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SongWriter

50 Episodes

42 minutes | Jun 14, 2022
Laurie Woolever + Mike Ruffino
Author and former longtime “lieutenant” for Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, (@LaurieWoolever) tells an exclusive story about a day in Sri Lanka when she fears that she would get killed over a bucket of fried chicken and a bottle of whiskey. Composer and songwriter Mike Ruffino (@MRuffino), who also worked with Bourdain for more than a decade, performs a song he wrote using inspiration and actual audio recorded during the shoot in Sri Lanka.  SongWriterPodcast.com/Laurie-Woolever-Mike-RuffinoTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast  
22 minutes | May 31, 2022
Mike Nichols, told by Mark Harris + Anna Kline
Biographer and social historian Mark Harris (@MarkHarris) tells the life story of Mike Nichols, one of the most influential directors of the 20th century. Anna Kline of the band Swift Silver (@SwiftSilverBand) talks about her reaction to Mike’s story, and shares the genesis of her vintage-vibing song, “The Picture Show.” Anna also speaks about her mother’s dementia from Alzheimer’s, and connects her ongoing grief to Nichols’ experience of losing his father at a young age SongWriterPodcast.com/Mike-Nichols-Anna-KlineTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
23 minutes | May 17, 2022
Wright Thompson + Drew Holcomb
Author and journalist Wright Thompson reads a story about the death of his beloved uncle, and how time and place memorialize our lives. Songwriter Drew Holcomb (@DrewHolcomb) talks about the loss of his brother at a young age, and performs his brand new song, “Slower Than the Highway.” SongWriterPodcast.com/Wright-Thompson-Drew-HolcombTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcast
24 minutes | May 3, 2022
Halston, told by Ned Martel + Stephan Moccio
Ned Martel, a producer of the Netflix series Halston, tells the life story of the mononymous designer, who first came on the scene when he designed the iconic hat Jackie Kennedy wore to the inauguration of her husband.  Composer, producer, and songwriter Stephan Moccio (@StephanMoccio) talks about his work with The Weeknd, Celine Dion, and Miley Cyrus, and about the genesis of the song he wrote in response to Halston’s triumphant-yet-tragic life story. Stephan also speaks about writing “Wrecking Ball,” and how that song changed his career and life. SongWriterPodcast.com/Halston-Stephan-MoccioTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcast
33 minutes | Apr 19, 2022
Zelda + Carsie Blanton
Hospice social worker Zelda (who asks that her given name not be used for privacy reasons) talks about her time working as a stripper. She recounts moments both horrifying and sweet, and describes the many ways that the two jobs overlap. Songwriter Carsie Blanton (@CarsieBlanton) talks about how she incorporates political content within the emotional framework of her songs, and draws parallels between what audiences ask of strippers and songwriters. Her brand new song is called “Into the Light.” Photos of Zelda from her exotic dancer days, including ones showing the bruises she regularly got up and down her legs can be seen at the SongWriter IG  and the SongWriter TikTok SongWriterPodcast.com/Zelda-Carsie-BlantonTwitter.com/SnogWriter
29 minutes | Apr 5, 2022
Coal Country + Steve Earle
Playwrights Jessica Blank (@JessicaCBlank) and Erik Jensen (@ErikJensen123) describe the genesis of their musical, Coal Country, a collaboration with Steve Earle (@SteveEarle). Steve talks about the role of empathy in songwriting, and plays his song “It’s About Blood,” which lists the names of the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mining disaster. The show runs at the Cherry Lane Theater in NYC until April 17, 2022. The  project is a collaboration with @PublicTheaterNY and @AudibleTheater SongWriterPodcast.com/Coal-Country-Steve-EarleTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
2 minutes | Mar 22, 2022
Season Four Trailer
Delighted to announce the fourth season of SongWriter, which will feature stories from Questlove, Mary Gauthier, Anthony Doerr, and George Saunders, and songs from Carrie Brownstein, Drew Holcomb, and Steve Earle SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
24 minutes | Oct 19, 2021
Joyce Carol Oates + Katie Melua
Legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads her poem “Too Young to Marry, but Not Too Young to Die” at a live performance in San Francisco organized by Poets and Writers Magazine. International pop star Katie Melua shares a studio recording of a song she wrote in response called "Forever Sunlit," and talks about her evolving creative process. The poem is about how what seems romantic to a young person looks increasingly laughable - even asinine - as we get older, and the artists each talk about what it means to be a teenager, and how their perspectives have shifted over time. This is the final episode of season three. SongWriterPodcast.com/Joyce-Carol-Oates-Katie-MeluaTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast  
67 minutes | Oct 18, 2021
Introducing Basic Folk
Basic Folk is one of my favorite podcasts, and in this episode host Cindy Howes talks to Wesley Schultz about the history of The Lumineers up to now and his solo debut album. About Basic Folk:Basic Folk is a podcast with honest conversations between musicians and Cindy Howes, a well-versed public radio host and music curator, and guest host Lizzie No, a talented singer/songwriter. Basic Folk approaches interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. This podcast fosters the folk community and showcases a genre that is often misunderstood. Basic Folk features complex conversations about the human experience witnessed from an artistic angle. Our definition of “folk” is extremely broad, so you’ll hear interviews from Amythyst Kiah , John Hiatt, The Lumineers and many more. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
22 minutes | Sep 21, 2021
Jonathan Lethem + Tift Merritt
During a live online performance, bestselling author Jonathan Lethem reads from his recent “dystopian pastoral” novel, The Arrest, about a farming community dealing with the worldwide collapse of technology. Jonathan also speaks about his long history of writing lyrics for bands including They Might Be Giants and the Silos. Songwriter Tift Merritt shares a studio recording of a song called “Asylum in a Mad, Mad World” that she wrote in response to the story, but also reflecting the history of a former asylum in her hometown. SongWriterPodcast.com/Jonathan-Lethem-Tift-MerrittTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
33 minutes | Sep 7, 2021
Keith Rosson + Antje Duvekot
Author and artist Keith Rosson reads his story, "Forgive Me This," and songwriter Antje Duvekot shares a studio recording of her song written in response, "Lottery Ticket." Keith, who has illustrated covers for Green Day and the Goo Goo Dolls, talks about his design and art work, and how his partial blindness informs his approach. Antje talks about her strained relationship with her father, and describes the inspiration for her "confessional" song. SongWriterPodcast.com/RossonTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
28 minutes | Aug 24, 2021
Jeremy Welch + Maia Sharp
Veteran Jeremy Welch talks about his experience as a soldier, and his struggles with addiction, suicidality, and depression. Songwriter Maia Sharp talks about meeting Jeremy at a Songwriting With: retreat, and they describe the process of writing their song, "These Boots." Twitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
44 minutes | Aug 10, 2021
George Saunders + Ben Arthur (Part 1)
Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads the first half of his story, "Tenth of December," about a man who wishes to spare his family from the suffering around his illness and impending death. George describes how he first thought of the story, and the several angles he tried before it came into focus. This is accompanied by a studio recording of a song written in response called "If You Need Me," by host Ben Arthur. For the second half of the story, and a brand new song by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Amanda Shires, please listen to part 2 (episode 9). SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
42 minutes | Aug 10, 2021
George Saunders + Amanda Shires (Part 2)
Bestselling author and MacArthur genius George Saunders reads the second half of his story, "Tenth of December." George and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and fiddle player Amanda Shires (of The Highwomen) discuss art, suffering, and love over a lifetime. Amanda talks about the process of writing a song in response to the story, and shares a studio recording of "You Don't Get to Go." This is part 2 of the story. For the first half you can listen to part 1 (episode 8).  SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
29 minutes | Jul 27, 2021
Polly Samson + David Gilmour
Bestselling author Polly Samson reads an excerpt from her novel, A Theater for Dreamers, about a young woman's time on the Greek island of Hydra in the 1960s. Polly and her husband David Gilmour, of the band Pink Floyd, discuss their long collaborative relationship, and describe writing the song "Yes, I Have Ghosts" in response to a passage in the book.  David also talks about the process of finding inspiration for new music he wrote for the audiobook, and about collaborating with his daughter Romany Gilmour on the recording. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast  
26 minutes | Jul 13, 2021
Lucia Berlin (read by Elizabeth Geoghegan) + Rebecca Rego
Lucia Berlin died years before her collection "A Manual for Cleaning Women" became an international bestseller. Berlin's friend and former student Elizabeth Geoghegan talks about her life, and reads her story, "Mama," and songwriter Rebecca Rego shares a studio recording of a song written in response. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
22 minutes | Jun 29, 2021
Nicholson Baker + Rod Picott
Author Nicholson Baker reads an excerpt of The Anthologist, and songwriter Rod Picott performs a song written in response called "Losing Faith." The two friends also discuss cross-arts explorations, self-doubt, and the importance of a good sandwich. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
32 minutes | Jun 15, 2021
Sarah Hepola + Matt the Electrician
Bestselling author Sarah Hepola reads an excerpt from her memoir "Blackout," and songwriter Matt the Electrician shares his own experiences with blackouts and studio recordings of TWO songs that he wrote in response. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
19 minutes | Jun 1, 2021
Odie Lindsey + Mary Gauthier
Author and veteran Odie Lindsey reads an excerpt from his novel, "Some Go Home." Odie's friend, Grammy Award-winning songwriter Mary Gauthier, talks about how she came to know him, and shares a studio recording of her song, "Then Go Home," written in response. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
28 minutes | May 18, 2021
Roxane Gay + Celisse + Toshi Reagon
Bestselling author Roxane Gay reads a piece called "Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You," about love in the pandemic, and making a home with her wife, Debbie Milman. Songwriter and actor Celisse Henderson talks about writing her song, and about properly understanding the work of rock pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharp. Songwriter, composer, and producer Toshi Reagon speaks about how she constructed her song, "You Belong," to echo the structure of Gay's piece, and about the connections between Tharp and pioneering writer Octavia Butler, whose novel, Parable of the Sower, Reagon made into an opera. This episode was recorded during a live performance co-produced with Harlem School of the Arts. SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
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