Best Songwriter Soup Podcasts (2025)

1
Jesse Frasure: Addiction To The Game & The Pursuit of “Just One More Hit” 1:30:51

3d ago1:30:51

1:30:51

Two time BMI songwriter of the year, Jesse Frasure (“Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Dirt On My Boots” Jon Pardi, “Marry Me” Thomas Rhett) closes out the spring season, as always, joined by the Songwriter Soup trio. This episode includes a candid conversation about the highs, the lows, the ease, the difficulty, and the jealousy that come standard wit…

1
Songcraft Classic: STEVE PERRY ("Don't Stop Believing") 1:10:07

1d ago1:10:07

1:10:07

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2021 conversation with Steve Perry. ABOUT STEVE PERRY One of the most iconic voices in rock music history, Steve Perry is best known as the lead singer of the band Journey during the group’s most…

1
Jeff Tweedy - How to Write One Song 43:34

1d ago43:34

43:34

In June 2024, I got to go to the Solid Sound Festival in North Adams, Massachusetts, which is organized by the band Wilco. I performed some of my new songs, and I got to interview Jeff Tweedy, the lead singer of Wilco, on stage as part of the festival. Jeff, in addition to being in Wilco and the band Tweedy, and putting out his solo albums, has als…

1
EP 96: Existing in the Soup with Anjalica Solomon 16:51

4d ago16:51

16:51

Did you know we’re all soup? This week we’re recapping a wonderful conversation with Anjalica Solomon, about creative balance, how they show up for their craft and community, and the flexibility of success and consistency. Listen to their new poem “Apocalypse Reimagined”, the final piece of their forthcoming book Apocalypse Joy (September 2025, Wri…

1
Lorde - Sober 19:35

9d ago19:35

19:35

Lorde is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer. Her second album, Melodrama, debuted at number one on the charts in June 2017 – five months before her 21st birthday. In this episode, Ella breaks down her song “Sober.” You’ll hear how it started, with the original demos she made with her co-producer Jack Antonoff, and how the song …

1
The Glaring Problem with Headlights 46:17

9d ago46:17

46:17

Something seems to have happened to car headlights. In the last few years, many people have become convinced that they are much brighter than they used to be—and it’s driving them to the point of rage. Headlight glare is now Americans’ number one complaint on the road. The story of how and why we got here is illuminating and confounding. It’s what …

1
Ep. 256 - SUZANNE VEGA ("Luka") 1:14:03

9d ago1:14:03

1:14:03

GRAMMY winner Suzanne Vega talks "Luka," "Tom's Diner," her first studio album in more than a decade, and much more! PART ONE Paul and Scott talk about the pop culture museum in Seattle, as well as Nirvana, Soundgarden, the diner in Seinfeld, canned green beans, and other important stuff. PART TWO Scott's in-depth conversation with Suzanne Vega ABO…

1
S13E12 – Starcadian Tribute 3:31:05

16d ago3:31:05

3:31:05

In this episode of The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes honor the late Starcadian with a mix of his music, personal stories, and fan tributes. Guests Rob O’Neill, James Secker, and Jared Butler join to share their memories and experiences.By The State of Synth

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Songcraft Classic: JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS ("Rhythm Nation") 1:20:32

16d ago1:20:32

1:20:32

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2021 conversation with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. ABOUT JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS With 26 Billboard #1 R&B hits and 16 Billboard #1 pop hits to their credit, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are perhaps the…

1
Rob Ragosta: Community, The Grind and Surfing The Success Wave 1:11:42

18d ago1:11:42

1:11:42

You might recognize today’s Songwriter Soup guest’s name and voice—Rob Ragosta (“Need A Favor” & “Winning Streak” Jelly Roll) is the brother of previous SS guest, Joe Ragosta! On this episode the group talks about family, community and how important the maintenance of both can help keep your head on straight through the ups, downs, highs and lows o…

1
S13E11 – The Synthwave Matryoshka w/ ODDitee 1:46:10

21d ago1:46:10

1:46:10

This week on The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes welcome Pacific Northwest-based artist ODDitee. We dive into his debut album Everlasting, favorite VSTs, cereal preferences, his signing with Rosso Corsa Records—and things get very meta. Plus, fresh tracks from Lukhash, L’Avenue, Midnight Fury, and more.…

1
Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World 28:19

23d ago28:19

28:19

Tears for Fears is a duo formed in 1981 in Bath, England by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. They’ve sold over 30 million albums, starting with their first, The Hurting, which went to number one in the UK. But it was their second album, Songs from the Big Chair, that made them international stars. It came out in 1985, and had huge singles like “Shout…

1
Off-the-Wall Stories of Off-Label Use 54:01

23d ago54:01

54:01

Products often tell you exactly how they’re intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore …

1
Ep. 255 - ADAM DURITZ of Counting Crows ("Mr. Jones") 1:14:18

24d ago1:14:18

1:14:18

Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz explains how his songwriting process has changed over the years, and offers insights into some of his songs, from early classics to recent compositions. PART ONE: Paul and Scott discuss judging a book by its cover and their possible status as idiots. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Adam Duritz ABOUT ADAM…

1
Trent Willmon: Production, Vocals & The Outside Songs Keeping The Songwriting Community Alive 1:09:14

25d ago1:09:14

1:09:14

This week on Songwriter Soup, the trio is joined by Nashville producer and songwriter, Trent Willmon. This episode covers a wealth of information about production, vocals, and why Trent is open (and even excited!) to record outside songs with his frequent collaborator, Cody Johnson. For those of you who don’t know, an outside song is a song that an…

1
S13E10 – Happy Spiritual Songs w/ Mike Templar

28d ago

—

Swiss synthwave artist Mike Templar joins us to talk about his spiritual new album The Owl and The Moon, his love of sci-fi, and how storytelling drives his sound. Dennis learns more about his own Swiss roots—and how he may or may not be the main protagonist in Mike’s novel TROM.By The State of Synth

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Songcraft Classic: Peter Frampton ("Do You Feel Like We Do?") 1:22:16

1M ago1:22:16

1:22:16

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with Peter Frampton. ABOUT THIS BONUS EPISODE The exceedingly generous and gentlemanly Peter Frampton talks about David Bowie giving him his very first job; Bill Wyman of the Ro…

1
Connie Harrington: The Yoda Of Music Row 1:08:41

1M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

This week, the Songwriter Soup trio is joined by the incredible Connie Harrington (“I Drive Your Truck” Lee Brice, “Mine Would Be You” Blake Shelton, “No Caller ID” & “Bless Your Heart” Megan Moroney). No shortage of wisdom, truth bombs and tears on this episode, y’all. Connie has seen it all and managed to stay, not just relevant, but bar-setting …

1
Lizzo - Still Bad 28:57

1M ago28:57

28:57

Lizzo is a Grammy- and Emmy-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress. She’s been putting out music since 2013, and her last two albums both went platinum. Her fifth album, Love In Real Life, comes out this summer. For this episode, I talked to Lizzo, as well as her longtime collaborator, Grammy-winning producer Ricky Reed, about the making o…

1
How “Chicken Soup” Sold Its Soul 50:49

1M ago50:49

50:49

Chicken Soup for the Soul was the brainchild of two motivational speakers who preach the New Thought belief system known as the Law of Attraction. For more than 30 years, the self-help series has compiled reader-submitted stories about kindness, courage, and perseverance into easily digestible books aimed at almost every conceivable demographic: Ch…

1
Ep. 254 - PATTERSON HOOD of Drive-By Truckers 1:11:13

1M ago1:11:13

1:11:13

Drive-By Truckers co-founder Patterson Hood chats about his band, the evolution of his songwriting process, and his most recent solo album. PART ONE Water. Bed. Rock!!! PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Patterson Hood ABOUT PATTERSON HOOD Muscle Shoals, Alabama, native Patterson Hood is best known, along with Mike Cooley, as the co-founder of…

1
S13E9 – Naming Palm Trees w/ Valley Lights 1:47:36

1M ago1:47:36

1:47:36

In this sun-soaked episode of The State of Synth, we cruise down the neon-lit highway with Valley Lights, the LA-based retrowave artist behind Two Lane Highway. We chat about his journey into synthwave, the inspiration behind his debut album, and why he’ll never get tired of palm trees.By The State of Synth

1
EP 95: Past Lives and Future Selves with Cathy Xu and Sām Mohseni 26:59

1M ago26:59

26:59

SADCAST has a new host! Becca talks to Kristi about podcasting ~feelings, and what you can expect for future episodes. Featuring an artist-to-artist discussion on the importance of personal and community archives, diasporic identity, and the realities of grieving, with Cathy Xu and Sām Mohseni (adapted from Cathy’s piece “Past Lives” in Issue 37: T…

1
But... How TF Does Music Actually Make Money? Erica Rosa Explains It All - Part 1 1:14:05

1M ago1:14:05

1:14:05

The Songwriter Soup crew sits down with FBMM’s own, Erica Rosa, lovingly and accurately known as the “royalty guru", to explore how money flows through the music industry. While originally set to focus on publishing royalties (this is a songwriter podcast after all), things naturally veered right to the actual beginning. How does music make money f…

1
Key Change: Samin Nosrat on Ani DiFranco 26:42

1M ago26:42

26:42

My guest today is my friend Samin Nosrat, the author of the bestselling, award-winning cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat, and the host and executive producer of the hit Netflix show that's based on it. Her second cookbook comes out this fall, and it's called Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share With People You Love. Back in March 2020, Samin and I s…

1
S13E8 – Alex Lightspeed & the Most Excellent Episode 1:51:53

1M ago1:51:53

1:51:53

In this radiant new episode of The State of Synth, Groot and Neon Fawkes sit down with synth maestro Alex Lightspeed and The Most Excellent Band—featuring Siren Niphilim, The Neon Syndicate, and more—for a high-energy conversation that spans creative collaboration, retro inspirations, and the road to their upcoming album, “Lost Future” (dropping Ap…

1
Songcraft Classic: SWAMP DOGG ("She's All I Got") 1:32:37

1M ago1:32:37

1:32:37

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2015 conversation with Swamp Dogg. ABOUT SWAMP DOGG R&B cult favorite Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams is best known as the co-writer, with Gary U.S. Bonds, of the cross-genre classic, “She’s All I Go…

1
Seth Ennis: The Homiest Of Homies 58:22

2M ago58:22

58:22

Seth Ennis (“The Boys Back Home” Dylan Marlowe & Dylan Scott, “She Drives Away” Jon Pardi, “Hooked” Dylan Scott, “Tough To Tie Down” Jordan Davis) joins The Soup gang to discuss the challenges of going from an artist who writes great songs to a full time hit songwriter and the importance of friendship as you make your way up the ranks. Seth and Lau…

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S13E7 – Songwriting in the Soup w/ Jessie Frye 1:55:49

2M ago1:55:49

1:55:49

Dennis and Jules sit down for a poised yet playful chat with synthpop queen and NewRetroWave artist Jessie Frye. From songwriting secrets to the lush sonic landscapes of her new album Otherworld, this episode dives deep into the stories behind the songs. Plus—could a Jessie Frye darksynth project be on the horizon? Tune in to […]…

1
Spring Break Forever 50:08

2M ago50:08

50:08

The infamous annual ritual of spring break—where thousands of college students head to the same warm location and go crazy—can seem like it’s always been here. But it hasn’t. The spring break phenomenon is a holdover from midcentury teen culture that has endured by changing, just enough, to be passed from one generation to the next. In this episode…

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Ep. 253 - DAVID PAICH of Toto ("Africa") 1:16:31

2M ago1:16:31

1:16:31

Six-time Grammy winner and Toto co-founder David Paich joins us to talk about his life as a hit songwriter for his own band and others. PART ONE: Scott and Paul talk about their visit with David Paich and other bits of tomfoolery. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with David Paich ABOUT DAVID PAICH: David Paich is best known as one of the foundin…

1
MJ Lenderman - You Don't Know The Shape I'm In 27:34

2M ago27:34

27:34

Jake Lenderman plays and records under the name MJ Lenderman. He put out his first album in 2019. In addition to his solo work, he’s been a member of the band Wednesday, and he’s also featured on the Waxahatchee hit song “Right Back to It." In September 2024, the fourth MJ Lenderman album came out. It’s called Manning Fireworks. The New Yorker name…

1
Songcraft Classic: LINDA PERRY ("Beautiful") 1:15:29

2M ago1:15:29

1:15:29

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with Linda Perry. ABOUT LINDA PERRY Singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Linda Perry first made her mark as an artist, serving as lead v…

1
REPLAY: Kelly Archer: Canadian Nice With An Excellent Bluff 1:34:27

2M ago1:34:27

1:34:27

To celebrate Kelly Archer’s recent two-week country number one, “I’m Gonna Love You” (Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood), we thought we’d re-release our interview with our girl, Kelly! Enjoy one of our favorite episodes of Songwriter Soup. Kelly Archer (“Sleep Without You” Brett Young, “Wild As Her” Corey Kent, “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore) expl…

1
Key Change: James Acaster on OutKast 25:18

2M ago25:18

25:18

My guest today is James Acaster, a comedian, author, musician, and interviewer. He's filmed comedy specials for HBO and Netflix, which are hilarious and high concept. His musical project, Temps, has released an album and an EP. He’s written multiple books, including one about how the year 2016 was the greatest year for music. James also co-hosts th…

1
How Books About Things That Changed the World… Changed the World 58:24

2M ago58:24

58:24

Look in the nonfiction section of any bookstore and you’ll find dozens of history books making the same bold claim: that their narrow, unexpected subject somehow changed the world. Potatoes, kudzu, soccer, coffee, Iceland, bees, oak trees, sand, chickens—there are books about all of them, and many more besides, with the phrase “changed the world” o…

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Ep. 252 - JIM JAMES of My Morning Jacket 1:12:42

2M ago1:12:42

1:12:42

Three-time Grammy nominee and My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James joins us to talk about the evolution of his songwriting and the band's new album, Is. PART ONE: Paul and Scott chat about ideal song length and extend an invitation to Taylor Swift PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Jim James ABOUT JIM JAMES: Jim James is best known as the fro…

1
Steph Jones: Scents and Sensibility - Knowing What You Can (and Can’t) Control 1:20:18

2M ago1:20:18

1:20:18

Steph Jones (“Espresso” & “Nonsense” Sabrina Carpenter, “hole in the bottle” Kelsea Ballerini, “People You Know” Selena Gomez) might actually be the songwriting community’s most easiest to love songwriter. The Soup Crew learns all about Steph’s interest in scents and how it finds it’s way into her songwriting career, and the path she took through t…

1
S13E5 – Hustling for Neo-Creds w/ Night Rider 87 1:47:06

2M ago1:47:06

1:47:06

Stephen and Stephanie from Night Rider 87 join Groot and Fawkes for a fun conversation about music, synth culture, and the best ways to rack up Neo-Creds at Neotropolis. From creative scavenging to hidden hangouts, they share tips, stories, and insights from their experiences at Neotropolis—plus drop some fresh music!…

1
Lucy Dacus - Thumbs 24:29

2M ago24:29

24:29

Lucy Dacus is a singer and songwriter from Richmond, Virginia. She put out her first album in 2016, and in 2018 she formed the band Boygenius with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. In June 2021, she released her third album, Home Video, which includes this song, "Thumbs." The first time I heard it, I knew I wanted to ask Lucy about how and why she …

1
Songcraft Classic: BILL WITHERS ("Lean on Me") 1:04:16

2M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2015 conversation with Bill Withers. ABOUT BILL WITHERS Pop and R&B legend Bill Withers released nine albums between 1971 and 1985 that included such classic songs as “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Suns…

1
REPLAY: How To Break Up With A Co-Writer 1:05:47

2M ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Replay, baby! Nashville's on Spring Break this week, so enjoy this oldie-but-goodie. It's full of great nuggets. We'll see you next week with a new episode! Break-ups are never easy, especially when it comes to co-writing. This week, our hosts examine the reasons it may be necessary to say goodbye to a collaborator and how to do it with care. The t…

1
Ep. 251 - RYAN MILLER of Guster 1:06:37

3M ago1:06:37

1:06:37

Guster's Ryan Miller discusses his songwriting process before Scott, Paul, and Ryan go totally off the rails on 80s pop songs, Sebastian Bach, and other random stuff. One of the most fun interviews we've had in a while! PART ONE: Paul and Scott chat about the time Paul opened for Guster, their friend who met his wife thanks to Guster fandom, and th…

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