Surprise Cast

Dear Amelia,

I was delighted to “fly” digitally to Glasgow to speak with you. I really enjoyed our conversation about the self-titled album, life as a drummer, the band’s origins, and so much more.

It was fascinating to hear about the album’s creation—from the stripped-down songwriting sessions to the fast, collaborative studio process. I was also excited to...

Dear Chris and Tanya!

I’m excited to share our special episode of Surprise Cast. Our conversation felt warm, wide-ranging, and simply fun!

I especially enjoyed hearing about the beginnings of your musical journeys—your early inspirations, formative concerts, activism, and the collaborations that helped shape your paths. At the heart of the ...

Dear Ian, Rachel, and Allison,

I had a blast chatting with you. Thanks a million for sharing such personal stories, from “almost” being a musician for The Sisters of Mercy to living in the same place as Vincent van Gogh, and the history behind your lovely grandmother. I really appreciate your thoughtful insights into what art means to you and how it shapes your role as musicians.

It was especially fun discussing the s/t album, Rail...

Hello, Gretchen and Andy! Thank you for returning to Surprise Cast. I really enjoyed how diverse and fun our conversation was—covering music, collaboration, and your sparkling new album, Demon Slayer. You both have such a natural chemistry that carries into your work in a way that feels effortless.

I especially loved hearing the stories about Marty Willson-Piper and the secret Copenhagen show with Dean & Britta—what great confi...

I’m so glad we had the chance to talk about your life as a musician. If it weren’t for my girlfriend suggesting we go to Biscuits and Blues that night, I don’t think we would have connected.

I really enjoyed hearing about your childhood growing up in the Bay Area and how you were surrounded by the sounds of the blues from such a young age. It was especially cool to learn about your early touring experiences and your collaborations ...

Dear Neal and Melissa, It brought a huge smile to have you both on Surprise Cast! Together, you unpacked what it truly means to work as designers and illustrators—the daily grind, highs, lows, and everything in between. It was great learning about the Willis Wonderland Foundation pop-up book and the backstory of discovering Hand Drawn Creative in 2009. I absolutely loved hearing how comics, post-punk music, and posters have shaped ...

Greetings, Paul! It was a pleasure to have you on Surprise Cast for an in-depth conversation about your life as a musician! Thank you for retracing your formative influences such as Chameleons, Talk Talk, and others. It was cool to learn about how these bands helped inform your approach to rhythm, melody and recordings. I loved your stories about The Pixies and Charlatans--fascinating and fun!

Our podcast listeners will get a deta...

Thank you, Susie, Michael, and Jason, for joining me for an energetic conversation about the 98th Academy Awards. I loved hearing about your personal first-movie memories, earliest Oscar impressions, and how movies shaped you. Our listeners can expect hilarious stories about that communal moviegoing experience and the sheer power of Tootsie, Star Wars, Benji, and Dead Poets Society. We unpacked and debated over seven major catego...

Dear Dusty, I welcomed you with open arms on my podcast feature, Surprise Cast. Thank you for all of your sharp insights!  It was a great time learning about the special reissue of the beloved album, 'A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness', along with all of the touring details. The wide ranging interview covered plenty of ground from hauling around a massive Hammond organ, working at Beat Records in Sacramento, and early childhood e...

Hi James and Karla, Thank you for joining me at the Surprise Cast table. I loved discussing the self-titled album, creative process, personal stories, and collaborating with Mark Gardener of Ride. It was cool learning about how you two met in such a serendipitous way. The minute you mentioned musical influences from post-punk, shoegaze, and dreampop, I felt right at ease in going deeper into the conversation.  Continue down the tr...

Dear Pete, Sitting down with you on Surprise Cast was a pure delight. Thank you for coming back for round two.  I appreciate how we explored the new album in greater detail, including central themes--climate change, mass industries, and human cost in the Congo, media, and neoliberalism structures. You did a heck of a job translating these concerns into songs, whilst handling some pretty heavy quotes from Churchill, Chomsky, Monbio...

Dear Charlie, It was so exciting to speak with you, Mr. Producer and Singer-Songwriter! You painted a vivid picture of the New York scene, including a great Thai restaurant and a community performance series at the Loser's Lounge. Sounds like a great place to enjoy talking and music. 

Thank you for sharing your formative childhood experiences, family influences, and the impact David Bowie had on you. It was great to learn about t...

Dear Curt,

A big high 5 for coming onto Surprise Cast! You brought wonderful energy and authenticity to the show.

I loved hearing about your appreciation for Lebanon, Cincinnati, and their vibrant communities. Since your childhood, it's been clear that music has been a lifelong passion for you. Thank you for sharing how faith has played a role in your songwriting and artistic expression. So many layers and so complex. 

I esp...

Hello KEELEY, I had a great time having y'all on Surprise Cast. What a fantastic way to launch season #3.  It was a blast exploring personal growth, the current state of indie music, music press, and the ongoing case of Inga Maria Hauser. Thank you for sharing insights into the band's artistic journey, the significance of collaboration, and the inspirations that drive your endless creativity. I LOVED hearing everyone's insights in...

Dear Paine, Thanks a million for being a guest on Surprise Cast!

I enjoyed hearing how traveling has broadened your mind and shaped your personal experiences. You are certainly well-traveled. It was great to learn that art is a means of self-discovery and allows you to express yourself in a creative, fun way!

Your love for Philadelphia, your collaboration with The Ocean Blue, and your time at art school were fascinating to hear. Li...

Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for returning to my podcast program, Surprise Cast. It was a pleasure speaking with you about music, faith, and personal transformation.  I particularly enjoyed listening to the backstories of songs such as "Oceans" and "Never Leaves Me". They were interesting in terms of their seeds of inspirations and connections to your spiritual journey. Thank you for being transparent about your past addictions ...

Dear Becca, It was so much fun sitting down with you on Surprise Cast to unpack your new album, 'Tonight in my Dreams' and a whole lot more. Our conversation was wide-ranging. Hearing your perspectives on songwriting, live performances, the recording process, and what it means to be "intentional" was fascinating. I loved hearing about the album's songs, such as "Caramel", "Empathy", and "Future Trip", and the stories behind each ...

Greetings, Leon! I'm grateful to have seen you perform in San Francisco in 2025. From the moment you picked up the sticks, I knew my eyes would be filled with wonder.

In our podcast conversation, you did a great job sharing your personal experiences, including your positive childhood, Marine Corps duties, and, of course, your extraordinary journey as a musician.

What really made me smile was hearing about your relationship with you...

Dear Worm School, I love your youth, spirit, and infectious energy! All of you shared interesting stories about how music plays a central role in your lives. It was great fun to jump behind the scenes of your incredible single, "Jacob's Ladder," a song as good as any in the dreampop/shoegaze world. I enjoyed learning about the band's creative process. May 2026 and beyond be filled with more great music and memorable live shows. I...