On this week’s episode of Silent Generation, Nathan is joined by Alex, an industrial engineer, to explore the enduring resonance of American manufacturing in the nation’s political and cultural landscape. The two begin with a discussion about whether they buy American-made and how different generation cohorts “vote with their dollar” through ethical consumption. They then survey the history of American manufacturing, beginning with the birth of the American textile industry in the 1700s to NAFTA in the 1990s. Finally, they examine the intertwined histories of American Apparel and Los Angeles Apparel before debating whether Americans truly want manufacturing jobs to come back.

Links:

Car Free Keith

Making It in America: The Almost Impossible Quest to Manufacture in the U.S.A. by Rachel Slade

The End of the World is Just the Beginning by Peter Zeihan

Interchangeable Parts

This Next Billion-Dollar Startup Wants To Save American Manufacturing

Waymo Says Its Robotaxis Get Help From Workers Overseas by Aiden Vaziri

“Made in America” Never Meant More Ethical by Derek Guy

The new American Apparel: claims of 'ethically made' abroad clash with reality by Noor Ibrahim

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel (2025)

It's Not Just Shein: Why Are ALL Your Clothes Worse Now?

American Factory (2019)

The World Bank's 2024 Ranking of Countries by Industrial Output

Americans Think Increased Manufacturing Employment Would Be Good for the Country but Not for Themselves by Colin Gabrow

Artwork:

Aerial view of the Gary Works (1973)

Paul Sequeira, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Recorded on 4/8/2026

Freak Folk was a subgenre of folk music popular from the early to late 2000s that emerged after younger indie musicians took inspiration from 1960s psychedelic folk. Initially defying characterization, people started to label their music “Freak Folk” beginning in 2004 after Devendra Banhart curated a compilation CD titled The Golden Apples of the Sun that unintentionally anthologized the subgenre. Most Freak Folk artists rejected the label, but it described a cohesive sound best characterized by childlike vocals, unusual musical instruments, and lo-fi production quality.

This week, Nathan is joined by professor and painter Madeline Rupard (from Ep. 84: Rest Stops) to discuss the subgenre in depth. The two begin by tracing Freak Folk’s origins to Vashti Bunyan and Davendra Banhart, detailing how the two collaborated. They then dedicate a large portion of the episode to singer-songwriter and harpist Joanna Newsom, discussing all four of her albums: The Milk-Eyed Mender, Ys, Have One On Me, and Divers. They then briefly cover the work CocoRosie and Animal Collective before concluding the episode with a speculative discussion about why most Freak Folk musicians received Waldorf educations in their youth.

Links:

Madeline Rupard - Instagram Page

https://www.madelinerupard.com/

Joannna Newsom is not on Spotify

The Sprout and the Bean by Joann Newsom

Bridges & Balloons by Joann Newsom

Emily by Joanna Newsom

Have One On Me by Joanna Newsom

Sapokanikan by Joanna Newsom

Terrible Angels by Cocorosie

Winters Love by Animal Collective

Rejoicing in the Hands by Vashti Bunyan & Davendra Banhart

The Golden Apples of the Sun (2004)

Devendra Banhart is Not a Freak

Freak Folk’s Very Own Pied Piper by Alec Hanley Bemis

BiRd-BrAiNs by Tune-Yards - Pitchfork Review

Joanna Newsom, the Changeling by Jody Rosen

Joanna Newsom interview on Triple J

Meeting CocoRosie - Interview with Bianca and Sierra Casady - Talking Records

New Film Documents 2004 Devendra Banhart/Joanna Newsom Tour by Tom Breihan

The Family Jams (2009)

Highest Rated Freak Folk Albums of All Time - Pitchfork Magazine

The Sound of Freak Folk

Artwork:

Harp Inspires Hyperbole by Helgi Valur

Recorded on 5/16/2026