The Texas music icon passed away this week. Ten years ago he was the inaugural guest of this podcast. It was so gracious of him to sit down for a show that was just starting. He was always generous with his time and attention to younger artists. Another devastating loss for American music. This episode originally aired on February 26, 2016.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Anonymous Stranger
These interviews are terrible. You'd think they were about songwriting.
Julian Jackson
dude thanks for getting some relevant writers
Alan Thurlow
hffffvffffvfbgfvvffffffv. hvmm .! baby h6hn6 Johnna jm
Mandy Connell
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.
Karl Besser
Craig Finn is to the city like Jonah is to the whale.