S6 E1: No Alternative - Secret Tracks and Nirvana Conspiracies

What starts as a random music discovery turns into a full-on time capsule.

When Woody stumbles onto “Sit Still” by Christopher Stopa, he’s convinced it’s a long-lost Radiohead track - until a deep dive reveals a whole other story behind the voice, the song, and the artist who stepped away from music entirely. That rabbit hole leads us to a bigger conversation about forgotten songs, near-misses, and the strange afterlife of art on the internet.

And because this is us… we take a risk...We cold-call Christopher Stopa’s bakery in Toronto, live on the show, with no idea if he’ll answer. We just want to talk about the song’s brief viral moment, stepping away from music, and whether creativity ever really leaves you.

That rabbit hole leads us back to 1993 and the iconic compilation "NO ALTERNATIVE "- a snapshot of alternative culture right before everything splintered into subgenres.

We unpack how No Alternative came together as an HIV/AIDS benefit, why it felt bigger than “just a compilation,” and how it captured the last quiet moment before the alternative explosion changed everything. Then we dive into the hidden Nirvana track at the end of the album - Woody’s favorite Nirvana song of all time, “Verse Chorus Verse” (aka “Sappy”) - and the strange history behind its many versions, title changes, and why it was left off In Utero.

We couldn't end there without Tyler leading us into his "CONSPIRACY CORNER"! He dives into brand new information about Kurt Cobain's death that came out a few days ago and into the theories, conspiracies, and strange mysterious facts about the end of a rock legend.

This episode is about:The music that finds you when you aren’t looking for it.The albums that become mile markers in your life.The songs that stick with you long after the era that made them.

If you miss cruising the aisle of your favorite music store or trying to be the first to discover your new favorite band...this one's for you.

Stay curious.Stay weird.Be Forever Rad.

CONNECT WITH US:

📲 Instagram: @thatwouldberad — Tag us or DM your favorite Yeti sightings, cryptid theories, or Cold War conspiracies.

🎙 Share a Story / Send a Voice Message: ⁠thatwouldberadpodcast.com⁠

✉️ Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

SHOW INFO:

Hosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler Bence

Recorded At: Midnight Radio Studios

Sound Wizardry:

• Woody Brown — Sound Design, Editing, & Music

• Tyler Bence — Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design

Outro Jam:

“Ghost Story” by The Modern Society

RAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW:

🎧 Join Our Patreon: Exclusive episodes, bonus content, and behind-the-scenes weirdness — ⁠⁠patreon.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠

☕️ Buy Us a Coffee: Fuel our late-night deep dives — ⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠

🛍 Check Out Our Merch: Grab official RAD gear — ⁠⁠thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com⁠

RESOURCES:

https://www.noalternativebook.com/