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

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86 | What Counts as Singing? Staying Connected to Your Voice in Quiet Seasons (When You're Not Practicing or Performing) 23:38

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10h ago23:38

23:38

What does it really mean to stay connected to your singing voice—especially in quiet seasons, when you’re not practicing, performing, or making much sound at all? In this episode, we explore what actually counts as singing for singer-songwriters, and how creativity and voice remain present even when the voice goes quiet. If you’re in a slower seaso…

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K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Arden Cho: I was born in America, but wasn’t seen as American 22:59

1d ago22:59

22:59

‘Being born in America, feeling American, but having people treat me like I'm not.’ Chi Chi Izundu speaks to Korean American actor Arden Cho, star of the hit Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters, about her life and career. Cho is the voice of Rumi, a leading character who must come to terms with her own identity as part-human, part-demon. It’s a duality…

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Romeo Santos & Prince Royce Interview! Why Bachata Is Still Underrated in Latin Music and Beyond 1:22:17

4d ago1:22:17

1:22:17

The leading stars of the Dominican genre discuss their paths to selling out stadiums and the lingering feeling that they haven’t received their due amid the Latin music boom. 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…

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Audrey Tang: bringing digital diplomacy to the world 24:54

39m ago24:54

24:54

Audrey Tang speaks to BBC Technology editor, Zoe Kleinman about technology, democracy and community. Named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential People in AI”, Audrey Tang was instrumental in shaping Taiwan’s acclaimed COVID-19 response and in safeguarding the 2024 elections from foreign cyber interference. A child prodigy, born with a life threateni…

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Mumble and Peg: Songwriting Beyond Singing with Summer in the Attic 1:21:49

6d ago1:21:49

1:21:49

Adam Kidd and Josh Gunnels, aka Summer in the Attic, have been making music together since their college days in the 90s. Now based in Boston and Nashville, they collaborate online through I Heart Songwriting Club, challenging themselves and each other in inventive ways. In this episode, we explore their songwriting process—from Josh’s unconvention…

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Jordan Bardella, National Rally leader: France must control immigration 22:59

40m ago22:59

22:59

‘I do not see France as a country that must be closed. But I believe we must control immigration.’ Nick Robinson speaks to National Rally leader Jordan Bardella about his vision for France. The 30-year-old is currently leading the polls to become the country’s next President in 2027. He’s on a media tour to woo businesses, and to persuade the world…

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85 | A Creative Year-End Ritual for Singer Songwriters: Reflect, Renew, and Reconnect With Your Voice 29:59

7d ago29:59

29:59

This episode is an invitation to pause. At the end of the year, we so often rush forward—setting goals, making plans, trying to improve. Instead, this guided creative ritual offers a moment to stand still at a viewpoint: to look back at the path you’ve walked, to sense the artistic horizon ahead, and to listen for what wants to come next. Together,…

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Mark Levine, Host of Help & Hope Happen Here Podcast on What He's Learned From Cancer Parents After Almost 500 Episodes 28:58

7d ago28:58

28:58

When we were in treatment, I was one of those parents who wanted to hear everything about every single paediatric cancer family I could. Not only because I was looking for support, but because these were my new people. This was my new community and I wanted to fully immerse myself into this world because I simply didn’t fit in my old one anymore. O…

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Jacinda Ardern: Why world leaders need empathy 22:59

13h ago22:59

22:59

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 became the youngest Prime Minister in the world at the time, and only the second ever to have a baby whilst in office. She was praised for her hu…

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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

13d 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

14d 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

17h 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

6d 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

20d 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

10d 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

21d 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

22d 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

10d 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

24d 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

25d 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

21d 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

28d 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

17d 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

20d 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

27d 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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 …