Intermission: A Pause Between Seasons is a special in-between-seasons episode of Backtrack. In this episode, you’ll hear the six stories from Season One presented in their entirety, without commentary, and no interruptions.

It's just the stories, back-to-back.

It’s a chance to pause, listen, and reflect on the moments that shaped the season, before what comes next.

Thanks for listening to Backtrack, a podcast from Atlanta Storytellers.

If you’d like to see the full live performances of these stories, or the Tabernacle Collective's live renditions of the songs that go with them, you can find them all here on our YouTube channel.

You can find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org.

Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

In this final episode of Season 1 of Backtrack, Eldon shares a story about longing, clarity, and the hidden cost of loving someone who may not be ready to receive what you’re offering. It’s a quiet moment that becomes a turning point, when a song heard during a storm, married to a simple question, reveals a truth the heart can’t avoid forever.

After you hear the live performance, you'll listen to portions of an interview with Eldon where he explores how storytelling has shaped his life, from porch tales in the South to the powerful community he found on The Moth stage. He also talks about his project, Wealth In Wisdom, which focuses on recording the stories of elders before they’re lost forever. Eldon believes listening to each other can be one of the deepest, most meaningful forms of love we can share. We agree 100%!

Want to see the full performance and interview? You can watch Eldon's story and The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "How To Love" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events AtlantaStorytellers.org.

This episode brings Season 1 to a close, a season shaped by the voices who took the stage at our July 22nd show at Eddie's Attic. Season 2 will be a recap of the stories from our October 21st show, with weekly episodes releasing shortly after New Year's.

We hope you'll stay with us as the music and the memories continue to unfold, and please spread the word about our show!

For years, “Sideshow” by Blue Magic was just another slow jam in Cola Rum’s playlist, a smooth, soulful track woven into the backdrop of his life. But on the day his marriage ended and he was moving out of his home, that same song hit differently. What had once been charm and romance suddenly became something sharper, more revealing, and impossible to ignore.

In this episode of Backtrack, Cola revisits that day and the unexpected ways music, memory, and the kindness of ordinary people all converged in one of the hardest moments of his life. Then, during our conversation, he traces the roots of his storytelling back to a liquor store parking lot in Jacksonville, the “fringe” voices that shaped him, and why connection — not just performance — is at the heart of every story he tells.

Want to see the full performance and interview? You can watch Cola’s story and The Tabernacle Collective’s live rendition of “Sideshow” here. You can also find more stories and upcoming events at AtlantaStorytellers.org.

And, if you're interested in coming out for our next live show at Eddie's Attic on January 27th, TICKETS are on sale here!

When she was sixteen, Heather Parady made a split-second decision that turned an ordinary summer afternoon into a story she would never forget. What began as a simple trip for cake mix ended with a crash, a cover-up, and a moment of fierce sisterly loyalty. It was a beautiful display of the kind of love that shows up in the mess, fear, and choices that don’t always make sense on paper.

In this episode of Backtrack, Heather revisits that day through the lens of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” reflecting on control, courage, and the kind of connection that asks us to show up for the people we love.

Heather also shares how storytelling has reshaped the way she sees the world, softening assumptions, deepening empathy, and creating spaces where people feel safe enough to tell the truth about their lives.

Want to see the full performance? You’ll find Heather’s story and The Tabernacle Collective’s live rendition of “Don’t Stop Believin’” here. You can also find more stories, interviews, and upcoming events at AtlantaStorytellers.org.

Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

When Katina agreed to drive a support vehicle through the Namib Desert in the middle of the night, she didn’t expect that the song “Sweet Caroline” would be the thing that saved her. What began as a story about fighting "vehicular narcolepsy" and survival became something much deeper. It turned into a reflection on music, memory, and the power of connection.
In this episode of Backtrack, Katina reminds us that the songs we love aren’t just melodies; they’re moments that bring us back to the people we’ve shared them with.

Want to see the full performance? ⁠Watch Katina’s story and The Tabernacle Collective’s live rendition of “Sweet Caroline” here!⁠
You can also find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at ⁠⁠AtlantaStorytellers.org⁠⁠.
Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

For his 50th birthday, storyteller Chetter Galloway planned a trip to Hawaii, but the pandemic had other ideas. Instead, he found himself back home in Suffolk, Virginia, driving familiar roads and rediscovering the places that shaped him. In this episode of Backtrack, Chetter reflects on change, memory, and finding meaning in the unexpected detours of life, all through the lens of the song “Life is a Highway.”

Want to see the full performance? Watch Chetter's story and The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Life is a Highway" here!

You can also find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at ⁠AtlantaStorytellers.org⁠.

Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

When “Crimson and Clover” played at that dance in 1971, Ron Chapman couldn’t have known how often that song would reappear throughout his life. From the paralyzing mix of attraction and shame he felt as a teenager to the healing he’s found in adulthood, Ron’s story reveals how a song’s meaning often changes and evolves, just like we do.

Want to see the full performance? Watch Ron’s story and The Tabernacle Collective’s live rendition of “Crimson and Clover” here!

You can also find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org.

Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

In each episode, we return to the stage of 'The Songs That Shape Us', replaying the moment when a song became a time machine for one of Atlanta’s top storytellers, and exploring its deeper resonance with host Joshua Cuthbertson.

Through live recordings, intimate reflections, and conversations with the storytellers themselves, Backtrack reveals how music resonates not just in our ears, but in our souls. These are stories of heartbreak and healing, courage and connection — and the songs that carry us through time, shaping who we become along the way.

We hope you’ll tune in and listen to our upcoming episodes. Episodes 1 & 2 will drop on October 24th, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly until we complete Season 1's stories.

In the meantime, if you’d like to experience the full performances from our live shows, check out our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AtlantaStorytellers

You can also find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org.

Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.