Best Craft Music Discovery Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 104-Claiming your own DNA—my conversation with Carl Hancock Rux 2:04:59

3h ago2:04:59

2:04:59

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Rux Revue, the groundbreaking debut album by Carl Hancock Rux. Not long ago, we sat down for an in-depth discussion about his hands-on involvement in its making, from bringing in his own background singers to recording the powerful song "I Recall" in a bathroom, for the acoustics. We talked through the album …

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275: Jesse Harris 1:15:27

10d ago1:15:27

1:15:27

Jesse Harris belongs to a generation of New York singer songwriters who came of age in the late nineties. He has made over 20 solo albums that walk the line between folk, jazz, pop, Brazilian and art rock. He’s also a much sought after co writer and collaborator who has written songs for and or with many others like Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot…

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Ep. 103-My culture informs my voice—my conversation with Linda Sikhakhane 1:00:33

10d ago1:00:33

1:00:33

In this latest episode, I talk with South African saxophonist and composer Linda Sikhakhane, who honors and pays homage to the great elders and master musicians, including Brian Thusi. Sikhakhane, who was raised in Umlazi township, talks about the cultural aspects of being Zulu and the importance of preserving his culture. He shares about his time …

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Ep. 102- The process of discovery—my conversation with Kris Davis 1:01:23

1M ago1:01:23

1:01:23

After seeing Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis, live at the Village Vanguard, I knew I wanted to sit down with her and dive into jazz. Here we discuss her philosophy of improvisation and her energy and passion for performing live. The Canadian-born artist fell in love with jazz at an early age, studied jazz piano at the University of T…

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Cultivating Calm in Turbulent Times - S1 Ep:24 26:52

2M ago26:52

26:52

HIGHLIGHT TIMESTAMPS:: (02:29 - 03:13) Personal Relationship With a Higher Power (20:09 - 22:09) Creating Personal Relationship With God SHOW NOTES: Join me on this soul-nourishing episode as we explore finding peace amid the chaos that surrounds us. Through personal experiences, particularly during the challenging times of the pandemic, I share ho…

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Ep. 101- The seat of my soul Pt. 3—my conversation with Lynel “Dukeysticc” Allen III 1:15:28

2M ago1:15:28

1:15:28

In my first-ever interview with an audience, I sat down with Lynel Allen III for the third installment of “The seat of my soul.” We revisited topics from our prior conversations (Episodes 79 and 81) while discussing his childhood in greater depth. He touched on personal issues such as his heavy drug use, the loneliness of incarceration, and when he…

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Ep. 100- Great Highland Park Stories Vol. 1 2:22:30

3M ago2:22:30

2:22:30

To celebrate the 100th episode of this podcast, a podcast inspired by the concept of roots, I offer you a tribute to Highland Park. In San Diego, when I was young, this park was Mecca—the place where kids met every day after school and for entire summers. The friendships I forged there lasted; most, I still call friends today. For this episode I ca…

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7. Decoding the Internet: From DNS to Advanced Service Discovery 24:58

3M ago24:58

24:58

Send us a text How does the invisible architecture of the internet keep everything running smoothly? Prepare to have your mind blown as we unravel the mysteries of the Domain Name System (DNS) in this episode of Learn System Design. We'll guide you through the intricate process of how your browser finds the correct IP address for a domain name, lik…

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Ep. 99- "I started this to heal myself"—my conversation with Azikiwee Anderson 50:08

3M ago50:08

50:08

Azikiwee Anderson founded his San Francisco bakery, Rize Up, as a way to heal. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Anderson began channeling his feelings one loaf at a time in his home kitchen; from there he became a household name in the city’s sourdough movement. In this episode, we discuss his humble beginnings, his mother’s profound influence…

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Introducing: AI for the Rest of Us 3:13

4M ago3:13

3:13

We’re celebrating the launch of “AI for the Rest of Us”, a podcast to help get you up to speed on the essentials of artificial intelligence. Every two weeks, we’ll sit down with UT faculty experts and get them talking, in simple terms, about how AI might transform healthcare, work, the ways we learn and how we make big decisions. Co-hosts are Marc …

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274: Ella Feingold 1:42:20

4M ago1:42:20

1:42:20

Ella Rae Feingold is a guitar player, composer, orchestrator, educator and content creator. She has spent three decades devoted to the soulful side of the electric guitar, and has worked with an impressive list of artists, including Bruno Mars, Erykah Badu and Common, The Roots, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah and many …

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Ep. 98-Surrender to the music—my conversation with Corcoran Holt 34:27

4M ago34:27

34:27

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Corcoran Holt before his performance with the Kenny Garrett group, at the world-famous Blue Note. The jazz bassist, composer, and educator discussed the early influences of African drum and dance and learning about African culture from his parents. We also talked about djembe player Mamady Keïta’s inf…

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273: Paula Cole 1:13:15

4M ago1:13:15

1:13:15

Paula Cole on her early success, dreaming big, her life and career, the power of “the beginner’s mind”, the distinction between being an artist and an entertainer, the feeling of being pregnant with song, speaking for those who cannot speak, navigating a life in the music business, learning from young people, and her new album, Lo. www.third-story.…

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6. Harnessing Load Balancers for Web Traffic Symphony 25:37

4M ago25:37

25:37

Send us a text Imagine your website could handle the furious influx of a flash sale without breaking a sweat. That's the magic of load balancers, the unsung heroes of system design, which we dissect in this episode to help your services run smoothly even under the avalanche of high traffic. Together with industry experts, we unravel the mystery beh…

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Ep. 97-From block to bishop—my conversation with Cornelius Bowser 1:45:20

5M ago1:45:20

1:45:20

In 1984, Bishop Cornelius Bowser experienced a major transition: he decided to leave gang- and street-life behind and turn his life over to Christ. In this episode, we talk about the years that preceded and the years that followed that momentous decision. We cover his growing up in The Coast—a neighborhood in San Diego that was the home of the West…

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272: Ben Sidran on Rainmaker 52:03

5M ago52:03

52:03

In a career spanning over fifty years and thirty five records, Ben Sidran has established himself as a philosopher poet. Equally celebrated for his precise, probing writing style as he is for his improvised spoken word jazz raps, he has carved out a truly unique space for himself. The Times of London aptly described Ben as “the world’s first existe…

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5. Crafting Resilient Architectures with Messaging Brokers 30:32

5M ago30:32

30:32

Send us a text Discover the secret sauce that makes software systems scalable and robust as we dissect the architecture that powers modern applications. You're about to get a masterclass in software design, where we unravel the complex world of monolithic and microservice architectures. Say goodbye to confusion around when to stick with the simplic…

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271: Shabaka 1:05:51

5M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Shabaka Hutchings grew up between the UK and Barbados. He started playing clarinet as a young boy in Barbados and eventually moved back to England to go to music school in the early 2000s. After college he began a period of working furiously on a kaleidoscopic range of projects and became an icon of the new sound of London jazz, which integrated Af…

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Ep. 96-Food, Family, Music—my conversation with DJ Nu-Mark 1:09:33

5M ago1:09:33

1:09:33

In this episode, I talk with DJ Nu-Mark, world-renowned producer, turntablist, and member of the legendary hip-hop group Jurassic 5. He has a brand-new cookbook/memoir out, called Amu Nu. In describing the book, he offers some stories about his beloved mother and extended family, and we talk about how it all came together. He also touches on his ti…

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Is Cosmology in Crisis? 15:00

5M ago15:00

15:00

Over the past year and a half, data and images from the James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, have been flooding in. And floating around in that sea of data (and from other instruments over the past 20 years) are at least three big problems: There appear to be too many big, bright galaxies, too soon after the Big Bang. No one can agree on how fast t…

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4. Databases Decoded: Elevating Data Systems with Smart Replication and Sharding Insights (part 4) 33:28

5M ago33:28

33:28

Send us a text Unlock the full potential of your database management with our deep dive into scalability strategies that can revolutionize how you handle data growth and system performance. Jessica Ho, a sharp-minded listener, brought forth questions that led us to explore the intricate dance of read-through versus cache-aside caching. We break dow…

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270: Jose James 1:06:20

5M ago1:06:20

1:06:20

Singer Jose James on his new record 1978, his professional and personal journey, the unique demands of being a jazz singer today, why he believes good art should be transformative, how he stays healthy, the creative challenges brought on by happiness and whether or not one needs to suffer in order to make good art. This episode is dedicated to the …

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Ep. 95-Show them that light—my conversation with Sanah Kadoura 19:47

6M ago19:47

19:47

Prior to her performance at Dizzy's Club, I had the pleasure of talking with Lebanese-Canadian drummer, composer, producer, and educator Sanah Kadoura. This week's episode encompasses that conversation. We discuss the Arabic and popular American music that was prevalent during her growing up in Calgary, Canada. Sanah talks about her role as an arti…

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Ep. 94-The Sun Rises in The East—my conversation with Tayo and Cynthia Giwa 1:12:33

6M ago1:12:33

1:12:33

In this episode, I sat down with Brooklyn’s own Tayo and Cynthia Giwa, the husband and wife filmmaking team and creators of Black-Owned Brooklyn. Their current documentary, “The Sun Rises in The East,” is streaming now on Amazon Prime. We talked in detail about the filmmaking process and the vital role that current elders play in preserving black h…

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2. Databases Decoded: A Journey from Clay Tablets to Graph Paradigms (part 2) 34:02

6M ago34:02

34:02

Send us a text Embark on a time-traveling adventure with me, your host Benny Kitchell, as we chart the monumental shifts in database technology. From ancient civilizations etching their records into clay to the sophisticated graph databases of the present, this episode uncovers the pivotal moments that have shaped how we manage data. We'll delve in…

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3. Databases Decoded: Optimizing Your Data's Potential with Fine-Tuned Scaling and Indexing (Part 3) 26:11

6M ago26:11

26:11

Send us a text Are your databases groaning under the weight of growing data? Let's unlock the secrets to seamless scaling and surgically precise indexing, ensuring your systems run like a finely tuned sports car. I'm Benny Kitchell, and this episode is your golden ticket to understanding when and how to scale your databases to meet the demands of y…

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A Once-in-Many-Centuries Event 12:52

7M ago12:52

12:52

Here in the U.S., many of us are eagerly awaiting the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse, the last of its kind to cross our paths (at least in the contiguous U.S.) until the year 2045. Austin, Texas, where we produce Point of Discovery, is right in the path of totality. And this eclipse feels even more special because the last total solar eclipse …

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1. Databases Decoded: Charting Scalability and Overcoming Latency Battles (Part 1) 34:02

7M ago34:02

34:02

Send us a text Embark on a journey with me, Benny Kitchell, as we chart the course through the complex waters of system design, zeroing in on the pivotal role of scalability. Imagine the chaos of a concert ticket site crashing just as sales go live; it’s a scenario I’ve lived through, and one that illustrates the high stakes of scaling. Within this…

1
Introduction 8:40

7M ago8:40

8:40

Send us a text Embark on an expedition into the vastness of system design with your host, Benny Kitchell, an experienced engineer whose passion for crafting scalable systems is as infectious as it is informative. Together, we'll traverse the complexities of database scaling, the subtleties of caching, and the intricacies of sharding. With foresight…

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Ep. 93- “My fingers are dancing grassroots”—a tribute to Horace Tapscott 3:36:17

7M ago3:36:17

3:36:17

In this episode, we celebrate the legendary Los Angeles community leader, mentor, jazz pianist, and composer Horace Tapscott. Among my guests are former members of the Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, founded by Tapscott in 1961, and others who appreciate his contributions to the culture. Tune in to hear poets Kamau Daáood and Anthony Joseph; saxophon…

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S1 Ep:23 - Celebrating Self-Love and Crafting a Love Letter to Your Future Partner 23:02

7M ago23:02

23:02

Welcome to a Love (Valentine's) Day edition of Crossing Bridges with Rae, where I your host, Rae, open up about the many facets of love, with a special nod to my single listeners out there. Listen in as I unpack the importance of self-love and the beauty of being single. We're celebrating self-appreciation, discussing the value of waiting for a rel…

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269: säje 1:10:15

8M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

säje, the vocal group made up of singers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage won their first Grammy on Sunday for their arrangement of “In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning”. They recorded it with one of the most admired musical minds today, Jacob Collier. And like much of what has happened with so far, that recording …

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Dean Johnson: Nothing For Me, Please 40:13

8M ago40:13

40:13

Seattle-based singer-songwriter Dean Johnson talks about his debut album, Nothing For Me, Please. The sparsely-produced beauty had been a long time coming, released on Dean's 50th birthday by Mama Bird Records. Join us to hear the story! www.deanjohnsongs.com Craft Brewed Music® The music discovery app that streams music for serious listeners - now…

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S1 Ep:22 Cultivating Emotional Poise Through Spiritual Insight 17:33

8M ago17:33

17:33

Listen in as I share the transformative landscape of 2024, a year that beckons us to stay anchored to our spiritual connections and let our inner voice guide us like a compass through life's ebbs and flows. This episode is a heartfelt reminder (and rant) that, despite the external cacophony, our true path is charted from within. Listen in as I shar…

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268: Ten Years of The Third Story - with Will Lee and Amanda Sidran 1:01:20

8M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

Ten years ago, on a bit of a whim, I invited bassist Will Lee to come over to my home studio in Brooklyn to do an interview with me for a new project I was starting: a podcast. A year or two earlier, my friend Michael Fusco-Straub had turned me on to Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, and I was totally hooked on the concept of casual long form interviews am…

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Ep. 92-A competitor like no other-my conversation with Keith Barksdale. 55:38

8M ago55:38

55:38

For this episode, I sat down with a former Hoover High basketball backcourt teammate. Back then, he went by Keith Williams; later in life, he changed his last name to Barksdale, in recognition of his biological father. Together we reminisced about our time in high school and his stellar career as one of the best overall athletes ever to play at Hoo…

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S1 Ep:21 Crossing Bridges: Embracing the Transformative Power of Gratitude 17:15

8M ago17:15

17:15

Join me, Rae, on this soul-stirring journey of Crossing Bridges, where we unlock the transformative power of gratitude to craft a more fulfilling life. Gratitude isn't just a practice for the good times; it's a beacon during our darkest days, offering a new perspective that can elevate our happiness. Listen in as I share my own experiences, from ba…

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Ep:3 of Music Musings - Finding The Sunshine: Unpacking the Profound Themes of Mary J. Blige's song My Life 53:48

8M ago53:48

53:48

In this episode of Music Musings with Rae, I dive deep into the powerful and inspirational song "My Life" by Mary J. Blige. As the host, I share my personal connection to the song and how it resonated with me during a difficult time in my life. I reflect on the profound themes of self-love, self-worth, and the unwavering love of God that are presen…

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267: Keyon Harrold 1:04:18

8M ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Trumpeter/composer Keyon Harrold was born and raised in Ferguson, MO to a musical family. He is the son of pastors and one of 16 children. As a boy, a trumpet was placed in his hands, and the rest is history. He moved to New York to study at The New School in the 1990s and became part of a legendary generation of musicians associated with the neo s…

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Ep. 91-Drums of Passion-my conversation with Nic Cacioppo 52:56

8M ago52:56

52:56

While traveling on the East Coast, I stopped by the Jersey City apartment/studio of jazz drummer and composer Nic Cacioppo, to discuss his jazz journey. In this interview, he talks about the influence of his parents, both classically trained musicians. Nic has been blessed to play with jazz greats like Slide Hampton, Gene Perla, Wallace Roney, Davi…

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S1 Ep:20 Embracing Self-Love: Harnessing the Power of Affirmations and Simple Joys 18:16

8M ago18:16

18:16

Listen in as I explore the transformative journey of building self-confidence through the power of affirmations. This heart-to-heart session is your sanctuary for self-discovery, a place where I share over 50 affirmations that will fortify your self-love, help you overcome self-doubt, and embrace personal growth. I invite you to make these affirmat…

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266: Lau Noah 1:26:40

8M ago1:26:40

1:26:40

Singer-songwriter Lau Noah grew up in the small Catalan city of Reus. She left Spain for America a decade ago, at age 19 and never really looked back. She makes celestial, dreamy music evocative of another era, yet influenced by her own very modern story. Lau Noah is both a realist and a magical realist. She is an uncompromising and determined indi…

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S1 Ep:19 Journeys of the Heart Unpacking Self Acceptance and God 18:51

9M ago18:51

18:51

Embark with us on an intimate exploration into the soul-nourishing practice of self-love, as we uncover the sacred act of loving ourselves in the way that God loves us. This episode peels back the layers of negative self-beliefs and strides into the light of self-acceptance. Through personal anecdotes and vulnerable moments, I reveal the pivotal ex…

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Ep:2 - Finding Solace in Song: A Journey of Grief, Self-Worth, and Healing with Marvin Sapp's 'The Best in Me' #musicmusings 15:53

9M ago15:53

15:53

Listen in as I open up about the transformative journey of healing through Marvin Sapp's song "The Best in Me," a beacon of hope during my time of personal grief. The raw emotions stemming from the loss of my daughter and feelings of overlook by family, except for my father's love, laid a foundation for a profound connection to this song's message.…

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265: Ani DiFranco 45:25

9M ago45:25

45:25

Ani DiFranco began recording and self-releasing her music as a 20 year old in Buffalo, New York in 1990. 34 years later she is widely considered to be a feminist icon. But in many ways she emerged iconic, fully formed and fearless. A facile lyricist with a biting honesty, she played guitar with a virtuosic, rhythmic style. And she was ahead of her …

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Ep. 90-Wordsmith of the highest degree—my conversation with Myka 9 1:10:03

9M ago1:10:03

1:10:03

Myka 9 is one of the most prolific MCs of all time. In this interview, he talks in depth about the components of thought and influence that shape his rhyme style. His entire approach is inflected with jazz, with random sounds sparking melodies and harmonies. These are overlaid and interwoven with an extensive vocabulary. In 2022 the folks at Medium…

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S1 Ep:17 Cultivating a Life of Self-Admiration and Growth #guidedmeditation 14:11

9M ago14:11

14:11

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, grappling with the reflection staring back at you? This episode is an intimate exploration of that very moment, not of vanity, but of understanding and embracing the worth that lies within. Join me, Rae, as we traverse the tender terrain of self-love, an invaluable ingredient for a life steeped in fulfillme…

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S1 Ep:18 Step into the Year with Purpose and Transformative Practices 6:58

9M ago6:58

6:58

Welcome back, dear listeners, to another soul-nourishing session of Crossing Bridges with Ray. As your guide, Ray, I'm truly grateful for your presence as we stand on the cusp of the new year. In this special installment, we embrace the magic of December 31st, 2023—a day that doubles as a rare portal day, occurring once every century. We reflect on…

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S1 Ep:16 Navigating Life's Currents with Prayer as My Compass #prayerofprotection 13:50

9M ago13:50

13:50

It was over two decades ago at the Hillside International Truth Center in Atlanta, Georgia that a simple, yet powerful prayer found its way into my daily life. Today, I'm peeling back the curtain on 'Crossing Bridges' to share this cherished spiritual tool with you. As your host, Ray, I recount the journey that these words have walked with me throu…

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264: brad allen williams 54:29

9M ago54:29

54:29

brad allen williams is not only a great guitar player but also a serious recording engineer, and someone who understands both the technical and emotional sides to record making. Known for his work with Jose James, Nate Smith and Brittany Howard, he released his album œconomy on Pete Min’s Colorfield label earlier this year. Like all Colorfield rele…

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