Podcast
The Jim Motavalli Interview Podcast
Hosted by WPKN, Jim Motavalli · EN
Jim Motavalli of WPKN features interviews new and archival - artists, movers, shakers, and more.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Eric O'Neill Wants to Help Secure Your Online Life
Jan 1900:28:50Tap to summarizeEric O'Neill, a former FBI agent who led the capture of notorious spy-for-Russia Robert Hanssen, is the author Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime. It's focus: teaching readers how to defend against digital threats like hackers and scammers, blending thrilling anecdotes with practical advice. The book details tactics used by adversaries and provides actionable steps (Prepare, Assess, Investigate, Decide) for personal digital safety.
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Gann Brewer: A Mississippi Highway Lullaby
Jan 1900:14:19Tap to summarizeAmericana singer-songwriter Gann Brewer doesn't seek the shiny neo-retro town malls where the selfie slick hipsters air their spanking new tattoos but rather, it's the half spaces, the unremarkable edges of town, where he finds those nuggets of truth--or at least enough gas to get to the next town. From the liner notes to Brewer's fourth album, Highway Lullaby, under discussion with Jim Motavalli on this podcast.
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Derek and Hannah Jeter Talk Family--and Cars
Feb 26, 202500:30:17Tap to summarizeDerek and Hannah Jeter were interviewed in upstate New York on the set of a commercial they were making for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer Obsidian Edition. They talked about family, and cars.
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Phoebe White: African-American Country Yodeler
Feb 26, 202500:10:53Tap to summarizePhoebe White is an accomplished yodeler, and demonstrates her skills in this WPKN interview. Her album is Cowgirl's Delight, and it includes appearances from Riders in the Sky and Suzy Bogguss. Six of the 10 tunes are her own. White could be said to part of the movement that includes Rhiannon Giddens and is not only reclaiming the African-American heritage in country music, but blazing her own path in forming its future.
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Roots Music Exemplar Miss Tess in Louisiana
Feb 26, 202500:18:06Tap to summarizeMiss Tess, one of our most talented roots singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, has just put out Cher Rêve, an album dedicated to exploring Louisiana's southern Acadiana region and in specific the "magical" city of Lafayette, home of the Blackpot Festival (about music and food). Instead of the Big Easy, Lafayette is the sleepy "Little Easier."
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Irish Singer Karan Casey's World View
Feb 26, 202500:21:11Tap to summarizeThe Irish singer Karan Casey's most recent album is Nine Apples of Gold. She tours regularly in the US, where Irish music has a huge audience. Casey was a member of the popular band Solas, and is a founder of Fairplé, which works to achieve fairness and gender balance for female performers in Irish traditional music.
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Syrian Clarinetist Kinan Azmeh Blends Jazz, World and Classical Music
Feb 26, 202500:16:41Tap to summarizeThe Syrian-born master clarinet player is now based in Brooklyn, and making his hard-to-characterize music--a meld of jazz, Middle Eastern and classical influences--with the CityBand. His latest album was recorded live in Berlin.
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The Chatham Rabbits: Americana Down on the Family Farm
Feb 26, 202500:13:34Tap to summarizeThe Chatham Rabbits, Austin and Sarah McCombie, live on a working farm in rural North Carolina. Their original songs reflect their dedication to the land, and to each other. Be Real With Me is their latest album, evenly split between her songs and his songs.
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Jim White and Trey Blake: The Haunted Face of Country Music
Feb 26, 202500:24:53Tap to summarizeJim White is an outsider Americana artist, who uses country music as a jumping off point to explore the psyche in ways that sometimes recall the author Cormac McCarthy. He found a kindred spirit in Trey Blake, an autistic poet he met while on tour in England. He encouraged her singing, and the resulting songs (realized initially by a member of Stereolab) are memorable and deeply probing. This was Blake's very first interview.
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Guitarist Bill Frisell on his Jazz-Meets-Country Synthesis
Dec 17, 202400:21:46Tap to summarizeOne of the most admired guitarists in jazz, Bill Frisell has never recognized boundaries and his music--while always remaining jazz--reflects his deep study of Americana and country music's roots. He spoke in advance of a 2024 gig in Fairfield, CT.
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