What's The Reason For This Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

What's The Reason For This Podcast

What's The Reason For This Podcast

by What's The Reason For This Podcast

Music Commentary

Season 3

Cotter Ellis - Goose - WTRFT S3E1

🚨 SEASON 3 IS HERE — and we’re kicking it off with a bang. For the first episode of Season 3 of What’s The Reason For This?, we’re joined by Cotter Ellis of Goose for a conversation from the Mishawaka in Colorado. Since our last conversation, a lot has changed. 💿 Goose released Big Modern! 🏟️ Played Madison Square Garden ⛰️ Took over Red Rocks 🏠 Crashed a Colorado house party 🚀 And continued one of the wildest runs in live music 🥁 We get into: 💿 Creating Big Modern! and finding Cotter’s voice inside Goose 🏟️ What MSG and Red Rocks actually felt like from behind the kit 🪿 The Goose hate, internet critics, and musicians talking shit 🌱 Why growing the jam scene matters more than guarding it 🚌 The real grind of touring and life on the road 🥣 Going from vans and microwave oatmeal to sold-out venues 🥋 The story behind “Suck It, Storm” and “Kung Fu Fighting” 🧩 Goosemas clues, fan theories, and the world being built around the band ❤️ Why the people behind Goose might be the real secret to their success Cotter also opens up about imposter syndrome, criticism, supporting other artists, success, and what it takes to keep chasing this life when there are no guarantees. 🔥 Season 3 starts right here. 🎧 Watch or listen to the full conversation with Cotter Ellis of Goose. 🪿 Follow What’s The Reason For This? for more conversations from inside the jam, bluegrass, and live music world. 💬 And send this episode to the friend who still thinks Goose is Christian rock. 😂

Ben Wright - Bluegrass Ambassadors/Henhouse Prowlers - WTRFT S3E2

🚨 Season 3 keeps rolling with Ben Wright of the Henhouse Prowlers and Bluegrass Ambassadors. This one goes way beyond bluegrass. 🎻 We get into: 🌍 How the Henhouse Prowlers became musical ambassadors around the world 🪕 The wild story of Ben buying his first banjo for $199.99 🤝 Why music can connect people even when they don’t speak the same language 🇳🇪 Playing banjo alongside an ancestor of the instrument in Niger 🎶 Learning songs from the countries they visit and bringing them back home 🚢 Performing for refugees from dozens of countries in Rotterdam 🔥 Walking onstage with musicians they had never met and figuring it out in real time 🌱 Why community, curiosity, and making people feel seen sit at the heart of everything they do Ben also opens up about how these experiences changed the mission of the Bluegrass Ambassadors, turning it into something much bigger than touring. It’s about using music to break down barriers, celebrate culture, and remind people that connection can start with something as simple as listening. One of the wildest moments comes from West Africa, where Ben realized he was playing his banjo alongside an instrument widely considered one of its ancestors. Two musicians from completely different worlds, connected instantly through sound. 🪕🌍🤯 And in Rotterdam, that mission came full circle with performances for refugees and an unrehearsed collaboration that Ben described as scary, imperfect, authentic, and completely human. ❤️🎶 🎧 Watch or listen to the full conversation with Ben Wright. 🌎 Learn more about the Bluegrass Ambassadors and the work they’re doing around the world. 🔥 Follow What’s The Reason For This? for more conversations about the music, people, and community behind the scene.

Season 2

WTRFT S2E47 - Lindsay Lou - Bluegrass Women

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down with the incredible Lindsay Lou for a conversation about bluegrass, motherhood, finding your voice, and shining a light on the women who helped build this music from the very beginning. 🪕🔥💙 Lindsay takes us back to growing up in a huge musical family 🎶👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, singing harmonies as a kid, and eventually heading toward a completely different career — earning degrees in human biology and Spanish with plans for medical school. 🧬🥼 Then she discovered the bluegrass community, fell HARD down the rabbit hole, and realized music could actually be her life. 🪕🤯🔥 Lindsay opens up about: 🎶 Discovering bluegrass and becoming obsessed with Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers 🚐 Years of touring, grinding, and even going without a real home base 🎤 Learning how to protect and understand that powerhouse voice 🏠 Moving to Nashville to surround herself with musicians — not chase fame ❤️‍🩹 How loss, divorce, COVID, and recordings of her grandmother helped shape Queen of Time 👶 How becoming a mother completely changed her body, brain, heart, and perspective on life 👑 The inspiration behind her new project Bluegrass Women — celebrating the women whose songs have been part of bluegrass history all along 🎻💪✨ Lindsay shares the incredible realization that songs many of us associate with legendary male bluegrass performers were actually written by women — women whose voices were always there, even if their names weren't front and center. 🤯🎶👑 She brings together an absolutely badass lineup of female pickers 🎻🪕🔥 to honor those writers, return to the original lyrics and source recordings, and remind the next generation of girls that there has always been a place for them in bluegrass. 💙💪🌈 And because motherhood doesn’t care that you’re recording a podcast… Bart crashes the interview to reclaim Mom. 😂👶🎙️ At its heart, this episode is about music, motherhood, representation, legacy, and authenticity — and the realization that women aren't new to bluegrass… they helped build the damn thing. 🪕👑🔥 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and check out Bluegrass Women! 🎶💙✨

S2E46 - Bronwyn - Rattlin' Bones

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and co-host Shay welcome Bronwyn back to the dungeon nearly one year after their first conversation — and holy hell, a LOT has happened. 🪕🔥 From stepping away from Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway to building her own band, driving the van, writing her own music, and now releasing her new album Rattlin' Bones, Bronwyn is officially spreading her wings — and doing it entirely on her own terms. 💀🎻✨ After a transition year of rotating musicians, Bronwyn has assembled a seriously stacked lineup featuring Tristan Scroggins on mandolin, Frank Evans on banjo, Grant Dresnok on guitar, and Grammy-winning bassist Larry Cook. Together, they’re rooted deeply in traditional bluegrass while still having the chops to stretch songs into completely different territory. 🎶⚡ But the heart of this conversation is Rattlin' Bones — OUT NOW! 💀💿🔥 The deeply personal 13-song album represents a huge evolution for Bronwyn as a songwriter. After years of believing songwriting simply wasn’t something she did, she decided that if she was going to become a solo artist, she needed music that was truly her own. ✍️❤️‍🔥 That meant collecting random lines in her Notes app, finding inspiration everywhere, and getting outside her comfort zone to co-write with some incredible songwriters. Bronwyn opens up about: 🎻 The first year of officially leading her own band — and why having a consistent lineup has completely changed the live show 🚐 Going from touring on a bus to personally driving the van, tour managing, and running the operation herself — and why it gives her an even deeper sense of purpose ✍️ Teaching herself how to become a songwriter and finding confidence through collaborations with writers like Pat McLaughlin 💀 Writing “The Wishing Well,” her own dark Southern Gothic-inspired murder ballad — complete with creepy houses, river mist, and somebody getting tossed down a well 😳 😂 🛣️ Turning the absolute chaos of Nashville’s Gallatin Road into a song because, apparently, anything goes on Gallatin Road ❄️ How WinterWonderGrass inspired “Blink of an Eye” and that wonderfully awkward question of whether someone in the crowd keeps looking at you because they like the music...or because they think you’re cute 👀😂 😵‍💫 The burnout behind “The Ride” and the complicated reality of achieving the dream you’ve worked toward only to discover that touring can still absolutely kick your ass 🔥 Why “Sticks and Stones” captures Bronwyn’s badass, don’t-give-a-shit side — and ultimately helped inspire the album title Rattling Bones Bronwyn talks about building the record piece by piece across multiple recording sessions while she was still writing it — essentially “building the plane as it’s taking off.” ✈️😂 🎧 Listen to the episode now wherever you get your podcasts — then go stream Rattlin' Bones, which is OUT NOW! 💀🎶🔥 Go see Bronwyn and the band live. Stream the album. Buy the merch. Tell your friends. Support the artists putting in the miles. 🚐🪕❤️‍🔥

S2E45 - North Fork Crossing - Portland Rose

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and co-host Shay welcome North Fork Crossing into the dungeon for a hilarious, high-energy conversation about Montana bluegrass, life on the road, finding your sound, and what it really takes to build a band from the ground up. 🪕🏔️🔥 The Bozeman crew takes us back to the beginning — from meeting as teenagers at Montana Fiddle Camp to reconnecting years later at a house party and realizing, “Dude…we should start a band.” What followed was a steady grind of pizza joints, house parties, bar gigs, festivals, DIY recordings, and plenty of miles in the van. 🚐🎶 North Fork Crossing opens up about: 🎻 Their wildly different musical backgrounds and how they came together 🎸 Starting out with plenty of Billy Strings covers before developing their own sound 🏔️ Learning from Montana bands like Kitchen Dwellers, The Lil Smokies, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, and The Last Revel 💿 Recording their first album DIY before leveling up for their new record, Portland Rose 🌹 🎤 Working with Travis McNamara to strengthen their arrangements and three-part harmonies 🏆 The pressure of the Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition — and why not winning ultimately made them a better band 📱 Using social media, personality, and plenty of ridiculousness to grow beyond Montana 🤝 Why relationships with other bands and the larger bluegrass community have been such a huge part of their journey And because it’s the dungeon, things obviously go off the rails. 😂 We get into ultimate frisbee 🥏, birding 🐦, questionable tour decisions, shaving heads, “North Fork Crotchley,” and the unforgettable story of a naked 1 A.M. sprint that ended with a busted toe. 🦶😂 Now the guys are starting to see the grind pay off — touring harder, releasing live recordings, building relationships with bands like Magoo, Armchair Boogie, and Clay Street Unit, and hosting Creekside Revival Festival at Pine Creek Lodge. 🎪🔥 At its core, this episode is about friendship, progression, community, and putting in the miles — respecting bluegrass tradition while figuring out exactly what North Fork Crossing sounds like. 🪕💛 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, check out their Dungeon Session, and go see these boys live! Buy the merch. Support the bands. Tell your friends. And LET’S FORKING GO! 🍴🪕🔥

WTRFT S2E44 - Mason Via

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi welcomes Mason Via to the dungeon for a conversation that spans everything from growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains to touring the world with Old Crow Medicine Show—and ultimately betting on himself to forge his own path. 🏔️🪕✨ Mason shares the winding road that's made him one of the most exciting voices in modern bluegrass. What starts as a conversation about childhood quickly becomes a masterclass on following your instincts, embracing your roots, and learning that the best career move isn't always the safest one. ❤️🎶 Mason opens up about: 🎸 Growing up in a musical family in the Blue Ridge Mountains with an award-winning songwriter dad and a Deadhead mom 🎵🌄 🎭 His teenage "emo phase" (yes... My Chemical Romance and Green Day 🤘😂) before finding his way back to bluegrass ✍️ Writing songs as early as 11 years old and the life-changing advice from his dad: "Why play someone else's songs when you can write your own?" 💡🎼 🎤 Winning talent shows, playing coffee shops, experimenting with indie folk, funk bands, and discovering that every musical detour shaped the songwriter he is today 🎸⚡🪕 🎬 His unexpected journey through American Idol, making the Top 25, and why that experience became the perfect preparation for everything that followed 🌟📺 🐦 Landing the audition that changed his life with Old Crow Medicine Show, writing songs with the band, earning a Grammy nomination, and playing iconic stages like the Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks, and the Ryman Auditorium 🎻🏆🌎 🚐 Why he chose to leave one of bluegrass's biggest bands to build something that was truly his own—and why he wanted to experience the grind of climbing the mountain himself 💪❤️‍🔥 🌲 The inspiration behind "See It While You Can," his heartfelt song advocating for America's public lands, and how it unexpectedly became a partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association 🏞️💚 🎶 His current touring band, songwriting philosophy, upcoming festivals, and why staying authentic is still the best career advice he's ever received 🎤🤝🚐 At its heart, this episode is about finding your own voice. It's about taking risks, honoring where you came from, resisting the pressure to become someone else, and trusting that authenticity will always outlast trends. 🌈🫶 🎧 Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts! It's an inspiring conversation full of incredible stories, behind-the-scenes moments, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that sometimes the biggest leap forward starts with betting on yourself. 💙✨

WTRFT S2E43 - High Country Hustle

🎧 This week on What's the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down with High Country Hustle for a conversation about building one of Colorado's fastest-rising bluegrass bands, surviving life on the road, making records the right way, and why community will always matter more than algorithms. 🪕🏔️✨ Coming straight out of Durango, High Country Hustle has spent nearly a decade carving out their own sound. What started as a group of college friends jamming together has grown into a nationally touring band with three albums, a brand-new record, and more momentum than ever before. This one starts with the beginning... 🎶 How three friends from Fort Lewis College accidentally started a band that never stopped growing 🚐 David Delaney's journey from Connecticut to Colorado and how a road trip changed everything 💍 Why weddings, private events, and local gigs are still some of the most important ways independent bands survive 📧 The surprising reason mailing lists are still more valuable than social media for musicians today But then the conversation shifts to making records... 🎙️ The story behind recording New Old Roads with producer Scooter Smith 🎛️ Why having a producer with a "light touch" helped the band make their album instead of someone else's 🎻 David almost throwing away one of the album's best fiddle solos before the rest of the band stopped him 📝 Whiteboards, Google Sheets, endless revisions, and what really goes into making an independent bluegrass record Then things get into the songwriting process... 🏕️ How two unplugged writing retreats helped shape the entire album 🎵 Why every member brings songs to the table before the band collectively finishes them 🎻 The evolution of "Madeline the Quaker," a tune written over a decade ago that finally found its perfect home 💡 How collaboration continues to shape the High Country Hustle sound without losing each songwriter's identity And then the conversation gets hilarious... 😂 The running joke about Berklee College of Music and David's classical background 🎓 Classical violin, upright bass, jam bands, and bluegrass somehow all colliding into one band 🎻 Learning over 70 songs after joining the group and earning his place almost overnight 🌭 Why David somehow became the band's "golden goose"... and a hot dog. The crew also dives into... 🪕 Growing up around Telluride Bluegrass Festival and how those early experiences shaped their love for music 🎸 Why Durango has quietly become one of Colorado's strongest music communities 🎟️ How buying tickets early helps independent bands more than most fans realize 👕 Why merch isn't just merchandise... it's fuel for the next album and the next tour 🌎 Expanding into new states, finding new audiences, and what comes next after releasing New Old Roads Of course, no What's the Reason for This? episode would be complete without plenty of laughs along the way. Between confetti cannons, Capri Suns mixed with LaCroix, arm wrestling challenges, Berklee jokes, and an ongoing campaign to convince everyone to join the mailing list, this episode perfectly captures why hanging out with musicians is just as entertaining as hearing them play. At its core, this episode is about building something that lasts. It's about trusting your friends, learning from every record, embracing every opportunity, and remembering that behind every independent band are countless hours of work that most fans never get to see. Most importantly, it's a reminder that bluegrass has always been about community first. 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. #HighCountryHustle #Bluegrass #ColoradoBluegrass #Durango #NewOldRoads #IndependentMusic #LiveMusic #JamGrass #BluegrassPodcast

WTRFT S2E42 - Chicken Wire Empire

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi welcomes Wisconsin's own Chicken Wire Empire into the dungeon for a conversation packed with Midwest bluegrass, European tours, Grateful Dead jams, and why some of the best bands in the country are coming from places people never expect. 🪕🧀🔥 When people think of bluegrass, they usually think of Kentucky, Tennessee, or Colorado... but Chicken Wire Empire is here to remind everyone that Wisconsin has been quietly building one of the strongest bluegrass communities in the country for decades. 🌲🎶 This one starts with the Midwest roots... 🧀 How Wisconsin's bluegrass scene grew through festivals, logging camps, and generations of musicians 🏕️ Why growing up in a smaller scene creates lifelong friendships and stronger musical communities 🎻 Finding each other through local bars, festivals, jam sessions, and a whole lot of Midwest persistence 🤝 The unique bond that comes from being a bluegrass musician in the Midwest But what makes Chicken Wire Empire so unique is the way every member brings a completely different musical background... 🎸 Traditional bluegrass, classical violin, classic country, electric blues, and jam bands all colliding into one sound 🎼 How classical training helped create richer arrangements and layered instrumentation 🌌 Drawing inspiration from David Grisman while still sounding unmistakably like Chicken Wire Empire 🔥 Why the band embraces both traditional bluegrass festivals and jamgrass crowds without trying to fit neatly into either world Then the conversation turns to one of the coolest projects they've ever tackled... 🎶 Reimagining songs from The Big Wu and Chris Castino as bluegrass tunes during the pandemic 🎤 Working alongside Midwest legends including Adam Gruhl and Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles 💿 Why honoring great songwriting matters more than simply covering songs 🤘 The creative challenge of making someone else's music truly your own And somehow... things only get bigger from there. ✈️ Landing two European tours after initially thinking the first offer was a scam 🇩🇪 Playing festivals throughout Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands 🪕 Discovering passionate bluegrass communities halfway across the world 🌍 Why music has a way of bringing people together no matter what language they speak The crew also gets into... 🎥 The story behind their documentary All It Takes 💰 How independent bands actually pay for albums, touring, and recording 👕 Why buying merch still makes the biggest difference for independent artists 🎵 Recording a brand-new collection of traditional-inspired songs set to release this fall At its core, this episode is about authenticity. It's about building a band because you love making music, trusting that your own voice will eventually find its audience, and proving that great bluegrass can come from anywhere... even America's Dairyland. 🧀🪕✨ 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. This one's funny, insightful, full of incredible stories, and a reminder that some of the best music is still being built one festival, one friendship, and one late-night jam at a time. #WhatsTheReasonForThis #ChickenWireEmpire #Bluegrass #JamGrass #Wisconsin #MidwestMusic #TheBigWu #ChrisCastino #LiveMusic #IndependentMusic #FestivalCulture

WTRFT S2E40 - Randy Steele - High Cold Wind

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down in the dungeon with Randy Steele of High Cold Windfor one of the most honest, emotional, and inspiring conversations we've had yet. 🪕🔥❤️ Fresh off an unforgettable week at the 52nd Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Randy shares the story behind his journey from firefighter and EMT to award-winning songwriter, bluegrass frontman, and one of the most compelling voices in the genre today. This one starts at the beginning... 🎸 Growing up in Tennessee surrounded by music and watching his uncle join the legendary Aquarium Rescue Unit 🎶 Meeting heroes like Warren Haynes and learning firsthand what dedication to music really looks like 🎷 Playing jam bands as a teenager before eventually studying jazz and finding his own creative voice ✍️ Why songwriting became the thread that connected every chapter of his life But Randy's story takes a turn that few musicians can relate to... 🚒 Leaving music behind to build a career as a firefighter and EMT 💔 The emotional toll of witnessing trauma and carrying those experiences home 🧠 Struggling with PTSD, grief, and learning how to ask for help ❤️ How therapy, healing, and sobriety completely changed both his life and his songwriting The conversation dives deep into the songs that have become the foundation of High Cold Wind... 🎵 Writing from real experiences instead of fictional stories 📝 The evolution of his songwriting process and finding the courage to be vulnerable 🥃 The story behind his powerful new single, "Cheers to Rob" ✨ Why some songs take years before you're finally ready to share them with the world And then comes the Telluride chapter... 🏔️ Years of trying to make the trip happen before finally getting the opportunity 👕 Launching a t-shirt fundraiser that sold out almost immediately and helped make the dream a reality 🎤 Competing in the Telluride Band Contest with High Cold Wind 🥈 Earning second place on one of bluegrass music's most prestigious stages But somehow the weekend gets even crazier... 🎻 A surprise invitation from longtime friend Todd Parks 🌄 Stepping onto the Telluride main stage to sit in with Sam Bush 🤯 Battling nerves, monitor issues, and a sea of thousands of fans 🎶 Experiencing one of those full-circle moments that only music can create The episode also explores... 🍻 Festival culture and the power of community 🤝 Why supporting independent artists matters more than ever 🎵 The connection between creativity, healing, and vulnerability 🔥 What happens when you finally stop waiting for permission and start chasing the thing you've always wanted to do At its core, this episode is about second chances, personal growth, and having the courage to reinvent yourself no matter where you are in life. 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. This one's funny, heartfelt, deeply human, and a reminder that sometimes the longest road ends up taking you exactly where you're supposed to be. 🪕❤️🏔️ #WhatsTheReasonForThis #RandySteele #HighColdWind #Bluegrass #TellurideBluegrass

WTRFT S2E39 - Front Porch

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi flies solo in the dungeon with Front Porch, the Northwest Arkansas bluegrass outfit that's quietly building one of the most unique sounds in the scene today. 🪕🔥🌲 What starts as a conversation about bluegrass quickly turns into a deep dive into community, creativity, festivals, and why music matters now more than ever. These guys may call Arkansas home, but their influences come from everywhere... 🎻 Growing up in family bands and learning bluegrass from an early age 🎶 French Creole music, old-time traditions, jazz studies, punk rock, metal, and jamgrass all colliding into one sound 🏡 How a handful of local jams, festivals, and friendships eventually became Front Porch 🌄 Why Northwest Arkansas has quietly become a thriving music community of its own Then the conversation turns to the festival circuit and the power of community... 🏕️ The impact of Harvest Fest, Hillberry, Winfield, Wakarusa, and campground culture 🎸 The legendary late-night jam that helped convince the band they had something special 🍻 Meeting bandmates through festival pickin' circles instead of auditions ⚡ Chasing those magical musical moments that only happen when everyone is locked in together But this episode goes way beyond the band's origin story. 🎵 Why arts and music education seem to be disappearing for younger generations 📱 Social media, attention spans, and the challenge of keeping creativity alive 🎤 The importance of musicians having a voice beyond simply "shutting up and singing" 🤝 How music continues to create community during increasingly disconnected times The crew also gets into the realities of life as an independent touring band... 🚐 Why regional touring often makes more sense than massive national runs ⛽ The financial realities of life on the road in 2025 🎪 How festivals remain one of the best ways for young bands to build a following 🏔️ Why Colorado audiences continue to be some of the most supportive anywhere in the country And for aspiring musicians, there's some great insight along the way... 🎻 Learning through jams instead of lessons 🔥 Why it's okay to suck when you're starting out 🎶 The etiquette of bluegrass circles and late-night pickin' sessions 🤘 How the best musicians never stop being students of the craft At its core, this episode is about community — the festivals, friendships, jam circles, and shared experiences that keep independent music alive long after the headliners leave the stage. 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. This one's funny, thoughtful, full of festival stories, and a reminder that some of the best bands in the scene aren't built in boardrooms or algorithms... they're built in campgrounds, parking lots, and late-night jams around people who simply love making music together. 🪕🔥✨ #WhatsTheReasonForThis #FrontPorch #Bluegrass #JamGrass #Hillberry #Winfield #FestivalCulture #LiveMusic #IndependentMusic #ColoradoMusic

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