Best Andy Reiner Podcasts (2024)

1
36 - Melody Walker - Do Your Worst Idea! 1:36:04

4M ago1:36:04

1:36:04

“What if everything just turns out ok?" Visit with Nashville songwriter Melody Walker in this latest episode of River of Suck podcast with an ear to the challenges of being a musician in a changing world. Join the conversation as Melody shares insights on songwriting, addresses sexism in the bluegrass scene, and discusses maintaining boundaries and…

1
35 - Darol Anger - Reserve of Amazingness 51:42

7M ago51:42

51:42

Dive into the River of Suck as fiddle legend, Darol Anger, shares hard-earned wisdom with River of Suck listeners in this fun and insightful episode. Delving into his personal odyssey through time with the violin, Darol explores the significance of technique in music and the importance of pushing one's musical limits. With grace and humor, he navig…

1
34 - Jacob Jolliff - Extension of the Hang 1:05:40

8M ago1:05:40

1:05:40

Live from Fiddle Hell Massachusetts, Andy chats with contemporary mandolinist Jacob Jolliff! From bluegrass to jazz, Andy and Jacob compare notes on their time at Berklee with John McGann, the evolution of their musical goals, the magic of listening, as well as the virtues of getting lost (in the groove)! If you ever wonder what it takes to shred, …

1
33 - Christian Howes - Becoming a Better Friend to Yourself 54:18

10M ago54:18

54:18

Violinist, educator, and composer, Christian Howes, joins host, Andy Reiner, on an exploration into the River of Suck. Together, they delve into the art of setting achievable goals, and of finding the best ways to approach practicing. Christian shares his personal journey, exploring fear's role in personal growth and offering practical strategies t…

1
32 - Judy Hyman - Better Than Last Week 55:39

1y ago55:39

55:39

Join host Andy Reiner and his special guest Judy Hyman in this live episode at Fiddle Hell Online as they explore the journey of her band, The Horse Flies. From working as a librarian to becoming a film scoring composer, Judy shares her experiences of balancing her passion for music with a serious job. Dive into the creative process as they discuss…

1
31 - Julian Carr - Swan Dive Superhero 53:10

1y ago53:10

53:10

Julian Carr explains that being a professional skier and cliff jumping world-record holder is less about being fearless than you might think. Sharing his experiences with host Andy Reiner, Carr relays how being cool, calm, and collected in the presence of fear can change your life. This episode promises that fear is not a roadblock and that trustin…

1
30 - Kween Werk - Inclusive Spaces 1:22:15

1+ y ago1:22:15

1:22:15

Being unique in a society that sets expectations and ingrained biases can be a difficult task. However, Kween Werk, our guest, illustrates how her individuality enables her to thrive in her surroundings. As a social justice activist and environmentalist, she acknowledges that being a woman of color has made her feel like an outsider in the spaces s…

1
29 - Jason Anick - There Is No Top of the Mountain 1:09:33

1+ y ago1:09:33

1:09:33

Join jazz violin virtuoso, Jason Anick, as he shares his personal journey through the River of Suck. Jason and host, Andy Reiner, explore strategies for reframing shortcomings, navigating comparisons to others, and reimagining the growth mindset. In a River of Suck podcast first, Jason’s father waltzes into the conversation to share childhood stori…

1
28 - Chris Turner - Harmonica Traveler 1:38:20

1+ y ago1:38:20

1:38:20

Sit down with harmonica master, Chris Turner, as he recounts his wild and often misadventurous stories with host Andy Reiner. Together, they discuss profound topics such as the ways which music keeps us alive, how art is bigger than what we make it to be, and what music really is. From free jazz jam sessions to going through a minefield as a stowaw…

1
27 - Martha Mooke - Vibe Wizard 47:44

2y ago47:44

47:44

Embark on a magical journey through the universe of sound guided by the Vibe Wizard herself, electric violist Martha Mooke. Martha has created musical arrangements for the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Sturgill Simpson, performed alongside Elton John and Philip Glass, and is a trailblazer in strings education. Explore the philosophy of improvisation…

1
26 - Melissa Tong - Sometimes My Feelings Come Out Of My Eyeballs 57:27

2y ago57:27

57:27

New York-based musician Melissa Tong, joins River of Suck podcast host, Andy Reiner, for a deep and vulnerable coversation LIVE at Fiddle Hell Online. Follow Melissa’s journey from her experiences with racial and achievement bullying to her rocky path to Broadway (an overnight success in 18 short years). Arriving in NYC to not one single gig, Melis…

1
25 - Tracy Silverman - On The Dartboard 1:25:18

2y ago1:25:18

1:25:18

Six-String Electric Violinist, Tracy Silverman, shares deep thoughts about the emotional side of his musical journey. From the future of string playing to tales of suffering. Learn about high level performance mind techniques. Listen to host Andy Reiner Debunk the FEAR acronym. Visualization before performance, walking a tight wire between seemingl…

1
24 - Bonnie & Taylor Sims - Shade Follows The Sun 1:15:50

2+ y ago1:15:50

1:15:50

Sharing horror stories from their musical pasts, musicians Bonnie and Taylor Sims (of Everybody Loves An Outlaw) invite host Andy Reiner into their Colorado living room for deep conversations in the River of Suck. Confidence and anxiety feedback loops. Gig nightmares. Energy sources. Searching for flow states. Fear management. Self-deprecation. Ruf…

1
23 - Jason Lai - You're Not Broken 1:30:59

2+ y ago1:30:59

1:30:59

Travel along the River of Suck with host Andy Reiner and guest Jason Lai for a stunning meditation on the two inescapable qualities of being alive – life and death. Composer, performer, and speaker, Jason shows the importance of vulnerability as he cannonballs into his experience with suck. How can a focus on your body lead to confidence and mindfu…

1
22 - Olivia Meikle - You Don’t Need A Dream 1:14:09

3y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

Welcome back to the River of Suck Podcast! Join host Andy Reiner and guest Olivia Meikle as they dive deep into their own experiences swimming in suck. Co-host of WhatsHerName, professor, writer, Olivia explores into the struggles of producing podcasts, and the fulfillment of working hard through the difficult moments. How do you protect yourself i…

1
21 - Billy Contreras: A Heartbeat’s Favorite Tune 54:07

3y ago54:07

54:07

What is the first step to getting better at something? Realizing you suck at it. Recorded live from a blue-skied park in Nashville, Billy Contreras and host, Andy Reiner, discuss shoving off the shore into the River of Suck and paddling through the cycle of learning, practicing, performing, and sucking. Billy speaks to his experience as a seasoned …

1
20 - Jonathan Scales - Hallway of Possibilities 1:11:05

4y ago1:11:05

1:11:05

From Lurkin’ in the parking lot outside Flecktones concerts, to recording and performing with Victor Wooten and Bela Fleck, composer and steel pannist, Jonathan Scales, has surpassed his biggest dreams, yet found them to be a beginning, rather than an end. Discover the mindstate of Fake Buddha’s Inner Child, take a stroll down the Hallway of Possib…

1
19 - Josh Holder - Fear Is My Business 58:11

4y ago58:11

58:11

Recorded deep in the mine shaft of the Frightmare Compound Haunted House, River of Suck podcast episode 19 is a journey into fear with owner, Josh Holder. After a Halloween season working as a scare actor, host Andy Reiner asks: who goes to haunted houses and why? How do zombies swim in the River of Suck? What scares the folks who build the scenes?…

1
18 - Joe Buckner - Fighting Solves Everything 50:56

4y ago50:56

50:56

How does one manifest success? When is it the right time to take a chance on yourself? What is the point of engaging in conversation - especially when the other participant holds diametrically opposed views? This episode traces the rise of Joe Buckner as he follows his dreams. But while his inspirational ideas are proven in his own boxing gym, Joe’…

1
17 - Che Apalache - Sing About A Better World 1:06:39

4y ago1:06:39

1:06:39

Masters of music as a platform to bring about change and empathy, Che Apalache sings about a better world. In one of the last golden moments of bands touring in 2020, this Grammy-nominated string band, with members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States, performed in Colorado and sat down with River of Suck host, Andy Reiner. Time travel back…

1
16 - Enion Pelta-Tiller - An Improvised Life 55:57

4y ago55:57

55:57

Open your mind to an improvised life with special guest, fiddler Enion Pelta-Tiller. Together, host Andy Reiner and Enion examine the struggle of staying positive while playing one of the world’s hardest instruments and share secrets of how to get unstuck. For Enion, the River of Suck is a River of Discovery which goes deep … down into the crevasse…

1
15 - Kristen Ulmer - Fear and the Art of Swimming with Thought Piranhas 1:09:04

4+ y ago1:09:04

1:09:04

Discover the meaning of life as Kristen Ulmer reveals her incredible solutions to living with fear and anxiety .. AKA being a human. In this life-changing interview, Kristen shares her spectacular insights gained from her meteoric rise from pro skier to fear and anxiety expert. Together with host Andy Reiner, they dive headfirst into the River of S…

1
14 - The Jonny Miller vs. J Robert Miller Paradox 54:29

4+ y ago54:29

54:29

From Electrician to Musician - from beginner to professional - J's incredible rise from bluegrass fan to sharing the stage with Yonder Mountain String Band is the epitome of swimming the River of Suck - forging ahead with unstoppable passion, no matter the obstacles. Packed with mandolin and fiddle jams, the journey from Jonny Miller to J Robert Mi…

1
13 - Temple Grandin - Think Simple 1:04:26

4+ y ago1:04:26

1:04:26

What can we learn from someone who thinks in pictures? For the premiere of Season 2, Andy Reiner interviews Dr. Temple Grandin - an animal scientist, author, public speaker, and inspirational figure to the autistic community. How do we solve big problems with simple, logical solutions? What do animals feel? How do we handle fear and reach a flow st…

1
12 - Alex Hargreaves - Live from Fiddle Hell 37:46

4+ y ago37:46

37:46

Alex Hargreaves and Andy Reiner share tunes and talk shop - live at Fiddle Hell with the River of Suck Swim Team! Dueling twin fiddles set the scene with improvised musical moments. With an enthusiastic studio audience, good vibes abound for an open discussion about healthy musical attitudes and secrets to handle thought piranhas, downward thought …

1
11 - Anne A. Madden - Bugs on Bugs 58:23

4+ y ago58:23

58:23

Bugs on Bugs is a pivotal River of Suck episode about the intersection of microbial science, mental health and the learning process. Anne A. Madden's experience speaking at TED conferences, thinking outside of the box and winning bizarre awards brings a delightful whimsy to swimming the River of Suck. “When are the thought piranhas really piranhas …

1
10 - Courtney Hartman - From Here to Here 53:06

4+ y ago53:06

53:06

"From Here to Here" details Courtney Hartman's musical journey from her childhood home in Colorado to her current massive project renovating a barn on the same property. Formerly of bluegrass band Della Mae, Courtney's insights into emotions, fear and creativity present a refreshingly honest view into the mind of an artist, willing to share what sh…

1
9 - Ric Robertson - Rustic Rootian 46:49

5y ago46:49

46:49

Live at Rustic Roots Music and Food Retreat, host Andy Reiner sits down with teaching artist and special guest, Ric Robertson, in a historic dance hall from the 1800’s. Ric harnesses the power of lyrics and song for parsing packages of emotions. With questions from the live audience of Rustic Rootians and Swim Team members, Andy and Ric go deep int…

1
8 - Climate Change & Personal Change w/Danica Lombadozzi 47:19

5y ago47:19

47:19

Global Change Ecologist, Danica Lombardozzi, drops in to the River of Suck podcast studio to discuss climate change, political doubt about scientific research, making a difference, being outside, creativity in music and science, digging for worms, ignoring bad advice, community, taking criticism, compassion, making the world a better place, talking…

1
7 - Cedric Easton - The Rhythm and the Word 49:50

5y ago49:50

49:50

Recorded in front of a live studio audience, River of Suck Episode 7 finds Andy Reiner connecting with drummer, percussionist and educator Cedric Easton, both teaching artists at Creative Strings Workshop in Delaware, Ohio. Together, their journey begins with family and church, continues with musical connections, emotional pathways and choices, and…

1
6 - Megan Rau - Harmony With Horses 45:44

5y ago45:44

45:44

Megan Rau takes River of Suck listeners on a journey across pastures of fear, consciousness and thought piranhas through the lens of training horses and instructing riders. Megan’s unique take on French Classical Horsemanship makes a strong case for compassion for horses and other animals. Episode 6 features being in the moment, rescue dogs, emotio…

1
Episode 5 - Jeremy Garrett of the Infamous Stringdusters 48:04

5y ago48:04

48:04

Fiddler and singer-songwriter Jeremy Garrett takes a podcast-length break from the Infamous Stringdusters for a deep conversation about music and life. True passion, success and satisfaction, lyrics and songwriting, playing solo and with the Stringdusters, motivation and believing in oneself. “You can’t get good without trying to get good.” How do …

1
Episode 4 - Pacifica Sommers 53:10

5+ y ago53:10

53:10

Ecologist Pacifica Sommers takes a break from analyzing samples she collected in Antarctica to ponder rivers and water bears in Episode 4. Cryoholes, oceans of suck, Ernest Shackleton’s journey, impostor syndrome, tardigrades, microbes and thought piranhas. Pacifica brings her unique perspective on science, life and the outdoors to the River of Suc…

1
Episode 3 - Natalie Padilla 48:20

5+ y ago48:20

48:20

Colorado fiddler and educator Natalie Padilla discusses how to survive and thrive with host Andy Reiner in the third episode of River of Suck Podcast. Family bands, fog, cooking, fiddling, contests, teaching, and of course, thought piranhas. Traditional and improvised duo fiddle and octave mandolin jams provide the groovy soundtrack to the conversa…

1
Episode 2 - Nick Economou 52:59

5+ y ago52:59

52:59

Intel engineer Nick Economou sits down with host Andy Reiner for a spirited discussion about science and thought piranhas. The second episode of River of Suck offers insights learned from Nick's work on developing materials for smaller and smaller computer chips, as well as a lifetime spent in search of epic skiing and mountain experiences. All ori…

1
Episode 1 - Rushad Eggleston 49:06

5+ y ago49:06

49:06

The pilot episode of River of Suck with host Andy Reiner. Cellist and singer/songwriter, Rushad Eggleston (the Bat Prince of Jick), sits down with Andy in a spare speck of time between electrifying performances and school visits in December 2018. Using music and words, they trace the origins of the title phrase as well as Rushad's artistic journey …

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