Known for co-writing Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me," Steve Poltz has spent more than three decades as a singer-songwriter-performer of the first order, earning international applause and fans worldwide with his inspired brand of rock-influenced countrified folk Americana. This incredibly witty and insightful conversation is a true inspiration. PART ONE 
 Paul and Scott chat about supergroups. What qualifies as a supergroup? What so-called "supergroups" don't live up to the hype? We're not afraid to do a hard-hitting investigation! PART TWO 
 Our in-depth interview with Steve Poltz ABOUT STEVE POLTZ 
 Steve Poltz is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is a founding member of the indie-rock band the Rugburns and is known for co-writing “You Were Meant for Me” with Jewel, which became a major hit for her in 1996. He signed with Mercury Records in the late 1990s and has since built a loyal following as an independent troubadour. Steve has released fourteen studio albums, the latest of which is called JoyRide.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Known for co-writing Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me," Steve Poltz has spent more than three decades as a singer-songwriter-performer of the first order, earning international applause and fans worldwide with his inspired brand of rock-influenced countrified folk Americana. This incredibly witty and insightful conversation is a true inspiration.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART ONE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Paul and Scott chat about supergroups. What qualifies as a supergroup? What so-called "supergroups" don't live up to the hype? We're not afraid to do a hard-hitting investigation!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART TWO&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Our in-depth interview with Steve Poltz&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT STEVE POLTZ&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Steve Poltz is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is a founding member of the indie-rock band the Rugburns and is known for co-writing “You Were Meant for Me” with Jewel, which became a major hit for her in 1996. He signed with Mercury Records in the late 1990s and has since built a loyal following as an independent troubadour. Steve has released fourteen studio albums, the latest of which is called &lt;i&gt;JoyRide&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Known for co-writing Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me," Steve Poltz has spent more than three decades as a singer-songwriter-performer of the first order, earning international applause and fans worldwide with his inspired brand of rock-influenced countrified folk Americana. This incredibly witty and insightful conversation is a true inspiration. 

Ep. 281 - STEVE POLTZ ("You Were Meant For Me")

Rising hip hop influencer Cameron McCloud lets us in on his journey and his process PART ONE: 
 Paul and Scott chat about a song that's getting a lot of hate online and consider how the internet has redefined how we hear music.  PART TWO:  
 Our in-depth conversation with Cameron McCloud ABOUT CAMERON McCLOUD 
 Cure for Paranoia is the Dallas-based alternative hip hop collective fronted by Cameron McCloud. Crowned "Rap Group of the Year" by the Dallas Entertainment Awards in 2025 and "Artist of the Year" in 2026, the group’s name came about following McCloud’s diagnosis with bipolar depression and paranoid schizophrenia. Their breakthrough came when Erykah Badu’s tapped them to perform at her birthday bash, and they have since shared bills with such artists as George Clinton, Nas, Ludacris, and Leon Bridges. The group was named NPR Tiny Desk Contest finalists three times in 2023, 2024, and 2025 before winning the contest in 2026. In addition to the success of their most recent EP, Work of Art, they’ve gained attention online thanks to Cameron’s 2025 challenge to release an original verse every day on his social media channels. Tackling everything from mental health to social injustice, his rhymes earned a substantial following. Inspired by groups such as Outkast, The Roots, and a Tribe Called Quest, Cameron McCloud and Cure for Paranoia are rapidly gaining a major national audience.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rising hip hop influencer Cameron McCloud lets us in on his journey and his process&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART ONE:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Paul and Scott chat about a song that's getting a lot of hate online and consider how the internet has redefined how we hear music. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART TWO: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Our in-depth conversation with Cameron McCloud&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT CAMERON McCLOUD&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Cure for Paranoia is the Dallas-based alternative hip hop collective fronted by Cameron McCloud. Crowned "Rap Group of the Year" by the Dallas Entertainment Awards in 2025 and "Artist of the Year" in 2026, the group’s name came about following McCloud’s diagnosis with bipolar depression and paranoid schizophrenia. Their breakthrough came when Erykah Badu’s tapped them to perform at her birthday bash, and they have since shared bills with such artists as George Clinton, Nas, Ludacris, and Leon Bridges. The group was named NPR Tiny Desk Contest finalists three times in 2023, 2024, and 2025 before winning the contest in 2026. In addition to the success of their most recent EP, &lt;i&gt;Work of Art&lt;/i&gt;, they’ve gained attention online thanks to Cameron’s 2025 challenge to release an original verse every day on his social media channels. Tackling everything from mental health to social injustice, his rhymes earned a substantial following. Inspired by groups such as Outkast, The Roots, and a Tribe Called Quest, Cameron McCloud and Cure for Paranoia are rapidly gaining a major national audience. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Rising hip hop influencer Cameron McCloud lets us in on his journey and his process

Ep. 280 - CAMERON McCLOUD of Cure for Paranoia ("No Brainer")

Singer/songwriter, virtuoso guitarist, and multiple Grammy winner Molly Tuttle chats about her wide-ranging musical personality that encompasses bluegrass, folk, Americana, and rock.
PART ONE: 
 Paul and Scott wade into the controversy to share their opinions about the New York Times' recent list of the 30 Best Living American Songwriters. Listen at your own risk! PART TWO: 
 Our in-depth conversation with Molly Tuttle ABOUT MOLLY TUTTLE: 
 In 2017, California-born Molly Tuttle became the first female winner of the International Bluegrass Music Awards’ Guitar Player of the Year, an honor she won again in 2018, the same year she was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Awards. Though an accomplished musician, Tuttle won the IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year award in 2023. Her 2022 album Crooked Tree earned her a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and a nomination for Best New Artist across all categories. It was also named Album of the Year by both the IBMA, which again awarded her as Female Vocalist of the Year, and the IFMA. Molly’s follow up album, City of Gold, won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, while her most recent release, So Long Little Miss Sunshine, was nominated for the Best Americana Album Grammy. Spanning various genres, Molly Tuttle’s wide-ranging roots music explorations always bear the stamp of her unique imprint. Today she chats with us about her creative process, the evolution of her songwriting, and much more.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Singer/songwriter, virtuoso guitarist, and multiple Grammy winner Molly Tuttle chats about her wide-ranging musical personality that encompasses bluegrass, folk, Americana, and rock.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART ONE:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Paul and Scott wade into the controversy to share their opinions about the &lt;i&gt;New York Times&lt;/i&gt;' recent list of the 30 Best Living American Songwriters. Listen at your own risk!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART TWO:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Our in-depth conversation with Molly Tuttle&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT MOLLY TUTTLE:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 In 2017, California-born Molly Tuttle became the first female winner of the International Bluegrass Music Awards’ Guitar Player of the Year, an honor she won again in 2018, the same year she was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Americana Music Awards. Though an accomplished musician, Tuttle won the IBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year award in 2023. Her 2022 album &lt;i&gt;Crooked Tree&lt;/i&gt; earned her a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album and a nomination for Best New Artist across all categories. It was also named Album of the Year by both the IBMA, which again awarded her as Female Vocalist of the Year, and the IFMA. Molly’s follow up album, &lt;i&gt;City of Gold&lt;/i&gt;, won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album, while her most recent release, &lt;i&gt;So Long Little Miss Sunshine&lt;/i&gt;, was nominated for the Best Americana Album Grammy. Spanning various genres, Molly Tuttle’s wide-ranging roots music explorations always bear the stamp of her unique imprint. Today she chats with us about her creative process, the evolution of her songwriting, and much more. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Singer/songwriter, virtuoso guitarist, and multiple Grammy winner Molly Tuttle chats about her wide-ranging musical personality that encompasses bluegrass, folk, Americana, and rock.

Ep. 279 - MOLLY TUTTLE ("Crooked Tree")

Grammy nominated songwriter Pynk Beard (aka Sebastian Kole) chats about his extensive work as a behind-the-scenes pop creator and gives us insight into his latest country-flavored album project. 
PART ONE 
 Scott and Paul chat about their recent travels and how they find ways to make music tourism a part of any trip.
PART TWO 
 Our in-depth conversation with Pynk Beard ABOUT PYNK BEARD: 
 Pynk Beard is the artistic persona of Alabama-born Coleridge Tillman, who has already made a splash as a successful songwriter under the name Sebastian Kole. Growing up as a preacher’s son in Birmingham Alabama, Pynk Beard’s big break came when he contributed to “Goin’ In,” which was recorded by Jennifer Lopez, featuring Flo Rida. He then signed with Motown Records as an artist and began collaborating as a writer and producer with Alessia Cara. He worked on most every track on her debut album Know-It-All, including the top 10 and multi-platinum pop hits “Here” and “Scars to Your Beautiful.” Soon after, he released his debut album as Sebastian Kole, a gospel and R&B influenced project called Soup. He continued working as a behind-the-scenes writer on songs such as “Bridges” by Fifth Harmony, “Freedom Rings” by Brandy, “Actions” by John Legend, “Time Machine” by Alicia Keys, and “Angel” by Halle Bailey, which found him collaborating with producer Neff-U and earning a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song. His debut EP as Pynk Beard is Red Dirt Diaries, which was released in October of 2025 on Red Bull Records. A country project that embraces elements of gospel, R&B and hip hop, it’s a bold new artistic direction that has quickly gained attention from fans of multiple genres.  
   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Grammy nominated songwriter Pynk Beard (aka Sebastian Kole) chats about his extensive work as a behind-the-scenes pop creator and gives us insight into his latest country-flavored album project. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART ONE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Scott and Paul chat about their recent travels and how they find ways to make music tourism a part of any trip.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART TWO&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Our in-depth conversation with Pynk Beard&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT PYNK BEARD:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Pynk Beard is the artistic persona of Alabama-born Coleridge Tillman, who has already made a splash as a successful songwriter under the name Sebastian Kole. Growing up as a preacher’s son in Birmingham Alabama, Pynk Beard’s big break came when he contributed to “Goin’ In,” which was recorded by Jennifer Lopez, featuring Flo Rida. He then signed with Motown Records as an artist and began collaborating as a writer and producer with Alessia Cara. He worked on most every track on her debut album &lt;i&gt;Know-It-All&lt;/i&gt;, including the top 10 and multi-platinum pop hits “Here” and “Scars to Your Beautiful.” Soon after, he released his debut album as Sebastian Kole, a gospel and R&amp;B influenced project called &lt;i&gt;Soup&lt;/i&gt;. He continued working as a behind-the-scenes writer on songs such as “Bridges” by Fifth Harmony, “Freedom Rings” by Brandy, “Actions” by John Legend, “Time Machine” by Alicia Keys, and “Angel” by Halle Bailey, which found him collaborating with producer Neff-U and earning a Grammy nomination for Best R&amp;B Song. His debut EP as Pynk Beard is &lt;i&gt;Red Dirt Diaries&lt;/i&gt;, which was released in October of 2025 on Red Bull Records. A country project that embraces elements of gospel, R&amp;B and hip hop, it’s a bold new artistic direction that has quickly gained attention from fans of multiple genres. &lt;br&gt;
  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Grammy nominated songwriter Pynk Beard (aka Sebastian Kole) chats about his extensive work as a behind-the-scenes pop creator and gives us insight into his latest country-flavored album project. 

Ep. 278 - PYNK BEARD ("Scars to Your Beautiful")

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Songwriters Hall of Famer Lou Gramm shares stories about his career, from his pre-Foreigner days all the way to his latest album, Released. 
PART ONE 
 Scott and Paul chat about Scott's solemn vow to Lou Gramm, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and how multi-national bands just might be a model for social healing. 
PART TWO 
 Our in-depth conversation with Lou Gramm
ABOUT LOU GRAMM 
 Lou Gramm is best known as the powerhouse vocalist for the band Foreigner, which hit the scene in 1977 with the now-classic hit “Feels Like the First Time.” Working with partner Mick Jones, Gramm co-wrote many of the band’s hits, including “Cold as Ice,” “Long, Long Way From Home,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Head Games,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Juke Box Hero.” The late 1970s superstars successfully navigated a transition into the 1980s with synth-driven hit power ballads such as “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Say You Will,” and “I Don’t Want to Live Without You.” Gramm went on to pursue a solo career, finding success with singles such as “Midnight Blue” and “Just Between You and Me.” After a nearly 40 year break as a solo artist, Lou has recently issued his third studio album, entitled Released. Featuring 10 songs originally written in the 1980s during his era, the recordings have been completed and updated for today. Lou was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and, as a member of Foreigner, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famer and Songwriters Hall of Famer Lou Gramm shares stories about his career, from his pre-Foreigner days all the way to his latest album, &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Released&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;strong&gt;. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART ONE&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Scott and Paul chat about Scott's solemn vow to Lou Gramm, the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame, and how multi-national bands just might be a model for social healing. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PART TWO&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Our in-depth conversation with Lou Gramm&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT LOU GRAMM&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;
 Lou Gramm is best known as the powerhouse vocalist for the band Foreigner, which hit the scene in 1977 with the now-classic hit “Feels Like the First Time.” Working with partner Mick Jones, Gramm co-wrote many of the band’s hits, including “Cold as Ice,” “Long, Long Way From Home,” “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Head Games,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Juke Box Hero.” The late 1970s superstars successfully navigated a transition into the 1980s with synth-driven hit power ballads such as “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Say You Will,” and “I Don’t Want to Live Without You.” Gramm went on to pursue a solo career, finding success with singles such as “Midnight Blue” and “Just Between You and Me.” After a nearly 40 year break as a solo artist, Lou has recently issued his third studio album, entitled &lt;i&gt;Released&lt;/i&gt;. Featuring 10 songs originally written in the 1980s during his era, the recordings have been completed and updated for today. Lou was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and, as a member of Foreigner, into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 2024. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Songwriters Hall of Famer Lou Gramm shares stories about his career, from his pre-Foreigner days all the way to his latest album, Released. 

Ep. 277 - LOU GRAMM of Foreigner ("Juke Box Hero")

Songcraft is a bi-weekly podcast that brings you in-depth conversations with and about the creators of lyrics and music that stand the test of time. You probably know their names, and you definitely know their songs. We bring you their stories.

Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

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