Episodes

Episode 62

Wild Rivers

Beyond their ability to craft killer hooks, the members of Platinum-selling indie pop band Wild Rivers are just as focused on substance as style—whatever it takes to best serve the song.

Episode 61

Andy Allo

From her soulful music career to her breakthrough acting role in the hit series 'Upload' to her recent dive into the culinary world, Andy Allo has never confined herself to a single path.

Episode 60

Mai Der Vang

Pulitzer finalist Mai Der Vang opens up about the courage it takes to be a poet, the discipline required to stay with uncertainty, and the weight of writing for a community long silenced.

Episode 59

Dustin Kensrue

Dustin Kensrue (Thrice) tries his best to maintain a holistic view on the creative life and speaks about the quiet cost of ignoring what really stirs the soul.

Episode 58

Carlos Rafael Rivera

Emmy and Grammy-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (Hacks, The Queen's Gambit) details the painful lessons required to get to a healthy space of being less precious about his creative work.

Episode 57

Ben Winters

Despite the best-selling books and hit TV shows, Ben Winters says distraction and anxiety remain very much a part of the creative process—even in the face of his ever-growing run of successes.

Episode 56

Tina Cane

Tina Cane, the former Poet Laureate of Rhode Island, discusses the importance of a congruent life for the sake of creating meaningful work.

Episode 55

Great Lake Swimmers

Tony Dekker opens up about the authentic centeredness that's informed the beautiful alchemy of the Great Lake Swimmers for the last two decades.

Episode 54

Lyrics Born

Acclaimed artist and actor Lyrics Born speaks about finding a new identity beyond hip-hop, what he’s learned in 30 years as a recording artist, and the importance of saying yes when unexpected gifts come your way.

Episode 53

Joan Osborne

Joan Osborne reflects on the organic origins of her musical career and tells us what creative advice she would give herself if she could go back to the beginning of such a celebrated catalog.

Episode 52

Land of Talk

Land of Talk's Lizzie Powell talks about spurned opportunities, lessons learned to protect the work, and the upsides of being a slow burn of a band—all of which has made them one of Canada’s most respected artists of the last 20 years.

Episode 51

Lucero

Lucero front man Ben Nichols talks about the acclaimed band's desire for boot camp experiences in the studio, the lessons learned over a quarter century of piling in a van for another tour run, and how/why he's so keen to face the resistance in the first place.

Episode 50

Ron Underwood

On this episode of the Resistance, acclaimed TV/film director Ron Underwood joined us for a meaningful conversation about the importance of fear and what it signals, the work of stewarding creativity in a team setting, and the throughline of a long career in Hollywood.

Episode 49

Tim Baker

From his days fronting the indie rock band Hey, Rosetta! to his current run as a solo artist, Tim Baker's music has always connected at a deeper level. On this episode, the Canadian songwriter opens up about creative friction and why it means everything to the process of making anything.

Episode 48

Michael Kleber-Diggs

Despite an impressive and growing list of fellowships, awards, and prizes, acclaimed poet and author Michael Kleber-Diggs says it's an ongoing struggle to believe his voice and perspective are needed at all.

Episode 47

The Clientele

On this episode of The Resistance, Alasdair MacLean chronicles his songwriting journey and some creative lessons learned, how The Clientele's most popular song only took 10 minutes to write, and the connective tissue of their brand new album, 'I Am Not There Anymore'.

Episode 46

Johnnyswim

Johnnyswim's infectious pop music has carried them from The Today Show to the Tonight Show, but the primary goal of their work has always been about creating meaningful connections. On this episode, Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano tell us about the way art generates community and how music continues to heal them to this day.

Episode 45

Jill Andrews

Our discussion with singer-songwriter Jill Andrews takes a number of turns, from her ability to differentiate herself from her music to the subjects that are too personal to write about. And just as her music finds a way to effortlessly connect with the listener, we’ve no doubt her insights here into creativity and resistance will do the same.

Episode 44

Hanson

With 3 Grammy wins, 16 million albums sold, and 30 years of experience, the members of Hanson have learned a thing or two about creativity and resistance. In this episode, they emphasize the importance of being present and the difficulties of differentiating oneself from one's work.

Episode 43

Colin West

Life doesn't get in the way, so to speak, for Colin West. As an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, West has instead learned to embrace the mundane and routine for the substance it provides the stories he tells, including his latest film, a New York Times Critics Pick entitled Linoleum.

Episode 42

Travis

After nine full-length albums, numerous global tours, multiple Brit Awards, and four Platinum releases, you'd think Fran Healy and his bandmates in Travis would be a bit more confident in their ability to write a great song. But Healy says it was never about talent. It's just about a willingness to dig and nothing more.

Episode 41

The Wood Brothers

In nearly 20 years as frontman of The Wood Brothers, Oliver Wood has built an incredible catalog of Grammy-nominated, genre-defying music. The key to such longevity is his career-long fight to stay distracted. Yes, to stay distracted.

Episode 40

Liz Vice

As a teenager, acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice lived with a severe autoimmune disease that could have killed her. On this episode, Liz tells us about the creative fears that still have a hold on her, even as her gospel/R&B fusion has made her an NPR darling and given her a considerable platform.

Episode 39

Joshua Henry

Joshua Henry, fresh off his appearance in the film Tick, Tick...Boom!, is a three-time Tony nominee known for his work in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, Hamilton, and Waitress who also just happened to release his debut album, Grow. The secret to so much success? Henry says he tries to listen to "the voice before the voice" as a daily practice.

Episode 38

Villagers

The songwriter and central figure in the Mercury Prize nominated band Villagers, Conor O'Brien sits down for a conversation about the wrestling required with and the shadow side of social media. It's an insightful conversation about external demands versus our internal compass and how to navigate that tension.

Episode 37

Tony Tost

On this episode of The Resistance, screenwriter Tony Tost (Longmire, Damnation) describes the (lack of) mental issues with writing in his career and why he believes that to be the case. He also opens up about his uncommon path toward a career in the arts and how that's given him such a different perspective on creativity and fear.

Episode 36

Josh Radnor

Josh Radnor has found success on the screen and stage and, most recently, as a songwriter, but despite his experience and expansive platform, he still wrestles with the same basic fears, voices, and pressures that plagued him when he was first starting out.

Episode 35

Natashia Deón

Natashia Deón wears many, many creative hats, including that of acclaimed author (for her celebrated novel, Grace). On this episode of The Resistance, Natashia speaks openly about the power of her faith to fuel her activities and what she’s learned about balance and self-care in the midst of so many demands.

Episode 34

Emile Mosseri

On this episode of The Resistance, we spoke with Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri about the devastating beauty of Minari, his journey to becoming a composer, and the tension of working toward someone else's creative vision versus his own.

Episode 33

Duncan Sheik

From his multi-Tony Award musical Spring Awakening to Grammy-nominated hit singles like "Barely Breathing", Duncan Sheik has experienced considerable success on multiple fronts as a songwriter. However, he says nothing is more important than making art that is, first and foremost, interesting to him.

Episode 32

Mat Kearney

After 15 years in the music biz, Mat Kearney says the only healthy rudder when it comes to his work is whether or not he's personally interested. It's a hard lesson to learn, to wall off the surrounding influences and pressures, but he's done so once again on his forthcoming album, January Flower.

Episode 31

Saunder Jurriaans

We speak with composer Saunder Jurriaans (Ozark, American Gods) about the anxiety and adventure of stepping out into something new—the resistance he faced when releasing music of his own making for no other reason than obedience to the impulses inside him.

Episode 30

Josh Kelley

In this latest episode, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley details his journey toward personal betterment, a years-long battle against toxic voices of fear and insecurity. On the other side, he shares some valuable lessons learned and how they affect his creativity.

Episode 29

Mahogany L. Browne

To hear Mahogany L. Browne's story is to not only understand more about the substantive work of an acclaimed artist but also to unearth something deeper about the importance of claiming your own voice. Her courage to face her fears has gifted us with meaningful writing, a platform she's leveraged to encourage and elevate so many other voices.

Episode 28

The Naked & Famous

We're not sure how Alisa Xayalith or Thom Powers crafted something so meaningfully synthetic, but their new album is a heartening, even healing listen. This episode features an honest conversation with synth-pop band The Naked & Famous about how meaningful art can emerge from a season of loss and confusion.

Episode 27

William Fitzsimmons

There's no way to make this more palatable: friction is essential to creativity. Our latest episode of The Resistance features acclaimed singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons, an artist who has learned the connective value from allowing friction to do its work.

Episode 26

Brooke Waggoner

This episode of the Resistance features an honest conversation with acclaimed musician Brooke Waggoner about the tension of when to stop and start, when to move forward and how to let go. There are no right answers, but there are meaningful questions asked and Brooke has much to teach us based on the journey she's taken.

Episode 25

Mindy Smith

Fortitude and fragility are strange bedfellows, but singer-songwriter Mindy Smith says both are essential to her craft as a songwriter. It's a mix we all need if we seek to do the work before us. To chase the dream, to bring about the imagined, to pin down the evasive—we must enter the fragility of the unknown and walk it out with an unfounded confidence.

Episode 24

Li-Young Lee

Our conversation with National Book Award winning poet Li-Young Lee opened our eyes to new layers of the Resistance—a fearful proposition—even as we were also reminded of the maturation and growth possible when we face it.

Episode 23

Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation

As one half of renowned electronic duo Thievery Corporation, Eric Hilton (along with his musical partner Rob Garza) is responsible for a massive catalog spanning the last quarter century. He's influenced an entire generation of producers and DJs and with three solo releases slated for 2020, he remains as busy as ever as an artist. It's all a result of his optimistic outlook—one he works hard to maintain.

Episode 22

Sarah Siskind

Sarah Siskind's vulnerability as a songwriter is also what makes for such meaningful conversation. As a parent, she struggles to manage family and career. As an artist, she's hungry for the time and space to create. As a single woman, she wrestles with being alone for the first time in her life. Her willingness to share from these wells allow her to connect and offer hope in ways that few artist can.

Episode 21

Rosi Golan

Despite Rosi Golan's 12 years in the music industry, the Israeli-born singer-songwriter says some fears loom larger than ever before. From the vulnerability of releasing personal material, to the fear of getting lost in the shuffle, to the worries of living up to expectations, Rosi swims in the Resistance in several forms. Fortunately, she's mentally wired to push back against such doubts.

Episode 20

John Mark McMillan

How can you give away what you've lost? That was the dilemma facing singer-songwriter John Mark McMillan for most of the last decade. In this episode, McMillan details the Resistance he faced during a 10-year descent into doubt and confusion while dealing with a fan base clamoring for answers and meaning.

Episode 19

Jericho Brown

Our conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown is one about reward and resistance. It asks tough questions about how far the burning heart inside can carry a person. Is a sense of calling enough? What if the rewards aren't there when we believe we need them? Brown has earned his Pulitzer (and then some) but it required a long lean into lonely spaces.

Episode 18

The Lone Bellow

Zach Williams is worried about what you will think of him. Aren't most of us? The latest episode of The Resistance is all about this tension and how it affects the creative life of Zach and his bandmates (Kanene Donehey Pipkin, Brian Elmquist) in The Lone Bellow. Even after several acclaimed albums, Zach says he's learning to set aside others' expectations in order to craft the art he's called to make.

Episode 17

Alex Ebert

For the last two-plus decades, Alex Ebert has stayed the creative course, a prime example of an artist who does what he feels. That might sound like an enjoyable path, but as Alex shares his story, it's fraught with industry questions, critical backlash, and a general sense of loneliness. In short, a commitment to making art on your own terms comes with a heavy cost.

Episode 16

Pandemics and Presence

In the midst of a global pandemic and being quarantined with our own makeshift home studios, we thought it appropriate to process this greater reality of Resistance that we all face these days. It's hard to find the positive in such a negative situation, but if we're present, we can face the Resistance even in these darker days.

Episode 15

Sierra Hull

What role does Resistance play for an artist who has achieved so much so early? To hear Sierra Hull tell her story, she's experienced as much Resistance as ever as she's released her latest album—the stunning masterwork known as 25 Trips. From industry hurdles to lessons learned about believing her own voice, Sierra's proof that the Resistance hits all of us equally. There's never a way around it, only through it.

Episode 14

Nathan Johnson

Film composer Nathan Johnson (Knives Out, Looper, Kill the Messenger) says he's always ready to jump. As a lover of creative challenge, Nathan says the key to being able to make that leap is a willingness to say yes to what you don't know how to do. It's that sort of "anything goes" approach that's allowed Johnson to craft such intriguing and genre-bending compositions that bolster his cinematic projects in such rare, beautiful ways.

Episode 13

The Reintroduction

After a several month break, The Resistance is back with some exciting changes to announce! Listen in to hear more about the program going forward and what's in store for this next step in the journey.

Episode 12

Fantastic Negrito

It was immediately clear that Fantastic Negrito would close our first season of The Resistance once we began our conversation. Here was a man speaking—nay, preaching—from a lifetime of hard-fought battles with resistance. Record label woes. A car accident and ensuing coma. The inability to use his hand—to literally make music. Relearning it all after his supposed prime had passed him by.

Episode 11

Glen Phillips

It's taken some time for Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) to realize the ebb and flow of popularity and the shifting sands of the music industry have nothing to do with his value as a person or his worth as a cultural voice. These days, he's "over" the idea of a career, he says. It's simply about obedience to the creative impulses that he feels.

Episode 10

Drew Holcomb

Artist and entrepreneur Drew Holcomb makes music of his own while building brands to celebrate the music of so many others. Given his many pursuits, Drew faces resistance on a number of fronts. In this episode, he explains the posture needed to consistently create and how he's learned to protect the initial impulse that sparked his creative pursuits in the first place.

Episode 9

Rules for Artists

This week, we have a special bonus episode that deviates from our typical interview format. Last week, Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks sat down to discuss The Resistance, and in our conversation, he disclosed a list he keeps in his writing journal that lists rules he's picked up along the way as an artist. Aptly titled Rules For Artists, Monks graciously agreed to share those lessons learned with us in this special one-off episode.

Episode 8

Tokyo Police Club

As the front man for one of Toronto's biggest bands, Tokyo Police Club, Dave Monks has well over a decade of experience of writing, recording, and releasing music to the world, not to mention his own solo work. Why does he still wrestle with permission to follow his own interests? Our latest episode is relatable and raw in so many ways.

Episode 7

Sarah Jaffe

Our conversation with indie pop artist Sarah Jaffe speaks directly to the shadow side of comparison and how destructive it can be if we let it rule our mindset. As an artist, Sarah says social media can be her worst enemy, a distracting or even dangerous noise that steals her passion and fervor for what she loves most.

Episode 6

Denison Witmer

It's been six years since we've heard from Denison Witmer. In that time, he's settled into normal life of work and play, friends and family. He's nurtured the relationships that mattered most without ever knowing if his passion and talent for music would ever come back around again. Maybe he would shy away from such comparisons, but the sacrifice feels a bit Abrahamic.

Episode 4

Lowland Hum

When was the last time you felt like an imposter—at your craft, at your vocation, at parenting? What if the moment you felt those feelings most intensely—perhaps on a stage in the middle of a crowded room of fans—you decided to confront it in the boldest way possible?

Episode 3

Theodore Shapiro

Film composer Theodore Shapiro has scored over 70 films, from The Wolf of Wall Street to The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me to Ghostbusters. Unfortunately, none of his success has stopped the Resistance.

Episode 2

Lynn Renee Maxcy

On this episode of The Resistance, Lynn Renee Maxcy will frustrate those of you who want to hear that all the self-doubt subsides after you've "made it." Fortunately, she's also ready and willing to share plenty of heartening advice about what it means to cultivate creative community and how to persist in the face of it all.

Episode 1

Stephen Kellogg

This episode with Stephen Kellogg not only features honest insights from one of the best (and most underrated) singer-songwriters in music today. His vulnerable testimony is a much-needed reminder for so many of us that our voice matters more than we think—and it's okay to fight for it.

Episode 0

Series Trailer

"Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance." -Steven Pressfield, The War of Art