

SongWriter turns stories into songs
Ben Arthur
SongWriter is a storytelling and songwriting podcast where stories become brand new songs. In each episode, a celebrated writer shares a story, and a musician writes and performs a song inspired by it — revealing how narratives turn into music, lyrics, and emotion.Hosted by Ben Arthur, SongWriter features conversations and performances from artists including Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, George Saunders, Steve Earle, David Sedaris, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. The show blends the craft of writing, the creative processes of art, and intimate connections between authors and musicians.If you love great stories and great songs — and want a behind-the-scenes look at creativity from some of today’s most influential artists — this is your next listen.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 28, 2022 • 25min
Tom Franklin + Ben Glover
Southern author Tom Franklin reads two pieces of short fiction – including one about a visit to the beach near Chicago – and talks about his history in Mississippi. Irish songwriter Ben Glover (@BenGloverMusic) recounts his journey to America, and the resonances he feels between Northern Ireland and the South. He also speaks about co-writing songs, including with Mary Gauthier.https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Tom-Franklin-Ben-GloverTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

Jun 14, 2022 • 41min
Laurie Woolever + Mike Ruffino
Author and former longtime “lieutenant” for Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, (@LaurieWoolever) tells an exclusive story about a day in Sri Lanka when she fears that she would get killed over a bucket of fried chicken and a bottle of whiskey. Composer and songwriter Mike Ruffino (@MRuffino), who also worked with Bourdain for more than a decade, performs a song he wrote using inspiration and actual audio recorded during the shoot in Sri Lanka. https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Laurie-Woolever-Mike-RuffinoTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

May 31, 2022 • 23min
Mike Nichols, told by Mark Harris + Anna Kline
Biographer and social historian Mark Harris (@MarkHarris) tells the life story of Mike Nichols, one of the most influential directors of the 20th century. Anna Kline of the band Swift Silver (@SwiftSilverBand) talks about her reaction to Mike’s story, and shares the genesis of her vintage-vibing song, “The Picture Show.” Anna also speaks about her mother’s dementia from Alzheimer’s, and connects her ongoing grief to Nichols’ experience of losing his father at a young agehttps://SongWriterPodcast.com/Mike-Nichols-Anna-KlineTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

May 17, 2022 • 23min
Wright Thompson + Drew Holcomb
Author and journalist Wright Thompson reads a story about the death of his beloved uncle, and how time and place memorialize our lives. Songwriter Drew Holcomb (@DrewHolcomb) talks about the loss of his brother at a young age, and performs his brand new song, “Slower Than the Highway.”https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Wright-Thompson-Drew-HolcombTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcast

May 3, 2022 • 24min
Halston, told by Ned Martel + Stephan Moccio
Ned Martel, a producer of the Netflix series Halston, tells the life story of the mononymous designer, who first came on the scene when he designed the iconic hat Jackie Kennedy wore to the inauguration of her husband. Composer, producer, and songwriter Stephan Moccio (@StephanMoccio) talks about his work with The Weeknd, Celine Dion, and Miley Cyrus, and about the genesis of the song he wrote in response to Halston’s triumphant-yet-tragic life story. Stephan also speaks about writing “Wrecking Ball,” and how that song changed his career and life.https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Halston-Stephan-MoccioTwitter.com/SnogWriterFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcastInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcast

Apr 19, 2022 • 33min
Zelda + Carsie Blanton
Hospice social worker Zelda (who asks that her given name not be used for privacy) talks about her time working as a stripper. She recounts moments both horrifying and sweet, and describes the many ways that the two jobs overlap.Songwriter Carsie Blanton (@CarsieBlanton) talks about how she incorporates political content within the emotional framework of her songs, and draws parallels between what audiences ask of strippers and songwriters. Her brand new song is called “Into the Light.”Photos of Zelda from her exotic dancer days, including ones showing the bruises she regularly got up and down her legs can be seen at the SongWriter IG and the SongWriter TikTokhttps://SongWriterPodcast.com/Zelda-Carsie-BlantonTwitter.com/SnogWriter

Apr 5, 2022 • 29min
Coal Country + Steve Earle
Playwrights Jessica Blank (@JessicaCBlank) and Erik Jensen (@ErikJensen123) describe the genesis of their musical, Coal Country, a collaboration with Steve Earle (@SteveEarle). Steve talks about the role of empathy in songwriting, and plays his song “It’s About Blood,” which lists the names of the 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mining disaster.The show runs at the Cherry Lane Theater in NYC until April 17, 2022. The project is a collaboration with @PublicTheaterNY and @AudibleTheaterhttps://SongWriterPodcast.com/Coal-Country-Steve-EarleTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

Mar 22, 2022 • 2min
Season Four Trailer
Delighted to announce the fourth season of SongWriter, which will feature stories from Questlove, Mary Gauthier, Anthony Doerr, and George Saunders, and songs from Carrie Brownstein, Drew Holcomb, and Steve Earlehttps://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

Oct 19, 2021 • 24min
Joyce Carol Oates + Katie Melua
Legendary author Joyce Carol Oates reads her poem “Too Young to Marry, but Not Too Young to Die” at a live performance in San Francisco organized by Poets and Writers Magazine. International pop star Katie Melua shares a studio recording of a song she wrote in response called "Forever Sunlit," and talks about her evolving creative process.The poem is about how what seems romantic to a young person looks increasingly laughable - even asinine - as we get older, and the artists each talk about what it means to be a teenager, and how their perspectives have shifted over time.This is the final episode of season three.https://SongWriterPodcast.com/Joyce-Carol-Oates-Katie-MeluaTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast

Oct 18, 2021 • 1h 7min
Introducing Basic Folk
Basic Folk is one of my favorite podcasts, and in this episode host Cindy Howes talks to Wesley Schultz about the history of The Lumineers up to now and his solo debut album.About Basic Folk:Basic Folk is a podcast with honest conversations between musicians and Cindy Howes, a well-versed public radio host and music curator, and guest host Lizzie No, a talented singer/songwriter. Basic Folk approaches interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. This podcast fosters the folk community and showcases a genre that is often misunderstood. Basic Folk features complex conversations about the human experience witnessed from an artistic angle. Our definition of “folk” is extremely broad, so you’ll hear interviews from Amythyst Kiah , John Hiatt, The Lumineers and many more.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast


