Threads and Chords

At eighteen, Anna receives an envelope that changes everything. Her adoption records. Inside: names, a letter from her mother, and the first clues in a decades-long search for identity and connection. As always, the episode closes with a touch of relaxing music to lighten the day.

Anna sits down with songwriter John Kirby in this introspective and quietly playful episode, to explore the structure and rhythms that shape his songwriting, the art of revisiting unfinished work, and the transformative power of self-kindness. From spreadsheets to sea shanties, they unpack what it means to return to something with new eyes, and why sometimes, the second, third or fourth drafts hol...

In this richly layered episode, host Anna Blair sits down with Canadian musician Bill Wood, whose career spans decades, from fronting 70s pop-punk band The Oh No's! and 80s alt-pop act Eye Eye to leading the soulful, roots-rock collective Bill Wood & the Woodies. Bill opens up about the mystery and magic of songwriting, his daughter’s brief but powerful musical chapter, and the soulful res...

Host Anna Blair chats with Hair of the Dog—Troy Smith, Eric Smith, Steve Smith, Greg Lucier, and Simon Gilmartin—for a lively conversation about life in a cover band, the art of the perfect setlist, and the brotherhood that keeps the music tight and the crowds singing along. A riff-filled ride through classic rock, smoked Manhattans, and the joy of playing it loud.

Guitarist and songwriter Jarrod William (aka Of Blues and Green) former member of According to Simon, joins host Anna Blair for a heartfelt ride through pedal boards, poetry, and the creative push and pull of life on and off the stage.  They talk alternate tunings, broken strings, the meaning behind his interstellar project Of Blues and Green, and the joy of rediscovering your voice. Plus: a live...

A passing comment on another podcast sends Anna wandering down a different kind of trail this week, through Carolinian forests, great lakes, quiet cliffs, and the steady hum of this place she calls home. In this side-trail episode, Anna explores the wild beauty, artistic heartbeat, and understated magic of Ontario. From the windswept shores of Lake Superior to a hoppin' speakeasy in Burlington...

In this gentle episode of Loose Threads, Anna speaks to the invisible weight of autoimmune illness — the deep exhaustion, the anxious fog, and the quiet grief of not being able to do what you used to. But woven through the fatigue is something holy: a reminder that we are not defined by our productivity, but by who we are — wonderfully made, even in the weariness. She shares the practices that hel...

In this special two-guest episode, Anna sits down with Greg Smith (The Lowest of the Low, The Weakerthans) and Bry Webb (Constantines) for a thoughtful, quietly powerful conversation about identity, experimentation, and the long road of self-expression. They talk about shifting creative paths, the tension between solo work and collaboration, and the evolving relationship between sound, space, and...

Anna sits down with Aleks Jurcev — frontman of Burlington’s own The Regulars — for a conversation that’s full of heart, humour, and unexpected depth. They talk about songwriting, local stages, creative intuition, and carving your own path through the noise. And to close things out - A rare treat — the first-ever live performance of Aleks’s brand new song, Highlands. Honest, quirky, and quietly pro...

Paul Kennedy has been a staple of the Burlington music scene for decades — a guitarist, a frontman, and the driving force behind The Joe Rockhead Band. In this episode, host Anna Blair sits down with Paul to talk about what it takes to keep a band thriving, the highs of playing live, and the deeper heart behind the hardheaded rock persona. We get into the joys and challenges of fronting a cover ba...

While visiting Alberta — surrounded by wide skies, winding roads, and new memories with her sister — Anna gets the call that her Aunt Diane had passed. This episode is a soft moment of remembering. A reflection on the women who raise us, loved us, and are no longer here. It’s about grief, legacy, and the threads that hold even when they feel like they’ve come undone. If you’re carrying the names o...

Host Anna Blair opens up about being adopted, and the humble beginnings of Threads & Chords — a podcast built with a phone, a small mic, and a big heart. This first Loose Threads episode weaves together the story behind the show, the leap from behind-the-scenes to behind-the-mic, and the search for belonging. It closes with an original WinterChild piece that flows with a quiet, watery melancho...

Self-taught, self-aware, and a little bit feral, Bad Science (aka Lance Isaacs/Stak­wa­hereshi) joins Anna Blair in the Edison Room to talk music, identity, and learning to howl louder than the doubt. From his roots in Six Nations to outlaw punk shows and abandoned train stations, Lance shares the story behind his moniker, his sound, and why he leans into the weird. It’s a conversation full of gri...

In this episode of Threads & Chords, Chelsea McWilliams of The Red Hill Valleys connects with host Anna Blair to share her journey from family jam sessions to international stages. She opens up about helping young musicians find their voices, rockstar moments with some surprises, and why staying grounded (and laughing) matters most. Candid, warm, and full of heart.

In this episode of Threads & Chords, host Anna Blair explores the art of making music from the ground up with Burlington native Paul Dickinson—seasoned drummer, craftsman, and founder of Udrum, the underground drum company. Paul takes us behind the scenes of his journey, from performing on stage to shaping custom drums by hand. It’s a conversation about rhythm, resilience, and the beauty of cr...

In this first episode of Threads & Chords, host Anna Blair sits down with Burlington guitarist Sean Donley to explore the threads of grit and creativity that shape his music. From the early days of finding his sound to the moments that keep him grounded, Sean shares insights into his journey as a musician. Plus, he graces us with a special live performance of his unreleased song "Jack &am...