This is an update to let you know what's been happening in my world and to explain "wassup" with the podcast. In this episode I explain where I have been since the last episode in 2022, new things going on like my near death experience and I tell you about Jackson's senior project. Bear in mind that the sound samples I include are low-res, mono files and the actual vinyl and CDs are full bore stereo. You know how it is with podcast audio. But, I think you'll get the idea. Music credits: Intro: P...
May 20, 2025•34 min
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 203 Curtis Jones Interview Curtis Jones is a supremely diverse musician and a world-class acoustic guitarist. Down to earth, humble and amazingly gifted. I know you will enjoy meeting my friend Curtis Jones. If you want your mind blown, go see him play live. His interview is another in my series to try to convince the listeners that Georgia has produced an amazing number of fine bluegrass musicians. Sometimes many people tend to think that great bluegrass simply must...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 205
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 202 Jim "Duck" Adkins Interview Duck is many things: musician, banjo player, singer, band leader, teacher. He has been playing and entertaining crowds for fifty years and is a well-known figure in the Atlanta and N. Georgia area. Sit back, relax, and enjoy my conversation with this one-of-a-kind bluegrass personality. The segue music you hear at the start of the interview is Jim Adkins and Cedar Hill kicking off "Runaway" on their 1984 album "Mama Don't Allow". The o...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 204
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 201 Harps Jackson Interview Everything you ever wanted to know about the harmonica brought to you by a guy who truly can play the thing. He has played in blues, gospel, country, rock and bluegrass settings and he is always tasteful and skilled. You can't say that for a lot of folks who get up on stage and blow through some pathetic, sorry attempt. Harps is the kind of player, with the kind of dedication, who cares about music. I feel lucky to have met him, to have pl...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 203
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 200 Merry Christmas I just came in the from the yard throwing the baseball back and forth with Jackson and my wife is in the house making Christmas cookies. When I finish this episode I plan to sit down and watch "The Christmas Story" with the family. In this episode I talk about creating a digitized version of my Flatiron mandolin and I offer up a couple of examples created by my son. I talk a bit about Doyle Lawson's retirement, jamming with the radio on Christmas ...
Dec 24, 2021•35 min•Ep. 202
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 199 Uncle Rico's Time Machine Put the handle between your legs. Set the date on the dial. Don't forget to put the crystal in the clamp. Tell Kip to throw the switch. You will be instantly transported to another time and place. In this case, Motorhead's Bar and Grill on a Thursday night in McDonough, Georgia. Take notes. This has everything: How to cope with 15 free shots for the band, the buzzing of countless neon lights, screaming adoring fans, smashing beer bottle ...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 201
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 198 A Major Award & The Ed Davis Method In this episode I discuss an award my son received for his music composition "Run Away" and how we can learn from that. You can download his award winning composition for free right here in my online store . (In the episode I mistakenly said that his song was on his EP "Beacon". Wrong. It is on "Hands Up". But, it doesn't matter. You can download both EPs for free. I also talk about a recent gig and something you should che...
Nov 08, 2021•57 min•Ep. 200
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 197 Chatty Light Interview Recently I was asked to be a guest on the Chatty Light Podcast . I thought you might enjoy hearing it. Thank you, Colton, Alex and crew! It was fun. And for my son Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin . You still have plenty of time to learn them before the mistletoe is hanging. Granny don't wanna hear no Salt Creek! She wants Jingle Bel...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 59 min•Ep. 199
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 196 Mushrooms and Metronomes This nice cool evening I simply held the recorder in my hand and talked about how you can focus and get good at one thing and it will carry over into lots of other things you have not even tried. I also talk a bit about my mushroom project and other oddities. Enjoy the show! And for my boy Jackson's Christmas fund, don't forget: Christmas Times a Coming!. All you mandolin players need Jackson's eBook Christmas Songs For Mandolin . You sti...
Sep 23, 2021•42 min•Ep. 198
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 195 An Early Morning Rant One of the things in life that I cherish is to rise early, to get up before the chickens, watch the stars and think about life. This morning I got up, jotted down a few notes on a brown paper sack, and hit record. My intended subject was "Ten Ways To Play Better Bluegrass" but, as usual, I wandered a bit. I have included actual live cricket sounds and a bug zapper in the background just to help you imagine the scene. I also did an unpaid end...
Aug 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 197
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 194 David Mathis of Gallagher Guitar Gallagher guitars, made in Tennessee, were first brought to the attention of guitar players when the legendary Doc Watson chose a D-50 Gallagher in the late 1960's. David has taken of the reins to keep the Gallagher legacy alive and you too can still get your hands on one! Here is a link to the Gallagher website . Enjoy the show. ------------------------------------- If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and ...
Aug 03, 2021•38 min•Ep. 196
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 193 They Said It Couldn't Be Done Bill Monroe only made one minor mistake in the creation of Blue Grass music. That is the trying, and later elimination, of the accordion in his ensemble. Well, if you listen all the way to end of this podcast, you will hear some of the greatest music ever put on wax. Had Bill met Dominic Frontiere there is a good chance we would all have accordions in our bluegrass groups today! I challenge the whippersnapper upstart Chris Thile to p...
Jul 30, 2021•47 min•Ep. 195
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 192 Harmony Harmony is the interaction between two or more different tones or pitches. Bluegrass music is nothing without harmony. (So is humanity by the way.) In this episode I walk you through a short course in bluegrass harmony singing. How do you figure out what note to sing? I'll try to help. In the course of this episode I refer often to a PDF document which you can get for free over on my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/bradleylaird Just scroll down...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 194
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 191 Host a Jam Over the years I have been to lots of jam sessions and have organized and hosted quite few too. If you are starved for bluegrass pickin' I will explain how you "take the bull by the horns" and host your own jam session. It can be a "one time only event" or it may turn into a regular, recurring session. Either way, it is a good way to get more bluegrass in your life and provide the same for other musicians. In this episode I mention my "10 Jammandments ...
Jun 30, 2021•46 min•Ep. 193
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 190 Matt Hutchinson Interview Here's a guy who loves bluegrass. So much that he is willing to create a podcast so you have someone to pick with! What's not to love? In this episode I strike up a conversation with Matt to learn about his Bluegrass Jam Along podcast and find out how a guy in the UK became interested in bluegrass and to share what he is doing with all of you. Enjoy the episode, check out his podcast and I'll talk to you soon. ---------------------------...
Jun 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 192
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 189 Life Is Good In this episode I talk about how you can dive in to your solo, play like dog squeeze, feel totally humiliated and still get a round of applause. It's one of the hidden benefits of playing live. (They aren't usually paying that much attention!) Before I get to that, I talk about a big storm, the first post-pandemic session at Pat's Place, my "Brad's Barn Jam", and some other gobblety-gook that you might enjoy. Enjoy the episode and talk to you soon. B...
Jun 09, 2021•49 min•Ep. 191
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 188 A Man's Entitled To His Opinion 200 episodes and over 100,000 downloads. Not bad! This short episode is just to let you know I am still kicking. I have taken a little, well deserved break from the GTR Podcast and in this episode I fill you in a bit. I have completed work on the F5 mandolin which I have been building and you can hear it in this episode. School's out, a light fixture in the kitchen tried to burn the house down, bluegrass has once again assured that...
May 22, 2021•16 min•Ep. 190
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 187 Beach Balls & Train Wrecks In this episode I talk a bit about the "Beach Ball Effect", I get interrupted by a friendly sales call, give you a short garden update, and then dig in to the topic of Train Wrecks and how they may be avoided. Have fun! Talk to ya next week. ------------------------------------- If you like my podcast I hope you will keep this show going and growing by joining "the club" over on my Patreon page. Thank you, patrons! You can also supp...
Apr 30, 2021•37 min•Ep. 189
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 186 Edumacation Are Fun! In this show I respond to a couple of emails I received and discuss education and how we learn. Have fun and I trust you take this "in the spirit in which it is intended." In the episode I referenced this episode with the Self-Analysis Worksheet PDF: http://www.bradleylaird.com/podcast/episode-3-show-notes.html And this blog post concerning self-directed learning: http://www.bradleylaird.com/blog-articles/blog-36-guide.html Talk to ya next we...
Apr 16, 2021•45 min•Ep. 188
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 185 Cancel This! All I am saying is listen and make up your own minds. Cancel me if you must. Or, stick with me and the bluegrass way. Enough already! I have heard so much sub-par bluegrass singing over the years--not from the pros like IIIrd Tyme Out and Doyle Lawson--but just in general. Some pretty lame singing is often the norm with bluegrass jams and SOME bands I have heard. All I have to say is "tighten up" and take a hint from my closing outro music by Jackson...
Apr 09, 2021•37 min•Ep. 187
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 184 The Art of Quitting I have spent much airtime here discussing the starting of things. Jams, bands, lessons, etc. But there comes a time in the natural curve of things that we must give it up and say "I quit!" When and how do you do this? And why? I hope you enjoy this early morning sermon and I hope that when or if you are driven to quit that you do it in the best way possible. You may be doing everyone a favor! Yourself and others. Could be! --------------------...
Apr 01, 2021•59 min•Ep. 186
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 183 First, Tune That Thang! After a wandering diatribe I eventually get to the topic of the day and discuss tuning. Real solid tuning! I talk about how to get an instrument in tune so it will withstand a severe beating and stay in tune. I talk about beats and the importance of clean unisons. I talk about string segments and "equalization of tension". I talk about sending Tony Fauci an invoice. I talk about potatoes, growing shitake mushrooms, chestnut trees, tending ...
Mar 23, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 185
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 182 That Ain't Bluegrass In today's episode I discuss that most difficult topic of deciding just what is and what is not bluegrass. After a bit about what I think IS bluegrass, I take the easier route and play for you ten samples of what I think IS NOT bluegrass. Enjoy! For all of you bass players or wannabee bass players, please take advantage of this 20% discount off my Complete Bluegrass Bass Learning System . Use coupon code "bass20" before March 7, 2021 and save...
Mar 01, 2021•55 min•Ep. 184
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 181 Bob Knysz Interview This episode will introduce you to one of the movers and shakers in the mandolin world. Bob Knysz is an accomplished bluegrass musician and is also a founder of the Atlanta Mandolin Orchestra . We discuss his introduction to the mandolin, his experiences in the Chicago area, taking lessons from the great Jethro Burns, attending Bean Blossom, his relocation to Georgia, the beginnings of the South Eastern Bluegrass Association, the Atlanta Mando...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 183
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 180 Tony Williamson Interview Join me on this wide-ranging conversation with Tony Williamson. We discuss mandolin world addiction, mandolin family instruments, Bill Monroe and the "power pose", Union Grove, overalls, the Bluegrass Alliance, Grisman's porch, Harry Sparks, how a mandolin brought a man back from near death. Then, the DGQ's first album, auditioning over the phone to play with Richard Greene, pie, flintknapping and archeology, and as if that were not enou...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 182
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 179 Megan Chowning Interview I always enjoy swapping stories and notes with other teachers. But this is no ordinary teacher! In this episode you will meet champion fiddler, professional musician and teacher Megan Chowning. It is a long winding conversation with something for players of all levels and all instruments. A part of the discussion is about her involvement with some John Hartford print and recording projects. Use these links to find out more: LINKS: For Meg...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 181
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 178 The Bluegrass Way of Life After a bit of talk about starting seeds for the garden and an Amateur Radio event, I bring you Heather's (see episode 177) response to my advice regarding my Personal Feedback Solution . The String Changing Exercise I speak of is available free over on my Patreon page. Here is a link: https://www.patreon.com/bradleylaird Also, at the start of this episode, Mr. Buck again announces a nice discount on one of my instructional courses. For ...
Jan 20, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 180
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 177 Personal Feedback Teaching yourself via online lessons, books and videos can be incomplete without the feedback from a teacher. In this episode I demonstrate my Personal Feedback Solution with Heather, a beginning mandolin student. Heather was kind enough to allow us all to be a "fly on the wall" for this session. I encourage you to take advantage of this too! Also, at the start of this episode, Mr. Buck again announces a nice discount on one of my instructional ...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 179
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 176 In The Press Room I am taking a bit of a break from bluegrass in this post-Christmas week. This week I present the second episode of my "other" podcast, never released, just to help you fill your time. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas! The episode also features a big discount on: ----------------------------------- The Mandolin Treasure Chest http://www.bradleylaird.com/treasure/index.html Use coupon code treasure20 at checkout to take 20% off through Dec. 31...
Dec 26, 2020•48 min•Ep. 178
GrassTalkRadio.com - Episode 175 In A Giving Mood In the spirit of Christmas I am in a giving mood. I have a hoard of freebies and discounts that I am tossing from my sleigh. I also discuss a super cool little Pick Pocket sent to me by Steven Mead, a listener to the show. Help me give away $1,000,000 worth of video lessons! I even grew a Santa beard for the holidays! Merry Christmas! The episode also features several discounts on my products: ----------------------------------- The Christmas Son...
Dec 17, 2020•37 min•Ep. 177
