Dear Holly,

I wanted to thank you for joining me on Surprise Cast. It was a pleasure to spend time hearing your unique story and learning more about the journey that has shaped both your art. 

I appreciated hearing about your childhood growing up on a farm in Southern California, and how your love of reading, music, and the natural world continues to inspire your work. I had no idea that you'd be such a Stephen King fan! Thank you for being open about living with dyslexia and how it influenced the way you learned and developed "patience". It was cool to hear you reflect on your accomplishments from Street Project and Park Life Gallery, SFMOMA gift shop, and the pottery studio, Speckle Studio. What a grand testament to your tenacity, determination, and generosity to the art world. Keep sculpting the inspiring work!

Additional music by:

https://chameleonsband.com/

https://patrickfitzgerald.bandcamp.com/

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Hi Carl and Kat,

I loved hearing about your songwriting and how you sequenced the new album with beautiful songs. As mentioned in the interview, I LOVE the flow, energy, and mood changes. It was fun listening to the creative process from recording to the promotion process. It's an album of human experience and fantastic balance...keep making the good stuff!

https://janglepophub.home.blog/category/jangleshop-label/

Additional music by:

https://www.thechills.band/

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Dear Neil and Stephanie,

I'm looking forward to the band's next steps in 2026 and beyond. You are settling into your Chicago stride with amazing chemistry!

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Dear Jason, 

Additional music included: Luna/Dean & Britta: https://lunamusic.com/

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Dear Hannah,

Thank you for sharing your experiences learning synthesis on a Moog, discovering your path as a bass player, and discussing how you craft your songs. I also appreciated your candid thoughts on fraught times, your Dada inspiration, and the importance of rejecting the aesthetics of capitalism and war. It was a fascinating perspective.

I especially enjoyed hearing you speak about identity and motherhood, and how being a parent has influenced your sense of time and priorities. Congratulations on releasing a wonderful debut album. It's gorgeous from start to finish, and I hope you continue delivering hooks and melodies as expansive and intricate as our mighty Pacific Ocean.

https://hannahlew.bandcamp.com/album/hannah-lew-2

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Your Fugazi stories were a special treat. The discussion of writing material for 'Repeater,' the band’s ethos, navigating the challenging music industry, and being part of a group that consistently resisted conventional expectations provided such a valuable perspective. I've always admired the band's approach to following their convictions. 

The conversation also provided a fun look at the making of the awesome new album, Deface the Currency. Your account of how James Brandon Lewis joined the project and the spontaneity of the recording sessions really caught my attention. I can tell he's been such a vital component to your group's sound and success. 

Thank you for participating in Surprise Cast for another chat. You made the conversation feel warm, engaging, and electric. I always love to riff with you about life and music. 

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Podcast music includes: 

https://larrygraham.com/

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Dear Stella Heath,

I was deeply inspired to learn about your remarkable journey as an artist and the story behind your Billie Holiday Project album. It was fun hearing about your childhood experiences in one of my favourite cities in the world, Petaluma. 

Your Billie Holiday Project is a powerful tribute because you honor both Billie vulnerability and her fierce spirit. You and your collaborators clearly created something meaningful. Congratulations on the album release and upcoming performances. I wish you great success with this exciting new chapter. Keep swinging, Stella!

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Dear Yea-Ming and Tyla!

Wow. Thank you both for such a thoughtful, honest, and fun conversation. It was a pleasure hearing about the creative journeys, challenges, and community building efforts that continue to shape your work and the Bay Area indie music scene. So important! 

Tyla, your unwavering passion for supporting artists through Total Accord Agency truly shines. It was inspiring to hear about your agency’s rapid growth, commitment to supporting artists on the indie fringe, and trying to give them a platform to express their love for the arts and music. 

Follow Total Accord Agency: https://www.totalaccordagency.com/

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Dear Gavin,

Thank you for such an engaging conversation about your journey with Camera Obscura. I loved hearing the Scottish warmth in your stories.

Hearing you reflect on the making and lasting legacy of Let’s Get Out of This Country was fascinating. It was also illuminating to hear about the remastering and reissue process, along with revisiting Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi for vinyl and expanding it with songs like “Shine Like a New Pin” and “Let’s Go Bowling.” I honestly can’t believe it’s been 25 years already. My goodness. Thank you as well for sharing your honest thoughts about both the joys and challenges of touring, along with your deep admiration for Joy Division and New Order, both seminal bands.

Most importantly, I was deeply moved hearing you speak about Carey, her illness, passing, and the way her spirit continues to remain such an important part of the band’s identity. 

It was truly a privilege speaking with you, my friend. This episode was the sweetest thing.

Additional Podcast music: https://www.neworder.com/

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Dear Chris, Alex, and Patrick!

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