The Hook with Johni & Jess

Send Johni & Jess a text The Lonely Teardrops bring their signature blend of mod garage, surf rock, soul, punk attitude, and country heart to The Hook with Johni & Jess for a conversation that’s as colorful and energetic as their music. Joining us in the studio are founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist Katie Teardrop, bassist Simon Hall, drummer Ricky Tubb, and saxophonist Bryan Condra. To...

Send Johni & Jess a text This week on The Hook , Johni and Jess sit down with Virginia hard rock band Four Thirty Four ( 434) for a conversation that's equal parts music, mayhem, and brotherhood. Born from the Charlottesville music scene and named after Central Virginia's iconic area code, 434 shares the story behind the band's evolution, their unexpected reunion after a 20-year...

Send Johni & Jess a text What does it take to turn a lifelong dream into a feature film? This week on The Hook with Johni & Jess , we sit down with Josh Pavlock, founder of Osprey Media Studios and the writer, producer, and director behind the independent thriller Checked Out . Josh shares the incredible six-year journey from mowing his lawn and deciding to make a movie, to filming a featu...

Send Johni & Jess a text In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with legendary guitarist Stanley Jordan for a conversation that goes far beyond music. Known around the world for his groundbreaking two-handed touch technique and his ability to completely reimagine the guitar, Stanley opens up about creativity, consciousness, healing, collaboration, and the deeper purpose of art in today’s w...

Send Johni & Jess a text From front porch soul to backstage stories with music legends, this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess takes listeners deep into the extraordinary life and career of Virginia music icon Steve Bassett. Steve joins Johni and Jess for a candid, funny, and deeply personal conversation about the moments that shaped his journey—from Richmond clubs and The Hazards to t...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess , we sit down with visual artist Mary McNeill and music industry veteran Fluffy for a conversation that refuses to stay in one lane—in the best way. Behind the scenes, they serve as Band Manager (Mary) and Tour Manager (Fluffy) for Tim Reynolds and TR3 , bringing the music to life far beyond the stage. From the raw and...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess , we sit down with Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, and guitarist Will Kimbrough—an artist whose influence runs deep through the fabric of American music. From touring the world to collaborating with legends like Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Todd Snider, Will has spent decades shaping songs t...

Send Johni & Jess a text In Part 2 of our conversation with Grammy-nominated songwriter, guitarist, and producer Will Kimbrough, we go even deeper—into the stories, the songs, and the legacy. We dive into Will’s decades-long relationship with Jimmy Buffett, including what it was really like being part of the Coral Reefer Band and co-writing some of Buffett’s final songs—most notably the emotio...

Send Johni & Jess a text From the Sunset Strip to the middle of the ocean, Scott Orchard has built a life fueled by music, risk, and saying yes to the moment. In this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess , Scott takes us back to growing up in Los Angeles—surrounded by stacks of 45s from his dad’s radio station—to sneaking out as a teenager to front rock bands on the iconic Sunset Strip. F...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook , Johni & Jess sit down with reggae artist Mighty Joshua —joined by his guitarist Ian Hartman (aka Ian I) —for a conversation that goes far beyond the music. From his early connection to the roots of reggae to building a sound that blends classic influence with global energy, Mighty Joshua shares the journey behind his artistry—and the p...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook , Johni and Jess sit down with Chef K—a chef, cookbook author, TV host, and culinary tour guide whose passion for food began in a small village in Northern Italy. What started as learning recipes from local grandmothers turned into a full-blown career that spans professional kitchens, television, and global culinary travel experiences. Chef...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, we sit down with guitarist and songwriter Willie Williams , whose sound blends country, blues, and Southern jam rock into something both rooted and fresh. We talk about his leap from corporate America to pursuing music full-time, the stories behind his debut album Trouble Follows Me , and the incredible musicians who h...

Send Johni & Jess a text On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, we sit down with Richmond artist, designer, and musician Sarah Frances Santamaria, the frontwoman of the band VEXINE, joined by VEXINE guitarist Paul Pearce.  Sarah shares the story behind her creative journey — from award-winning visual artist to songwriter and performer — and how art, music, fashion, design, and even...

Send Johni & Jess a text Every musician has a moment when everything changes—when music stops being something they enjoy and becomes something they need. In this episode of The Hook , Jess and Johni sit down with musicians Joey Davis and TJ Peterson, joined by fellow musician John Beckner, to explore the exact moment music took hold of their lives—and never let go. They dive into the firsts th...

Send Johni & Jess a text In this episode of The Hook , Johni and Jess sit down with Matt Smith of Permanent Vacation, Dave McKinny of Dreamsicle, and Will Migern from Children’s Home Services of Virginia to talk about the music, meaning, and mission behind the charity event Bowling for Boat Drinks . What started as a Jimmy Buffett tribute event is about much more than tropical shirts and marga...

Send Johni & Jess a text Welcome to The Hook. Before we start interviewing musicians, artists, and creatives about the moment that changed everything — we’re going first. In this debut episode, Jess and Johni introduce the concept behind The Hook and unpack what it really means to be “hooked.” Not just the lyric that sticks in your head — but the turning point. The obsession. The risk. The mom...