The Resistance

Hip-hop pioneer Lyrics Born on changing long-term paths Jun 19, 2024

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.

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Joan Osborne reflects on the organic origins of her musical career Jun 04, 2024

Acclaimed songwriter Joan Osborne says the artist will never stop pushing against the Resistance, but the doubts that arise will take on different forms.

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Land of Talk's Lizzie Powell on spurned opportunities and protecting the work May 15, 2024

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.

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Ben Nichols (Lucero) on creation and boot camp experiences Apr 24, 2024

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.

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Director Ron Underwood on the importance of fear and what it signals Mar 27, 2024

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.

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Tim Baker (Hey, Rosetta!) on the need for creative friction Mar 04, 2024

From his days fronting the indie rock band Hey, Rosetta! to his current run as a solo artist, Tim Baker's music has always had a way of connecting 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.

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Author/poet Michael Kleber-Diggs on feeling the necessity of one's voice Nov 14, 2023

Despite an impressive and growing list of fellowships, awards, and prizes, author/poet Michael Kleber-Diggs opens up about the difficulties of sensitive subjects and the very real struggles he still faces to believe whether or not his voice is needed.

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The Clientele's Alasdair Maclean talks about the falsehood of creative foolishness Sep 11, 2023

On this episode of The Resistance, Alasdair MacLean chronicles his songwriting journey and the 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.

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Johnnyswim (Abner Ramirez & Amanda Sudano) on the healing power of music Aug 22, 2023

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.

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Jill Andrews learns to ask for what she really wants Jul 25, 2023

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.

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Hanson emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment Jun 28, 2023

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.

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Filmmaker Colin West on learning to mine the mundane Jun 06, 2023

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, Linoleum, a New York Times Critics Pick starring Jim Gaffigan, Tony Shalhoub, and Rhea Seehorn.

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Travis front man Fran Healy on the willingness to dig for songs May 16, 2023

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.

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The Wood Brothers on the creative need for distraction May 01, 2023

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, distracted—in his creative processes.

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Acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice on facing death and taking risks Feb 23, 2022

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.

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Broadway star Joshua Henry on listening to the right voices Feb 08, 2022

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 recently released 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. Check out our latest conversation on The Resistance.

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Villagers (Conor O'Brien) tries to avoid the "algorithm blues" Jan 11, 2022

Conor O'Brien is trying his best to avoid "the algorithm blues." As the songwriter and central figure in the Mercury Prize nominated band Villagers, Conor knows a thing or two about the wrestling required with and the shadow side of social media. As a recording artist, there's an inherent need to stay in front of listeners—to create content, to stay connected, to fan the flames of fandom. As an actual person, however, it's not the healthiest way to spend one's time.

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Screenwriter Tony Tost on his uncommon path toward a career in the arts Jul 27, 2021

On this episode of The Resistance, screenwriter Tony Tost (Longmire, Damnation, The Terror) 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.

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Josh Radnor on creative lessons learned from a career in the arts Jun 29, 2021

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. We recently spoke with Josh to hear more about his creative drive and the lessons learned in a career in the arts.

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Acclaimed author Natashia Deón on self-care in a demanding world Jun 08, 2021

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.

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Emile Mosseri (Minari, Kajillionaire) on the creative journey to becoming a composer May 19, 2021

Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri speaks 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.

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Duncan Sheik on grappling with artistic identity in the face of success Apr 20, 2021

From his multi-Tony Award musical Spring Awakening to penning 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. The marketplace will make its demands, but that all-too-often comes at a cost to the artist. On this episode of The Resistance, Duncan Sheik speaks about grappling with his identity as an artist in the face of it all.

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Mat Kearney on how he steers in the face of Resistance Mar 03, 2021

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 captivating new album, January Flower.

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Saunder Jurriaans on the anxiety and adventure of stepping out on his own Dec 17, 2020

We speak with musician/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.

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Josh Kelley details his journey toward personal betterment Dec 01, 2020

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

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Poet and author Mahogany L. Browne shines as a creative lighthouse Nov 12, 2020

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. On the verge of releasing her new novel, Chlorine Sky, she sat with us to share the power of lighthouses in her own life and the light she's trying to shine for others.

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The Naked & Famous face the Resistance and find Recover(y) Oct 26, 2020

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 The Naked & Famous about how meaningful art can somehow emerge from a season of loss and confusion.

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William Fitzsimmons reflects on the shaping power of fear and friction Oct 12, 2020

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

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Brooke Waggoner on the discernment required for risk and rest Sep 29, 2020

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.

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Singer-songwriter Mindy Smith on criticism and the Resistance Sep 15, 2020

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.

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Award-winning poet Li-Young Lee on the need to face Resistance Aug 18, 2020

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

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Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton on the boundaries needed for his positive, creative energy Jul 28, 2020

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.

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Singer-songwriter Sarah Siskind on her struggles with time management and solitude Jul 14, 2020

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.

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Singer-songwriter Rosi Golan on the fears that loom larger than ever Jun 30, 2020

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, a songstress always keen to try new things.

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John Mark McMillan details a 10-year descent into doubt and confusion Jun 16, 2020

How can you give away what you've lost? On this episode, singer-songwriter John Mark McMillan details the Resistance he faced during a 10-year descent into doubt and confusion while serving a fan base searching for answers and meaning.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown discusses reward versus resistance May 21, 2020

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.

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Zach Williams (The Lone Bellow) fights the pressure to please others May 07, 2020

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 Williams 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.

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Alex Ebert discusses the steep cost of following his own creative interests Apr 20, 2020

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 one's own terms comes with a heavy cost.

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Pandemics and the challenge of being present Apr 13, 2020

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.

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Sierra Hull faces real Resistance despite such early successes Apr 06, 2020

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.

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Film composer Nathan Johnson (Knives Out) on his creative sandbox approach Mar 24, 2020

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 inspired and innovative compositions that bolster his cinematic projects in such rare, beautiful ways.

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The Resistance: A Reintroduction Mar 17, 2020

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.

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Grammy-winning bluesman Fantastic Negrito shares his dramatic victories over resistance Aug 26, 2019

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.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Glen Phillips (Bonus) Aug 21, 2019

Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time with Glen Phillips, solo artist and front man for Toad The Wet Sprocket.

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Glen Phillips, solo artist and Toad the Wet Sprocket vocalist, reflects on a career filled with resistance. Aug 20, 2019

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.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Drew Holcomb (Bonus) Aug 15, 2019

Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time with Americana artist Drew Holcomb.

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The drive of Drew Holcomb to offer something beautiful to the world Aug 13, 2019

In this episode of The Resistance, Drew Holcomb 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.

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Rules for Artists: Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club lays out lessons learned Jul 22, 2019

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.

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Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks on the tension of creative permission Jul 15, 2019

Even after a decade fronting one of Toronto's most successful bands in Tokyo Police Club and previous solo releases, Dave Monks still wrestles with a resistance that plagues us all: a need for permission. Our latest episode features a personal and revealing conversation with an experienced artist who still wonders whether or not he really has the permission to follow his creative impulses.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Sarah Jaffe (Bonus) Jul 12, 2019

Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time with pop artist Sarah Jaffe.

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Indie pop artist Sarah Jaffe makes up her own creative rules Jul 09, 2019

Our conversation with 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. Sarah has learned the hard way to be very intentional with her time and efforts in her hopes to keep the "Dark Energy" away, as she sings so aptly on her latest single.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Denison Witmer (Bonus) Jul 06, 2019

Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time with singer-songwriter Denison Witmer.

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Singer-songwriter Denison Witmer on sacrificing his art for a greater cause Jul 01, 2019

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.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Lowland Hum (Bonus) Jun 27, 2019

Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time with acoustic duo Lowland Hum.

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Indie folk duo Lowland Hum defies doubts with acts of creative courage Jun 25, 2019

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? Daniel and Lauren Goans have learned to defy their doubts with courageous acts of creativity and that's our subject on this episode.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Theodore Shapiro (Bonus) Jun 20, 2019

Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with Theodore Shapiro, film composer for over 70 motion pictures from Wolf of Wall Street to Marley & Me and Ghostbusters to the forthcoming Fair & Balanced.

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Film composer Theodore Shapiro on balancing ego and contentment Jun 16, 2019

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. Here's our honest conversation about the balance between contentment and ambition and how enough is never really enough.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Lynn Renee Maxcy (Bonus) Jun 13, 2019

Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with Lynn Renee Maxcy, writer for the HULU hit series The Handmaid's Tale—and discuss our takeaways from the conversation.

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The Handmaid's Tale writer Lynn Renee Maxcy on success and resistance Jun 09, 2019

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.

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Reflecting on the Resistance: Stephen Kellogg (Bonus) Jun 06, 2019

Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg—and discuss our takeaways from the conversation.

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Singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg on fighting to find your voice Jun 03, 2019

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.

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Introducing The Resistance May 09, 2019

"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

Over 2,000 interviews in nearly 20 years. That's Matt Conner's journey thus far as a journalist in pursuit of meaningful stories from artists of all kinds—musicians, directors, authors, actors, and more. Most of his interviews have centered on a single idea, a single struggle. Everyone feels it—the distance and tension between our present situation and our future goals. That counteractive force—the fear, the apathy, the lack of resources—that's the Resistance.

Welcome to a new seasonal podcast featuring honest conversations with artists discussing their own struggles. The hope is that we'll all find a way forward—together.

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