Strong Songs

A closer look at Miles Davis's 1959 jazz masterpiece.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2026

My past erased, no more disgrace, no foolish naive stand.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2026

I really don't know life at all.

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026

This is our last dance.

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2026

Meet you all the way.

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2026

Strong Songs Season Eight will kick off on Friday, January 16!

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2026

Kirk talks with jazz piano legend and Open Studio founder Peter Martin.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2025

Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about his new podcast series, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2025

From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable.

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2025

Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales basically just list a bunch of TV theme songs they love.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2025

The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs!

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2025

Two lifelong Dylanologists take Kirk on a whirlwind tour of the man's many musical eras.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2025

Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta join Kirk to talk about singing, songwriting, and the creative life.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2025

Kirk talks Tower of Power with the hosts of the "You'll Hear It" podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2025

Back in the 60s, my dad was in a band.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2025

If we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow.

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2025

Also synth saxophone, lyric writing, "Frippertronics," and more.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

Do I have to tell the story of a thousand rainy days?

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

How a 1930s show tune became a ubiquitous jazz standard.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

...now there's only love in the dark.

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

Kirk tackles some listener questions at the Season Seven halfway point.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

Mah na mah na.

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

Exoskeletal judgement at the railroad, delayed.

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

Shaking and shifting with Fiona Apple's 1999 syncopated supersingle.

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

Season seven kicks off with two of the most famous songs ever recorded.

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

Strong Songs Season Seven is now in early access!

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

A roundup of all the music recommendations Kirk made in between seasons.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

A recast of Kirk's 2019 interview with his beloved high school band director Janis Stockhouse, who died unexpectedly last week. May she rest in peace, and swing forever.

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Kirk picks apart not one, not two, but twenty one micro-songs by the great They Might Be Giants.

Transcribed - Published: 27 December 2024

Here comes that Santa Ana wind again, blowing us right into the slightly skewed world of Steely Dan.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

It takes an extremely strong song to top the charts three separate times in three separate decades, but "I Will Always Love You" is just such a song.

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2024

It's time for the hardest rocking song ever written about sea life, as Kirk takes a deep dive into Heart's 1977 body-shaker "Barracuda."

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2024

Let the children lose it, let the children use it, and let all the children join in for Strong Songs!

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

Let's go back, let's go back, let's go way on back to that time Aretha Franklin recorded one of her best songs.

Transcribed - Published: 18 October 2024

Kirk talks with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn about the endless world of Stevie Wonder.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2024

A cross-post of the first episode of "The Wonder of Stevie," a new podcast series from Higher Ground and Pineapple Street Studios.

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

Ba de ya! Say that you remember! Ba de ya! Dancing in September!

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2024

Kirk went on Dave Hamilton's podcast "Gig Gab" to talk podcasting, music, and life.

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2024

Open up your heart! Open up your heart!

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2024

They said it couldn't last, so we had to prove them wrong... by making an episode of Strong Songs all about Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis.

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2024

A bottle of red... a bottle of white... whatever kind of mood you're in, we're talking Billy Joel tonight!

Transcribed - Published: 9 August 2024

Winter, spring, summer, or fall... all you have to do is call, and Strong Songs will be there with an in-depth analysis of one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century.

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2024

An update on what's next now that Season Six is complete. Also, some music recommendations!

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2024

Everybody's out on the run tonight, but there's no place left to hide.

Transcribed - Published: 28 June 2024

Kirk answers your musical questions, from "Summertime" synth tones to heavy metal saxophone.

Transcribed - Published: 14 June 2024

Enter Easter and she's dressed in yellow yolk!

Transcribed - Published: 31 May 2024

Up or down, it's up to you.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2024

We could've made it cruising, yeah.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2024

The light is so blinding.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2024

"All Along the Watchtower" and "Jolene" get the Strong Covers treatment.

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2024