Best Sam Kern Podcasts (2025)

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The Jazz Pianist's Perspective, with Peter Martin 1:26:21

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22m ago1:26:21

1:26:21

Kirk sits down with jazz piano legend Peter Martin to talk about Peter's musical background, his momentous early encounters with Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Kirkland, the jazz scene of the 1990s, how the Suzuki method works, and why jazz students today should be less shy about talking to their heroes. Check out Peter's online jazz education program O…

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The Fearless Fela Kuti, with Jad Abumrad 1:56:37

18d ago1:56:37

1:56:37

Writer, composer, and Peabody Award-winning podcaster Jad Abumrad joins Kirk to talk about Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, his new 12-part series on the life, music, and legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti. DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: “Miryea’s Death” by Jack Nitzche from Revenge, 1990 “Prologue” by Alexandre Desplat from Birth, 2004 Excerpt from Port(al), mu…

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Super Mario Bros: Koji Kondo's 8-Bit Masterpiece [Twenty Thousand Hertz] 33:03

26d ago33:03

33:03

This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz originally ran in August 2025. Kirk's 2020 episode of Strong Songs about the music of Super Mario TWENTY THOUSAND HERTZ SHOW NOTES: This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling. From the springy jump sound to the iconic Overworld Theme, the sound of Super Mario Bros. is instantly recognizable. With ju…

1
Our Favorite TV Themes, with Leigh Sales 1:18:05

20d ago1:18:05

1:18:05

It's fun to talk about TV theme songs, so that's what Kirk and special guest Leigh Sales did. Does this episode need any more introduction than that? Probably not. Check out Leigh's wonderful podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 A YouTube Playlist of many of the themes discussed (and some they didn't get to) DISCUSSED/REFERENCED: The Office Theme - “Handbags an…

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Strong TV Songs: HBO Edition [Recast] 1:08:44

2M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

Originally Aired October 20, 2020 The Wildlings are south of the wall, the robots are rising up, Seventh Kavalry's on the move, and two percent of the world's population has vanished. Time for another edition of Strong TV Songs! This time around the focus is on HBO, a network that has defined much of the broader TV landscape over the past couple of…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 34: Ken Blackwell 26:23

2M ago26:23

26:23

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by former Ohio Secretary of State and PILF Board Member Ken Blackwell for a wide-ranging conversation on election integrity, civic responsibility, and America’s future. Together, they discuss Blackwell’s decades of leadership in the election integrity space, the challenges a…

1
A Bob Dylan Beginner's Guide, with Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell 1:54:17

2M ago1:54:17

1:54:17

With so many dozens of albums over so many wildly disparate eras, it can take a lifetime to truly get your arms around Bob Dylan. On this episode, Kirk is joined by two guests who have spent their lifetimes doing exactly that. Matt Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell, in addition to co-hosting the terrific political history podcast Know Your Enemy, are both …

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 33: John Malcolm 15:21

3M ago15:21

15:21

On this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by Vice President for the Institute for Constitutional Government at the Heritage Foundation, John Malcolm. The pair discuss Heritage's Voter Fraud Database and how it dovetails with Public Interest Legal Foundation's Tied/Decided by One Vote Elections Databases. They also d…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 32: Linda Kerns 17:35

3M ago17:35

17:35

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by attorney Linda Kerns to discuss the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s ongoing Pennsylvania case involving death threats against Trump voters during the 2024 election. The conversation explores how these threats are being used as a political tool, what they mean for elect…

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Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys 1:11:03

3M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for …

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 31: Sam Swanson 17:26

3M ago17:26

17:26

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by PILF lawyer Samuel Swanson to discuss fusion voting, the constitutional right to a secret ballot... and curling! Follow us on X at https://x.com/PILFoundationBy Public Interest Legal Foundation

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 30: David Norcross 12:59

3M ago12:59

12:59

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by PILF board member and former chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee David Norcross to examine how the federal election system was corrupted by leftists. The discussion focuses on how the left was successfully able to distort electoral law, the sea change po…

1
Talkin' Tower of Power, with Adam Maness and Peter Martin [You'll Hear It] 1:12:30

3M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Back in May, Kirk joined pianists Adam Maness and Peter Martin of the You'll Hear It podcast to talk about what makes Tower of Power great. It was a very fun conversation, so he asked if he could run their episode in the Strong Songs feed. And here we are! Listen to You'll Hear It anywhere you find podcasts, and find both Adam and Peter (and many o…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 29: Judge Mark Henry 14:49

4M ago14:49

14:49

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams is joined by Texas Judge Mark Henry to examine redistricting battles in Texas and the Public Interest Legal Foundation’s case in Petteway v. Galveston. The discussion focuses on how the Department of Justice pushed for coalition districts combining different racial and ethnic groups, …

1
Protecting Your Vote Ep. 28: Donald Palmer 17:53

4M ago17:53

17:53

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, host J. Christian Adams welcomes U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner Donald Palmer for an in-depth conversation about the role of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in safeguarding the integrity of American elections. Commissioner Palmer discusses how the EAC has helped maintain uniform voting standa…

1
A Song For My Father 39:33

4M ago39:33

39:33

THE APOCALYPSE WERE: Tony Capuano - Guitar, Lead Vocals John Shorb - Alto Sax Gene Meros - Tenor Sax Greg Novik - Bass, Backing Vocals (guitar on Stormy Monday) Oggie Hamilton - Drums, Backing Vocals Featuring The Apocalypse playing: “Good Good Lovin’” and “Try Me” by James Brown “Hi-Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker “The Shadow of Your Smile” by Mand…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 27: The PILF Clerks 21:56

4M ago21:56

21:56

In this episode of the Protecting Your Vote Podcast, President J. Christian Adams sit down with PILF’s three legal clerks, Hugo, Alex, and Theo, to hear about their experiences during their clerkships. They share insights on what they've learned, their favorite moments working with the Public Interest Legal Foundation, and what’s next for them afte…

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Protecting Your Vote Ep. 26: Mississippi Sec. of State Michael Watson 12:18

5M ago12:18

12:18

In this episode of Protecting Your Vote, J. Christian Adams sits down with Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson for a candid conversation on election integrity in the Magnolia State. Watson shares how his office is working to modernize Mississippi's electoral systems by improving voter registration technology to increasing transparency and…

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"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers 58:45

5M ago58:45

58:45

For the Season Seven finale, Kirk takes a look at Bill Withers' enduring hit "Lean On Me." In the process, he takes a broader look at a bunch of Withers' other most famous songs to better understand how this plainspoken, seemingly ordinary guy managed to write so many extraordinary songs. Written by: Bill Withers Album: Still Bill, 1972 Listen/Buy …

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Protecting your Vote Ep. 25: Joe Nixon 14:28

5M ago14:28

14:28

PILF Litigation Counsel Joe Nixon joins the Protecting Your Vote Podcast to discuss a disturbing elections system problem that puts the secret ballot in jeopardy.By Public Interest Legal Foundation

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Bluegrass, Blue Prince, and the Blues 59:33

5M ago59:33

59:33

Kirk answers a bunch of listener questions on topics like bluegrass guitar, the music of Blue Prince, good apps for training theory skills, Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics," a mysterious sound on a Gene Clark song, different types of music notation, and the legacy of the blues. All that, and a trio of terrific singer/songwriters stops by the studio …

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Episode #57 - Dr. Wes Everman - Assistant Professor and Weed Scientist Specialist 46:58

5M ago46:58

46:58

In this episode, the guys discuss the technological advancements of sprayer technology and herbicide resistance.By brought to you by Harrell's

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"Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police 1:00:16

6M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

In 1981, Sting brought a demo of a song he'd been working on down to AIR Studios in Montserrat to see what his bandmates thought of it... and they wound up keeping the demo and just recording their parts on top. The result was "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," an unusual Police song, but an enduring hit. On this episode, Kirk goes deep on eve…

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"All The Things You Are" by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II 59:47

5M ago59:47

59:47

The jazz standard "All The Things You Are" has been performed countless times by master jazz vocalists, 30s big bands, bebop small groups, hard-bop combos, modern deconstructionists, and even soon-to-be Kings of Pop. On this episode, Kirk takes listeners through the history of the now-famous tune, from its humble Broadway origins all the way to his…

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"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Jim Steinman and Bonnie Tyler 1:00:19

7M ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Turn around... every now and then I get a little lonely and the snare is sounding small Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of sleigh bells Turn around... every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the cannons will not fire Turn around... ...every now and then Kirk decides to take on a classi…

1
Bluey, Background Jazz, and the 'Best' Metal Guitar Solo 1:08:00

7M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

How should you count The Police's "Bed's Too Big Without You?" Why do so many people revere Marty Friedman's solo on Megadeth's "Tornado of Souls"? What's going on with those pauses during the Bluey theme? And what the heck is that sound on Sly and the Family Stone's "Sex Machine"? Those questions and many more on the first mailbag episode of Seaso…

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Episode #56 - Dr. Zac Reicher - Leader of Envu's Green Solutions Team 42:05

7M ago42:05

42:05

In this episode the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Zac Reicher, the leader of Envu’s Green Solutions Team. In this episode we discuss Dr. Reicher’s career, Envu’s transition to a stand-alone company, the acquisition of FMC Specialty Products, and what drives innovation.By brought to you by Harrell's

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The Music of the Muppets 1:03:43

7M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

Kirk pays a visit the musical world of The Muppets, from their Sesame Street origins in the 60s to the globe-hopping, cinematic heights of the 70s and 80s, with plenty of detours along the way. FEATURING: "Sesame Street Theme" by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone, and Bruce Hart "Mah Na Mah Na" by Piero Umilliani from Sweden: Heaven and Hell "Pinball Number Co…

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"Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" by The Mars Volta 59:07

8M ago59:07

59:07

Kirk digs into one of the most dense and challenging records in his collection, with an analysis of "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" from The Mars Volta's 2003 progressive rock opus De-Loused in the Comatorium. Written by: Omar Rodríguez-López, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, and Jeremy Ward Produced by: Omar Rodríguez-López & Rick Rubin Album: De-Loused in t…

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"Fast As You Can" by Fiona Apple 52:41

8M ago52:41

52:41

Kirk digs into Fiona Apple's breakneck 1999 single "Fast As You Can," a cornerstone in her late 90s collaborations with Jon Brion, as well as her work with drummer Matt Chamberlain. Written by: Fiona Apple Produced by: Jon Brion Album: When The Pawn..., 1999 Listen/Buy via Album.Link ALSO REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: Jon Brion in Performing Songwriter Mag…

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"Where The Streets Have No Name" and "With Or Without You" by U2 59:24

9M ago59:24

59:24

Strong Songs Season Seven kicks off with two of the most famous songs ever recorded, from one of the biggest bands in the world. U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "With or Without You" make up two-thirds of the three-song "suite" of hit singles that kicked off their 1987 album The Joshua Tree. As it turns out, the two songs have a lot to sa…

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Episode #55 - Sam Moynihan - Superintendent of Detroit Golf Club 43:05

10M ago43:05

43:05

In Episode #55, the TurPh.Dudes are joined by the Sam Moynihan, Superintendent of Detroit Golf Club. Sam and the Detroit Golf Club host the Rocket Mortgage Classic annually in Detroit, Michigan, this paired with planning for an upcoming major renovation, present unique challenges for Sam and his team. Sam joins us on the podcast to talk about what …

1
A Bunch of Great Music Recommendations 36:07

10M ago36:07

36:07

In between seasons, Kirk re-ran a bunch of old episodes and prefaced each one with a new music recommendation. He's taking those down recasts in preparation for season seven, but it seemed like a good idea to put all the music recommendations in one place. So that's what this episode is! DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDED: "The Meadow" by Nickel Creek from …

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Episode #54 - Josh Wise & Chris McCrory - GrassRoots Tree and Turf Care 43:15

10M ago43:15

43:15

In this episode, we talk about what it takes to become an entrepreneur, scale a business, and how POLYON® controlled-release fertilizer has helped to improve the GrassRoots customer experience.By brought to you by Harrell's

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Remembering Janis Stockhouse, The Great Band Director 56:39

11M ago56:39

56:39

In light of Janis Stockhouse's unexpected death at the tail end of 2024, we're re-posting Kirk's 2019 interview with her for anyone who might want to listen to it. Janis started teaching at North high school in Bloomington, Indiana, in the early 1980s. It was a time when "jazz education" as a concept was still a relatively new thing. She retired 38…

1
Rediscovering Stevie Wonder, with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn 1:19:12

1y ago1:19:12

1:19:12

Kirk talks with Wesley Morris and Josh Gwynn about the endless world of Stevie Wonder. Morris and Gwynn are host and producer, respectively, of the brilliant new six-part podcast series The Wonder of Stevie. Check out Josh Gwynn's terrific pop culture podcast Back Issue, Wesley Morris's culture podcast Still Processing, and Morris' essential writin…

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Episode #53 - Dr. Scott McElroy, Owner of Scotsman Turf Robotics 28:35

1y ago28:35

28:35

In Episode #53 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Scott McElroy. Dr. McElroy is on the cutting edge of the implementation of robotic mowing and joins us on this episode to discuss the state of robotic mowers today, where innovation is heading, and how they can be a solution for those looking to supplement traditional labor.…

1
Stevie Wonder: Music of My Mind [The Wonder of Stevie] 1:02:02

1y ago1:02:02

1:02:02

A cross-post of the first episode of "The Wonder of Stevie," a new six-part podcast series from Higher Ground and Pineapple Street Studios. It's a great show - find it on Apple, Amazon, Spotify... it's a podcast, you know the deal. Next week, we'll run a conversation between Kirk, host Wesley Morris, and producer Josh Gwynn all about what they lear…

1
Behind the Scenes of Strong Songs [Gig Gab] 1:08:33

1y ago1:08:33

1:08:33

Back in August, Kirk went on Dave Hamilton's music podcast "Gig Gab" to talk about music, Strong Songs, podcasting, and life. It was a fun conversation, and seemed worth republishing here. You can find the full show notes here, watch a video version here, and can check out Gig Gab at giggabpodcast.com or anywhere you get podcasts.…

1
Post-Season Update, Summer Plans, & Some Music Recs 30:48

1+ y ago30:48

30:48

An update on what's next now that Season Six is complete, along with some book and music recommendations! BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS The History of Jazz by Ted Gioia, 3rd edition - 1997, revised 2021 Guitar Zero: The New Musician and the Science of Learning by Gary Marcus, 2012 MUSIC RECOMMENDATION LINKS Steve Pardo - DOS - (also in Video Game form on St…

1
"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen 1:00:17

1+ y ago1:00:17

1:00:17

In the season six finale, Kirk takes a deep dive into Bruce Springsteen's signature song, 1975's "Born to Run." It's all here: tremolo guitar riffs, glockenspiel arpeggios, endless sus chords, and a sax solo for the ages. Baby, we were born for it. Written by: Bruce Springsteen Produced by: Springsteen, John Landau, and Mike Appel Album: Born to Ru…

1
Episode #52 - Cort Hall and Nick Wilson - Harrell's Territory Managers 41:42

1+ y ago41:42

41:42

In Episode #52 The TurPhDudes are joined by Cort Hall and Nick Wilson. Cort and Nick serve lawn care customers in the southeastern United States and are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the intersection of agronomics and the business of growing an LCO business. If you are interested in growing your LCO business, thinking about getting into th…

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Episode #51 - Dr. Patrick McCullough - Turfgrass Weed Scientist and Agronomist 29:46

1+ y ago29:46

29:46

In Episode #51 the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Patrick McCullough, University of Georgia. In the near future, the turfgrass industry expects the use of an important active ingredient, oxadiazon, to be significantly limited by an EPA decision following the oxadiazon reregistration review process. Dr. McCullough’s years of experience in herbicide r…

1
Summer Synths, Fluteception, and "The Diablo Chord" 1:04:55

1+ y ago1:04:55

1:04:55

As Season Six draws to a close, Kirk opens up the Strong Songs mailbag to answer a bunch of listener questions on topics ranging from Diablo's use of lydian to what he means when he talks about "transcribing." REFERENCED/DISCUSSED: "Tristram" by Matt Uelman from Diablo, 1997 "Blast Inc. (feat. Jorgen Munkeby)" by Haunted Shores from Viscera, 2015 "…

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"Easter Theatre" by XTC 57:00

1+ y ago57:00

57:00

Stage left! It's time for Strong Songs to talk about XTC. Stage right! Now the song is picked, analysis can begin. Stand up! If we listen close, we'll hear some lovely notes... On this episode, Kirk takes the stage alongside "Easter Theatre," the first single off of XTC's 1999 experimental symphono-pop album Apple Venus: Vol. 1. Bring on the bassoo…

1
"Limb by Limb" by Phish 59:10

1+ y ago59:10

59:10

Phish may be known for their 30-minute live jams, but turns out you can distill their best qualities into a song one-tenth that length. To that end, Kirk picks apart and reassembles their 1998 studio recording of "Limb By Limb" in all its polyrhythmic, guitarpeggiated glory. Music by: Trey Anastasio, with Page McConnell, Mike Gordon & Jon Fishman L…

1
"Heart of Glass" by Blondie 56:02

1+ y ago56:02

56:02

You came, you saw, you voted, and you picked Blondie as Strong Songs' first listener-selected artist! After weighing a number of possible songs to focus on, Kirk decided to go with the 1978 hit that took them from the punk clubs of New York to dance floors around the world. Wanna pick an artist for Season Seven? Go join the Patreon! Written by: Deb…

1
"The Way" by Meshell Ndegeocello 57:34

1+ y ago57:34

57:34

Meshell Ndegeocello is: a fearless songwriter, an outrageously funky bassist, and a groundbreaking producer who knows just how to get the most out of each musician she hires. On this episode, Kirk takes a deep dive into "The Way," the second track off of her 1996 record Peace Beyond Passion, and shines a light on some of the things that make her on…

1
Strong Covers, Vol. 3 57:18

1+ y ago57:18

57:18

For the third edition of Strong Covers, Kirk takes on two famous covers of two equally famous songs: Jimi Hendrix's 1968 cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," and The White Stripes' early 2000s cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." Written by: Bob Dylan & Dolly Parton Albums: Bob Dylan: John Wesley Harding, 1967 — Jimi Hendrix: Electric Lady…

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TurPh.Dudes Episode #50 - Drs. Rebecca Williams-Wagner and Phil Dwyer - 3Bar Biologics 39:21

1+ y ago39:21

39:21

In episode #50, the TurPh.Dudes are joined by Dr. Rebecca Williams-Wagner and Dr. Phil Dwyer to discuss biologicals in the turfgrass industry, and an exciting new microbial product called Azo Root. We discuss the history of biological products in the turfgrass industry, pitfalls and shortcomings that have led to poor performance as well as new adva…