Dad Rocks!

What Does It Means To Be A Father? Part 2: A Conversation with Ricky Johnson

On this episode, Josh welcomes back his college buddy and former guest Ricky Johnson. Ricky was the guest on the episode "What Does It Means To Be A Father?" which was released back in February 2021, where he discussed being a father to a child that was not biologically his, as well as how he, as a black parent, dealt with the events of the summer and fall of 2020. In that episode Ricky brought up how he and his wife, at the time, were trying to have a child together. While they ultimately were blessed with a daughter in late 2023, the journey they took to get to that point was a rollercoaster of emotions. On this episode, Ricky and Josh discuss what Ricky and his wife went through during the last few years, and what his experience has been as a first time father to a newborn.

A Spotify playlist of all of the music on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/49vqQrs.

The YouTube series Ricky produced about he and his wife's journey to conceive a child can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@LovingRnBRickKrisJohnson.

Catskill Kids: A Conversation with Marco Benevento

In this episode Josh talks with musician Marco Benevento, who is best known for being the keyboardist in Benevento/Russo Duo and Joe Russo's Almost Dead, along with his solo work. The two talk about living in Woodstock, NY, raising kids in the Catskills instead of the city or the suburbs, touring while being a parent, his career as a professional musician, and how he started a record label and music festival. Spotify playlist of all the music you heard on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3Sz7NpY. (Interview recorded on January 4, 2024)

Bands of Brothers: A Conversation with Bobby Hackney

On this episode Josh talks with Bobby Hackney. Bobby is most well known for being the bassist and lead singer of the proto-punk band Death, but is also the bassist and lead singer of the reggae band Lambsbread and the author of the new book Vermont Reggae Fest: The Power of Music. He's also the father of 3 sons, all of whom are in the band Rough Francis. Josh and Bobby talk about being a father to three musicians, being in a band with your siblings, past and current events of Death, Lambsbread and the Vermont Reggae Festival, and how parents and kids influence each other's taste in music. The Spotify playlist of most of the music on on the podcast can be found at https://spoti.fi/3TIrxZ9. (Interview recorded on November 30, 2023)

Hill Country Parenting: A Conversation with Cody Dickinson

On the episode Josh talks with Cody Dickinson, the drummer and founding member of the band North Mississippi Allstars. The two discuss Cody's experience being a parent while touring, his kids' interest in music at a young age, the influence of his father (producer Jim Dickinson), what music influenced him growing up, and how he and his brother Luther started playing music together as kids. (Interview recorded on November 12, 2023)

Spotify playlist of music from the episode: https://spoti.fi/3GiHkWT

YouTube video for Cody's latest single "All Night Long": https://youtu.be/h12S83HJ330

 

1001 Parenting Complaints: A Conversation with Tom Monaghan

On this episode Josh talks with Tom Monaghan, one of the cohosts of the podcast 1001 Album Complaints and a member of the musical collective The Chop Unlimited. The two discuss the success of Tom's podcast, how he's able to juggle all of his parental and work duties and still have time for music and the podcast, and what life was like growing up in Delaware. The Spotify playlist of all of the songs heard on the episode can be found at https://bit.ly/3QD7dXn. (Interview recorded on October 12, 2023).

Encouraging Opportunities: A Conversation with Norwood Pearson

On this episode Josh talks with Norwood Pearson, a professional guitarist and public school music teacher from the Boston area. They discuss Norwood's career, his family, and how the two have affected each other, as well as how Norwood approaches working with young musicians. Click here to watch the video of Norwood and Josh mentioned in the podcast. (Interview recorded August 15, 2023.)

Podcasting, Parenting, and Pizza: A Conversation with Alfred Schulz

On this episode, Josh welcomes back producer Steve, and they talk to Alfred Schulz, co-host of the Pizza Pod Party podcast. The guys talk about podcasting, pizza, parenting, and music, before diving into a discussion about a favorite band of all three, The Black Crowes. The Spotify playlist of all of the songs on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3YOwYGJ. (Interview recorded August 1, 2023.)

Being Open to the Journey: A Conversation with Bleu McAuley

On this episode Josh talks with Bleu McAuley, a musician, songwriter, and producer, who has put out several of his own albums while also working some of the biggest names in pop music. Josh and Bleu talk about his career, including is most recent work creating scores for documentaries, before talking about how being a father and how that has changed his view on his songwriting and music in general. The Spotify playlist of all of the songs on the episode can be found at http://bit.ly/3NkKOLA. (Interview recorded June 15, 2023.)

Transitional Chords: A Conversation with Buzzy Cohen

On this episode Josh talks with former Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen. The two talk about Buzzy's work as a music supervisor for advertisers, their past playing music together, his kids' love of music, and how they deal with having a dad who was and is on TV. (Interview recorded May 11, 2023.) 

Jack of All Trades: A Conversation with Tom Maxwell

On this episode, Josh talks with writer and musician Tom Maxwell, who's best known for being a member of the band Squirrel Nut Zippers in the 1990s. They talk about Tom's writing, his music career, and his kids, one of whom battled cancer as a child. If you are interested in reading Tom's story about living in a haunted house, you can find it at https://bittersoutherner.com/we-salted-nannie-southern-ghost-story. The Spotify playlist of most of the songs on the episode can be found at https://spoti.fi/3oIvLm6. (Interview recorded April 10, 2023.)