Each episode of the Nathans & Roncast features a deep dive into a single song. Hosted by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, this podcast includes conversations with the artists, as well as subject matter experts about the real-life stories behind story songs you know and love.

Buddy Mondlock and Wade Bates snapshot. They are in a wood-paneled room and smiling.

Buddy Mondlock & Wade Bates’ powerful song, “The Tower”

You have very likely never heard this song before, and it grips you right from the start. There is Buddy Mondlock’s trademark sweet steel-string guitar and soothing voice, but in contrast to much of his other, subtler material, this story is heart-stoppingly dramatic.  Buddy Mondlock, left, and Wade Bates. Mondlock sings from the point of view of his co-writer, Wade Bates, who had been an Army infantryman stationed in Afghanistan when a little girl outfitted with a bomb vest begins walking toward him and the base. Bates worked with Mondlock to process the trauma of that experience. In our last episode, we spoke with Mondlock about what it was like to be paired with a veteran (by Music Therapy of the Rockies) to write a song. He spoke about how his initial instinct was to refer only glancingly to the traumatic event in question. Mondlock said he thought, “maybe I shouldn’t write that into the song. But he wrote me back and goes, I really want to tell that story. To me, that honors...
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Buddy Mondlock and Wade Bates snapshot. They are in a wood-paneled room and smiling.

Buddy Mondlock & Wade Bates’ powerful song, “The Tower”

You have very likely never heard this song before, and it grips you right from the start. There is Buddy...
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Buddy Mondlock on writing a song about trauma (Part 1)

Songwriting master Buddy Mondlock is known for having cowritten with Guy Clark, Janis Ian, Art Garfunkel,...
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Elevate your songwriting with a plot twist

One surefire way to make your song stand out is to add an unexpected twist in the story. In this mini...
James Keelaghan and guitar

James Keelaghan, part 2: Squinting at the Mona Lisa

This is the second part of our conversation with James Keelaghan about his classic song “Cold Missouri...
James Keelaghan portrait. He is holding guitar in front of him.

How James Keelaghan wrote "Cold Missouri Waters" (part 1)

Today we join songwriter James Keelaghan as we take a deep dive into one of the best folk songs ever...
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Why do we like a particular song?

What is it about a song that draws us in? Is it the melody? A catchy beat? A story, or perhaps wordplay?...
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"Twelve Tone Girl": A conversation with Kenneth Stewart about music's most befuddling genre

What is twelve-tone music? Made famous by Arnold Schoenberg, Anton von Webern and Alban Berg, it was...
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Dave Criddle's "Flabbergasted"

Jude Hayden and Dave Criddle met at Miami University in 1989 and played epic, acoustic duo shows for...
Aaron holding up his lanyard at the Trenton Computer Festival.

How to write a positive song about computers

Aaron holding up his lanyard at the 2024 Trenton Computer Festival. In their best moments, whether...
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Why do we vilify computers in song?

Computers and technology have both improved our lives and complicated them; made us safer and more vulnerable;...
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Serenity Fisher's "Winter"

Serenity Fisher & The Cardboard Hearts is a family band in many senses of the phrase, and not just...
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Peter Macdonald Blachly's "Vicksburg"

A few weeks back we featured Peter MacDonald Blachly as our interview guest as we discussed the song...
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The classical side of Michael G. Ronstadt

You know Michael G. Ronstadt’s alternative folk side, but do you know he’s classically trained,...
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Tim Reisert's "Oleander True"

Tim Reisert writes songs with meditation, nature, and memory close to the surface. His songs bring the...
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"One Dollar Gloves": Gregory Hugh Brady, the man behind the magic

The stunning sound quality on “Hello World” was made possible by Gregory Hugh Brady, a recording...
LisaBeth Weber

LisaBeth Weber's "Where the Sky Meets the Ground"

This week we feature our friend, the amazing multi-talented LisaBeth Weber. She’s a writer, a visual...
Rachel Mousie speaking into microphone, smiling, with cat cozying up next to her.

Rachel Mousie's "I Can Do What You Can Do"

Rachel Mousie Rachel Mousie, vocalist, songwriter, and looper, was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH....
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In Search of Our Dead Poet Co-Writer… "Evening" w/Peter Macdonald Blachly

Who was Clarence Dan Blachly? Michael came upon his book of poems named “Stubble Fields,” published in...
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Rob Lincoln's "Roosevelt's Around" (mini-episode)

This week we are featuring a musical force of nature here in the Philadelphia music scene: Rob Lincoln. Rob...
Michael J. Ronstadt in a studio, during younger days.

Michael J. Ronstadt's "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" (mini-episode)

These days, so many of the Ronstadt family members actively perform and sometimes tour. In the fall...
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"Flatbush Sunset": Rory Costello on the Brooklyn Dodgers and Ebbets Field

Aaron’s love of baseball history led him to Rory Costello’s fabulous essay about the secret history of...
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Liz and Pete's "Back Home to Blue" (mini-episode)

She’s Liz, he’s Pete, they are Liz & Pete. Liz Cerepanya and Peter Dalton Ronstadt (Michael’s...
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Thar she blows?

In Aaron & Michael’s first real-life podcast adventure, they take to the high seas in search of whales....
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Beth Kille's "All Is One" (mini-episode)

This week we are featuring an old friend of mine, Beth Kille, who fronts the Beth Kille Band in Madison,...
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"Man and a Whale": Nick Pyenson, paleontologist and whale spy

Nick Pyenson We dive deep into the ocean — and the past — to explore whales, Earth’s most fascinating...
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Meghan Cary's "River Rock" (mini-episode)

This week we are featuring a good friend of Aaron’s, a very special artist named Meghan Cary. The...
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Josh Hisle's "Son of a Roofer" (mini-episode)

Josh Hisle, left, and Michael G. Ronstadt, in an undated photo. Lost in Holland was Michael’s...
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"Sorry, Alan": George Dyson on Alan Turing

George Dyson Aaron’s song “Sorry, Alan” explores the inspirational and tragic life of Alan Turing,...
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Suzy Ronstadt's "Red River Valley" (mini-episode)

The Ronstadt family has been in Tucson, AZ for five generations and the next generation is growing fast!...
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"Let's Play in the Snow": Doug Hamilton

This song by Aaron explores the simple pleasures of a parent playing in the snow with their child. We...
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Bobby Ronstadt's "My World" (special mini-episode)

In this first mini-episode, we feature “My World,” by Michael’s cousin, Bobby Ronstadt....
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"Without the Cold": Alan Jay Prescott

“I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome, I took some comfort there,” wrote Paul...
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"Dr. Joelson's Bag": Sally Hayman

Who was Dr. Morris Joelson? In this episode we revisit the life of a physician in Paterson, New Jersey...
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"Hello World": Brian Kernighan

Learning any new skill requires that scary first step. We’re honored to take our first step into podcasting...
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