Can We Talk RnB? Podcast

REVOLT
  • 4.6 (18)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Can We Talk R&B is a weekly podcast series, that explores the history, culture and future of R&B music through in-depth interviews with artists, producers, songwriters, and other industry professionals. The show dives into the creative process, the business side of music, and the cultural impact of R&B. Can We Talk R&B is a place for R&B fans to discover new and veteran talent.

  1. 3d ago

    Dondria: Independent, In Love, and In Control

    Ian Von sits down with R&B singer-songwriter Dondria for an honest conversation about her journey from YouTube discovery and early chart success to healing, independence, and rediscovering her love for music. She opens up about stepping away from the spotlight, overcoming depression, embracing solitude, building a career on her own terms, and why self-love became the foundation for her marriage, her creativity, and her new era, Back To Love. This is a conversation about growth, vulnerability, and the courage to choose yourself. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb #canwetalkrnbpodcast #rnb #podcast #rnbmusic #rnbvibes Chapters: 00:00 Intro00:42 Catching Up with Dondria01:17 Finding Her New Sound01:41 The Power of Solitude03:04 Isolation, Faith & Growth04:28 Falling Back in Love with Music06:25 The Meaning Behind "Solitude"07:29 Dondria's Songwriting Process08:37 AI & the Future of Music10:10 Mental Health & Back to Love11:41 YouTube Discovery & Going Viral13:11 Jermaine Dupri & Early Success15:10 Michael Jackson Biopic Review18:11 The True Cost of Success19:21 Depression, Healing & Growth20:46 Learning to Trust Herself22:59 A New Era of Self-Love24:37 Advice for New Artists25:35 Breaking Down the New Music27:26 Independent vs. Major Labels28:52 Wedding, Tour & New EP30:50 Ownership & Standing Up for Herself32:31 Marriage & Creative Partnership34:21 Does R&B Make Room for Healing?36:07 A Message to Day-One Fans36:58 Rapid Fire Questions40:07 Becoming "The One" for Yourself41:04 What's Next for Dondria Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min

  2. Jun 21

    Ama: Love, Friends & Late-Night Calls; What R&B Feels Like Now

    In this episode of the Can We Talk R&B podcast, host Ian Von sits down with London-raised, Guyanese-rooted R&B artist Ama (Ama Lou) to unpack her new era — a “fearless reset” that strips away cryptic storytelling in favor of direct, deeply personal songwriting. Ama opens up about moving from hiding behind aesthetics to writing from her real life, the vulnerability behind her viral duet “Needed U Bad” with Brent Faiyaz, and how Caribbean culture, London upbringing, and long-time friendships with artists like Brent and Tyler, The Creator inform her sound. They also dig into intimacy, desire, and modern relationships, the ebb and flow of honesty in R&B, the importance of creative control across music, visuals, and fashion, plus what fans can expect from her upcoming tour with Ella Mai. The episode closes with rapid-fire questions and a reflection on what love sounds like to Ama right now. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb #canwetalkrnbpodcast #rnb #podcast #rnbmusic #rnbvibes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  3. Jun 15

    Gabby Samone: From Pew to Prime Time

    Rising R&B vocalist Gabby Samone joins Ian Von to discuss her journey from singing in church as a pastor’s daughter to becoming one of the genre’s most promising new voices. Gabby opens up about her musical upbringing, viral breakthrough, American Idol experience, and the stories behind her music, including "Complicated" and 21 and a Half. The conversation explores artistry, vulnerability, faith, online criticism, and what it takes to build a career as an independent artist. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min

  4. Jun 8

    Keith D. Robinson: High school groups, Motown deals, Oscars stages, and CBS dramas; one continuous grind

    Ian Von sits down with triple–threat talent Keith D. Robinson for a rich conversation that moves between two worlds: R&B and acting. Keith opens up about growing up in 90s R&B culture, getting his start in harmony groups, landing a short–lived Motown deal, and how a leap of faith to Los Angeles led to major film and TV roles. He breaks down the parallels between his own journey and his breakout role as CC in Dreamgirls, revisits performing “Patience” on the Oscars stage alongside Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson, and talks about what it meant to realize he actually belonged in rooms with icons like Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy. On the music side, Keith dives into his new single “Different Languages” and the forthcoming album Love Episodic 2: The Algorithm—a deeply personal project shaped by COVID, the Hollywood strike, fatherhood, and divorce. He explains how songwriting forces him to become more self–aware and empathetic, and why relationships are really defined in the bad times, not the good ones. They also unpack his role as Dr. Ted Richardson on CBS’s Beyond the Gates, why affluent Black family stories matter in this moment, what it’s like juggling live performance with on–camera work, and they close with a fun R&B head–to–head: Tank vs. Tyrese in Verzuz. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min

  5. May 31

    Eric Roberson: Completion Over Perfection. The Real Secret to Longevity.

    In this episode of the Can We Talk? R&B Podcast, Ian Von reconnects with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Eric Roberson to discuss his 18th studio album and companion book, Beautifully All Over the Place. Eric shares insights into his creative process, the importance of completion and consistency, balancing music with family responsibilities, and finding joy through life's challenges. He also discusses collaborations with Avery*Sunshine, the stories behind standout tracks, and what's next—including Beautifully All Over the Place 2 and a unique musical audiobook. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb Chapters: 00:00 Welcome & Guest Introduction 01:03 Meaning of "Beautifully All Over the Place" 03:08 How the Book and Albums Intertwine 04:01 Creating "Trust in Love" 06:26 Authenticity, Dark Seasons & Art as Therapy 10:18 18 Albums In: What It Represents 12:30 Fatherhood, Family & Creative Balance 17:30 Writer's Block vs. Writer's Confusion 22:28 Staying Present, Process Over Perfection 27:01 Beautiful Amid Chaos: Life, War & Touring Realities 31:32 Making "Sweeter Than You" ft. Avery*Sunshine 34:31 What's Next: Touring, Improv Shows & New Projects 36:27 Collaboration, Service & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min

  6. May 25

    Michael Elliot: Brown Sugar, Black Love: Writing Our Stories Into Hollywood

    In this episode, Ian Von sits down with legendary screenwriter and producer Michael Elliot, whose pen has shaped some of the most beloved depictions of Black love and Black life on screen. From Brown Sugar and Just Wright to Like Mike and Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz, Michael breaks down how he found storytelling in his 30s, the very real grind behind his Hollywood break, and why love remains the center of his work. They dive deep into: Why Black love stories don’t always get box office support—even when the culture reveres them. How R&B and hip hop literally birthed Brown Sugar. The tension between our appetite for crime/drama versus romance on screen. How faith, sensitivity, and emotional honesty became Michael’s “superpower” as a writer. The impact of streaming and new formats (like vertical storytelling) on Black creators. The conversation is equal parts masterclass, testimony, and love letter to Black romance in film. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min

  7. May 17

    PHABO: From Juke Joints to Blue Note

    Ian Von catches up with Phabo backstage in New Orleans during his tour run with Ari Lennox for an honest conversation about life on the road, performing for Ari’s loyal R&B audience, and how every city brings a different energy to the show. Phabo also breaks down his new project Ratchet & Blues, the creative freedom behind it, paying homage to classic R&B, and how touring has helped him grow as an artist and performer. They also talk fan-building, the business side of touring, Ari Lennox’s impact on modern R&B, and what’s next — including Blue Note performances and a full Ratchet & Blues tour. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb #canwetalkrnbpodcast #rnb #podcast #rnbmusic #rnbvibes Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Welcome 0:24 On Tour in New Orleans 0:42 Life on the Road & Venue Energy 1:11 First Hometown Performance 1:51 The Making of Ratchet & Blues 2:31 Full Creative Control & DIY Vision 3:01 Defining the Ratchet & Blues Sound 3:28 Classic R&B References & Juke Joint Energy 3:45 Favorite Album Moments 4:03 Tour Lineup Breakdown 4:33 Learning From Ari Lennox 4:49 Ari Lennox’s Originality & Influence 5:25 Balancing Male & Female Energy on Tour 6:03 Three Different R&B Styles on One Stage 6:33 Ari’s Stage Production & Hotel Concept 7:03 Watching the Headliner Every Night 7:23 Standing vs. Seated Crowd Energy 7:32 Ari Lennox’s R&B Fanbase 8:11 Love, Vulnerability & Ari’s Music 8:41 Matching Energies Across the Show 9:18 Best Intro Songs for New Fans 9:48 Nostalgia vs. Originality in Production 10:12 Favorite Lyrics & Standout Tracks 10:23 Touring, Ticket Sales & Music Business Talk 10:58 Sold-Out Tours & Building a Fanbase 11:29 Real Impact Beyond Social Media Numbers 12:02 Real-Life Support vs. Digital Metrics 12:18 Why New Orleans Crowds Matter 12:39 What’s Next After the Tour 13:04 Blue Note Shows Announcement 13:20 Touring Ratchet & Blues Properly 13:39 Balancing Music & Podcasting 14:03 Tour Status Check 14:13 Closing Thoughts & Gratitude 14:24 Outro & Sign-Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    15 min

  8. May 10

    Sam Pounds Live From New Orleans: Death Row & The Return of Real Soul

    In this special live episode, Ian Von sits down backstage at Tipitina’s with powerhouse singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sam Pounds, along with his musical collaborators Family Company. Fresh off soundcheck and just minutes before showtime, they break down Sam’s journey from North Carolina church roots to producing for Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg, crafting the Day Shift theme song, and ultimately landing on the legendary Death Row Records. They dive into why real instruments, live arrangements, and human feel still matter in an AI-driven era, how they channel the spirit of the late 60s/early 70s soul greats, and why this New Orleans show is one of the most important of Sam’s career. The crew also touches on the new single “Queen”, the sound and philosophy of Family Company, and what it means to build a tribe that’s committed to real R&B and soul. 🧧 Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/canwetalkrnb 📱Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & iHeart Now!!!! ✅Don’t forget to stream & rate us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart - CLICK LINKS BELOW! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zfIA072HwTapLg019UDcM iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-can-we-talk-rb-119355435/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/can-we-talk-rnb-podcast/id1703170636 📲Stay connected with Us! #CanWeTalkRnB #CWTRB Hosted & Created by: Ian Von | www.instagram.com/IanVonMusic Produced by: Launch Pod Studio | www.instagram.com/LaunchPodStudio Links: 📱www.instagram.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱www.twitter.com/CanWeTalkRnB 📱https://www.tiktok.com/@canwetalkrnb 🎥 www.youtube.com/canwetalkrnb #canwetalkrnbpodcast #rnb #podcast #rnbmusic #rnbvibes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    16 min
See All (76)

4.6
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Can We Talk R&B is a weekly podcast series, that explores the history, culture and future of R&B music through in-depth interviews with artists, producers, songwriters, and other industry professionals. The show dives into the creative process, the business side of music, and the cultural impact of R&B. Can We Talk R&B is a place for R&B fans to discover new and veteran talent.

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