Episodes

  • Episode 27: Theology, Protest, and the Blues
    Dec 23 2025

    Dr. Justin McLendon, a professor of theology at Grand Canyon University and department chair for the Master of Arts programs for Grand Canyon Theological Seminary, joins Dr. Adams to discuss his chapter in his edited collection Theology and the Blues, part of a series from Lexington Books on Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture. They cover everything from philosophy and Civil Rights to lamentation and Christianity in the blues.

    Guest: Dr. Justin McLendon Link to the Edited Collection: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/theology-and-the-blues-9781978714588/

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

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    38 mins
  • Episode 26: Blues, Songwriting, and Building Relationships with Piper and the Hard Times
    Nov 21 2025

    Join Dr. Adams as she gets to know the lead band members of the multi-award winning blues band Piper and the Hard Times. They talk building relationships as musicians, genre and how they view the blues, and the songwriting process for the band and their new album. And for dancers, they've got a unique opportunity!

    Guests: Al "Piper" Green, Steve Eagon, and Dave Colella Website: https://www.piperandthehardtimes.com/

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

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    48 mins
  • Episode 25: An Interview with Al Chesis
    Oct 24 2025

    Al Chesis and his Delta Sonics played the Sunday set at Mile High Blues 2025. While they didn't have a chance to sit down and talk live, Al and Dr. Adams sat down before the event to talk about his career, life, and blues music.

    Guest: Al Chesis Website: www.deltasonics.net/home

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

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    43 mins
  • Episode 24: Let's Talk Blues with Rex Peoples
    Aug 30 2025

    Join Rex Peoples and Dr. Adams as they discuss blues music and dance, culture, and take audience questions in this live recording from Mile High Blues.

    Guest: Rex Peoples Website: www.rexpeoples.com

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

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    44 mins
  • Episode 23: Live at Mile High Blues with Maynard Mills and John Long
    Jul 28 2025

    The podcast travels to Denver, CO for the first Mile High Blues since the pandemic to interview the Colorado blues greats at the event. Dr. Adams started the weekend off with a live-audience interview with Maynard Mills and John Long.

    Guests: Maynard Mills and John Long Websites: https://maynardmills.com/ ; https://www.johnlongblues.com/

    Article on Maynard Mills

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

    Podcast intro music is Chicago Shuffle Blues, courtesy of JuliusH. Song can be found at https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-3921568/.

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    49 mins
  • Episode 22: On Lifting Others Up with Lady A
    Jun 19 2025

    Dr. Adams sits down with Lady A to discuss her music, but overall, this is an episode about getting to know your neighbors, about lifting each other up, and about speaking up for those who may not have opportunities to succeed if you don’t.

    Guest: Lady A Website: https://www.ladyababyblues.com/

    Info for One Seattle Soul: https://therhapsodyproject.org/one-seattle-soul/

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

    Podcast intro music is Chicago Shuffle Blues, courtesy of JuliusH. Song can be found at https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-3921568/.

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    47 mins
  • Episode 21: Let's Talk Culture and Community with Damon Stone
    May 23 2025

    Dr. Adams sits down with dance historian and blues dance practitioner Damon Stone to discuss what we call the blues dance community, cultural ambassadorship, the good and the bad of culture, the need to spend time in black spaces, and more.

    Guest: Damon Stone Website: https://damonstone.dance/

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry

    12-Bar Talk is brought to you from Ogden, Utah's "Junction City" full of blues and jazz history on Historic 25th Street. You can learn more about Ogden's rich black history at https://www.visitogden.com/blog/celebrating-black-history-month-in-ogden-utah/.

    Podcast intro music is Chicago Shuffle Blues, courtesy of JuliusH. Song can be found at https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-3921568/.

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    41 mins
  • Episode 20: Blues Musical Complexity, a Conversation with Stef Rosen
    Apr 27 2025

    Stef Rosen and Dr. Adams sit down and talk about his love for blues music and what it is like to learn the culture as you learn to play the blues, how he encountered the blues dance community and his experiences playing music for them, and the differences in various styles of blues, and more.

    Guest: Stef Rosen

    Website: https://slidinwolf.com/

    Bandcamp: https://stefrosen.bandcamp.com/album/soulify

    Socials: IG, @stefrosenblues, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stefanoronchi.blues/ , TikTok @stef.rosen

    Produced by Dr. Chelsea Adams Post-Production by Jeremy Carberry 12-Bar Talk is supported by Salt City Blues, LLC, a blues dance event and education organization committed to bringing education about black dances and blues to the Greater Salt Lake City area. Podcast intro music is Chicago Shuffle Blues, courtesy of JuliusH. Song can be found at https://pixabay.com/users/juliush-3921568/.
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    40 mins