Backtrack: An Atlanta Storytellers Podcast

In this sixth and final episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Kamaria Korta shares a story about doubt, persistence, and what it means to not give up. It's a story about a subject that haunted her for years, a class she failed more than once, and the slow, hard work of becoming someone she didn't know she could be. You can watch Kamaria's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live...

In this episode, Bianca Anderson shares a story about loss, grief, and the moment a song becomes a lifeline. It's a story about two sisters who were more like twins, bound together by love, by music, and by an artist named Jhené Aiko, until the night everything changed. You can watch Bianca's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Ascension" here . You c...

In this fourth episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Katina shares a story about love, grief, and the kind of loss that divides your life into before and after. It's a story about growing up in a big, loud, unforgettable family, and about a brother named Tim, who knew it was time to say goodbye. You can watch Katina's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Time f...

In this third episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Ron Chapman shares a story about curiosity, patterns, and the deeply human desire for our lives to make sense. It's a story that begins with an open mind and leads somewhere unexpected. Ron dives into questions about past lives, hidden wounds, and whether the soul might actually be paying attention. You can watch Ron's story and see The Taber...

In this episode of Backtrack, Samuel Frankel shares a story about identity, belonging, and the cost of becoming who you truly are. It's a story that begins in third grade and unfolds over decades, lived quietly on the inside while everything on the outside stayed the same. Until it couldn't anymore. You can watch Samuel's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of...

In this first episode of Season 2 of Backtrack , Eldon Smith shares a story about grief, brotherhood, and the emotional weight of waiting for answers to life's difficult questions. It's a story set in Afghanistan in 2007, where loss arrives without warning and a song heard for the first time becomes the only words that fit. You can watch Eldon's story and see The Tabernacle Collective&...

Intermission: A Pause Between Seasons is a special in-between-seasons episode of Backtrack . In this episode, you’ll hear the six stories from Season One presented in their entirety, without commentary, and no interruptions. It's just the stories, back-to-back. It’s a chance to pause, listen, and reflect on the moments that shaped the season, before what comes next. Thanks for listening to Bac...

In this final episode of Season 1 of Backtrack , Eldon shares a story about longing, clarity, and the hidden cost of loving someone who may not be ready to receive what you’re offering. It’s a quiet moment that becomes a turning point, when a song heard during a storm, married to a simple question, reveals a truth the heart can’t avoid forever. After you hear the live performance, you'll liste...

For years, “Sideshow” by Blue Magic was just another slow jam in Cola Rum’s playlist, a smooth, soulful track woven into the backdrop of his life. But on the day his marriage ended and he was moving out of his home, that same song hit differently. What had once been charm and romance suddenly became something sharper, more revealing, and impossible to ignore. In this episode of Backtrack , Cola re...

When she was sixteen, Heather Parady made a split-second decision that turned an ordinary summer afternoon into a story she would never forget. What began as a simple trip for cake mix ended with a crash, a cover-up, and a moment of fierce sisterly loyalty. It was a beautiful display of the kind of love that shows up in the mess, fear, and choices that don’t always make sense on paper. In this epi...

When Katina agreed to drive a support vehicle through the Namib Desert in the middle of the night, she didn’t expect that the song “Sweet Caroline” would be the thing that saved her. What began as a story about fighting "vehicular narcolepsy" and survival became something much deeper. It turned into a reflection on music, memory, and the power of connection. In this episode of Backtrack...

For his 50th birthday, storyteller Chetter Galloway planned a trip to Hawaii, but the pandemic had other ideas. Instead, he found himself back home in Suffolk, Virginia, driving familiar roads and rediscovering the places that shaped him. In this episode of Backtrack , Chetter reflects on change, memory, and finding meaning in the unexpected detours of life, all through the lens of the song “Life...

When “Crimson and Clover” played at that dance in 1971, Ron Chapman couldn’t have known how often that song would reappear throughout his life. From the paralyzing mix of attraction and shame he felt as a teenager to the healing he’s found in adulthood, Ron’s story reveals how a song’s meaning often changes and evolves, just like we do. Want to see the full performance? Watch Ron’s story and The T...

In each episode, we return to the stage of ' The Songs That Shape Us' , replaying the moment when a song became a time machine for one of Atlanta’s top storytellers, and exploring its deeper resonance with host Joshua Cuthbertson . Through live recordings, intimate reflections, and conversations with the storytellers themselves, Backtrack reveals how music resonates not just in our ears, b...