What's The Reason For This Podcast

• Episode 32 - Blake Christiana of Yarn - Finding Harmony, Building Community & Spreading Positivity

  In this lively and heartfelt episode, the hosts reflect on their recent concert experiences, aging, and the evolution of their podcast. 🗣️🎙️ Kodi and Shay check in about their weekend adventures in music, highlighting their time at Billy Failing, Bluegrass Generals and Magoo. 🐸 During this soulful and inspiring interview, we sit down with Blake Christiana, the heart and voice behind the band Yarn, as he shares his incredible journey through music. From his early days in upstate New York 🏞️ to making a name for himself in Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene 🎸, Blake opens up about the highs and lows of life as an artist.🎵 Episode Highlights:✨ The Podcast Evolution 🎙️💡 – The duo discusses how they’re adapting the podcast to better engage with their growing audience and reflect on their journey so far.✨ The Physical Toll of Live Shows 😅🎸 – A candid discussion about the challenges of attending concerts as they get older and how it’s reshaped their approach to live music.✨ The Importance of Listener Feedback 📣💬 – Why listener engagement is more important than ever, and how their community has shaped the direction of the show.✨ Magoo and The Billy Failing Band 🪕🔥 – Kodi and Shay prove yet again why they are Magoo's #1 Fan Boys. The up and coming Denver bluegrass band opened for Billy Failing over the weekend, even sharing the stage together for WDR 🥀 ✨ The Birth of Yarn 🎶 – How the band evolved from Blake’s first project, Blake and the Family Dog, and found its signature sound. ✨ The Magic of Live Music 🎤🔥 – Behind the scenes of their new live album, which captures the raw energy and emotion of their festival performances. ✨ Songwriting Secrets ✍️🎶 – Blake’s fast-paced creative process and how he channels inspiration before it fades. ✨ Music as Therapy ❤️ – How writing and performing help Blake navigate life’s challenges and offer healing to both himself and his fans. ✨ Fan Interpretations & Emotional Connections 🎧💡 – The surprising ways listeners connect with his lyrics and how songs take on new meaning over time. ✨ The Ticket Selling Struggle 🎟️😩 – The real talk on how tough it is for independent artists to sell tickets and why community support matters more than ever. ✨ Balancing Humor & Depth 🤣😢 – Why Blake weaves both lightheartedness and serious themes into his music to create something real and relatable. ✨ Preaching Love & Positivity ❤️✨ – The inspiration behind their new album ‘Saturday Night Sermon’, spreading a message of love, kindness, and resilience.Blake also reflects on the joy of on-stage collaborations 🎶🤝, the importance of cover songs 🎼, and his belief in focusing on the good things in life—even when it’s hard.🔥 Don’t miss this powerful episode packed with wisdom, laughter, and raw musical passion! 🎧✨Drop a 🎶 in the comments if you’re tuning in! 🎙️👇#WhatsTheReasonForThis #Podcast #BlakeChristiana #YarnMusic #IndieMusic #NewEpisode #LiveMusic #MusicIsTherapy #SaturdayNightSermon

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• Episode 31 - Andrew Sax - Boy Band Dreams, Psychedelic Journeys & Concert Poster Realities

  In this wild ride of an episode, we sit down with Andrew Sax (@SomeSaxyArt) – an artist, snowboarder, and full-time poster wizard who went from doodling in the margins of his college notebooks to designing official artwork for some of the biggest names in the jam band scene.🔹 From Philly to Vermont to Dead Lot 🚗 – How a kid from Philadelphia ended up in Vermont (and it wasn’t just for weed and Phish). Andrew takes us through his journey from small ski hills in Pennsylvania to chasing powder and live music across the country.🔹 A Boy Band Fantasy Gone Wrong 🎤 – The surprisingly hilarious way a fake online boy band led to Andrew discovering his love for digital art. Spoiler: No music was ever made, but a terrible logo was.🔹 Accidentally Becoming an Artist 🎨 – From his first trippy doodles to designing stickers and selling shirts on Dead & Co. lot, Andrew explains how he stumbled into a career making concert posters—and how a sticker of a hot dog eating its own ass changed his life.🔹 The Dogs in a Pile Connection 🐕 – How one drunken encounter (and a handful of stickers) led to Andrew becoming the go-to artist for one of the jam scene’s rising bands. Plus, the moment he realized he was officially part of the music scene, not just an outsider looking in.🔹 Psychedelics & Creative Awakening 🍄 – Andrew opens up about how psychedelics helped shape his art, his perspective on life, and even made him less afraid of death. But after years of creative inspiration, why did he decide to take a full year of sobriety?🔹 Merch Wars & The Poster Hustle 🖼️ – From getting his first official gig to navigating the politics of band merchandise, Andrew breaks down the wild world of concert posters—including why Phish will never hire him (but he’s fine with that… probably).🔥 Whether you’re an art nerd, a music lover, or just here for the chaos, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and deep conversations about creativity, self-discovery, and why snowboarders always have to apologize for existing.📢 Listen now and be sure to follow Andrew and help him sell out of his next print drop! 🎶🎨 #JamSceneArt #PsychedelicPosters #WhatsTheReasonForThis

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• Episode 30 - Cam Herdt (@MisterCam) - Phish Kid, Bears Fan & Glutton For Punishment

  In this absolutely unhinged episode, we sit down with comedian and podcaster Cam Herdt – a rising star in the comedy world, a die-hard Phish fan (for better or worse), and a man who has somehow turned jam band culture into comedy gold.🔹 From Open Mics to Jam Cruise 🎤🚢 – Cam takes us back to his early days grinding out Chicago’s legendary comedy scene, cutting his teeth at Second City, and eventually stumbling into internet fame with eerily accurate impressions of jam band fans. Fast forward to today, and he’s performing on Jam Cruise – floating somewhere between open bars and open-minded wooks.🔹 The Phish Fandom Journey 🎸🐡 – Cam opens up about how he got into Phish (hint: it involved some “very responsible” older influences), how long he hid his jam band love from fellow comedians, and why his first show in 2018 was basically a coming-of-age ritual.🔹 Sports Fans vs. Jam Fans ⚽🎶 – What do Chicago Bears fans and Phish fans have in common? Unreasonable expectations and a lot of yelling. Cam shares his trauma growing up a Bears fan in Packer territory and how it prepared him for dealing with 1.0 Phish fans who refuse to accept that the band has changed, man.🔹 Shutting Up Chompers & Scene Gatekeeping 🤫🚫 – We break down the real issue at live music shows: chompers. You know them—the loud talkers who think their conversation about the 1997 Tweezer is more important than the actual music happening in front of them. Plus, Cam talks about the elitist nonsense of fan gatekeeping and why nobody cares if you “got in” before 3.0.🔹 The Road Ahead 🚀 – With stand-up gigs, festival appearances, and more viral videos on the horizon, Cam talks about what’s next, why he loves performing for jam band crowds, and how he balances traditional stand-up with his improv-heavy style.🔥 This episode is packed with laughs, music nerd debates, and enough sports shit-talking to make your uncle at Thanksgiving jealous. Whether you love Phish, hate Phish, or just want to hear Kodi make Cam regret coming on the show, this one’s a must-listen!📅 Catch Cam on the road and follow his hilarity online @MisterCam! 🎭🎶

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• Episode 29 - Jason Carter - 33 Years, A Million Miles & A New Beginning

  In this electrifying episode, we sit down with the legendary Jason Carter – six-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year 🎻, Grammy Award-winning artist 🏆, and longtime member of the Del McCoury Band & Travelin' McCourys 🎶. After 33 years, Jason has made the life-changing decision to embark on his own musical journey, and he’s here to tell us all about it!🔹 From Dream to Reality: Jason takes us back to his teenage years, when he first discovered the Del McCoury Band and boldly declared he’d one day play with them. Fast forward to age 19, and he’s standing on stage with his fiddle, making that dream a reality! He shares his audition experience, the nerves, and the moment Del gave him the job.🔹 Epic Performances & Career Highlights: Over the years, Jason has played every iconic bluegrass venue imaginable, but some of his most memorable moments include: ✨ Jamming onstage with Phish 🎸 in front of 80,000 fans at Oswego – and an unexpected banjo vs. fiddle showdown with Rob McCoury! ✨ Bonnaroo madness 🎪 – playing to an absolutely packed tent of roaring fans who discovered the magic of bluegrass. ✨ Breaking records at the Strawberry Festival 🍓 – an impromptu jam session that went on longer than Sam Bush’s record! ✨ Late-night TV & Grammy wins 🏆 – taking bluegrass to new heights with appearances on national television and major award stages.🔹 Bluegrass vs. Jam Scene: Jason breaks down the differences between traditional bluegrass festivals (think whittling old-timers and moonshine sippers 🪵🥃) vs. the high-energy jam band crowds (think glowsticks and rail-riders 🎆). He shares how both worlds embraced his music and how he learned to thrive in both.🔹 Going Solo – The Big Decision: After decades of dedicating his life to Del McCoury and the Travelin' McCourys, Jason opens up about the difficult yet exciting decision to step out on his own. He shares how his 2023 solo album reignited his passion for performing his own music, how he broke the news to Del & the band, and what’s next for him.🔹 New Music & What’s Next 🎶 Jason gives us a sneak peek into his highly anticipated new album with Michael Cleveland 🎻🔥, talks about his evolving sound, and even hints at TWO MORE solo records in the works! Plus, he reflects on what it feels like to finally be in control of his schedule and creative direction after so many years on the road.🔥 This episode is packed with heart, humor, and the magic of bluegrass. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering Jason’s incredible talent, this is a must-listen!📅 New music drops this Friday! Don’t miss it! 🎶🎻

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• Episode 28 - Christopher Henry - On The Mandolin, Mindfulness & Plant Medicine

  🎙️🔥 STRAP IN for an electrifying episode as we sit down with bluegrass shredder, multi-instrumentalist, and all-around legend—Christopher Henry! 🎶🎻From growing up in a powerhouse bluegrass family to blazing his own trail in the music world, Christopher shares EPIC stories about his journey, influences, and the deeper connection between music, spirituality, and self-discovery. 🌿🎶✨💥 What to Expect in This Episode:🔥 Bluegrass Royalty & Musical Upbringing – Born into the legendary Henry family (Red & Murphy Henry), Christopher talks about learning bluegrass by ear, growing up in jam sessions, and how it shaped his powerhouse picking style. 🎻🎸⚡ Fast-Picking & Finding His Own Sound – Ever wondered how Christopher plays with lightning speed while looking cool as a cucumber? He breaks down his technique, influences, and the balance between energy and precision. 🏎️🎶🌎 From Bluegrass to Psychedelics – Christopher opens up about his transformative journeys with plant medicine in Peru, how it reshaped his perspective, and why music is more than just sound—it’s a spiritual experience. 🍃🌀🎵 The Story Behind West Dakota Rose – One of the most iconic mandolin tunes in modern bluegrass! Christopher shares the wild backstory behind the name, how it ended up in Billy Strings' setlist, and why it's become a fan-favorite. 🌹🔥👀 Teaching the Next Generation – Christopher has trained some of today’s rising bluegrass stars (including Wyatt Ellis! 🎻). He talks about the art of teaching, passing down bluegrass tradition, and how students inspire him daily. 🎶📚🎤 Where to Catch Him Next! – Whether it's jamming with Jason Carter & Michael Cleveland or stepping on stage with Billy Strings, Christopher shares where you can see him LIVE and what’s next for him in music! 🎸🎶🎧 HIT PLAY NOW and join the ride! This episode is PACKED with incredible stories, deep insights, and some serious bluegrass wisdom you won’t want to miss!💬 Drop a comment with your favorite Christopher Henry tune & don’t forget to subscribe! 🎙️✨👇👇👇#WhatsTheReasonForThis #ChristopherHenry #BluegrassShredder #WestDakotaRose #BillyStrings #MandolinMagic #PlantMedicine #PickinAndGrinnin #PodcastLife 🎶🔥

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