Joe Frank — the radio producer’s radio producer, the ultimate acquired taste — passed away a year ago this month. He was 79. For over four decades Frank hosted late-night shows that could float between hilarious dreams and suspenseful nightmares, between fact and fiction. And though his shows were rarely mainstream hits, cultural figures like Ira Glass of This American Life and film director Alexander Payne consider Frank a major influence on their own work.

Brooke discussed Joe Frank’s life, style and legacy with Jad Abumrad, co-host of WNYC’s Radiolab, and Mark Oppenheimer, host of Tablet magazine’s Unorthodox podcast, who wrote an article in Slate titled “Joe Frank Signs Off.”