The Fretboard Journal magazine's weekly podcast, where we interview legendary guitarists, luthiers, and much more.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 48:44
Frank Gross, founder of West Seattle's Thunder Road Guitars, joins us this week. Thunder Road is a unique brick-and-mortar success story. Thanks to some smart business moves…
Sep 12, 2026 · 1:01:00
On today's episode, guest host Ryan Richter sits down with multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Nate Mercereau. Renowned for pushing the boundaries of stringed…
Sep 9, 2026 · 21:10
Molly Tuttle joins us this week to talk about guitars (of course), her touring rig, life on the road and so much more. We chat about vintage Martins, the new Martin double-neck…
Aug 29, 2026 · 53:57
Bluegrass guitar hero Bryan Sutton joins us this week to talk about his brand-new album, From Roots to Branches, Vol. 1 ( Mountain Home Music Company). The album features Sutton…
Aug 7, 2026 · 27:34
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Maisy Owen joins us this week to talk about her gorgeous debut album, Dark on a Sunny Day (Tompkins Square). Maisy talks about her music-filled…
Jul 31, 2026 · 50:05
Today, we pay tribute to singer-songwriter Glen Hansard (1970-2026), frontman for the Frames and Swell Season. In 2009, Fretboard Journal publisher Jason Verlinde sat down with…
Jul 16, 2026 · 38:18
Today on the podcast, Summer School Electronics founder Mark Turley joins us once again. We talk about Summer School's current pedal offerings, the 2026 Fretboard Summit, and the…
Jul 3, 2026 · 39:43
Today on the podcast, we are joined by guitarist Louis Campbell, who talks to us about growing up playing traditional music, studying with Martin Simpson, his affinity for using…
Jun 19, 2026 · 34:25
LA-based singer-songwriter/composer/guitarist Micah Preite joins us this week! https://micahpreite.bandcamp.com Though millions have streamed his lo-fi/indie songs on Spotify,…
Jun 12, 2026 · 51:45
Today's podcast episode is with songwriter and guitarist @alex.amen, who has a new album out today on ATO Records. https://alexamen.com In this conversation, we talk about Alex's…
Jun 4, 2026 · 48:04
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're joined by photojournalist and musician Ryan Salm. When the 2026 World Cup descends on North America, Salm and his group of…
May 29, 2026 · 33:04
On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we talk to singer-songwriter Darryl Rahn about his new album (out today on Capitol Records). Darryl shares a look into…
May 22, 2026 · 42:28
Musician Brad Barr joins us this week to share the story of the Barr Brothers' 2025 album, Let It Hiss , and talk guitar. Brad's guitar playing is uniquely shaped by world music…
May 15, 2026 · 21:13
On this week's podcast, we're mixing things up. Take a peek inside our brand new, 59th issue and hear an excerpt from our cover story with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Also, Fretboard…
May 2, 2026 · 51:14
On this week's podcast, we're joined by Adam Dardeck and Andy Cambria of The Music Emporium. Founded in 1968 by Stu Cohen, The Music Emporium is one of the most successful…
Apr 25, 2026 · 48:00
Guitarist, composer and Berklee professor Lyle Brewer joins us this week. We talk about his journey as a professional guitarist and educator, how he ended up teaching at Berklee…
Apr 23, 2026 · 55:41
On today's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we mix things up. Our very own Ryan Richter ( https://www.instagram.com/misterrichter/) just wrapped up playing two of the most talked-about…
Apr 20, 2026 · 1:00:27
Guitarist Michael Daves and mandolinist Jacob Jolliff join us this week to talk about their latest project, 'We Like Jim & Jesse!' The album, a tribute to Jim & Jesse and the…
Apr 9, 2026 · 46:47
The incredibly talented Wendy Eisenberg joins us this week to talk about their new, self-titled album, which just earned a Best New Music nod from Pitchfork. Wendy talks about…
Apr 8, 2026 · 1:06:03
Thomm Jutz's story is unlike any other we've ever shared. Born in the Black Forest of Germany, Jutz became obsessed with American music when, at the age of 11, he saw Bobby Bare…
Apr 3, 2026 · 49:35
This week, we're chatting with Rhys John Stubbs, founder of UK-based Bigfoot Engineering. Rhys is best known for his effects pedals, but he just released a beautiful album of…
Mar 31, 2026 · 39:43
Singer-songwriter John Craigie joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'I Swam Here.' https://johncraigie.com We also talk about Craigie's unique humor during his sets,…
Mar 20, 2026 · 32:17
This week, the Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson talks to Tulsa, Oklahoma-based songwriter Ramsey Thornton. Ramsey is a multi-instrumentalist with a love for both banjo and…
Mar 10, 2026 · 38:49
Portland, Oregon-based musicians Eric Skye and Jonah Sissoyev join us this week to talk about Jonah's beautiful new EP, 'A Place Called Nowhere.' The EP's origin story begins…
Feb 27, 2026 · 1:10:33
Acclaimed vintage guitar repairperson Mark Stutman (Folkway Music) joins the Fretboard Journal Podcast once again. We talk about his early training as a luthier, running Folkway…
Feb 22, 2026 · 55:45
Fretboard Journal contributor Seth Lorinczi joins us this week to talk about the rise and fall of Micro-Frets, the upstart electric guitar brand launched in the late 1960s. Seth…
Feb 14, 2026 · 59:08
In what has become an annual tradition, Evan Gluck (NY Guitar Repair) hosted a guitar repair roundtable at the 2025 Fretboard Summit. This year, he brought Ceil Thompson…
Feb 8, 2026 · 37:04
Sam Skinner (Pinegrove) joins us this week to talk about his work as a guitarist, producer and engineer. https://www.samskinner.com We also get Fretboard Journal and Fretboard…
Jan 29, 2026 · 1:01:03
Fingerstyle guitar authority John Stropes joins us this week to talk all about his new two-volume book featuring transcriptions of every track on Leo Kottke's monumental '6 & 12…
Jan 23, 2026 · 49:38
The Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson interviews musician, producer, and recording and mixing engineer Philip Weinrobe. Over the years, Weinrobe has worked with a wide array of…
Jan 16, 2026 · 1:23:30
Guitarist/composer/improviser Shane Parish is about to release a truly astounding project, Autechre Guitar . The Athens, Georgia-based guitarist has transcribed and recorded an…
Jan 10, 2026 · 59:57
On this week's podcast, UK-based author and guitar fanatic John Stubbings returns to tell us all about his new book, 'The Guitar Detective.' The follow-up to his monumental 'The…
Dec 31, 2025 · 1:07:29
To wrap up this year, Fretboard Journal editors Jason Verlinde and Sofia Wolfson talk about some of their favorite moments from 2025. We discuss the inner workings of the…
Dec 20, 2025 · 1:03:28
Nearly every guitar player has daydreamed about running their favorite gear company. On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we hear from two individuals who are currently…
Dec 12, 2025 · 38:38
Mandolin hero John Reischman joins us this week to talk about his new album, 'The Salish Sea.' We chat about the influence the Pacific Northwest has had on his music-making,…
Dec 8, 2025 · 59:39
Every year during the holiday season, we chat with Guru Singh, a third-generation yogi and spiritual teacher who also happens to live and breathe guitars. On this installment…
Nov 28, 2025 · 42:22
Today's podcast episode is with Liam Kazar, a Chicago-born singer-songwriter and guitarist currently touring in Jeff Tweedy's band. Liam just put out a new record, Pilot Light ,…
Nov 21, 2025 · 43:26
On today's episode of the podcast, Sofia Wolfson talks to TJ Hiemel, owner of Troy, New York's Love of Fuzz store. TJ shares with us some of his favorite gear that has come…
Nov 14, 2025 · 1:04:34
Vermont-based guitar hero Paul Asbell joins us this week to talk about his new book, 'Stages: Ruminations, Rants, and Reminiscences on a Life in Music.' In 'Stages,' Paul…
Nov 7, 2025 · 57:05
Musician and Fretboard Journal contributor Paul Burch joins us this week to talk about his just-published debut novel, Meridian Rising. The book, an imagined memoir by Jimmie…
Nov 5, 2025 · 23:39
Grateful Shred co-founder Dan Horne joins us for a chat about the making of the band, his love for the Dead (of course), and the tribute group's 2025 album, 'Might As Well.' We…
Oct 24, 2025 · 1:17:52
Raymond Morin of Pittsburgh's Acoustic Music Works joins us this week for an insightful chat about running a guitar store, music and so much more. At a time when things seem…
Oct 17, 2025 · 50:38
Guitarist Paul Rigby joins us this week to talk about his 15-plus-year collaboration with Neko Case and so much more. We hear about growing up in Calgary (and why it's an oddly…
Oct 10, 2025 · 45:05
Guitarist Ben Garnett joins us this week to talk about the making of his new acoustic album, Kite's Keep. Garnett's journey as a musician is one-of-a-kind. This former tuba…
Oct 4, 2025 · 39:18
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're joined by New York City-based guitarist and composer Vilray Bolles. Alongside Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, he's one half of…
Sep 30, 2025 · 34:19
Singer-songwriter/guitarist Courtney Hartman joins us again on the podcast to share the story of her forthcoming album, With You. The album – her first since becoming a parent –…
Sep 26, 2025 · 35:41
Melbourne, Australia-based guitarist Jacob Cole joins us this week to talk about his 2025 instrumental album 'Slow Gold' and so much more. We hear about his Cole's record-filled…
Sep 19, 2025 · 56:51
On this week's episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast, we introduce you to Brooklyn-based guitarist Isaac Stalling. Isaac sits down with editor Sofia Wolfson to talk about his…
Sep 5, 2025 · 58:34
Ryan Richter, Dylan Day, and Harrison Whitford are wildly creative guitarists who happen to play with some of the most-streamed artists of the last few years, including Ed…
Aug 29, 2025 · 58:16
Do guitars still sell in 2025? Is there a glut of unsold instruments? How have tariffs affected the high-end musical instrument space? At this year's Fretboard Summit, we asked a…
Aug 19, 2025 · 29:35
One last Fretboard Summit 2025 announcement: Jayne Henderson (EJ Henderson Guitars and Ukuleles) stops by the Fretboard Journal to tell us about the Asheville Guitar Project…
Aug 18, 2025 · 23:21
3Bender's Wade Back joins us this week to share the fascinating history of 3Bender and reveal an incredible new product he's unveiling at this year's Fretboard Summit, the…
Aug 12, 2025 · 1:27:58
"Here's what happens when you invite a mandolin company, with crazy curiosity, to a guitar show four years in a row." -Adrian Bagale Northfield's Adrian Bagale joins us this week…
Aug 7, 2025 · 1:01:32
Dave Hill is a comedian, actor, author, musician and podcaster. He's also a guitar fanatic. In fact, at the 2025 Fretboard Summit, he'll be performing an entire stand-up set on…
Jul 29, 2025 · 58:13
James Kee of East Nash Grass joins us this week to talk about his band's forthcoming album 'All God's Children' and the guitar he just acquired and restored, a 1955 Martin D-18…
Jul 18, 2025 · 37:00
Summer School Electronics founder Mark Turley joins us this week to discuss the history of his pedal company, his day job as a schoolteacher, our Fretboard Summit gathering, and…
Jul 14, 2025 · 1:09:39
Musician, composer, and writer Skip Heller was one of the Fretboard Journal's earliest subjects, contributors, and podcast guests. On this week's show, we catch up with Skip to…
Jun 25, 2025 · 55:38
Meet Emma Harner, an incredibly talented artist from Nebraska who, unbelievably, has only been playing guitar since the pandemic. Emma's complex playing, a mix of math rock and…
Jun 16, 2025 · 49:01
Acclaimed guitarist, educator, songwriter, and all-around-great-human Adam Levy is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast! We talk about his new instrumental album, 'Household.'…
Jun 3, 2025 · 53:42
Jason is back on the Fretboard Journal Podcast to interview mandolin great Jacob Jolliff. Over the years, Jolliff has worked with a variety of bands, including Joy Kills Sorry,…
May 23, 2025 · 51:40
To rebel against musician parents, a young Hank Heaven wanted to be a French chef. But after a serendipitous moment of discovery, they became a Django Reinhardt expert. On…
May 16, 2025 · 40:09
Today on the podcast, FJ assistant editor Sofia Wolfson interviews legendary songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist Dan Reeder. Born in Louisiana, raised in…
May 9, 2025 · 44:07
Mike Buchman is a Seattle-based guitar fanatic and the Fretboard Journal's newest hire! On this week's podcast, we talk to Mike about his recent experience learning the craft of…
May 2, 2025 · 1:00:45
You've heard Jon Rauhouse's music on every episode of the Fretboard Journal Podcast. For our 500th episode, we decided to check in with Jon to hear about his journey as a steel…
Apr 26, 2025 · 50:38
Musician Anna Vogelzang joins us this week to talk about songwriting, motherhood, Chicago (come see her at our 2025 Fretboard Summit) and more! Support Anna's Kickstarter here:…
Apr 14, 2025 · 40:39
Guitarist Andy Pitcher promised himself that he would make a solo album before he turned 30. With just a few days to spare, the experimental/improvising guitarist recently…
Apr 5, 2025 · 1:21:37
In the 1960s, Joellen Lapidus built the dulcimer you hear on Joni Mitchell's Blue album. Over the years, she's also sold instruments to some of rock's biggest names like David…
Apr 1, 2025 · 40:24
Peghead Nation co-founder Dan Gabel joins us this week to talk about the online lesson portal's origin story, the growth they've experienced over the last decade, and some of…
Mar 28, 2025 · 1:10:41
The Fretboard Journal's Sofia Wolfson interviews Chicago's Free Range (Sofia Jensen), whose second record 'Lost & Found' is out now. Jensen recounts learning guitar at the School…
Mar 21, 2025 · 49:07
This week, we talk to writer Jamie Etherington about his latest project, the Luthier's Tool Box. The Luthier's Tool Box is the Fretboard Journal's first hardcover book release.…
Mar 10, 2025 · 48:18
Did you watch 'A Complete Unknown' and wonder where all those vintage instruments came from? If so, you're in luck. This week, we're talking to Buzzy Levine of Lark Street Music.…
Mar 2, 2025 · 47:19
How do you make a new acoustic guitar sound slightly more "vintage?" This was the nebulous premise that Jason posed to three great builders at the 2024 Fretboard Summit: John…
Feb 22, 2025 · 46:14
D'Addario founder and Fretboard Journal 55 cover subject Jim D'Addario joins us this week for a fascinating talk about strings, innovation, and so much more. We talk about Jim's…
Feb 14, 2025 · 44:45
Frequent Fretboard Journal contributor Cameron Knowler returns to the Fretboard Journal Podcast to talk about his forthcoming new album, CRK. Inspired by classic Terry Allen and…
Jan 26, 2025 · 1:33:20
Ella Feingold is a Grammy-winning guitarist who has performed alongside Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, Bruno Mars, and numerous other heavyweight musicians. She's also one of the…
Jan 17, 2025 · 51:59
Guest host Sofia Wolfson introduces us to Renny Conti, a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter/producer. They discuss Renny's introduction to music, the influence of Big Thief (Sofia…
Jan 11, 2025 · 30:54
This week, we're joined by Mike Nelson, Martin Guitars' VP of Global Marketing. Mike has a coveted job: He gets to tell the story of one of the world's most loved guitar brands.…
Dec 27, 2024 · 1:17:59
Singer-songwriter and Fretboard Journal contributor Sofia Wolfson recently joined our editorial staff. As we close out 2024, we decided to check in with her to get her recap of…
Dec 26, 2024 · 40:46
We first met Spokane, Washington-based luthier Tyson Soth at our annual Fretboard Summit. We loved his guitars and the story of how he fell into guitar making. On this week's…
Dec 5, 2024 · 48:20
Singer-songwriter/storyteller Jason Walsmith (The Nadas) joins us this week to talk about the life of an enterprising troubadour. In addition to performing in a variety of…
Nov 22, 2024 · 1:15:51
In what has become a November tradition, Guru Singh - the Fretboard Journal's favorite guitar-loving yogi and spiritual teacher - returns to the podcast. This time around, we…
Nov 13, 2024 · 1:00:04
On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we're sharing an inspiring chat on guitarmaking and storytelling with UK-based luthier Daisy Tempest. In just a few years, Daisy's…
Nov 8, 2024 · 46:47
Mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull can do it all: She juggles time with her own band, touring with Bela Fleck, and performing with the likes of Cory Wong, Brad Paisley, Billy Strings,…
Oct 31, 2024 · 1:04:12
This week, we're joined by Trevor Boone of Seattle's Emerald City Guitars. This Seattle guitar store is like no other, where you'll often find multiple Dumble amplifiers,…
Oct 29, 2024 · 35:15
This week, we're launching a new monthly series called Meet the Contributors. It's where you can meet some of the many creative people who help make this magazine, our podcasts…
Oct 22, 2024 · 44:45
Bluegrass musician Woody Platt joins us this week to talk about his new solo album, 'Far Away With You' (Compass Records). https://www.woodyplatt.com/music Woody is best known as…
Oct 13, 2024 · 56:13
Charleston, South Carolina's Daniel Patrick joins us this week for a lively talk about mandolins, being a gigging musician, and talking to your heroes. Daniel is the host of the…
Oct 5, 2024 · 47:23
On this week's podcast, we're sharing our Q&A session with Martin CEO Thomas Ripsam live from the 2024 Fretboard Summit. During our chat, Thomas and FJ publisher Jason Verlinde…
Sep 27, 2024 · 56:58
What makes a great luthier tick? On this week's Fretboard Journal Podcast, we attempt to find out. Recorded live at the 2024 Fretboard Summit, guitar repair gurus Evan Gluck,…
Sep 20, 2024 · 1:00:06
On this week's podcast, we talk to Alister Atkin, founder of Atkin Guitars. Alister and his growing team are building vintage-inspired flattop acoustics in Canterbury, England.…
Sep 12, 2024 · 38:37
Jayne Henderson and Sarah Weinberg join us to talk about Women in Lutherie, an online community and mentorship program connecting female instrument makers from around the world.…
Aug 30, 2024 · 52:01
This week, we're sharing one of the highlights from our 2024 Fretboard Summit: Joe Henry in conversation with Blake Mills. During their chat, these two acclaimed producers and…
Aug 22, 2024 · 37:45
Detroit-based guitarist Nick Shillace joins us this week to talk about discovering the music of John Fahey, running a successful music school, and his excellent new album, A Rich…
Aug 8, 2024 · 1:06:49
Two of Nashville's finest guitarists – Tom Bukovac and Guthrie Trapp – join us this week to talk about their new album, IN STEREO. We chat about what brought them to Nashville…
Jul 30, 2024 · 1:03:49
Toronto's William "Grit" Laskin has been building acoustic instruments since 1971. Best known as one of the world's foremost inlay artists, Grit painstakingly crafts wildly…
Jul 22, 2024 · 1:30:36
In our 54th issue, Eric Pooley shares the story of Maya de Vitry going solo after her lengthy stint as one third of the Americana band The Stray Birds. It's a poignant interview…
Jul 5, 2024 · 1:10:44
Today we share an hour-long interview with one of the true greats of guitar-making, John Monteleone. Collectors and musicians around the world have sought out John's archtop…
Jun 27, 2024 · 1:13:26
Meet Scott Tsai, founder of Philadelphia's Queens Vintage Guitars. Queens Vintage Guitars may just be the newest brick & mortar vintage guitar store in the country. On today's…
Jun 25, 2024 · 1:07:13
We just premiered Mikkel Ploug's beautiful arrangement of Bach's Art of the Fugue for guitar on our YouTube channel. Today, we hear all about it. Ploug talks to us about how he…
Jun 20, 2024 · 37:28
The Decemberists' Colin Meloy joins us this week to talk about the band's new, long-awaited album, 'As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again.' Longtime readers of the magazine will…
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