# John Mellencamp | Club Random with Bill Maher

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/club-random-with-bill-maher-5199634/john-mellencamp-club-random-with-bill-maher
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/club-random-with-bill-maher-5199634/john-mellencamp-club-random-with-bill-maher.md
Podcast: [Club Random with Bill Maher](https://stenobird.com/podcast/club-random-with-bill-maher-5199634)
Published: 2026-02-23T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/pfx.vpixl.com/usvBQ/claritaspod.com/measure/arttrk.com/p/PRGN3/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU8069563790.mp3?updated=1771715205
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/pfx.vpixl.com/usvBQ/claritaspod.com/measure/arttrk.com/p/PRGN3/mgln.ai/e/135/verifi.podscribe.com/rss/p/tracking.swap.fm/track/i7NUCPwi3tJP053nG6mP/traffic.megaphone.fm/STU8069563790.mp3?updated=1771715205
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/club-random-with-bill-maher-5199634/episodes/john-mellencamp-club-random-with-bill-maher
Duration seconds: 4673

## Resource

In this unexpectedly reflective Club Random episode, John Mellencamp admits he never listens to his own songs, sometimes forgets he even wrote them, and proudly calls himself "the biggest liar." He talks about growing up in Seymour, Indiana where, as he puts it, there was nothing to do but fight before the conversation widens to Farm Aid's hard realities, the limits of celebrity activism, and his surprisingly warm early encounters with Donald Trump, including a popcorn run at the 1988 Super Bowl. He also talks about his upcoming tour playing the hits some of which he's rarely, or never, performed live. But it's a parting thought that lingers longest: "A writer writes to what he aspires to be, not what he is." Bill's still thinking about that one. Support our Advertisers: -Head to https://www.squarespace.com/CLUBRANDOM to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CLUBRANDOM. -Protect your car with CarShield. Get 20% off at http://www.carshield.com with code RANDOM -Try Claude for free at https://www.claude.ai/clubrandom -Try Lucy today! Get 20% off your first order at https://www.lucy.co with code CLUBRANDOM Subscribe to the Club Random YouTube channel: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/clubrandompodcast?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch episodes ad-free – subscribe to Bill Maher’s Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://billmaher.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/ClubRandom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Club Random Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://clubrandom.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices ABOUT CLUB RANDOM Bill Maher rewrites the rules of…

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## Transcript

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