Surprise Cast

What a wonderful conversation! Thank you so much for sharing about your life and artistry. I love learning how family and great music influence your creative work. I appreciate how our discussion flows smoothly between music culture, visual art, and personal stories. And I truly value hearing your honest memories of your parents and how your father's work ethic and independence have impacted you. Your art is lively, innovative, and...

Dear Ryli, Thank you — Rob Good (guitar, harmony, recordist), Yea-Ming Chen(lead vocals, songwriter), and Luke Robbins (bass, backing vocals) — for celebrating the release of your shimmering new album 'Come and Get Me' and for reliving a standout release show at the Four Star Theater in San Francisco. What a performance! I appreciate that our conversation covers quite a bit of territory, including the way your band writes and arra...

Dear Ryan, You're a talented songwriter, musician, and educator. I love exploring the unique energy of Berkeley and college-town life, the importance of community for creative work, and how place shapes artistic expression. Articulated beautifully!

You discuss the duality of emotion using the "two wolves" metaphor, explaining how music helps you navigate joy, fear, anger, and longing. You describe songwriting as a space where oppo...

Dear Susanne, Your openness and generosity of words brought tremendous warmth to our conversation. You're a talented Norwegian composer, pianist, and public health nurse that provides many gifts to our dark world. I'm impressed how you juggle a career as a nurse, wife, mother, and a recording artist. 

It was fun exploring your ep, Travel Back, and full album, 'Fragile'. I learned quite a bit on what inspires you and the creative pr...

Dear Bret, Thank you for being on Surprise Cast. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation about life experiences, music, movies, Eardrum Buzz Radio and Cruel World Festival, 2025.  The way you unfolded story after story offers the listeners a rich blend of deep wisdom and podcast entertainment. I feel confident the audience will appreciate the important themes of connection, personal growth, and resilience. 

Because of your wonderfu...

What impresses me about Robert's commitment to evolving as a musician?  I sit down with musician Robert Sekula, known for his involvement with the indie band 14 Iced Bears, to discuss his life, inspirations, and new EP 'Asyd Mouse.' He takes listeners on a journey through his life in Camberwell, South London and Brighton. He reflects on his early days of being inspired by The Beatles, The Monkees, Marc Bolan, and John Peel's impac...

What makes Peter's insights and musings on music and life quite fascinating?  I engage in a profound conversation with the renowned musician and producer Peter Kember, also known as Sonic Boom. He passionately articulates how complex interactions within vocals and melodies create profound harmony. Pete delves into his political views and challenges listeners to question political norms and educational practices. He also reflects o...

How do we unravel the magic of music and the arts with Ken Sweeney?  Surprise Cast welcomes back Ken, a multifaceted creative who is an entertainment writer, playwright, radio documentarian, and musician. He shares his experiences as a writer in Ireland, reflecting on the vibrant Irish culture and his unique role in covering events, theater, and movies, offering an insider's perspective on what's buzzing in the Irish arts. A major...

What makes this dynamic duo such a fabulous team? We delve into the lives and minds of two influential musicians, Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, members of bands like Heavenly, Swansea Sound, and The Catenary Wires. They provide a personal reflection on historical events, political perspectives, the Heavenly reformation, and concerns about A.I. Rounding off with exciting updates, the duo talks about their recent and upcoming rele...

What makes a die hard Wedding Present fan?  This episode explores the fascinating journey from concept to reality as Matt shares his experience of bringing the TWP music to life on stage. He recounts his own journey from being a music fan to directing theater productions, detailing how university life opened his eyes to new ways of thinking and ultimately led him into the theater world. Matt discusses the challenges and triumphs o...

How does Catherine "find the magic"? We dive deep into a conversation with the talented photographer, Catherine Laura. Broadcasting from her quaint town in northern England, she shares her unique journey as an artist, mother, scuba diving enthusiast, and creative photographer. Her personality is as warm and infectious as a La's tune! Follow Catherine: https://www.catherinelaura.com/

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Who has the pulse on the heartbeat of the Bay Area's music scene? Bobby Martinez, founder of Dandy Boy Records, joins me for a journey through music, memories, and the vibrant culture that shapes underground music. He shares his music-rooted life story, reminiscing about his early days and experiences that ignited his love for punk rock. He takes us on a tour through the legendary Gilman Street in Berkeley, a special venue that re...

What does it mean to live creatively and authentically? Philip Ekström from the band The Mary Onettes broadcasts from his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. He shares insights into his life and music, offering listeners a rich tapestry of personal ideas and artistic thoughts. The episode explores his life as an artist and a highly dedicated father. Philip shares thoughtful reflections on his upbringing, deep love for literature, The ...

Did you know that Pete is more than just a music journalist? He shares insights that extend beyond his profession, delving into his Greek heritage and how it has shaped his life and career. Pete reflects on his dynamic relationships with friends, formative musical influences, and his childhood experiences that imbued him with emotional intelligence and resilience. Enjoy some very poignant insights from a gentleman that is filled w...

What is the importance of lifelong friendship, faith, and music? I sat down with Chris Newkirk and Alex Yost from the alternative indie band, The Julies. We explore the dynamic blend of 80s post-punk, 90s shoegaze, and other influences that shape their unique sound. They share personal narratives about their roles in the band, their creative processes influenced by deep-rooted faith, and a shared love for timeless music, particula...

How many great shoegaze/alternative bands come from Belgium? Enjoy my second conversation with Newmoon's front man, Bert Cannaerts! We discuss profound themes from Ethan Hawke's book, 'Rules for a Knight,' guiding conversation on inner conflict, kindness, humility, and pride through metaphorical reflections on wolves and knights. So fun! This episode is filled with heartfelt dialogue and tremendous honesty. Bert's answers are qui...

What makes Mina's story so extraordinary? I have a heartfelt conversation with the talented singer-songwriter Mina Tindle, who joins me from the beautiful part of France. She opens up about her creative journey, personal inspirations, and the compelling experiences that have shaped her art. We explore her childhood memories, the influence of her family, her collaborations with her husband, Bryce Dessner of the indie band, The Nati...

We leap into the creative journey with special guests, Kirsty Almeida and Matt Owens. Matt, with his roots in jazz and a passion for innovative compositions, softly and intelligently shares his perspectives behind the new work for the album, "Keys". Kirsty, known for her authentic vocals and highly creative spirit, discusses her integral role in the album, infusing it with...