Why Is This So Hard For You?

Episode 105 brings Curtis and Jonathan back into familiar territory—smooth, meticulous, and just a little unhinged. Jonathan opens with a polished slice of West Coast pop from Player , while Curtis counters with a sleek, cinematic fusion track from Yellowjackets , leaning fully into late-night musicianship and studio finesse. This week also marks the debut of a brand-new feature: The Deep Cut Stat...

Curtis and Jonathan dig into a mix of impeccable songwriting, genre-blending pop, and the eternal originals-versus-covers debate. Curtis opens the episode with a sharply written, emotionally grounded track from Randy Goodrum , highlighting the kind of behind-the-scenes songwriter brilliance that quietly shaped an era. Jonathan follows with a polished, crossover-era selection from Ronnie Milsap , w...

Curtis and Jonathan return for Episode 103 with a mix that somehow bridges pristine modern AOR, adventurous progressive rock, and two cover songs that take very different creative risks. Curtis opens the episode with a sleek, emotionally driven track from Lionville , showcasing modern melodic songwriting with classic sensibilities. Jonathan follows by heading into more complex territory with a pro...

Episode 102 is our official Christmas episode , which—naturally—means we don’t start with a Christmas song at all. Jonathan opens with a polished, radio-era track from Steve Winwood’s Back in the High Life period, proving once again that this show cannot go straight from point A to point B. Curtis then officially flips the seasonal switch with a thoughtful, modern Christmas selection from Andrew P...

After the milestone celebration, Curtis and Jonathan are back to their usual two-man musical mischief for Episode 101. Jonathan kicks things off with an underrated gem from Mr. Mister , diving into that pristine ’80s studio-pop sheen the show loves. Curtis follows with a smooth, early-era deep cut from the first Pages album , bringing West Coast AOR energy back into the room where it belongs. In t...

We’ve officially hit triple digits, and Episode 100 comes with a special guest: Derek Hale , one of the original creative sparks behind the show. Derek opens the celebration with a jazz masterwork from Wynton Marsalis , setting the tone for a milestone episode. Jonathan follows with a lush, vocal-driven classic interpreted by Jane Monheit , while Curtis dives straight into the deep-cut trenches wi...

It’s Episode 99, and somehow Curtis and Jonathan accidentally synced their wavelengths… because this week is a full-on Toto takeover . Curtis kicks things off with what he calls the perfect Toto track—yes, for Episode 99—while Jonathan unknowingly brings a minor hit from Toto’s Isolation album. Pure podcast symmetry. In the category songs , Curtis digs up the original version of a Utopia track —th...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Curtis digs deep into the catalog with a smooth Steely Dan B-side, while Jonathan shines a light on a classic jazz standard performed by the phenomenal Kinga Glyk. Then in our category songs, we reach for the tissues with a Billy Crockett Tearjerker, and wrap things up with a surprisingly heartfelt Def Leppard cover from Matt Nathanson. Curtis Gross is a...

On this episode of Why Is This So Hard For You , Jonathan brings the soulful energy of Lake Street Dive, while Curtis reaches back for a heartfelt deep cut from Orleans—offered as a long-distance dedication. Then in our category songs, Jonathan revives the glory (and absurdity) of Rock and Wrestling Revisited , and Curtis closes with a wonderfully weird cover only Devo could deliver. Curtis Gross...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Curtis opens with a lush, heartfelt track from Rumer’s newest album, while Jonathan showcases the melodic piano-pop charm of Jon McLaughlin. Then, in our category songs, we experience a full-blown Sonic Holocaust courtesy of Taco, before redeeming it all with a #1 In Our Hearts pick from the legends of Genesis. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor...

On this episode of Why Is This So Hard For You , Jonathan kicks things off with a slick, jazz-infused tune from Monkey House, while Curtis brings the smooth, studio-polished sound of William Sikström. In our category songs, we get a stunning Jacob Collier cover of a James Taylor classic, followed by a true Worst of the ’70s offender from none other than Silver Convention. Curtis Gross is a self-em...

On this episode of WITSHFY Curtis takes us into the deep cut weed with a song by Tomi Malm and Jonathan plays a song by the band Ripe. Then in the category songs Curtis plays a song that is #1 In Our Hearts by Robbie Dupree and Jonathan has a bizarre cover by Those Darn Accordions. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an adult learning consultant based in Wichita, KS....

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Jonathan opens with a deep-cut ballad from Richard Marx, and Curtis follows with an intimate acoustic tune from Colin Hay. Then, in the category songs, Jonathan brings something that’s Completely Unnecessary in the best (or worst) way possible, while Curtis closes things out with a song so awkwardly Inappropriate you’ll wish you could unhear it...or maybe...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Curtis kicks things off with a smooth 2011 track from Christopher Cross, and Jonathan follows with a groove-laden tune from Jeff Lorber. Then, in our category songs, we get hit right in the feels with a Harry Chapin Tear Jerker before turning up the funk for a Hot or Not 100 pick from Parliament. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Work...

This week we’re leaning into a country crossover vibe. Jonathan sets the tone with a heartfelt Kenny Rogers ballad, and Curtis follows it up with a moving ballad from Keith Urban. Then, in our category songs, Jonathan digs into a Record Breaker from The Police, while Curtis shares a soulful Allen Stone cover of a massive 2012 hit that gets a whole new life. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video ed...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Curtis and Jonathan bring a mix of hits from different corners of the pop spectrum—Curtis spotlights a smooth cut from Kenny Loggins, while Jonathan brings the powerhouse voice of Faith Hill. Then, in our category songs, Curtis surprises with a unique cover of a Broadway classic, and Jonathan dives headfirst into a nostalgia trip with a perfectly awkward...

This episode, it’s back to just Jonathan and Curtis behind the mics. Jonathan kicks things off with a powerhouse collaboration from Champlin Williams Friestedt, while Curtis spotlights the soulful vocals of Claudia Campagnol. For our category songs, Jonathan digs into an Original Artist cut from the legendary Jimmy Webb, and Curtis crowns a true #1 In Our Hearts moment with a timeless track by Che...

This week, we welcome back original contributor Derek Hale for a special all–Pat Metheny episode. Together, Derek, Curtis, and Jonathan celebrate the artistry of Metheny and the Pat Metheny Group, with each host highlighting a favorite track—including the moving and unforgettable September Fifteenth . It’s an episode filled with jazz fusion brilliance, lush melodies, and the kind of deep cuts that...

On this episode of Why Is This So Hard For You , Jonathan opens with a silky smooth hit from Lee Ritenour, while Curtis digs up a gem from an ‘80s band out of Wichita that briefly broke into the national spotlight. For our category songs, Jonathan unleashes a full-on Cover Holocaust courtesy of Madonna, and Curtis takes us back to the glory days with a Burnt To A Crisp hit straight out of the ‘80s...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , Curtis sets the mood with a silky Quiet Storm cut from Quincy Jones, while Jonathan leans into the blues with a groove from The Immediate Family. Then, in our category songs, we debut a new theme— It’s Weird, But I Like It —featuring none other than Frank Zappa. And if that’s not enough strangeness, Jonathan doubles down with a Broadway mashup from Weird...

On this episode of Why Is This So Hard For You , Jonathan kicks things off with a joyful hit from The Emotions, while Curtis sails into smooth waters with a yacht rock gem from Bill LaBounty. For our category songs, Jonathan takes us poolside with a tune later turned into a big hit for Katrina and the Waves, and Curtis wraps things up with a #1 In Our Hearts selection—Prince’s very first hit song....

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , we set sail with a smooth yacht rock classic from Finis Henderson before diving into some Latin jazz grooves from José Rizo. In our category songs, Curtis uncovers a deep Jackie DeShannon cut that another artist later turned into a smash hit, and then Jonathan challenges Curtis to decide if a song is Yacht or Nyacht. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , we kick things off with some vintage rock-and-roll swagger from Paul Revere & The Raiders, then slow it way down with a smooth, romantic cut from Chuck Mangione’s Feels So Good album. In our category songs, it’s a double-shot of covers—first, a fresh take on a classic from the Huntertones, and then a Bonnie Raitt favorite reinterpreted from its origin...

On this episode of Why Is This So Hard For You , we spin a gem from Sting’s 10 Summoner’s Tales and groove along with the soulful energy of Lawrence. In our category songs, we take a detour into “Going Clear” with a bewildering cut from Space Jazz , and Jonathan confesses a silky smooth guilty pleasure from none other than Sade. Curtis Gross is a self-employed video editor. Jonathan Workman is an...

This week on Why Is This So Hard For You , we kick things off with a soaring slice of ‘70s singer-songwriter wisdom from Dan Fogelberg, followed by some high-octane musicianship from the band Maragold. In our category songs, Jonathan delivers another Covers Holocaust sure to scar the soul, while Curtis brings a shockingly slick reharmonized Justin Bieber cover. Yes, really. Justin Bieber. Curtis G...