Artist Friendly with Joel Madden

Artist Friendly Media
  • 4.7 (116)
  • Music Interviews

On Artist Friendly, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden gets real with today's breakthrough artists. From chart-toppers to rising stars, guests spill the untold stories behind their success: the pivotal moments, crushing failures, and insider moves that made all the difference. Drawing on his experience as artist, performer and founder, Joel digs deeper than the surface. This isn't just interviews — it's a masterclass in creative survival from those who've lived it.

  1. 3d ago

    Warren Zeiders

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Warren Zeiders. Growing up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Warren spent his teenage years chasing a lacrosse career rather than a musical one, picking up guitar only as a casual hobby along the way. A string of sports-related injuries ended that path in 2019, and COVID hit the following year. At his sister's suggestion, Warren posted a cover of Chris Stapleton's 'Tennessee Whiskey' to TikTok — and woke up to hundreds of thousands of views. That moment launched a rapid rise: his original song "Ride the Lightning" went platinum, and by 2023 his single "Pretty Little Poison" became his first country radio No. 1, going on to double-platinum certification. Since then, he's built a fanbase behind billions of streams, headlined his first world tour, and earned a CMT Award for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year. Now 27 and fresh off the release of his third studio album, No Brakes, Warren sits down with Joel to talk about the pressure of following up his biggest year yet, learning to separate his self-worth from streaming numbers and radio spins, and why he believes this new chapter of music is the most honest representation of who he really is. (0:00) – Warren Zeiders: The Origin Story(4:13) – How Covers Led to a Record Deal(10:14) – CMT Award: Voted by the Fans(18:04) – No Breaks: Warren's Most Personal Record(24:27) – A Deeply Personal Act of Faith(28:54) – Turning Hate Into Algorithm Fuel(38:07) – Growing Up on Rock and Country(43:23) – From Lacrosse Player to League Investor(45:51) – The '67 Mustang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Warren Zeiders

  2. Sep 23

    Tim McIlrath

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against.Rise Against formed to inspire change for the better, taking the torch from Bad Brains, Minor Threat, and 7 Seconds to create their own political anthems. From the raw sound of 2001’s The Unraveling to the complex themes spread across last year’s Ricochet, it’s apparent that the Chicago punks try to empower everyone around them. Along the way, they’ve championed the new wave of alternative, bringing Koyo, Destroy Boys, and Spiritual Cramp on tour with them. Before hitting the road with Alkaline Trio later this year, the Rise Against frontman stopped by the Artist Friendly studio to discuss what’s next. (0:00) – Stories as Bridges(0:54) – Getting to Know Rise Against(4:14) – The Next Generation Always Shows Up(4:50) – Politics Without Preaching(5:45) – Straight Edge, Vegetarian, Unapologetic(6:49) – Authenticity(7:27) – Building a Rise Against Community(9:17) – Meeting Fans Still Hits Different(10:14) – Fans Who Turned Music Into Impact(13:52) – Refusing to Be Silenced on Stage(16:38) – Building a Space Free From Hate(18:12) – Music's Power to Change Minds(19:52) – What Fans Hear That Artists Miss(25:46) – Being Flawed in Public Through Songs(29:11) – Stories Connect a Divided World(30:10) – Changing How They Release Music(34:29) – New Rise Against Music(35:10) – Chicago: Community Over Competition(37:18) – Patrick Stump at Rise Against's Debut(43:59) –Ambition Has No Ceiling(46:56) – Letting Fans Define the Band(49:56) – Giving Your Life to Art(51:21) – Not Everyone Is Your Audience Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Tim McIlrath

  3. Sep 16

    Carly Pearce

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Carly Pearce. Born in Taylor Mill, Kentucky, Carly Pearce left high school at 16 to take a performing job at Dollywood, then moved to Nashville at 19 to chase a solo career full-time — working odd jobs and driving her own van between shows before her big break finally came. Her 2017 debut single, "Every Little Thing," launched a run that's since brought her a Grammy, three CMA Awards, and four ACM Awards, including CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 2021. That same year, Dolly Parton personally invited her to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, one of the highest honors in country music. Pearce's most acclaimed work, 2021's 29: Written in Stone, turned the pain of her divorce into a Grammy-winning album, and she's continued that streak of raw, unflinching songwriting on 2024's Hummingbird and this year’s Honest Woman. While talking with Joel, Carly opens up about the years of grinding it out before anyone was paying attention, learning to trust her own instincts instead of everyone else's opinions, and why she's finally made peace with even the hardest chapters of her story. (0:00) – High Heels in the Warehouse(1:11) – Dolly Parton Fulfilled a Lifelong Opry Dream(1:59) – Country Grandparents, Southern Rock Parents(6:33) – Quitting School at Age Fourteen(11:25) – Forbes 30 Under 30 & Grand Ole Opry Member(17:10) – Reclaiming Her Artistic Voice(21:14) – Writing Through a Public Divorce(24:53) – Music as a Lifeline(26:46) – Kentucky Bluegrass Roots on Record(35:51) – Six Shows a Day at Dollywood(36:46) – Faith as Her Grounding Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Carly Pearce

  4. Sep 9

    Daryl Palumbo

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Daryl Palumbo. Formed in 1993 by a then-teenage Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, Glassjaw became one of post-hardcore's most influential acts, known as much for their unpredictable, genre-defying sound as for the loyal following of musicians who cite them as an inspiration. In 2003, Palumbo launched a second project, Head Automatica, pairing his love of Britpop and hip-hop with producer Dan "The Automator" Nakamura for a sound entirely different from Glassjaw's — their debut, Decadence, charted on the Billboard 200 the following year. More than three decades after he and Beck first bonded over matching Anthrax and Bad Brains T-shirts at summer camp, Palumbo is still fronting both bands, with new Head Automatica material in the works. In conversation with Joel, Daryl opens up about the freedom he's always chased in his music, how fatherhood became the most grounding and fulfilling thing he's ever experienced, and the years of self-doubt and restlessness that shaped both his art and his sense of self along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Daryl Palumbo

  5. Sep 2

    6LACK

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with 6LACK.Born in Baltimore and raised in Atlanta, 6LACK grew up around music from the start — his father owned a recording studio, and he was already stepping into the booth by age four. After cutting his teeth as a teenage battle rapper, he broke through in 2016 with his debut album Free 6lack, which spawned the Grammy-nominated single "PRBLMS" and established the introspective, emotionally direct sound he's known for. His follow-up, East Atlanta Love Letter, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and his most recent album, Since I Have a Lover, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album. Along the way, he's collaborated with everyone from J. Cole and Lil Baby to Elton John and Gorillaz.A decade into his career, 6LACK joins Joel in the Artist Friendly studio to open up about how he has spent the last few years simplifying his life — cutting out excess, opportunists, and old habits — confronting the ego he didn't know he had, and learning what it actually means to build a life around what matters most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6LACK

  6. Aug 26

    Dan + Shay

    On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden sits down with Dan + Shay. Dan + Shay met at a house party in Nashville in December 2012 and started writing songs together not long after — an unlikely pairing, given Dan came from an emo band background and Shay had been a solo artist on T-Pain's label. Since then, the duo has become one of the most decorated acts in country music history: three consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Tequila," "Speechless," and "10,000 Hours" with Justin Bieber, alongside dozens of ACM, CMA, and Billboard Music Award wins. Their crossover success has made them global streaming juggernauts, and in 2024 they became the first-ever coaching duo in the history of NBC's The Voice. Sitting down with Joel, Dan + Shay open up about the highs of over a decade together — the awards, the arenas, the recognition — but also the harder work underneath it: learning to communicate honestly, untangling their self-worth from their results, and figuring out what it actually means to build a lasting partnership, both as a band and as best friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Dan + Shay

  7. Aug 19

    Benji Madden and M. Shadows (Rerun)

    On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Benji Madden and M. Shadows. Good Charlotte recently returned with Motel Du Cap, their first album in seven years, and the pop-punk elder statesmen are ringing it in with their longtime friend M. Shadows on Artist Friendly.  The Madden brothers and Avenged Sevenfold vocalist go back, from meeting on Warped Tour in the 2000s to playing “Bat Country” together on TRL.  In an intimate conversation between like-minded collaborators, the Good Charlotte bandmates sit down with Shadows to celebrate their recent Revolver cover and share untold stories from 25 years in rock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Benji Madden and M. Shadows (Rerun)

  8. Aug 12

    Eyedress (Rerun)

    On this week's rerun episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Eyedress. Born in Manila, Eyedress came to the US at five years old, moving through Arizona and California — discovering punk and skate culture along the way — before his family returned to the Philippines when he was 15. After years of self-releasing lo-fi bedroom recordings and slowly building an online following, he broke through with 2020's Let's Skip to the Wedding, which spawned global hits "Jealous" and "Romantic Lover" and eventually led to a deal with RCA. Since then, he's collaborated with artists like Mac DeMarco, King Krule, and Harmony Korine, carving out a sound that's equal parts woozy, nostalgic, and entirely his own. Eyedress and Joel dig into his journey from a rough childhood to building a life and family on his own terms, the anxiety that still follows him even after years of success, and why he believes the biggest leap of faith he ever took was also the best decision he ever made. (0:03) – From Manila to the World Stage(1:17) – Social Media: Real Life vs Curation(2:41) – Meeting Elvia (3:29) – Making Music Without Asking Permission(5:41) – Childhood(6:23) – No Choice But to Grow Up(7:44) – A Fear That Kept Him in Line(12:57) – What You Don't See on Social Media(14:32) – Success Without Buying In(17:38) – Culture Shock(20:51) – The Wake-Up Call(21:43) – 10 Years of Work Before Anyone Noticed(22:13) – First Deal(25:54) – A Father Who Always Believed(30:09) – Battling Doubt, Fear, and Anxiety(31:00) – Imagination as Blessing and Curse(37:19) – Skateboarding to Quiet the Mind(41:00) – Family Over Everything(43:28) – Forgiveness(52:19) – How Skate Culture Shaped His Sound(54:34) – Music as an Escape Route(56:52) – From Nothing to Everything He Dreamed Of(58:37) – Leap of Faith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Eyedress (Rerun)
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On Artist Friendly, Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden gets real with today's breakthrough artists. From chart-toppers to rising stars, guests spill the untold stories behind their success: the pivotal moments, crushing failures, and insider moves that made all the difference. Drawing on his experience as artist, performer and founder, Joel digs deeper than the surface. This isn't just interviews — it's a masterclass in creative survival from those who've lived it.

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