Episodes

  • John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton: The Art of Songwriting

    John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton: The Art of Songwriting
    Jan 7 2026
    Folk music veterans John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton discuss their collaborative album "Together Again" with interviewer Cris Cohen. The conversation explores their songwriting philosophy of addressing macro issues through intimate personal stories, their creative partnership that has flourished through Zoom co-writing sessions, and their optimistic view of folk music's current health. They reflect on mentorship from Pete Seeger, the importance of surrendering to the creative process, finding success outside mainstream formulas, and maintaining artistic vitality throughout their careers. The interview touches on specific songs from the album while offering insights into collaboration, the role of technology in creativity, and the enduring power of storytelling in music. (Note: At one point Tom drops from the call and is unable to reconnect.)
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Afton Wolfe on "Ophiuchus": Astronomy, Vulnerability, and the Sacred Calling of Art

    Afton Wolfe on "Ophiuchus": Astronomy, Vulnerability, and the Sacred Calling of Art
    Nov 21 2025
    Singer-songwriter Afton Wolfe discusses his album "Ophiuchus," named after the 13th zodiac constellation. He explores themes of astronomy versus astrology, the balance between high concepts and intimate moments, vulnerability in songwriting, and navigating the attention economy as an artist. Wolfe also shares the deeply personal story behind "Crooked Roads," written the night before his wife's brain surgery, and reflects on the collaborative process with illustrator Cora Lee.
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    48 mins
  • Bernie Barlow - On Songwriting, Singing, and the Journey of an Artist

    Bernie Barlow - On Songwriting, Singing, and the Journey of an Artist
    Nov 14 2025
    Singer-songwriter Bernie Barlow opens up about her latest album "Walking Around This Town," sharing decades of wisdom from both lead and backing vocal work. In this in-depth conversation, Bernie discusses the craft of songwriting, the value of life experience in music, and what it means to be an independent artist later in career.
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    45 mins
  • Cory Marks

    Cory Marks
    Nov 3 2025
    Cory Marks doesn’t fit into boxes, and he’s not interested in starting now. The Canadian singer-songwriter has built a career on bridging the gap between country and rock, two genres that don’t always play well together in the industry’s carefully segmented landscape. But Marks isn’t concerned with what should or shouldn’t work. From touring with hard rock heavyweights like Theory of a Dead Man and Sevendust to ending his high-energy shows with just an acoustic guitar and raw vulnerability, he’s carved out a unique space that honors his influences from Merle Haggard to Ozzy Osbourne.With the release of Sorry for Nothing, Volume Two, Marks continues to push sonic boundaries while staying true to his roots as a drummer-turned-songwriter. When he’s not on stage or in Nashville’s writing rooms, you might find him 10,000 feet in the air. Marks is also a licensed pilot who finds creative inspiration among the clouds. In this conversation, he opens up about the emotional power of acoustic performances, the challenges of Nashville’s intense writing culture, his unforgettable experience flying with the Canadian Snowbirds, and why sometimes the best thing a songwriter can do is take a step back and just live.
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    36 mins
  • Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus

    Lauri Ylönen of The Rasmus
    Oct 3 2025
    In this interview, The Rasmus frontman Lauri Ylönen discusses the creative process behind the band’s album “Weirdo,” revealing how personal experiences fuel his songwriting… from the revenge-driven “Rest in Pieces” written at 3 a.m. after a friend’s betrayal, to the deeply personal “I’m Coming For You,” a confessional song for his 17-year-old son about balancing career and fatherhood. Ylönen shares his approach to songwriting, often composing melodies in his head before touching an instrument, and reflects on the band’s “Stay Weird” philosophy as a message against social media pressure and perfectionism. Ylönen also describes performing a charity concert in Ukraine, sleeping in bomb shelters during missile strikes, and meeting exhausted soldiers. Throughout, he discusses writing lyrics in English as a second language, how his naturally shy Finnish personality contrasts with his stage persona, and the importance of maintaining band unity with members he’s known for three decades.
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    29 mins
  • Legendary DJ Richard Blade

    Legendary DJ Richard Blade
    Sep 24 2025
    In this interview, legendary KROQ DJ Richard Blade reflects on the golden age of alternative radio, crediting program director Rick Carroll's music-first philosophy for creating the environment that made the station's DJ lineup so exceptional. That lineup included our mutual friend, the late, great Dusty Street. Blade offers frank insights into today's radio landscape, which he describes as "a swamp" programmed by salespeople rather than music lovers, while sharing career advice about setting bold goals and the importance of knowing your audience. From breaking new wave bands in the '80s to his current role preserving that era's legacy, Blade discusses stories from his autobiography "World In My Eyes," including a Hollywood movie project in development based on his relationship with Berlin's Terri Nunn. Through industry changes and celebrity encounters, the interview reveals Blade's core motivation remains unchanged: he's simply a guy who loves sharing great music with people. We (Richard, myself, and my wife, Michele) recorded this interview backstage at the Carolina Theatre in Durham before Richard’s show with Howard Jones and Haircut 100.
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    24 mins
  • Johnny Moeller - Texas Headhunters

    Johnny Moeller - Texas Headhunters
    Sep 13 2025
    When three seasoned Austin guitarists who grew up watching the same blues legends at legendary venues like Antone's and the Continental Club decide to collaborate, something special is bound to happen. That's exactly what occurred when Johnny Moeller—known for his work with the Fabulous Thunderbirds and backing artists like Marcia Ball—joined forces with Jesse Dayton and Ian Moore to form the Texas Headhunters.What started as a casual studio session between old friends has evolved into a powerhouse trio that captures the authentic spirit of Austin blues while pushing beyond traditional boundaries. Their debut album, recorded in just five days at Willie Nelson's studio, showcases not just their individual talents but their remarkable ability to weave three distinct guitar voices into a cohesive, electrifying sound.In this candid interview, Moeller opens up about the challenges and revelations of transitioning from a career spent primarily as a supporting musician to sharing frontman duties with two other guitar virtuosos. He discusses the delicate art of three-guitar arrangements, the organic songwriting process that drives the band, and how decades of friendship and shared musical heroes created the perfect foundation for this new venture.More than just another blues-rock project, Texas Headhunters represents something increasingly rare in today's music landscape: an entirely organic, human-driven collaboration that stands as a defiant response to the artificial intelligence and manufactured sounds dominating the industry. As Moeller puts it, this is about getting back to "the real shit"—authentic musicianship, spontaneous creativity, and the irreplaceable magic that happens when talented musicians trust each other enough to truly listen and respond.
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    32 mins
  • Lawrence Gowan of Styx - 2025 Interview

    Lawrence Gowan of Styx - 2025 Interview
    Jul 14 2025
    I interviewed Lawrence Gowan of Styx. We discussed:
    • Their new album, Circling From Above.
    • When the listener is nervous to hear the new album because they loved the last album.
    • The challenge of giving yourself only three days to write and record a song.
    • The melody idea that would not leave him alone.
    • Their continuing embrace of song vignettes.
    • When the final version of a song is even better than the initial idea.
    • Creating conflict and resolution within the span of one song.
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    39 mins