Best Alex MacDougall Podcasts (2025)

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@45RPM The Sound of Revolution; JJT Speaks at Audiofeed 2025 (pt 4 of 4) 54:48

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9d ago54:48

54:48

In the final installment of our "True Tunes Live at Audiofeed 2025" series of 45RPM episodes, we listen in on John J. Thompson's speaking session dubbed "The Sound of Revolution." What does revolution sound like? What is countercultural music all about? This spirited conversation with a roomful of aspiring radicals provided some actionable perspect…

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Memento Mori: Remembering Chuck Girard (with Alex MacDougall, Bruce Brown, and Terry S. Taylor) 58:02

22d ago58:02

58:02

Chuck Girard, one of the architects of Jesus Music and founder of the band Love Song, recently passed away at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer. On this special episode of the podcast, we visit with fellow Jesus Music veteran, Alex MacDougall, who recently survived a very close call with esophageal cancer, and our own Bruce Brown, who is in …

1
@45RPM "Ask Us Anything" - (True Tunes Live at Audiofeed Part 3 of 4) 27:23

1M ago27:23

27:23

In part three (of four) of our "True Tunes Live at Audiofeed 2025" series of 45RPM episodes, we open the floor for questions about anything! The panel included Gileah Taylor, Chris Taylor, Matt Hammitt, and JJT. For more information about Gileah visit Gileah.com (and be sure to check out her Bandcamp store.) For more information about Matt Hammitt,…

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@45RPM Matt Hammitt (True Tunes Live at Audiofeed '25 - Part 2 of 4) 21:29

1M ago21:29

21:29

In part two (of four) of our "True Tunes Live at Audiofeed 2025" series of 45RPM episodes, we visit with Matt Hammitt, former frontman of the rock group Sanctus Real and currently ramping up a new band, Lo Cloud. Hammitt joined JJT and a small live audience in the "Subculture Tent" for a conversation before his performance to discuss growing up in …

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@45RPM - Gileah Taylor (True Tunes Live at Audiofeed '25 Part 1 of 4) 28:26

2M ago28:26

28:26

In part one (of four) of our "True Tunes Live at Audiofeed 2025" series of 45RPM episodes we visit with one of our favorite independent artists, Gileah Taylor. The Velvet Blue Music artist joined JJT and a small live audience in the "Subculture Tent" for a conversation before her performance later that night. For more information about Gileah visit…

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Phil Madeira's Falcon Flies 49:48

2M ago49:48

49:48

The public may best know Phil Madeira as an ace-in-the-hole sideman for high-profile Americana artists like Emmylou Harris, while Nashville insiders know him as a songwriter's writer and a go-to studio musician as well. While his career goes back well over 50 years, over the last decade or so, Madeira has released a series of superb, highly-focused…

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@45RPM Backstage with Sam Wade of the Hadestown Cast Band 25:36

2M ago25:36

25:36

The Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown is a fantastic retelling of the myths of Orpheus’ journey to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice alongside the marriage of Hades and Persephone, set amidst the visual and musical elements of New Orleans during the 1920s and 1930s. On this episode, we visit with guitarist, songwriter, and producer Sam Wade, who…

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Dug Pinnick of King's X: 50+ Years of Musical Passion 1:13:19

3M ago1:13:19

1:13:19

King's X, the band formed by bassist, songwriter, and vocalist Dug Pinnick, guitarist Ty Tabor, and drummer Jerry Gaskill roughly 40 years ago, has pushed musical, lyrical, and even technological boundaries since its debut. Before that, these musical adventurers brushed up against the Christian music subculture as members of Phil Keaggy's band and …

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@45RPM "Jesus Music" pioneer John Fischer & Counterculture V. Subculture 41:22

5M ago41:22

41:22

John Fischer was making "Jesus Music" in the mid-1960s - before it was even a "thing." At a recent live event in Fullerton California, JJT invited Fischer to join the conversation and talk about those early countercultural days and how it all came together. Before there was an industry, a genre, or even a movement, there were kids with guitars and …

1
The Overnight Stay 19:02

6M ago19:02

19:02

By Alex MacDougall

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@45RPM Robert Deeble on the Therapeutic and Spiritual Power of Music to Bridge the Space Between Us 34:44

7M ago34:44

34:44

We've loved Robert Deeble for a long time around here. His brand of thoughtful alternative folk fit right in with artists like Over The Rhine, Vigilantes of Love, Innocence Mission, and Victoria Williams - and his side gig as a graphic artist lent a gorgeous visual perspective to all of his releases. His output has slowed over the last couple of de…

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The Platform 11:16

7M ago11:16

11:16

By Alex MacDougall

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Chris Taylor Carries The Flame (+ Sixpence on the Jukebox!) 1:18:55

8M ago1:18:55

1:18:55

Chris Taylor is a lifer. His first bands, (Windows and Love Coma,) were covered by True Tunes when we were just getting started back in the early 90s. While his bandmate Matt Slocum went on to form the alternative pop group Sixpence None The Richer, Taylor continued to release projects as Love Coma and as a solo artist. He also became an accomplish…

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@45RPM - The Choir's Translucent Ambience 44:13

8M ago44:13

44:13

Derri Daugherty, Steve Hindalong, and Dan Michaels surprised all of us when THE CHOIR dropped a fully-realized, manufactured, and ready-to-ship ambient instrumental project called Translucent in late 2024. Although the band has been incorporating ambient elements in their music since the 80s, this was a first for them. Join us as we discuss how Tra…

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Special 45RPM: Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville (Live Conversations w John J. Thompson) 56:22

8M ago56:22

56:22

True Tunes Podcast host John J. Thompson recently celebrated the "soft-release" of his new novel, "The Ballad of the Lost Dogs of East Nashville," with live events at Vinyl Tap in East Nashville and The Wheaton Public Library in the Chicago area. This special edition features clips from both events as JJT takes questions from Fr. Preston Sharpe of …

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The road to Glastonbury 11:40

9M ago11:40

11:40

A fun look at hitch hiking, from the Highlands of Scotland, into London and on to Somerset and the early Glastonbury festivals. This account gives an overview of how it was then, before mobile phones and media saturation.By Alex MacDougall

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Give Up The Dream? (JJT Talks To Writer/Director Thomas Torrey about Long December film) 41:16

11M ago41:16

41:16

There’s a new “melancholy Christmas musical” to add to your list of indie film favorites, and when we had a chance to see an advance screening, we immediately knew that this story was YOUR kind of story. A hard-working, veteran singer-songwriter is trying to make it through to the end of another long year, wondering if it is time to lay down the dr…

1
Checking Russ Taff's Cover Story (with Taff, Steve Taylor and John Mark Painter) 1:24:05

1y ago1:24:05

1:24:05

6-time Grammy winner Russ Taff’s voice has defined the emotional potential of Gospel music for over half a century. His perfectly raspy tenor transcends genre and era, first as the lead vocalist for Gospel legends The Imperials, then as a phenomenally successful solo artist. That legacy now takes on a whole new depth as Taff unveils Cover Story, a …

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Jennifer Knapp Goes Back to Kansas 2:13:08

1y ago2:13:08

2:13:08

There’s nothing like a relaxed, sit-down conversation – especially when discussing complicated things like faith, love, and art. True Tunes is committed to long-form dialogue in a world that is increasingly (and tragically) defined and governed by social media metrics and pithy one-liners. This conversation with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter J…

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@45RPM - Fred Armisen, Daniel Smith, Chris White & Mike Norman (on the set of the Come And Save Me film) 22:52

1y ago22:52

22:52

On this “Extended Play” 45RPM episode of the show, our good friend Chris White, writer and director of the romantic comedy/road picture Electric Jesus, takes us to the set where he recently directed a short film for the song “Come And Save Me” starring actor and musician Fred Armisen (SNL, Portlandia) and our favorite outsider folk-pop band, Daniel…

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Microdose: The Prayer Chain 4:14

1y ago4:14

4:14

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the pioneering LA-based alternative rock band The Prayer Chain back in 2018. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than …

1
Microdose: Roemer 5:23

1y ago5:23

5:23

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the Berlin-based American ex-pat indie artist Roemer. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to rem…

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Microdose: Bill Mallonee 4:53

1y ago4:53

4:53

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the prolific and acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Bill Mallonee (of Vigilantes of Love.) About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" -…

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Microdose: Tonio K 5:09

1y ago5:09

5:09

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with artist and songwriter Tonio K. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners…

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Microdose: Drew Holcomb 4:59

1y ago4:59

4:59

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Drew Holcomb when he visited a class at Lipscomb University's School of Music. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more tha…

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Microdose: Chagall Guevara 4:53

1y ago4:53

4:53

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Steve Taylor, Dave Perkins, Lynn Nichols, and Mike Mead of the most amazing and unlucky band of all time: Chagall Guevara! About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered so…

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Microdose: Kevin Max 5:03

1y ago5:03

5:03

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Kevin Max. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been…

1
Microdose: Gungor 4:57

1y ago4:57

4:57

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Michael Gungor. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've…

1
Microdose: Faith as Counterculture (w David Bunker) 5:02

1y ago5:02

5:02

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with poet, teacher, chaplain, and music industry veteran, David Bunker. This clip comes from the "Sacred Psychedelia" sidebar in the episode that featured Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper. Bunker also joined us for a 45 RPM episode …

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Luxury: Making The Most Of Their Second Act 1:31:45

1y ago1:31:45

1:31:45

In the mid-nineties, it seemed to many of us that Luxury might be the band most likely to find real success in the wider alternative rock market. Their three-decade journey, however, has defied all expectations. From their early days of alt-punk abandon through a harrowing and deadly car crash and onto a very different path that found three of the …

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@45RPM - Luxury on the Jukebox (New Episode Preview) 17:18

1+ y ago17:18

17:18

This 45RPM episode features a look back at over 30 years of the music of a relatively obscure but critically acclaimed indie rock band, Luxury. We will go back to the beginning, when the band was known as The Shroud, playing with jangly punk abandon at their college in Toccoa, Georgia. We launched this podcast five years ago - when Luxury reconvene…

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An Alternative Legacy Changes Hands: Randy & Matthias Layton 1:08:16

1+ y ago1:08:16

1:08:16

Randy Layton has been a tireless advocate of some of our favorite artists since the 1980s. He was also an early influence and encourager of all things True Tunes. His "Alternative Records" imprint helped to define the indie / DIY approach long before it was common, and his current campaign to reissue yet another incredible (and obscure) album by Ro…

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God Gave Rock and Roll To You: The Clash of the CCM Historians w Dr. Leah Payne and JJT 1:22:58

1+ y ago1:22:58

1:22:58

Dr. Leah Payne, author of the new book God Gave Rock and Roll To You, joins us to talk about the roots - and fruits - of the contemporary Christian music subculture. From the Pentecostal and Holiness movements of a century ago to the January 6th riots, Payne and host John J. Thompson wrangle with the odd and sometimes troubling history of the scene…

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@45RPM - Rolling Lost Tape with Jim Goodwin of The Call 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

Even with champions like Peter Gabriel, U2, Jim Kerr, and others singing their praises, and songs like “The Walls Came Down,” “I Still Believe” and “Let The Day Begin” scratching out a presence on college and alternative radio, The Call never lived up to the commercial potential their fans knew they deserved. And when frontman, vocalist, and primar…

1
Microdose: Propaganda 4:51

1+ y ago4:51

4:51

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with rapper, author, and activist PROPAGANDA! About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time…

1
Microdose: The Choir 5:02

1+ y ago5:02

5:02

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty, and Dan Michaels of The Choir. Few bands embody the spirit of spiritual yearning, artistic exploration, emotional risk, and impressionistic ambiance as completely as this veteran crew. About …

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Microdose: Young Oceans 5:21

1+ y ago5:21

5:21

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Eric Marshall, who has been releasing some of our favorite alternative worship music for well over a decade under the moniker YOUNG OCEANS. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we look back on our first 100 episodes we…

1
Microdose: Neal Morse 4:39

1+ y ago4:39

4:39

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Prog Rock legend Neal Morse (of Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colours, and The Neal Morse Band.) Morse took us on a journey through the history of progressive rock and his own artistic and spiritual discoveries. About …

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Microdose: Phil Cook’s Spiritual Helpline 5:02

1+ y ago5:02

5:02

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with Pianist, songwriter, and filmmaker Phil Cook. Cook - who cut his teeth as a member of Bon Iver - has been releasing some incredible solo material lately AND has been chronicling some of the best North Carolina roots Gospel mu…

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Microdose: Natalie Bergman 5:00

1+ y ago5:00

5:00

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the Third Man Records artist Natalie Bergman. Her story, and her music, captivated us as she added her humble (but seriously impressive) offering to the Jesus Music repertoire. About The True Tunes Microdose Episodes: As we l…

1
Microdose: Sandra McCracken 4:59

1+ y ago4:59

4:59

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with songwriter, worship leader, artist, and hymnist, Sandra McCracken. Having recently joined forces with Taylor Leonhardt, Jess Ray, and Leslie Jordan to form The Paper Horses, Sandra continues to evolve and innovate. About The …

1
Microdose: Terry Scott Taylor 4:40

1+ y ago4:40

4:40

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with songwriter, artist, and pioneer, Terry Scott Taylor. Between his solo work, his groundbreaking work with the band Daniel Amos, his collaboration with The 77s' Michael Roe, The Choir's Derri Daugherty, and Adam Again's Gene Eu…

1
Microdose: Steve Scott 3:52

1+ y ago3:52

3:52

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with artist, poet, author, and theologian STEVE SCOTT - who also served as the Arts Editor of the original True Tunes News magazine back in the 90s. Scott just released The Way of the Sevenfold Secret, a collection of poetry with …

1
Microdose: Taylor Leonhardt 4:47

2y ago4:47

4:47

On this "impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com" we revisit our conversation with the always impressive and effervescent singer, songwriter, and producer, Taylor Leonhart. Taylor - who has recently joined forces with Sandra McCracken, Jess Ray, and Leslie Jordan to form The Paper Horses - continues to brin…

1
Microdose: Michael Roe 3:48

2y ago3:48

3:48

On this "True Tunes Microdose" (an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com) we revisit a short bit of our chat with Michael Roe of The 77s and The Lost Dogs. The episodes with Mike proved to be some of the most popular in the history of our show, with many long-time fans chiming in and some new fans joining…

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Microdose: Amy Grant 5:09

2y ago5:09

5:09

Welcome to the True Tunes Microdose, an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com. As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. Amy Gran…

1
Microdose: Charlie Peacock 3:41

2y ago3:41

3:41

Welcome to the True Tunes Microdose, an impossibly short version of the ongoing conversation you'll find at TrueTunes.com. As we look back on our first 100 episodes we have gathered some of these "greatest hits" - never more than 5 minutes long - to remind long-time listeners of where we've been and give new folks a chance to check us out. Charlie …

1
Mylon LeFevre (In His Own Words) 1:26:25

2y ago1:26:25

1:26:25

Mylon LeFevre was an award-winning, genre-defining, trailblazing artist and songwriter who had a song cut by Elvis when he was just a teen, got kicked out of his family's legendary Souther Gospel band for wearing his sideburns too long, and released on the earliest and most significant Gospel Rock albums ever ("We Believe" circa 1970.) He went on t…

1
@45RPM The Choir’s 1988 Classic LP ”Chase The Kangaroo” 28:14

2y ago28:14

28:14

The Choir's 1988 LP Chase The Kangaroo is a classic, and when we heard that they had launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds to remaster and re-release it on vinyl and CD, we decided to pull together this special episode to lend some support. We spoke to primary songwriters Steve Hindalong and Derri Daugherty about the album a …

1
@45RPM John Pantano (Pantano/Salsbury) On Their 1977 Larry Norman Produced LP ”Hit The Switch” 23:38

2y ago23:38

23:38

John Pantano’s rock and roll roots go back to the 1960s psychedelic rock scene and the very genesis of the Jesus Movement. He and his friend, the late Ron Salsbury, were the core of JC Power Outlet - one of the earliest Jesus Rock bands on the scene. After two albums for Myrrh Records, the two signed with Larry Norman’s vanguard Solid Rock label an…