Best Radar Nerd Podcasts (2024)

1
Twisted Pines' Kathleen Parks Secret Polka Past, ep. 287 1:19:48

1h ago1:19:48

1:19:48

Hot off the heels of Twisted Pines' latest release, Love Your Mind, Kathleen Parks is here to dig into her uncelebrated polka origins. Daughter of renowned trumpetist Eric Parks, the younger Parks grew up in New York's Hudson Valley in a very creative family (her mother was also a dancer and the one who made Kathleen practice all the time). She sta…

1
Edie Carey & Sarah Sample: remain Cool despite Comfort, Cajons and Dream Catchers, ep. 286 1:08:26

7d ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Friends and collaborators, Edie Carey & Sarah Sample teamed up in 2014 for their first album Til the Morning: Lullabies and Songs of Comfort. The pair both had babies and were wanting to do a project that centered around calming music for both children and adults. They were shocked at the album's reception by adults (aka non-babies) who listened af…

1
The Sound of Women's Voices: A Shorty Bonus on a Weird Ass Day 16:34

8d ago16:34

16:34

I woke up today and my wife told me the news. I went for a walk in the woods and found myself thinking about We Shall Overcome and singing it by myself surrounded by fallen leaves and pine trees. I put on Dawn Landes’ new album: The Liberated Woman’s Songbook, I thought about women of the past and how they found their strength. I started posting cl…

1
From Songwriting to Sobriety: Kasey Anderson's Journey to His Final Album, ep. 285 1:11:41

14d ago1:11:41

1:11:41

We're starting with the end in our conversation with Kasey Anderson. On the pod, we've covered a lot of firsts; debut album, origin stories and the beginnings. Ever since I (lizzie) have known Kasey, his social media bio has been "gradually retiring songwriter." I'm always teasing him about "What does that mean? When are you going to retire?" Offic…

1
Riffing on Life: Chuck Prophet talks Music, Surfing, and Storytelling with Mark Erelli, EP. 284 1:16:09

21d ago1:16:09

1:16:09

Editor’s note: For this episode, we invited our friend Mark Erelli to interview Chuck Prophet. The two are familiar with each other's work through songwriting together for Mark's latest album Lay Your Darkness Down (2023). We're thrilled to welcome Mark back as guest host! Chuck Prophet has been a mainstay on the indie and Americana music scenes si…

1
Liv Greene on Finding her Tender Little Queer Heart, ep. 283 55:32

28d ago55:32

55:32

Oh how I've longed to talk to Liv Greene. Every once in a while you come across a young artist that seems older and wiser than her 26 years. Liv's been giving me that impression since I met her in 2019 when she was at Club Passim waiting tables and breaking hearts on the stage at just 21 years. Ok enough about being young. Liv's been writing, study…

1
Exploring Ancestral Roots with Blind Pilot, ep. 282 56:02

1M ago56:02

56:02

The Oregon-bred indie folk music outfit Blind Pilot goes on a deep spiritual journal on their new album In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain (produced by Josh Kaufman). The music inspiration for frontman Israel Nebeker lay in his songwriting process. After struggling with writing for years (this is the first Blind Pilot album in 8 years), he set asid…

1
Amy Helm: Letters to Women and the Legacy of The Barn, ep. 281 1:14:03

1M ago1:14:03

1:14:03

Amy Helm has had one of the most fascinating lives that any person can have. As you might have guessed from her famous last name, she comes from roots music royalty. Amy Helm is the daughter of Levon Helm, the beloved late drummer for the incredible groundbreaking Canadian American group The Band. She also continues to run and uphold the musical le…

1
From Reality Bites to Nursery Rhymes: Lisa Loeb's Unconventional Journey, ep. 280 1:06:58

2M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Looking back at her wildly successful and always adventurous career up to this point, it feels inevitable that Lisa Loeb was always going to be a songwriter and have a music career. But young Lisa probably could have done any creative job well. She grew up surrounded by music, yes, but she also had a passion for theater, and got her degree in compa…

1
Folk Music, Friendship, and Fountain Pens: Nerding out with Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger, ep. 29 1:07:23

2M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

The names Bruce Molsky and Darol Anger have come up more often than not when talking to fiddlers on Basic Folk. The pair have single handedly mentored hundreds of our favorites in fiddle music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Darol's online music school, music camps, festivals and more. Darol and Bruce joined us on the occasion of their newes…

1
Basic Folk Presents: American Masters: Creative Spark feat. Jewel 38:37

2M ago38:37

38:37

Editor’s note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! Do you ever find yourself watching, reading, or listening to something truly amazing and wondering, “How did they do it?”. That's why we wanted to share an episode of American Masters: Creative Spark, the award-winning …

1
Balancing Dreams and Reality: A Folk Debate on Ambition, ep. 278 1:10:27

2M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Welcome to another edition of Folk Debate Club, our occasional debate series! To discuss Ambition vs Acceptance, we welcome our panel: music journalist Kim Ruehl, Basic Folk boss Cindy Howes, and yours truly Lizzie No. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to our special guests singer-songwriter Michaela Anne & producer Aaron Shafer-Haiss, al…

1
Jeffrey Foucault remembers Billy Conway with Universal Fire, ep. 277 1:15:02

2M ago1:15:02

1:15:02

In our episode with Wisconsin-born, New England based Jeffrey Foucault, we had a handful of questions for the singer-songwriter about his background: coffee, the midwest and Mark Twain wisdom. Then we talked about Billy Conway for more than an hour. Conway was Foucault's long-time partner in music, drummer and best friend who died from cancer in 20…

1
Amos Lee on Friends, Femininity and Folk Roots, ep. 276 1:05:35

3M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Throughout his music career, singer-songwriter Amos Lee has cultivated a large female fanbase and also owes a lot of his early start to Norah Jones (a female!). He's about to hit the road co-headlining with folk music and queer icons, The Indigo Girls. In our conversation, he talks about the atmosphere he's going for in concert and it's not a very …

1
From Lancaster to the Limelight: The de Vitry Sibling Soundtrack, ep. 275 1:10:35

3M ago1:10:35

1:10:35

Maya, Nina and Lyle de Vitry's life, beginning in Lancaster PA, has been music and family, music festivals with old-time music, songwriting and folk music. The de Vitry siblings (including sister Monica, currently teaching art in Western Mass) grew up amongst music and nature in their rural home and even had a family band called Old-Time Liberation…

1
Basic Folk Presents: The Other 22 Hours - Mary Chapin Carpenter 49:49

3M ago49:49

49:49

Editor’s note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! The Other 22 hours, hosted by singer/songwriter Michaela Ann and producer Aaron Shafer-Haisse, talks to fellow musicians about the helpful tools and routines the use to stay creative, inspired, and …

1
Denitia’s Musical Journey: From NYC Streetwear to Nashville’s Vintage Vibes, ep. 274 57:11

3M ago57:11

57:11

Sometimes it strikes me just how much power can emanate from a creative mind. Speaking with Denitia was one of those times. When the indie music artist comes across an unfamiliar musical concept, she goes “sponge mode” until she understands it. Then she seamlessly integrates it into her artistic vocabulary. This relentless curiosity and sense of pl…

1
Anna Tivel & Jeffrey Martin: Eyeballs, Ice Cream, and Portland, Oregon, ep. 273 1:15:51

3M ago1:15:51

1:15:51

Anna Tivel and Jeffrey Martin have both released new albums in the past year that have knocked us right over. Living Thing is the most recent Anna Tivel singer-songwriter record and Thank God We Left the Garden being the Jeffrey Martin new album. Of all the singer-songwriter interviews and musician conversations we've done over the course of the po…

1
Fake Interviews & Real Talk: Matt the Electrician Reinvents Music Marketing, ep. 272 1:01:52

4M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

The world of Austin's Matt the Electrician, aka Matt Sever, is quirky and sincere. Sever is known for his work ethic and vibrant presence in the Austin Texas music scene. Before music was full-time, Matt worked as an actual electrician in between folk music gigs and open mics. He found people were drawn to his skills in the trade, so he decided to …

1
John Smith is Finding Harmony in Chaos, ep. 271 55:10

4M ago55:10

55:10

Originally from Devon, the English singer-songwriter John Smith got his start playing bars and clubs in Liverpool, both with his own songs and as a side player for artists like Lianne La Havas, Lisa Hannigan and David Gray. Growing up with folk music and guitar music influences from Eric Clapton to Maria Callas to Nick Drake, John’s sensitivity as …

1
Peggy Seeger spills Folk Feminist Tea with Dawn Landes, ep. 270 1:10:30

4M ago1:10:30

1:10:30

Editor's note: For this episode, we invited our friend Dawn Landes to interview Peggy Seeger. Dawn was the perfect choice to interview the feminist folk icon. She recently joined us on a special episode with Aoife O'Donovan to discuss their feminist-themed new albums. We're thrilled to welcome Dawn back as guest host! I can’t believe it took me 40 …

1
Ana Egge on Dream-Writing, the Truth, and Sinead O'Connor, ep. 269 1:06:06

4M ago1:06:06

1:06:06

Folk music singer Ana Egge's 13th album Sharing in the Spirit came out of the musician one song at a time. She didn't even think about moving onto a new song before the writing and production of each song was complete. Working with her friend and collaborator Lorenzo Wolff, the songwriting process and music production plan was to just work on a han…

1
Soundcheck Stories and Life Lessons: Chris Smither and Peter Mulvey, ep. 268 1:01:23

4M ago1:01:23

1:01:23

Chris Smither has been Peter Mulvey's mentor since back in 1993, when the young Mulvey opened for the already seasoned Smither. The blues and folk legend liked what he heard and enjoyed the similarities in creativity and quirks and he took that young man on the road with him. Their musical partnership has crossed paths and outlasted the digital age…

1
Steve Poltz Wants to Listen to The Grateful Dead, Watch Laugh-In and Write a Song Together, ep. 267 1:18:43

5M ago1:18:43

1:18:43

If you're looking for recommendations for desserts, might I suggest asking folk music and comedy savant Steve Poltz? This man loves gluten and carb-heavy deserts. He also loves collaborations, camaraderie, creativity and using humor in music. It all began for Poltz, or Poltzy as his friends call him, in his birthplace of Halifax Nova Scotia, making…

1
Basic Folk Presents: Only Vans 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

Editor’s note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! I am awestruck with the charm and charisma of Texas Country Musician Bri Bagwell - most impressively demonstrated on her podcast Only Vans, where she talks to her friends in her van (actually she recently upgraded to an…

1
Archiving the Heart: Greg Brown on Music, Family, and Throwing Out Old Notebooks, ep. 266 44:27

5M ago44:27

44:27

Iowa folk music icon Greg Brown is living that retired life. After playing his farewell retirement concert in 2023, he's returned with a new book: Ring Around The Moon: A Songbook, which highlights a song selection personally picked by the songwriter himself, as well as family photos, personal anecdotes and self-penned drawings. The book features a…

1
The Reckoning of Montreal Banjo-Witch Kaïa Kater, ep. 265 1:23:59

5M ago1:23:59

1:23:59

After banjo player Kaïa Kater attended Americana Fest in 2016, the music industry started telling her she was a part of the genre, which encompasses all kinds of roots music, acoustic music, folk music, singer-songwriter and alternative country music. She was singing about heavy themes like historical trauma, her cultural heritage (her father is fr…

1
Guster is a Place, ep. 264 59:03

5M ago59:03

59:03

Frontman Ryan Miller joins us to talk about all things Guster. From their tried and true collaborative writing process to the theatrical delights of their recent "We Also Have Eras" tour, to what it really looks like to make environmental sustainability a priority on tour. Guster has just released their 9…

1
Finding Freedom in a Flip Phone: John Moreland's Quest for a Simple Life, ep. 263 59:05

6M ago59:05

59:05

I hate surprises. However, Oklahoma's pride and joy John Moreland surprised us with his latest album Visitor and I guess I'm okay with it. Moreland's gone back to a sparse acoustic instrumentation, unlike the electronic sound (which I also loved) on his previous release, 2022's Birds in the Ceiling. Recently, he took a page from his wife Pearl Rach…

1
Claps, Covers, and Come Ons: Inside Barnstar!'s Musical Mischief, ep. 262 57:49

6M ago57:49

57:49

Barnstar!, Boston's premiere kinda bluegrass and definitely bombastic band, has released their new album Furious Kindness and we're #blessed to welcome Mark Erelli and Zachariah Hickman to the pod. Originally a fun side hustle and bluegrass vehicle for Zack, the group, which also includes Charlie Rose and Taylor and Jake Armerding, started very cas…

1
Fran & Flora Are Reimagining Traditional Yiddish Folk Music, ep. 261 1:07:36

6M ago1:07:36

1:07:36

Two long-time collaborators, cellist Francesa Ter-Berg and violinist Flora Curazon, Fran & Flora, have bonded over their obsession with ancient music, rooted in Eastern European and Jewish culture, for over a dozen years. Together and separately, the English musicians have been studying with teachers of ethnomusicology in places like Transylvania a…

1
Relevant, Radical & ROTFL: Billy Bragg, Folk Music's Political Poet, ep. 260 1:04:52

6M ago1:04:52

1:04:52

Billy Bragg joins lizzie and Cindy on-board Cayamo to talk about songwriting, social justice, punk rock and, of course, The Little Guy (Bragg's nickname for Woody Guthrie). In our interview we talked about using humor as a way to connect to his audience, so that he can bring up his political activism like fighting for transgender rights, the import…

1
Leyla McCalla's Joyful Rebellion: Sun Without Heat and the Freedom of Play, ep. 259 1:21:36

7M ago1:21:36

1:21:36

Singer-songwriter Leyla McCalla and her band (bassist Pete Olynciw, drummer Shawn Meyers and guitarist Nahum Zdybel) join us onboard the Cayamo cruise to go through their incredible, righteous and fun new record Sun Without Heat. It is a Leyla McCalla solo album but no solo artist is an island! Once we saw Leyla perform with her band, with whom she…

1
Humbird: From Dinner Table Singing to Dismantling White Supremacy, ep. 258 1:05:00

7M ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Siri Undlin, better known as Humbird, is a talented singer-songwriter from the Twin Cities with deep roots in Minnesota music and the land that surrounds her. Growing up, she was a true cold weather kid who loved hockey during winter In Minnesota, but also loved music and feeding her vivid imagination. Her love of music was nurtured by her parents,…

1
Navigating the Waters of Folk Music: Community vs Capitalism, ep. 257 48:40

7M ago48:40

48:40

We're live at sea! lizzie and Cindy recorded this episode onboard Cayamo, which is a singer/songwriter cruise that's been sailing yearly since 2008 and is one of the best music festivals we've attended. AND it's another edition of FOLK DEBATE CLUB. This time it's Community vs Capitalism! Our panel features Jenny Owen Youngs (musician and co-host of…

1
Jontavious Willis Says Blues Music is for The Kids, ep. 256 49:38

7M ago49:38

49:38

Originally from Greenville Georgia, musician Jontavious Willis is a Blues music phenom. When we talk about the Blues, the phrase or the word "torchbearer" comes up a lot when it comes to young, new Blues artists. I think of that word as a double edged sword. When you think of a torchbearer, you think about someone who's carrying on a flame that was…

1
Aoife O'Donovan and Dawn Landes Surf All the Feminist Waves, ep. 255 1:12:02

7M ago1:12:02

1:12:02

Coincidentally, long-time friends Aoife O'Donovan and Dawn Landes both have new albums with strong feminist themes, so I (Cindy) wanted to interview them together and talk about WOMEN. Aoife's album, All My Friends, is specifically centered around Carrie Chapman Catt, a prominent leader in the Suffragist Movement, and her work in the fight for the …

1
Appalachian Bluegrasser Missy Raines Explains The West Virginia Thing, ep. 254 1:07:58

8M ago1:07:58

1:07:58

Acclaimed bluegrass musician Missy Raines is also a very cool and funny lady originally from West Virginia, not far from the Maryland border and the city of Cumberland. First of all, I had questions for her about why people from West Virginia are SO into their state. She gets into that and also the influence of the rich tapestry of bluegrass music …

1
Bob Hillman's Rock and Roll Return: From Beach Volleyball to Marketing to Musician, ep. 253 55:21

8M ago55:21

55:21

Bob Hillman had a real thing going on in the early 2000's. He had made waves in New York City rubbing shoulders with some of the finest songwriters of the era at places like the open mic, Fast Folk and The Living Room, the singer-songwriter was creatively fulfilled, but not gaining the momentum in order to experience strategic growth in folk music.…

1
Joe Pug Will Not Ossify, ep. 252 58:11

8M ago58:11

58:11

Joe Pug will not engage in the Left-Brained Vs Right-Brained debate. His artistry and pragmatic business sense have lived in actual parallel through his music career. His songwriting and creativity are fueled by passion and result in dramatic and exciting songs, as on his new album Sketch of a Promised Departure. He also has stayed ahead of the cur…

1
Hannah Connolly is Finding Her Happy Little Emo Heart Again, ep. 251 57:59

8M ago57:59

57:59

Singer songwriter Hannah Connolly, originally from Eau Claire, WI (same as Justin Vernon and the Bon Iver crew!) has just released her second solo album, Shadowboxing. Written to reflect musical and life transitions, it was recorded in beautiful Idyllwild, CA, just outside of her new hometown of Los Angeles. While in the mountain town, Hannah recon…

1
Lizzie No: the GOAT on Gender, Tiaras and Leveling Up, ep. 250 1:13:22

9M ago1:13:22

1:13:22

Bestie Lizzie No has just released their career-defining new record Halfsies and we are 100% here for it on our 250th episode!! lizzie, who co-hosts Basic Folk, put her entire being, identity and creativity into this project. There's a lot going on with their main character, the avatar Miss Freedomland, and we're getting to the bottom of it in our …

1
Dinty Child Dreams Up Tunes on Island Time, ep. 249 50:18

9M ago50:18

50:18

Dinty Child, founding member of Session Americana, the beloved Boston roots music collective, who've accidentally been a band for twenty years, has just released his second solo album, Letting the Lions In. The new songs feature co-writing on all tracks between Dinty and Boston area songwriters like Mark Erelli, Kris Delmhorst and Dave Godowsky. A …

1
Tyrone Cotton: The Louisville Legend You Must Hear 34:22

9M ago34:22

34:22

Tyrone Cotton, a decades-long mainstay of the Louisville, KY music scene just released his 2023 debut album, "Man Like Me." A quick listen to these songs reveals an artist who has spent decades steeped in roots music. Lizzie No spoke with Tyrone and Ray Rizzo, one of the album’s producers, about Tyrone’s journey as an artist and the making of ‘Man …

1
Radio Waves to Musical Bliss: Talia Schlanger's Harmonious Journey, ep. 248 1:02:06

9M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Canada's Talia Schlanger is best known for her work in broadcasting; guest-hosting Q with Tom Power on CBC and Alec Baldwin's "Here's the Thing" podcast, as well as taking over for David Dye on NPR Music's World Cafe in Philadelphia. Before all that, Talia was an actor and singer in many theater productions including Mamma Mia, Queen's We Will Rock…

1
Elise Leavy is the Faerie Kid of Folk, ep. 247 51:08

10M ago51:08

51:08

Dive into the enchanting world of Elise Leavy, a musician hailing from the picturesque Monterey, California through her latest album A Little Longer. Elise's artistic journey is steeped in the influence of her magical surroundings and a childhood filled with music, thanks to her mom's painting and stepdad's musical talents. Growing up with a deep a…

1
Strings of Support: Sarah Jarosz's Mentors and Co-Writing Magic, ep. 246 59:34

10M ago59:34

59:34

Sarah Jarosz is what happens when young women are taken seriously. A huge part of the mandolinist’s story is that she had supportive male mentors and that has added to her confidence. We all know the age old story of “Young woman shows promise, gets exploited by the patriarchy and it affects her work.” We need to hear stories like this. Starting in…

1
Imaginary People Chronicles: Viv & Riley's Tradition and Innovation, ep. 245 1:02:00

10M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno, known as Viv & Riley, dive deep into the nuances of old-time music, folk influences, and the process behind their album, Imaginary People. The duo, who met at a music camp in Port Townsend, Washington, trace their roots from Riley's disciplined musical practice to Viv's intuitive approach. The two found insp…

1
Rachael Kilgour's Tribute to her Extraordinary Ordinary Dad, ep. 244 59:35

10M ago59:35

59:35

Rachael Kilgour unravels the layers of her late father on the album, "My Father Loved Me." Recorded in the cold of Toronto and produced by Rose Cousins (who also joins us for this conversation), this album carries the essence of Canadian roots and is a profound exploration of family heritage through the lens of an ordinary, hard working and humble …

1
Crying in Music: Darrell Scott's Honest Artistry, ep. 243 1:16:39

11M ago1:16:39

1:16:39

The cover of Darrell Scott's latest album, Old Cane Back Rocker, immediately sets the tone for your listening experience. The inclusion of the names of the Darrell Scott String Band (Bryn Davies, Matt Flinner and Shad Cobb) lets you know right off the bat that this recording is a band effort. The photo on the album cover gives a visual of Scotts' f…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Radar Nerd Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide