The Other 22 Hours

Michaela Anne, Aaron Shafer-Haiss

An exploration of the creative life, lived in the in-between. A sanctuary for the creative spirit in a results-obsessed world. Moving beyond the highlight reel, hosts and working musicians Aaron Shafer-Haiss and Michaela Anne facilitate intimate, artist-to-artist conversations with renowned musicians, authors, visual artists and actors about the grit required to sustain a life in the arts. From navigating doubt to finding stillness, this is the reality of the work. Unfiltered.

  1. James Gardin on deconstructing the sync world, overcoming over-analysis, and the male affordable Lizzo.

    2d ago

    James Gardin on deconstructing the sync world, overcoming over-analysis, and the male affordable Lizzo.

    How do you build a sustainable life around your art when the traditional definitions of success feel increasingly narrow? In this conversation, we sit down with musician, songwriter, and educator James Gardin. While his joyous, infectious music has found a global audience through major sync campaigns for brands like Apple, Tommy Hilfiger, and Saks Fifth Avenue, James’s core creative philosophy is anchored in something much more grounded: community, education, and the refusal to second-guess the spark. Together, we explore the nuts-and-bolts realities of the licensing world, the absolute humility required to teach songwriting to eight year olds, and how letting go of the industry's arbitrary rules allows us to finally blaze our own paths. In This Episode: James Gardin Lizzo Marshmello J Dilla Proof Elzhi Slum Village Liza Garza Def Poetry Jam SZA Chance the Rapper Marmoset Musicbed iSpot.tv TuneFind Western States Center Eric Ward All of the Above Hip Hop Academy Trails End Camp Brooklyn Philharmonic Sinners Ryan Coogler Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram. The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work. Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    42 min
  2. Lukas Nelson on shedding expectations, the antidote to egos, and training like an Olympian.

    Jul 1

    Lukas Nelson on shedding expectations, the antidote to egos, and training like an Olympian.

    It is easy to look at a lifetime spent traveling on a tour bus in a famous family and assume the creative path was completely clear. We sit down with GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter and guitar player Lukas Nelson ('A Star Is Born,' Promise of the Real, Neil Young) for an incredibly honest conversation about moving past the shadow of his father Willie Nelson's towering legacy, and detangling his identity from the cliched drug-induced creative culture. We explore the distinct clarity that arrives with sobriety, the physiological realities of keeping your body moving on the road, and how treating musical discipline like Olympic training allowed him to fully claim his own voice. It’s a masterclass in boundary setting, honoring the natural muse, and discovering that a long-term commitment to your health and your relationships is the ultimate engine for creative longevity. In This Episode: Lukas NelsonPromise of the Real Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Lady Gaga Promise of the Real Neil Young Paramount Theater Red Clay Strays Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia Willie's Remedy All Things Must Pass Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    44 min
  3. Judy Collins on collective dreams, keeping the channel clear, and why artist's don't retire.

    Jun 24

    Judy Collins on collective dreams, keeping the channel clear, and why artist's don't retire.

    "We write to find out who we are." For over six decades, Judy Collins has been a pillar of American music: from GRAMMY awards, platinum records, and Oscar nominations, to writing 8+ books and landing her first No. 1 album at 80 years old. But behind the staggering accolades is an artist who still treats her craft as a sacred, daily blue-collar job. In this conversation, we explore the quiet discipline of her daily routines, the sanctuary of her 48 years of sobriety, and what she calls the "secret channels of songs." Judy shares her philosophy on processing grief through poetry, the necessity of maintaining community in a solitary profession, and turning off the noise to protect the soul. In This Episode: Judy Collins“Catcher in the Rye”J.D. SalingerAntonia BricoMark Ruffalo“Spotlight”Hemangioma“The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” - Bob DylanEp 100 - Rosanne CashEp 16 - Rodney CrowellTelluride Bluegrass FestivalJo StaffordBarbara AllenAl KooperAl Grossman Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    46 min
  4. Annie & Cranston Clements on musical lineage, tour-life advocacy, and 150 hits of acid.

    Jun 17

    Annie & Cranston Clements on musical lineage, tour-life advocacy, and 150 hits of acid.

    What does it mean to treat music not as a commodity, but as a multi-generational way of life? We sit down with father-daughter side musicians Cranston and Annie Clements. Cranston, a cornerstone of New Orleans music history, has played guitar with royalty like Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, and Irma Thomas. His daughter Annie is a bass player for massive acts including Sugarland, Maren Morris, and Hootie & the Blowfish. The duo brings a unique perspective on lineage, structural hurdles, and the profound beauty of side musicians' journeys. Annie shares her vital advocacy work supporting motherhood in the music industry, including working to correct the stark lack of childcare infrastructure in touring. Meanwhile, Cranston details his wild roots in the 1960s counterculture and how a single performance could dismantle a lifetime of prejudice. It is a study on what it truly means to be a "joy facilitator." In This Episode: Annie ClementsCranston ClementsEp 151 - Rob MooseDejan’s Olympia Brass BandTuesday Night Rodeo ClubMaren MorrisDoja CatJoy OladokunBad BunnyMotorheadDr JohnBoz ScaggsMaria Muldaur“A Uterus is a Feature Not a Bug” - Sarah LacyLucinda WilliamsAngine de Poitrine Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    1h 1m
  5. Heather Mae on social justice songwriting, the hedonic treadmill, and hearing god during a massage.

    Jun 10

    Heather Mae on social justice songwriting, the hedonic treadmill, and hearing god during a massage.

    We often look at an artist's career through the lens of industry accolades: the tours, the streaming numbers, the awards. But what happens when you intentionally dismantle your creative ego to build something focused entirely on collective liberation? Heather Mae is an award-winning independent artist, the founder of Singing Resistance Nashville, and a prominent voice in organized musical activism. Following a viral arrest at the Tennessee Capitol while protesting anti-trans legislation, Heather sits down with us to discuss the profound impacts of communal singing, navigating trauma as a neurodivergent and queer creator, and how to balance radical empathy without completely burning out. It’s an expansive, deeply human conversation about moving past the modern traps of artistic productivity to discover what it truly means to be of service. In This Episode: Heather MaeYsaye BarnwellSweet Honey in the RockThe Song School (Planet Bluegrass)National Organization for WomenSinging Resistance NashvilleTennessee Equality ProjectMelody WalkerJustin JonesGloria JohnsonWMOT"Just More Love"Alex PrettiFolk AllianceChris MatthewsEtta JamesMusiCaresMusic Health AllianceCarl JungEp 97 - Fancy Hagood Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    55 min
  6. Matraca Berg on the Nashville Hit Machine, streaming economics, and getting busted by bro country.

    Jun 3

    Matraca Berg on the Nashville Hit Machine, streaming economics, and getting busted by bro country.

    We often treat commercial success as the final destination of a creative life, but for legendary songwriter Matraca Berg, it was just the first act. She was the first woman to have five different country No. 1s in a single year and her songs have been recorded by everyone from Linda Ronstadt, Trisha Yearwood, and Deana Carter to the Chicks, Chris Stapleton, and Reba McEntire. Matraca’s catalog defines generations of American songwriting. We sit down the GRAMMY-nominated member of the Songwriting Hall of Fame to explore the realities of achieving massive success while battling paralyzing stage fright, the transition from the multi-platinum physical sales era of the 1990s to modern streaming, and how she keeps her creative tank full as the industry has changed around her. In a culture obsessed with youth and immediate output, Matraca offers a grounded, reassuring perspective on aging within an art form, artistic alignment, and learning to trust. In This Episode: Matraca BergEp 147 - Jeff HannaSudie CallowayMel TillisJoni MitchellBluebird CafeClint BlackNanci GriffithEp 60 - Lori McKennaBobby BraddockHarlan HowardAshley McBrydeGary HarrisonEp 28 - The Wood BrothersZach BerkmanTiger KingChris StapletonElla LangleyJessi ColterWaylon JenningsMaggie GyllenhaalPeter SarsgaardHill Country BarbecueJake GyllenhaalMinnie Pearl Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    43 min
  7. Rob Moose on the feast-or-famine mindset, songs as love letters, and remaining child-like.

    May 27

    Rob Moose on the feast-or-famine mindset, songs as love letters, and remaining child-like.

    Behind nearly every influential indie-rock and pop record of the last 15 years has been the brilliant mind and hand of string arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose. The three-time GRAMMY winner has contributed to thousands of records by the likes of Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Bruce Hornsby, and Mumford & Sons. In this calming, deeply reflective conversation, Rob opens up about "peaking" in the live touring industry, the transition to a studio-centric life, and how fatherhood has introduced a powerful focus into his creative process. It is an exploration of legacy, creative boundaries, and why sustaining a 20-year career ultimately comes down to treating music not as an athletic feat, but as a deeply human relationship. In This Episode: Rob MooseManhattan School of MusicColumbia UniversityThe New SchoolInterlochen Arts AcademyNirvanaBon IverSNLPaul SimonMadison Square GardenBowery Ballroom‘The Artist’s Way’ - Julia CameronNonesuch RecordsGabe Kahane Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    49 min
  8. Michaela Anne + Aaron Shafer-Haiss on intuition vs assumption, creative ownership, and vulnerability as a faucet.

    May 20

    Michaela Anne + Aaron Shafer-Haiss on intuition vs assumption, creative ownership, and vulnerability as a faucet.

    To celebrate our 150th episode, we try a bit of an experiment: interviewing ourselves, for the first time. After nearly two decades of partnership, we examine the evolution of the creative self. Michaela Anne – whose fifth record, 'These Are The Days,' marks her first in over a 10 years for which she retains total ownership – discusses the "massive shift of self" required to walk away from industry gatekeepers. Aaron Shafer-Haiss, whose compositions have scored major network dramas like 'Station 19' and 'The Good Doctor,' reflects on the "utilitarian creativity" of a producer. It is a conversation about resilience, the "growth seesaw" of a creative marriage, and the realization that the dream is already happening. In This Episode: Michaela AnneAaron Shafer-Haiss‘These Are The Days’Ep 109 Major JacksonNonesuch RecordsHardly Strictly Bluegrass FestivalBonnarooCayamoMountain StageFolks FestMiddle Tennessee State UniversityOwen BiddleSeth TaylorEthan BallingerKyshonaLyle DavinskyLauren BalthropPost Malone Go Deeper: Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.The Hosts: The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (Producer/Mixer) and Michaela Anne (Songwriter/Creative Coach). More about Aaron’s work.More about Michaela Anne’s work.Credits:  Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network.

    52 min

About

An exploration of the creative life, lived in the in-between. A sanctuary for the creative spirit in a results-obsessed world. Moving beyond the highlight reel, hosts and working musicians Aaron Shafer-Haiss and Michaela Anne facilitate intimate, artist-to-artist conversations with renowned musicians, authors, visual artists and actors about the grit required to sustain a life in the arts. From navigating doubt to finding stillness, this is the reality of the work. Unfiltered.

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