When Words Fail...Music Speaks

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks , the podcast where host James Cox explores how melody and rhythm become lifelines for those battling depression and anxiety. In today’s episode, James sits down with Kyle Thomas—the raw‑voiced frontman of New Orleans thrash legends ExHorder!! Together they journey from the gritty beginnings of the band in the mid‑80s through four pivotal albums,...

Welcome back to When Words Fail, Music Speaks, the show where we explore how melody, rhythm, and lyric can lift us out of the darkest moments. I’m your host, James Cox, a lifelong believer in music’s healing power, and today I’m thrilled to sit down with an artist whose honesty, faith, and genre‑blending spirit make every track feel like a conversation with the soul. Meet Kenneith Perrin &nbs...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks , the podcast where host James Cox explores how music can lift us out of depression and open doors to imagination. In today’s episode, James sits down with the multitalented composer‑author Christopher Kaufman—a Brooklyn‑based classical composer, storyteller, and environmental sound‑artist whose work fuses symphonic scores, natural soundscapes, a...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks , the podcast where we harness the healing power of music to lift the soul. In today’s episode, host James Cox sits down with Tim King who was literally on the road, pulling over in the dark‑lit front seat of his car—to chat with SOiL’s longtime bassist Tim King. Tim walks us through the band’s upcoming UK return in October‑November 2026, the bac...

In today’s episode, host James Cox sits down with Chicago‑born jazz virtuoso Brian Culbertson – a multi‑instrumentalist, composer, producer, and the man behind the acclaimed album “Day Trip.” From Brian’s early days tinkering on piano at eight, picking up trombone in the school band, and discovering the magic of a home studio at twelve, to his modern‑day workflow that blends live horns, synth‑lade...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail Music Speaks , the show that explores how music can lift us out of depression, anxiety, and everyday struggles. In today’s episode, host James Cox—your “professional handicapped” guide to the power of sound—sits down with Grammy‑winning arranger, composer, and multi‑instrumentalist  Fletch Wiley . We dive deep into Fletch’s remarkable story: a childhood t...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks , the show that explores how music can lift us out of the valleys of depression and anxiety and into brighter emotional terrain. In today’s episode, host James sits down with pianist, composer, educator, and prolific writer  Kurt Ellenberger  for a deep‑dive into the world of jazz, its pedagogy, and its power to heal. We’ll hear Kurt re...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail Music Streaks , the podcast where we battle depression with the transformative power of music. I’m your host, James Cox—your “handicapped” guide through the stories that keep us moving when life gets heavy. In today’s episode we sit down with award‑winning writer, filmmaker, playwright, and cultural documentarian  Alan Govnar  (who kindly corrects us...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks  – the podcast that battles depression one riff at a time. In today’s episode, host James Cox sits down with the charismatic front‑man of the 80s‑metal‑infused outfit  All Singers  (aka Mike Golarz) for a deep‑dive into the healing power of music, the quirks of self‑teaching, and the raw joy of live performance. We kick off with Mi...

Hey there, music lovers! I’m your host, James Cox, a professional therapist who’s also a bit of a country‑music junkie. In this episode, we’re diving deep into how songs can lift us out of the darkest moments and bring sunshine into our everyday lives. We’re thrilled to welcome  Re Mattei , a breakout country artist who’s already turning heads on the road and in the studio. From playing legen...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks —the show that battles depression one riff at a time. I’m your host, James Cox, a proud “handicapped” rocker on a mission to prove that music has no language barriers. In today’s episode we sit down with Askhan, the visionary founder, vocalist, and creative force behind  Nine Treasures , the Mongolian folk‑metal outfit that’s been turning he...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail Music Speaks , the podcast that dives deep into the healing power of music, mental‑health battles, and the stories behind the riffs. In today’s episode we sit down with  CJ Pierce , co‑founder and guitarist of  Johnny Pool  (the band you’ve heard on “Madness,” “Tearaway,” and countless sold‑out arena shows). CJ shares what life on the road looks...

Welcome back to The When Words Fail Music Speaks, the podcast where we turn the volume up on the power of music to lift us out of the darkness. In today’s episode, host James Cox sits down with the unstoppable Mz. Coxx —singer, songwriter, actress, and all‑around creative force—just a year after their last chat. From the buzz around her breakout single “Headboard” (feat. Lil Durks) to a brand‑new...

In today’s episode we sit down with award‑winning author  Heather Snodgrass , creator of the genre‑bending novel  A Love Letter to Reading . Heather blends thriller, identity, and transformation with a meticulously curated playlist that runs  99 hours  long—every chapter is anchored to a song, a TV theme, or even a wrestling reference. We’ll hear how the book started as a scree...

*Welcome back to  The When Words Fail Music Speaks , the podcast where we explore how music heals, connects, and changes lives. In this episode we sit down with  Joshua  Gale , front‑man of the family‑filled, faith‑driven band  Gale Bird . After a magical outdoor show at Charleston’s historic Poor House, Josh and host James dive deep into the stories behind the songs that keep their...

Welcome to “When Words Fail, Music Speaks” – the podcast that harnesses the healing power of song to combat depression, anxiety, and everyday heartbreak.  In today’s episode we sit down with the multitalented Mark Firehammer—author of the genre‑blending novel  The Echo and The Voice , creator of the wellness system Feelness, and a seasoned songwriter whose career spans from Florida coffee‑h...

Welcome to “When Words Fail, Music Speaks,” the podcast that battles depression one riff at a time. In this episode, host  James Cox —a proud “professional handicapped” broadcaster who knows a thing or two about turning struggle into song—sits down with  Krysis , the charismatic front‑man of the newly‑emerging metal‑core collective  Under Black Sky . Together they explore: Why music...

Welcome back to the When Words Fail Music Speaks Podcast, where we dive into the power of music to lift us out of depression, break genre walls and rewrite the rules of the industry. In today’s episode, host James Andrew Cox sits down with Seattle‑based, multi‑award‑winning singer‑songwriter  Lady Miranda —a soulful vocalist who fuses R&B, rock, hip‑hop, and more into a sound that’s unmis...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail Music Speaks , the podcast that battles depression one chord at a time. In today’s episode, host James “the professional handicapped” Cox sits down with a remarkable guest whose life reads like a soundtrack of survival—Tony Kessel. Born in North Dakota, raised in a foster home, and now a full‑time National Guard officer, husband, and father of five, Tony has t...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail, Music Speaks , the podcast where we explore how melody, rhythm, and lyrics become lifelines in our darkest moments. In today’s episode host James Cox sits down with the enigmatic industrial‑metal duo behind  Deadly Apples —vocals‑guitarist Alex Martel and powerhouse drummer Antoine Lamothe. The conversation roams from the raw energy of playing massive ar...

In today’s episode we sit down with visionary filmmaker  Wilson Hickman , the writer‑director‑editor‑cinematographer‑drone‑pilot behind the faith‑infused fantasy proof‑of‑concept series  “The Lost Healer.”  Wilson shares how a Bachelor of Science in Film Production, countless YouTube tutorials, and a whisper of divine nudging converged into a visually stunning, award‑winning pilot t...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail – Music Speaks , the show where we explore how melody, rhythm and lyrics become lifelines for anyone battling the ups and downs of life. I’m your host, James Andrew Cox, and today we’re diving deep with the powerhouse rock trio behind  Lands Down —guitarist and co‑founder Shaun Lichtenstein and front‑man John Ritchie. From their early days grinding out sh...

Welcome back to  When Words Fail Music Speaks , the podcast where we battle the darkness of depression with the undeniable power of music. I’m your host, James Cox, a self‑declared “professional handicapped” champion of mental‑health advocacy, and today we’ve got a truly inspiring guest who lives the mission we preach. Joining us is  Craig Jamieson —the creative force behind the Canadian...

Welcome back to When Words Fail Music Speaks , the show that proves that when words fall short, music says it all. In this episode, host  James Cox  sits down with longtime friend and blue‑grass powerhouse  Carolyn Routh  for a deep‑dive into the moments that shaped her life and career. From church choirs in Siler City, N.C. to the national blue‑grass stage  – Carolyn...

In today’s episode host James Cox sits down with veteran rocker David Ellefson—a guitarist whose love affair with music began at eleven, when the bass line of Bachman‑Turner‑Overdrive’s  Not Fragile  sparked a lifelong obsession. From those early needle‑drops to the thunder of KISS‑era amps, David walks us through the soundtrack of his life: the grind of marching‑band sax, the thrill of...