The America's Dead podcast is about the American rock band the Grateful Dead. Or is it? Emmett Malloy realized in making the series that it's actually about their community. He set out to understand how their followers, the Deadheads, made the band who they were.

Emmett is a Grammy-winning filmmaker and producer, passionate about music and its influence. Throughout the series, he talks to people at the center of this musical movement. He chats with legendary musicians and even an expert on magic mushrooms. He wants to take listeners on the journey with him. At the center of the podcast is the question of how this band still shapes culture in America today.

This ten-episode podcast begins with Emmett interviewing Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig. The two discuss the challenge of introducing newcomers to the Grateful Dead. Which tracks from what era make the proper introduction? With such diverse music, finding a song that best represents them can be challenging. Ezra also talks about how the band inspired him and why he thinks the late Kurt Cobain would have been a Deadhead. However, in 1992, Kurt wore a t-shirt that said "Kill the Grateful Dead," so maybe not.

Another artist and fellow Deadhead is Mexican singer-songwriter Lila Downs. She discovered the Grateful Dead when living in a commune with a boyfriend in Minneapolis. She talks about it being an experimental phase of her life. At that time, Lila learned what it meant to be marginal in society. She explains how she found connections between the band and her Mexican roots. It's a fascinating insight into Lila's story and another perspective on the community.

The America's Dead podcast explores what the Grateful Dead means to their fans. Emmett talks to those who followed their music for a sense of community and others who describe it more like a religious experience. He wants to understand why the Grateful Dead inspires people today and what we can learn from them.