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.

I knew parts of this conversation would be difficult because violinist Lara St. John is a survivor of a horrible case of sexual abuse and assault at one of the most famous music schools. I’ve been following her story since the first article came out in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and I wanted to release an episode with her close to the release of her film “Dear Lara”. She’ll be announcing the world premiere of this powerful documentary in early 2026, which I was able view before this conversation that we recorded earlier this year in October. Please note that there are detailed timestamps, so you can go to specific parts of this wide-ranging interview, especially since there are mentions of both sexual assault and a suicide attempt. 

However, Lara is so much more than a survivor, activist, and film maker. She’s known internationally as a phenomenal violin soloist and her creativity, warmth, humour and brilliance come through in this interview during which we talked about many things: 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.

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. Linked here are the podcast, video and transcript.

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. 

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.

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.

Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey is a Cherokee singer/songwriter from Oklahoma. His debut full-length country-folk album is entirely written, sung, and performed in the

Cherokee language, with producer Jared Tyler. You’ll be hearing several clips from the album, and you’ll find the link in the show notes. 

Agalisiga starting writing songs as vehicle to strengthen his knowledge of Cherokee, and he talked to me about the richness of this endangered language, including the syllabary,  the importance of  immersion schools  and the urgent necessity of bringing the language and culture into the contemporary life of the community. 

He also spoke about the history of forced relocation, the negative impacts of the boarding schools, the  Importance of upholding the traditional value of inclusivity, and also his musical influences. Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript.

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. 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. 

Sam Sadigursky is a celebrated clarinetist, composer, and member of the Philip Glass Ensemble, with a career spanning jazz, classical, Broadway, and beyond. In this episode of Conversations with Musicians, host Leah Roseman speaks with Sam about his evocative project The Solomon Diaries (with Nathan Koci), his work on Broadway’s The Band’s Visit, and his experiences touring with Philip Glass. We also explore:

• Sam’s musical upbringing in a Russian-Jewish immigrant family

• His mentors, including Brad Mehldau and Lee Konitz

• The role of improvisation in music and life

• The cultural history of the Borscht Belt

• Why streaming algorithms are failing artists

🎧 Pat McCusker: Scoring The Ezra Klein Show, Touring with David Duchovny, and Composing for Podcasts

Composer and audio producer Pat McCusker joins me to talk about his work creating music for The Ezra Klein Show, his role at The New York Times, and what it’s like touring the world as a musician with actor David Duchovny. Pat's music also appears on The Daily, Modern Love, and many more.

🎶 What we talk about in this episode:

• Composing the theme for The Ezra Klein Show

• Scoring for podcasts and working with The New York Times

• Touring internationally with David Duchovny

• The power of music in shows like Severance and White Lotus

• Tools and gear Pat uses as a composer

• Managing anxiety and building creative community

If you're a composer, musician, or podcast fan, you'll find plenty to connect with in this conversation.

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.

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. 

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

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 to this one in the show notes. 

Linked are the podcast, video and transcript.

Tammy Takaishi is a Board Certified Music Therapist, Podcaster and writer based in New York. 

We talked about her podcast Creative Peacemeal, her meaningful and multi-faceted career as a Music Therapist, and her full creative life including her writing. If music therapy is a career you’re curious about, you’ll be inspired by her stories and insights.  As a fellow podcasters, we definitely bonded over our enthusiasm for the medium and the wide range of fascinating, creative people we’ve been able to connect with. I know that fans of Tammy’s podcast will be interested to learn more about her path, personal perspectives and great advice including avoiding burnout.  

Welcome to Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman with powerful, in-depth conversations with a fascinating diversity of musical guests wordwide. 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. 

Like all my episodes, you can watch the video  or listen to the podcast; the transcript is linked  in the show notes along with several other episodes I think you’ll love as well. 

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. You’ll find the titles and performers from these clips in the timestamps, and please go over to Bandcamp and buy this album, which you’ll also find linked in the show notes. 

You’ll find some related episodes of this podcast linked for you, with some of the many wonderful musicians we talked about in this wide-ranging episode.

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 interview is linked here in podcast and video formats as well as the transcript.

I’m delighted to welcome Maya Youssef, the world-renowned kanun master and innovative British-Syrian educator. Maya shares with us how her frustrations with the traditional teaching of Arabic music led her to develop her unique system for teaching musicians and dancers in a completely different way. She also shared her past personal crisis as a victim of domestic abuse and how she found the strength to get out of that danger, which is shockingly pervasive. In fact, she said that she chooses to be vulnerable in sharing this because we never know who is listening. 

You will be uplifted with clips from Maya’s beautiful second album Finding Home, which I encourage you to buy, and you’ll find all Maya’s projects linked in her website in the show notes of this podcast. She also talked to me about her exciting upcoming projects in 2026, including her book about learning and teaching Arabic music, her upcoming album and tours, and her wonderful collaborators. Maya spent the interview with her kanun and you’ll hear her demonstrate several times, including a beautiful improvisation on maqam rast. 

Like all the episodes of Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman, you can either watch the video version on my YouTube or listen to the podcast on your preferred platform; the transcript is linked here along with several other episodes I think you’ll love as well. 

The wonderful singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and scholar Lily Henley breathes new life into the endangered language Ladino (a fusion of Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, and Turkish). During this podcast you’ll hear clips from her album Oras Dezaoradas. Blending her roots in American and Celtic music, Lily creates powerful original music that honours centuries of Sephardic women’s voices. These songs tell timeless stories of love, loss, exile, and resilience, sharing her personal connection to this important tradition. 

You’ll also learn about: 

• Sephardic history and contemporary communities

• Lily’s unusual childhood

• how she’s learned to trust her voice

 Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on many podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript.

Karen Power is an Irish composer who uses environmental sounds and acoustic instruments in her intriguing work. She is a master field recordist who has recorded sounds in some of the worlds most isolated and challenging locations including The Arctic, Amazon, Namib Desert, Outback Australia, and Antarctica. She has shared clips of her work including The Bats of Namibia, Frogs of Angor Wat, fascinating bog sounds and arctic ice sounds in collaborations with the Quiet Music Ensemble and many brilliant collaboraters on her project human nature.  She’s also shared with us a raw field recording from her recent trip to record a double cicada brood emergence. She certainly helped deepen my awareness to soundscapes that brought me back to my first encounter with this idea when I took a course on Soundscapes from R. Murray Shafer. Karen and I also talked about her projects working to explore listeneing, composing and improvising with young children and other related projects to provide inclusive music making with people living with disabiliities. 

 Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on your favourite platform, and I’ve also linked the transcript.