River of Suck

Longtime friends Andy Reiner and Rob Flax discuss their intertwined lives as they swim through the River of Suck.   With an eye towards research-based brain strategies, Rob inspires us to try new things with his C.O.G.I.A.D. philosophy.   Together, they examine tough subjects like the impact of social media on identity and the myths of "talent."   Stick around til the end for an improvised electri...

Mimi Robson, the renowned string virtuoso and educator, joins host Andy in episode 37 of the "River of Suck" podcast, recorded live at Fiddle Hill Online. Mimi recounts her evolution as an adventurous explorer of musical genres, championing curiosity, joy, and authentic connection as the heartbeats of her artistry. Their lively conversation delves into Mimi's dynamic teaching philosophy, the thril...

"What if everything just turns out ok?"  Visit with Nashville songwriter Melody Walker in this latest episode of River of Suck podcast with an ear to the challenges of being a musician in a changing world.  Join the conversation as Melody shares insights on songwriting, addresses sexism in the bluegrass scene, and discusses maintaining boundaries and resilience in the industry.  Hear about the for...

Dive into the River of Suck as fiddle legend, Darol Anger, shares hard-earned wisdom with River of Suck listeners in this fun and insightful episode.   Delving into his personal odyssey through time with the violin, Darol explores the significance of technique in music and the importance of pushing one's musical limits.   With grace and humor, he navigates through the River of Suck and celebrates...

Live from Fiddle Hell Massachusetts, Andy chats with contemporary mandolinist Jacob Jolliff! From bluegrass to jazz, Andy and Jacob compare notes on their time at Berklee with John McGann, the evolution of their musical goals, the magic of listening, as well as the virtues of getting lost (in the groove)! If you ever wonder what it takes to shred, look no further! You, too, may find yourself wanti...

Violinist, educator, and composer, Christian Howes, joins host, Andy Reiner, on an exploration into the River of Suck. Together, they delve into the art of setting achievable goals, and of finding the best ways to approach practicing. Christian shares his personal journey, exploring fear's role in personal growth and offering practical strategies to conquer it.  Listen in for an inspiring conversa...

Join host Andy Reiner and his special guest Judy Hyman in this live episode at Fiddle Hell Online as they explore the journey of her band, The Horse Flies.   From working as a librarian to becoming a film scoring composer, Judy shares her experiences of balancing her passion for music with a serious job. Dive into the creative process as they discuss the importance of perseverance, embracing the m...

Julian Carr explains that being a professional skier and cliff jumping world-record holder is less about being fearless than you might think.  Sharing his experiences with host Andy Reiner, Carr relays how being cool, calm, and collected in the presence of fear can change your life.  This episode promises that fear is not a roadblock and that trusting yourself is key. Carr talks about how he expan...

Being unique in a society that sets expectations and ingrained biases can be a difficult task. However, Kween Werk, our guest, illustrates how her individuality enables her to thrive in her surroundings. As a social justice activist and environmentalist, she acknowledges that being a woman of color has made her feel like an outsider in the spaces she cherishes. Nonetheless, discovering her true se...

Join jazz violin virtuoso, Jason Anick, as he shares his personal journey through the River of Suck. Jason and host, Andy Reiner, explore strategies for reframing shortcomings, navigating comparisons to others, and reimagining the growth mindset.  In a River of Suck podcast first, Jason's father waltzes into the conversation to share childhood stories about Jason.  And Jason reveals a hidden truth...

Sit down with harmonica master, Chris Turner, as he recounts his wild and often misadventurous stories with host Andy Reiner. Together, they discuss profound topics such as the ways which music keeps us alive, how art is bigger than what we make it to be, and what music really is. From free jazz jam sessions to going through a minefield as a stowaway, Chris reflects on all the chaos that makes bei...

Embark on a magical journey through the universe of sound guided by the Vibe Wizard herself, electric violist Martha Mooke. Martha has created musical arrangements for the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Sturgill Simpson, performed alongside Elton John and Philip Glass, and is a trailblazer in strings education. Explore the philosophy of improvisation, listen to host Andy Reiner muse about goals, and...

New York-based musician Melissa Tong, joins River of Suck podcast host, Andy Reiner, for a deep and vulnerable coversation LIVE at Fiddle Hell Online. Follow Melissa's journey from her experiences with racial and achievement bullying to her rocky path to Broadway (an overnight success in 18 short years). Arriving in NYC to not one single gig, Melissa epitomizes tenacity. Find out why someone might...

Six-String Electric Violinist, Tracy Silverman, shares deep thoughts about the emotional side of his musical journey.  From the future of string playing to tales of suffering.  Learn about high level performance mind techniques.  Listen to host Andy Reiner Debunk the FEAR acronym.  Visualization before performance, walking a tight wire between seemingly different words, and DANGER - both perceived...

Sharing horror stories from their musical pasts, musicians Bonnie and Taylor Sims (of Everybody Loves An Outlaw) invite host Andy Reiner into their Colorado living room for deep conversations in the River of Suck. Confidence and anxiety feedback loops. Gig nightmares. Energy sources. Searching for flow states. Fear management. Self-deprecation. Ruffling feathers. Going viral. How does a long and p...

Travel along the River of Suck with host Andy Reiner and guest Jason Lai for a stunning meditation on the two inescapable qualities of being alive – life and death. Composer, performer, and speaker, Jason shows the importance of vulnerability as he cannonballs into his experience with suck. How can a focus on your body lead to confidence and mindfulness? How can we turn thought piranhas of narciss...

Welcome back to the River of Suck Podcast!  Join host Andy Reiner and guest Olivia Meikle as they dive deep into their own experiences swimming in suck. Co-host of WhatsHerName, professor, writer, Olivia explores into the struggles of producing podcasts, and the fulfillment of working hard through the difficult moments. How do you protect yourself in a raging river? A wetsuit, of course! Olivia in...

What is the first step to getting better at something? Realizing you suck at it. Recorded live from a blue-skied park in Nashville, Billy Contreras and host, Andy Reiner, discuss shoving off the shore into the River of Suck and paddling through the cycle of learning, practicing, performing, and sucking. Billy speaks to his experience as a seasoned performer always looking to improve. His answer? "...

From Lurkin' in the parking lot outside Flecktones concerts, to recording and performing with Victor Wooten and Bela Fleck, composer and steel pannist, Jonathan Scales, has surpassed his biggest dreams, yet found them to be a beginning, rather than an end.   Discover the mindstate of Fake Buddha's Inner Child, take a stroll down the Hallway of Possibilities, take a trip to Mauritania, and learn th...

Recorded deep in the mine shaft of the Frightmare Compound Haunted House, River of Suck podcast episode 19 is a journey into fear with owner, Josh Holder.  After a Halloween season working as a scare actor, host Andy Reiner asks: who goes to haunted houses and why?   How do zombies swim in the River of Suck?  What scares the folks who build the scenes?  Clowns, real weapons, decapitated heads, cra...

How does one manifest success?   When is it the right time to take a chance on yourself?   What is the point of engaging in conversation - especially when the other participant holds diametrically opposed views?   This episode traces the rise of Joe Buckner as he follows his dreams.   But while his inspirational ideas are proven in his own boxing gym, Joe's message is too big to be contained withi...

Masters of music as a platform to bring about change and empathy, Che Apalache sings about a better world.  In one of the last golden moments of bands touring in 2020, this Grammy-nominated string band, with members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States, performed in Colorado and sat down with River of Suck host, Andy Reiner.  Time travel back to this beautiful moment to learn how Che Apala...

Open your mind to an improvised life with special guest, fiddler Enion Pelta-Tiller.  Together, host Andy Reiner and Enion examine the struggle of staying positive while playing one of the world's hardest instruments and share secrets of how to get unstuck. For Enion, the River of Suck is a River of Discovery which goes deep … down into the crevasse, into a big world filled with lights and beautif...

Discover the meaning of life as Kristen Ulmer reveals her incredible solutions to living with fear and anxiety .. AKA being a human.   In this life-changing interview, Kristen shares her spectacular insights gained from her meteoric rise from pro skier to fear and anxiety expert.   Together with host Andy Reiner, they dive headfirst into the River of Suck, and learn how to swim with thought piranh...

From Electrician to Musician - from beginner to professional - J's incredible rise from bluegrass fan to sharing the stage with Yonder Mountain String Band is the epitome of swimming the River of Suck - forging ahead with unstoppable passion, no matter the obstacles.  Packed with mandolin and fiddle jams, the journey from Jonny Miller to J Robert Miller is an epic personal quest of music, health a...