Claim OwnershipThe Working Songwriter
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Joe Pug hosts a weekly conversation with one of today's best songwriters.
The latest 100 episodes are always free... all catalog episodes available to stream in the Nation of Heat Vault. Visit joepugmusic.com/vault
The latest 100 episodes are always free... all catalog episodes available to stream in the Nation of Heat Vault. Visit joepugmusic.com/vault
315 Episodes
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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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
This up and coming songwriter has toured with Troye Sivan and Yungblud, along with recording for Warner Brothers and Fearless Records.
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.
This songwriter has been at the vanguard of indie rock for three decades, best known for his projects Cursive and The Good Life.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
This artist has spent a lifetime helming influential bands like The dB's and contributing to major bands such as REM.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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These interviews are terrible. You'd think they were about songwriting.
dude thanks for getting some relevant writers
hffffvffffvfbgfvvffffffv. hvmm .! baby h6hn6 Johnna jm
I love this Podcast. It's produced beautifully and presented by Pug, who has a speaking voice and cadence that is delightful to listen to. The conversations veer between formal interviews and comfortable exchanges in a way that keeps his guests comfortable and his listeners interested and entertained...and I find it inspiring to hear the stories behind Pug and his guests careers, songwriting and public/private life balance. I developed a new appreciation for the Milk Carton Kids, And Trampled by Turtles, giggled and sighed through Amanda Palmer and was totally entranced with the special on Pug himself. the series is honest, simple and really is a good excuse to not be writing songs.
Craig Finn is to the city like Jonah is to the whale.
Love your podcast Joe.. its so great to hear the artist stories .. and to learn of new artists. The stories in these podcasts help me survive days at work.. but most of all they inspire me... Thank you for introducing me to so many amazing performers .. thanks
The "iron clad excuse." Super listening, wonderful stories and no shortage of learning along the way! Keep it rolling Joe!
I love this series of podcasts! Joe is conversational and wry and his guests seem to relax into the storytelling almost immediately. Great insights are shared with the listener whether you're a songwriter or not. This has something for everyone who cares to listen in. Keep 'em coming.
fantastic. one of my favorite songwriters interviewing some of my favorite songwriters
Entertaining, illuminating, refreshing and a valuable insight into the vagaries of the undefinable process es of a minstrel's life. Joe Ely is an international treasurehouse of story, song, and legend. The other Joe(podcaser & interviewer/host), being a fellow gypsy-spirit, provides an easy rapport, and is a skilled interviewer- it is a conversation between friends. I would recommend this podcast to anyone who is(or aspires to be) a working songwriter. Technology has given everyone the chance to show their material to a wider audience. This is a cautionary affirmation for those who dare to pursue their vision- comprising of days that are about "22 hours of misery to 2 hours of ecstasy"(Muddy Waters) This was the first podcast of the series, and a great start of, what I hope will be, many more to come.