Shows
Nathans & RoncastCrowin' around with Professor LouieWe speak with the great Professor Louie of Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, taking a dive into his formative years and musical education. He spoke about how he found his voice in a tough business. “You’ve got to elevate yourself” and be happy for your friends when they are successful, he said, echoing one of the band’s new songs. He spoke about how he learned about healthy competition from gospel groups. The band, from Woodstock, New York, has been performing since the year 2000 at numerous festivals, theaters, clubs and art centers, averaging 150 shows a year. Their new album is “Crowin2025-06-1238 min
Nathans & RoncastLivingston Taylor on being prepared and being of serviceWe were honored to interview folk music legend Livingston Taylor, someone whose music has been in Aaron’s music collection for a very long time. In part one of our conversation […]2025-06-0427 minNathans & RoncastLivingston Taylor on being prepared and being of serviceWe were honored to interview folk music legend Livingston Taylor, someone whose music has been in Aaron’s music collection for a very long time. In part one of our conversation with Liv, he talks about the importance of dressing for the occasion. We talk about how he worked with the BBC concert orchestra for his new album, including how he works with his friend, arranger Bill Elliott, for orchestral treatments. He talks about how he does not write simple albums or songs, and how inspired he gets by songs from the great American songbook. And he takes out his gui...2025-06-0427 minNathans & RoncastLivingston Taylor on being prepared and being of serviceWe were honored to interview folk music legend Livingston Taylor, someone whose music has been in Aaron’s music collection for a very long time. In part one of our conversation […]2025-06-0427 minNathans & RoncastZ. Mulls’ “Rumpelstiltskin, Dead at 95”Michael speaks with Z. Mulls, who has co-written elegant and offbeat songs with Michael (you may know their song “Me and My Purple Monkey.”) They released their collaborative album “Less […]2025-05-3023 minNathans & RoncastZ. Mulls' "Rumpelstiltskin, Dead at 95"Michael speaks with Z. Mulls, who has co-written elegant and offbeat songs with Michael (you may know their song “Me and My Purple Monkey.”) They released their collaborative album “Less Hospitable Terrain” earlier this year. In their conversation, Z. talks about the origins of “Rumpelstiltskin, Dead at 95,” which required him to go back and review the old story — and then flash forward 40 years.2025-05-3023 minNathans & RoncastZ. Mulls’ “Rumpelstiltskin, Dead at 95”Michael speaks with Z. Mulls, who has co-written elegant and offbeat songs with Michael (you may know their song “Me and My Purple Monkey.”) They released their collaborative album “Less […]2025-05-3023 minNathans & RoncastAt summer’s start, reflecting on its end (with Neysa Ricciardi)Michael recently recorded an album, “Blue Bayou,” with Neysa Ricciardi, and in this week’s episode, he speaks with Neysa about her songwriting process, the value of musical schooling, and writing […]2025-05-2314 minNathans & RoncastAt summer's start, reflecting on its end (with Neysa Ricciardi)Michael recently recorded an album, “Blue Bayou,” with Neysa Ricciardi, and in this week’s episode, he speaks with Neysa about her songwriting process, the value of musical schooling, and writing for others. They discuss the song “September Sad,” which reflects on the end of summer.2025-05-2314 minNathans & RoncastAt summer’s start, reflecting on its end (with Neysa Ricciardi)Michael recently recorded an album, “Blue Bayou,” with Neysa Ricciardi, and in this week’s episode, he speaks with Neysa about her songwriting process, the value of musical schooling, and writing […]2025-05-2314 minNathans & RoncastSome thoughts on memorial songsThis week we’ve lost some important people in our world. Aaron lost his brother in law, David. And the music world lost songwriter and guitarist Christine Havrilla. So it’s no […]2025-05-1604 minNathans & RoncastSome thoughts on memorial songsThis week we’ve lost some important people in our world. Aaron lost his brother in law, David. And the music world lost songwriter and guitarist Christine Havrilla. So it’s no […]2025-05-1604 minNathans & RoncastSome thoughts on memorial songsThis week we’ve lost some important people in our world. Aaron lost his brother in law, David. And the music world lost songwriter and guitarist Christine Havrilla. So it’s no surprise that Aaron has memorial songs on the brain. It’s always tricky to find the right song to play at a memorial service. Maybe you pick something that tells you a little about the deceased, or perhaps you want the song to make a comment on how we’re all feeling at this low moment. That’s the topic he explores for this episode.2025-05-1604 minNathans & RoncastTo bridge or not to bridge?It’s one of the most delicate questions in songwriting. Do we add a bridge to our songs? Do they need that little bit of variation, those different chords, that rising […]2025-05-0913 minNathans & RoncastTo bridge or not to bridge?It’s one of the most delicate questions in songwriting. Do we add a bridge to our songs? Do they need that little bit of variation, those different chords, that rising melody? Michael takes a deep dive into the question of when a bridge is necessary; when it isn’t; and do they really have to sit two-thirds of the way through the song every time? He discusses a few of his songs and how he employed bridges in them, using them to transport the listener to somewhere new.2025-05-0913 minNathans & RoncastTo bridge or not to bridge?It’s one of the most delicate questions in songwriting. Do we add a bridge to our songs? Do they need that little bit of variation, those different chords, that rising […]2025-05-0913 minNathans & RoncastOh baby: The word songwriters can’t live withoutThe word “baby” has been a staple of songwriting since before we were born. From “Baby Face” to “Be My Baby” to “…Baby One More Time,” generations of songwriters can’t […]2025-05-0303 minNathans & RoncastOh baby: The word songwriters can't live withoutThe word “baby” has been a staple of songwriting since before we were born. From “Baby Face” to “Be My Baby” to “…Baby One More Time,” generations of songwriters can’t seem to quit this word. In this episode, we take a historical look at use of the word in songwriting, and what it is we’re really trying to say when we use it. And Aaron talks about how the word has the potential to say something you didn’t mean. At least we hope you didn’t mean it!2025-05-0303 minNathans & RoncastOh baby: The word songwriters can’t live withoutThe word “baby” has been a staple of songwriting since before we were born. From “Baby Face” to “Be My Baby” to “…Baby One More Time,” generations of songwriters can’t […]2025-05-0303 minNathans & RoncastMichael’s tribute to Bobby RonstadtMichael remembers his cousin, Bobby Ronstadt, who passed away on March 30, 2025. In this episode, Michael recalls doing some of his own earliest studio work on Bobby’s 1999 album […]2025-04-2434 minNathans & RoncastMichael's tribute to Bobby RonstadtMichael remembers his cousin, Bobby Ronstadt, who passed away on March 30, 2025. In this episode, Michael recalls doing some of his own earliest studio work on Bobby’s 1999 album “Shadows in a Dream.” Michael recalls what a kind, warm spirit Bobby was. Michael features several of Bobby’s songs in this episode. “I want the world to know his music,” Michael says. The first song is “Lupe,” for which Michael helped arrange the strings; Michael’s aunt Linda Ronstadt sang background vocals on this track. Bobby Ronstadt2025-04-2434 minNathans & RoncastMichael’s tribute to Bobby RonstadtMichael remembers his cousin, Bobby Ronstadt, who passed away on March 30, 2025. In this episode, Michael recalls doing some of his own earliest studio work on Bobby’s 1999 album […]2025-04-2434 minNathans & RoncastThe beauty of near rhymes in songwritingWhen it comes to crafting rhymes in song, the perfect can be the enemy of the good. In a perfect rhyme, among two words, the ending consonants and the vowel […]2025-04-1704 minNathans & RoncastThe beauty of near rhymes in songwritingWhen it comes to crafting rhymes in song, the perfect can be the enemy of the good. In a perfect rhyme, among two words, the ending consonants and the vowel sounds that you stress match exactly. Moon, June. Dance, chance. Night, light. But there are a finite number of words that rhyme exactly, and they may not match what you’re trying to say. In this episode, Aaron explains why near rhymes are so much more versatile.2025-04-1704 minNathans & RoncastWhy “This Land Is Your Land” is surprisingly subversiveIn part two of our conversation, Spook Handy unspools the story behind “This Land Is Your Land.” He talks about how Woody Guthrie had the idea for the song; how Pete […]2025-04-1025 minNathans & RoncastWhy "This Land Is Your Land" is surprisingly subversiveIn part two of our conversation, Spook Handy unspools the story behind “This Land Is Your Land.” He talks about how Woody Guthrie had the idea for the song; how Pete Seeger helped him edit the song into the song you know today; and the important role that property rights played in the writing of the song. Spook played with Pete Seeger more than 50 times, and in our conversation, Spook talks about his interactions with the folk music legend. He talks about how Pete used old melodies to address current circumstances, thus making new songs sound familiar.2025-04-1025 minNathans & RoncastSpook Handy: Why "This Land is Your Land" enduresNew Jersey folk singer and songwriter Spook Handy is our guest this week as we take a deep dive into Woody Guthrie’s classic song “This Land is Your Land.” Spook wrote this wonderful blog about Pete Seeger’s role in helping make the song into what we know it to be today. In part one of our conversation with Spook, he talks about why he cringes when he and Pete Seeger are described as protest singers. He talks about how Pete Seeger helped make “This Land is Your Land” into a secular anthem by getting the song published for use in […]2025-04-0319 minNathans & RoncastSpook Handy: Why “This Land is Your Land” enduresNew Jersey folk singer and songwriter Spook Handy is our guest this week as we take a deep dive into Woody Guthrie’s classic song “This Land is Your Land.” Spook […]2025-04-0319 minNathans & RoncastAngels & Aliens: How Michael connects two very different songsIf you were watching from above, what would your view of humanity be? Michael explores two songs that address this topic, one of which is Craig Bickhardt’s “Life With the Sound Turned Down,” which we play in its entirety. The other song? You’ll have to listen to find out.2025-03-2708 minNathans & RoncastAngels & Aliens: How Michael connects two very different songsIf you were watching from above, what would your view of humanity be? Michael explores two songs that address this topic, one of which is Craig Bickhardt’s “Life With the […]2025-03-2708 minNathans & RoncastJust don't use this word in songwritingA song should be a concise vehicle for getting your point across. And in a three to four minute song, there isn’t much room to belabor the point, or trod ground you’ve already covered. If you can find the spots where you’ve used filler words, Aaron suggests using them as opportunities to say something new, and moving the narrative forward. But there’s one word that is more abused than any other. Learn all about the perils of filler words on this week’s episode of the Nathans & Roncast. Aaron Nathans, at Aaron & Michael’s show at Another Chan...2025-03-2003 minNathans & RoncastJust don’t use this word in songwritingA song should be a concise vehicle for getting your point across. And in a three to four minute song, there isn’t much room to belabor the point, or trod […]2025-03-2003 minNathans & RoncastWhy 'Yellow Submarine' (and 'Sandwiches') spoke to young MichaelMichael talks about the songs that spoke to him as a kid. He highlights The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” as well as the song “Sandwiches” by Fred Penner. Michael’s father, Michael J. Ronstadt (a.k.a. “Mr. Ronstadt”), covered the song “Sandwiches,” and that version is included in its entirety in this episode. Both songs appealed to Michael, he says, because they were silly. “What my young kid self liked about it was that it took you on a crazy, fantastical journey that you didn’t expect,” Michael says of “Yellow Submarine.”2025-03-1206 minNathans & RoncastWhy ‘Yellow Submarine’ (and ‘Sandwiches’) spoke to young MichaelMichael talks about the songs that spoke to him as a kid. He highlights The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” as well as the song “Sandwiches” by Fred Penner. Michael’s father, Michael […]2025-03-1206 minNathans & RoncastSongwriting critique groups aren't just about the songAaron discusses what it was it was like to be a young songwriter at the Madison Songwriters Group 20 years ago, and how that experience informs his work co-leading the Philly Songwriters Circle. A song critique is a both a musical and social experience. We make good friends there. We learn about new acts. Collaborations are born over wine in the kitchen. It is also a democratic experience. This is not a performance. The better your song, the more finished it is, the less appropriate it is for this setting. That tends to put accomplished performers and newbies on relatively […]2025-03-0607 minNathans & RoncastSongwriting critique groups aren’t just about the songAaron discusses what it was it was like to be a young songwriter at the Madison Songwriters Group 20 years ago, and how that experience informs his work co-leading the […]2025-03-0607 minNathans & RoncastSerenity Fisher on writing music for the stageMichael is on the road this week with Serenity Fisher, his partner in music and life. In this episode, Michael talks with Serenity about her work creating musicals. They include her indie play with music, “Sophie’s Dream,” which she wrote in collaboration with Robin O’Neal. The show was staged at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. She performs songs from the show in her band, Serenity Fisher and the Cardboard Hearts.2025-02-2728 minNathans & RoncastSerenity Fisher on writing music for the stageMichael is on the road this week with Serenity Fisher, his partner in music and life. In this episode, Michael talks with Serenity about her work creating musicals. They include […]2025-02-2728 minNathans & RoncastThe Bob Dylan movie: Why it’s so hard to capture songwriting on the big screenWe’re betting that if you love songwriting like we do, you’ve probably seen the Bob Dylan movie, “A Complete Unknown.” Aaron went out and saw it on Christmas Day, the […]2025-02-2205 minNathans & RoncastThe Bob Dylan movie: Why it's so hard to capture songwriting on the big screenWe’re betting that if you love songwriting like we do, you’ve probably seen the Bob Dylan movie, “A Complete Unknown.” Aaron went out and saw it on Christmas Day, the first day it was open. And he really liked it, especially the acting, the music, and watching all those historical moments unfold right before his eyes. But there’s one thing about this movie that bugged him. Because no matter how many filmmakers try and capture the process of songwriting, it’s a nearly impossible task. It’s been the subject of books, podcasts, lectures, patter from the stage and small2025-02-2205 minNathans & RoncastWhen Linda Ronstadt covered Tish HinojosaIn 1993, Linda Ronstadt included the song “Adónde voy” on her album “Winter Light.” It was a cover of the original by Tish Hinojosa, and in this episode, Tish tells […]2025-02-1311 minNathans & RoncastWhen Linda Ronstadt covered Tish HinojosaIn 1993, Linda Ronstadt included the song “Adónde voy” on her album “Winter Light.” It was a cover of the original by Tish Hinojosa, and in this episode, Tish tells us the story behind that experience. She was there in the studio when Linda recorded the song. Of course, Tish has long been a friend of the Ronstadt family. We include Tish’s version of the song in its entirety. You can hear Linda’s version on YouTube. And speaking of family relations, in this bonus episode we also ask Tish whether she is related to Texas politician Gilberto Hinojosa or NPR […]2025-02-1311 minNathans & Roncast"Canto De La Montaña": Tish Hinojosa's fantasy on a flying horseIn the second half of our conversation with Tish Hinojosa, we speak with her about her time living in Germany, then returning to Texas and having to reestablish her musical connections. She talks about her songs, including what inspired “Colton’s Perfect Heart,” a song about a heart transplant. And we feature “Canto De La Montaña (Song Of The Mountain),” a Spanish-language song inspired by local Spanish radio she heard while she was driving around. It’s a fantasy love song about a cowgirl on a flying horse who remembers a ranch and a love from long ago.2025-02-0624 minNathans & Roncast“Canto De La Montaña”: Tish Hinojosa’s fantasy on a flying horseIn the second half of our conversation with Tish Hinojosa, we speak with her about her time living in Germany, then returning to Texas and having to reestablish her musical […]2025-02-0624 minNathans & RoncastHow Tish Hinojosa became a songwriterSinger-Songwriter Leticia “Tish” Hinojosa is our guest this week. We have a lot in common, namely bringing our heritage into our music and stage shows. Tish was born on December 6, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas to Mexican immigrant parents, growing up with Mexican music playing in the kitchen. She released 16 albums between 1987 and 2024, in English and Spanish and in a variety of genres, including her most recent album, “A Guitar and a Pen.” In our interview, she talks about gaining (and losing) a record deal; living in Nashville and making a life in Austin; how she went from […]2025-01-2931 minNathans & RoncastHow Tish Hinojosa became a songwriterSinger-Songwriter Leticia “Tish” Hinojosa is our guest this week. We have a lot in common, namely bringing our heritage into our music and stage shows. Tish was born on December 6, 1955 […]2025-01-2931 minNathans & RoncastHow can a song this unsettling be this beautiful?Michael shines a light into the darkness, examining songs in which the characters make foolish choices, amid the backdrop of beautiful music. The incongruity, he says, can make for incredibly effective songs. He talks about two songs to make his point: Tom Petty’s jangly “To Find a Friend” off of his legendary “Wildflowers” album; and the acoustic trio Barnaby Bright‘s gorgeous murder ballad “Castle Rock.” You might not even know these songs are cautionary tales if you drift off and just enjoy the music.2025-01-1611 minNathans & Roncast"Prison Bible": John Flynn on prisoners' journey of self-discoveryThis is the second half of our interview with our friend, the great John Flynn. In this episode, we take a deep dive into his song “Prison Bible.” He talks about the meaning he derives from spending time with people who are, or who have been, in prison. We talk about how a prison bible functions as more than a book; how time in prison can serve as a period of self reflection and self discovery; and how prisoners can be really good listeners. We were surprised to hear John say that he never really fit into the folk music […]2025-01-0821 minNathans & RoncastJohn Flynn: A new year, New BeginningsOn today’s episode, we interview the great John Flynn. He’s a folk songwriter who sings about social justice, and then walks the walk. He’s worked against the death penalty, and In 2017, Flynn founded New Beginnings – Next Step, Incorporated. It’s a non-profit dedicated to helping incarcerated and returning citizens successfully transition to freedom. John laughed when Aaron said he has the voice of G-d, but if the big guy had a voice, it would probably sound a lot like John Flynn. Rough hewn, strong, big-hearted, and compassionate. That’s how his songs are too. This past summer Aaron saw Jo2025-01-0121 minNathans & RoncastWhy 'Hey Jude' is a song for the seasonAaron didn’t think much of “Hey Jude” when he first heard it, but in this episode of the Nathans & Roncast, he looks at why this 56-year-old song is so relevant right now. His first impression of Paul McCartney’s masterwork was that it was… mushy. But something about this song has given it wings. The Beatles had a tremendous amount of top-shelf content, but Rolling Stone called this the seventh-best song in the Beatles’ catalog. At seven minutes and 11 seconds, it’s really long. It spent nine weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record. Come join […]2024-12-1806 minNathans & Roncast"Men and Rivers": Craig Bickhardt's reflection on our relationship with natureIn this bonus episode, Craig Bickhardt tells the story behind his song “Men and Rivers,” which he wrote about a flood in Nashville. It’s a reflection on mankind’s relationship with nature, which makes the song even more relevant amid more recent high-profile floods. This recording is from his new solo acoustic album, “Soliloquy: Sixteen Solo Songs.” We recently released parts one and two of our interview with Craig over the last two weeks. If you haven’t heard them, check them out. Thanks so much to Craig for allowing us to showcase his marvelous music.2024-12-1107 minNathans & RoncastTalking "This Old House" with Craig BickhardtIn this episode we talk with Craig Bickhardt about his poignant song “This Old House,” which he co-wrote with fellow Pennsylvanian and Hall of Fame songwriter Thom Schuyler. This is the second half of our conversation with Craig, during which we discuss the human relationships and deeper emotions behind our relationship with things, including cars and houses . “To be a songwriter,” he says, “you really have to love the human experience. You can’t just love songs, you can’t just love songwriting, you can’t just want to make money. You’ve got to love what everybody loves in life, and you […]2024-12-0430 minNathans & RoncastGiving thanks for Craig Bickhardt and his songcraftWe were fortunate to spend a morning sitting in front of microphones at the Pennsylvania home of Craig Bickhardt, one of our favorite songwriters, a good friend of ours, and a regular collaborator. You can hear Michael’s cello on many of Bickhardt’s recordings, and Michael often backs him up live. He is one of the finest song craftsmen we have ever had the pleasure to have known, and his songs stack up against anyone’s. In this first half of our conversation, Craig will talk about his song “Crazy Nightingale,” originally released on his album “The More I Wonder.” It 2024-11-2736 minNathans & RoncastLive from Chicago, Elexa Dawson's "Blacksnake"Here’s one more single from our live recording of this podcast at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference in September. This song is “Blacksnake,” which she originally recorded with her band Weda Skirts. It’s a song about the Dakota Access Pipeline project, which threatens the water supply of Native American communities in South Dakota. To hear the entire live event, click on this link.2024-11-2704 minNathans & Roncast"All Along the Watchtower," live from ChicagoHere’s an outtake from our recent live podcast taping at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference, held last month outside of Chicago. It’s our regular set closer/encore song, Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower,” with hand percussion by Elexa Dawson. To hear our interview with Elexa, click here.2024-11-2105 minNathans & Roncast"Mother," Elexa Dawson's song about Mother Earth, live from ChicagoWe’re presenting some single songs from our live taping of the Nathans & Roncast in Chicago at Folk Alliance Regional Midwest last month. In this episode, Kansas-based songwriter Elexa Dawson sings her song “Mother,” an ode to Mother Earth. Michael adds some tasteful cello to Elexa’s soulful vocals and guitar. She wrote the song in reaction to the Dakota Access Pipeline project. To hear the song in context of the full live event, listen at this link.2024-11-1305 minNathans & Roncast"Old Joe's Chair," live from ChicagoWe played a few songs before our live taping of our interview with Elexa Dawson at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference. Here’s one of them, “Old Joe’s Chair,” written by Aaron and Phil Henry. It’s their song about the relationship between a man and his barber. It’s always good to have someone to talk to, especially during hard times.2024-11-0703 minNathans & RoncastLive from Chicago: Elexa Dawson's soul-stirring Native AmericanaIn our first Nathans & Roncast recording in front of a live audience, we speak with Kansas-based performing songwriter Elexa Dawson about two songs she wrote about the Dakota Access Pipeline project that threatens the water supply of Native American communities in South Dakota. The songs are “Mother” and “Blacksnake.” We spoke with Elexa at the Folk Alliance Regional Midwest conference in Lisle, Illinois on Oct. 26, 2024. She performs both songs, and we finish the episode with a special treat. Elexa Dawson gives audiences something to cry about. Her hopeful messages cut through the mundane without sidestepping pain. Deeply […]2024-10-3049 minNathans & RoncastWhy Richard Shindell's "You Stay Here" packs a punchRichard Shindell is great story songwriter, and wow can he play guitar. Both of those skills — songwriting and guitar work — are on vivid display on one of his trademark songs, “You Stay Here,” off of his album “Somewhere Near Paterson” which was released in the year 2000. It’s a song about foraging and living off the land. At least that’s what we think it’s about. There’s a vein of every man for himself that runs across this album — sadness, darkness, loss, addiction — but he does it with such amazing ear candy and stellar production, with such poetic […]2024-10-2305 minNathans & Roncast"Love Out Loud": Burr Settles, who helped birth a quarter million songsIn part two of our conversation with the founder of February Album Writing Month, Burr Settles discusses the wonderful and occasionally strange journeys taken by songs written for the challenge. And we take a listen to Burr’s song “Love Out Loud,” which he wrote from a “comments-first” challenge during one FAWM. He built the song entirely around hypothetical feedback left in the comments section of a blank song. Burr was also on the founding team of the language learning app Duolingo. You’ll love the exciting finale of our conversation with Burr Settles. If you didn’t hear part one, here’s a 2024-10-1624 minNathans & RoncastHow to Make a Set List: Pacing and BalanceAaron and Michael take you inside the process of making a set list just before a recent house concert. We write the set list in real time, trading songs back and forth and negotiating the pace of the show and making sure the duo’s songs are well balanced. We make it a tradition to build our setlist just beforehand, to keep things interesting, trading the pen back and forth, putting the songs here and there. In this case, we were sitting in front of an open window in the early fall in Rockport, Mass., waiting to the play the Wh...2024-10-1007 minNathans & RoncastWhy Burr Settles, founder of February Album Writing Month, doesn't like the "like" buttonTens of thousands of new songs, perhaps more, exist because Burr Settles founded February Album Writing Month in 2004. The annual monthlong challenge requires participants to write 14 songs in the 28 days of the month. People from around the world participate, sharing their new creations with each other and providing positive feedback, and building community. Burr also was among the early team that created Duolingo, the app that helps people learn new languages. In part one of our conversation, we talk about what it was like to go viral (twice!), and the technical challenges behind building a platform that […]2024-10-0227 minNathans & RoncastWhat I Like About You: Aaron & Michael Pick Our Favorite SongsWe’ve been working together for 14 years and counting, and our staying power is thanks in large part to the fact that we are some of each others’ biggest fans. In this episode, we (Aaron and Michael) pick a song of each others’ to praise. What makes the song work, both musically and lyrically? You’ll hear the songs in their entirety at the end. You’ll also hear the wind whistling during this episode. We recorded it in Rockport, Mass., by an open window on a blustery day, preparing for a house concert.2024-09-2616 minNathans & RoncastTo FAWM or not to FAWM? Some thoughts on songwriting marathonsHello, Aaron here. Anyone who has heard me play has probably heard me speak the words “February Album Writing Month” on more than one occasion. Most of my songs — not all of them, but most of them — have been written during the month of February, when there isn’t much to do outside, and the sun sets well before dinnertime. What is February Album Writing Month? Fashioned after National Novel Writing Month, it’s a challenge to write 14 songs in the 28 days of the shortest month of the year. You upload the words and music to their website, […]2024-09-1805 minNathans & RoncastGenuinely being yourself, unapologeticallyMusically we can try to emulate, recreate, and imitate, but how do we begin the process of creating a song within our own voice? How can we get the listener’s attention with some surprises while simultaneously helping them feel at home and comfortable? Do we write with a genre in mind or can we not worry about that until we create the song that wanted to be written? Join Michael as he explores these ideas.2024-09-1106 minNathans & RoncastBuddy Mondlock & Wade Bates’ powerful song, “The Tower”You have very likely never heard this song before, and it grips you right from the start. There is Buddy Mondlock’s trademark sweet steel-string guitar and soothing voice, but in contrast to much of his other, subtler material, this story is heart-stoppingly dramatic. Mondlock sings from the point of view of his co-writer, Wade Bates, who had been an Army infantryman stationed in Afghanistan when a little girl outfitted with a bomb vest begins walking toward him and the base. Bates worked with Mondlock to process the trauma of that experience. In our last episode, we spoke with Mondlock abo...2024-09-0428 min
Nathans & RoncastBuddy Mondlock on writing a song about trauma (Part 1)Songwriting master Buddy Mondlock is known for having cowritten with Guy Clark, Janis Ian, Art Garfunkel, and some fellow named Garth Brooks. His music has been covered by Peter, Paul and Mary, as well as Nanci Griffith, and David Wilcox. We love his gentle voice and his lyrical eye for detail. His inspiring tune about wanderlust, “The Kid,” was covered by the supergroup of “Cry Cry Cry” made up of Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, and Richard Shindell more than two decades ago. Much of his music is uplifting and will make you smile, but in recent years he has branched […]2024-08-2730 min
Nathans & RoncastElevate your songwriting with a plot twistOne surefire way to make your song stand out is to add an unexpected twist in the story. In this mini episode, Aaron will review some classic songs, from “Drive My Car” to “Sunny Came Home” to “The Pina Colada song,” that employed this method to great effect. And we’ll take a special look at how James Keelaghan, who we interviewed in the last two episodes, is a master of writing plot twists into his songs.2024-08-2005 min
Nathans & RoncastJames Keelaghan, part 2: Squinting at the Mona LisaThis is the second part of our conversation with James Keelaghan about his classic song “Cold Missouri Waters,” one of the most covered and admired folk story songs of our time. He wrote it about the Mann Gulch fire in western Montana in August 1949, which happened 75 years ago this month. He’s told the story of how he wrote the song before, but this may be the first time he’s done so for posterity. In this half, we’ll talk about how the narrator of the song managed to survive the fire by starting a fire of his own. He’ll […]2024-08-1335 min
Nathans & RoncastHow James Keelaghan wrote "Cold Missouri Waters" (part 1)Today we join songwriter James Keelaghan as we take a deep dive into one of the best folk songs ever written, a story song that has been covered countless times. The song is “Cold Missouri Waters,” first released in 1995. The song is a harrowing portrait of the Mann Gulch Fire in the mountains of Montana, which occurred on August 5, 1949, 75 years ago today. We are proud to have James as our guest in this two-part interview, the first part of which we release today. You may have heard the song as covered by the supergroup “Cry Cry […]2024-08-0532 min
Nathans & RoncastWhy do we like a particular song?What is it about a song that draws us in? Is it the melody? A catchy beat? A story, or perhaps wordplay? In the new season of the Nathans & Roncast, which premieres on August 5, we’ll shine the light on other peoples’ songs. We will talk with musicians and songwriters about the building blocks that make up a great tune. We’ll start with a two-part interview with the author of one of the most covered folk story songs in recent memory. Who is it, and what is the song? You’ll need to wait until next week to know for […]2024-07-3001 min
Nathans & Roncast"Twelve Tone Girl": A conversation with Kenneth Stewart about music's most befuddling genreWhat is twelve-tone music? Made famous by Arnold Schoenberg, Anton von Webern and Alban Berg, it was a new concept in how to construct music. It was developed roughly around World War I, and for a while was all the rage in conservatories and bastions of serious music. But it can be difficult to listen to, and as such made for a great topic for a (ironically) very tonal song, Aaron & Michael’s “Twelve Tone Girl.” In this fascinating episode, we take a deep dive into twelve-tone music with Kenneth Stewart, a Durham, N.C.-based guitarist/cellist, conductor and compos...2024-05-0855 min
Nathans & RoncastDave Criddle's "Flabbergasted"Jude Hayden and Dave Criddle met at Miami University in 1989 and played epic, acoustic duo shows for the next decade, playing an eclectic mix of Prince, XTC, Elvis Presley, They Might Be Giants, The Coasters and Robyn Hitchcock, among others. In about 1995, Dave started getting serious about recording and they created two home recorded albums and an EP with surprisingly high production value, especially for the early days of the home recording revolution. The second record by their band, The Bees, attracted some attention in the local Cincinnati magazine, City Beat, bringing them a drummer for live […]2024-05-0226 min
Nathans & RoncastHow to write a positive song about computersIn their best moments, whether it’s electronic music, or creating the best gadgets, our devices are designed to bring out our humanity, to reveal the human spirit, and allow people to do what we do best. And that’s how I got turned on to the idea of writing songs about computers that don’t criticize the devices. This episode, and the prior one, are a recording of my recent lecture at the Trenton Computer Festival. The title was “Zero-One Sunshine: Technology As a Force For Good, as a Theme in Popular Music.” In this lecture, I discussed the genesis of2024-04-2407 min
Nathans & RoncastWhy do we vilify computers in song?Computers and technology have both improved our lives and complicated them; made us safer and more vulnerable; and brought both joy and sorrow into our world. And yet when it comes to popular music, the overwhelming majority of songs pile up on the negative side of the ledger. Popular songs about technology tell of destruction and illness. They sing: “Video killed the radio star,” “Machines dehumanize,” “Virtual insanity,” and even “I’ve got Pac-Man fever, I’m going out of my mind.” In this episode, Aaron talks about songwriters’ tendency to tear down these devices in song, even as we use them to […]2024-04-1605 min
Nathans & RoncastSerenity Fisher's "Winter"Serenity Fisher & The Cardboard Hearts is a family band in many senses of the phrase, and not just because Michael, who plays cello, is married to the lead singer (pictured in the center here). There are all kinds of family ties that bind this group together, literal and figurative. The band blends playful pop-rock with a Tim Burton-esque quirkiness, which is especially true on this song. A wordsmith, Serenity coaxes stories into becoming songs by telling her truth, writing lyrics that are especially visual, and melodies that are dreamy. She is a powerhouse singer whose nuanced vocals vary from bluesy belt...2024-04-1008 min
Nathans & RoncastPeter Macdonald Blachly's "Vicksburg"A few weeks back we featured Peter MacDonald Blachly as our interview guest as we discussed the song “Evening,” which Michael wrote as a posthumous co-write with Peter’s great-uncle, the poet Clarence Dan Blachly. Michael and Aaron also wrote “I Stood Upon a Hill,” from our album Crooked Fiddle, based on Clarence Dan’s words. In addition to being a great custodian of his family’s history, Peter is also a great performing songwriter in his own right. This week we’re featuring his song “Vicksburg.” It’s based on one of the stories he told us during our conversation. This sto2024-04-0309 min
Nathans & RoncastThe classical side of Michael G. RonstadtYou know Michael G. Ronstadt’s alternative folk side, but do you know he’s classically trained, with a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music? Check out this piece, which we bet you’ll like.2024-03-2608 min
Nathans & RoncastTim Reisert's "Oleander True"Tim Reisert writes songs with meditation, nature, and memory close to the surface. His songs bring the listener into a shared world. He began writing songs while living in New York City, then spent a few years involved in the DIY music scene in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently lives and teaches in Cincinnati, Ohio. His album Viewfinder is a love letter to the natural world–with no expectation of a reply. It is his view of the natural world through the lens of fatherhood, love, and photography. Here’s what he has to say about the song “Oleander True”: “The story of [2024-03-2007 min
Nathans & Roncast"One Dollar Gloves": Gregory Hugh Brady, the man behind the magicThe stunning sound quality on “Hello World” was made possible by Gregory Hugh Brady, a recording engineer at Smithbridge Studios (Greg is at center in the photo). We started recording with him for “Shadow of the Cyclone,” and when the world shut down just before its release in 2020, there were no gigs… So, we just kept recording, leading to our most recent album. Greg, of Delaware County, PA, brings wonderful energy into the studio, allowing artists to do their best work. We were grateful to have him as our companion, guide, collaborator and co-producer on these two albums. In […]2024-03-131h 01
Nathans & RoncastLisaBeth Weber's "Where the Sky Meets the Ground"This week we feature our friend, the amazing multi-talented LisaBeth Weber. She’s a writer, a visual artist, and a creative consultant from Bucks County, PA. She’s an important part of the Philadelphia folk scene, whether it’s in the songs she plays, the beautiful pins she designs, or just the way she’ll show up and support you. She has opened shows for Nanci Griffith, Ralph Stanley, Dave Grisman, Roy Clark, and many others, along with having two songs featured on NPR’s “Car Talk.” She has a wonderful energy about her. And you can hear real energy in this song f2024-03-0605 min
Nathans & RoncastRachel Mousie's "I Can Do What You Can Do"Rachel Mousie, vocalist, songwriter, and looper, was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH. Her songs feature spare but meaningful piano parts, looped vocal harmonies, and percussive rhythms behind melodic vocal lines. It’s music that makes you feel something. During the day, she’s a clinically licensed social worker at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and a child mental health therapist. She often pulls from her personal and professional experiences for lyrical inspiration to address issues that mean something to her. She wrote “I Can Do What You Can Do” as a part of a Songwriter group intended to help increase creative ou...2024-02-2906 minNathans & RoncastIn Search of Our Dead Poet Co-Writer… "Evening" w/Peter Macdonald BlachlyWho was Clarence Dan Blachly? Michael came upon his book of poems named “Stubble Fields,” published in 1939, when he was wandering through a used bookstore in Phoenixville, PA more than a decade ago. He was so taken with the beauty of the prose, he asked Aaron to help put music to one of the poems. That led to “I Stood Upon a Hill,” which opens Aaron & Michael’s first album. Michael set another Blachly poem, “Evening,” to music for the latest Nathans/Ronstadt project. But Clarence Dan Blachly remained something of a mystery. Aaron and Michael had been in touch […]2024-02-201h 16
Nathans & RoncastRob Lincoln's "Roosevelt's Around" (mini-episode)This week we are featuring a musical force of nature here in the Philadelphia music scene: Rob Lincoln. Rob reminds me a little of myself (Aaron) in his willingness to write about anything, including real people. We share an appreciation of historical figures — he took the stage name Lincoln, after all. (It’s his middle name.) Today we’ll present his song about a different former president. But first, i want to tell you a little more about Rob. He’s a leader in the local music scene. I met him shortly after I moved back East in the mid-2000’s, and at 2024-02-1304 min
Nathans & RoncastMichael J. Ronstadt's "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" (mini-episode)These days, so many of the Ronstadt family members actively perform and sometimes tour. In the fall of 2022, they held a family gala that packed the Fox Theatre in Tucson with 1200 seats full! Two of those featured family members are Linda’s nephews Petie and Michael G. Ronstadt, who travel and perform as Ronstadt Brothers. They toured with their late father and Linda’s brother, Michael J. Ronstadt, as Ronstadt Generations. That group was an outstanding five-piece band featuring saxophone, upright bass, cello, guitars, banjo, drums and tons of family harmonies. In the 1990’s, Michael J. Ronstadt closed up shop at the Ron2024-02-0605 min
Nathans & Roncast"Flatbush Sunset": Rory Costello on the Brooklyn Dodgers and Ebbets FieldAaron’s love of baseball history led him to Rory Costello’s fabulous essay about the secret history of Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the two-year period after the Dodgers left and before the beloved park was razed. Costello’s Essay, “Twilight at Ebbets Field,” (click on this link to read it) tells of the many activities that took place at the park during its final years, including soccer, amateur baseball, and even an auto thrill show. Aaron and Michael interviewed Rory from his home in Brooklyn. Rory Costello is Co-Chairman of the Society for American Baseball Research’s...2024-01-301h 00
Nathans & RoncastLiz and Pete's "Back Home to Blue" (mini-episode)She’s Liz, he’s Pete, they are Liz & Pete. Liz Cerepanya and Peter Dalton Ronstadt (Michael’s brother) join musical forces to explore material old and new. Liz’s heartfelt voice with Pete’s haunting harmonies and rich guitar arrangements captivate the mind and tug at the heart. After a few passing introductions in their shared music scene, Liz Cerepanya joined Peter Dalton Ronstadt on stage at Monterey Court in Tucson in the fall of 2019. They had had a brief opportunity to work up a couple of songs, including Rodney Crowell’s Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight, and an instant m...2024-01-2307 minNathans & RoncastThar she blows?In Aaron & Michael’s first real-life podcast adventure, they take to the high seas in search of whales. What could possibly go wrong? (Hint: almost EVERYTHING goes wrong.) So how do our heroes manage to sully what should be a straightforward whale watch on a beautiful day off the coast of Boston? Tune in as Aaron and Michael recap their adventure, complete with audio from the boat, and reflections on a storyteller’s responsibility to their audience.2024-01-1627 min
Nathans & RoncastBeth Kille's "All Is One" (mini-episode)This week we are featuring an old friend of mine, Beth Kille, who fronts the Beth Kille Band in Madison, Wisconsin. I lived in Madison in the late 90s until the mid 2000’s, and that’s where I learned the craft of songwriting as a member of the Madison Songwriters Group. It was a group that met monthly at a local brewery, and we sat at a table in the private back room and critiqued each others’ new songs. We all became a tight-knit bunch, discovering who we were as writers and performers, and supporting one another through our nascent musical2024-01-0906 min
Nathans & Roncast"Man and a Whale": Nick Pyenson, paleontologist and whale spyWe dive deep into the ocean — and the past — to explore whales, Earth’s most fascinating animals, with Dr. Nick Pyenson. He is the curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., as well as author of the acclaimed non-fiction book “Spying on Whales: The Past, Present and Future of Earth’s Most Awesome Creatures.” His work has taken him to every continent, and his scientific discoveries appear frequently in the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Geographic, and more. Along with the highest research awards from the Smithsonian, he 2024-01-021h 03
Nathans & RoncastMeghan Cary's "River Rock" (mini-episode)This week we are featuring a good friend of Aaron’s, a very special artist named Meghan Cary. The singer-songwriters in Philadelphia know that Meghan is the sun around which the rest of us planets orbit. She’s an extrovert, a songleader, convener of the tribe, and a wonderful, empathetic soul. The song we feature this week is “River Rock,” off of her 2017 release “Sing Louder.” You can find more information at Meghan’s website. Her music has been hailed as healing, inspiring and infectiously joyful. Named Billboard’s “Critic’s Choice” for her debut EP, the stage actress turned folk rocker engages list2023-12-2606 min
Nathans & RoncastJosh Hisle's "Son of a Roofer" (mini-episode)Lost in Holland was Michael’s duo with Josh Hisle from 2008 to 2012. “Son of a Roofer” is off Lost in Holland’s new EP, “The Next Great Loss,” their first newly released recorded music in more than a decade. Hisle, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq war, is one of the most honest and passionate songwriters today. His work with Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash in the film “Déjà vu” sped him into a life of honest songwriting and solo performance. Hisle’s work has been reviewed by critics from Rolling Stone, Glide Magazine and Variety. He was […]2023-12-1908 min
Nathans & Roncast"Sorry, Alan": George Dyson on Alan TuringAaron’s song “Sorry, Alan” explores the inspirational and tragic life of Alan Turing, father of computer science and World War II hero. To take a deeper look at Turing, we speak with George Dyson, author of “Turing’s Cathedral: Origins of the Digital Universe.” It’s the story of how in the 1940s and ‘50s, a small group of people gathered in Princeton, New Jersey to build one of the first computers that would realize Turing’s vision of a universal machine. It also tells the story of how the computer and hydrogen bomb were invented at around the same time. Dyson, 2023-12-1252 min
Nathans & RoncastSuzy Ronstadt's "Red River Valley" (mini-episode)The Ronstadt family has been in Tucson, AZ for five generations and the next generation is growing fast! That being said, if we rewind back to 1995, Michael J. Ronstadt, father of cellist Michael G. Ronstadt of the Nathans & Roncast, we find some music that has never seen the digital light of day. Michael J. Ronstadt (“Papa Mike”) closed down the Ronstadt Pump Company in the early 90’s to take $100 a week playing music at Cragin Elementary school. He sang and played guitar, bringing old cowboy music, Mexican music, Irish lullabies, and kids’ music to all the classrooms. […]2023-12-0505 min
Nathans & Roncast"Let's Play in the Snow": Doug HamiltonThis song by Aaron explores the simple pleasures of a parent playing in the snow with their child. We are pleased to interview Doug Hamilton, whose fiddle plays an important part in the sound of this song. He describes himself as classically trained, but physically drained by years of violin playing. A polymath and veteran of half a century performing in venues from tiny bookstores to arenas, Hamilton is still trying to figure out the purest path to musical truth. In this interview, you’ll hear tales of being on tour as a backing musician to such big names as Re...2023-11-2858 min
Nathans & RoncastBobby Ronstadt's "My World" (special mini-episode)In this first mini-episode, we feature “My World,” by Michael’s cousin, Bobby Ronstadt. Bobby was born and raised in Tucson, spent some years in Los Angeles until one too many earthquakes brought him back home in 1995. He has since been hosting Monthly Music nights, been featured on numerous recordings and is currently a member of PD Ronstadt and the Company. Bobby brings his own musical reflections of life from juvenile to retrospective and maybe some instrumentals in between.2023-11-2204 min
Nathans & Roncast"Without the Cold": Alan Jay Prescott“I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome, I took some comfort there,” wrote Paul Simon in “The Boxer.” That’s the theme of “Without the Cold,” the third track on the Nathans & Ronstadt album “Hello World.” Melancholy isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it can be a feeling of peace. That was the idea of Alan Jay Prescott, who contributed to a Nathans & Ronstadt Kickstarter campaign, with the reward of providing a concept for them to write a song around. In the end, Prescott was credited as a co-writer on “Without the Cold.” In this enlightening […]2023-11-141h 06
Nathans & Roncast"Dr. Joelson's Bag": Sally HaymanWho was Dr. Morris Joelson? In this episode we revisit the life of a physician in Paterson, New Jersey who was famous for having delivered 20,000 babies during his lifetime. But Dr. Joelson (1885-1958) was also a beloved family doctor, willing to brave any weather to pay a house call, and if the family couldn’t afford it, not only would he refuse payment — he might just leave a little money under the ashtray. We interview Sally Hayman, Dr. Joelson’s granddaughter, who is a licensed clinical social worker (a therapist) living in Palo Alto, California. In this interview, she looks […]2023-10-3153 min
Nathans & Roncast"Hello World": Brian KernighanLearning any new skill requires that scary first step. We’re honored to take our first step into podcasting with our guest Brian Kernighan, a groundbreaking computer scientist whose “Hello, World!” program reshaped the way people learned to program computers. If a budding coder can successfully input a few lines, they are rewarded with seeing “Hello, World!” on their screen, and suddenly they are on their way. It’s a metaphor for being brave enough to try something new, much like “Hot Cross Buns” serves as a piano player’s first learned piece. Brian’s program inspired the title track to our new album, […2023-10-1755 minNathans & RoncastWelcome to the Nathans & Roncast!Here's a teaser about out new podcast! Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt welcome you to the Nathans & Roncast, in which we do a deep dive on a single story song for each episode. We begin with the 10 tracks of our new album, "Hello World."2023-09-3001 min