For the first episode of Big Ears: Conversations About Music, critic Nate Chinen speaks with Big Ears co-founder Ashley Capps to talk about the history of the festival and Ashley's own history as a listener, radio host, and presenter.

We'll also hear from three musicians who are intimately familiar with the vibe of Big Ears: banjoist Béla Fleck, guitarist Bill Frisell, and electronics artist Yuka Honda.