On air and online, Wednesday, August 6 – Sunday, August 10 – A “road trip” – all of seven miles south of Oxford – to Taylor, MS.
Not only home to Taylor Grocery (Tip: Order the whole catfish), but Taylor, MS (pop. 400) also boasts its own gin distillery, Wonderbird Spirits.
A truly cool venue (while producing first-class gin) with a friendly staff and vibe.
Wonderbird is also a cozy spot for a New York Times’ Books We Recommend This Week; some soulful tunes and warm acoustics for a radio show!
As the show wound to the finale, a Blood Moon rose and shone through the gin windows, creating even more mojo.
(Recorded March 13, 2025).
Wonderbird Spirits – 618 County Road 303 (aka Old Taylor Road) Taylor, MS 38673
(Photos: Bruce Newman)
Guests for the show:
Author: Sanjena Sathian – Goddess Complex – NYT Book of the Week; Darkly funny thriller about pregnancy and parenting, egg freezing gurus, self-help influencers and yes, an opinionated mom
Music: Heartbreak Hill – Don’t Be the Sucker – Rocking Blues!
Music: Lina Beach – Colombia-native guitarist/songwriter, Memphis Hi-Rhythm with “Boo” Mitchell (Royal Studios) on keyboards
Hosts: Jim Dees with Paul Tate and the Yalobushwhackers
Airtimes:
Wednesday, August 6 – 10 pm (ET) WUTC 88.1 FM Chattanooga, TN
Thursday, August 7 – 8 am (CT) WYXR 91.7 FM Memphis, TN
Thursday, August 7 – 6 pm (CT) WUMS 92.1 FM University of Mississippi
Saturday, August 9 – 3 pm (ET) WUTC 88.1 FM Chattanooga, TN
7 pm (CT) Mississippi Public Broadcasting
9 pm (CT) Alabama Public Radio
Sunday, August 10
3 pm (ET) WUOT | 91.9 FM, Knoxville
2 pm (MT) KNCE 93.5 | Taos, New Mexico
Archived here: Thacker Mountain Radio Hour / WYXR 91.7 FM Memphis, TN.
Sanjena Sathian’s Goddess Complex is a biting examination of millennial adulthood, self-care influencers, optimization cults, internet mommy gurus, egg freezing, and much more.
“A whip-smart satire of Millennial womanhood and an arresting story of mistaken identity. Sathian’s social commentary is riotous.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Haunting and hilarious.” – New York Times
Sathian’s previous novel, Gold Diggers, was named a Top 10 Best Book of 2021 by The Washington Post and longlisted for the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize.
Sathian is co-writing the film adaptation for Mindy Kaling’s production company, Kaling International.
Lina Beach is a Colombian-American singer, songwriter, and musician from Franklin, Tennessee, who has now found her home in Memphis.
In 2021 she arrived at Royal Studios — first as an intern for Grammy Award-winning producer Boo Mitchell, (pictured on keyboard) and now as a songwriter, recording artist, and session musician.
After graduating from Rhodes College, Lina became the newest member of the legendary Hi Rhythm Section, traveling the world with them, and is now working on her debut solo album, Little Sanities at Royal Studios.
North Carolina’s blues/rockers musicians Nikki and Matt Hill have honed their gritty blues/rock/punk style after years living in musical Mississippi River towns such as St. Louis, New Orleans, and, currently, Memphis, TN.
Nikki’s releases include the EP Soul Meets Country, Heavy Hearts Hard Fists and Feline Roots.
Matt’s releases include the five-song EP, Here Comes Heartbreak and the album, Tappin’ That Thang.
“Think Tina Turner fronting AC/DC and you’ll have half of the picture. She’s a machine…you’ve got no excuse if you miss seeing her…
Heartbreak Hill is a revelation, the band masters rocket-fueled bluesy swing, her voice the beacon which calls you home… a vocal powerhouse who don’t mess around.” — Rolling Stone
