Takin' a Walk – "Amanda Shires: Finding New Ground"
Podcast: takin' a walk
Host: Buzz Knight (iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: Amanda Shires
Date: September 30, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, host Buzz Knight reunites with acclaimed singer-songwriter Amanda Shires to discuss her transformative journey captured in her new album, Nobody's Girl. Amanda reflects on the aftermath of her divorce, the raw honesty in her music, her creative process, and the lessons she's learned about resilience, artistic growth, and vulnerability. The conversation unfolds with warm humor, candid confessions, and memorable moments, providing deep insights into Amanda's artistry and personal evolution.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Walking with Literary Giants
[04:09 – 05:21]
- Buzz asks Amanda the podcast's signature question: if she could take a walk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
- Amanda: “I know I said Leonard Cohen last time… I'd take a walk with James Joyce and complain about, you know, some Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake a little and see what the response would be.”
- She imagines this walk in Ireland, ending with “either a fist fight and, or… after a fist fight, then a beer or a pint or something.”
2. The Making of Nobody's Girl: Inspiration and Creative Process
[05:32 – 08:10]
- The album is a product of navigating personal storms, particularly her divorce.
- Amanda: “I wouldn't call it inspiration as much as needing to work through the storms in my life... trying to work through and process my grief or my life through writing about it.” ([05:53])
- Writing is often slow and deliberate, with turns to abstract painting when words fall short.
- Amanda: “Sometimes when there’s not enough words to describe what you’re going through, that’s when I take it out on the canvas.” ([07:09])
- Her creativity is influenced by vulnerability and reflection, not just musical inspiration.
3. Surrounding Influences: Books, Music, and Backgammon
[08:10 – 10:39]
- Amanda was influenced by books such as Maggie Smith’s You Could Make This Place Beautiful and Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things.
- Amanda: “The beautiful way [Smith] shared her experience and feelings made me feel encouraged… to share my own experiences.”
- She took up backgammon (“I joined the Nashville Backgammon Association, and I’m not very good yet, but I will be one day maybe.”)
- Musical influences during the album’s creation:
- D’Angelo and The Vanguard’s Black Messiah (“I put on...over and over...the musicianship and the sounds, really, they took me somewhere else, and it’s just beautiful.”)
- Jack White’s No Name (“as loud as I could turn it up”)
- Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker (“I also just find his voice very calming.”)
4. Collaboration and Recording Stories
[10:39 – 15:44]
- Producer Lawrence Rothman co-wrote “Away It Goes”; process described as unusually quick for Amanda: “I wrote all the words in probably about two hours. So there you have one fast song for me.” ([10:54])
- Collaborated on “Lately” with keyboardist Peter Levin, a song born from their mutual check-ins: “We decided to write a song as a conversation about our conversation.”
- Recording Challenges:
- Intense LA heat, no air conditioning, and sweaty sessions led to creative discomfort.
- Experimentation, such as sampling the fiddle for new sonic textures: “It’s nice to try new sounds when you’re, you know, used to hearing it one way your whole life.” ([11:58])
- On working with Lawrence:
- Amanda describes playful, but sometimes tense dynamics as Lawrence pushes her creatively:
- “Sometimes I would say...Lawrence will push me to write or record even more than I want to...I, you know, kicked and fussed and...get kind of mean. But I did it, and...I was grateful...” ([12:55])
- “Sometimes you have to stand outside and stomp your feet and then get to it.” ([14:03])
- Amanda describes playful, but sometimes tense dynamics as Lawrence pushes her creatively:
- Studio laughter:
- She tells a story about unintentionally writing “piece of pizza of mind” instead of “peace of mind” and joking about it: “Like we’re doing that Little Caesars commercial. That was good.” ([15:51])
5. Vulnerability and Artistic Honesty
[16:35 – 18:12]
- On sharing personal stories through music:
- Amanda: “I’m just...just have to be myself. And somehow I was just, you know, born like this or else I was...a product of my raising...when people...are open and honest with me, I feel...there’s a better connection with people.”
- Humorously references her granddad’s long answers as possible inspiration for her own openness.
- On sharing with others:
- She shares music with her mother before anyone else, describing her as a safe person and crucial support (“She makes a lot of what I do possible...amazingly supportive”).
6. Technology, Touring, and New Frontiers
[19:30 – 22:39]
- On AI and ChatGPT ([19:46]):
- Amanda’s attitude is pragmatic: “It’s already here, so it’s a matter of going along with it or not. ... Use it to learn how to help other people, I guess.”
- Playfully references Neil Young’s resistance to technology: “I wish that…he was more cool with streaming and stuff like that.”
- Touring:
- Unsure feelings about hitting the road again: “I haven’t been on the road since October of 2023…Last time I was on the road, I loved it. Yeah, I don’t know, because I’m not on it.” ([20:59], [21:48])
- Plans to tour with her daughter Mercy and her mom, making it a family affair.
- Genre Experimentation:
- Amanda is open to trying new genres, even (jokingly) death metal: “I’ll try anything seven or eight times…Who doesn’t want to hear death metal fiddle?” ([22:26 – 22:39])
7. Life Lessons, Resilience, and Advice
[22:50 – 24:20]
- Shared a humorous story about her attempt at a jiu jitsu class for “cuddles”—“That lesson I learned…was if you’re going to sign up for a new thing to do, make sure you’re there to try and do that thing.” ([22:50])
- Takeaway on resilience: “Resilience isn’t glamorous or pretty. You get your pieces and you keep on going. Also learned that I’m tougher than I think I am.” ([23:32])
- Advice to others navigating transition:
- Amanda: “You don’t have to figure it all out...You just got to figure out what you can and keep on. You don’t have to figure it all out in one day. Take your time.” ([24:06])
Notable Quotes
- On vulnerability:
“It’s not like I choose to be vulnerable or a person that tends to really answer the question when you say, how are you?...I know I should probably like sometimes say I'm doing great. Let's keep walking. But I've just never been like that.”
— Amanda Shires [16:44] - On artistic process:
“The time it takes is the time it takes, you know. And I'm lucky that Lawrence is my best friend.”
— Amanda Shires [13:53] - On new ventures:
“Who doesn’t want to hear death metal fiddle?”
— Amanda Shires [22:39] - On resilience:
“Resilience isn’t glamorous or pretty. You get your pieces and you keep on going.”
— Amanda Shires [23:32] - On advice for transitions:
“You don't have to figure it all out...You just got to figure out what you can and keep on. You don't have to figure it all out in one day. Take your time.”
— Amanda Shires [24:06]
Memorable Moments & Timestamps
- James Joyce walking partner fantasy ([04:36])
- Turning to painting when words fail ([07:09])
- Amanda’s backgammon and pickleball adventures ([08:10 – 09:37])
- “Piece of pizza of mind” lyric outtake ([15:51])
- Death metal fiddle banter ([22:37])
- Jiu jitsu anecdote for cuddling ([22:50])
- Heartfelt advice to listeners ([24:06])
Tone & Atmosphere
Amanda is candid, warm, self-deprecating, and humorous throughout, with Buzz providing thoughtful prompts and sharing in the laughter. The conversation balances raw honesty about personal pain and growth with lighthearted storytelling and deep musical insight.
This episode is a heartfelt exploration of creativity, transformation, and self-acceptance—filled with wisdom, wit, and the kind of genuine connection both host and guest seek to spark in music and in life.