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For more than twenty years, BJ Barham—Bradley Justin, as I finally got him to reveal—has been making a living doing what he jokingly calls “making a racket.” As the songwriter and driving force behind American Aquarium, he’s logged thousands of shows, built a fiercely loyal audience, and turned the miles, mistakes, memories and hard-earned lessons of a life on the road into songs. Their new album, New Ways to Lose, produced by Shooter Jennings, finds Barham looking both outward and inward—at disappearing small towns, ambition and perseverance, childhood memories, love, loss, family, and the strange business of getting older while still chasing the next song. I’ve long thought of great songwriters as emotional first responders—people who sometimes find the words for things the rest of us can feel but can’t quite articulate.BJ Barham is one of those storytellers. We had nearly half an hour to talk about the songs, the life behind them, and what keeps him making that racket. Here’s our conversation. #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs

Sometimes the best conversations are worth waiting for — even if the wait happens to be over a decade. Kansas City songwriter and guitarist Jeff Porter has long been on my wish list for a live appearance on The Tasty Brew. I finally wore him down, and he joined me in the studio, guitar in hand, for music and conversation. Jeff is perhaps best known as a member of Kansas City's legendary The Rainmakers, but he's also an accomplished songwriter and a musician's musician — someone whoseplaying is as much about listening and knowing what not to play as it is about what he does. We talked about how his idea of a good song has changed over the years, what he hears and feels differently when it's just him and a guitar, the musical freedom he finds playing locally in Kansas City with the band Mooncrow — and after a lifetime spent making music, what can still surprise him.  I loved hearing a tip of his hat to some of the best the Kansas City Music Scene has to offer… like The Nace Brothers, BobWalkenhorst, Enrique Chi, Duncan Burnett, Rod Fleeman and Sara Morgan. And yes, I asked the obvious question: after a decade of invitations, what finally wore him down? Here's Jeff Porter, live on The Tasty Brew.

Willi Carlisle calls himself a “big tent folk singer,” and spend a little time with his music and you begin to understand just how big that tent really is. He’s a songwriter, poet, folklorist, storyteller and road-worn troubadour whose songs make room for outsiders, working people, oddballs, heartbreak, humor—and the complicated business of being human. Willi joined me by phone ahead of his return to Kansas City and Knuckleheads, with a new record, The Universal Bubba, on the horizon. We talked about carrying stories from one community to another, keeping traditional music alive withoutputting it behind glass, the importance of humor when the truth gets heavy, and what happens when you invite Tyler Childers into your wonderfully unconventional musical universe. Add perk of this new tour - Kansas City's own multi-instrumentalist Fritz Hutchison is part of Willi's band for run! It’s a conversation about songs, certainly—but also about the life that creates them. I’m Diana Linn, and this is the Tasty Brew Music Podcast. Here’s my conversation with Willi Carlisle.

Warsaw, Missouri songwriter Cody Dunning crafts lyrics and melodies that are honest and relatable. Cody reached out to me via email forwarding his latest work; upon a quick listen I knew it was a good fit for The Tasty Brew.   The ability to support songwriting in the Heartland by having songwriters come in and play live on the radio is one of my favorite things about being a broadcaster.   I especially appreciate Cody’s tunes honoring his mother and other strong women in his life …. Acknowledging their positivecontributions has been essential as he now leads primarily a lyrical life…foregoing… for now… other more traditional paths to employment.    As is often the case during one of these introductory conversations, the diversity of an artist’s origin stories never ceases to amaze me.  They hardly ever align with where the artist ends up or currently resides… in this case Cody’s first musical memories being as random as The Smiths and listening to emo music as a kid.  I look forward to following Cody’s musical journey.

Jacob Joseph Berger is a musician, songwriter, and attorney currently based in Grandview, Missouri.  He came to my attention as the opener for my touring songwriting friend,  Jeremy Facknitz,  at a 2026 Waldo Folk Show.  I remembered thinking during his first song where has this guy been and why have I never heard him before? The second thing I thought was I needed to get him on the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show as soon as possible… it took a couple of months to arrange a mutually agreeable date but what you hear next is Jacob’s radio debut.  Jacob released his debut full length album, Ocean, in 2024.  His self-recorded and released EP, Headed West, released in 2026 has become a personal favorite. His finger picking styleand way with words is top notch and faithfully honors multiple roots music traditions.  His rendition here of Dolly’s “Jolene” performed just a few days after Parton’s death is stunning.I can only imagine the Herculean task of raising 4 young children in today’s environment.   I personally wish Jacob and his family nothing but success in that and his musical endeavors.  Enjoy this lovely musical conversation with Jacob Joseph Berger.

Sometimes live radio requires a little improvisation—and this conversation with Kimmi Bitter certainly did. Just minutes before we went on the air at KKFI, the station internet went down. So, armed with a cell phone held up to the studiomicrophone and a little trial and error, we carried on. The audio is a bit rough at the beginning, but hang with us—it gets better quickly. Kimmi was in Kansas City in support of her new album, Bittersweet, a beautifully produced journey through classic country and Countrypolitan sounds. And our timing turned out to be pretty good—the very next week, Kimmi landed at number one on the Alt Country Radio Chart. The Patsy Cline comparisons come easily, but I wanted to dig deeper—into the influences beyond Patsy, the deliberate musical and visual world Kimmi has created, and how an artist can embrace the past while finding her own voice in the present. Here’s my conversation with Kimmi Bitter, on the Tasty Brew. #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs #countrymusic #countrypolitan #altcountryradiochart

Welcome to another episode of the Tasty Brew MusicPodcast. This time around, we're featuring a very special returnvisit from Nashville-based singer-songwriter Blaine Younger. More than a decade ago, before taking the leap from his western Kansas roots to pursue music full-time in Nashville, Blaine stopped by the KKFI studios for an early morningvisit when The Tasty Brew aired from 6-8 am on Tuesdays. Fast forward to 2026, and he's built a career as a respected songwriter and performer while continuing to stay connected to the places and people that shaped him. During a recent tour through the Midwest, Blaine joinedme in the KKFI studios for a full hour of conversation and solo acoustic performances, sharing brand-new songs alongside stories from the road and reflections on the journey that's brought him full circle. So settle in and enjoy this intimate live session withBlaine Younger, right here on the Tasty Brew Music Podcast. #songwriters#songs #communityradio #rootsmusic #tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic#troubadours #heartlandsongs

Sometimes the most courageous journey an artist can takeisn't to a new city—it's becoming more fully themselves. Today's guest, River Shook, is living that journey through both music and life. Hello, friends, and welcome to another episode of the TastyBrew Music Podcast, where we share conversations with some of today's most compelling voices in Americana, folk, roots, and independent music. Today's guest is River Shook, an artist many listeners first came to know through Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. River isin the midst of an exciting new chapter—touring behind new music while embracing a name that more authentically reflects who they are as both a person and an artist. In our conversation, we talk about songwriting, creativegrowth, the courage it takes to begin again, and the realities of being an independent musician at a time when touring has become more challenging than ever. It's an honest discussion about authenticity, resilience, and following your own path, even when it isn't the easiest one. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with River Shook,originally recorded for broadcast on KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City Community Radio. Photo credit: Jillian Clark #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs

Sometimes an artist's music tells you everything you needto know... and sometimes life writes a chapter no songwriter ever expected." Welcome to another episode of the Tasty Brew MusicPodcast. I'm Diana Linn. When Texas singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker burst ontothe Americana and country music scene, it felt like we were watching the beginning of a long and extraordinary career. Then came a devastating cancer diagnosis that forced him to confront the unimaginable. The good news? Joshua is at present cancer-free, back on theroad, and creating some of the most honest and compelling music of his career. In this conversation, we talk about the new album Ain't Dead Yet, how facing mortality reshaped his songwriting, the surprising role humor has played through it all, and why he's now documenting an ambitious journey to reclaim his health one day at a time. It's a conversation about resilience—but even more thanthat, it's about creativity, perspective, and what it means to keep moving forward. #joshuaraywalker #americanamusic #songwriter #songwriting #conversationsaboutsongwriting

I have to pinch myself sometimes on the blessings I havetalking to some of the most talented and influential artists in roots music, especially when it’s in support of a live performance in the Heartland. Young Bluegrass master  Mason Via recently took the time to have a conversation with me after he’d been up all night jamming after a Owensboro Kentucky bluegrass festival.  Phone interviews can be dicey sometimes with janky connections; it’s easy to talk over each other when you can’t make eye contact. I appreciate Mason’s patience and participation when I knew he had to be dog tired. It took four quick years for Mason Via to become one of thenewest leaders of modern-day American roots music. During that whirlwind period, he toured the world as a member of Old Crow Medicine Show, earned a Grammy nomination for his work on the band's chart-topping album Jubilee,contributed songs to Grammy Winning and Nominated records by Molly Tuttle and Del McCoury Band, and released his solo debut, New Horizons. The momentum continues with Mason Via, a self-titled solo record that balances the progressive with the timeless, reintroducing Mason as a southern storyteller and sharp-eyed singer/songwriter steeped in the bluegrass tradition.  How lucky we were to have Mason come to Kansas City to play the intimate confines of the Waldo Folk Series.  Enjoy this conversation with the amazing Mason Via. Photo Credit: Olivia Jewell Photography #americanamusic #bluegrass #songwriter #songwriting #communityradio

Two immediate updates are required for this next episode of the Tasty Brew Music Podcast.  Within 48 hours of me speaking to Kaston Guffey of the indie folk duo My Politic on the radio over the 2026 Fourth of July weekend, there was a last minute scheduling change at the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma.   I was in fact able to finally able to see My Politic perform in person in the middle of a 100 degree afternoon on The Bound for Glory Stage.  Their next stop was the Greenwood Social Hall in Kansas City… I’m sorry to have missed that show but I am consoled by the fact that evening I was in Okemah Oklahoma dancing to JamesMcMurtry and Betty Soo in the Pastures of Plenty. Within a couple of weeks of the short tour's end, My Politic as a duo is taking a hiatus and Kaston Guffey will be performing and touring solo. My Politic is Kaston Guffey And Nick Pankey. The two of themgrew up in the Ozarks & have been performing as My Politic for over 15 years. Across 10 releases, their body of work consistently showcases engaging storytelling, expertly crafted characters, highly skilled acoustic instrumentation & sibling like harmonies.  Enjoy this conversation with Kaston as we talk about The Ozarks, the craft of song and why it’s all just math. #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs #songwriters#songs #communityradio #rootsmusic #tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #woodyfest #greenwoodsocialhall#troubadours #heartlandsongs

Fund Drive shows on community radio used to give me so much anxiety but over the years, and with well over 50 of them under my belt, I now approach them like any other broadcast. Have fun, entertain and put the spotlight on those artists who are underserved or ignored by main stream media.  In the summer of 2026, I welcomed Nashville songwriters Lauren Wanamaker (making her radio debut) and Lucy Isabel for what turned out to be a wonderful dual conversation and musical performance from two songwriters who did not knoweach other but found themselves together in the same space on Kansas City community radio.  I misspoke and saidLucy’s last name as Spiegel instead of Isabel…I’m so sorry Lucy!   It’s also totally on me that in the beginning I did not notice that Lauren and Lucy were not “up on” their mics while they spoke. It got better as we progressed but thankfully the musical performances were clear as a bell.   Enjoy these ladies’ evocative vocals, classic songwriting and a Patsy Cline cover from Lucy that will make your head spin. Oh yes, and we raised some serious rent for Kansas City community radio that morning.    Enjoy! #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic#tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs #songwriters#songs #communityradio #rootsmusic #tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic#troubadours #heartlandsongs

I’ve been a Nicki White supporter for over 10 years inwhatever iteration she chooses… pop, blues, R & B, country, roots… she bends multiple genres seamlessly, works hard in multiple projects like “Flat Susan” and “The Village Prairie” in addition to solo songwriter gigs.  Over the years, she has been most generous with her time and talent in support of KKFI including with me on the Tasty Brew Music Radio Show, Siren Song and MidCoast Live!.  Her May 2026 release,  “Shadow Work in the Omnipresence of the Divine”, described by Nicki as representing her “sacred space”  is a raw, home-recorded meditation on presence—poetic soundscapes shaped by imperfection, subtle nature, and handmade sound.  I welcomed Nicki back to the airwaves for a conversation and musical performance on KKFI’s MidCoast Live to highlight this unique and highly personal work as a prelude to it’s officialRelease Party at Kansas City’s Yes Way Venue. #songwriters #songs #communityradio #rootsmusic #tastybrewmusic #americanamusic #localmusic #troubadours #heartlandsongs #ambientamericana

The community radio station for which I am a programmer has the following mission statement:  We seek to stimulate, educate and entertain our audience, to reflect the diversity of the local and world community, and to provide a channel for individuals and groups, issues and music that have been overlooked, suppressed or under-represented by other media Crys Matthews has her own personal mission statement that perfectly aligns with community radio:  To amplify the voicesof the unheard; to shed light on the unseen and to be a steadfast reminder that hope and love are the truest pathways to equity and justice.  An award-winning, prolific lyricist and composer, Matthews blends Country, Americana, Folk, Blues, and Bluegrass into a bold, complex performance steeped in traditional melodies punctuated by honest, original lyrics. She is made forthese times.  I look forward to meeting up with Crys again this summer at the 2026 Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah,OK.  Enjoy this conversation and musical performance from North Carolina’s own Crys Matthews. #communityradio #folkmusic #rootsmusic

I recently welcomed my friend Sky Smeed to spend an hour with me on the Mid-Coast Live! program on KKFI. I have a fifteen-year history with this Kansas songwriter; he was the first artist I had join me live in the KKFI studios as I launched The Tasty Brew Music Radio Show in 2010. I’ve  hosted Sky at my home for a house concert.  A good number of the songs masterfully captured by Barak Hill on his latest album, a live recording at The Rock House in Reeds Spring, Missouri are familiar to me as are some of Sky’s life experiences that gave rise to songs like “Don’t Know What to Do” “Lunker Bass” and “Without Music.”  That familiarity does not diminish the emotional impact of hearing these songs on this recording nor is it required to appreciate the underlying artistry of the words, stories and guitar accompaniment.  It is ALWAYS a treat to hear a new (to me) Sky Smeed tuneand this recording introduces me to precious guitar work on “Hangin’ On”, the affirmation that “Good Luck” is indeed “sick” according to Sky’s daughter Rosalie, the bittersweet and comedic reality of not wanting to work “Nine to Five” anymore and concurrence with “Keep Rolling On” that things do/life does change in the blink of an eye. Sky exhibits wonderful crowd work and pacing on this record;his Prine-like sense of humor is front and center on tunes like “Chicken of the Trees,” “Barbecue” and “Bumper Sticker.” I have always appreciated his homage to those masters that came before him. His take on Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice” is stellar.  Just sing along…it’s okay. I have been privileged to attend a number of musicalevenings at The Rock House over the years.  The folks that were in attendance on this particular evening got to witnesslightning being caught in a bottle.  Kudos to Rock House Co-Hosts Jeanette Bair and Bruce Anderson, recording engineer (and awesome songwriter in his own right) Barak Hill and of course, to my friend, Sky Smeed.  Well done! #songwriter #rootsmusic #communityradio #tastybrewmusic