Straw into Gold

Words + Music, Vol. 33

By: Aimee Mann

Narrated by: Aimee Mann

Indie-rock icon Aimee Mann is well acquainted with trauma and the transformative act of using it as a basis for artistic expression, but that doesn’t mean that she knows how or why it works. Mann goes on a journey of discovery to better understand the link between damage and why what we do with it matters.

These are her Words + Music.

In Straw into Gold, Mann partners with actor, comedian, and creator of the popular podcast Dead Eyes, Connor Ratliff, to lead a small group of artists through a series of intimate, often funny, and always enlightening conversations about the relationship between the bad things that happen to us and the art that can result from them.

Listeners of Straw into Gold will delight in new renditions of songs from beloved albums including Whatever and Charmer, as well as many newer songs from Mann’s 2021 studio album Queens of the Summer Hotel, soon to appear in Mann’s upcoming Broadway musical adaptation of Susanna Kaysen’s seminal novel Girl, Interrupted–which served as a primary inspiration behind the explorations in Straw into Gold.

©2023 Aimee Mann (P)2023 Audible Originals LLC

Engaging and thoughtful

I’ve always loved Aimee for her music and willingness to dig deep. This audio experience was thought provoking and expanded my view of how trauma impacts lives and how music can help the healing.

Not An Overview

Focused on a specific thing, it was not the artist journey I expected, but very good heartfelt exploration. Thank you.

Truly is straw into gold

Individually, Mann’s guests and she discuss some of the effects of trauma and dysfunction in childhood (never graphically) and how each has transformed, healed or recognized how these experiences have entered or been accepted and effectively communicated through creative expression. It is an affirmation that, no matter what the experience, we all belong and no one is truly alone.

Aimee is the best

She has a wonderful voice. She has such great creativity. I have listened to everything I have come across that she has recorded. She comforts the pain. She will never be an object. My personal faves Lost In Space and I’m With Stupid.

Loved it

Listening to Aimee discuss trauma and art was inspiring and validating! The insights were spot on.

I love Aimee Mann

Wow, just wow. It’s not the first time that I thought that being heartbroken makes a great album, or you know a break up can create great music. It’s just a further discussion of that idea how trauma makes great art and if you like Aimee Mann you get to listen to some of her songs.

Beautiful investigation of complex subject…

We don’t know the relationship between trauma and art. However, we have theories and ideas about this that deserve exploration. And this was a lovely exploration of those ideas & theories.

Difficult to Confront

This had a profound, and triggering effect on me. I don't know how else to describe it. I recommend it. Especially for anyone who's had trainable and/or is artist.

Interesting Woman

So Interesting to get to peek behind the curtain and have Amy Mann talking to me.....many relatable experiences. Thanks

I love Aimee Mann

Everything about this production is exceptional: the way music and art connects us back with our sometimes stunted emotions; the way healing renders compensatory qualities into our lives, like straw into gold. It is a reminder that we can transcend and get better despite unfortunate circumstances that may have been handed to us in life.