Rephonic
Artwork for Heavy Stories Podcast

Heavy Stories Podcast

Matt Mills
Exodus
Propagandhi
Anxiety
Karnivool
Bay Area
As Everything Unfolds
Thrice
Svalbard
Ozzy Osbourne
MØL
Halestorm
Veganism
Einar Solberg
Leprous
Hellripper
In Verses
Black Label Society
Grief
Thrash Metal
Engines Of Demolition

Every band has a story to tell. Join decorated music journalist Matt Mills as he interviews the biggest, best and most interesting artists in rock and metal. New episodes every Thursday morning.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes18Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Heavy Stories Podcast

Latest Episodes

Robin Staps is the guitarist, founder, manager, lead songwriter and main lyricist of German progressive/post-metal unit The Ocean. On episode 18 of HEAVY STORIES, he talks about rebuilding his band's lineup almost from scratch between previous album ... more

Devin Townsend is a maverick prog metal solo artist and the former leader of Strapping Young Lad, the Devin Townsend Project and more. On episode 17 of HEAVY STORIES, he opens up about what makes him tick, including trauma, his contrarian streak, a d... more

Shane Embury is the bassist for grindcore legends Napalm Death and a singer/multi-instrumentalist in myriad other projects. On episode 16 of HEAVY STORIES, he talks about kicking alcohol and discovering Jungian therapy, and how these things coloured ... more

Charlie Rolfe is the lead singer of High Wycombe metalcore band As Everything Unfolds. On episode 15 of HEAVY STORIES, she opens up about the loss of her band's drummer Jamie Gowers in August 2024 and how she navigated the grief that followed. She al... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Turned Out A Punk
Turned Out A PunkTurned Out A Punk
One Life One Chance with Toby Morse
One Life One Chance with Toby MorseOne Life One Chance with Toby Morse
The Downbeat
The DownbeatCraig Reynolds
Scarred For Life
Scarred For LifeLock It In Studio

Recent Guests

Shane Embury
Bassist for Napalm Death and solo artist
Napalm Death, Bridge To Resolution
Episode: THE LIFE AND GRINDS OF SHANE EMBURY: Napalm Death bassist on new solo album, Jim Carrey, future music, quitting drink and more
Charlie Rolfe
Lead singer of As Everything Unfolds
As Everything Unfolds
Episode: UNDERSTANDING GRIEF WITH AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS: Charlie Rolfe on overcoming loss, maladaptive daydreaming, new album Did You Ask to Be Set Free?
Ian Kenny
Lead singer of Karnivool
Karnivool
Episode: WHY KARNIVOOL TOOK 13 YEARS TO MAKE AN ALBUM: Ian Kenny reveals the story behind In Verses
Pavel Kondov
Music journalist and co-host for this episode
Distorted Sound magazine
Episode: THE BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2026 SO FAR!
James McBain
Leader of Hellripper, one-man blackened thrash metal project
Hellripper
Episode: HELLRIPPER TALKS SCORCHING RIFFS AND SCOTTISH FOLKLORE: James McBain on new album Coronach, Metallica vs Megadeth, Anthony Fantano, myth and more
Daniel Tompkins
Lead singer of Tesseract; member of Prince of Failure
Tesseract; Prince of Failure
Episode: DAN TOMPKINS’ JOURNEY WITH ADHD: Tesseract singer on neurodivergence, police past, new project Prince of Failure and more
Einar Solberg
Singer-guitarist of Leprous; solo artist
Leprous, Vox Occulta
Episode: HOW EINAR SOLBERG CONTROLS HIS ANXIETY: Leprous frontman opens up on mental health, confronting worrying thoughts, family, meeting Ihsahn and more
Nina Saeidi
Co-founder and lead singer of Lowen
Lowen
Episode: IRAN, RACISM, FAMILY AND MUSIC WITH NINA SAEIDI: Lowen singer on Middle Eastern heritage, bringing weapons onstage, US–Iran War, the time someone died on her
Chris Hannah
Singer, guitarist and co-founder of Propagandhi
Propagandhi
Episode: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PROPAGANDHI: singer/guitarist Chris Hannah on American politics, annoying the KKK, going vegan, growing up on airbases, new album At Peace, aggravating punks, musical evolution

Host

Matt Mills
Host and lead interviewer focusing on stories behind bands and albums in rock and metal.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 7 ratings
  • Dustins interview

    This is easily the most enjoyable and insightful podcast I’ve ever listened to. Thank you to both of you ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dustys interview
    Australia2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging guests with deep dives into personal journeys.
Consistent, thoughtful interviewing that respects guests' experiences.
Great mix of industry insights and musician-focused chats.
High-quality questions and authentic storytelling from artists.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#243
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#136
Italy/Music
Apple Podcasts
#216
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#10
Norway/Music
Apple Podcasts
#98
Switzerland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WHY KARNIVOOL TOOK 13 YEARS TO MAKE AN ALBUM: Ian Kenny reveals the story behind In Verses
Q: How did the band reframe their approach to making the album after the hiatus?
The band adopted more deliberate communication, a stable, dedicated space in Foxhole Perth, and a structured yet flexible creative process that allowed ideas to mature. They also relied on external support, like Forrester, to realign the project's purpose and maintain momentum, turning long patches of inactivity into a cohesive workflow.
WHY KARNIVOOL TOOK 13 YEARS TO MAKE AN ALBUM: Ian Kenny reveals the story behind In Verses
Q: What were the reasons that In Verses took 13 years to come out?
Ian Kenny explains that the delay was due to a mix of demanding previous records, geographic separation of members across Australia, personal and mental health challenges, and the need to reestablish effective communication and processes. Over time they found a sustainable rhythm, relocated parts of the workflow, and finally came together with a clearer plan in 2024–2025.
HOW EINAR SOLBERG CONTROLS HIS ANXIETY: Leprous frontman opens up on mental health, confronting worrying thoughts, family, meeting Ihsahn and more
Q: Was there a turning point where you felt like you really conquered your anxiety?
He identifies early 2021 as a turning point, acknowledging that while anxiety may never be fully conquered, his worst period had passed and he now experiences fewer and less intense episodes, with meaningful strategies in place to manage it.
IRAN, RACISM, FAMILY AND MUSIC WITH NINA SAEIDI: Lowen singer on Middle Eastern heritage, bringing weapons onstage, US–Iran War, the time someone died on her
Q: What lessons would you share with listeners who feel like outsiders or children of immigrants?
Her core message is to trust your intuition, be kind to yourself, and practice radical kindness and empathy, rejecting the idea that you must fit into a predefined mold to be successful or fulfilled.
IRAN, RACISM, FAMILY AND MUSIC WITH NINA SAEIDI: Lowen singer on Middle Eastern heritage, bringing weapons onstage, US–Iran War, the time someone died on her
Q: Can you talk about the on-stage weapons and the backstage planning around that, and how audiences react?
She details the use of blunted antique weapons, the construction of a tech rider that includes daggers, and a history of a near-incident where a security guard intervened, emphasizing safety, legality, and the theatrical intent rather than malicious danger.

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 Heavy Stories Podcast

What is Heavy Stories Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on in-depth conversations with notable figures in rock and metal, spanning musicians, journalists, and industry insiders. Episodes emphasize career journeys, creative processes, personal journeys with mental health, grief, addiction, and the business realities of touring and releasing music. A standout aspect is the breadth of guest backgrounds—from solo artists to band leaders and journalists—delivering candid, storytelling-focused interviews that blend craft, culture, and personal resilience. Listeners can expect raw honesty, insightful industry context, and a strong emphasis on authenticity and perseverance in the music scene.

Where can I find podcast stats for Heavy Stories Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Heavy Stories Podcast. 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 Heavy Stories Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Heavy Stories Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Heavy Stories Podcast, 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 Heavy Stories Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Heavy Stories Podcast, 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 Heavy Stories Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Heavy Stories Podcast 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.

Which podcasts are similar to Heavy Stories Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Heavy Stories Podcast:

1. The First Ever Podcast
2. Turned Out A Punk
3. One Life One Chance with Toby Morse
4. The Downbeat
5. Scarred For Life

How many episodes of Heavy Stories Podcast are there?

Heavy Stories Podcast launched 4 months ago and published 18 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 Heavy Stories Podcast?

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 Heavy Stories Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Heavy Stories Podcast 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 Heavy Stories Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Heavy Stories Podcast. 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 Heavy Stories Podcast?

Recent guests on Heavy Stories Podcast include:

1. Shane Embury
2. Charlie Rolfe
3. Ian Kenny
4. Pavel Kondov
5. James McBain
6. Daniel Tompkins
7. Einar Solberg
8. Nina Saeidi

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