x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Nathans & Roncast

Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt

Each episode of the Nathans & Roncast features a deep dive into a single song. Hosted by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, this podcast includes conversations with the artists, as well as subject matter experts about the real-life stories behind story songs you know and love.

music music commentary

All Episodes

00:21:09

Round Midnight: Ronstadt Radio

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/10/31

We have three more fun tracks from the family vault! First up is Round Midnight sung by John Ronstadt in 1994 from the album Maiden Voyage. We then here my […]

en-US

00:17:44

Papa Mike Ronstadt’s “La Barca De Oro”: Ronstadt Radio

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/10/24

In Episode 3, we have three more tracks from the Ronstadt family. We start out with “My Walking Stick” performed by the Ronstadt cousins, which is a song by Irving […]

en-US

00:17:30

Ronstadt Cousins play Wild Mountain Thyme: More...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/10/16

This week we introduce three songs from the Ronstadt Family vault, first featuring Michael’s dad’s long-time trio, the Ronstadt Cousins and their recording of Wild Mountain Thyme (live in Canelo). He also features his […]

en-US

00:11:57

Ronstadt Radio!

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/10/08

For our third season premiere, we introduce several episodes we are calling the Ronstadt Radio Podcast, featuring music from the Ronstadt family vault! This one starts out with Petie Ronstadt’s […]

en-US

00:04:36

The beauty of near rhymes in songwriting

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/04/17

When it comes to crafting rhymes in song, the perfect can be the enemy of the good. In a perfect rhyme, among two words, the ending consonants and the vowel […]

en-US

00:19:13

Spook Handy: Why “This Land is Your Land” endures

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/04/03

New Jersey folk singer and songwriter Spook Handy is our guest this week as we take a deep dive into Woody Guthrie’s classic song “This Land is Your Land.” Spook […]

en-US

00:03:46

Just don’t use this word in songwriting

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/03/20

A song should be a concise vehicle for getting your point across. And in a three to four minute song, there isn’t much room to belabor the point, or trod […]

en-US

00:28:50

Serenity Fisher on writing music for the stage

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/02/27

Michael is on the road this week with Serenity Fisher, his partner in music and life. In this episode, Michael talks with Serenity about her work creating musicals. They include […]

en-US

00:05:45

The Bob Dylan movie: Why it’s so hard to capture...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/02/22

We’re betting that if you love songwriting like we do, you’ve probably seen the Bob Dylan movie, “A Complete Unknown.” Aaron went out and saw it on Christmas Day, the […]

en-US

00:24:59

“Canto De La Montaña”: Tish Hinojosa’s fantasy on a...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/02/06

In the second half of our conversation with Tish Hinojosa, we speak with her about her time living in Germany, then returning to Texas and having to reestablish her musical […]

en-US

00:31:33

How Tish Hinojosa became a songwriter

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/01/22

Singer-Songwriter Leticia “Tish” Hinojosa is our guest this week. We have a lot in common, namely bringing our heritage into our music and stage shows. Tish was born on December […]

en-US

00:21:54

John Flynn: A new year, New Beginnings

Nathans & Roncast ·

2025/01/01

On today’s episode, we interview the great John Flynn. He’s a folk songwriter who sings about social justice, and then walks the walk. He’s worked against the death penalty, and […]

en-US

00:06:01

Why ‘Hey Jude’ is a song for the season

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/12/18

Aaron didn’t think much of “Hey Jude” when he first heard it, but in this episode of the Nathans & Roncast, he looks at why this 56-year-old song is so […]

en-US

00:07:52

“Men and Rivers”: Craig Bickhardt’s reflection on our...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/12/11

In this bonus episode, Craig Bickhardt tells the story behind his song “Men and Rivers,” which he wrote about a flood in Nashville. It’s a reflection on mankind’s relationship with […]

en-US

00:30:25

Talking “This Old House” with Craig Bickhardt

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/12/04

In this episode we talk with Craig Bickhardt about his poignant song “This Old House,” which he co-wrote with fellow Pennsylvanian and Hall of Fame songwriter Thom Schuyler. This is […]

en-US

00:05:07

“Mother,” Elexa Dawson’s song about Mother Earth,...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/11/13

We’re presenting some single songs from our live taping of the Nathans & Roncast in Chicago at Folk Alliance Regional Midwest last month. In this episode, Kansas-based songwriter Elexa Dawson […]

en-US

00:03:52

“Old Joe’s Chair,” live from Chicago

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/11/07

We played a few songs before our live taping of our interview with Elexa Dawson at the Folk Alliance Region Midwest conference. Here’s one of them, “Old Joe’s Chair,” written […]

en-US

00:49:11

Live from Chicago: Elexa Dawson’s soul-stirring...

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/10/30

In our first Nathans & Roncast recording in front of a live audience, we speak with Kansas-based performing songwriter Elexa Dawson about two songs she wrote about the Dakota Access […]

en-US

00:05:06

Why Richard Shindell’s “You Stay Here” packs a punch

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/10/23

Richard Shindell is great story songwriter, and wow can he play guitar. Both of those skills — songwriting and guitar work — are on vivid display on one of his trademark […]

en-US

00:07:22

How to Make a Set List: Pacing and Balance

Nathans & Roncast ·

2024/10/10

Aaron and Michael take you inside the process of making a set list just before a recent house concert. We write the set list in real time, trading songs back […]

en-US

42 results

Similar Podcasts

Pasquale Maassen Soundcloud

Pasquale Maassen

Marian Klose

Marian Klose

sevenism

sevenism

Dean Delray"s LET THERE BE TALK

Cactus Radio Network

Word In Your Ear

Mark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold