The Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as many other influences. Today we’re focusing on the wonderful 3rd album by her trio, “Folk Covers” which celebrates many great folk music composers of today. I think you’ll really enjoy this uplifting conversation which features a lot of music, including Lena giving us some spontaneous house concert experiences, and clips from the new album, with insights into process of curating and interpreting these folk covers; please note the timestamps have the tune names. You’ll also learn about the Swedish folk scene and regional differences, her experiences studying both in Sweden and Boston at Berklee, her love of creative design and how to dance a Polska. The podcast, video and show notes are linked here as well!

Violinist Lara St. John joins us to discuss her upcoming documentary Dear Lara, her remarkable career, and her ongoing work to ensure safety within music education. (This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of this interview.)

In this wide-ranging interview, she opens up about artistry, mentorship, advocacy, and the experiences that shaped her path as a world-renowned soloist.

We also explore her albums, her creative process, and her mission to build a safer, more inclusive future in classical music. Lara’s creativity, warmth, humour and brilliance come through and you’ll hear about her decision to become the first classical soloist to start her own record label, her formative year in the former USSR, advice about learning music and the violin, and a tribute to one of her main mentors, Joey Corpus. In fact Joey’s amazing story wasn’t one I was familiar with and since this conversation I’ve learned more about this inspiring pedagogue. 

We talked about two of her many albums, and you’ll hear a couple of clips from Shiksa and She/Her/Hers; track names are in the timestamps and everything is linked to Lara’s website in the show notes. Lara is also known for her love for iguanas, and at the very beginning of this episode you’ll get to meet Baby Octavius.

Guitarist Ben Garnett has released a beautiful new album, Kite’s Keep, and this episode features clips and insights from the project. The record includes collaborations with acoustic music greats familiar to listeners of this podcast, including Darol Anger and Brittany Haas. Ben’s mentor, Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers, also appears, and Ben discusses the wisdom he’s gained from other influential musicians in his life, among them his cousin, acclaimed rock guitarist Andy Timmons, the brilliant Julian Lage, and bandleader Missy Raines. He also talks about how playing tuba was helpful, and how he immersed himself in a range of musical styles—studying jazz in university before finding his way into Nashville’s acoustic bluegrass scene. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version of this episode.

Canadian violinist Yolanda Bruno spoke to me about her  new album Dear Jeanne and her  film The Immortal Serafin, which both honour the late Jeanne Lamon, the renowned baroque violinist, and Music Director of Tafelmusik for 34 years. Yolanda explains how she explores the story of Jeanne’s 1759 Santo Serafin baroque violin, which was generously loaned to Yolanda for one year.  You’ll hear a few clips from the album, including Jeanne’s masterful string trio arrangement of Bach’s iconic Ciaccona, as well as a taste of a Leclair duo with Julia Wedman, another important mentor for Yolanda, and a work by Beth Silver honouring Jeanne’s Dutch-Jewish heritage. 

Yolanda reflects on what it means to live more sustainably with her partner, the accordionist Michael Bridge, who was previously featured on this podcast. She shared how her her annual project Music for Your Blues has impacted her life, as well as a very memorable experience performing in a high-security penitentiary, which taught her about connection and  dignity, and the value of live music. I also wanted to shine a light on Yolanda’s brilliant first ablum, The Wild Swans, featuring 11 women composers, recorded with pianist Isabelle David. You’ll hear short excerpts by Lera Auerbach and  Kelly-Marie Murphy. We end the episode with Yolanda’s insights about  avoiding burnout by achieving balance in her life using the idea of longer cycles of time, which I loved. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of this interview, with complete show notes with other linked episodes.

This is the transcript to my 2025 interview with Mack Hagood. The podcast and video versions are linked here. I really enjoyed this opportunity to speak with Mack Hagood, author of Hush: Media and Sonic Self-Control, to explore how we use sound to manage our minds, moods, and modern lives.From white noise apps and noise-cancelling headphones to tinnitus and sound therapy, Mack helped me understand the complex relationship between media, technology, and the human need to tune in (or out). We discuss the surprising cultural history behind everyday sonic tools — from the 1964 Sleep-Mate sound conditioner to Irv Teibel’s visionary Environments recordings, to Dr. Amar Gopal Bose’s 1978 flight epiphany that led to noise-cancelling headphones. Mack reflected on teaching “The Smartphone in Society,” and concerns with both social media and streaming platforms. Towards the end of this conversation he explained why started his podcast Phantom Power and how his childhood in New Orleans eventually led him to the new field of sound scholarship. 

Transcript of my interview with pianist and composer Michael Stephen Brown; the podcast and video are linked here. Michael Stephen Brown is both a fantastic pianist and composer, and in this episode you’ll be hearing some excerpts from his upcoming album 12 Blocks, which is a very personal project for him of chamber music and solo piano pieces. You’ll hear the stories and personal connections with each of these works that he’s composed. He shared his experiences at several inspiring arts residencies including living in Aaron Copland’s house unplugged from the internet, his close friendship with the late Shirley Perle, and his research into Felix Mendelssohn’s relationship with Delphine von Schauroth and her compositions.   We talked about the importance of removing the stigma from getting therapy and providing more affordable access to mental health support to those in the performing arts through his support of Creative Care. and his longstanding collaboration with cellist and comedian Nick Canellakis; you’ll also be hearing a clip of one of their performances. At the core of this interview are Michael’s broad interests and how he reflects his curiosity and love of storytelling in his creative work. There’s lots more to this in-depth episode, and all the music you’ll be hearing is composed by Michael; have a look at the show notes for the links.

This week’s episode is a personal one for me, since Jennifer Johnson has been helping me gain more ease and comfort in violin playing and living in general. An understanding of Body Mapping will help you whether you play an instrument, sing, or simply go about your daily life. Jennifer Johnson is a violinist, film maker, and the author of several books including “What Every Violnist Needs to Know About the Body”. She’s an internationally sought-after Master Teacher and Teacher Trainer in Body Mapping and is renowned for her expertise in helping musicians to move according to the design of their bodies to prevent playing injuries and promote ease.

I also wanted to shine a light on Jennifer’s film Music, Movement & Transformation: The Body Mapping Story,   which is partly a beautiful tribute to her inspiring mentor Barbara Conable; the link to rent the film is in the show notes. 

I’m sure you’ll find this conversation with Jennifer is full of actionable tips and insights to help you, including some of the best advice about dealing with stage fright that I’ve ever heard. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video versions of the episode, and the show notes.

Cherokee singer-songwriter Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey shares the story behind his debut country-folk album, created entirely in the Cherokee language with producer Jared Tyler. He discusses language revitalization, the Cherokee syllabary, immersion schools, and the impact of boarding schools. Agalisiga also reflects on Indigenous history, cultural preservation, and his musical influences—showing how traditional language and contemporary music can keep a culture thriving. This is the transcript of the interview; the podcast and video are linked here.

Gaelynn Lea is a violinist, singer-songwriter, disability rights advocate, author, and public speaker. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, Gaelynn began her musical journey with the support of a childhood music teacher and her musical family. This transcript is linked to the podcast and video version as well as show notes. You’ll hear about how her big break happened when she won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, which led to a fascinating creative life which in the last few years has included international touring and  scoring Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga.  Gaelynn is really open to trying new things, and this really came through as she talked to me about how she’ll never have enough time to explore all her curiosities, reflections on her first compositions and songs, how she collaborated with  mentors Alan Sparhawk, and Charlie Parr, and how she created a new musical fable for the stage called Invisible Fences with disabled storyteller Kevin Kling. 

You’ll be hearing clips from some of  Gaelynn’s albums during the podcast, and her Bandcamp is linked in the show notes for you. We begin with a look at her upcoming memoir—It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect— a warm, funny and deeply-felt exploration of disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life. I  plan to welcome Gaelynn back  for a future episode focused on that work. You can find the pre-order link in the show notes.

Sam Sadigursky is a renowned clarinetist, composer, and member of the Philip Glass Ensemble. In this episode, we explore his latest project The Solomon Diaries with Nathan Koci, his work on Broadway in The Band’s Visit, and his career spanning jazz, classical, and contemporary music. Sam shares stories from touring with Philip Glass, mentors Brad Mehldau and Lee Konitz, and his upbringing in a musical immigrant family.

We also dive into improvisation beyond music, the impact of streaming algorithms, and the cultural legacy of the Borscht Belt. Listen to insights into Sam’s unique voice as a composer and performer, and hear excerpts from some of his wonderful creative output. This is the transcript, and the podcast, video and show notes are linked here.

Transcript to my interview with Pat McCusker; podcast and video linked. Pat McCusker: Scoring The Ezra Klein Show, Touring with David Duchovny, and Composing for Podcasts | Conversations with Musicians

Composer and audio producer Pat McCusker shares what it’s like to create music for The Ezra Klein Show, work behind the scenes at The New York Times, and tour internationally as a guitarist and vocalist with David Duchovny. We dive into his creative process, tools, and how podcast music shapes storytelling.

I have become a big fan of Ruckus, a dynamic Early Music ensemble, and I so enjoyed this uplifting conversation with Clay Zeller-Townson, their Artistic Director and bassoonist. You’ll be hearing clips from The Edinburgh Rollick with music from the Niel Gow collection, featuring the violinist Keir GoGwilt, and because this music is very much at the crossroads of Scottish traditional music and Baroque music, it delights audiences who are more into folk as well as baroque. Listeners interested in creative pursuits will be inspired to hear Clay’s ideas around crafting something truly personal and unique and connecting with audiences, as well the importance of access to music education at all levels. We also got into Ruckus’  Fly the Coop project with flutist Emi Ferguson with a wonderfully fresh take on the music of J.S. Bach, and a lot of what Clay shared was how the musicians connect deeply with their audiences with contemporary relevance in many different ways. This transcript is linked here to the podcast and video versions of this interview.

Join me in getting to know the fascinating world of Leif Karlstrom, a musician and scientist who combines data sonification in his outstanding collaborative exploration, The Volcano Listening Project. Leif  is an Earth scientist at the university of Oregon who studies fluid motions in and on volcanoes and glaciers, landscape evolution, and geodynamics. He’s also a fantastic violinist and mandolin player, composer and improvisor. 

The Volcano Listening Project features many great musicians including Billy Contreras, Todd Sickafoose and Laurel Premo. You’ll also hear music from Leif’s fantastic duo Small Town Therapy with Adam Roszkiewicz, from their album Dreams and Circumstances. 

Learn how sonification can transform data into a powerful tool for scientific discovery and education  and hear about Leif’s adventurous life as both a musician and scientist. 

The podcast and video are linked here to this transcript.

Martha Redbone Interview: A Creative Life Rooted in Afro-Indigenous Identity and Appalachian Traditions

Transcript: podcast, video linked

Martha Redbone is acclaimed for her powerful performances as a singer, as well as her prize-winning song-writing, composition and arranging. For over 30 years she’s been in a successful collaboration with her partner Aaron Whitby and we talked about some of their new theatrical projects including Black Mountain Women, The Sex Variants of 1941, and Guardian Spirit: The Words of bell hooks.  Throughout this episode you’ll be hearing clips from Martha’s powerful album The Garden of Love  which sets the poetry of William Blake to the diverse music of Appalachia, written with Aaron and John McEuen of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Many people think of the music, culture and history of Appalachia in terms of the blend of white settlers in the area, but Martha’s family heritage from Harlan county Tennessee include African-American, Cherokee, and Choctaw. She shared her experiences growing up with her grandparents as part of a coal-mining family, as well as the dramatic changes she has witnessed in Brooklyn over several decades. 

In this wide-ranging episode, you’ll also hear Martha’s great advice for self-care, maintaining boundaries and working collaboratively.  

 We started this conversation with Martha’s collaborations with clarinettist Tasha Warren and cellist Dave Eggar and if you missed my interview with Tasha last year it’s linked

My conversation with with Tammy Takaishi, a Board Certified Music Therapist, writer, and host of the Creative Peacemeal podcast. Tammy shares insights on her inspiring career in music therapy, the power of creativity, writing, and podcasting, and how she maintains a well-rounded, fulfilling life while preventing burnout. Linked are the podcast and video versions of this interview.

Transcript to my interview with composer Carla Patuallo; the podcast and video linked. In this moving episode, I sit down with GRAMMY-winning composer Carla Patullo. Carla shares her deeply personal journey as well as audio clips from Nomadica,  her gorgeous new album born from grief, healing, and resilience following the traumatic loss of her mother and her own battle with cancer.

We dive into Carla’s creative process, her emotional transformation, and the collaborative magic behind the album — including features with Martha Wainwright, the Scorchio Quartet, and Tonality. You'll also hear about her powerful projects with partner Elizabeth Beech honoring animation pioneer Lotte Reiniger, her longtime work with Sandra Bernhard, and the meaningful mentorship she’s received within the LGBTQ+ music community, including from Laura Karpman.

From her tight-knit Italian family roots to her evolution as a touring artist and composer, this episode is a must-listen for fans of ambient music, film composition, and stories of personal and artistic growth. 

Acoustic Music Legend Darol Anger: Diary of a Fiddler 2 Preview with 27 Exceptional Musicians and his Personal Reflections on a Life in Music: Darol Anger is an acoustic music legend known as much for his innovative fiddle style beyond  Bluegrass and Jazz traditions, and his teaching. Darol has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, and his current touring group Mr Sun. This podcast episode is being released a few days before his new 2-album set Diary of a Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest, and you’ll be hearing many clips from this brilliant collaborative project that features dozens of phenomenal string players and improvisers. Anyone interested in the history of American acoustic music will be curious to hear Darol’s stories from his long career, and his advice to students from his many years teaching at Berklee and online at Artistworks. Most importantly I’m sure you’ll be inspired by Darol’s openness and generosity to musical connection. This is the transcript and the podcast and video are linked.