Really?? The Doors? Talkhouse Announces New Podcast Hosted by The New Yorker's Naomi Fry, Premiering November 12th

November 3, 2025 - Really?? is a podcast about cultural memory - the icons and ideas we've mythologized and, in the process, might have misread or misunderstood. In the first season of this new series from Talkhouse (How Long Gone, Subway Takes, Alison Roman, Björk), the New Yorker's Naomi Fry convenes a multi-generational mix of musicians, writers, and cultural figures in conversation, to rediscover and reconsider the cultural legacy of The Doors in 2025, the band's sixtieth anniversary. The show will use The Doors' chaotic legend to ask what happens when myth overtakes meaning, and what that reveals about how we talk about American culture and about ourselves. The show is produced by podcast legend Jody Avirgan and executive produced by Noah Chernin.

Really?? shows The Doors not simply as a band, but as provocateurs, "erotic politicians" as they called themselves, and heretical artists whose work unsettled their own time-and continues to challenge ours.

Guests will include John Doe, Lili Anolik, Weyes Blood, Amanda Petrusich, Billy Idol, Chris Black, Lucinda Williams, Walter Martin, and John Densmore from The Doors. Together, Naomi and friends will tackle essential questions such as: What did The Doors mean for their time and what do they mean today? What's the place of Los Angeles in The Doors' oeuvre? What can the figure of Jim Morrison tell us about American masculinity? Are The Doors cool? And, has popular culture completely misunderstood The Doors?

Naomi says: "I've been obsessed with The Doors even since I was a young teen. Over the years, I've come to discover that a lot of people think that this obsession is maybe a little embarrassing, and that Jim Morrison and The Doors aren't a worthwhile object of love and curiosity. I'm interested in mining the gap between these perceptions, partly to understand why I'm still obsessed, partly to look at The Doors through a wider cultural lens. This podcast isn't a straightforward biographical podcast; it's the work of enthusiasts rather than historians, or, as Morrison might put it, feelers rather than analysts. What it will offer are rich, varied, and funny conversations about a really significant if sometimes misunderstood band."

Across six episodes-including a live recording in Los Angeles at On Air Fest LA at KCRW on November 12th-Naomi will blend one-on-one conversations, group discussions, and a special talk with The Doors' drummer John Densmore. The series was created by Noah Chernin and is produced by Jody Avirgan (30 for 30, What Now? with Trevor Noah).

Really?? The Doors? With Naomi Fry is presented in partnership with Bootleg Live, a live music platform redefining how artists and fans connect, combining high-quality audio of concerts with exclusive content delivered directly to fans as collectible digital mementos. For fans, it turns an unforgettable night into something they can relive again and again. For artists, Bootleg creates a new stream of revenue and a way to build lasting relationships with their audience. Bootleg is about ownership, collectibility, and the enduring power of live music. With a growing roster of artists and festivals, Bootleg is building the future of live music memories. Learn more at bootleg.live