The Dylanologists

Visions of Johanna

This week we explore Jens's favorite Bob Dylan song—Visions of Johanna.
Visions of Johanna is a song that defies simple analysis or explanation. It is overflowing with rich, textured imagery. It is one of Dylan’s most beloved, debated, and surreal epics, yet it all boils down to one simple truth: he misses Johanna, whoever that may be. Infinity isn't the only thing going up on trial...
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Changing of the Guards

Welcome to "episode 1" of The Dylanologists. This week we tackle a song that was voted in by our followers on Instagram.
"Changing of The Guards" was a marked shift for Dylan in more ways than one. Endless interpretations abound, but maybe that's the point—sometimes things aren't black and white; a situation can be interpreted 1,000 different ways; life is never really all that straight forward anyway. This song is emblematic of Dylan during a pivotal period in his life and career. It gives us a glimpse into the mind of a legend who was about to shock the world by converting to Evangelical Christianity. The guards really were about to change.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.

Something Is Revealed

The time has finally come for something to be revealed on the podcast. You don't want to miss this. 
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: TheDylanologistsPodcast@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

Like A Rolling Stone

"Like A Rolling Stone" is undoubtedly one of Bob Dylan's masterpieces. However, were it not for several fortuitous events, it may not have had the immediate impact that it did, and thus, the lasting legacy that exists to this day. The wordplay. The attitude. The volume. The subject matter. This was a sneer turned up to 11—proof that rock & roll could be something more than juvenile. This is the story of "Like A Rolling Stone."
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

What is Bob Dylan's Masterpiece?

According to BobDylan.com, Dylan has 706 songs, but that number is nearly 1,000 when you consider outtakes, alternate takes, unrecorded songs, and material that has never seen the light of day. Given this fact, is it even possible to pick just one song that is universally considered to be his "masterpiece," or is this just a fruitless endeavor? What even is a masterpiece in the first place? On this episode of Nothing Is Revealed, we attempt to do the impossible—permanently enshrine one song as his magnum opus, one that will be studied hundreds of years from now.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

John Wesley Harding Revisited

A Deep Dive into a Mysterious Album
For all intents and purposes, Bob Dylan, as the world conceived of him, had died after crashing his motorcycle on that fateful July morning in 1966. Now equipped with ample free time, a farm, and a growing family, Dylan had finally escaped the rat race that was very quickly getting out of his control. So, what would Dylan do with his newfound freedom? John Wesley Harding is pivotal in the equation and is the key to answering that question...
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

"Bob Dylan is Dead!" [The Motorcycle Crash]

“Bob Dylan is dead! The CIA killed him. The mafia killed him... or the real Dylan is alive, but can never play music again.” A two-sentence story published four days later in The New York Times under the headline "Dylan Hurt in Cycle Mishap" said he was under a doctor's care. Rumors sprouted over the following months that he was gravely injured, blind, and/or permanently disfigured. So, what really happened in the events surrounding Bob Dylan's famed motorcycle crash? What would've happened if the motorcycle crash never happened? Would he have actually died on tour in late 1966? We consider these questions, and more, on this episode of Nothing Is Revealed.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

Saturday Night Live

An Instagram Live Event with Adam & Jens(recorded live on Saturday, March 29, 2025)
 
To celebrate our 30th episode and crossing 4,000 followers on Instagram, we hopped on an Instagram Live to engage directly with our listeners. Over 500 people showed up throughout the hour-long event to ask us about meeting characters from Dylan songs, our dream guests to have on the podcast, our thoughts on Dylan's recent social media activity, and so much more! If you missed all or part of the event, tune in now to hear our answers to all of your burning questions.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.

"Bob Dylan Walks Out!" [The Ed Sullivan Show Controversy]

A contextual history of the night Dylan was censored by TV executives.
In May of 1963, Dylan was a complete unknown—just another aspiring musician with a passionate niche following, but no national profile whatsoever. Despite his lack of fame, he had secured what would surely be his big break with an invitation to perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show." One might have thought the chance to perform for a national audience on one of the biggest shows on TV was too tempting to avoid—but Dylan proved his authenticity when he walked out on the show. This is the story of why Dylan was censored and what it meant for the trajectory of his career.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.
 

Rough and Rowdy Ways Revisited

An Album Deep Dive
This week, we dive into Rough and Rowdy Ways, Bob Dylan's 39th studio album and his first collection of original songs since Tempest. Released after his trilogy of Sinatra cover albums, this album is a rich tapestry of themes, including art, death, assassinations, religion, and Dylan's own myth. Clocking in at 70 minutes and 33 seconds, Rough and Rowdy Ways has quickly earned its place as one of his most acclaimed works. Join us as we explore what makes this album stand out in Dylan’s legendary discography.
 
The Podcast: @TheDylanologistsPod
Adam: @dylan.ology
Jens: @dylan.ologist
Email us: nothingisrevealedpod@gmail.com
 
Thank you, Thomas Francis (@thomasfrancisfolk), for the podcast soundtrack.
Thank you, Andrea (@andreahm.1), for our podcast artwork.