Best Steve Ploum Podcasts (2024)

1
The Wildwoods: Not Enough Money for a Hotel, So We Wrote Songs (S4 E1) 56:56

9M ago56:56

56:56

In this episode of Kites and Strings, we usher in Season 4 with Noah and Chloe Gose of the three-piece, Americana/folk band from Lincoln Nebraska, The Wildwoods. We explore all sorts of things, and although we set out to explore what it was like to be married couple, writing music together, performing together, touring together and all that is invo…

1
Phoebe Hunt, Musician, There's a Song In Every Moment (S3 E32) 43:36

12M ago43:36

43:36

This is a special episode, as we bring back Phoebe Hunt. It turns out that Phoebe will be playing the Trail Mix Concert Series in Homewood, Illinois, just south of Chicago, and to help promote that event, Steve and Catherine were going to do a quick check in, how ya doing, and lets introduce the re-release of your previous episode. Well, Phoebe is …

1
Kevin Stone, Large Scale Steel Sculptor: I Work from the Outside In (S3 E31) 50:35

1y ago50:35

50:35

In this episode we talk with Kevin Stone, a large scale steel sculptor from Chilliwack, British Columbia. And when we say "large," we mean it m as is work is upwards of 50 feet or more and needs to be delivered in pieces on multiple semi trailers. A recent piece was a 40' Game of Thrones dragon that blew fire. That is one of his works going to a pr…

1
Catherine and Steve, Creatives: Not Thinking it, Dancing It (S3 E30) 29:33

1y ago29:33

29:33

Today was an impromptu session. A slight miscommunication with a scheduled guest had Catherine and I just chatting and catching up as we waited for somebody to jump in. Since we are planning to add a brief Catherine and Steve catching up in most, if not all episodes moving forward, we thought what the hey, lets record. We had a fun conversation and…

1
Jen Ash, Musician: Enjoy All the Steps or Else You'll Be Miserable (S3 E29) 49:54

1y ago49:54

49:54

In this episode, Steve and Catherine have a super fun chat with Jen Ash, a soulful pop/ r&b artist, born in Lebanon and raised in France. After ending her professional basketball career, she decided to follow her true path, moving to Los Angeles in 2018 to pursue her music career. We explore the benefits of having a team, overcoming the obstacles p…

1
Larry Moss, Balloon Artist: It's Exciting to Change the World You're In (S3 E28) 51:52

1y ago51:52

51:52

This episode of Kites and Strings is pretty twisted. We interview Larry Moss, who the Washington Post has called the "best balloon artist in the world. He has been featured on television shows around the world and recognized by Ripley's Believe It or Not, and has been in the Guinness Book of World Records multiple times. In addition to the large sc…

1
Rachel Rose, Author: When I Have Big Emotions, I Turn To My Art (S3 E27) 50:30

1y ago50:30

50:30

In this episode we talk with Rachel Rose, an expressive arts educator who authored the book, Creating Stillness: Mindful Art Practices and Stories for Navigating Anxiety, Stress and Fear, published by North Atlantic Books. We have a great discussion talking about what artmaking can do in the way of establishing mindfulness and to, well, navigate an…

1
Ask Uncle Jack, Naturalist, Influencer, Creative, Uncle: Episode No. 100 Guest in his 100th Year (S3 E26) 1:07:30

1y ago1:07:30

1:07:30

This is a very special episode, as it is number 100 for Kites and Strings. Can you believe it... 100 episodes!? We're so thrilled about reaching this milestone and are really happy with our guest this week. We really rose to the challenge of finding something interesting and worthy of our 100th episode. Our guest on momentous episode person is Uncl…

1
Azuka Muoh, Artist: My Art is the Way I Say That I Understand, I'm Here, I'm Feeling It (S3 E25) 48:12

1y ago48:12

48:12

Our guest in this episode is Azuka Muol. She's a 23 year-old digital artist from Lagos Nigeria who, is represented and showing all over Africa. And despite her understanding the business of art and what it takes to identify those who will someday buy her work, she also realizes that she has a way to worm her ideals into their head. She is recognize…

1
Allegra Levy, Musician: Me Writing About My Life (S3 E24) 51:28

1+ y ago51:28

51:28

Such a fun interview today. We talk with Allegra Levy, a jazz singer from Manhattan who has been the recipient of so much positive press. She's a top 10 rising star jazz vocalist, who said to be able to "sing life back to you," she's been called the "new pin-up girl for cool, " and she's been called "exotic" and "far beyond the ordinary," by the li…

1
Amy Welsh, Experiential Marketing: In It For The Fun (S3 E23) 51:44

1+ y ago51:44

51:44

In this episode we visit with Amy Welsh. When she is not engaging in one of her hobbies, like circus arts or arial arts with Catherine in New York City, she is an experiential marketer. Didn't realize there was such a job? You're not alone, but it's pretty evident, especially after talking with Amy, that it's a blast and that it certainly calls for…

1
Harry Kappen, Musician/Music Therapist: There Are No New Protest Songs, So I Wrote Some (S3 E22) 44:37

1+ y ago44:37

44:37

Today's episode features Harry Kappen, a Dutch musician who is finding balance in his work as an engaged music therapist working with teens and as a professional musician who consistently finds time to write, record and put out albums. Steve and Catherine with Harry as we find and discuss several of the parallels that exist between art therapy and …

1
Leanne McClurg Cambric, Ceramicist/Art Prof.: Making the Everyday Special (S3 E21) 49:58

1+ y ago49:58

49:58

In this episode, we dig in the dirt a bit with Leanne McClurb Cambric. She's an acclaimed and exhibiting ceramicist who hand builds functional art. Here we discuss her creative origins story and the idea function in art, while also factoring the extensive history of clay and pottery. Leanne is also a professor and head of the BFA/MFA program at Gov…

1
MG Bailey, Musician: Billy Strings is Never Going To Ask You What do YOU Want to Hear (S3 E20) 50:46

1+ y ago50:46

50:46

In today's episode, Steve and Catherine talk with MB Bailey. He' s a full-on working musician from Homewood, just south of Chicago, where Steve lives. We've meant to get MG on the show for a while, but he truly has been on and off tour zig zagging the country since the second things started to open up after the quarantine. We cover a great deal in …

1
Jon Langford, Musician/Artist: Songs Are Like Paintings, Paintings Are Like Songs (S3 E19) 41:00

1+ y ago41:00

41:00

Today's guest is punk rock pioneer, Jon Langford, a founding member of The Mekons, who were considered one the first wave punk bands from Britain. We learn about Jon's melding folk and country music with punk music in The Mekons and several other side projects including The Waco Brothers, which he founded in Chicago after moving to the city in 1992…

1
Heather Polk, Visual Artist: Making is the Ultimate Bomb, the Best Therapy and the Best Healing (S3 E18) 55:14

1+ y ago55:14

55:14

In this episode Catherine and Steve talk with Heather Polk. She's a collage artist based out of Chicago who exhibits and is a featured artist with multiple collectives, such as The Get Gallery, Spacey Studios and PxP Contemporary. She's been featured in publications such as The New Yorker Magazine, The Washington Post and Cosmopolitan and she creat…

1
Mary-Lou Weisman, Author: I Just Start As If I Know What I'm Doing (S3 E16) 48:25

1+ y ago48:25

48:25

In this episode of Kites and Strings, Steve and Catherine talk with author, Mary-Lou Weisman. She's a prize-winning journalist who has contributed too many articles to list in publications like the New York Times, Connecticut Weekly, Vogue, Newsweek, Newsday, and Woman's Day. She's also a bestselling book author with five published books to date, a…

1
Joseph Arthur, Musician, Artist, Poet; I'm Still Here, I'm Still Creating (S3 E17) 52:54

1+ y ago52:54

52:54

In this episode we talk with Joseph Arthur, a renowned musician and painter. We learn that his first love was music, that he started young, and that he was discovered and signed by Peter Gabriel on Peter Gabriel's record company, Real World. A little research tells us that he's played with some other big names, that he's been part of the bands, Fis…

1
Beatriz Muller, Cake/Sugar Artist: Gingerneering Gingerphoria (S3 E15) 51:15

1+ y ago51:15

51:15

Although we made trace nods to the holidays in our last two episodes, this is the most festive holiday episode for Kites and Strings in 2022. It features, gingerbread artist, Beatriz Muller, and make no mistake, we are not using the term "artist" lightly. What Beatriz does in the kitchen with gingerbread is amazing, so much so that we strongly enco…

1
Rachel Lewis, Chef/Food Stylist/Singer: The Gut is Always Correct (S3 E14) 50:09

1+ y ago50:09

50:09

In today's episode, we talk with Rachel Lewis, who checks several boxes in the land of creative. At the beginning of season 3, Catherine and Steve wondered aloud about bringing in not only chef, foodie type people, as we have consistently thought that being a chef required a combination of what we think is the more traditional create spirit coupled…

1
Chickenbone John, Musician: Just Hit It, See What Happens (S3 E13) 49:48

1+ y ago49:48

49:48

This episode feature a lovely chat with United Kingdom-based musician, guitar builder and Godfather of the cigar box guitar, Chickenbone John. He brings an amazing amount of passion to his art, but where others may manifest their passion in details, finish and being technically spot on, John's passion is seen in the multiple ways that he makes musi…

1
Ben Coe, Physicist/Musician; I Do Stuff To See If I Can (S3 E12) 51:25

1+ y ago51:25

51:25

Today, we chat with Ben Coe. Impressively, he's a physicist who has worked with lasers and a huge super collider, where he smashes ions together, and here we explore his tendency to see things in life as largely upgradeable. If something can be improved, made different, better, more consistent with his needs, whatever, he'll figure out a way to mak…

1
June Gervais, Author: Rapt and Riveted, (S3 E11) 50:25

1+ y ago50:25

50:25

In this episode we talk with June Gervais, an author who makes her home on Long Island and who, as we learned in talking with her after the episode, was familiar with Kites and Strings and had listened to a number of episodes prior to our having any contact. It also turns out before we were turned onto June, she was mentored by our S2 E22 guest and…

1
Gregg Calpino, Landscape Architect: A Sucker for Impossible Journeys (S3 E10) 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

Today's episode is with an old friend, Gregg Calpino. In fact, earlier in the season when Catherine and I talked about the types of artists we wanted to get on the show in season 3, a landscape architect came up. A bit after that conversations, while actually editing the aforementioned episode, I was reminded that I know somebody who is one of the …

1
Shea Boynton, Musician; Finding Balance with The Barlow (S3 E9) 48:10

1+ y ago48:10

48:10

Today's episode features Shea Boynton, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for the Denver, Colorado-based country band, The Barlow, who released their third album, New Year, Old Me, earlier this year. In this episode we talk about how he balances his kids/wife, family, and his job in construction with his band, band life, touring, writing, fixing…

1
Daniella Tiranno, Mermaid/ Storybook Princess: Keeping the Magic Alive (S3 E8) 49:37

1+ y ago49:37

49:37

In the spirit of Halloween, we bring another episode that explores taking on the persona of another being through dress-up. This week has more a fantasy vibe and features professional mermaid and storybook princess, Daniella Tiranno. She is co-founder/ and owner of Magical Aura Entertainment on New York's Long Island. For her company, she also play…

1
Rick Basmagy, Haunted House Actor: It's All Halloween (S3 E7) 50:59

1+ y ago50:59

50:59

In the spirit of Halloween, we're interviewing the haunted house actor, Rick Basmagy, an actor with the premier NYC haunted house, Blood Manor. Just looking at the image selected for this episode, you'll see that the Halloweening that Rick engages in is not child's play. We added a link to an article about Rick and a colleague below and by followin…

1
Molly Van Kley, Photographer: I Have the Entire Spectrum of Emotions to Play With (S3 E6) 50:35

2y ago50:35

50:35

In this episode we meet Molly Van Kley, a photographer who is currently located in Augusta Georgia. Her initial dream and career protectory was in fashion editorial photography, and she found success having been published in over 20 magazines. In that process she developed mad collaboration skills as she connected with other up-and-coming artists, …

1
Rob Calhoon / Tim Placher; Something to Offer and There's a Need (S3 E5) 49:41

2y ago49:41

49:41

Today's episode features two fine music educators, Tim Placher, who just retired from the Plainfield School District in Plainfield Illinois and Rob Calhoon, a long-time music educator at the Flossmoor School District about 45 miles east of Plainfield. Tim and rob are fine teachers and have positively impacted a countless number of students over the…

1
Phoebe Hunt, Musician; My Soul Just Needs to Create (S3 E4) 48:22

2y ago48:22

48:22

In this episode, Steve and Catherine talk with Nashville-based musician, Phoebe Hunt, who Steve met at the artist's hospitality tent at the Frankfort Bluegrass Fest in Frankfort Illinois. Truth be told, Steve and his band, Butterfield Creek, were there because there was a cancellation, they're kind-of local, and Steve could pull the band together w…

1
Liz Smith, Business Owner/ Yogi: People Are My Passion (S3 E3) 49:57

2y ago49:57

49:57

Today's episode features a discussion with Steve's daughter's 3rd grade teacher, Liz Smith, but it has nothing to do with his daughter, their experience in school, or really even Liz's experience as a teacher. It is much more about Liz's transition and re-invention when she realized that her role in education did not bring the joy that it once did.…

1
Sunny War, Musician: I Write Theme Songs to My Self-Destruction (S3 E2) 47:55

2y ago47:55

47:55

Today's guest is NPR Tiny Desk, punk-folk musician, Sunny War. She is an amazing, largely self-taught guitarist who played and developed her songwriting chops to literally survive homelessness and addiction as a teen in LA. Like the other two released through Hen House Studios, her most recent LP, Simple Syrup is gathering amazing reviews throughou…

1
Steve & Catherine Talk Season Three and Stuff (S3 E1) 32:13

2y ago32:13

32:13

We've had a full Summer - a bunch of good and some not so good, but we're set for season three. Steve and Catherine use this episode, which is our 75th, to discuss hopes for this season and since we are not the type of show that has a whole season of guests lined up, we used today's episode to expressly challenge ourselves and to request help from …

1
Anastasia Robieson, Musician/Artist, Guest Interviewer: The Answer is Connection (S2 E32) 55:43

2y ago55:43

55:43

Yeah, it's been a a bit since our last episode. We've been winding down season 2 and it's bitter sweet that we are ending our 2nd season today. It's a blast doing this podcast, but it is a lot of work and a break is needed. Hold tight though, there will be a season 3 in just a couple months or so, and we're looking forward to the guests and convers…

1
NLS Huncho, Rapper/Artist: A Hustler With A Heart (S2 E31) 50:44

2y ago50:44

50:44

In this episode, Steve and Catherine have the distinct pleasure of interviewing NLS Huncho, or just "Huncho." He's a rapper/musician, but he's also so much more. What is most evident is that he is truly a nice guy who defies the image of thug rapper with a need to show out as in control, always f*cking b*itches, and flashing money and guns. Instead…

1
Emily Dolan Davies, Drummer: Anger, Heartbreak, Sadness - I Give It All To The Drums (S2 E30) 50:48

2y ago50:48

50:48

We had a blast talking with Emily Dolan Davies. She's a London, UK-based drummer who has certainly found her way to some of the biggest stages and in some of the coolest studios touring and recording with the likes of Brian Ferry, Thomas Dolby, The Darkness, and Kim Wilde, with whom she is about to go on the road with. We caught up to her after Ste…

1
Dom Flemons, American Songster: Music Isn't Just a Musical Experience (S2 E29) 52:44

2y ago52:44

52:44

Today's guest, Dom Flemons, co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops in 2005, and on their third studio album, Genuine Negro Jig they won the 2010 Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. His 2018 album, Black Cowboys, recorded on the Smithsonian Folkways label, was nominated for a 2019 Grammy in the same category, and he has been nominated for two E…

1
Amber Roper, Fibers Artist: Chaotic But Colorful (S2 E28) 51:32

2+ y ago51:32

51:32

Amber Roper is a fibers artists, considered by Saatchi Arts to a "Rising Star" in their elite group of 35 under 35 international artists in 2020. She is founder of the Bluhen Studio in London, England, which translates to "Flourish and Blossom," and you will soon learn how perfect this name is for Amber. Amber grew up in London, and despite initial…

1
Jason Schneider, Game Designer: The Last Thing You Want To Do Is Drive the Compromise Bus (S2 E27) 51:56

2+ y ago51:56

51:56

In bygone days you had a closet full of board games, or you kept them on a shelf in the basement, and every now and again you'd gather folks around the table to play. And aside that one story we had about the broke dude in Atlantic City inventing the game Monopoly, until the last decade or two, there was no attention paid to the idea that somebody …

1
Áine Rose Daly, Actor/Musician: My Job Is To Be Other People and Music Helps Me Get Into Character (S2 E26) 50:31

2+ y ago50:31

50:31

Áine Rose Daly is a young actress who's career would be squarely in the "taking flight" category. Early on she was in an episode of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, she's been in a music video or two and she was in the critically acclaimed film, Boiling Point, which can be streamed on Amazon Prime. Also available on Amazon Prime is the three-season action/t…

1
John Jenkins, Singer/Songwriter: Songs Are Magical Because You Don't Know Where They Come From (S2 E25) 48:11

2+ y ago48:11

48:11

In today's episode, Steve and Catherine talk with acclaimed, Fretsore Recording Artist, John Jenkins. He's been at it since the 80's and has done a whole lot to not only improve in his craft, taking direction and guidance from some of the best in the industry, but he continues to put out a sizeable amount of work in a hyper competitive market. We l…

1
Misstress Barbara, DJ/Techno Artist/Singer Songwriter: I'm A Paradox On Two Legs (S2 E24) 51:55

2+ y ago51:55

51:55

Today's episode is with Barbara Bonfiglio, who is better known as Misstress Barbara. She has created/produced techno music/beats and DJ'ing for 26 years and has circled the globe dozens of times performing at the biggest clubs. She has put out too many EPS to count, the same is true of the compilations that she has been a part of, and she has writt…

1
Sylvia, Singer/Songwriter: I've Always Had My Voice (S2 E23) 49:52

2+ y ago49:52

49:52

Today's guest is Sylvia. If you were anywhere near the radio, and especially country radio in the 80's, you have heard at least one of her million+ selling hits including Tumbleweed, The Matador, and Snapshot. Her hits, The Drifter and Nobody hit No.1 in Billboard's country music category. She sold millions of copies and certainly made good on her …

1
Alice Mattison, Author: Writing a Novel is Like a Calamity That Besets You (S2 E22) 50:33

2+ y ago50:33

50:33

Our introduction to Alice Mattison was learning that she wrote a book entitled, The Kite and String, How To Write With Spontaneity and Control - And Live to Tell the Tale (Penguin Books). In pretty short order we were able to bring Alice onto the show and are so happy that we did. Not to mention, we breathed a sigh of relieve when we realized that …

1
Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark, (Digital) Sculptor: So Much More Than an Artist (S2 E21) 50:50

2+ y ago50:50

50:50

Today's episode features Central-London-based digital Sculptor, Rayvenn Shaleigha D'Clark. Her website also lists her as a writer, researcher and curator, but we learn that she is so much more, including a pet owner, university professor, social being, food connoisseur, and all around enjoyable person. Her artwork is featured in some high-profile s…

1
Brendan Lorber, Poet/Artist: Poetry Meets Art Meets Cartography (S2 E20) 47:09

2+ y ago47:09

47:09

Today's guest is Brendan Lorber, Brendan is a visual artist, poet, prose writer and editor, and his most recent book is entitled If this is paradise why are we still driving? It is published by the Subpress Collective. Recently, and as we discuss in this episode, the pandemic and in the process of seeking relationship, Brendan has found himself cre…

1
Corrie Legge, Actor, Creative Coach & Mom: Multi-Passionate (S2 E19) 51:08

2+ y ago51:08

51:08

Today we talk with Corrie Legge. Corrie has certainly found success in the arts, as she has directed/starred in several short films that have garnered very positive reviews, and she has maintained a healthy diet of voice over work in commercials, animations, video games and audio books.. Concurrently she is a present mom and a creative partner with…

1
Alice Chen-Kitterman, Scientific Illustrator: Centipede Dragon & the Marriage of Passions (S2 E18) 49:59

2+ y ago49:59

49:59

We had a great time talking with Scientific Illustrator and Children's Book Author/Illustrator, Alice Chen-Kitterman. We learned so much about her field, including why and how Alice is a Scientific Illustrator as opposed to a Medical Illustrator, and we learn about the legal, courtroom role that scientific illustrators may play. So interesting and …

1
Jim Byrne, Singer Songwriter: Songs Are Magic (S2 E17) 50:49

2+ y ago50:49

50:49

Jim Byrne is a Scottish Singer/Songwriter who was signed to his first record deal with Fox Star Records, at the age of 59. He has been playing, writing and performing though since he was 13 years old and although his most recent effort is situated somewhere in the land of country and folk, we learn of his punk rock past. Jim shares about past momen…

1
Sheryl Murray, Illustrator: In 32 Pages (S2 E16) 49:56

2+ y ago49:56

49:56

Today's guest is Sheryl Murray. She's been an illustrator for close to 30 years and had always dreamed of being a children's book illustrator, but due to available jobs out of school, re-locating, engaging in a different medium (clay) and being a parent, realizing her dream was delayed until just a few years ago. Since, she has worked with the like…

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