Myth vs. Craft

Nash Edgerton tells me about how he and his brother Joel first fell in love with movies as kids and how he decided to become a stuntman. He shares how he started making his own mini-movie clips to help him get jobs as a stunt performer, and how this sparked an interest in filmmaking. This led to a handful of highly acclaimed short films and eventually, to his award winning feature film "The Square", music videos for Bob Dylan and Brandon Flowers and his second feature film "Gringo." We talk about meeting Scott Ryan after watching a screening of "The Magician" at a film festival and their subsequent collaboration on the phenomenal TV show "Mr Inbetween" (FX). Nash tells me about the importance of being fluid when directing, how he works with actors and how he prepares for each project.

The incredibly talented Mark Lettieri speaks about his musical career and learning how to find balance making a living as a musician. He explains why he doesn't regret taking even bad gigs early on in his career, which type of gig makes him nervous and which musicians he'd love to play with.

Guitarist and singer/songwriter Ben Poole tells us how listening to Voodoo Child changed his life and sparked his musical journey. He describes the ups and downs of life on the road and how audiences are different in each country. He shares stories, tells us what he looks for in musicians and recounts his recent participation in the Playing With Fire festival in Omaha, Nebraska.

Take a behind the scenes look at the methods, motivation and creative vision of the multi-talented photographer, director, producer & musician Sam Jones. Among other topics, he explains how working as a cartoonist for his college newspaper prepared him to become a portrait photographer. Sam shares the lessons he learned from film and how they benefit him in a digital era. We discuss the origins of his outstanding project Off Camera and the philosophy and approach that enable him to create such natural and intimate conversations.

Phil Hurley sits down with me to review his journey from upstate New York to Austin, Texas. He tells me how he started playing music, about his band Gigolo Aunts and his time in Boston, Seattle, Amsterdam and Los Angeles. He recounts his time playing with Tracy Bonham, recalls the power that MTV used to have, his time working at Westwood Music in LA and how he helped form the band Stonehoney. He describes how he views the role of a guitar player, how he’s learning to write happy songs and what sets Austin aside from all the other cities where he’s lived.

Music veteran and manager Mark Proct looks back on his career of over 40 years working with Texas music royalty, including Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Asleep at the Wheel, Delbert McClinton, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Arc Angels, Storyville and many more. We also discuss his book Home Today, Gone Tomorrow, which has over 40 years’ worth of behind-the-scene photographs that Mark took while touring the world.

Tone, taste, grit and groove. Ray Wylie Hubbard shares stories and insights and cracks me up along the way. He tells us about his friendship with Joe Walsh, his emotional bond with musical instruments and resurrecting his career at age 41. He reflects on his purpose in life and tells us what he thinks about “bro country."

Legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff looks back on his upbringing, education and accomplished career. He breaks down the keys to his success and we talk about his upcoming autobiography, which will come out this fall. Kenny also shares great stories, tells us how his classical training has helped his career, which drummers have influenced him and which guitar player changed his life.

I speak with Ben Clymer, the founder and executive editor of the online watch magazine HODINKEE. Ben discusses his appreciation of well made mechanical objects, ranging from his childhood admiration for analogue light meters and compasses to his passion for mechanical watches and vintage cars. He tells us about his experience at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, his views on the future of journalism and how he spends his time at Hodinkee. He describes his romantic notion of classic race cars being timed with mechanical watches and why he favors vintage watches from the middle of the twentieth century.

I speak with Dr. Art Markman (co-host of Two Guys on Your Head, Professor of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin) about the psychology of losing a sibling. Prior to speaking with Dr. Markman I knew that he was eloquent and erudite about human nature and behavior. After speaking with him I learned that he is also a deeply empathetic and generous human being.