Episoded 313: Sierra Hull brings a measure of small-town delight and innocence to roots and bluegrass that perfectly compliments her innate gifts and her formal schooling in high level music-making. The mandolinist, songwriter, singer, and band leader has emerged, since her youthful debut in 2008, as a star of her field and an inspiring figure in A…

What does it mean to redesign a cultural icon? Ric Riordon was already a well-established designer when, over two decades ago, he and his team were asked to redesign the trophy for the Academy of Country Music Awards. The original had barely changed since the mid-’60s, so the team were taking on quite a challenge: replacing a recognisable icon that…

How in the world do you get your first guitar build in Steve Vai's hands? Well, you take some big risks and make some bold choices, and Stephen McSwain has certainly done plenty of both. From hand carving horror-themed installations for Slash to working with world-renowned visual artists, Stephen has time and again gone where no luthier has gone be…

Episode 312: In one of the big surprise stories in roots music of the past six months, bluegrass star and IIIrd Tyme Out founder Russell Moore was named the newest member of Alison Krauss and Union Station, taking over the male vocal and guitar role held by Dan Tyminski for years. Moore is on the upcoming album Arcadia and set to go on extensive to…

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9328.The_House_of_the_Spirits Our Next Book: The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/52397.Parable_of_the_Sower Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram:…

Epidode 311: When I met lifelong musician Red Young on board Delbert McClinton’s Sandy Beaches Cruise, I knew I had to interview him. He’s had one of those journeyman’s careers that ties together all the threads of American music, from pop to R&B to jazz. He’s a pianist, Hammond organ specialist, singer, arranger and producer, and at 76 years old, …

Michael had his dream job working for the US Forest Service – until the sight of a luthier's workshop turned his interest in guitars into an obsession that couldn't be ignored. Now, Michael is a master guitar maker with over 25 years of experience crafting exquisite acoustic guitars in Fort Collins, Colorado. Renowned for his signature designs feat…

Episode 310: It would be hard to name any songwriter in Nashville’s long history whose work has been recorded by more stars across more genres of music than Gary Nicholson. The Texas native came to Nashville in 1980 after stints in Ft. Worth and Los Angeles, and not only did he amass an impressive string of country music hits with Vince Gill, Patty…

Here's part 2 of my conversation with visual effects artist Kosta Lagis, whose credits include blockbusters like Prometheus, Man of Steel, and Deadpool. In this episode, we dive deeper into Kosta's experience with generative AI and what this technology means for the future of artists and creatives. We also explore the role of religious and unifying…

If you're running a business, your productivity suite is the foundation of your daily operations. Your email, documents, spreadsheets, databases, and collaboration tools are either going to be powered by Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. These two platforms dominate the market, but between Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace, which one is the best …

With over 25 years of expertise in film, advertising, and industrial design, Kosta Lagis has worked on blockbuster movies like Prometheus, Man of Steel, and Deadpool, as well as high-profile commercials for brands such as Huawei and Mobil. He's currently the creative Director for Computer Graphics at The Mill in Shanghai. With a deep technical foun…

Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link: https://magicmind.com/STRINGSJAN #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/stringsunraveled Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio Kaity: @kaitycrea…

Episode 309: Sam Grisman, the 35-year-old son of mandolin icon David “Dawg” Grisman, grew up in a unique and supercharged musical environment, to put it mildly. Jerry Garcia was coming over all the time to the family home to pick and record old-time folk music with the elder Grisman. Bluegrass legends came and went, rehearsing and recording, and gi…

Break free from the “never good enough” mindset. Chris interviews clinical psychologist and author Dr. Ellen Hendriksen to explore how to overcome perfectionism as musicians. Whether you're a performer, teacher, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you:. Understand the roots of perfectionism in musi…

If you've been in business you know that tech people love tools. The next shiny thing can be a distraction though, find out why inside!

Episode 308: For country singer Kaitlin Butts, 2023 was very good and 2024 was even better, with an Americana Award nomination, praise in Rolling Stone magazine, and festival dates she’d been dreaming of. Her reputation and acclaim grew on the strength of her feisty stage temperament, her bold and cutting voice, and her fearless songs. Raised in Ok…

Doug Kauer is always the least serious guy in the room, which makes him a great podcast guest – it’s also part of what makes him a successful guitar maker with his own unique style. Doug started building guitars when a lifetime of woodworking combined with a love of guitar. Spurred on by the support of other luthiers, he found his direction in what…

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Episode 307: It was 50 years ago this month that a 23-year-old Mickey Raphael felt his way through his first recording session with his relatively new band boss Willie Nelson. And it was no small thing, producing the iconic Red Headed Stranger. It was one event in a charmed life that set this Dallas musician on a path to the ultimate steady gig for…

Get 45% off the Magic Mind bundle with with my link: https://magicmind.com/STRINGSJAN #magicmind #mentalwealth #mentalperformance Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49397758-grown Our Next Book: The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9328.The_House_of_the_Spirits Email Us: strings…

Robin Stummvoll of Verso Instruments joins me to talk about the release of his new, highly innovative guitar, Sine, which will be exhibited in the Boutique Guitar Showcase at NAMM 2025. Having gained worldwide attention for his Cosmo model, Robin has plenty to share about the role of playfulness in creativity, escaping the constraints of establishe…

Discover the transformative journey of Rebecca Clare Douglas in this episode of the Creative Strings Podcast, where musical diversity takes center stage. From earning a music degree at Oxford to becoming a multifaceted folk musician, educator, and author, Rebecca shares how embracing diversity in her music brought freedom and joy.🎻 Learn how she tr…

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Check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/stringsunraveled Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio Kaity: @kaitycreates Anne: @anneland22 Karin: @knitspinner805Από τον Strings Unraveled

Ola Strandberg is a true innovator, having redefined modern guitar-making with his .strandberg* brand. Pioneering the resurgence of headless guitars, Ola combines ergonomic innovation, sustainable materials, and cutting-edge aesthetics to create instruments that inspire musicians and luthiers worldwide. With so much change occurring, now is a good …

Episode 306: This one’s personal. Eight years ago, when we launched the Roots Radio format on the historic signal WMOT 89.5 FM, a few of us knew we could have no better program director than Jessie Scott, and we were fortunate that she was in the right time and place to come on board. Her 50 years of on-air experience, her expertise in Americana mu…

Discover 21 daily habits for musicians to grow and enjoy their practice, teaching, or careers more. In this video, Christian Howes shares practical tips to optimize routines, set goals, and find happiness in your musical journey. Designed for teachers, players, and music entrepreneurs, these habits help you improve performance and well-being. Learn…

Jon “Sully” Sullivan is the founder of Sully Guitars, a brand known for blending innovation with the spirit of '80s hot rod guitar culture. But, as Sully explains in this conversation, his guitars are far more than a nod to the era he grew up in. We talk about what it means to go beyond your influences, to build guitars out of spite and to live you…

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Episode 305: Traditional acoustic blues has seen one of its periodic revivals, with more younger African American artists involved than any time I can remember. No survey of the scene would be legit without sizing up the career of 35-year-old Jerron Paxton, sometimes known as “Blind Boy” for a severe myopia that’s affected his life since his teens.…

What would a structural engineer bring to guitar making? In his career as a structural engineer, Enrico Di Donato collaborated with renowned architects like Renzo Piano and Arata Isozaki. After years of exploring composite materials for seismic reinforcement and authoring publications on the subject, Enrico shifted his focus to luthiery, combining …

Why do we make things? What is it that draws so many of us to hunker down in dusty workshops, pick up some hand tools, or devote hours to any kind of craft and creation? We might sometimes be mystified by our own obsession or powerful draw towards making things – that feeling of a need to create. Exploring this is part of exploring what it means to…

Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59314709-counterfeit Our Next Book: Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49397758-grown Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio Anne: @anneland22 Kaity: @kaityc…

Based in Edmonton, Canada, Dion James builds steel-string acoustic guitars known for their striking minimalism. Subtle in their looks from afar, Dion's instruments make careful use of intricate detailing without becoming ostentatious. They’re packed with innovation informed by years of building and experimentation, all brought together with a decis…

Episode 304: One of my highlights of 2024 was finally getting to see Minneapolis folk rocker Humbird, an artist whose three recordings display an unusual degree of sonic imagination and bandcraft, even beyond her serene and appealing voice. On her newest, Right On, songwriter Siri Undlin conjures ghosts, protests monoculture and environmental negle…

Episode 303: “I like dark songs. I don't know why,” says Grayson Capps early on in our interview. “Cheerful songs don't do much for me.” The Lower Alabama bluesman and songwriter is talking about both his career in general and his seventh album in particular, with the un-cheerful title Heartbreak, Misery & Death. It’s a covers collection featuring …

There might be a lot of guitars that claim to be unique, but there's only a relatively small number that achieve – without question – something new. Nicolai Schorr's instruments are undoubtedly among that select group. From his workshop in Berlin, Nicolai handcrafts guitars and basses that are as playful and refreshing as they are bold. It's unsurp…

Get Magic Mind at 50% off with the Black Friday offer, available only through my link until December 6th: https://magicmind.com/stringsunraveledbf Check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/stringsunraveled Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio …

If you’ve ever seen Marek Dąbek’s Stradi instruments, you’ll understand that he has a fascinating approach to building guitars and basses. On this week’s episode of Life With Strings Attached, we talk about the origins of Marek’s instruments, the benefits of having to struggle for what you want, and why a tarantula lived in his kitchen. Stradi Inst…

What is the future of the NAMM Show? What direction are our instruments – and our industry – heading in? What is it that instrument makers need most right now? There are few better people to speak to about the future of our industry than John Mlynczak. As the CEO of NAMM, he runs the world's largest trade organisation for musical instrument makers …

Episode 302: Joe Boyd is one of the most accomplished and eclectic record producers in the story of popular music. As an American living in London, he helped break psychedelic folk rock pioneers The Incredible String Band and worked with Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, and Fairport Convention. He founded Hannibal Records, giving a home to the solo career o…

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46138193-the-mercies Our Next Book: Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59314709-counterfeit Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio Anne: @annelan…

Based in Vermont, Adam Buchwald has managed to build an enviable business that spans every part of the guitar making and selling process, from supplying woods and tools to designing and building across several brands, and even setting up a retail space. In his full career he’s covered even more ground, plying his trade as a professional musician wi…

Doug Stringer was honored to be the opening and closing speaker for the annual three-day Christian Men's Network Summit. The recent 2024 Global Summit, which had the theme "BORN TO SERVE," focused on SHAPING A NEW GENERATION OF SERVANT LEADERS. In this episode, Doug Stringer dives deep into the power of serving others and living with a purpose beyo…

Episode 301: Americana music has been most conspicuously represented in the last few years by songwriting, band-leading artists, including Jason Isbell, Sierra Ferrell, and Billy Strings. Flash back to the origins of the alt-country and Americana movement, and the conversation was more often about bands, such as Son Volt, Whiskeytown, and the Old 9…

This week on the podcast, English guitar maker Rosie Heydenrych talks about how she started Turnstone Guitars, why she's drawn to using non-traditional woods, and what fuels her curiosity as she continues to grow her business. As well as crafting beautiful and refreshing instruments, Rosie has created a family business that prioritises what's most …

Our productivity hack: https://magicmind.com/STRINGSUNRAVELED Use my code STRINGSUNRAVELED20 for 20% off #magicmind Check out our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/stringsunraveled Email Us: stringsandthingsinfo@gmail.com Visit our Website: www.stringsandthingsstudio.com Follow Us on Instagram: @stringsandthingsstudio Kaity: @kaitycreates Anne: @ann…