On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Peter Mulvey talks about writing through hard times, collaborating with SistaStrings, and “the difference between artists and ordinary people.”

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Sara and Sean Watkins discuss growing up in front of an audience, and how 20 years of their Watkins Family Hour show has influenced their songwriting.

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Robby Hecht talks about getting up in his feelings, navigating dry spells, and the early days when he was emulating Hootie & the Blowfish and Ben Folds.

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Peter Rowan talks about his long, storied career from his time playing with Bill Monroe to his newest album, 'Calling You from My Mountain.'

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Edie Carey talks about getting vulnerable and honest in her songwriting, and about why she wrote her first song, “Monkeybars.”

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Steve Forbert talks about how great songwriting happens, what he’s learned from listening to other great songwriters, and his new album, 'Moving Through America.'

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Chastity Brown talks about Gillian Welch’s “Jay-Z moment,” what folk music is, and how Whoopi Goldberg and Lauryn Hill helped her write a song on her new album, 'Sing to the Walls.'

On this episode of 'Why We Write with Kim Ruehl,' Nicki Bluhm talks about trust, resilience, and how getting divorced and moving on a lark to Nashville impacted her songwriting.

Dar Williams has been leading a songwriting retreat for ten years and has a book coming in September that is packed with her advice for how to write a song that matters. None of this is surprising. For around three decades, Williams has been one of the finest songwriters in the singer-songwriter realm. She’s written … Continued

Leyla McCalla has long been one of the most under-celebrated folksingers working these days. Her albums have all been deep dives into important subject matter, exploring the human experience through the confluence of poetry and melody in ways few artists are capable of. As a multi-instrumentalist, she seems to follow her instruments into unexpected journeys. … Continued