Surprise Cast #204 Jem Kelly

Dear Jem,
I'm elated that we had the opportunity to chat. I really enjoyed hearing your reflections on so many interesting topics!

We covered your experience of fatherhood and the important relationship with your son, which included how parenting reshaped priorities, lessons about supporting a sensitive teenager, navigating education, "failure" as a learning milestone, and how to balance encouragement with letting a child find their own path. I greatly respect this approach :).  

It was fascinating to hear your honest thoughts on how technology and AI impact creativity and education. You described AI as a powerful tool for research and music production but also warned about its risks: the danger of bypassing critical thinking, the potential decline of humanities studies, and the social and political forces shaping how knowledge is shared. 

Thank you for pulling back the curtains with your stories behind The Wild Swans. You provided honest accounts of the inspiration behind the album, recording details, and gigs. You explained the origins of the B-side “Holy Holy,” its distinctive drum sound, and why certain production choices were made — which were quite ear-opening to hear. I loved hearing your memories about music videos, including "Young Manhood" and "Bible Dreams". 

This conversation was deep, thoughtful, and warm. You brought the English charm, which added variety to the table. You delivered sharp observations and opinions with Jem Kelly passion. Thanks for keeping the spirit of humanity alive!

Follow Jem Kelly: https://x.com/BrotherPlukker

More Wild Swans: https://www.paul-simpson.co.uk/