Our episode title is a lyric by ​​Scott McCaughey, the beloved singer-songwriter behind bands like Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. McCaughey was also a member of R.E.M.’s touring band and contributed to their albums. He had spent his life living and breathing music—until a massive stroke in 2017 shattered his ability to speak, play, and understand the world around him. He describes the early aftermath as “a bizarre netherworld,” where reality blurred and even the simplest words failed him.

In this deeply human episode of Alive Again, Scott opens up about the long road of recovery—his first terrifying moments in the ER, the confusion of aphasia, and the odd beauty of watching The Wizard of Oz while relearning language. His story isn’t just about survival, but transformation.

With honesty, humor, and an artist’s insight, Scott explores what it means to lose the thing that once defined you—and how love, creativity, and community helped him find something even more profound in its place.

Scott McCaughey has led The Young Fresh Fellows since 1981. In 1993, he and Peter Buck founded The Minus 5 as a side project along with The Posies’ Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. The group’s lineup has featured a rotating cast of musicians over the years. From 1994 to 2011, McCaughey was a member of R.E.M.’s touring band and also contributed to that group’s albums. In 2008, McCaughey formed The Baseball Project with Buck, Pitmon, and Linda’s husband, Dream Syndicate frontman Steve Wynn. The group, which now also features R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, plays original baseball-themed indie-rock tunes.

 

Scott will be on tour with Minus 5 and The Baseball Project this September (2025). For more info and tour dates, go here: 

The Minus 5 / Baseball Project – September, 2025 Tour 

 

Scott graciously shared tracks from his incredible body of work, including:
“Johnny Volume,” “Heartbeat Smile” - Alejandro Escovedo 
“Young Fresh Fellows Theme,” “Power Mowers Theme”  - The Young Fresh Fellows 
“Hey Lacey (Live)” - Filthy Friends
 “All The Time,” “Emperor Of The Bathroom,” “Placent Folk,” “Scar Crow,” “MRI,” “Let the Rope Hold, Cassie Lee,” “House Of Four Doors (End Theme),”  “Words & Birds” -  The Minus 5
“Sun Station Vadsø” - The No Ones

 

Story Producer: Brent Dey


* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

Our episode title is a lyric by ​​Scott McCaughey, the beloved singer-songwriter behind bands like Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5. McCaughey was also a member of R.E.M.&rsquo;s touring band and contributed to their albums. He had spent his life living and breathing music&mdash;until a massive stroke in 2017 shattered his ability to speak, play, and understand the world around him. He describes the early aftermath as &ldquo;a bizarre netherworld,&rdquo; where reality blurred and even the simplest words failed him.
In this deeply human episode of Alive Again, Scott opens up about the long road of recovery&mdash;his first terrifying moments in the ER, the confusion of aphasia, and the odd beauty of watching The Wizard of Oz while relearning language. His story isn&rsquo;t just about survival, but transformation.
With honesty, humor, and an artist&rsquo;s insight, Scott explores what it means to lose the thing that once defined you&mdash;and how love, creativity, and community helped him find something even more profound in its place.
Scott McCaughey has led The Young Fresh Fellows since 1981. In 1993, he and Peter Buck founded The Minus 5 as a side project along with The Posies&rsquo; Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow. The group&rsquo;s lineup has featured a rotating cast of musicians over the years. From 1994 to 2011, McCaughey was a member of R.E.M.&rsquo;s touring band and also contributed to that group&rsquo;s albums. In 2008, McCaughey formed The Baseball Project with Buck, Pitmon, and Linda&rsquo;s husband, Dream Syndicate frontman Steve Wynn. The group, which now also features R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills, plays original baseball-themed indie-rock tunes.
&nbsp;
Scott will be on tour with Minus 5 and The Baseball Project this September (2025). For more info and tour dates, go here:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bandsintown.com/a/204447-the-baseball-project?came_from=257&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_source=home&amp;utm_campaign=search_bar">The Minus 5 / Baseball Project &ndash; September, 2025 Tour&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
Scott graciously shared tracks from his incredible body of work, including:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">&ldquo;Johnny Volume,&rdquo; &ldquo;Heartbeat Smile&rdquo; - Alejandro Escovedo&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">&ldquo;Young Fresh Fellows Theme,&rdquo; &ldquo;Power Mowers Theme&rdquo;&nbsp; - The Young Fresh Fellows&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">&ldquo;Hey Lacey (Live)&rdquo; - Filthy Friends</li>
<li aria-level="1">&nbsp;&ldquo;All The Time,&rdquo; &ldquo;Emperor Of The Bathroom,&rdquo; &ldquo;Placent Folk,&rdquo; &ldquo;Scar Crow,&rdquo; &ldquo;MRI,&rdquo; &ldquo;Let the Rope Hold, Cassie Lee,&rdquo; &ldquo;House Of Four Doors (End Theme),&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Words &amp; Birds&rdquo; -&nbsp; The Minus 5</li>
<li aria-level="1">&ldquo;Sun Station Vads&oslash;&rdquo; - The No Ones</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Story Producer: Brent Dey
 * If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we&rsquo;d love to hear your story. Please email us at <a href="mailto:aliveagainproject@gmail.com">aliveagainproject@gmail.com</a>

That which doesn’t kill us…

Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Dan Bush, Alive Again is a weekly series featuring extraordinary stories from people who faced death—and came back changed. From near-death experiences to near-fatal accidents and moments of profound crisis, each episode dives into the transformation that happens on the other side of survival.

Told in their own words, these first-hand accounts explore not just what happened in the moment, but how everything changed after: perspectives, priorities, purpose. Some stories are miraculous. Others are brutal. All of them are unforgettable.

Our mission is to find, explore, and share these stories to remind us all of our shared human condition.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you don’t die– this show is for you.

* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at aliveagainproject@gmail.com

That which doesn&rsquo;t kill us&hellip;
Hosted by award-winning filmmaker Dan Bush, Alive Again is a weekly series featuring extraordinary stories from people who faced death&mdash;and came back changed. From near-death experiences to near-fatal accidents and moments of profound crisis, each episode dives into the transformation that happens on the other side of survival.
Told in their own words, these first-hand accounts explore not just what happened in the moment, but how everything changed after: perspectives, priorities, purpose. Some stories are miraculous. Others are brutal. All of them are unforgettable.
Our mission is to find, explore, and share these stories to remind us all of our shared human condition.
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered what happens when you don&rsquo;t die&ndash; this show is for you.
* If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we&rsquo;d love to hear your story. Please email us at <a href="mailto:aliveagainproject@gmail.com">aliveagainproject@gmail.com</a>

Alive Again

 20 | Only The Word Gets Out Alive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aff95228-5b0f-4320-b537-b34501274cfe/transcript