Second Verse

Say “I Am an Artist”: Reclaim Your Music Identity with 3 Simple Steps Host Becky Boyland welcomes listeners to Second Verse and urges indie artists who feel they “used to” make music to reclaim their identity by speaking in the present tense: “I am an artist.” She explains that adult obligations often push original music to the back burner, but when you deny your music attention you deny yourself,...

Caddy Callaghan: From Shelved Songs to a Nashville-Produced Debut and a Melbourne Video Premiere Host Becky Boyland interviews Melbourne songwriter Caddy Callaghan on Second Verse about returning to music after years of keeping it “on the side table.” Caddy shares her early love of music, learning piano, writing songs on guitar and ukulele, and taking an unconventional career path through primary...

Broadway Drummer Clayton Craddock on the Trust Economy, Building Relationships, and Starting Over at 60 Host Becky Boyland interviews Broadway drummer and author Clayton Craddock about how relationships—not chops—create lasting music careers. Clayton shares growing up surrounded by soul, funk, rock, and jazz, falling in love with drums, and being steered toward accounting at Howard University befo...

Jesse Sterling Harrison on a Bulletproof Creative Process, Archival Releases, and Keeping Music Fun In this episode of Second Verse , Becky interviews songwriter, recording artist, and author Jesse Sterling Harrison, whose archival solo acoustic album Catch and Release Program has been remastered and released on Brave Tiger Records, curated by Joshua David Thayer; the songs were recorded in a livi...

Second Verse: Vincent Van Den Broeck on Mindset, Consistency, and Doing the Work Until It’s Done Host Becky Boyland interviews Belgian entrepreneur/restauranteur and author Vincent Van den Broeck, who shares how music has always shaped his life through emotionally linked moments. After being hit by a car on a scooter in Brussels on October 11, 2024, Vincent spent three weeks in a coma and months i...

Kris Bradley on Burnout, Autism Discovery, and Reclaiming Her Authentic Sound with ‘Midnight Church Aftermath’ Host Becky Boyland welcomes Maui-based indie artist Kris Bradley, an independent singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist who spent over 20 years largely behind the scenes writing to briefs, producing for other artists, earning 200+ film/TV placements, and building the music education c...

Harley DiNardo on Getting Dropped Twice, Returning to Music After 9/11 Loss, and Going All In After the Palisades Fire Host Becky Boyland interviews New York-born singer-songwriter Harley DiNardo about his long path back to music after early success, two major-label deals, and years away. Harley traces his origin story from a formative high school Battle of the Bands to relentless practice, switch...

Tom Sykes on Cold-Calling John Hammond, Failing Forward in Entertainment, and Making Music in the Age of Algorithms Host Becky Boyland interviews songwriter, writer, filmmaker, and former entertainment executive Tom Sykes, whose music journey began with a cold call to legendary A&R John Hammond, producer of Bob Dylan’s first album and the scout who discovered artists like Bruce Springsteen and...

Chris Aarons on Building a Music Legacy: DIY Home Recording, Daily Consistency, and Independent Artist Survival Host Becky Boyland interviews Orlando singer-songwriter and self-taught producer Chris Aarons on Second Verse about returning to music, building a legacy, and navigating independent artistry. Chris shares how childhood trumpet, a shift from business to voice and musical theater in colleg...

Dan From Downingtown on Anonymous Alt-Rock, DIY Recording, and Letting Fans Find You | Second Verse Podcast Host Becky Boyland interviews Dan From Downingtown, a masked independent alternative rock/post-hardcore artist who built his solo career after the pandemic shut down his Boston band and pushed him into isolation and songwriting, encouraged by his friend and collaborator Noah. Dan explains ho...

Nick Stefanacci on Saying Yes, Leaving Teaching, and Building Sweet Lion Music Host Becky Boyland interviews saxophonist Nick Stefanacci on Second Verse about his one-word philosophy—“yes”—and how saying yes to gigs and opportunities shaped his career. Nick shares his origin story: growing up in a musical New Jersey family, choosing saxophone in fourth grade, early jazz performances, and mentorshi...

Michael Isaak on Arabesque Folk, Diaspora Identity, and The Carpet Maker Host Becky Boyland interviews Los Angeles–born Egyptian American musician Michael Isaak about his journey from church hymns, Arabic classics, and early FL Studio production to creating a new sound he calls “arabesque folk.” After making indie folk influenced by Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens, a first trip to Egypt at 19 s...

Prin’s Second Verse: From 9/11 Hospitalization to Wellness-Centered Music Production Host Becky Boyland interviews New Jersey-based music producer, author, and educator Prin, who began playing piano by ear at age three, worked as a paid musician by 15, and built a thriving NYC gigging and composing life while at Fordham. After graduating in 2001, untreated bipolar disorder and substance abuse led...

Embracing Multiple Selves: A Journey into Music with Sophie Bickerdike In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland welcomes Sophie Bickerdike, an indie artist who shares her journey of exploring multiple musical identities under different names. Sophie talks about how she started creating music out of necessity during COVID for her yoga studio and evolved into producing meditative tracks,...

Embracing Creative Renewal: Adriana Douglas' Journey from Corporate to Artistry In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland welcomes music artist and creative guide Adriana Douglas, who shares her inspiring journey from a decade-long corporate career to rediscovering her childhood dream of becoming a singer. Adriana discusses the pivotal moment when she embraced her artistic identity, the...

Rediscovering Purpose Through Music with Kathi Fran In this episode of Second Verse hosted by Becky Boyland, we meet Kathi Copans, who creates under the artist name Kathi Fran. Kathi shares her inspiring journey of growing up in a musical home, navigating the ups and downs of life, and finding her way back to music and songwriting after illness and loss. This conversation covers a range of topics...

Joshua David Thayer: From Sideman to Solo Artist In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland chats with Joshua David Thayer, a seasoned bassist from Northampton, Massachusetts. After spending decades in supporting roles for various bands, the sudden loss of his father in 2023 inspired Josh to step into the spotlight as a solo artist at age 50. They discuss the creative process, using grie...

Building Confidence Through Small Steps: Insights from Second Verse Podcast In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland emphasizes the importance of building confidence through small steps. She shares personal experiences, including a transformative songwriting retreat in Scotland. Becky highlights how taking minor actions can snowball into greater self-assurance. Featuring stories from p...

The Power of Collaboration for Indie Artists In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland explores the transformative power of collaboration for indie musicians. She breaks down why working together is crucial, not just in co-writing or production, but also in building community and maintaining accountability. Becky shares her own experiences and provides a step-by-step guide on how to fin...

Building Your Creative Ecosystem: Nurturing Sustainable Artistry for Indie Musicians In this episode of Second Verse , hosted by Becky Boyland, indie music artists are guided on how to create and nurture a creative ecosystem that supports sustainable artistry. Sponsored by Attitude Creativity, the episode covers the importance of establishing an effective website and brand messaging. Becky emphasi...

Clarify Your Message as an Indie Artist: Practical Steps for Success This episode of Second Verse , sponsored by Attitude Creativity, delves into the importance of clarity for indie music artists. The host discusses how having a clear message can help artists stand out and connect with their audience, emphasizing the need for consistent brand messaging across their website and social platforms. Sh...

https://youtu.be/snCA8bN_M5A Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Embracing Your Creative Journey In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland explores the impacts of imposter syndrome on indie music artists and the ways it hinders their creative journeys. Becky shares her personal stories and insights from interviews with fellow artists to shed light on the pervasive nature of doubt as they navi...

https://youtu.be/o1OxfMM-rIc Crafting a Musical Journey: Steven McDonald's Return to Songwriting In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky welcomes songwriter and lawyer Steven McDonald from Edinburgh, Scotland. They explore his musical journey, starting from his early influences in a musically rich family to his pandemic-driven return to songwriting. Steven shares insights on balancing his leg...

https://youtu.be/vMHK04GMNpk Rediscovering Dreams: Bree Noble's Journey from Finance to Music Entrepreneurship In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland interviews Bree Noble, a singer-songwriter who transitioned from being a finance director at an opera company to founding Women of Substance Radio. Bree shares her experience of pivoting from a corporate career to pursuing her passion f...

https://youtu.be/tJKaNe4EFDc Finding Harmony in Hospice: Benjamin Kintisch's Journey with Life Review: The Hospice Musical In this episode of Second Verse , host Becky Boyland speaks with Benjamin Kintisch, a chaplain, music teacher, and cantor, about his transformation from a cantor to the creator of Life Review: The Hospice Musical . Kintisch shares how chaplaincy experiences shaped his musical,...