The Bret Saunders Podcast

Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne doesn’t give many interviews, so it was a pleasure to hear him open up in this new conversation. Ray and Bret talk music and distancing oneself from the “music business.”

Singer songwriter Jewel is back with her first album in 7 years, "Freewheelin' Woman". Jewel (did you know she lives here in Colorado?) tells Bret about what she learned being mentored by Bob Dylan and Neil Young, the folksy-Muscle Shoals sound of the new album and why she cut it "live" in the studio.

The Head and the Heart have been a KBCO favorite since the release of their debut in 2011. They have a couple of shows coming in September and a new album, which will come out later this month, "Every Shade Of Blue." Jonathan Russell joins the podcast to talk of the band's love of Denver, recording half of the new album in the studio and the other half in their living rooms, and singing about a place that knew him as a 19 year old dish washer.

It's always a pleasure to have Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on the podcast. In this engaging conversation, Bret and Phil discuss the Colorado Unification Initiative. It's an effort to promote respectful conversation and reduce tribalism. The AG also talks about efforts to keep Tik Tok and Instagram from preying on our children and erasing the stigma from mental health.

Jeff Tweedy, a founding member of Uncle Tupelo and is Wilco's main man. Jeff comes to the Paramount April 7 for a night billed as "A Conversation With Jeff Tweedy" talking about creativity, art, books, music, and more. But first he checks in with Bret to discuss longevity in the music business, plus the aesthetic that guides his life. He also talks about the importance of being unburdened and free of care, and what exactly is the "Conet Project?"

The guest this week is Ron Funches. As they say in the business, he's a triple threat: comedian, actor, and writer. To date, he has two comedy albums out, has appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Blackish, plus he has voiced characters on Bob's Burgers and Bojack. He's a professional wrestler too, "I might joke with you, I might put you through a table". Ron talks about all of that while balancing his career and being the parent of a child on the autism spectrum. As his bio says, he's a pretty solid dad.

Her mom used to joke that when she was born, "I came out singing", and she's never stopped. Dionne Warwick drops in on the podcast to talk about her Las Vegas residency, a new design company (in which music has an influence) her nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, and how we can bring the world a little closer together.

Gov. Jared Polis joins the podcast to talk up the Boulder Fire Recovery Benefit Concert and a host of other topics: Re-election, Climate Change in Colorado, COVID in Colorado, and how does President Polis sound?

John Baldwin Gourley and Zach Carothers from Portugal. The Man are this episodes' guests on the podcast. The band just released their new song "What, Me Worry?" John and Zach talk about the Mad Magazine connection, finding peace in all the noise, and the advantages of growing up in Alaska.

Comedian Beth Stelling rose out of the Chicago scene. She's regular on the late-night TV circuit and her HBO special "Girl Daddy" (the New York Times called it the best debut of 2020) was produced by Conan O'Brien. Beth talks about the energy exchange of live stand up, the healing power of Coors Light, and to Wordle or not to Wordle. Catch her this weekend at Comedy Works Downtown