Best Music Podcasts For Education, Insider Explanations and Riveting Convos

While all of that free time from social distancing might not be voluntary, it does mean there’s finally time to check out some great country music podcasts.

There are an overwhelming number of them to choose from, so rather than making you dive deep into the offerings, Nashville Music Guide has compiled a list of our favorites. There’s a podcast for everyone from music education to music industry explanations from people in the know as well as just fun conversations from your favorite artists.

Dolly Parton’s America

In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Hosted by Jad Abumrad, creator of Radiolab and More Perfect.

STREAM EPISODES: NPR | SPOTIFY

This Nashville Life

The story of how Music City makes its biggest export. The who, the how, the why, and the why not of country music. Part love letter, part hate mail, part how to guide. Come with us as we try to figure out what it means to live This Nashville Life. Your tour guides on this journey are two Nashville insiders themselves: Kelleigh Bannen (a touring country music artist named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country) and Kevin Sokolnicki (a Nashville based engineer and producer).

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | SPOTIFY

The Working Songwriter

Songwriter Joe Pug hosts a monthly conversation with today’s best songwriters discussing the intricacies of the songwriting process. Episodes have included Will Hoge, Lucinda Williams, Shane McAnally, Hayes Carll and more.

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Walking the Floor

Chris Shiflett, guitarist for Foo Fighters, Dead Peasants, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, hosts “Walking The Floor,” where he engages a wide range of musical guests, writers, athletes, and artists in one-on-one interviews exploring their creative inspirations, struggles, successes, and everything in between

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Nashville Demystified

“New Nashvillian” Alex Steed uses being a total outsider as an excuse to unearth the city’s rich history. It gives a voice to many facets of Nashville’s unique culture and demonstrate what makes this city interesting — above and beyond its music. 

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

Get Real with Caroline Hobby

Each week on GET REAL -w- Caroline Hobby, Caroline sits down and talks to the wives of your favorite country artists as well as top designers, influencers, thought leaders, actors, entrepreneurs, and all sorts of fascinating women (plus a few men from time to time!).

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | IHEART |SPOTIFY

Voices in the Halls

Voices in the Hall presents conversations with some of country music’s most fascinating and influential figures. Museum Senior Director, Producer, and Writer Peter Cooper hosts the series and conducts the interviews, recorded in the Museum’s audio lab by Alan Stoker, curator of recorded sound.

STREAM EPISODES: CMHOF | APPLE| SPOTIFY

Curious Nashville

Curious Nashville investigates oddities, shares local history, tells stories of interesting people, and explains how local institutions operate. You ask the questions, and we answer them.

STREAM EPIOSDES: NPR | APPLE | SPOTIFY

Cocaine & Rhinestones

This is history like you’ve never heard it. Immediately gripping and instantly credible, Cocaine & Rhinestones aims to reexamine country music of the 20th century – the songs, the people, the culture – placing it all into context for when and where we now stand.

STREAM EPISODES: SPOTIFY | APPLE

Geeking Out with Kristian Bush

Fans matter, and everybody is a fan of SOMETHING. Kristian Bush, one-half of the Grammy-winning duo Sugarland, talks to people from all walks of life about what they’re geeking out, and shares his own musical obsessions along the way.

STREAM EPISODES: SPOTIFY | NASHVILLE PODCAST NETWORK

Past, Present, Future Live!

A weekly show that tells the story of an artist’s musical journey in four parts. Past, Present, Future, Live! is a conversation between artist and audience—intimate stories about early inspirations, the creative process and what they’ve learned along the way. From their first music lesson to the first paid gig, we discover the unique journey of each guest. Every episode closes with a live, original performance of the songs that made the artist who they are today. Presented by Osiris Media

STREAM EPISODES:  Apple PodcastsSpotify

Song Chronicles

Louise Goffin’s Song Chronicles podcast features legendary songwriters, musicians and producers from the relaxed perspective of an insider having a conversation with peers. Now episodes weekly on Fridays, Song Chronicles creates a record of historic stories through in-depth conversation.

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | SPOTIFY

Too Much to Say with Kalie Shorr

Too Much To Say with Kalie Shorr features the Country singer and songwriter as she shares, and mostly overshares, her thoughts on everything from music to martinis, social media to social anxiety, regrets to risky texts and much more. Shorr also reveals diary entries and feature interviews with her crazy group of friends. New episodes of “Too Much To Say with Kalie Shorr” will be available Wednesdays on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.

STREAM EPISODES

Make It Up As We Go

Make It Up As We Go is the first ever Country Musical podcast. It follows the story of an aspiring young songwriter, played by Scarlett Burke, and her pursuits to make a name for herself in the music industry. Encountering a number of characters along the way, including legendary Nashville producer Van Tyler (played by Billy Bob Thornton), and the voice of country radio, Bobby Bones (playing himself).  Make It Up As We Go unravels Charlotte’s own personal journey navigating the writer rooms of Nashville, which is where the stories are told, songs are born, and in turn – finding her own voice along the way. The podcast’s cast also includes Dennis Quaid, Craig Robinson, Bre Blair, and Michael Raymond-James. Lindsay Ell, and executive producer, Miranda Lambert, will make appearances as themselves.

STREAM EPISODES: APPLE | SPOTIFY | IHEART

Country Shine with Graham Bunn

Country Shine provides listeners with unfiltered conversations on country music and country culture, plus unscripted, down-to-earth interviews with some of country music’s top stars. Graham Bunn, Country music radio and TV host veteran, brings his charisma, quick-wit, and Southern charm to the podcast mic as he celebrates the Country music genre with co-host Camryn Irwin, but also challenges it. Graham’s unique ability to personally connect with artists gives listeners an insightful and personal take on their favorite country musicians and songs. 

STREAM EPISODES: SPOTIFY

Living & Learning with Reba McEntire

Living & Learning with Reba McEntire is a weekly series inspired and informed by the way Reba approaches life: with an insatiable curiosity, dedication to expanding her knowledge, and reliance on her own lived experience. Along with her co-host and friend Melissa Peterman, Reba will tackle a different topic through informative and intriguing conversations with both an expert in the field and a celebrity guest each episode.

STREAM EPISODES: SPOTIFY

Stay Human

There’s no one you wouldn’t love if you knew their story. Michael Franti is a globally-recognized musician, humanitarian, activist, and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, devotion to health and wellness, worldwide philanthropic efforts, and the power of his optimism.

STREAMING EPISODES ON ALL PLATFORMS

Faith, Family & Friends

Grammy winning artist, John Berry, and his wife Robin have worked together most of his music career, and now have embarked on a new journey and project they created together through the podcast series Faith, Family & Friends. The bi-weekly subscription based podcast is an interview series where John and Robin provide a warm atmosphere of conversation in their ‘sitting around the kitchen table’ approach to talking with their guests. Listeners will be captivated and feel as if they are in the room with them. Each episode features a high profile guest, including celebrities, sports stars, Hall of Fame members, best selling authors and entertainers, who share personal stories about how their faith, family and friends have impacted their lives and careers.

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