What's The Reason For This Podcast

What's The Reason For This Podcast
  • 4.8 (15)
  • Music Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

🎙️ What’s the Reason for This? is the unfiltered, unexpected, and sometimes unhinged podcast where music meets mayhem. Hosted by Kodi and Shay, two jamgrass junkies with a knack for storytelling, this show dives into the heart of the bluegrass and jam band scene—with a few nitrous-fueled detours along the way. 🤠🎻 From parking lot legends and VIP miracles to deeply personal redemption arcs, each episode brings you wild tales, offbeat interviews, and honest conversations that explore the why behind the chaos. It’s about the music, the misadventures, and the magic that ties it all together.

  1. 2d ago

    S2E46 - Bronwyn - Rattlin' Bones

    🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and co-host Shay welcome Bronwyn back to the dungeon nearly one year after their first conversation — and holy hell, a LOT has happened. 🪕🔥 From stepping away from Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway to building her own band, driving the van, writing her own music, and now releasing her new album Rattlin' Bones, Bronwyn is officially spreading her wings — and doing it entirely on her own terms. 💀🎻✨ After a transition year of rotating musicians, Bronwyn has assembled a seriously stacked lineup featuring Tristan Scroggins on mandolin, Frank Evans on banjo, Grant Dresnok on guitar, and Grammy-winning bassist Larry Cook. Together, they’re rooted deeply in traditional bluegrass while still having the chops to stretch songs into completely different territory. 🎶⚡ But the heart of this conversation is Rattlin' Bones — OUT NOW! 💀💿🔥 The deeply personal 13-song album represents a huge evolution for Bronwyn as a songwriter. After years of believing songwriting simply wasn’t something she did, she decided that if she was going to become a solo artist, she needed music that was truly her own. ✍️❤️‍🔥 That meant collecting random lines in her Notes app, finding inspiration everywhere, and getting outside her comfort zone to co-write with some incredible songwriters. Bronwyn opens up about: 🎻 The first year of officially leading her own band — and why having a consistent lineup has completely changed the live show 🚐 Going from touring on a bus to personally driving the van, tour managing, and running the operation herself — and why it gives her an even deeper sense of purpose ✍️ Teaching herself how to become a songwriter and finding confidence through collaborations with writers like Pat McLaughlin 💀 Writing “The Wishing Well,” her own dark Southern Gothic-inspired murder ballad — complete with creepy houses, river mist, and somebody getting tossed down a well 😳 😂 🛣️ Turning the absolute chaos of Nashville’s Gallatin Road into a song because, apparently, anything goes on Gallatin Road ❄️ How WinterWonderGrass inspired “Blink of an Eye” and that wonderfully awkward question of whether someone in the crowd keeps looking at you because they like the music...or because they think you’re cute 👀😂 😵‍💫 The burnout behind “The Ride” and the complicated reality of achieving the dream you’ve worked toward only to discover that touring can still absolutely kick your ass 🔥 Why “Sticks and Stones” captures Bronwyn’s badass, don’t-give-a-shit side — and ultimately helped inspire the album title Rattling Bones Bronwyn talks about building the record piece by piece across multiple recording sessions while she was still writing it — essentially “building the plane as it’s taking off.” ✈️😂 🎧 Listen to the episode now wherever you get your podcasts — then go stream Rattlin' Bones, which is OUT NOW! 💀🎶🔥 Go see Bronwyn and the band live. Stream the album. Buy the merch. Tell your friends. Support the artists putting in the miles. 🚐🪕❤️‍🔥

    S2E46 - Bronwyn - Rattlin' Bones

  2. Aug 12

    S2E45 - North Fork Crossing - Portland Rose

    🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi and co-host Shay welcome North Fork Crossing into the dungeon for a hilarious, high-energy conversation about Montana bluegrass, life on the road, finding your sound, and what it really takes to build a band from the ground up. 🪕🏔️🔥 The Bozeman crew takes us back to the beginning — from meeting as teenagers at Montana Fiddle Camp to reconnecting years later at a house party and realizing, “Dude…we should start a band.” What followed was a steady grind of pizza joints, house parties, bar gigs, festivals, DIY recordings, and plenty of miles in the van. 🚐🎶 North Fork Crossing opens up about: 🎻 Their wildly different musical backgrounds and how they came together 🎸 Starting out with plenty of Billy Strings covers before developing their own sound 🏔️ Learning from Montana bands like Kitchen Dwellers, The Lil Smokies, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, and The Last Revel 💿 Recording their first album DIY before leveling up for their new record, Portland Rose 🌹 🎤 Working with Travis McNamara to strengthen their arrangements and three-part harmonies 🏆 The pressure of the Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition — and why not winning ultimately made them a better band 📱 Using social media, personality, and plenty of ridiculousness to grow beyond Montana 🤝 Why relationships with other bands and the larger bluegrass community have been such a huge part of their journey And because it’s the dungeon, things obviously go off the rails. 😂 We get into ultimate frisbee 🥏, birding 🐦, questionable tour decisions, shaving heads, “North Fork Crotchley,” and the unforgettable story of a naked 1 A.M. sprint that ended with a busted toe. 🦶😂 Now the guys are starting to see the grind pay off — touring harder, releasing live recordings, building relationships with bands like Magoo, Armchair Boogie, and Clay Street Unit, and hosting Creekside Revival Festival at Pine Creek Lodge. 🎪🔥 At its core, this episode is about friendship, progression, community, and putting in the miles — respecting bluegrass tradition while figuring out exactly what North Fork Crossing sounds like. 🪕💛 🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, check out their Dungeon Session, and go see these boys live! Buy the merch. Support the bands. Tell your friends. And LET’S FORKING GO! 🍴🪕🔥

    S2E45 - North Fork Crossing - Portland Rose

  3. Aug 12 ·  Bonus

    S2E45 North Fork Crossing Session

    🎧 This What’s the Reason for This Session brings a little Montana bluegrass straight from Bozeman into the dungeon as North Fork Crossing takes over the cave for a rowdy, intimate set packed with originals, stories, mountain-town energy, and plenty of banter. 🪕🏔️🔥 The session kicks off with “Portland Rose,” an original off the band’s new record featuring Silas Ray on vocals. 🚂🌹🎶 It’s a hard-driving tune about heartbreak, leaving town, and realizing sometimes there’s just no turning back. 💔🛤️ Next up, the band dives into another original, “DLL,” before sharing some of the history behind North Fork Crossing. 🎻✨ They talk about meeting as kids at Montana Fiddle Camp, reconnecting later in Bozeman, and eventually writing music together. And apparently, they knew from the beginning that this particular tune was destined for a cave... they just didn’t know yet that the cave would be THE DUNGEON. 😂🦇🎉 Naturally, that means one thing: CONFETTI CANONS! 🎊💥 The boys then switch things up with a cover from the Turnpike Troubadours, bringing some Red Dirt flavor into their Montana bluegrass world. 🤠🔥🪕 Afterward, we finally get the official-ish introductions — complete with nicknames, jokes, and classic dungeon chaos — as the band introduces Kid Sladen, Silas Ray, Matt Hickey, Ryan Lewis Kelly, and the rest of the crew. 😂🎸🎻 They close things out with “Lonesome,” another song from their new album, written while sitting alone in a lift shack at Bridger Bowl before leaving the job behind to pursue bluegrass. 🎿🏔️➡️🪕 What came out of that lonely mountain shift is a fitting final tune about heartbreak, solitude, and chasing something bigger. 💙🌲🎶 At its core, this session is Montana mountain bluegrass in its natural habitat — great picking, original songs, questionable nicknames, lots of laughs, and a bunch of mountain wooks hanging out in a basement cave making music. 😂🏔️🪕🔥 🎧 Turn it up, crack a cold one, and welcome North Fork Crossing to the dungeon! 🍻⚡🎶

    S2E45 North Fork Crossing Session

  4. Aug 5

    WTRFT S2E44 - Mason Via

    🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi welcomes Mason Via to the dungeon for a conversation that spans everything from growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains to touring the world with Old Crow Medicine Show—and ultimately betting on himself to forge his own path. 🏔️🪕✨ Mason shares the winding road that's made him one of the most exciting voices in modern bluegrass. What starts as a conversation about childhood quickly becomes a masterclass on following your instincts, embracing your roots, and learning that the best career move isn't always the safest one. ❤️🎶 Mason opens up about: 🎸 Growing up in a musical family in the Blue Ridge Mountains with an award-winning songwriter dad and a Deadhead mom 🎵🌄 🎭 His teenage "emo phase" (yes... My Chemical Romance and Green Day 🤘😂) before finding his way back to bluegrass ✍️ Writing songs as early as 11 years old and the life-changing advice from his dad: "Why play someone else's songs when you can write your own?" 💡🎼 🎤 Winning talent shows, playing coffee shops, experimenting with indie folk, funk bands, and discovering that every musical detour shaped the songwriter he is today 🎸⚡🪕 🎬 His unexpected journey through American Idol, making the Top 25, and why that experience became the perfect preparation for everything that followed 🌟📺 🐦 Landing the audition that changed his life with Old Crow Medicine Show, writing songs with the band, earning a Grammy nomination, and playing iconic stages like the Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks, and the Ryman Auditorium 🎻🏆🌎 🚐 Why he chose to leave one of bluegrass's biggest bands to build something that was truly his own—and why he wanted to experience the grind of climbing the mountain himself 💪❤️‍🔥 🌲 The inspiration behind "See It While You Can," his heartfelt song advocating for America's public lands, and how it unexpectedly became a partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association 🏞️💚 🎶 His current touring band, songwriting philosophy, upcoming festivals, and why staying authentic is still the best career advice he's ever received 🎤🤝🚐 At its heart, this episode is about finding your own voice. It's about taking risks, honoring where you came from, resisting the pressure to become someone else, and trusting that authenticity will always outlast trends. 🌈🫶 🎧 Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts! It's an inspiring conversation full of incredible stories, behind-the-scenes moments, plenty of laughs, and a reminder that sometimes the biggest leap forward starts with betting on yourself. 💙✨

    WTRFT S2E44 - Mason Via

  5. Jul 28

    WTRFT S2E43 - High Country Hustle

    🎧 This week on What's the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down with High Country Hustle for a conversation about building one of Colorado's fastest-rising bluegrass bands, surviving life on the road, making records the right way, and why community will always matter more than algorithms. 🪕🏔️✨ Coming straight out of Durango, High Country Hustle has spent nearly a decade carving out their own sound. What started as a group of college friends jamming together has grown into a nationally touring band with three albums, a brand-new record, and more momentum than ever before. This one starts with the beginning... 🎶 How three friends from Fort Lewis College accidentally started a band that never stopped growing 🚐 David Delaney's journey from Connecticut to Colorado and how a road trip changed everything 💍 Why weddings, private events, and local gigs are still some of the most important ways independent bands survive 📧 The surprising reason mailing lists are still more valuable than social media for musicians today But then the conversation shifts to making records... 🎙️ The story behind recording New Old Roads with producer Scooter Smith 🎛️ Why having a producer with a "light touch" helped the band make their album instead of someone else's 🎻 David almost throwing away one of the album's best fiddle solos before the rest of the band stopped him 📝 Whiteboards, Google Sheets, endless revisions, and what really goes into making an independent bluegrass record Then things get into the songwriting process... 🏕️ How two unplugged writing retreats helped shape the entire album 🎵 Why every member brings songs to the table before the band collectively finishes them 🎻 The evolution of "Madeline the Quaker," a tune written over a decade ago that finally found its perfect home 💡 How collaboration continues to shape the High Country Hustle sound without losing each songwriter's identity And then the conversation gets hilarious... 😂 The running joke about Berklee College of Music and David's classical background 🎓 Classical violin, upright bass, jam bands, and bluegrass somehow all colliding into one band 🎻 Learning over 70 songs after joining the group and earning his place almost overnight 🌭 Why David somehow became the band's "golden goose"... and a hot dog. The crew also dives into... 🪕 Growing up around Telluride Bluegrass Festival and how those early experiences shaped their love for music 🎸 Why Durango has quietly become one of Colorado's strongest music communities 🎟️ How buying tickets early helps independent bands more than most fans realize 👕 Why merch isn't just merchandise... it's fuel for the next album and the next tour 🌎 Expanding into new states, finding new audiences, and what comes next after releasing New Old Roads Of course, no What's the Reason for This? episode would be complete without plenty of laughs along the way. Between confetti cannons, Capri Suns mixed with LaCroix, arm wrestling challenges, Berklee jokes, and an ongoing campaign to convince everyone to join the mailing list, this episode perfectly captures why hanging out with musicians is just as entertaining as hearing them play. At its core, this episode is about building something that lasts. It's about trusting your friends, learning from every record, embracing every opportunity, and remembering that behind every independent band are countless hours of work that most fans never get to see. Most importantly, it's a reminder that bluegrass has always been about community first. 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. #HighCountryHustle #Bluegrass #ColoradoBluegrass #Durango #NewOldRoads #IndependentMusic #LiveMusic #JamGrass #BluegrassPodcast

    WTRFT S2E43 - High Country Hustle

  6. Jul 28 ·  Bonus

    WTRFT Session - High Country Hustle

    🎶🔥 This week in the dungeon, High Country Hustle brings the heart of Durango to the basement with a session full of timeless bluegrass, fresh originals, and the kind of musicianship that makes you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile. 🪕🏔️✨ Fresh off the release of their new album New Old Roads, the band delivers a three-song set that perfectly blends traditional roots with modern Colorado bluegrass. From classic covers to brand-new originals, every tune feels right at home in the dungeon. The session opens with: 🎹 "Long Valley Road" — a beautiful take on the Bruce Hornsby classic that showcases the band's rich harmonies and tasteful picking while putting their own bluegrass spin on a beloved song. It's the perfect way to kick off a session that feels both familiar and fresh. Next up: 🎻 "Madeline the Quaker" — an instrumental written by fiddler David Delaney, this tune has been years in the making and highlights the band's incredible chemistry. Driven by soaring fiddle melodies, tight rhythms, and lightning-fast picking, it's a reminder that sometimes bluegrass doesn't need words to tell a story. And to close things out: 🌧️ "Stand Strong in the Rain" — an original by Andy Gowen from the band's new album New Old Roads. Filled with themes of perseverance, resilience, and finding strength through life's storms, the song builds from quiet reflection into an uplifting anthem that leaves the room hanging on every note. 🌦️❤️ Between songs, the band shares stories from life on the road, jokes about surviving the dungeon's signature confetti cannon, and reflects on the joy of making music together, proving that sometimes the best moments happen between the songs just as much as during them. At its core, this session is everything we love about Colorado bluegrass — incredible musicianship, authentic songwriting, and a group of friends simply having a blast making music together. 🎧 Watch the full dungeon session now on YouTube and wherever you follow What's the Reason for This? #WhatsTheReasonForThis #HighCountryHustle #DungeonSessions #Bluegrass #ColoradoMusic #Durango #NewOldRoads #LiveMusic #BluegrassSession #RootsMusic

    WTRFT Session - High Country Hustle

  7. Jul 28

    WTRFT S2E42 - Chicken Wire Empire

    🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi welcomes Wisconsin's own Chicken Wire Empire into the dungeon for a conversation packed with Midwest bluegrass, European tours, Grateful Dead jams, and why some of the best bands in the country are coming from places people never expect. 🪕🧀🔥 When people think of bluegrass, they usually think of Kentucky, Tennessee, or Colorado... but Chicken Wire Empire is here to remind everyone that Wisconsin has been quietly building one of the strongest bluegrass communities in the country for decades. 🌲🎶 This one starts with the Midwest roots... 🧀 How Wisconsin's bluegrass scene grew through festivals, logging camps, and generations of musicians 🏕️ Why growing up in a smaller scene creates lifelong friendships and stronger musical communities 🎻 Finding each other through local bars, festivals, jam sessions, and a whole lot of Midwest persistence 🤝 The unique bond that comes from being a bluegrass musician in the Midwest But what makes Chicken Wire Empire so unique is the way every member brings a completely different musical background... 🎸 Traditional bluegrass, classical violin, classic country, electric blues, and jam bands all colliding into one sound 🎼 How classical training helped create richer arrangements and layered instrumentation 🌌 Drawing inspiration from David Grisman while still sounding unmistakably like Chicken Wire Empire 🔥 Why the band embraces both traditional bluegrass festivals and jamgrass crowds without trying to fit neatly into either world Then the conversation turns to one of the coolest projects they've ever tackled... 🎶 Reimagining songs from The Big Wu and Chris Castino as bluegrass tunes during the pandemic 🎤 Working alongside Midwest legends including Adam Gruhl and Ryan Young of Trampled by Turtles 💿 Why honoring great songwriting matters more than simply covering songs 🤘 The creative challenge of making someone else's music truly your own And somehow... things only get bigger from there. ✈️ Landing two European tours after initially thinking the first offer was a scam 🇩🇪 Playing festivals throughout Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands 🪕 Discovering passionate bluegrass communities halfway across the world 🌍 Why music has a way of bringing people together no matter what language they speak The crew also gets into... 🎥 The story behind their documentary All It Takes 💰 How independent bands actually pay for albums, touring, and recording 👕 Why buying merch still makes the biggest difference for independent artists 🎵 Recording a brand-new collection of traditional-inspired songs set to release this fall At its core, this episode is about authenticity. It's about building a band because you love making music, trusting that your own voice will eventually find its audience, and proving that great bluegrass can come from anywhere... even America's Dairyland. 🧀🪕✨ 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. This one's funny, insightful, full of incredible stories, and a reminder that some of the best music is still being built one festival, one friendship, and one late-night jam at a time. #WhatsTheReasonForThis #ChickenWireEmpire #Bluegrass #JamGrass #Wisconsin #MidwestMusic #TheBigWu #ChrisCastino #LiveMusic #IndependentMusic #FestivalCulture

    WTRFT S2E42 - Chicken Wire Empire

  8. Jun 30

    WTRFT S2E41 - Duane Betts - Isle of Hope

    🎧 This week on What’s the Reason for This?, Kodi sits down with guitarist, songwriter, and rock & roll torchbearer Duane Betts for a conversation about legacy, finding your own voice, overcoming addiction, and the deeply personal journey behind his new album, Isle of Hope. 🎸🔥 Fresh off the release of Isle of Hope, Duane opens up about growing up surrounded by one of the most iconic musical legacies in rock history while carving out an identity that's entirely his own. From learning drums as a kid to stepping on stage with the Allman Brothers as a teenager, this conversation explores what it means to embrace your past without being defined by it. 🌄🎶 This one starts at the very beginning... 🥁 Why Duane started as a drummer before ever picking up a guitar 🎸 How learning rhythm first shaped the way he approaches guitar playing today 🌟 The unforgettable story of accidentally trying to avoid his first Allman Brothers sit-in... by "forgetting" his guitar 🎶 What it felt like stepping into the spotlight at just fifteen years old Then the conversation shifts into finding his own identity... 🔥 Growing up with one of rock's most legendary last names—and learning not to live in anyone else's shadow 🎼 Writing songs long before becoming a frontman 🎤 Why launching his solo career finally allowed him to tell his own story 🚐 Building a career through countless bands before stepping fully into the driver's seat From there, they dive deep into the making of Isle of Hope... 🎙️ Working alongside legendary producer Dave Cobb and completely reimagining songs in the studio 🎸 Why some of the album's biggest moments came from trusting someone else's instincts 🎼 The cinematic decision to open the record with the haunting "Heartache" 🎵 How songs evolved from rough ideas into something even greater than Duane originally imagined But then... the conversation becomes something much more personal. 💭 Processing grief after losing his father while creating one of the most emotional records of his career ❤️ How Isle of Hope ultimately became an album centered around hope, healing, and moving forward ⚡ Opening up about his battle with addiction and the moment he finally chose a different path 🙏 Why giving himself a second chance changed everything The episode also explores life beyond the studio... 🎸 Touring with Dawes, the Allman Betts Family Revival, and friends across the country 🏔️ Why Jackson Hole unexpectedly became home 🎥 Creating stunning visual artwork and music videos to match the emotion of the album 🎼 Balancing the responsibility of preserving legendary family guitars while continuing to build his own legacy Then the conversation comes full circle... ✨ Reflecting on a career built through persistence instead of shortcuts 🎶 Why every record is simply another chapter in a lifelong musical journey 🤝 Staying connected with fans and remembering that music has always been about building community At its heart, this episode is about hope—finding your own identity, overcoming the darkest seasons of life, and realizing that your greatest legacy isn't the one you're born into... it's the one you choose to create. ❤️🎸 🎧 Tap in now wherever you listen to podcasts. This one's inspiring, honest, deeply personal, and offers a rare glimpse into the life of an artist who's honoring one of music's greatest legacies while fearlessly building one of his own. #WhatsTheReasonForThis #DuaneBetts #IsleOfHope

    WTRFT S2E41 - Duane Betts - Isle of Hope
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4.8
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

🎙️ What’s the Reason for This? is the unfiltered, unexpected, and sometimes unhinged podcast where music meets mayhem. Hosted by Kodi and Shay, two jamgrass junkies with a knack for storytelling, this show dives into the heart of the bluegrass and jam band scene—with a few nitrous-fueled detours along the way. 🤠🎻 From parking lot legends and VIP miracles to deeply personal redemption arcs, each episode brings you wild tales, offbeat interviews, and honest conversations that explore the why behind the chaos. It’s about the music, the misadventures, and the magic that ties it all together.

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