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Want a way to keep ukulele front and center in your ears when driving, petting your cat, mopping the floor, or otherwise NOT playing your uke? Now you can with The Live Ukulele Podcast!
Tune in to my new ukulele podcast to learn important perspectives on playing, teaching, and the journey of music. Each episode I’ll cover a fresh topic of interest by myself or with a guest and dive deep into what makes the uke tick.
Here you’ll find all the episodes, show notes, transcriptions, and extras. So subscribe on your favorite podcast service and tune in every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month for new content!
You can also listen to each episode here on the website by following any of the show links below.
Season 2:
Ep. #21 – Jeff Peterson on Phrasing and Tone
(Nov 6, 2021) – A masterclass on ukulele technique from an award-winning musician Lesson, examples, classical uke
Ep. #20 – Joel Blechinger on Strings and Setups
(Oct 16, 2021) – One of the best setup techs in the business on how strings interact with different ukuleles and the role of the setup. Technical, uke community, strings
Ep. #19 – Going Beyond the Song: Stories and Background
(Oct 2, 2021) – The importance of knowing the history of songs you play and how it can make you more connected to the music. Songs, Hawaiian music, stories
Ep. #18 – Max Angel on Hawaiian Language & Lifestyle
(Sep 18, 2021) – Using Hawaiian culture and language as an inspiration for playing ukulele Interview, pidgen English, stories
Ep. #17 – Mentoring Ukulele Students
(Sep 4, 2021) – How a mentorship differs from teaching and how it can be even more valuable. Personal experience, mindset, learning styles
Ep. #16 – How to Learn a Song
(Aug 21, 2021) – My approach to hashing out a new song and committing it to memory. Hawaiian music, process, examples
Ep. #15 – Getting Out of a Rut
(Aug 7, 2021) – How to find inspiration when you’re feeling stale. Tips, life, improving
Ep. #14 – Isaac Wang
(Jul 17, 2021) – Live ʻUkulele’s co-creator! Stories, slack key guitar, Hawaiian style
Ep. #13 – Tools & Resources
(Jul 3, 2021) – How to use common and uncommon tools to learn ukulele better. Learning tips, gadgets, software
Ep. #12 – John Nash
(Jun 19, 2021) – Fun interview with the man behind Ukulele Inspired Studio. Interview, collaboration, live performance
Ep. #11 – Comparing High-g & Low-G Tuning
(Jun 5, 2021) – The difference between re-entrant and linear tuning for the G-string. Strings, contrast, examples
Ep. #10 – Getting a Better Plugged In Sound
(May 15, 2021) – Tips for mixing your uke’s pickup. Audio examples, tech, comparisons
Ep. #9 – Tobias Elof
(May 1, 2021) – Visiting with the most chill uke player around …from Denmark! Interview, live performances, stories
Ep. #8 – Learning From One’s Self – Brad Critiquing Brad
(Apr 17, 2021) – A self critique of some past performances and things I liked or wished I did differently. Song demos, performance, quick tips
Ep. #7 – Dominator: The Art of Ukulele Tabs
(Apr 3, 2021) – Interview with the OG ukulele tabber, Dominator, and how he approaches working through a song. Interview, tips, old uke friends
Ep. #6 – The Journey of Learning
(Mar 20, 2021) – Talk story about different uke learning moments and how the school of hard cracks teaches the most. Group chat, first hand, casual
Ep. #5 – Uke Building Magic With Brad Donaldson
(Mar 6, 2021) – Amazing insight from a pro ukulele builder on what makes them tick. Stories, first hand experience, interview
Ep. #4 – Performing With an Ukulele
(Feb 20, 2021) – Tips, tricks, and stories for putting on a more engaging, exciting show. Pro tips, stories, lesson
Ep. #3 – John Atkins (The Ukulele Teacher)
(Feb 6, 2021) – The biggest ukulele name on Youtube! I sit down and talk to John about his career, life, and ukes. Talk story, fame, behind the scenes
Ep. #2 – Playing Nicely With Others
(Jan 16, 2021) – I’m joined by Higgs to demonstrate how to be a better supporting player and ways you can fade perfectly into the background. Live examples, tips, lesson
Ep. #1 – Playing Ukulele Happier and Easier with Konabob
(Jan 2, 2021) – Konabob shares his experiences starting out as a musician in his 40s and how he found contentedness in his playing. Stories, humble, reflective
Season 1:
Ep. #10 – Holiday Variety Show/Talk Story
(Dec 19th, 2020) – Telling some stories and reflecting on some things I’m thankful for this holiday season. Personal, casual, stories
Ep. #9 – Neal Chin on Jazz Ukulele
(Dec 5th, 2020) – A fun chat with Seattle-based Neal Chin on playing jazz ukulele and the journey of improving and keeping a playful attitude in music. Interview, jazz, tips
Ep. #8 – Unpacking the UAS Myth
(Nov 21st, 2020) – My opinions on “Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome” and replacing it with a more useful mindset. Also, some tips on shopping for an ukulele. Opinion, gear, mindset
Ep. #7 – Life OFF the Road with Herb Ohta, Jr.
(Nov 7th, 2020) – Catching up with one of my most beloved mentors about a year without touring and developing deeper relationships with musician friends. Interview, intimate, stories
Ep. #6 – The Adventures of James Hill
(Oct 17th, 2020) – A conversation with the most interesting dude in ukulele. All about teaching, baritone ukes, performing, new courses, and more. Interview, behind the scenes, teaching
Ep. #5 – Improving From Beginner to Intermediate
(Oct 3rd, 2020) – Tips and practice advice for expanding your musical choices to begin feeling more comfortable in music. Includes thoughts on breaking complex chords and accompaniment techniques into manageable pieces. Lesson, live examples, getting to know music
Ep. #4 – Ukulele Artistry: Recording, Producing, & Songwriting – feat. Higgs
(Sep 19th, 2020) – Chatting with hip-hop ukulele stylist, HIGGS, about his latest album and how he incorporates the uke into a rap style. HIGGS also shares an on-the-spot, improvised walkthrough of how he writes a verse. Artist insight, fun, songwriting
Ep. #3 – Learning Ukulele Hawaiian Style
(Sep 5th, 2020) – Learn three perspectives on how to incorporate old-school, Hawaiian study styles into your playing no matter where you are in the world. Tips for playing by ear, watching others, and how to improve. Hawaiian vibes, intuitive, from the heart
Ep. #2 – A Teaching RevolUKEtion: ZOOM – feat. Kevin Carroll
(Aug 15th, 2020) – A fun visit with one of my favorite people and also a very hard working uke instructor who talks about his experiences transitioning from in-person teaching to ZOOM. Fun, talk story, teaching
Ep. #1 – Cultivating a Positive Ukulele Playing Mindset
(Aug 1st, 2020) – My thoughts on how the beginner’s mentality can be damaging to your progress and how to give yourself the grace to progress at your own pace. Beginner, thoughtful, self-help