I had the absolute pleasure and privilege to chat with Tennessee's finest and kindest exploratory guitarist, vocalist and musical world builder, Joseph Allred.

This is one of the most winding and expansive discussions we've ever had on the show, traversing themes of cultural appropriation, global imperialism, mental health, religion, the commoditization of culture and music, contemporary politics, but most importantly, discovering who we are as people amidst all of this noise, and what this means for our role in society and the music we create. 

Joseph is an amazingly thoughtful interviewee, practically bursting with ideas, observations, insights and wisdom; all articulated with a degree of nuance, compassion and sympathy that is desperately void from so many of the prevailing conversations on our screens and headphones. But beyond these conversations around culture, politics, society and power, Joseph speaks honestly and openly about their individual journey and personal circumstances with a frankness and vulnerability that reaches straight into your chest, and cradles your heart with a gentle poignancy. At times it feels like an empathetic bloodletting of personal history, experience and emotion. I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of this conversation. And honestly, this also makes for a fair description of Joseph's music.

We also talk a bit about guitars and guitarists (being a guitar podcast, after all), specifically Joseph's Holzapfel 12 string (built sometime between 1925 - 1935) and the immediacy with which it projects sound due to its build and less obstructive bracing under the guitar's top. Our discussion veers into lengthy tangents on the glory and magic of Robbie Basho, his playing, his singing and his otherworldly brilliance.

But really, a description is a failed exercise for this conversation - hit that link in the bio and listen for yourself. This episode truly is something not to be missed.

Thank you Joseph, for the words, for the music and for sharing your world with us.