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PODCAST

The Eremita Exchange

Morningstar Studios

Singer/songwriter Dan May and producer Glenn Barratt talk to the people who make the music, both onstage and in the studio. A deep dive into how these people got to where they are and where they’re going from here. Originating from the Eremita Cafe. A conversation and a cup of coffee. Or two.

music music interviews

All Episodes

67:31

Episode 31 - Larry Ahearn

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/03/03

Larry Ahearn spent eleven years working at the Main Point, Philadelphia's legendary music venue that hosted some of the top names in popular music from 1964 to 1981. With artists like Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot and so many others, playing the small coffeehouse before they had hit the big time. Join host Glenn Barratt with Larry as they shares the colorful stories onstage and behind the scenes at the venue. A musical trip back in time with an

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70:12

Episode 30 - Ben Arnold

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/02/14

Ben Arnold has been a constant force in the Philadelphia music scene since the early 90's. His standard of excellence as a singer-songwriter and a live performer has remained consistent, even as the industry has changed around him. He's established himself as a solo artist, band member, multi-instrumentalist, producer and educator. In this conversation, we talk about his newly-released album; his music career; his songwriting; his stories from life on the road and the journey that brought him to

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107:41

Episode 29 - Kenn Kweder

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/01/30

Singer-Songwriter Kenn Kweder has been a fixture of the Philly music scene for going on six decades. And being from Philadelphia, it's no surprise that independence is one of the guiding forces behind his career path, his songwriting, his performing and his lifestyle. He is fiercely independent. His experience working with The Ramones, Patti Smith and Cheap Trick shows the level of his talent, but the fact that he has played in the neighborhood of 1,500 gigs at Smokey Joes, a University of

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84:25

Episode 28 - John Byrne

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/01/22

John Byrne's songs invariably tell a story. Which is no surprise considering the compelling tale of the path that led the Dublin, Ireland native to become one of Philadelphia's most prominent performers. And his musical reach extends far beyond the East Coast. Leader and frontman of The John Byrne Band, Byrne's music is a combination of Celtic and American Folk, and speaks from the heart. Tales of life, often semi-autobiographical in nature, appear both in his songs and in his recent dive into

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86:20

Episode 27 - Erik Johnson

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/01/14

Although he is, without question, one of the finest drummers around, to call Erik Johnson simply a drummer is doing him a major disservice. He is also a vocalist, bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, teacher, composer and arranger/producer. As well as being in demand as a studio and live musician. In short the man does it all. Current member of the band The Fractals, which is made up of Erik and two other member of former Interscope band "Huffamoose," his stories of being on the road with Huffamoose

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74:01

Episode 26 - Dave Posmontier

The Eremita Exchange ·

2026/01/07

When you start playing keyboards at age seven and by the age of twelve you're playing professional gigs, your career path has pretty much been decided. That's Dave Posmontier in a nutshell. Lifetime musician, jazz pianist fixture in the Philly music scene and always in demand as a studio player and a live performer, Dave Posmontier is recognized as one of Philly's finest. And whether composing, arranging, performing or teaching, Dave brings his A game. Jazz, Classical, Klezmer, or World Music,

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77:38

Episode 25 - Rich Waller

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/12/26

With over three decades in the Music/Entertainment industry as a respected producer, musician and engineer, Rich Waller knows the ins and outs of the business. And the ups and downs. And how it all fits together. Having worked with artists like John Legend, Grover Washington Jr., Michael Brecker, The Roots and so many others, Rich climbed his way up the ladder by paying attention and by being curious. And his innate curiosity has always led him to finding out what the task at hand was, and how to

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78:13

Episode 24 - Kevin Hanson

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/12/18

Kevin Hanson's journey has taken him across multiple musical scenes. As an accomplished guitarist, singer and songwriter, he's been a part of the Rock scene, the Jazz scene, the R&B scene and the Hip-Hop scene, all contributing to his musical and social development. And what an education it's been along the way. As a part of the band Huffamoose, he learned the ups and downs of the music business, and that a band's upward trajectory isn't always a guarantee of success when the record company

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54:53

Episode 23 - Sexton Sideshow - Jim & Paula Minacci

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/12/09

Jim and Paula Minacci are a couple of Philadelphia gems. Besides being the caretakers of Gloria Dei Old Swedes Church, the second-oldest church in the US, they are also the presenters of the Sexton Sideshow musical series and have a true sense of art and community. Jim and Paul discuss how they have brought art and community together, and they address the rewards and challenges of presenting a show like a musical tribute to the Coen Brothers film "O Brother, Where Art Thou." And how the rewards are

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69:56

Episode 22 - Chuck Staab

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/12/02

To say Chuck Staab is a well-rounded musician would be a major understatement. As a Princeton grad, drummer, poet, surfer, percussionist, teacher and writer, he brings a lot to the musical table. And his life experiences are equally formidable. At 22 he was touring the world with singer-songwriter/recording artist Melody Gardot, and his travels have included 44 countries and enough stories to last a lifetime. Join Glenn Barratt as he takes a trip with one of the most fascinating musicians out

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61:52

Episode 21 - Michael Tearson

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/11/25

Michael Tearson is a Hall of Fame radio broadcaster and is without question, a Philadelphia radio icon. As a pioneer underground DJ, concert host, author, actor and recording artist, he's covered a lot of ground in his career. He was playing FM rock music in the infancy of FM rock music, when DJs picked their own playlist, and he served that role for legendary Philly radio stations like WXPN, WMMR and WMGK, both as an on-air talent and music director. He's gone from being a fledgling folk singer

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63:39

Episode 20 - Phyllis Chapell

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/11/18

Phyllis Chapell is one of a kind. With a repertoire that includes songs sung in 13 languages, her style of international music and "world songs" has been developed and honed over many years. And the result is a singular musical experience for the audience. She is comfortable in so many genres, including American folk, jazz and popular music, and then add in a dose of her originals to round it all out. She has recently been named as one of the top 500 jazz vocalist of all time by renowned music

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68:38

Episode 19 - Lizanne Knott

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/11/06

Lizanne Knott has been writing songs as long as she can remember. And those songs have subsequently reached an international audience and resulted in multiple tours of the UK, Ireland, Spain and here in the US. Her style has been described as "Badass rocker meets wounded bird, with a heavy dose of unapologetic lust thrown into the mix." Combine that with her talent as a painter and her connection with animal rescue and it makes for a compelling conversation with one of the most artistic,

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64:08

Episode 18 - Dan Kauffman

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/10/29

Dan Kauffman is a one-man band. Or at least he could be if there were four or five more of him. He's an accomplished singer, songwriter, bassist, drummer, guitarist and also plays keyboards. Since his return from the West Coast in 2008, Dan has performed live on the East Coast and touring on a regular basis, as well as steady studio work. And for the last decade, he has been organizing and performing in "A Night of Stardust," a David Bowie tribute which has become a Philly favorite. And then

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48:56

Episode 17 - Craig White

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/10/23

Craig White has over 40 years of recording and sound engineering under his belt, and none of it came as a result of formal training. As he says, he learned it all from the school of RTFM, "Read the F***iing Manual." And it paid off in a big way. He has engineering credits on multiple Grammy Nominated and Grammy Winning Projects and has worked with the likes of Patti Labelle, Celine Dion, Tito Puente, Lou Rawls, The O'Jays, Billy Paul, Kool and The Gang and many others. Join fellow engineers Glenn

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62:15

Episode 16 - Emily Drinker and Josh Steingard

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/10/16

Singer-songwriter Emily Drinker and drummer Josh Steingard make up a dynamic duo, both in life and in music. Two of Philly's most active musicians, they discuss their individual upbringings in music, their paths to becoming professionals, their recent experience performing onboard a cruise of the Mediterranean, and their upcoming cruise performing on a Caribbean cruise. It's a Bon Voyage episode of the Eremita Exchange as Emily and Josh throw us a musical lifeline.

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66:42

Episode 15 - Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/10/10

Take a seasoned rapper, a classically-trained harpist with an angel's voice and put them together and you get one of the most unique and original sounds in music. Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise take this unlikely pairing and unconventional style and deliver it all in positive message that promises the possibility. And the power of hope. Hip Hop meets Soul meets New Age. And they all live happily ever after.

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54:19

Episode 14 - Gina Kaz

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/10/01

Singer-songwriter Gina Kaz is a music therapist at heart. And if there's one thing she has plenty of, it's heart. After a 17-year career of teaching music to children through her engaging and entertaining children's songs, Gina has just made the challenging transition from being Gina of "Music with Gina" to becoming Gina Kaz, full-time singer songwriter. Join us on her musical journey from where she started to where she's headed from here. Her energy and positivity are contagious. And therapeutic

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49:17

Episode 13 - Lisa Schaffer

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/09/08

Lisa Schaffer is an entrepreneur in the true sense of the word. As one of Philadelphia's most respected and sought-after photographers for the better part of two decades, specializing in capturing musicians in their natural environment, she is a benchmark for professionalism and excellence. And throw being a DJ into the mix, spinning strictly vinyl, her long-time connection to music has led her to recently opening her own record store, a new direction for a businesswoman and artist who's not

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62:44

Episode 12- Jay Davidson

The Eremita Exchange ·

2025/09/02

Jay Davidson is one of Philadelphia's premier saxophonists, but he's so much more than that. As a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and promoter, he's been involved in the music industry for most of his life, both onstage and in the studio. Having toured nationally and internationally with the likes of Whitney Houston, Steve Winwood, Cinderella and so many other artists. And he's always brought his best game to any project he's been involved with, including his own. Starting at a young age,

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31 results

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