Inside the Musician's Brain is back for season 6, and we are kicking things off with one of the great legends of the 5-string banjo, Mr. Tony Trischka! Tony is an innovator of the highest order, with a number of influential albums under his own name. He was also Chris' teacher from back in the day so there's lots to discuss. Tony talks about everything from the importance of finding joy in music, to the magic of Earl Scruggs and some practical pointers for how to be a better player.

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Welcome back to another season of Inside the Musician's Brain! Premiering August 26, Chris will be in conversation with guests including Del McCoury, Dan Tyminski, Brittany Haas, G Love, Tony Trischka, and many more.

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This is episode 50, and today Chris is joined by Taylor Goldsmith - standout singer, songwriter and guitarist for the amazing band Dawes. Their new album 'Oh Brother' just dropped, and Taylor breaks down the vision and songwriting process behind the project. He gets into the evolution of his process over the years, and how he's found his voice as a writer, leading to more personal, impactful songs. Taylor also talks about his approach to productivity, balancing the desire to have a wide knowledge base on writing and production with the ability to decide on a direction and go with it, ultimately allowing you to not get stuck, finish your work and get it out there. This is great experiential advice for any creator! Just like that, another season of the podcast is complete - thx so much for tuning in, and I'll see you bacon here in a few months, when we go back inside the musician's brain!

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This week on the podcast, Chris is joined by Grammy winning sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, the dynamic duo behind roots rock powerhouse Larkin Poe. Early in their career, Rebecca and Megan were 2/3 of the Lovell Sisters, a progressive acoustic band that was making waves in the bluegrass world before changing their sound, rebranding and starting their journey as Larkin Poe. Now well established in the blues/rock world, they are building a loyal fanbase drawn to their incredible musicianship, vocal harmonies and songwriting. In this conversation, Megan and Rebeccs break down the vision behind their career shift to start Larkin Poe and their amazing forthcoming record, 'Bloom.' They also offer some excellent advice for performers and players of all levels, in addition to some great stories from their many years on the road, including collaborations with some of the biggest names in popular music. 

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Chris' guest on episode 48 is Israel Nebeker, lead singer and songwriter of Oregon indie folk gem Blind Pilot. After an 8 year break between albums, Blind Pilot is back with an excellent new record, 'In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.' Israel talks about that long break, his challenges writing new songs, how he got through the writing dry spell and ultimately how the new album came together. In the intro, Chris talks about the power of the mind and our ability to overcome obstacles and achieve new heights when we start believing in what we are doing. Just like almost everything else, it's a practice!

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On today's episode of Inside the Musician's Brain, Chris is joined by musical icon Ani DiFranco. Ani discusses her experience performing on Broadway as Persephone in the hit Anais Mitchell musical Hadestown. She also breaks down her new album, Unprecedented Sh!t, from the songwriting to the shift in production and sound. Ani shares some great thoughts on the power of stories, which can entrap us or set us free depending on how we understand them, and she also talks about her upcoming book, Show Up and Vote, which aims to inspire young voters. This is an eye opening talk with a musical legend, packed with great insight and experience!

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Episode 46 of Inside the Musician’s Brain features standout soul singer-songwriter JJ Grey. JJ just released his first album in almost 10 years, ‘Olustee.’ The long hiatus happened naturally, as did the flood of songwriting that followed, and JJ takes us inside that process. He also talks in depth about his spiritual journey, the realizations he’s made along the way, and the role they play in his life and his art. This is a fascinating talk loaded with honesty and insight from a truly unique artist! 

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Chris' guest on episode 45 is legendary singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter. After connecting on their shared love of dogs, this conversation explores many different aspects of Mary Chapin's long, successful career in music as a gifted writer, singer and performer. She breaks down her craft and reflects on the evolution of her career, including some great perspectives on how to keep inspiration flowing over many years, and the connective power of music. Mary Chapin has much wisdom to share!

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Episode 44 of Inside the Musician's Brain features an interview with the amazing Cris Jacobs. Cris is an outstanding singer/songwriter from Baltimore, MD, whose new album, 'One of These Days,' is already making waves. This talk goes deep into the creation of the album, including Cris' personal journey of reframing his relationship with music to rediscover the joy, overcome writer's block and put out something authentic and powerful. He also takes us inside his writing process and the meaning behind some of the lyrics on the new album. This is a story of self-discovery and perseverance and Cris Jacobs will leave you with plenty of inspiration!

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Today's episode features an interview with Amigo the Devil, a truly unique artist who straddles the line between folk and heavy metal with his banjo, his powerful voice, and his incredible original songs. Amigo (AKA Danny Kiranos) has built a fiercely loyal following with his brutally honest and sometimes dark perspectives that give a voice to what many experience in life. He takes us inside his unfiltered process, with a clear look at how he cuts through the noise and self-doubt to get to what matters in his art. Episode 43 also features a breakdown of the recent Bluegrass Generals Run in Denver, from bringing the band together (Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall, Jarrod Walker, Emma Rose, Cris Jacobs & Sam Walker) to the endless show prep to the performances at Cervantes, which are always a highlight of the musical year.

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