The Working Songwriter

This legendary British songwriter and producer went multi-platinum with his band Eurythmics before embarking on a career that has included collaborations with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty, and many others.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

The Bard of East Nashville passed away last week at the age of 59.  We are re-airing his episode of the podcast which was originally published in March of 2020.  

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2025

This singer songwriter grew up playing in a family band in Canada before moving to New Zealand and beginning a career of her own.  She has since shared the stage with Willie Nelson and Emmy Lou Harris, and built an audience all over the globe.

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2025

This songwriter rose to prominence with the viral success of his single, "A Drop in the Ocean", and has navigated a flourishing career for the past two decades.

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2025

The musical partnership of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova has captivated worldwide audiences, even earning them an Academy Award in 2007 for the song "Falling Slowly".

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2025

This English musician was one of the defining voices of synth-pop throughout the 1980s and has built a remarkable career as a songwriter spanning four decades.

Transcribed - Published: 26 September 2025

This prolific songwriter has fronted projects such as The Hush Sound, Gold Motel, and Springtime Carnivore.  She has just written a memoir entitled "The Lost Voice" published by Harper Collins, that explores her struggle after losing her singing voice to a health condition.

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2025

Originally hailing from the Pacific Northwest, this promising young songwriter played as a sideman in many other bands before stepping into the spotlight with his own records.  He's toured with Courtney Marie Andrews, Erin Rae, and many others.

Published: 29 August 2025

Derek Sanders is the creative force behind this highly influential emo band that has been blazing a trail in American music for the last two decades.

Transcribed - Published: 15 August 2025

This up and coming songwriter has toured with Troye Sivan and Yungblud, along with recording for Warner Brothers and Fearless Records.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2025

Adam Turla is the creative force behind this beloved band from Bloomington, IN who have been touring their distinctive blend of gothic Americana for over two decades.

Transcribed - Published: 12 July 2025

This songwriter has been at the vanguard of indie rock for three decades, best known for his projects Cursive and The Good Life.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

This Grammy award winning instrumentalist is considered the contemporary master of the dobro.  He's played with everyone from Ray Charles to Billy Strings over the course of his decades long career.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

This journeyman songwriter has written for Hoottie & the Blowfish, Lee Brice, Josh Turner, Craig Morgan and many others.  He has stepped into the spotlight with an album of his own entitled "Cowboy Things".

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

Zack Fischmann is a musician who makes outsider folk music under the name Marmalade Mountain, but he has also built a music marketing consulting company that is supremely useful to independent artists.

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

This Grammy nominated singer-songwriter has worked with luminaries such as Jackson Browne, The Who and The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, all the while maintaining her fruitful solo career.

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2025

This Grammy award winning producer, songwriter, and author joins the show to discuss his lengthy career that has included collaborations with The Civil Wars, Chris Cornell, and the Lone Bellow.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

This artist has spent a lifetime helming influential bands like The dB's and contributing to major bands such as REM.      

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

A weekend of intensive songwriting workshops, podcasts, and concerts at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL May 23-25, 2025.  Tickets available now.  Visit joepugmusic.com/tour for more details!

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

Josh Ostrander is the creative force behind this beloved indie rock band.  They've toured with Spoon, Muse, and Vance Joy.  And their tunes have racked up tens of millions of downloads on Spotify.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

This native of Mississippi has written for Darius Rucker and Kane Brown, and toured with Carrie Underwood, Old Dominion and many others.  His songs have amassed nearly 300 million streams on Spotify and his latest single features country heavyweight Thomas Rhett.

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

This award winning South African songwriter has crafted an indelible career over decades with his bands All Night Radio and Big Sky, along with his acclaimed solo work.

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

Shara Nova is the creative force behind this hugely influential indie pop solo project.  She as worked with Sufjan Stevens, David Byrne, and Laurie Anderson.

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

This journeyman roots music artist has toured with Steve Earle, Adam Duritz and many others.  He's recorded for Universal Music and Vanguard Records.  And he's become one of the torch bearers for American songwriting over the last 25 years.

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

This group from Portland, Oregon tours the country with a novel blend of American roots music that features show-stopping vocal harmonies.

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

This legendary songwriter has toured with Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, and collaborated with Warren Zevon.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2025

This celebrated songwriter stops by the show to discuss her years touring with Dolly Parton, singing with Kenny Chesney, and releasing albums that were mainstays on country radio.

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

One of the founders of this legendary Austin band, Miles Zuniga, stops by the show to talk about their chart-topping hit songs, and the musical legacy that continues with their new album "Sonic Ranch".

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

Mike Harmeier is the leader of this beloved Texas country music band that's been traveling the country and releasing records for nearly 18 years.  They've appeared at ACL, Stagecoach, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

The founder of this profoundly influential group talks about their early days in Los Angeles, touring with REM and U2, and his recently published memoir.

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Diego Garcia is the guitar virtuoso and creative force behind this project that has toured the world, garnering acclaim and awards.

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

This artist is on the third decade of a career that his included collaborations with Indigo Girls, John Mayer, Gregg Allman, KT Tunstall, and many others.

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

This songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has toured with Regina Spektor, of Montreal, and many others.  He's recorded for Joyful Noise records and has built a largely grassroots following all over the globe.

Transcribed - Published: 3 January 2025

Nicholas Carpenter is the creative force behind this band that hails from Alaska, which has toured with FINNEAS and Tyler Chiders, and recorded for Island Records.

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2024

This troubadour was a founding member of the legendary British folk group, Fairport Convention, and has gone on to have solo recording career that has spanned six decades.

Transcribed - Published: 6 December 2024

This songwriter from Nebraska has toured with Ron Pope and Tallest Man on Earth, in addition to recording for Fantasy Records.

Transcribed - Published: 29 November 2024

Blake Christiana is the creative force behind this relentlessly touring band that has shared the stage with Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, and Allison Krauss.

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2024

Listen to the first single from my forthcoming album "Joe Pug - Live at the Old Town School of Folk Music".  Thanks for supporting the podcast and my tunes as well!

Transcribed - Published: 21 November 2024

Listen to the first single from my forthcoming album "Joe Pug - Live at the Old Town School of Folk Music".  Thanks for supporting the podcast and my tunes as well!

Published: 21 November 2024

During a career that has featured stints with Drivn' and Cryin' and Jason Isbell's 400 Unit, this guitar hero has lately been spreading his wings with a critically acclaimed solo project.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2024

This native of Kentucky is an accomplished songwriter, cellist, and film scorer who has collaborated with Abigail Washburn, Bela Fleck and Jim James of My Morning Jacket.

Transcribed - Published: 8 November 2024

This native of Ohio has carved out a 30 year career in Nashville with songs cut by Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Radney Foster.  And her sought-after voice has appeared on albums by Jason Isbell and Ryan Adams.

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

This young rock group out of Los Angeles has played Coachella twice and toured with Interpol, Chicano Batman, and many others.

Transcribed - Published: 25 October 2024

This native Californian moved to Nashville and went on to write songs recorded by Willie Nelson and Jessica Simpson.  She's collaborated with Dwight Yoakam, Vince Gill, and many more.

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

This drummer, songwriter, producer and filmmaker got his start by founding the North Mississippi All Stars with his brother Luther.  He has since gone onto a career that has encompassed Grammies, supergroups, and film scores.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2024

Eric Earley is the songwriter behind this PNW roots music mainstay that has toured with Pavement, Drive By Truckers, Dawes and many others.

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

Israel Nebecker is the the creative force behind this influential acoustic band from Astoria, OR. He stops by the show to discuss living in a tree house in their early years, recording with Tucker Martine, and finding inspiration after a significant hiatus between albums.

Transcribed - Published: 21 September 2024

The folk supergroup composed of Anais Mitchell (Hadestown), Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats), and Josh Kauffman (Josh Ritter, Bob Weir), returns to the show to discuss their latest album which was recorded in a century-old pub in Cork County Ireland.

Transcribed - Published: 13 September 2024

This Berklee College of Music grad discusses her years writing songs for other artists such as Demi Lovato, and her meteoric rise as an artist in her own right over the last five years.

Transcribed - Published: 6 September 2024

This luminary of American roots music discusses his years on the road with Leftover Salmon, Great American Taxi, and The High Hawks.

Transcribed - Published: 30 August 2024