OokTown - The Ukulele Podcast

Guests: Jon Howard, Chris Russell Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown We made it through another year of Podcasting, and we KNOW there'll be lots of new ukuleles for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or just because it's the Winter Solstice. So this episode is dedicated to ukulele technology and all manner of gadgets for the ukulele. You will not believe how much fun we can have talking tech with first t...

Guests: Ben Hassenger, Cynthia Kinnunen Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown The Thanksgiving season snuck up on me, and it gave me pause to be thankful to have a couple of friends back on the show from the upper regions of North America. We welcome Cynthia Kinnunen from Guelph, Canada, and Ben Hassenger from Lansing, Michigan, on the show again to talk about their recent ukulele festivals, try to fi...

Guests: Hope Dunbar, Nipper Lewis Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Crisp October air brings with it the Fall, as we bring back some old friends: Hope Dunbar of the Star Belle Trio and our guest at the infamous lost Podcast from the Denver Ukulele Festival; plus Nipper Lewis, one of the co-hosts of the long-running Ukecast. We talk about blending ukulele with other instruments on a song, using eff...

Guests: Greg Olwell, Chris Russell Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown I survived the Great Eclipse of 2017! And now that fall is right around the corner, we’re gonna blow out the summer with a show to take on the Recorder controversy once again, with music technologist and teacher Chris Russell. And after saying “Ukulele Magazine” three times on our show, we finally get Greg Olwell, editor of Ukule...

Host: Stuart Yoshida Guests: Cynthia Kinnunen, Chris Kennison It’s the day before the Great Eclipse 2017, and with me on the show today is newly minted Ukulele Podcaster Abe Deshotel, plus regular guest Andy Andrews of PUKA, along with my co-host Doug Brown. We have a full docket starting with talking about Abe’s Ukulele Podcast, the origins of some of the first ukulele festivals, and 20th anniver...

Host: Stuart Yoshida Guests: Cynthia Kinnunen, Chris Kennison It’s the middle of July, and I’ve got some hot topics to talk about with my amazing panel of guests. Returning to the show are Cynthia Kinnunen from Guelph, Canada, along with Chris Kennison, a regular on this show and now with the Rhythm Cats Band in Mesa, Arizona. We go deep to talk about letting go of old beliefs about playing ukulel...

Guests: John “The Ukulele Teacher,” Erin McGrane and Jeff Freling (aka Victor and Penny) Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown I have plenty of shoutouts this month (see below), PLUS a NEW guest, John “The ukulele teacher,” returning guests and newlyweds Erin and Jeff, along with my co-host Doug Brown. We talk about whether it’s better to just make music versus be a good musician; the amazing power of...

Guests: Greg and Jere Canote, Aaron Keim, Aldrine Guerrero, John Nash, Chris McGarry Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Continuing on with Ukulele Festival month, I help celebrate the 10th Annual Denver Ukulele Festival with my guests Greg and Jere Canote, Aaron Keim, Aldrine Guerrero, John Nash, and Chris McGarry, along with my co-host Doug Brown. We share our favorite Ukulele Festival stories, st...

Guests: Astraluna, The Hedge Inspectors, Mary Agnes Krell, We Tigers, Victoria Vox Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown I’ve got a Podcast LIVE from the Grand Northern Ukulele Festival over in Jolly Old England, and YES, it’s recorded in a NOISY Pub, but that’s what makes it AUTHENTIC. So hang in there, because it’s well worth hearing what Astraluna, The Hedge Inspectors, We Tigers, Victoria Vox, and...

Guest: Lorraine Bow Host: Stuart Yoshida E komo mai! Welcome to the OokTown Interview, a special edition of my Podcast where I have a one-on-one conversation with my guest. And this time around, I’ve got Lorraine Bow, founder of Ukulele Wednesdays in London and the owner of her own Ukulele School called “Learn to Uke.” We talk about how and why she started Ukulele Wednesdays 10 years ago, ideas fo...

Guest: EP Davis Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Can you hear it? It’s the call of the wild ukulele that wants to be captured and brought home to be tamed and made part of your ukulele collection. That’s right, we’ve got EP Davis here to talk about the Ukulele Acquisition Syndrome - what it means, and how to begin. Plus, there’s a bunch of shoutouts to ukulele groups, ideas for starting your own...

Guests: Ben Hassenger, Heidi Swedberg, Daniel Ward Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown As spring rolls into the Rocky Mountains, we welcome back returning guests Ben Hassenger, Heidi Swedberg and Daniel Ward. And we’ve packed a lot into this show as we bid “Aloha” to Lyle Ritz, discuss how to be an “ukulele achiever,” and continue onto part 3 of the “subversive ukulele.” Stuart’s new ukulele funk si...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Bryan Tolentino, Cynthia Kinnunen We get a double-dose of newness with first time guests Bryan Tolentino and Cynthia K. my co-host Doug Brown and I explore what it means to be a good ukulele helper. And continuing from last month we talk about the subversive ukulele. Support the Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ooktown Make a one-time donation:...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Andy Andrews, Gerald Ross Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year, everybody! And the best way to start off the new year is to bust out that ukulele and start playing, especially those newbies who just got a 4-stringed bundle of joy under the Christmas tree. So we’ve got Andy Andrews, Gerald Ross, and my co-host Doug Brown to guide you through the beginning o...

Host: Stuart Yoshida Guests: John Nash, Danielle Anderson Brrrr! It’s darn-right cold here in Colorado as we get frosty from the arctic winds. So pull out your ukulele and get warmed up for our guests John Nash and Danielle Ate The Sandwich, as we talk about dealing with the SLOG of difficult ukulele sand traps; Baby Boomer versus Gen-X versus Millennials. PLUS special performances by John and Dan...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Craig Chee, Sarah Maisel, Lucy Laforge In this episode we talk about how we prepare for new shows, new songs, and creating new videos. Plus, our favorite songs to cheer us up, surprising uses for an ukulele sound port, spam musubi, and a whole lot more! Support the Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ooktown Make a one-time donation: https://ooktow...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Mary Agnes Krell, Gary Jugert, Andy Andrews t’s our Ukulele Organizers Summit, and we’ve got over an hour and a half of amazing content on starting an Ukulele Group, tips and advice sustaining a group, why you would want to get one going, and all manner of insightful conversations. Plus we review the “Chordify” program, and Stuart announces his funk ukulel...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Jim Beloff, Gerald Ross On the show we have one of the pioneers of the modern ukulele movement, Jim Beloff of Flea Market Music. Plus, Gerald Ross gets ready to celebrate his retirement - don’t worry he’ll still be playing lots of ukulele! And along with my co-host Doug Brown, we talk about performing, technology, workshops and a whole lot more! Support th...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Victor & Penny Get ready for another OokTown Podcast as we welcome back Jeff and Erin to the show, AKA Victor and Penny. We’ll talk about what it means to be mentored and how to be a mentor; why Chuck Close says “inspiration is for amateurs”; and learning to stop before ‘Just Enough’ becomes ‘Way Too Much’. Support the Podcast on Patreon: https://www.patre...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Andy Andrews As the weather heats up, our first official Podcast of summer features some hot topics on overcoming your ukulele obstacles, designing our fantasy ukulele cruise, and exploring why video ukulele lessons are still popular. Become a Patron of the Podcast! Visit www.patreon.com/ooktown Andy Andrews: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-andrews-5ba554...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: Marlow Teichman, Ben Hassenger We welcome newcomer Marlowe Teichman on the show, along with Ben Hassenger, Michigan’s Ambassador of Ukulele, and we talk about the “personalities” of festivals versus camps; the Call To Be Creative, what that means, and how we can to exercise our creativity; and best practices for transporting your precious ukulele on a trip...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: James Hill, Daniel Ho, Paul Hemmings, Gaku Takanashi, John Nash, Hanna Ackerman, Chris McGarry It’s our annual Denver Ukulele Festival Podcast! On our esteemed panel was James Hill, Daniel Ho, Paul Hemmings, Gaku Takanashi, John Nash, Chris McGarry, Hanna Ackerman. We had amazing conversations and talked about what to do when you plateau, controlling your...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guests: EP Davis, Aaron Keim, Andy Andrews It’s our FIFTH ANNIVERSARY Podcast! Yup, we’ve been talking about all things Ukulele since 2011, and we have a ton ‘o fun on this show talking about ukulele trends with my co-host Doug Brown, with guests EP Davis, Aaron Keim, Andy Andrews, special guest commentary from Taryn Arnold of Patreon, and a message from Victor an...

Host: Stuart Yoshida Guests: Lucy Laforge, Ben Hassenger A big “Happy Spring” to everyone, and with it comes a huge dose of Hay fever for me. On the show is Lucy Laforge of Lucy and La Mer, and Ben Hassenger, the self-proclaimed Ambassador of Ukulele from Michigan. Come and listen as I sniffle and sneeze my way through our conversation on renewing your interest in the ukulele. You’re gonna find so...

Hosts: Stuart Yoshida, Doug Brown Guest: John Nash Aloha and Happy February! In this episode we discuss what to bring to your ukulele gig, jam session, or club get together. Big “Mahalo” to Barry Maz for the article he wrote on this topic! On the show is John Nash of ukuleleinspired.com who just moved to the Denver area and now is an ukulele instructor at Swallow Hill Music, along with my co-host...