Backtrack: An Atlanta Storytellers Podcast

In this final episode of Season 1 of Backtrack, Eldon shares a story about longing, clarity, and the hidden cost of loving someone who may not be ready to receive what you’re offering. It’s a quiet moment that becomes a turning point, when a song heard during a storm, married to a simple question, reveals a truth the heart can’t avoid forever.After you hear the live performance, you'll listen to portions of an interview with Eldon where he explores how storytelling has shaped his life, from

For years, “Sideshow” by Blue Magic was just another slow jam in Cola Rum’s playlist, a smooth, soulful track woven into the backdrop of his life. But on the day his marriage ended and he was moving out of his home, that same song hit differently. What had once been charm and romance suddenly became something sharper, more revealing, and impossible to ignore.In this episode of Backtrack, Cola revisits that day and the unexpected ways music, memory, and the kindness of ordinary people all converged

When she was sixteen, Heather Parady made a split-second decision that turned an ordinary summer afternoon into a story she would never forget. What began as a simple trip for cake mix ended with a crash, a cover-up, and a moment of fierce sisterly loyalty. It was a beautiful display of the kind of love that shows up in the mess, fear, and choices that don’t always make sense on paper. In this episode of Backtrack, Heather revisits that day through the lens of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,”

When Katina agreed to drive a support vehicle through the Namib Desert in the middle of the night, she didn’t expect that the song “Sweet Caroline” would be the thing that saved her. What began as a story about fighting "vehicular narcolepsy" and survival became something much deeper. It turned into a reflection on music, memory, and the power of connection.In this episode of Backtrack, Katina reminds us that the songs we love aren’t just melodies; they’re moments that bring us back to the

For his 50th birthday, storyteller Chetter Galloway planned a trip to Hawaii, but the pandemic had other ideas. Instead, he found himself back home in Suffolk, Virginia, driving familiar roads and rediscovering the places that shaped him. In this episode of Backtrack, Chetter reflects on change, memory, and finding meaning in the unexpected detours of life, all through the lens of the song “Life is a Highway.”Want to see the full performance? Watch Chetter's story and The Tabernacle

When “Crimson and Clover” played at that dance in 1971, Ron Chapman couldn’t have known how often that song would reappear throughout his life. From the paralyzing mix of attraction and shame he felt as a teenager to the healing he’s found in adulthood, Ron’s story reveals how a song’s meaning often changes and evolves, just like we do.Want to see the full performance? Watch Ron’s story and The Tabernacle Collective’s live rendition of “Crimson and Clover” here! You can also find more interviews,

In each episode, we return to the stage of 'The Songs That Shape Us', replaying the moment when a song became a time machine for one of Atlanta’s top storytellers, and exploring its deeper resonance with host Joshua Cuthbertson.Through live recordings, intimate reflections, and conversations with the storytellers themselves, Backtrack reveals how music resonates not just in our ears, but in our souls. These are stories of heartbreak and healing, courage and connection — and the songs that