What's The Reason For This Podcast

🔥🪕 The Fretliners took over the dungeon for a WTRFT Session, and this one is the perfect companion piece to When the Kettle Sings.

They came in swinging with songs off the brand new record, stripped down around the mic and played the way this band does best: live, loose, and ridiculously tight.

🎶 In the session:

🌲 “Whippoorwill” A groovy opener that immediately sets the tone.

🐢 “Snapping Turtle” An instrumental Sam literally wrote after finding a giant snapping turtle while out with his mandolin. Which is already weird enough.

Then we made it even dumber.

There’s a perfect little knock in the song that I immediately decided needed a confetti cannon 💥🎉 and then Tom had the brilliant idea to hit the second one from behind the band.

So naturally, “Snapping Turtle” got the full DOUBLE CONFETTI CANNON treatment. 😂🎉💥🎉

Completely unnecessary.

Absolutely worth it.

🍂 “Autumn Rivers Bend” A beautiful one about life on the road, time moving too fast, and wanting to get back home to the person you love. ❤️

🌌 “Hole in the Sky” One of my personal favorites off the album and another reminder of how damn good these guys sound live.

This session is exactly why I love having bands in the dungeon.

No huge production. No bullshit. Just great songs, great players, a microphone, and apparently enough confetti to permanently ruin my carpet. 😂

🎥 The full Fretliners WTRFT Session is live now 🎧 When the Kettle Sings is out now

Go watch the session. Go listen to the record.

Then go support the damn band. 🔥🪕🎙️

🔥🪕 The Fretliners are back in the dungeon, and more importantly, their brand new album When the Kettle Sings drops TODAY.

This episode is all about the record.

We dig into the two-year process behind it, how the band wanted to capture something more raw and alive, and what happened when T Bone Burnett and Daniel Tashian helped bring that vision into focus. 🎙️🔥

Instead of building the album piece by piece, The Fretliners leaned into what they already do best:

🎻 Playing together in a room

🎙️ Gathering around a single mic

🚫 No click tracks

🎧 No headphones

📼 Real tape

🔥 Real performances

They walked into the studio for three days and came out with 15 songs recorded, letting the imperfections, movement, and chemistry of the band become part of the record instead of trying to polish all of it away.

We go track by track through some of the stories behind When the Kettle Sings, including:

🐢 “Snapping Turtle” and the actual snapping turtle that inspired it

❤️ “Stitch Up My Heart” and the deeply personal story behind the song

👻 The unexplained sound captured at the end of that recording

🎙️ Molly Tuttle joining them on “Josephina”

🎻 Stuart Duncan coming in and absolutely doing Stuart Duncan things

🌧️ The Grateful Dead connections hidden inside “Bells of Rafael”

🤠 Riders in the Sky appearing on “The Stone”

🔥 Why “Storms” went from a last-minute addition to the opening track

And we talk about how this album represents where The Fretliners are right now after everything that has changed, evolved, and grown since their first record.

There’s a lot of history on this thing. A lot of emotion. A lot of incredible players.

But underneath all of it, When the Kettle Sings still sounds like four dudes standing around a microphone playing the hell out of some songs.

And that might be the coolest part.

🎧 When the Kettle Sings is OUT TODAY.

Go listen to the record. Go buy the vinyl. Go support the band.

Then come hang out with us in the dungeon and hear how the whole damn thing came together. 🪕🔥🎙️

👉 http://thefretliners.com

🌱🎻 Grassfed Bluegrass is growing up fast, and Riley and Miller came on WTRFT to talk about how the hell they’re pulling it off.

They went from bluegrass fans and festival volunteers to building their own festival on the Outer Banks and basically learning everything as they go. 😅

We get into:

🎟️ Booking bands 🏕️ Finding the right venue 🍺 Beer, vendors and logistics 🚽 The extremely glamorous world of porta potties 📱 Social media and marketing 👕 Merch 🚗 Parking 💸 Ticket sales 😬 And the constant feeling of “oh shit, we actually have to make this happen”

We also talk about how Billy Strings helped pull them deeper into bluegrass, how volunteering at other festivals taught them what happens behind the scenes, and why they’ve built Grassfed around community, quality, good people and doing things the right way. 🌱❤️🎶

And of course, we tell the story of how I met Riley and Miller…

🥶 Freezing in line in Asheville

🥃 Shooters

📜 A Billy Strings poster

😂 Me folding that poster directly in front of Miller

😳 Miller looking at me like she had just witnessed a felony

Somehow, years later, those same people decided it would be a good idea to bring me in to emcee their festival. 🎤🔥

This year’s lineup is stacked:

🔥 ShadowGrass 🪕 East Nash Grass 🧭 Broken Compass 🏡 Front Porch 🎻 All She Wrote 🌹 Red Bud 🎶 Pickety Split 🚐 Podunk Ramblers

Eight bands. Two stages. One day. 🌱🎶🔥

🎧 Full episode with the founders of Grassfed Bluegrass is live now

📍 Nags Head, North Carolina 🎟️ Use code WTRFT at http://grassfedbluegrass.com for discounted tickets

Come for the bluegrass. Stay to find out why anyone thought giving me a microphone was a good idea. 😂🎤🌱

🔥 Water Tower 💦 finally made it into the dungeon and this one is equal parts bluegrass, punk rock, busking, internet chaos, and good old fashioned DIY hustle.

These guys call themselves punk rock bluegrass, which sounds confusing until you hear the story.

They started with traditional string music, punk rock roots, DIY flyers, busking on freeway off ramps, and a whole lot of figuring it out as they went. Then the pandemic hit, touring disappeared, and somehow that pushed them even harder into building a community online.

🎶 We get into:

🪕 How Water Tower went from square dances to punk rock bluegrass 🚦 Busking on LA freeway off ramps at 6 in the morning

🎻 How the current lineup found each other through busking and random musical collisions

🎸 Why Bela Fleck, Punch Brothers, punk rock, jazz, and old time music all somehow fit in the same universe

📱 How they built an online following without losing the human connection

❤️ Kenny’s approach to dealing with internet hate by giving people more kindness instead of more bullshit

📸 How Jessica became the secret weapon behind their content and helped turn the band into a digital machine

🤝 Collaborations with artists like Sierra Ferrell, Nick Hexum, John C. Reilly, and more

🎟️ The very real challenge of turning views into actual people buying tickets

The funniest part might be that half this band basically met because somebody was busking in somebody else’s spot. 😂

But underneath all the chaos, this episode is really about community, persistence, and refusing to wait for permission.

Water Tower built this thing from freeway ramps, sidewalks, livestreams, liquor stores, social media, and a lot of weird little moments that somehow kept stacking into something bigger. And through all of it, their whole philosophy is pretty simple:

Love the music. Love the people. Keep showing up. ❤️🎶

🎧 New episode with Water Tower is live now

Go watch it. Go listen to it. Buy the ticket before the day of the show.

And if you see somebody busking on an LA off ramp at 6 a.m. maybe don’t ignore them. They might end up at Telluride. 😂🔥

🎸🔥 Jon Stickley finally made it onto WTRFT and this one goes DEEP.

We talk Broke Mountain, learning bluegrass on the fly, the difference between East Coast and Colorado bluegrass, the influence of Jeff Austin, and what happens when a guitar player gets so good that he starts casually discovering new things he didn’t even know he could do. 😂

We also get into:

🪕 The absolutely ridiculous Broke Mountain lineup

🎶 Going from punk and indie rock to flatpicking bluegrass

🏔️ How Colorado changed the way he heard the music

🔥 Playing the Jeff Austin tribute and trading licks with Courtlyn

🥁 Why the Jon Stickley Trio basically said “nah” to the normal bluegrass rulebook

🎸 Building a sound around weird rhythms, different chords, and late-night festival chaos

🤝 Playing with Larry Keel and trying to make your heroes laugh onstage

And then the episode takes a much more personal turn.

Jon opens up about his son Callum, his STXBP1 diagnosis, and how his family turned one of the hardest moments of their lives into Strings for Callum, using the music community to raise awareness and money for research. ❤️

That part really says everything about this scene.

When somebody needs help, people show up.

We also talk about Jon’s new teaching platform, where he’s taking everything he learned the hard way and breaking it down for the rest of us regular wooks who need the video slowed down another 37 times. 😂🎸

🎧 New episode with Jon Stickley is live now

Go watch it. Go listen to it. Support Team Callum.

And if you’ve ever wondered how somebody becomes an absolute monster on guitar, apparently the answer is practice for 20 years and then still tell everyone you’re figuring it out. 😂🔥

🔥 Season 3 keeps getting weirder in the best way.

This week we’ve got Austin Kress, better known as Stony McBlaze, in the dungeon and this one is a full send. 😂🌿🎤

Austin breaks down how a homeschooled Christian kid chasing serious acting in LA somehow turned into one of the internet’s favorite stoners, built a massive following, ended up at the X Games, and then had to figure out how the hell to turn viral fame into an actual comedy career.

🎤 We get into:

🌿 How Stony McBlaze was born

📱 Going viral almost immediately on TikTok

🚀 Riding the algorithm straight to the X Games

💸 Why millions of views do NOT automatically mean millions of dollars

🎭 The difference between playing Stony and being Austin on stage

😂 Why writing stand-up as Stony completely failed

🎟️ The absolutely ridiculous story of almost getting an Austin show cancelled with eight tickets sold

📲 Why having a huge following does not mean people will actually leave their couch and buy a ticket

🧠 Building jokes from real life instead of chasing cheap shock value

🎤 Trying to evolve from “Stony McBlaze” into Austin McBlaze without confusing the hell out of everyone

🍦 And, obviously, a completely necessary breakdown of elite stoner snacks

The funniest part of this episode might be Austin explaining that one of his biggest problems is that people know Stony McBlaze but have no clue he actually does stand-up. Which is a pretty wild problem to have when hundreds of thousands of people follow you. 😂 And then there’s the Austin, Texas show…

Eight tickets sold. 😬

A pissed-off venue. 😡

Random people overseas buying tickets. 🌍

A last-minute social media rally. 📲

And somehow a packed room and a great show at the end of it. 😂🔥

Underneath all the stoner jokes and chaos, this is also a really good conversation about creative identity, social media, stand-up, failure, vulnerability, and figuring out how to turn internet attention into something real.

🎧 Season 3 Episode 3 is live now

🌿 Follow Stony McBlaze

🎤 Go see Austin do stand-up when he comes to your city

📲 And for the love of God, if you say you’re coming to the show... BUY THE TICKET. 😂🔥

🚨 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 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. 😂

🎧 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! 🎶💙✨

🎧 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. 🚐🪕❤️‍🔥

🎧 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! 🍴🪕🔥

🎧 This What’s the Reason for This Session brings a little Montana bluegrass straight from Bozeman into the dungeon as North Fork Crossing takes over the cave for a rowdy, intimate set packed with originals, stories, mountain-town energy, and plenty of banter. 🪕🏔️🔥

The session kicks off with “Portland Rose,” an original off the band’s new record featuring Silas Ray on vocals. 🚂🌹🎶 It’s a hard-driving tune about heartbreak, leaving town, and realizing sometimes there’s just no turning back. 💔🛤️

Next up, the band dives into another original, “DLL,” before sharing some of the history behind North Fork Crossing. 🎻✨ They talk about meeting as kids at Montana Fiddle Camp, reconnecting later in Bozeman, and eventually writing music together. And apparently, they knew from the beginning that this particular tune was destined for a cave... they just didn’t know yet that the cave would be THE DUNGEON. 😂🦇🎉 Naturally, that means one thing: CONFETTI CANONS! 🎊💥

The boys then switch things up with a cover from the Turnpike Troubadours, bringing some Red Dirt flavor into their Montana bluegrass world. 🤠🔥🪕 Afterward, we finally get the official-ish introductions — complete with nicknames, jokes, and classic dungeon chaos — as the band introduces Kid Sladen, Silas Ray, Matt Hickey, Ryan Lewis Kelly, and the rest of the crew. 😂🎸🎻

They close things out with “Lonesome,” another song from their new album, written while sitting alone in a lift shack at Bridger Bowl before leaving the job behind to pursue bluegrass. 🎿🏔️➡️🪕 What came out of that lonely mountain shift is a fitting final tune about heartbreak, solitude, and chasing something bigger. 💙🌲🎶

At its core, this session is Montana mountain bluegrass in its natural habitat — great picking, original songs, questionable nicknames, lots of laughs, and a bunch of mountain wooks hanging out in a basement cave making music. 😂🏔️🪕🔥

🎧 Turn it up, crack a cold one, and welcome North Fork Crossing to the dungeon! 🍻⚡🎶

🎧 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. 💙✨

🎧 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

🎶🔥 This week in the dungeon, High Country Hustle brings the heart of Durango to the basement with a session full of timeless bluegrass, fresh originals, and the kind of musicianship that makes you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. 🪕🏔️✨

Fresh off the release of their new album New Old Roads, the band delivers a three-song set that perfectly blends traditional roots with modern Colorado bluegrass. From classic covers to brand-new originals, every tune feels right at home in the dungeon.

The session opens with:

🎹 "Long Valley Road" — a beautiful take on the Bruce Hornsby classic that showcases the band's rich harmonies and tasteful picking while putting their own bluegrass spin on a beloved song. It's the perfect way to kick off a session that feels both familiar and fresh.

Next up:

🎻 "Madeline the Quaker" — an instrumental written by fiddler David Delaney, this tune has been years in the making and highlights the band's incredible chemistry. Driven by soaring fiddle melodies, tight rhythms, and lightning-fast picking, it's a reminder that sometimes bluegrass doesn't need words to tell a story.

And to close things out:

🌧️ "Stand Strong in the Rain" — an original by Andy Gowen from the band's new album New Old Roads. Filled with themes of perseverance, resilience, and finding strength through life's storms, the song builds from quiet reflection into an uplifting anthem that leaves the room hanging on every note. 🌦️❤️

Between songs, the band shares stories from life on the road, jokes about surviving the dungeon's signature confetti cannon, and reflects on the joy of making music together, proving that sometimes the best moments happen between the songs just as much as during them.

At its core, this session is everything we love about Colorado bluegrass — incredible musicianship, authentic songwriting, and a group of friends simply having a blast making music together.

🎧 Watch the full dungeon session now on YouTube and wherever you follow What's the Reason for This?

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #HighCountryHustle #DungeonSessions #Bluegrass #ColoradoMusic #Durango #NewOldRoads #LiveMusic #BluegrassSession #RootsMusic

🎧 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

🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down with guitarist, songwriter, and rock & roll torchbearer Duane Betts for a conversation about legacy, finding your own voice, overcoming addiction, and the deeply personal journey behind his new album, Isle of Hope. 🎸🔥

Fresh off the release of Isle of Hope, Duane opens up about growing up surrounded by one of the most iconic musical legacies in rock history while carving out an identity that's entirely his own. From learning drums as a kid to stepping on stage with the Allman Brothers as a teenager, this conversation explores what it means to embrace your past without being defined by it. 🌄🎶

This one starts at the very beginning...

🥁 Why Duane started as a drummer before ever picking up a guitar

🎸 How learning rhythm first shaped the way he approaches guitar playing today

🌟 The unforgettable story of accidentally trying to avoid his first Allman Brothers sit-in... by "forgetting" his guitar

🎶 What it felt like stepping into the spotlight at just fifteen years old

Then the conversation shifts into finding his own identity...

🔥 Growing up with one of rock's most legendary last names—and learning not to live in anyone else's shadow

🎼 Writing songs long before becoming a frontman

🎤 Why launching his solo career finally allowed him to tell his own story

🚐 Building a career through countless bands before stepping fully into the driver's seat

From there, they dive deep into the making of Isle of Hope...

🎙️ Working alongside legendary producer Dave Cobb and completely reimagining songs in the studio

🎸 Why some of the album's biggest moments came from trusting someone else's instincts

🎼 The cinematic decision to open the record with the haunting "Heartache"

🎵 How songs evolved from rough ideas into something even greater than Duane originally imagined

But then... the conversation becomes something much more personal.

💭 Processing grief after losing his father while creating one of the most emotional records of his career

❤️ How Isle of Hope ultimately became an album centered around hope, healing, and moving forward

⚡ Opening up about his battle with addiction and the moment he finally chose a different path

🙏 Why giving himself a second chance changed everything

The episode also explores life beyond the studio...

🎸 Touring with Dawes, the Allman Betts Family Revival, and friends across the country

🏔️ Why Jackson Hole unexpectedly became home

🎥 Creating stunning visual artwork and music videos to match the emotion of the album

🎼 Balancing the responsibility of preserving legendary family guitars while continuing to build his own legacy

Then the conversation comes full circle...

✨ Reflecting on a career built through persistence instead of shortcuts

🎶 Why every record is simply another chapter in a lifelong musical journey

🤝 Staying connected with fans and remembering that music has always been about building community

At its heart, this episode is about hope—finding your own identity, overcoming the darkest seasons of life, and realizing that your greatest legacy isn't the one you're born into... it's the one you choose to create. ❤️🎸

🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts.

This one's inspiring, honest, deeply personal, and offers a rare glimpse into the life of an artist who's honoring one of music's greatest legacies while fearlessly building one of his own.

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #DuaneBetts #IsleOfHope

🎧 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

🎧 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

🎶🔥 This week in the dungeon, Front Porch brings their Northwest Arkansas sound to Colorado for a session packed with heartfelt songwriting, rich harmonies, and the kind of road-worn authenticity that feels right at home in a late-night basement jam. 🪕✨

Fresh off a long drive through Kansas (and a highly recommended stop at Nafi's Pub 🍻), the band settles into the dungeon for a three-song session that showcases both their musical chemistry and their knack for writing songs that hit you right in the chest.

The session opens with:

🌤️ “Times Like These” — This Foo Fighters cover is a powerful anthem about resilience, growth, and learning how to keep moving forward when life knocks you down. With soaring harmonies and an uplifting message, it's the perfect introduction to the band's heartfelt approach to songwriting. 🎶❤️

Next comes:

🛣️ “Roadside” — a standout track from their debut album Shallow Grave, exploring self-doubt, burnout, and the struggle of pretending everything is okay while searching for direction. Anchored by emotional vocals and introspective lyrics, this one feels like staring out a van window somewhere between towns wondering what's next. 🌙🚐

Then the band shifts into:

🚤 “Lifeboat” — a beautifully written song about holding onto hope, chasing connection, and finding your way through uncertainty. Built around sweeping melodies and reflective storytelling, it captures the emotional depth that makes Front Porch's music so relatable. 🌊✨

And to close things out:

🎸 “House Party” — a moving tune about perseverance, friendship, and trusting that things eventually work themselves out. Equal parts hopeful and honest, it leaves the session on a note of resilience and optimism. 🔥🌅

Along the way, there's plenty of dungeon chaos, confetti cannon confusion, band introductions, and the easygoing camaraderie that makes these sessions feel more like a living room jam than a performance. 😂🎉

At its core, this session is about finding light through uncertainty — leaning on music, friendship, and the road ahead even when you don't quite know where it's leading.

🎧 Full dungeon session streaming now on YouTube and wherever you follow What's the Reason for This?

#WhatsTheReasonForThis #FrontPorch #DungeonSessions #Bluegrass #Americana #LiveMusic #NorthwestArkansas #Roadside #Lifeboat #GoodVibesOnly