5 Inspiring Podcasts for Musicians

Song Exploder is like a shot of inspiration for any musician interested in writing music. It takes fully produced songs and breaks them down, so you can hear what the ‘essence’ of the song is. By letting you hear separate instrument tracks, you get a clearer idea of what makes the final, full production sound the way it sounds. It’s like watching a home improvement show, but for music.

You also get a peak into the creation process of a song. Sometimes you’ll hear earlier versions of the song that the songwriters didn’t think were good enough. The guests share where they got their inspiration, why they made certain choices, and their struggles along the way. So if you’ve wondered if your creative process is somehow weird, strange or disfunctional, this podcast will show you that writing a song isn’t easy even for the greatest musicians in the world. It’s also simply a great way to get to know new artists.

With episodes between 15 to 25 minutes, this podcast is easy to consume on your commute or a walk.

Check out Song Exploder here.

On Shred with Shifty, Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett (nickname: ‘Shifty’) talks to some of the greatest guitar players alive. Think Nile Rodgers (CHIC), Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Alex Lifeson (Rush) and Lindsay Ell. The conversation ranges from funny anecdotes to digging into how a song (and its guitar parts) were created.

For example, in the Nile Rodgers episode, you’ll hear the CHIC bandleader tell about his life, how he started his career playing in symphony orchestras and how he bought his prized, hit-making stratocaster at a pawn shop. But they also dig into
the guitar voicings Rodgers likes to use, his favourite gear and the story behind and the guitar parts in the Diana Ross song "I’m Coming Out".

In short, fascinating talks, perfect for a long drive.

Check out Shred with Shifty here.

How do you make it in the music business? The DIY Musician podcast is here to help you answer that question. Hosts Chris Robley and Kevin Bruener (up until the summer of 2023) discuss everything from social media, email newsletters and advertising to royalties, playlists and touring. The hosts both work at CD baby, but are also actively working on their own bands and musical projects. It’s good to hear from the perspective of two musicians who are actually in the trenches doing the work, as they share frustrations, successes and everything in between. It’s a great place to find new ideas and how you can promote your band and grow your audience. Having been around for over 15 years, the podcast has a huge backlog of episodes to explore (just skip the news section a the start of those older episodes).

Check out the DIY Musician podcast here.

Chances are you already know about Tiny Desk Concerts. It’s a series of ‘video concerts’ held at the desk of the host of NPR show ‘All Songs Considered’. It’s been running since 2009 and has had many of the greatest artists of the past decade perform there. But the reason to follow is not so much to see Taylor Swift or the Cranberries play, but to discover new artists.

Now, you might already follow Tiny Desk Concerts, but did you know they have a podcast feed? Perfect if you like to listen and find out about new music on the go!

Check out Tiny Desk Concerts here.

Here’s a tip that you won’t find on any other list, or even when you search on your podcast app. Theme Time Radio Hour was a weekly radio show hosted by none other than Bob Dylan. It ran from 2006 to 2009, with a few bonus episodes released since.

Each episodes features songs around a theme such as ‘fools, ‘dreams’, or ‘luck’. Most songs are from the last century, so if you’re looking for music that you’ve most likely never heard of, this is the place. Bob Dylan talks about why he picked those records, with his signature brand of humor.

Look for this in your podcast app, and you’ll find only a single episode. But all the episodes are still available online. This website provides easy links.

Of course these are just a few of the many, many podcasts for musicians out there. Have any recommendations you think everyone should check out? I’d love to hear them. Send me a message here!