Americana Curious

Jonah Kagen has racked up over half a billion streams, scored a Billboard #1 hit with "God Needs the Devil," and sold out headline shows across the globe. But as he shares on Americana Curious, the commercial accolades didn't bring validation—they forced him to isolate, face his inner demons, and dig into his darkest songwriting yet.In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Jonah joins host Ben Fanning (Zach Schultz couldn't join us for this one) to talk through:The #1 Hangover: Why chart success didn’t make his next record any easier, and why he views making music as a job of service rather than ego.Life on the Road: Totaling his truck, living nomadic in a modified Airstream studio, and recording in a stranger's front yard.Meeting Dave Matthews: How a custom guitar commission led to an intimate writer's round, tequila in pajamas, and an invitation to open at The Gorge.The New Album: The deeply personal, late-night creative marathons behind Eternity of Everything, and why the certainty of death scares him far less than love.Crowd Etiquette: The specific things fans need to start (and stop) doing at his high-energy live shows.Hit follow and leave a rating to help more listeners discover the stories shaping Americana music!

Andrew Sa grew up obsessed with Patsy Cline. Today, he’s challenging one of country music’s oldest assumptions: who gets to belong.The Chicago country artist’s debut album, American Rough, blends the sounds of classic country with deeply personal songs about love, masculinity, identity, and belonging. And Andrew isn’t asking permission to be part of the genre: “I’m not separate and I’m not different and I belong there.”Andrew joins Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz to share the childhood story behind his connection to sad country songs, how Rufus Wainwright gave him “permission to have this dream,” and the unforgettable moment Lavender Country’s Patrick Haggerty grabbed him by the shoulders and told him, “I see you now.”They also dig into the meaning behind American Rough, building bridges through music, where queer country fits within Americana, and Andrew’s upcoming opportunity to honor John Prine at the Chicago Theatre.It’s a conversation about finding your voice, claiming your place, and why the best country music can make room for more stories...not fewer.

Chris Pierce was playing a corporate gig in a dark corner where nobody was listening when his phone rang. The caller represented Neil Young, and Neil wanted Chris to open his tour.But Chris’s fight for music started decades earlier.At 15, he suddenly lost his hearing. Surgery restored about 50% in one ear, and Chris made a choice that has defined his life and career: keep fighting for the thing he loves.Chris joins Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz on Americana Curious to share that journey, along with the childhood experience that shaped the fighting spirit in his songs, the unforgettable Newport Folk Festival ovation that brought him to tears, and what he learned sharing stages with Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal and Steve Earle.Chris also takes us inside his new album, Songs for the Heavy Hearted, including “First Day of School,” “A Soft Place to Land,” and the deeply personal story behind recording “Two Angels” with Steve Earle.It’s a conversation about music, resilience, purpose, generosity, and refusing to surrender to fear.Follow Americana Curious for more conversations with the artists, songwriters and unsung heroes shaping Americana music.

Newport Folk Festival is famous for the unexpected. You never quite know who might walk onstage.This year, Dave Matthews made his first-ever Newport appearance, joining a long tradition of unforgettable surprises that has included James Taylor, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton and more.In this episode of Americana Curious, Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz pull back the curtain on what really happens at Newport Folk Festival—the surprise guests, spontaneous collaborations, intimate aftershows, and the community of music lovers that makes Newport unlike any other festival.You'll hear what it was like when Dave Matthews suddenly appeared, why some of the world's biggest artists treat Newport differently, and why the festival sells out before a single artist is announced.Plus, Ben and Zach share some of their favorite Newport moments and explain why the real magic may not be the artists onstage at all—it's the people who come back year after year.Follow Americana Curious for more stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that make Americana music special.

How does a band from Hawaii become one of Americana's fastest-rising groups?In this episode of Americana Curious, Ben Fanning sits down backstage with Twin Fin just before their sold-out show at Charleston's Pour House for a candid conversation about the unlikely journey that brought them here.From Coast Guard careers and backyard jam sessions to building a loyal fan base across the country, the band shares how the spirit of aloha, deep friendships, and a passion for great songwriting have fueled their remarkable rise.You'll hear:Why Hawaii—not Nashville—became the perfect place to build a bandHow Twin Fin grew from local shows to sold-out venues across AmericaThe sacrifices and risks behind pursuing music full timeThe story behind their album Songs I Never WroteWhy creating unforgettable live experiences matters more than anything elseWhether you're already a Twin Fin fan or discovering them for the first time, this conversation offers an authentic look at the people behind one of Americana's most exciting new bands.Americana Curious explores the artists, stories, festivals, and traditions shaping today's Americana music scene through in-depth conversations with the musicians creating it