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The Working Songwriter

Joe Pug
Songwriting
Nashville
Music Industry
Banzoogle
Country Music
Touring
Music Production
Los Angeles
Music
Bluegrass Music
K Flay
Steve Louw
Indie Rock
Chicago
Save Ferris
Creative Process
Michigander
Austin City Limits
Old Town School Of Folk Music
Joe Ely

Joe Pug hosts a weekly conversation with one of today's best songwriters. The Working Songwriter is a part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network. Interested in sponsoring us? Contact: bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods Over 300 catalog episodes available to stream in the Nation of Heat Vault. Visit joepugmusic.com/vault

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes352Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsArtsMusicPerforming Arts

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Artwork for The Working Songwriter

Latest Episodes

Our guest this week on the Working Songwriter hails from a small mountain town in California, but his music has now made it across the world. Jay Buchanan got his start in the early 2000s with a solo project before joining ranks with a rock band and ... more

This episode was originally aired on June 18th, 2021.

After many years in celebrated roots music groups such as Po' Girl, Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters, this songwriter has released a critically acclaimed debut album under her own name.... more

Our guest this week is Cody Diekhoff, better known as Chicago Farmer.

He grew up in the small farming community of Delavan, Illinois, before moving to Chicago in 2003. Over the past two decades, he has built a devoted following through relentless to... more

This episode originally aired on November 5th, 2021.

John Flansburgh, one of the founding members of this groundbreaking indie-rock institution, stops by the show to talk about his creative process and how his band has navigated the music business f... more

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.

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Recent Guests

Allison Russell
Singer-songwriter and solo artist; former Birds of Chicago member
Episode: Classic Episode - Allison Russell
Cody Diekhoff
Chicago Farmer, songwriter and performer
Delavan, Illinois-based artist; Fieldnotes
Episode: Chicago Farmer
John Flansburgh
Founding member of They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
Episode: Classic Episode - They Might Be Giants
Gabe Dixon
Keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter for the Tedeschi Trucks Band
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Episode: Gabe Dixon and Mike Mattison of the Tedeschi Trucks Band
Mike Mattison
Lead vocalist and lyricist, co-founder of Tedeschi Trucks Band
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Episode: Gabe Dixon and Mike Mattison of the Tedeschi Trucks Band
Robert Finley
Louisiana singer and guitarist known for retro-soul and blues
Independent artist, Easy Eye Sound (via Dan Auerbach)
Episode: Classic Episode - Robert Finley
Stephen Markley
Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter
Simon & Schuster (publisher for Ohio); writer for Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Episode: Novelist, Stephen Markley
Chris Carrabba
Lead singer/songwriter of Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Episode: Classic Episode - Dashboard Confessional
Dale Watson
Singer-songwriter known for Ameripolitan and roots music
Self-employed musician/Ameripolitan founder
Episode: Dale Watson

Host

Joe Pug
Host of the show, known for exploratory, conversational interviews with contemporary songwriters.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Great stuff

    Been listening for years, thanks for the good work Joe! … and personally I think the website salesman ads are funny. Cheers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nahhhhh…
    United States2 months ago
  • If you write songs…

    This is the podcast for you. Joe is funny, intelligent and insightful. My favorite podcast about music and the reality of being an independent singer songwriter. The best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MD Boat Guy
    United States5 months ago
  • Insightful, intelligent, and essential!

    This is one of the best songwriting podcast out there. As a professional songwriter, who’s been on a lot of interviews, I’ll say that Joe is a fantastic host and brings on amazing guests who reveal deep and unique aspects about themselves and the creative industry they are part of. I’m always enthralled and enlightened and I’m so grateful that this forum exists so we can get to know the artists we love and admire. Definitely give a listen. Ps he’s also funny which helps.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robin Jacksophone
    United Statesa year ago
  • No

    First thing I hear is “Some guy named Tucker would drive an fj cruiser and would make you a website for $1000?” Absolutely not. What a moronic statement.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ashexxx
    United Statesa year ago
  • Always a great listen!

    Joe has a great conversational approach that is easy to listen to and his production is top notch. Easily one of the best podcasts out there today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Russell Christian
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Production quality and conversational tone are repeatedly highlighted as top-notch.
Guests are varied yet consistently relevant to songwriting and the music industry.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful, engaging interview style and deep dive into craft.
Show is seen as essential and inspirational for songwriters and music creators.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chicago Farmer
Q: What have been the practical challenges of releasing new music in recent years?
Financing and cash flow are ongoing issues; it takes a lot of upfront investment, but working with a label and planning releases helps manage costs and sustain the project over time.
Chicago Farmer
Q: How did the Chicago environment influence your songwriting and your identity as an artist?
The city exposed me to a broader spectrum of characters and experiences, which broadened my storytelling lens from rural narratives to urban life and its struggles, and showed me how live performances can shape songs in real time.
Dale Watson
Q: When did you move to Austin and what drew you there?
Watson explains it was a combination of influences and opportunities after LA, ultimately falling in love with Austin's welcoming environment for original music and a stronger live scene.
Novelist, Stephen Markley
Q: What drew you out to Los Angeles and into screenwriting?
The guest recounts the practical and artistic pull of writing for TV, the collaborative environment of a writer's room, and the appeal of transitioning from solitary novel writing to the fast-paced, team-driven process of television.
Novelist, Stephen Markley
Q: When did you start to develop that polyphonic voice in your writing?
The guest explains that developing multiple perspectives wasn't a planned decision; it emerged as the novel evolved, especially when moving from Ohio to The Deluge, with the approach becoming a deliberate tool to explore different characters and viewpoints.

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 The Working Songwriter

What is The Working Songwriter about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on in-depth conversations with contemporary songwriters across genres, exploring craft, career evolution, and the realities of making a living from music. Conversations often trace early influences, DIY beginnings, and the balance between artistic integrity and industry demands, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, collaboration, touring, and the evolving ways artists release and sustain their work. A notable through-line is the host's approachable, curiosity-driven interviewing style that helps guests unpack creative processes, personal routines, and resilience in a changing music landscape. Expect a mix of intimate career retrospectives, practical craft tips, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that are useful for aspiring... more

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How many listeners does The Working Songwriter get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Working Songwriter?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Working Songwriter:

1. Americana Podcast
2. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
3. That's How I Remember It
4. The Bob Lefsetz Podcast
5. Sodajerker On Songwriting

How many episodes of The Working Songwriter are there?

The Working Songwriter launched 11 years ago and published 352 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 The Working Songwriter?

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What guests have appeared on The Working Songwriter?

Recent guests on The Working Songwriter include:

1. Allison Russell
2. Cody Diekhoff
3. John Flansburgh
4. Gabe Dixon
5. Mike Mattison
6. Robert Finley
7. Stephen Markley
8. Chris Carrabba

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.

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