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Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

Shawn Ratches
Music Industry
Rock Music
Songwriting
Covid-19
Dokken
Music
Touring
Heavy Metal
Music Production
Black Crowes
Venom Inc
Live Performances
Great White
Social Media
Metal Music
Frank Zappa
New Album
Music Tours
Mr. Big
AI In Music

Welcome to Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches which is a show that explores all genres of music. As someone with autism, I bring a unique perspective to my interviews, aiming to create an authentic and engaging experience for both artists and listeners.Thanks for watching and please subscribe to help me keep bringing new content to you!

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Artwork for Laughing Monkey

Latest Episodes

The final chapter of The Alarm carries a weight that goes far beyond music. Before his passing, Mike Peters completed what stands as a powerful final statement — an album shaped by perseverance, reflection, hope, and the same unbreakable spirit that ... more

Former Hüsker Dü bassist Greg Norton returns to the spotlight with his hard-hitting new band UltraBomb, bringing punk rock energy, melodic aggression, and raw intensity back to the forefront. Featuring an all-star lineup of veteran underground musici... more

Legendary Voivod drummer Michel “Away” Langevin joins the show to discuss the band’s powerful new release, Symphoniqïne. In this interview, Away talks about the creative vision behind combining Voivod’s progressive metal sound with a full symphonic e... more

Legendary psychedelic punk innovators Butthole Surfers are finally preparing to release their long-lost album After the Astronaut, a record originally shelved in 1998 following the commercial success of Electriclarryland. In a recent conversation wit... more

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Recent Guests

Geoff Tate
Lead singer, Operation Mindcrime project figure
Episode: Ep 669 Geoff Tate on his releases of the Operation Mindcrime 3 album & touring for it!
Erik Grönwall
Lead artist discussing solo career and past bands
Solo artist, former Heat/Schenker projects
Episode: Ep 668 Erik Gronwall Bad Bones the interview, plus song selection for the tour !
Nick Oliveri
Musician known for Queens of the Stone Age and Dwarves
Self‑represented / various bands
Episode: Ep 670 Nick Oliveri: Reconnecting with Queens of the Stone Age & the "Road Dog" life in 2026
Alex Mitchell
Musician, Circus of Power frontman; also explores other projects like Captain Zapped and Showbiz Al's Love Machine
Episode: Ep 667 Circus Of Power Alex Mitchell talks Double Album out soon and many more shows coming!
Chuck Lenihan
Member of Carnivore AD
Carnivore AD
Episode: Ep 665 Carnivore A.D. talk new E.P. plus some Q & A with Joe Cangelosi and Chuck Lenihan
Joe Cangelosi
Member of Carnivore AD
Carnivore AD
Episode: Ep 665 Carnivore A.D. talk new E.P. plus some Q & A with Joe Cangelosi and Chuck Lenihan
Taime Downe
Frontman of Faster Pussycat, rock vocalist
Faster Pussycat
Episode: Ep 662 Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat is back on & he shares next the chapter of band in 2026!
John Bush
Armored Saint vocalist; also involved with Anthrax projects and side bands
Armored Saint
Episode: Ep 664 Armored Saint's John Bush on "Emotion Factory Reset" & playing Anthrax solo shows!
Chris Reifert
Vocal stylist, drummer of The Mighty Autopsy
The Mighty Autopsy
Episode: Ep 663 Autopsy Chris Reifert new music, select dates and reflection back on the genre!

Hosts

Tavon
Host of Laughingmonkeymusic
Sean Ratchette
Host of Laughingmonkeymusic

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 12 ratings
  • Great rock and metal guests but

    Check out the review from this other reviewer Mike. His assessment is spot on. Agree 100% with all his points. This host is a nice enough guy and has great guests. So I bumped it up to 4 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    VSPN:/
    United States25 days ago
  • ANNOYING interviewer!!!

    Wow, this guy Shawn is NOT a good interviewer. Thought I’d check out his interview with Don Dokken. Anyone who is a fan of Dokken knows interviews with Don are ALWAYS good….as long as the interviewer doesn’t CONSTANTLY interrupt, and talk over him. This guy asks a question, Don starts to answer, then this goof begins talking over him, providing his own observations. On top of that, his mouth seems to work at twice the speed of his brain since numerous times he’s almost unintelligible when he’s a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mike DeGarmo
    United Statesa year ago
  • Carlson.

    Thanks for having Dylan carlson on. No one like him. No one like earth.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jonFrias
    United States3 years ago
  • Really interesting music pod!

    Really enjoyed this first episode, looking forward to hearing more!

    Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theboatgoat
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience notes the practical takeaways on touring, gear, and career strategy, which enhances sponsorship alignment with music brands.
Guests consistently bring high-profile experiences and industry insight, which benefits listeners seeking backstage perspectives.
Commenters often praise the host's unique perspective and direct style, while critiques sometimes center on pacing or interview cadence.
Listeners appreciate the depth and honesty of conversations, though some episodes occasionally feel interview-heavy or gear-focused.
The show's authenticity and guest variety are seen as strengths that attract serious music fans and potential sponsors.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 668 Erik Gronwall Bad Bones the interview, plus song selection for the tour !
Q: What are the logistics behind assembling a new band for touring?
He describes a lean, trusted team assembled over years, including close collaborators like long-time friend Jake; emphasizes keeping the group tight and honest, with room to adjust as needed.
Ep 668 Erik Gronwall Bad Bones the interview, plus song selection for the tour !
Q: What influenced the decision to pursue a solo project and how does that relate to past bands?
Erik explains that he wanted to explore music that represents him as an artist, while leveraging past experiences with bands like Skid Row and Michael Schenker to inform his solo direction without compromising his identity.
Ep 668 Erik Gronwall Bad Bones the interview, plus song selection for the tour !
Q: How do you approach balancing original material with covers on tour?
Early on, Erik plans a 50-50 split between originals and YouTube favorites, with room to shift as the show evolves, prioritizing telling his own story and showcasing growth.
Ep 666 Venom INC has new music coming, BLS tour and more planned in 2026
Q: Good evening, Venom INC, how are you guys?
Excited to be here and discuss how we're building new material while honoring our Venom legacy.
Ep 662 Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat is back on & he shares next the chapter of band in 2026!
Q: What are the plans for future releases and touring?
Taime mentions a fall release window for Pretty Ugly with potential B-sides, possible Europe/UK dates, and a US tour with Sam Bam; lineups may shift due to members' other commitments, but the plan is to maintain an active touring schedule.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Laughing Monkey

What is Laughing Monkey about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners of this show tune into candid, gear-nerdy, and career-focused music interviews with a heavy emphasis on metal, hard rock, and related scenes. Episodes routinely explore technical guitar and vocal work, touring realities, songwriting, and the evolving music industry, often weaving in personal storytelling and behind-the-scenes details about projects and collaborations. The format tends to pair seasoned musicians with insightful hosts, producing lively conversations that appeal to players, producers, and superfans who crave practical insights and honest perspectives. A notable strength is the host's distinct, authentic interviewing voice—likely shaped by personal experiences and a diagnostic perspective—that offers a fresh lens on a... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Laughing Monkey?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Laughing Monkey:

1. Dean Delray's LET THERE BE TALK
2. The Eddie Trunk Podcast
3. The Joe Rogan Experience
4. Monday Morning Podcast
5. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

How many episodes of Laughing Monkey are there?

Laughing Monkey launched 5 years ago and published 679 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Laughing Monkey?

Recent guests on Laughing Monkey include:

1. Geoff Tate
2. Erik Grönwall
3. Nick Oliveri
4. Alex Mitchell
5. Chuck Lenihan
6. Joe Cangelosi
7. Taime Downe
8. John Bush

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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