Podcast
Americana Curious
Hosted by Ben Fanning & Zach Schultz · EN
The podcast that unearths hidden Americana gems, shares untold stories from legends, and proves music still has the power to move us all.
If you believe Americana music can transform the world, you’re in the right place.
Too many overlook its raw beauty and power to connect, heal, and inspire. We spotlight the artists carrying that torch — unsung heroes writing the soundtrack to something bigger.
Each week, hosts Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz bring you intimate, entertaining conversations with artists changing the world one song at a time — like Old Crow Medicine Show, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, The Wood Brothers, American Aquarium, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and rising stars you’ll soon love.
You’ll discover:
• New music to love
• Hard-earned lessons from the road
• The stories behind your favorite songs
• Big inspiration — and a good laugh
Join us to celebrate the voices, values, and stories that keep Americana alive — and prove why music still matters.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Reckless Kelly: They Rejected Nashville to Build a 30-Year Indie Career | Willy Braun
2w ago00:54:13Tap to summarizeHow does an independent band stay true to its roots, resist industry pressure, and survive for over three decades?In this episode of Americana Curious, hosts Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz sit down with Willy Braun, frontman and lead singer of the legendary country-rock band Reckless Kelly.Long before sold-out shows and a devoted following, the band survived by pooling "Band Bucks," sleeping on bar floors, and driving a banged-up $1,500 Suburban.Willie opens up about their early days playing seven nights a week in Austin, getting a stamp of approval from icons like Joe Ely and Robert Earl Keen, and why they famously walked away from major Nashville labels who wanted them to "smooth out" their sound.In this episode, we dive into:The "Band Bucks" Days: Surviving poverty and keeping a band together when you have no money to fight over.The TikTok Trap: Willie’s brutally honest advice to young musicians on why mastering your craft matters more than chasing viral moments.Alternate Roots: The story behind their new album and why they decided to re-record their classic crowd-pleasers.On Stage with Heroes: What it's really like to transition from a childhood fan to becoming the official backing band for Steve Earle and Joe Ely.Grab a cold one and get ready to get Americana curious!Connect with Reckless Kelly:Check out the new album Alternate RootsGrab tickets to the Braun Brothers Reunion FestivalSupport the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please take 30 seconds to follow the show on Spotify, rate us, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more music lovers discover the power of Americana!
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Mason Jennings: Turning Down Rick Rubin, Battling Agoraphobia, and Chasing Truth Over Fame
3w ago00:42:49Tap to summarizeWhat happens when a musician completely rejects the corporate machine?In this episode of Americana Curious, Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz sit down with singer-songwriter Mason Jennings to discuss his incredible 30-year independent career.Mason opens up about why he walked away from major label record deals, what it was really like working with (and turning down) Rick Rubin, his fun connection to Prince, and his internal battle with crippling agoraphobia and panic attacks on tour.Whether you are an independent musician navigating the modern landscape of Soundcloud and AI or a fan of real, raw, road-worn music, this conversation explores what it truly means to protect your creative spirit at all costs.💡 STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE:• Turning down a million-dollar major label deal• The truth about working with Rick Rubin (and the pitch-black Warner Bros meeting)• How EMDR therapy helped Mason overcome agoraphobia• The night Prince played air guitar to his songs at First Avenue• How AI, Soundcloud, and streaming are shifting the value of music• The stories behind "Rebecca Deville" and his new album Dark WingsChapters:00:00 – Why Mason Jennings turned down Rick Rubin02:15 – The wild night Rick Rubin turned off the lights at Warner Bros04:30 – Surviving crippling agoraphobia and panic attacks on tour07:10 – The secret story behind "Rebecca Deville"09:45 – When Prince watched Mason from the box seats11:50 – How AI and Soundcloud are shifting the future of the music industry-----As a gift to listeners, Zach has curated 7 MUST LISTEN Mason Jennings songs here.-----Ben Fanning and Zach Schultz host Americana Curious, a podcast spotlighting the unsung heroes of Americana music. This show features deep-dive music interviews with legendary independent artists, uncovering the hard-earned lessons, songwriting secrets, and real-world struggles behind your favorite acoustic, folk, and rock-infused songs👉 SUPPORT THE SHOW: Follow the show and rate us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and leave a review on Apple to help more people discover the power of Americana #AmericanaMusic#MasonJennings #RickRubin #Songwriting #IndependentArtist #MusicPodcast #AmericanaCurious #Prince
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What Bruce Springsteen Teaches About Leadership, Community, and the E Street Band | Andy Freed
Jun 1600:50:01Tap to summarizeWhat can leaders learn from Bruce Springsteen?A lot more than you might think.In this special crossover episode from the Lead the Team podcast, Ben sits down with Andy Freed—CEO, author, and a devoted Springsteen fan who has attended nearly 100 Bruce Springsteen concerts.Over the years, Andy noticed something remarkable: many of the leadership lessons taught in boardrooms are being demonstrated night after night on stage by Bruce and the E Street Band.From how he acknowledges his band members to how he commands attention for three hours, Springsteen has built one of the most enduring cultures in music.In this conversation, you'll hear:Why Bruce makes every band member feel like the most important person in the roomThe leadership lesson hidden in his end-of-show ritualHow great communicators think about their audience firstWhy repetition is essential for leading changeWhat leaders can learn from Bruce's setlists, storytelling, and stage presenceHow collective experiences create stronger teams and communitiesWhy intentionality may be the most underrated leadership skillWhether you're a lifelong Springsteen fan, a music lover, or someone trying to lead people more effectively, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on what it means to inspire others.
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Bella White: The Rising Americana Voice You Need to Hear
May 2600:23:58Tap to summarizeSome artists sound polished. Some artists sound real. The rare ones give you both.I caught up with backstage at the Charleston Pour House right before she took the stage — you can hear the traffic outside, the crowd starting to buzz, and the energy building before the show.At just 25 years old, Bella is writing songs with an emotional honesty and depth that feels timeless.We talked about emotional restlessness, life between places, quietly commanding a room, and how heartbreak and searching have shaped her songwriting.She also opened up about evolving beyond her bluegrass roots while staying true to the music that raised her.Bella’s upcoming album A Sign in the Weather is going to connect with a lot of people.This conversation made it obvious why her shows are selling out across the country right now.
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Winyah (Right Before They Blew Up)
May 500:15:03Tap to summarizeWinyah had 3 songs.Then they got the call to play Bonnaroo.No album.Just a deadline.So they did what most people won’t:They locked in.Slept on couches.Finished an entire record in weeks.Fast forward—They’re opening High Water Festival in Charleston…stepping on stage in front of 15,000..And here’s what surprised me most:They’re playing the long game.→ Eating clean on tour→ Running between shows→ Thinking about how they’ll still perform at 50Because they’ve seen how this story ends for bands that don’t.And then this moment hit:One of them even walked away from big corporate finance job...to do this.“This is a lot more fun.”That’s the tradeoff.Security vs. story.Comfort vs. calling.So—If the call came for you…would you be ready?
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TAJ MAHAL Influenced Bob Marley (And Why Music Feels Different Today)
Apr 2200:40:46Tap to summarizeWhat does Taj Mahal understand about music… that most artists still miss today?How did his approach to sound end up influencing Bob Marley?What does it actually mean to feel music instead of just hearing it?And what have we lost… now that music has become something we just consume?In this episode, Taj Mahal—five-time Grammy winner and one of the architects of modern Americana—shares a radically different way of thinking about music, connection, and culture.From growing up surrounded by gospel, jazz, and radio… to shaping a sound that would ripple across generations…This is a conversation about music.AND why that matters more than ever.Ben and Zach have been talking about this interview ever since!Taj doesn’t just talk about music...he lives it.And somewhere along the way, it made us rethink how we listen… not just to songs, but to everything around us.We hope it does the same for you.If it does—share it with someone who needs to hear it!
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John-Robert: Dropped by His Label While Delivering Pizza…Then Everything Changed
Apr 600:37:25Tap to summarizeWhat happens when your dream falls apart… right in the middle of a pizza shift?John-Robert was closing at work when he got the call…he’d been dropped by his label.Most artists don’t come back from that. He moved home to Virginia…built a studio.and started making music nonstop.No label.No plan B.No guarantees.Today, his music has millions of streams around the world.But the real story isn’t just the success… it’s the life behind it.And this one was just a BLAST!John-Robert is hilarious, self-aware, and completely himself.We laughed a lot.We went off of fun tangentsAnd you can feel how much he genuinely loves music, people, and the ride he’s on.That’s what makes this episode different.In this episode of Americana Curious, John-Robert, Ben and Zach get into:The moment everything fell apartWhy living life fully matters more than writing songsThe scrappy rebuild that changed everythingOpening for Liam Gallagher (OASIS) and playing a free show in the park right afterWhat it actually takes to make it as an independent artistAnd a moment that just feel real, funny, and raw.If you’ve ever chased something… lost it… and had to rebuild from scratch — this one’s for you.🎧 Follow Americana Curious for more real stories from artists living the music.
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MORGXN:Nashville Said No, He Said YES!
Mar 2900:31:18Tap to summarizeMORGXN, the Americana artist who just redefined what the Heartland means, joins Ben and Zach on Americana Curious for a conversation that you'll never forget.Early in his career, he was told he’d never make it in Nashville as an openly gay artist. So he left.But something pulled him back. Instead of abandoning the music… he decided to reclaim something bigger.The Heartland.Not as a place owned by a genre or a stereotype but as a place that BELONGS TO EVERYONE.Along the way, he’s collaborated with Sara Bareilles and Walk the Moon, and even had a moment where Billie Eilish credited one of his songs as inspiration.But the most powerful moment in our conversation was this: “The heartland is everybody — white, black, gay, straight… the heartland is everybody.”And then he did something even more unexpected…He bought a farm outside Nashville. discovered 760 pawpaw trees on land the previous owner said was “dead”, and started building a life rooted in music, food, and community.It turns out the Heartland isn’t just a place. It’s a story we’re ALL STILL WRITING TOGETHER!Ever been told you didn’t belong somewhere… and later realized you were meant to redefine it?
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The Songs that Shaped Us (Lore of Americana Curious)
Mar 900:48:57Tap to summarizeSome songs don’t just play; They mark seasons of your life.And you don’t realize it until years later.These are the Americana songs that shaped who we (Ben and Zach) have become.As you'll hear it's not because they were chart-toppers or because everyone else loved them......it's because they found us at a very specific moment.A long drive after a hard loss.A tiny club when you felt invisible.A lyric that said what you couldn’t say out loud.That’s the part we don’t talk about enough!We analyze strategy. We debate business models. We optimize everything.But songs?They bypass ALL logic.They attach themselves to your identity. When you look back, you realize certain bands didn’t just soundtrack your life, they helped AUTHOR IT.We can trace chapters of our own growth to specific records.Certain risks we took. Certain conversations we had. Certain seasons we survived.It’s wild how an honest lyric can do what no book ever could.The real question becomes isn’t whether music changes us.It’s this...Are we CHOOSING the songs and bands that shape us…Or are we passively letting whatever’s loudest do the shaping?What if the music you surround yourself with is determining the leader, parent, and partner you become?
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Al Nicol: Masculinity, Mortality & Groove
Mar 100:36:17Tap to summarizeThere are voices that impress you.And then there are voices that feel like they’ve been EARNED.Al Nicol’s voice carries the high lonesome ache of Bill Monroe, the raw vulnerability of early Bon Iver, and the spiritual sway of Neil Young’s Harvest era.But what makes it unforgettable isn’t tone it’s the absolute TRUTH.In this episode of Americana Curious, Al opens up about masculinity, mortality, anxiety, and the years he spent “on the sidelines of life.”He shares how confronting severe athletic anorexia and the pressure of silent expectations became the breakthrough that unlocked his upper register and ultimately led to Only Hoping, recorded with MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger.This is a story about breaking OUT OF THE CAGE.About groove over perfection. About self-acceptance over self-punishment.About how pain, when faced honestly, can become art of the highest caliber.If you care about songwriting… If you listen to albums front to back…If you believe music can change someone’s life…You’re in the right place for this powerful interview with Al NicolQuestion: If someone feels like they’re still on the sidelines of their own life… what would you tell them?
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