Episode 241: San Francisco-based Miko Marks hit brick walls when she made her first run at country music in the mid 2000s, when the industry was systemically impenetrable to independent artists and even more so artists of color. After taking more than a decade away from her passion, Marks was inspired to reconnect with her band and producers, and this time, she found a lane, made possible by excellent music. She's released three recordings in two years, each more interesting than the last, culminating in the country soul album Feel Like Going Home of late 2022. She's now been on the Grand Ole Opry and is touring the nation. Also in the hour, an archived moment with Shemekia Copeland, an artist working the same fusion of southern roots and contemporary message.