Best How Hard Is It To Be A Songwriter Podcasts (2025)

1
Jacinda Ardern: why world leaders need empathy 22:59

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9h ago22:59

22:59

“I wanted to show that you could be human and could also be kind and decisive and a mother, imperfectly but still, I think, do a reasonable job.” BBC presenter Kylie Pentelow speaks to Dame Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s former Prime Minister about the importance of empathetic leadership in the time of populism and strongman politics. In 2017 Ardern…

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María Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader: ‘our fight for freedom is a fight for peace’ 22:59

3d ago22:59

22:59

Lucy Hockings speaks to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado about the fight for democracy in the South American country. She’s been in hiding since last year’s presidential election in Venezuela, when incumbent Nicolás Maduro declared victory in a contest that was widely dismissed on the international stage as rigged, sparking widespr…

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Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egyptian Foreign Minister: we’re pushing hard to end Sudan conflict 22:59

5d ago22:59

22:59

‘We are pushing very hard to end this and preserve the future of Sudan’ Waihiga Mwaura speaks to Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, during the G20 summit that took place at the end of November in South Africa. Dr. Abdelatty took up the post last year, following a long diplomatic career across Europe, North America and Asia. He’s tasked w…

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84 | How to Start a Songwriting Practice: A Creative 3-Step Ritual for Singer Songwriters 28:37

6d ago28:37

28:37

How do you actually start a songwriting practice—especially if you’re feeling rusty, intimidated, or creatively blocked? In this episode, I’m sharing the gentle 3-step ritual I use myself—grounding, lyric freewriting, and melody improv—to help you quiet the noise, access creative flow, and hear your creative voice again. Whether you’re returning to…

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Patti Smith: Artists have a responsibility to speak up 23:00

7d ago23:00

23:00

Katie Razzall, the BBC’s culture and media editor, speaks to American singer-songwriter Patti Smith during her UK tour marking the 50th anniversary of her ground-breaking debut album Horses. Best-known for her hit Because the Night, she shares the story behind the song, co-written with Bruce Springsteen, and reflects about being at the vanguard of …

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Melanie Perkins, Canva CEO: From information to imagination 22:57

10d ago22:57

22:57

Zoe Kleinman, the BBC’s Technology editor, speaks to Canva CEO Melanie Perkins about the current tech and AI revolution that is transforming the internet and the world. Perkins, who is still only in her late-30s, is well-known for her entrepreneurial drive, having quit university at just 19 years old to launch her first venture. Unlike many of toda…

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An Album A Year for Four Years - Creating Sonic Worlds with First Born Sun 58:08

12d ago58:08

58:08

First Born Sun, the musical project of Canberra songwriter and producer Dave Cina, is a true unsung hero of the music world. Over four years, he’s crafted four albums in the Club, each one a fully realised sonic world. In this episode, we explore his latest release, Monkey Paw, a Spaghetti Western-inspired album that’s both lighthearted and dark. D…

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Anika Wells, Communications Minister: Australia’s social media ban 24:32

12d ago24:32

24:32

“This is giving parents another weapon in their arsenal for their lives and for the happiness and mental wellbeing of their children.” Katy Watson speaks to Australia’s Communication Minister Anika Wells about the world’s first social media ban for children under 16. Under the new law, social media companies will face fines of up to about US $32 mi…

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83 | 3 Essential Practices Every Singer Songwriter Needs to Overcome Creative Blocks 22:45

13d ago22:45

22:45

Feeling creatively blocked — like there’s a song or idea trying to reach you, but life, doubt, and mental noise keep getting in the way? This week, we’re talking about how to quiet the noise so you can finally hear your creative voice again. Whether you’re returning to music, beginning a new season, or sensing a shift in your artistry, the whisper …

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Can a Celebrity Be Conservative? How Pop Culture Is Shifting in Trump’s America 1:07:00

13d ago1:07:00

1:07:00

From Sydney Sweeney to Taylor Swift and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, a conversation with the columnist Ross Douthat about how culture is reacting to a second Trump administration. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/a…

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Shabana Mahmood, British Home Secretary: Do not make that boat crossing 24:03

14d ago24:03

24:03

Nick Robinson speaks to Shabana Mahmood, British Home Secretary, about her far-reaching proposals to shake up the UK immigration system, designed to make asylum seekers think twice before attempting to enter the country illegally. She also shares her own experience of racism as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and her belief that ensuring secu…

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Singer, Songwriter & Cancer Mom Anna Palfreeman On Her Deeply Resonant & Essential Album, "Frontline" 51:15

16d ago51:15

51:15

The whole intention of this podcast is to give cancer parents a feeling of recognition - of knowing we’re not alone, and we do this by sharing our stories. Storytelling is how we connect at our most fundamental, primal selves - it’s the most ancient thread humans use to tie ourselves together and make sense of the world around us. Now, when you add…

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Maria Ressa: The information apocalypse is threatening democracy 25:03

17d ago25:03

25:03

Marianna Spring, the BBC’s social media investigations correspondent, speaks to Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa, co-founder of the independent Filipino news outlet Rappler. With over 40 years in journalism, Maria describes today’s information landscape as a war zone, where online attacks, including doxxing, misogynistic hashtags, a…

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Sir Nick Clegg: Social media’s power paradox 22:59

19d ago22:59

22:59

Amol Rajan speaks to Sir Nick Clegg - former deputy Prime Minister of the UK and, more recently, former President of Global Affairs at Meta - about big tech, AI and the future of social media. Sir Nick first appeared on the world stage back in 2010, when he became the UK’s deputy prime minister after his Liberal Democrats party went into a coalitio…

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82 | Why Reawaken Your Voice is Becoming Singer Songwriter (My Story & What's Coming Next) 21:28

20d ago21:28

21:28

Today’s episode is the beginning of a new era for this show. I’m sharing the personal story behind my creative return: how I left the classical world, lost my voice for years, and slowly found my way back through songwriting — the practice that became my refuge, my bridge from silence to song, and the doorway back to my true artistry. I’ll talk abo…

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Twinkle Khanna: Indian women’s aspirations have changed 22:59

23d ago22:59

22:59

‘When it comes to women's lives, things have progressed, maybe not always in a linear way.’ Devina Gupta speaks to author and columnist Twinkle Khanna about the lives of women in 21st century India. Khanna’s column in the Times of India, Mrs Funnybones, captures the contradictions of being a modern Indian woman — one day praying to a cow, the next …

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Sundar Pichai CEO of Google: AI prone to errors 22:59

24d ago22:59

22:59

“The current state of the art AI technology is prone to some errors… you have to learn to use these tools for what they are good at, and not blindly trust everything they say.” Faisal Islam speaks to Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and its holding company Alphabet, about artificial intelligence and its impact on how we live and work. He te…

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Love is an Amplifier: Abbie Cardwell on Turning Heartbreak into Self-Love 1:13:19

26d ago1:13:19

1:13:19

In this luminous conversation, Francesca de Valence speaks with acclaimed songwriter Abbie Cardwell about her newest album Love is an Amplifier. From van-life touring days to a creative rebirth through I Heart Songwriting Club, Abbie shares how her perfectionism softened, how love and loss shaped the sound of her album, and how she and her partner-…

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Sir Anthony Hopkins: I turn turmoil into energy 22:59

26d ago22:59

22:59

‘So-called turmoil or shortcomings in my life? I turn them into power or energy’ Best known for playing the serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 thriller ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, Sir Anthony’s journey to Hollywood stardom started with humble beginnings. Born into a working class family in the Welsh steel town of Port Talbot in 1937, his…

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81 | How Your Voice and Songwriting Practice Evolve Through Creative Seasons (Vocal Breakthrough Series Pt. 6) 18:31

27d ago18:31

18:31

Every artist goes through seasons — moments of quiet, growth, bloom, and renewal. In this final episode of the Vocal Breakthrough Series, we explore how your voice and songwriting practice evolve through creative cycles, and why finding your voice isn’t a one-time event — it’s a lifelong spiral of discovery. You’ll learn how to recognize your curre…

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Noura Erakat, Palestinian-American humans rights lawyer and professor 22:59

28d ago22:59

22:59

BBC North America correspondent Nomia Iqbal speaks to Noura Erakat, Palestinian-American human rights attorney and professor at Rutgers University. As well as being a legal scholar she is also an outspoken advocate for justice in Palestine, she went on to become one of the first Palestinian women to address the United Nations Security in October th…

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Brandi Carlile, singer-songwriter: I believe in the separation of church and state 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

‘I believe so profoundly in the separation of church and state, and in the dangers of theocracy creeping into the corners of a democracy’ BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage speaks to US singer-songwriter, producer and performer Brandi Carlile about the personal and political stories behind her songs. An LGBTQ icon, she sets out her fears about the…

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Maria Alyokhina, Russian punk activist: The price of political art was prison 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

Vitaly Shevchenko speaks to Maria Alyokhina, founding member of the Russian punk activist group Pussy Riot, about the power and the price of protest. Pussy Riot came to the world’s attention with its Punk Prayer, an angry anti-Putin anthem performed in a Moscow church. Maria Alyokhina spent two years incarcerated in a penal colony as a result. It w…

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80 | Fear of Being Heard? 3 Gentle Steps to Share Your Voice With Confidence (Vocal Breakthrough Series Pt. 5) 25:43

1M ago25:43

25:43

Do you have a song in your heart you’re afraid to share? In this episode — Episode 5 of the Vocal Breakthrough series — we dive into the courage it takes to share your voice. Whether you’re a singer-songwriter returning to music after a long pause, or just discovering your creative voice, this episode is for you. I’ll guide you through 3 gentle sta…

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5 Takeaways From the Grammy Nominations 44:24

1M ago44:24

44:24

Breaking down the story lines to watch from the new slate of nominees going into February’s big show. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. Formore podcasts and narrated articles, download The …

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Sir Salman Rushdie: Writing fiction in a time of lies 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

James Coomarasamy speaks to acclaimed author Sir Salman Rushdie as he publishes his first work of fiction since surviving a near-fatal attack in 2022, by a man armed with a knife, who is now serving 25 years in prison. The Eleventh Hour, his new collection of novellas and short stories explores mortality, farewells and even the afterlife. They feat…

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Nhial Deng Nhial: ‘South Sudan is being run down’ 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

‘There's basically a total failure of governance. Nothing is working. There is very serious political instability that has actually manifested itself in violence all across the country.’ James Copnall speaks to senior South Sudanese politician Nhial Deng Nhial, about the political instability that’s threatening the future of the world’s youngest co…

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Yung Lean Interview! On Defeating His Demons, Swedish Modesty & Charli XCX's Wedding 1:34:38

1M ago1:34:38

1:34:38

More than a decade after achieving viral fame as a teenage rapper outside of Stockholm, Yung Lean is back with new music, a new film and some hard-won clarity. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatc…

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Inside Bone Marrow Transplant - A Mom's First Hand Experience of 42 Days in BMT 58:39

1M ago58:39

58:39

Today I chat with my friend and fellow cancer mom Jenna about carrying her son through a 42 day bone marrow transplant this past summer. This episode is really important for so many reasons, BMT is a big and daunting procedure that so many of our families go through - so many parents are in complete isolation with their children for weeks and month…

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Lone Wolf: Songs Born of Place and the Significance of Time 1:03:09

1M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

In this episode, WA artist Tanya Ransom shares the stories behind songs born from remote places, slow seasons, and long creative journeys. Her third album, The Significance of Time, captures the landscapes between Broome and the South West of Western Australia, and explores how place, patience, and timing shape her music. About Tanya: Tanya Ransom …

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Sir Bradley Wiggins: I couldn’t see hope or joy 22:59

1M ago22:59

22:59

''There were periods when I couldn’t see any hope or joy,'' says British cycling champion Sir Bradley Wiggins in a deeply personal interview with Anna Foster The first Briton to win the Tour de France, he collected five Olympic gold medals throughout his career. But his stellar reputation came under attack as he faced allegations of doping. What fo…

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79 | Finding Your Song Seed: How to Write the Song Only You Can Write (Vocal Breakthrough Series Pt. 4) 23:50

1M ago23:50

23:50

What if the song you’ve been longing to write is already inside you — just waiting for you to listen? In this episode, we explore how to uncover your song seed — that first spark of melody, phrase, or emotion that begins your creative process. Whether you’ve never written a song before or you’ve been feeling blocked for years, this is your invitati…

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Edward Enninful, former editor of British Vogue: fashion has to be more inclusive 23:00

1M ago23:00

23:00

‘Fashion has to be more inclusive, it has to speak to people outside the normal demographic’ BBC presenter Amol Rajan speaks to Ghanaian-born Edward Enninful, who rose to the pinnacle of fashion in Britain as the editor-in-chief of British Vogue. Enninful has dedicated his career to making fashion representative and relevant to all, ignoring the ac…

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Sir Philip Pullman: fantasy can be unsatisfactory 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

‘A lot of the fantasy that I have read is unsatisfactory for me because it's not interested in psychology, it's not interested how people think or feel’ Katie Razzall speaks to renowned British author Sir Philip Pullman as he publishes his latest, and final book in the series, The Rose Field. He’s best-known for writing the award-winning ‘His Dark …

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Rosalía Interview! On ‘Lux,’ Singing in 13 Languages, ‘Euphoria’ & Björk 1:30:50

2M ago1:30:50

1:30:50

The experimental Spanish pop star on why (and how) she pushed herself to use 13 languages on her new album “Lux,” a labor of love exploring the feminine divine and the brutalities of romance. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/acti…

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Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia co-founder: We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

‘We’re living in an era of a massive lowering of trust’ Shaun Ley speaks to Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, one of the most visited websites in the world. He talks about how to trust in a digital age, the pressures facing open‑knowledge platforms and his new book The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last, where he sh…

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78 | Build a Creative Singing & Songwriting Practice Routine that Fits Your Life (Vocal Breakthrough Series Pt. 3) 26:47

2M ago26:47

26:47

What does consistency look like when your creative life doesn’t fit into neat little boxes? If you’ve been longing to sing again, write again, or simply reconnect with your voice — but struggle to find the time, the structure, or the energy — this episode is for you. In Part 3 of the Vocal Breakthrough Series, we’re exploring what it means to find …

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Kamala Harris on her 107-day presidential bid 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

‘I am not done. I have lived my entire career a life of service and it's in my bones and there are many ways to serve. I have not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I'm doing right now.’ Laura Kuenssberg speaks to Kamala Harris about her turbulent 2024 presidential campaign where she ran against Donald Trump. She was thrust into t…

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Kiddo, This is Going to Be Hard - AYA Support Through Treatment with Survivor Mel Austin 29:35

2M ago29:35

29:35

Today I speak with Mel, an ALL survivor currently in her second year of university. Mel was diagnosed at 17, and just recently rang the bell this past summer, so her account of treatment is still really fresh and honest. Our talk today is from Mel’s lens as an AYA patient, and how we as parents can best support our teens and young adult children go…

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Erykah Badu Interview! On D’Angelo, Radical Empathy, Love & Hip-Hop 1:04:26

2M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

The singer and songwriter on her reign as one of music’s most idiosyncratic, spiritual figures and where her creative impulses are headed next. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. Formore pod…

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Slow Walking Back to Songwriting with Katie Harder 1:06:33

2M ago1:06:33

1:06:33

When life becomes full and creativity starts to slip through the cracks, it can feel hard to find your way back to songwriting. But as songwriter and artist Katie Harder reminds us, returning to your creative flow doesn’t require perfect conditions — it simply asks for presence, trust, and a bit of structure. About Katie: Katie Harder, a singer-son…

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David Grossman: Isolating Israel is not the answer 22:59

2M ago22:59

22:59

‘To isolate Israel or to punish Israel will be the most irresponsible and unacceptable step to boycott Israel, for example. I think it's a huge mistake, because what we need is a dialogue.’ Tim Franks speaks to Israeli author David Grossman about the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as concerns grow over the increasingly fragile ceasefire. Grossman is one …

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77 | How to Stop Overthinking & Start Singing With Ease (Vocal Breakthrough Series Pt. 2) 23:08

2M ago23:08

23:08

When you overthink your singing, you disconnect from how it feels to make sound. In this episode of the Vocal Breakthrough Series, we explore what happens when you stop analyzing every note — and start trusting your body as your instrument. We’ll talk about how overthinking can hold you back before you even open your mouth, why trying harder often …

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Remembering D’Angelo, A Classicist Who Moved Us Forward 1:12:21

2M ago1:12:21

1:12:21

A conversation about the casual virtuosity of D’Angelo’s too-brief career with a pair of journalists who each interviewed him twice. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts andSpotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app herehttps://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. Formore podcasts and n…