Rephonic
Artwork for Basic Folk
Folk Music
Songwriting
Music Industry
Creativity
Mental Health
Bluegrass Music
Feminism
Nature
Bluegrass
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Music
Grief
Nashville
Bob Dylan
Community
Billy Conway
Basic Folk
Love
Folk Alliance
Collaboration

Basic Folk features honest conversations with folk musicians hosted by Cindy Howes and Lizzie No. We approach interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. Since 2018, this podcast has dignified under the radar roots musicians by providing a platform that they might not otherwise have. You’ll hear interviews from Three-time Grammy-winning guitar gods like Molly Tuttle, Haitian American f... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes379Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsArtsMusicPerforming Arts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Basic Folk

Latest Episodes

Jimbo Mathus grew up in a house full of musicians, and by the time he was 8 years old, he was sitting in on family jam sessions. He dropped out of college, joined the Merchant Marines and eventually settled in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He formed T... more

YouTube

For 17 years, Rachel McCartney had set aside a music career and all the anxiety and uncertainty that came along with it. She was in her mid-30s and wanted a family and some stability. Once she started a new life as an ICU nurse and mother to two youn... more

YouTube

We are so honored to welcome Keb' Mo' (aka Kevin Moore) on the show for our 350th episode! After many decades of incredible music, his new solo acoustic album, The Breakdown, was written and recorded at his home studio near Nashville following open-h... more

YouTube

If you have been paying attention to music circles for the past 25+ years, you will be familiar with Hrishikesh Hirway. He formerly released music under the moniker The One AM Radio and has also produced and hosted THE premiere music podcast of the 2... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

Recent Guests

Rachel McCartney
Folk musician and guest on Basic Folk
Independent artist
Episode: Rachel McCartney's Return to Music, Being a Horse Girl, & Accidentally Snubbing David Gray, ep. 351
Keb Mo (Kevin Moore)
Legendary blues/folk musician; solo artist and collaborator
Solo artist, The Breakdown
Episode: Keb' Mo' Defines the Blues as Honesty Music, ep. 350
Hrishikesh Hirway
Musician, creator of Song Exploder
Song Exploder / The One AM Radio
Episode: Hrishikesh Hirway: From Monikers to Podcasts to Music Under His Own Name, ep. 349
Ana Egge
Singer-songwriter invited to discuss Maya's songs
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
Caitlin Canty
Singer-songwriter invited to discuss Maya's songs
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
John Craigie
Singer-songwriter invited to discuss Maya's songs
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
Kristin Andreassen
Singer-songwriter invited to discuss Maya's songs
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
Oliver Wood
Musician invited to discuss Maya's songs
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348
Maya de Vitry
Artist and songwriter, central to discussion
Episode: MayaFest: Oliver Wood, Ana Egge, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, & Caitlin Canty on Maya de Vitry's New Album, ep. 348

Hosts

Cindy Howes
Host of Basic Folk with a background in Bluegrass Situation and related folk outlets.
Lizzie No
Co-host bringing contemporary folk perspective and collaborative energy to interviews.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • As good as it gets

    Both Cindy & Lizzie are great interviewers, without fail doing their homework, making their guests comfortable, and asking interesting, provocative questions that go deep. I look forward to each episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Guitar Camper Red
    United States2 months ago
  • Insightful, deep, and playful

    I adore Basic Folk’s interviews: the work that the hosts put into researching their guests and coming up with unique, interesting questions is apparent. I have become an avid listener, and I’m excited to discover more fascinating folk musicians through this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Velonwy
    United States2 years ago
  • Kara Jackson

    Amazing episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mplsexistance
    United States3 years ago
  • Cindy’s interviews…

    …are as good as it gets - full of info and insight with a personal touch!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DJ John NY
    United States4 years ago
  • Episode 124

    Love this podcast. I did find the interviewer distracting with their “yeah”, “right”, “mhm” while listening, a lot of the time while the person is still finishing her thought

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EllalovesTrumpet
    Canada5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The format and guest quality consistently deliver relatable, behind-the-scenes storytelling.
Hosts are deeply researched and put guests at ease.
Listeners praise the host's warmth, humor, and deep knowledge of folk music.
Interviews are insightful, with engaging, research-driven questions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lizzie No & Kimaya Diggs Celebrate America's Outlaws, ep. 347
Q: Is this outlaw? The Grammys.
A playful yet pointed question about whether mainstream award recognition constitutes an outlaw act or upholds the status quo.
Lizzie No & Kimaya Diggs Celebrate America's Outlaws, ep. 347
Q: Is this outlaw? The Boston Tea Party.
A discussion about whether historical acts of protest fit the outlaw label, highlighting tensions between rebellion and legal authority.
Abraham Alexander & Kashus Culpepper: Handsome Club Convenes at Sea, ep. 342
Q: What is the role that beauty and handsomeness have played in your lives, and has it changed over time?
Both discuss confidence as the core of beauty, with handsomeness serving as a reflection of how they carry themselves and how they use their appearance to connect with audiences.
Abraham Alexander & Kashus Culpepper: Handsome Club Convenes at Sea, ep. 342
Q: Growing up, what did folk or country music mean to each of you, and how has that definition evolved over time?
Abraham emphasizes storytelling and his Greek-to-Texan journey shaping his sense of folk and country as narrative art; Kashus reflects on church roots, soul and gospel influences, and learning to embrace his voice through adversity.
Julian Taylor's Folk Evolution: From Misfit to Musical Storyteller, ep. 340
Q: What inspired the shift in your sound around The Ridge?
Taylor explains that focusing on lyric-driven writing helped broaden his sonic palette, enabling a more global reach while maintaining personal storytelling. He emphasizes that the record marked a transition toward a more expansive, globally resonant sound while staying true to his roots.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Folk

What is Basic Folk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A warm, thoughtful interview series that centers folk, bluegrass, and Americana artists, often exploring craft, collaboration, and the realities of life on the road. Hosts bring generous preparation, deep musical curiosity, and a knack for pulling out storytelling, mentorship, and community angles from guests ranging from traditional songwriters to contemporary duos and activists. Notable throughlines include longevity in the folk scene, collaboration dynamics, touring realities, and a commitment to elevating underrepresented voices within the genre. The show frequently blends personal anecdotes with craft-focused conversations, making it a strong fit for listeners who want both musical insight and human storytelling from a community of ind... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Basic Folk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Basic Folk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Basic Folk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Basic Folk get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Basic Folk, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Basic Folk?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Basic Folk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Basic Folk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Basic Folk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Basic Folk are there?

Basic Folk launched 8 years ago and published 379 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Basic Folk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Basic Folk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Basic Folk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Basic Folk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Basic Folk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Basic Folk?

Recent guests on Basic Folk include:

1. Rachel McCartney
2. Keb Mo (Kevin Moore)
3. Hrishikesh Hirway
4. Ana Egge
5. Caitlin Canty
6. John Craigie
7. Kristin Andreassen
8. Oliver Wood

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days