s Inner Circle with Dennis McNally

Follow Play Sep 25, 2025 1:09:12
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode This one was a big deal for me. My guest, Dennis McNally, isn’t just a reknowned author, music historian, and publicist, he’s someone I’ve long considered somewhat of a “celebrity” in my world.  From 1984 to 1995, Dennis was the Grateful Dead’s publicist and part of the band’s inner circle. He’s written five books, including the classic Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead, and his latest, The Last Great Dream - How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties.  He’s married to the love of his life, photographer and author Susana Millman, whose book Alive With the Dead - A Fly on the Wall with a Camera, is one of my favorites.   What struck me most was Dennis’s insight into how the Dead operated behind the scenes.  How the band members interacted, what touring was like, and what it was like to be at the center of all that energy for so many years. He was every bit as gracious, articulate, and engaging as I could have imagined and I’m honored to now call Dennis a friend. Speaking of friends, this episode was also a first for me.  I was joined by my good friend Charlie French as co-host who added thoughtful color and questions that I wouldn’t have thought to ask!  These days, Dennis lives in San Francisco with Susana and is still doing the work he loves - namely as the publicist for Little Feat. It’s an honor and a privilege to share our conversation.  So join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! https://www.dennismcnally.com/ https://mamarazi.com/ Stir It Up https://youtu.be/XQxceOPnj9Q?si=i8Vu2Wh_UnpJ_6LX Death Don’t Have No Mercy https://youtu.be/wH8GUfK-MOM?si=frh9iuuf1bCDSuob Time Loves a Hero https://music.apple.com/us/album/time-loves-a-hero/471749182?i=471749184 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1983015048745357 MORE Podcast Title Exploring the Energy with Anzo & Friends
Podcast Description Welcome to Exploring the Energy with Anzo & Friends, a series of conversations with host and lifelong music lover, Andy "Anzo" Staib, and his friends and family. Together, they explore the common threads that bond them all together - namely their shared love of music, family, friends, life, loss, and love. The show was born from the notion that music helps keep us all connected throughout our collective long strange trip. We all have a story to tell, and here are a few of those stories. So join us, and let’s see where the energy takes us! #IFE #NFAMORE Guest Dennis McNally
Producer/Network Andy Staib
Apple Rating 5.0/5 Avg Length 64 min Format Long form Get Email Contact Get access to full database of 2.7M podcastsCreate podcast lists, export in spreadsheet or CSV file with email contacts and start your podcast outreach in minutes.Sign Up for Free with Email Continue with Google

2. Dennis McNally

Follow Play Jul 31, 2025 1:55:56
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode Long time publicist for the Grateful Dead Dennis McNally has a new book "The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties." We talk about San Francisco, the Dead and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. MORE Podcast Title The Bob Lefsetz Podcast
Podcast Description Bob Lefsetz is the author of “The Lefsetz Letter.” Listen to his new podcast where he'll address the issues at the core of the music business, internet, and the world at large.
Host Bob Lefsetz
Guest Dennis McNally
Producer/Network iHeartPodcasts
Email ****@lefsetz.com
Apple Rating 4.2/5 Avg Length 123 min Format Extended Get Email Contact

3. RNRA Digs Deeper: Dennis McNally

Follow Play Jul 16, 2025 1:22:11
Website Apple Spotify
About Episode Episode Title: The Last Great Dream: Dennis McNally on the 1960s Counterculture, the Grateful Dead, and Its Lasting LegacyEpisode Summary:What if everything you thought you knew about the 1960s hippie movement and the Summer of Love was just scratching the surface? In this deep-dive conversation, acclaimed author and Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally joins the show to discuss his monumental book, The Last Great Dream. We go beyond the clichés of flowers and tie-dye to uncover the intellectual, political, and artistic currents that fueled the San Francisco counterculture. McNally reveals how the dream of the 60s continues to shape our modern world in surprising ways—from the food we eat to the computers we use—and offers a profound look at its triumphs, its failures, and its unfulfilled promises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMORE Podcast Title Rock N Roll Archaeology
Podcast Description Rock N Roll Archaeology (RNRA) is more than a podcast; it’s an immersive, carefully researched and produced audio documentary. RNRA explores the history of Rock Music, and then goes a step further. We contextualize Rock N Roll; we place it within the cultural, political, and technological landscapes of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. With storytelling, commentary, and a dash of musicology, we explore how music, culture, and technology interact and affect each other—how they ARE each other.MORE Host Christian Swain
Guest Dennis McNally
Producer/Network Pantheon Media
Email ****@gmail.com
Apple Rating 4.7/5 Avg Length 60 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

4. The First Decade: 1965-1975

Follow Play Jul 03, 2025 39:04
Website Apple
About Episode Welcome on the bus, as we journey back to the very beginning of the Grateful Dead's long, strange trip in 1960s San Francisco. With incredible stories from band historian Dennis McNally and friends like Rosie McGee, we'll uncover how the legendary Acid Tests and the intimate stages of the Fillmore forged an unbreakable bond between the band and their audience. This isn't just a story about music; it's the inside scoop on how a cultural revolution, a city, and a sound came together to change the world forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMORE Podcast Title The Grateful Dead 60 Years in San Francisco
Podcast Description Hey now—Marla Davies here, welcoming you aboard The Grateful Dead 60 Years in San Francisco” Over six decade-by-decade episodes we’ll trace the whole cosmic arc—from the Warlocks’ 1965 Acid Tests and the Fillmore’s light-show communion, through the Wall-of-Sound ’70s, psychedelic stadium thunder in the ’80s, Jerry’s poignant farewell, the post-millennial Furthur jams, and right up to Dead & Company’s 2025 Golden Gate Park blow-out. Guiding us are the city’s finest eyewitnesses — Joel Selvin, Ben Fong-Torres, Dennis McNally, Susanna Milman, Charlie Miller, Rob Bleetstein, David Gans, Rosie McGee, Tim Lynch, Len Del'Amico, Andy Logan and many more...each dropping first-hand stories that stitch together 60 years of music, community, and long-strange magic . Episodes land every Thursday —and when you’re ready to limber up, catch the Hit Replay podcast-puzzle each week for riffs, clues, history and fun before the next show rolls around. Play Now here: http://www.podcastpuzzle.com Keep on Truckin' This podcast is in partnership with San Francisco Travel https://www.sftravel.comMORE Guest Dennis McNally
Apple Rating 5.0/5 Avg Length 41 min Format Long form Get Email Contact

5. Dennis McNally - Counterculture Movement

Follow Play Mar 28, 2025 1:34:08
Website Apple Spotify YouTube
About Episode Join us on a captivating journey through the storied history of the counterculture movement with none other than Dennis McNally, the celebrated publicist for the Grateful Dead. Dennis brings his unique perspective to our discussion about the hippie movement's lasting impact on modern society, including the rise of organic food, yoga, and Human rights. With anecdotes from his personal experiences and upcoming book entitled "The Last Great Dream: How Bohemians Became Hippies and Created the Sixties," Dennis provides fascinating insights into the evolution of cultural narratives. Our conversation wanders through the vibrant cultural renaissance of San Francisco, beginning with the poetry explosion of the 1940s. Dennis paints vivid pictures of pivotal moments, like the debut reading of Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" at the Sixth Gallery and the transformative Monterey Pop Festival. Along the way, we uncover how artistic and spiritual connections have shaped icons like Jerry Garcia and influenced movements like the Deadheads, all while reflecting on the delicate balance between personal stories and historical accounts in McNally's work. Dennis also offers a thoughtful exploration of psychedelic substances, from the transformative effects of LSD to the modern implications of ketamine in mental health treatment. As we discuss the commodification of counterculture, we highlight the importance of storytelling in preserving these influential movements for future generations. To pre-order Dennis' new book head to www.dennismcnally.com -FREE SHIPPING from Shop Tour Bus Use The PROMO CODE: nosimpleroad -20% OFF & FREE SHIPPING IN THE US from The Grateful Mountain with the PROMO CODE: NSR20 INTRO MUSIC PROVIDED BY - Young & Sick MUSIC IN THE COMMERCIALS BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: CIRCLES AROUND THE SUN OUTRO MUSIC BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: CHILLDREN OF INDIGO No Simple Road is part of OSIRIS MEDIA. Osiris Media is the leading storyteller in music, combining the intimacy of podcasts with the power of musicMORE Podcast Title No Simple Road
Podcast Description More than just a Grateful Dead Podcast, more than a music and culture show, something other than a family of cosmic wanderers.... Join the hosts of No Simple Road as they dive deep into the world of psychedelic exploration, music, art, and spirituality. Each week, they bring you captivating interviews with musicians, artists, authors, and visionaries from all walks of life. Join them on their long strange trip! Support this show http://www.patreon.com/nosimpleroadMORE Hosts Aaron Schafer, Melanie, Jimi Apple
Guest Dennis McNally
Producer/Network Osiris Media / No Simple Road Media
Email ****@gmail.com
Apple Rating 4.9/5Facebook 1.6KTwitter 562 Avg Length 70 min Format Long form Get Email Contact