Episodes

  • Ronnie Reno: He's seen it all in country & bluegrass
    Jun 5 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Ron Reno retired in 2019, after 60 years in bluegrass and country music. He started at age 7, with his dad Don Reno, and Red Smiley. He recorded ten albums during his 9 years with Merle Haggard, and played five years with the Osborne Brothers. He played with everyone from the Louvin Brothers and Ray Price to the Stanley Brothers and Johnny Cash.

    A prolific songwriter, producer and TV host, there's not much in the country and bluegrass world he hasn't experienced!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
  • Heather Berry Mabe: Daughter of the Stars
    May 12 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Every once in a while, I interview someone who is so natural and open that it feels like a chat with an old friend. That was the case with Heather Berry Mabe.

    In 2024, Heather won IBMA's Momentum Vocalist of the Year award. In 2025, her band, Red Camel Collective, won IBMA New Artist of the Year, and she was just chosen 2026 SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year.

    Her band, Red Camel Collective, with her husband Tony on banjo, was Junior Sisk's band for many years, but they are making huge waves in bluegrass on their own, since their 2025 debut album.

    She's a very spiritual person, with a golden voice and a personality to match. You will be hearing a lot from her!!


    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Liam Purcell: Fueling the Future of Buegrass
    Apr 28 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Liam grew up just down the road from Doc Watson's home in Deep Gap, North Carolina. A child prodigy on several instruments, he surprised everyone by sweeping the 2022 RockyGrass instrumental contests in guitar, mandolin and banjo, the first person to ever do so.

    He attended Berklee College of Music, and leads the band Cane Mill Road, which won IBMA's Momentum Band of The Year award in 2019.

    Age 24, he is already an experienced bluegrass pro, thoughtful and insightful. He talked a lot about Billy Strings, Doc Watson, and the trials and pleasures of leading a bluegrass band!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Blake Willams: Banjo Memories of Lester & Bill
    Apr 21 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Blake Wiliams played banjo with Lester Flatt and Nashville Grass, before his ten year stint with Bill Monroe and his Bluegrasss Boys. He was the longest tenured banjo player ever with Monore, and has some amazing stories to prove it!

    During his career, Blake has toured 48 states and 7 countries, played Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center. He recorded 2 albums with Lester Flatt, and 6 albums with Bill Monroe, including the Grammy winning Southern Flavor.

    You won't want to miss his wonderful memories, some never told before!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Darren Nicholson: Bringing North Carolina Bluegrass Home
    Apr 14 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Darren Nicholson has played mountain music since his youth in Western North Carolina. A great mandolinist with Alecia Nugent, and seventeen years with Balsam Range, he’s also an introspective songwriter, a harmony singer, lead vocalist, and guitarist. These days, he's a man on a mission, to bring North Carolina roots music back to the local community.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ettore Buzzini: Re-imagining The Banjo
    Apr 9 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Ettore Buzzini is an eighteen year old banjo prodigy from North Carolina. Winner of Fresh Grass 2025 Banjo Contest, he’s a strong songwriter, instrumentalist, and vocalist, whose dream is to "bring as much of the human experience to our music as possible.” His banjo work is very melodic and sounds like no one else in bluegrass. I think he's a force to be reckoned with. Check him out.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Tim Stafford: The Song is The Story
    Mar 31 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Tim Stafford is a master songwriter, guitarist and teacher. From Alison Krauss & Union Station, to 30+ years with Blue Highway, he's had his finger on the pulse of bluegrass. A wide ranging intellect, with special love for Tony Rice, we could have easily talked for another hour!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Andy Leftwich: Fiddle and Faith
    Mar 23 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    4-time Grammy winner Andy Leftwich began playing fiddle at age 6, entered his first contest at 7, and won the National Championship for Beginners at 12. At age 19 he joined Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, where he played for 15 years.

    He's also one of Nashville’s most sought after studio musicians, for artists like Bruce Hornsby, Dailey & Vincent, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Ronnie Millsap, Craig Morgan, and many more. His third album "Aced" comes out April 17.

    Andy is an amazing musician, and a man of strong faith, and we discussed music and faith at length in this fascinating conversation.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min