Tag: BGS Podcast Network

The Other 22 Hours: Matraca Berg

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

We often treat commercial success as the final destination of a creative life, but for legendary songwriter Matraca Berg, it was just the first act. Her songs became major country hits for Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter, Kenny Chesney, the Chicks, Patty Loveless, and Reba McEntire, among many others. Matraca’s catalog defines generations of American songwriting.

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We sit down with the GRAMMY-nominated member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on the Other 22 Hours to explore the realities of achieving massive success while battling paralyzing stage fright, the transition from the multi-platinum physical sales era of the 1990s to modern streaming, and how she keeps her creative tank full as the industry has changed around her. In a culture obsessed with youth and immediate output, Matraca offers a grounded, reassuring perspective on aging within an art form, artistic alignment, and learning to trust.

In This Episode:

– Matraca Berg
– Ep 147 – Jeff Hanna
– Sudie Calloway
– Mel Tillis
– Joni Mitchell
– Bluebird Cafe
– Clint Black
– Nanci Griffith
– Ep 60 – Lori McKenna
– Bobby Braddock
– Harlan Howard
– Ashley McBryde
– Gary Harrison
– Ep 28 – The Wood Brothers
– Zach Berkman
– Tiger King
– Chris Stapleton
– Ella Langley
– Jessi Colter
– Waylon Jennings
– Maggie Gyllenhaal
– Peter Sarsgaard
– Hill Country Barbecue
– Jake Gyllenhaal
– Minnie Pearl

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Glenn Rose

The Working Songwriter: Joe Pernice

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our guest on the Working Songwriter this week originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts, and now makes his home in Toronto. Joe Pernice got his musical start, though, in Northampton, Mass. At the time, it was a hot bed of indie music creativity. His band the Scud Mountain Boys built a loyal following in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed releases. He’s recorded for Sub Pop, One Little Indian, Team Love, and New West Records.

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Over the years Pernice has collaborated with a variety of blue-chip songwriters such as Aimee Mann, Neko Case, Norman Blake (of Teenage Fanclub), Jimmy Webb, Rodney Crowell, and Jim White. He’s also a man of many talents; his novel It Feels So Good When I Stop was published by Penguin Books in 2009. NPR calls him “a workhorse of a songwriter who delivers hard truths with the softest of whispers.” Brooklyn Vegan declared, “Few songwriters today imbue frustration and anguish into the sweetest of melodies as Joe Pernice.”

I got a chance to catch up with him a few months ago to hear about his musical journey so far.

Photo Credit: Colleen Nicholson

Basic Folk: Matt Smith (Club Passim)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Matt Smith is a living legend with his unbelievable 30-year run at Club Passim, the historic folk venue nestled in a Harvard Square basement. Currently in the role of Managing Director at Passim, Matt is the most passionate music lover I know. He has used his platform at the club to help establish artists like Lori McKenna, Anaïs Mitchell, Lake Street Dive, and so many more. I met Matt while working as a student at WERS 88.9FM, where he brought fantastic shows to a listening room filled with people who were clamoring for honest music in an intimate space. He’s been a very good friend and mentor to myself and thousands of musicians since he began his tenure at the club in 1995.

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In honor of Matt’s 30th anniversary at Passim, we brought two longtime friends on the pod to talk to him about his role in the Passim community – and beyond. Musicians Edie Carey and Dinty Child join us in conversation with Matt; he shares advice he would give his younger self, we chat about what a vacation without music would look like, and his incredible memory. That memory is tested in our lightning round where he answers Passim trivia (almost 100% correctly). There’s also a discussion about what Matt is most proud of in all his years at the club: the campfire. festival, which takes place every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends featuring sets in-the-round of mostly unknown new acts. I would imagine if you’re listening to this episode of Basic Folk, you either know Matt or Club Passim. Hello to all our friends and I hope you enjoy this window into one of the best people we’ve ever known: Matt Smith!

Photo Credit: Barry Schneier

The Other 22 Hours: Rob Moose

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Behind nearly every influential indie-rock and pop record of the last 15 years has been the brilliant mind and hand of string arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose. The three-time GRAMMY winner has contributed to thousands of records by the likes of Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Bruce Hornsby, and Mumford & Sons. In this calming, deeply reflective conversation on The Other 22 Hours, Rob opens up about “peaking” in the live touring industry, the transition to a studio-centric life, and how fatherhood has introduced a powerful focus into his creative process. It is an exploration of legacy, creative boundaries, and why sustaining a 20-year career ultimately comes down to treating music not as an athletic feat, but as a deeply human relationship.

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In This Episode:

– Rob Moose
– Manhattan School of Music
– Columbia University
– The New School
– Interlochen Arts Academy
– Nirvana
– Bon Iver
– SNL
– Paul Simon
– Madison Square Garden
– Bowery Ballroom
– The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
– Nonesuch Record
– Gabe Kahane

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Max Wanger

The Other 22 Hours: Michaela Anne & Aaron Shafer-Haiss

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

To celebrate our 150th episode of The Other 22 Hours, we try a bit of an experiment: interviewing ourselves, for the first time. After nearly two decades of partnership, we examine the evolution of the creative self. Michaela Anne – whose fifth record, These Are The Days, marks her first in over 10 years for which she retains total ownership – discusses the “massive shift of self” required to walk away from industry gatekeepers. Aaron Shafer-Haiss, whose compositions have scored major network dramas like Station 19 and The Good Doctor, reflects on the “utilitarian creativity” of a producer. It is a conversation about resilience, the “growth seesaw” of a creative marriage, and the realization that the dream is already happening.

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In This Episode:

– Michaela Anne
– Aaron Shafer-Haiss
– These Are The Days
– Ep 109 Major Jackson
– Nonesuch Records
– Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
– Bonnaroo
– Cayamo
– Mountain Stage
– Folks Fest
– Middle Tennessee State University
– Owen Biddle
– Seth Taylor
– Ethan Ballinger
– Kyshona
– Lyle Davinsky
– Lauren Balthrop
– Post Malone

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo courtesy of the Other 22 Hours.

The 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum Returns to Chicago

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

The BGS Podcast Network, the Working Songwriter, and podcast host/creator Joe Pug are excited to invite you to attend the 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum. Set for June 5-7, 2026, at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Illinois, the event will include concerts, workshops, podcasts, open mics, and more. Space is limited, but 3-day passes are still available. Get more information and purchase tickets here.

Each night of the Forum will feature a full concert by songwriters and musicians on the Forum lineup. David Ramirez and Rachel Baiman will take the stage on Friday, June 5, and John Moreland and TWS creator and host Joe Pug will headline Saturday, June 6.

“Last year’s event featured Craig Finn and Courtney Hartman,” Pug tells BGS via email. “It went better than I could have ever expected. And the Old Town School’s campus in Chicago is such a natural home for the event. I can’t wait to see our returning attendees again and to meet those joining us for the first time.”

The heart of the weekend is a slate of intensive workshops from both Old Town School’s master educators – like Jonas Friddle – as well as Q&As with the Forum’s guest artists. Attendees will also have the opportunity to play scheduled open mics on each day of the event. (See a full schedule below.)

Whether a veteran songwriter or a novice just starting your creative journey, there’s something for everyone on the slate for the 2nd Annual Working Songwriter Forum. We hope you’ll join us and TWS in Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music next month! Get more information about the Forum and purchase your tickets here.

Unable to attend the full Forum? Limited concert tickets are available for the evening performances by Ramirez and Baiman and Moreland and Pug.

The Working Songwriter Forum Schedule

Friday, June 5, 2026
4pm – Welcome to The Working Songwriter Forum
5pm – Rachel Baiman teaches Poetry versus Rhetoric in Songwriting
6pm – Dinner Break
8pm – Rachel Baiman Live in Szold Hall
9pm – David Ramirez Live in Szold Hall

Saturday, June 6, 2026
10:30am – Jonas Friddle teaches Something from Nothing
11:45am – David Ramirez presents The Misunderstanding in Wanting to be Understood
1pm – Lunch break
2pm – Open Mic
3:15pm – The Working Songwriter taping with John Moreland and Joe Pug
6pm – Dinner Break
8pm – Joe Pug Live in Maurer Hall
9pm – John Moreland Live in Maurer Hall

Sunday, June 7, 2026
11am – Open Mic: Songs Written at The Working Songwriter Forum
12pm – Lunch break
1pm – Open Mic: Songs Written at The Working Songwriter Forum and a Farewell

Explore our archive of episodes of the Working Songwriter podcast here.

The Working Songwriter: Eddie Schwartz

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Our guest this week on the Working Songwriter hails from Canada and has spent over four decades writing hit songs. Eddie Schwartz got his start as a solo artist, but has found great success writing for and with other artists. His song “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” was recorded by Pat Benatar and became a certified platinum crossover hit. He went on to pen songs for Donna Summer, the Doobie Brothers, the Pointer Sisters, and many others.

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As a former president of the Songwriters Association of Canada and the International Council of Music Creators, Schwartz has been a tireless advocate for songwriters. He’s received multiple BMI, SOCAN, and JUNO Awards. In 2012, he was awarded the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.

I got a chance to catch up with Mr. Schwartz a few months ago to hear about his musical journey so far.

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Basic Folk: What Is a Folk Song For?

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Well, is this not an excuse to get the girlies together if we’ve ever heard one!? For our final live interview aboard Cayamo, we arranged a check-in with some of our favorite folks to talk about the state of Folk Music (and folk-adjacent music). Our panel included country artist and host of Apple Music’s Color Me Country Radio Rissi Palmer, Canadian sweethearts Rose Cousins (CEO of emotions) and Kaïa Kater (Dean of Sad Songs), and Jobi Riccio, a self-proclaimed “rizzler.” We spoke about the function of folk songwriting, the hope and confidence of Gen Z, the inspiration taken from elders, and the fact that there are Black people in the future (thank you, Alice Randall).

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We’ve noticed some folk songs coming out recently about moving forward and persevering despite living in hard times. It seems like the folk zeitgeist is collectively coming together to say something and we wanted to explore what’s happening with folk musicians at this time. What is the function of folk songwriting in modern times? Comfort? Information? Inspiration?

Folk is the big scoop that catches everyone. We need there to be a place for everyone else – and we are the everyone else. When you choose to be in this community, you grab onto this big rope, pulling against all that needs pulling against (feeling, current events, poverty, capitalism, things that homogenize, surveil, and control). These artists and the stories they tell take care of communities in a way that is similar to healthcare workers, but how are these workers being taken care of? We wanted to ask, “What’s the state of your workplace and how is care being taken?” And, “What does it feel like to be moving through the world playing music for people at this time?”

Photo Credit: Will Byington

The Other 22 Hours: Molly Tuttle

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Molly Tuttle has shared stages and recorded with Ringo Starr and Billy Strings, yet she still grapples with the unpredictable “ups and downs” of a musician’s schedule and the inherent instability of the road. We talk with the GRAMMY-winning artist – who was also the first woman to win IBMA Guitarist of the Year – about the “baggage” of turning a passion into a profession. We explore the necessity of trusting one’s gut over industry expectations, how she navigates the transition from bluegrass traditionalism to rock-leaning solo projects, and the quiet power of having a partner who understands the nuance of tour routing.

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In This Episode:

Molly Tuttle
Nonesuch Records
Tyler Childers
Berklee College of Music
Ep 3 – The Milk Carton Kids
The Goodbye Girls
The Stray Birds
Ozark Mountain Folk Center
First Ladies of Bluegrass
Alison Brown
Ep 50 – Sierra Hull
Missy Raines
Becky Buller
Ketch Secor
Old Crow Medicine Show
Chris Stapleton
Ep 28 – The Wood Brothers

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

The Other 22 Hours: Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Ray Benson is an absolute pillar of American music, a nine-time GRAMMY winner whose band, Asleep at the Wheel, has defined Western swing for over half a century. In this episode of the Other 22 Hours, we talk with Ray about the “geographical imperative,” rebuilding his career from a broke-down bus to a musical institution, and the delicate balance between the craft of music and the business of image. This is an exploration of longevity, team building, and the importance of finding a “moral compass” in leadership.

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In This Episode:

– Ray Benson
– Asleep at the Wheel
– Peter, Paul, and Mary
– Pete Seeger
– Woody Guthrie
– Van Cliburn
– Lester Flatt
– Marty Stuart
– Marc Copland
– Paul Motian
– John Abercrombie
– George Strait
– Vince Gill
– Tower Records
– “The Letter Johnny Walker Read”
– Merle Haggard
– Lawrence Wright
– Mumford & Sons
– Aaron Dessner
– T.S. Elliot
– Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
– Chris Scruggs
– Molly Tuttle
– Ep. 86 – Tommy Emmanuel

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo courtesy of the artist.