Backtrack: An Atlanta Storytellers Podcast

Josh Cuthbertson
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  • Performing Arts

Music has the power to transport us—to pull us back to another time, another place, another version of ourselves. Each episode returns to The Songs That Shape Us stage, replaying the moment a song became a time machine for one of Atlanta’s top storytellers. Through live recordings and heartfelt reflections, host Josh Cuthbertson explores how music carries us through time, shaping who we become along the way. **New episodes are released on a weekly schedule (Mondays) following each "The Songs That Shape Us" live event. Those live events happen quarterly.

  1. May 9

    #13 - Kamaria Korta, Don't Give Up

    In this sixth and final episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Kamaria Korta shares a story about doubt, persistence, and what it means to not give up. It's a story about a subject that haunted her for years, a class she failed more than once, and the slow, hard work of becoming someone she didn't know she could be. You can watch Kamaria's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Don't Give Up" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. And, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There's also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. We'd love for you to join. Sign up here. *The story from this episode was recorded live on stage at our October 21st show at Eddie's Attic. Stay tuned. Season 3 episodes are coming soon!

    12 min

  2. Apr 26

    #12 - Bianca Anderson, Ascension

    In this episode, Bianca Anderson shares a story about loss, grief, and the moment a song becomes a lifeline. It's a story about two sisters who were more like twins, bound together by love, by music, and by an artist named Jhené Aiko, until the night everything changed. You can watch Bianca's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Ascension" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. And, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There's also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. We'd love for you to join our community. Sign up here. *The story from this episode was recorded live on stage at our October 21st show at Eddie's Attic.

    12 min

  3. Apr 13

    #11 - Katina, Time for Me to Fly

    In this fourth episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Katina shares a story about love, grief, and the kind of loss that divides your life into before and after. It's a story about growing up in a big, loud, unforgettable family, and about a brother named Tim, who knew it was time to say goodbye. You can watch Katina's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Time for Me to Fly" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. And, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There's also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. We'd love for you to join. -> Join the community here. *The story from this episode was recorded live on stage at our October 21st show at Eddie's Attic.

    15 min

  4. Mar 23

    #10 - Ron Chapman, Galileo

    In this third episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Ron Chapman shares a story about curiosity, patterns, and the deeply human desire for our lives to make sense. It's a story that begins with an open mind and leads somewhere unexpected. Ron dives into questions about past lives, hidden wounds, and whether the soul might actually be paying attention. You can watch Ron's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Galileo" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. Also, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There's also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. -> Sign up for Press Pause here. *The clips from this episode were recorded live on stage at our October 21st show at Eddie's Attic.

    12 min

  5. Mar 15

    #9 - Samuel Frenkel, Landslide

    In this episode of Backtrack, Samuel Frankel shares a story about identity, belonging, and the cost of becoming who you truly are. It's a story that begins in third grade and unfolds over decades, lived quietly on the inside while everything on the outside stayed the same. Until it couldn't anymore. You can watch Samuel's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Landslide" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. And, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause here. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There's also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. We'd love for you to join. *The clips from this episode were recorded live on stage at our October 21st show at Eddie's Attic.

    16 min

  6. Mar 9

    #8 - Eldon Smith, Waiting on the World to Change

    In this first episode of Season 2 of Backtrack, Eldon Smith shares a story about grief, brotherhood, and the emotional weight of waiting for answers to life's difficult questions. It's a story set in Afghanistan in 2007, where loss arrives without warning and a song heard for the first time becomes the only words that fit. You can watch Eldon's story and see The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "Waiting on the World to Change" here⁠. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events at ⁠AtlantaStorytellers.org⁠. And, if you'd like to join our community, you can sign up for our newsletter, Press Pause. Between our live shows and interviews, we'll share an occasional note to keep us all connected. Each note begins with a story or a song lyric, and invites reflection through a shared question. There’s also space for your own voice to be part of the conversation. We'd love for you to join. *The clips from this episode were recoded live on stage at our October 21st show at ⁠Eddie's Attic⁠.

    10 min

  7. Jan 12 ·  Bonus

    #7 - Intermission: A Pause Between Seasons

    Intermission: A Pause Between Seasons is a special in-between-seasons episode of Backtrack. In this episode, you’ll hear the six stories from Season One presented in their entirety, without commentary, and no interruptions. It's just the stories, back-to-back. It’s a chance to pause, listen, and reflect on the moments that shaped the season, before what comes next. Thanks for listening to Backtrack, a podcast from Atlanta Storytellers. If you’d like to see the full live performances of these stories, or the Tabernacle Collective's live renditions of the songs that go with them, you can find them all here on our YouTube channel. You can find more interviews, stories, and details about our upcoming live events at AtlantaStorytellers.org. Until next time, think back on the songs that have shaped you, and we’ll be back soon with more stories and memories of the music that has shaped us all.

    50 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    #6 - Eldon Smith, How To Love

    In this final episode of Season 1 of Backtrack, Eldon shares a story about longing, clarity, and the hidden cost of loving someone who may not be ready to receive what you’re offering. It’s a quiet moment that becomes a turning point, when a song heard during a storm, married to a simple question, reveals a truth the heart can’t avoid forever. After you hear the live performance, you'll listen to portions of an interview with Eldon where he explores how storytelling has shaped his life, from porch tales in the South to the powerful community he found on The Moth stage. He also talks about his project, Wealth In Wisdom, which focuses on recording the stories of elders before they’re lost forever. Eldon believes listening to each other can be one of the deepest, most meaningful forms of love we can share. We agree 100%! Want to see the full performance and interview? You can watch Eldon's story and The Tabernacle Collective's live rendition of "How To Love" here. You can also find more stories and information about our upcoming live events AtlantaStorytellers.org. This episode brings Season 1 to a close, a season shaped by the voices who took the stage at our July 22nd show at Eddie's Attic. Season 2 will be a recap of the stories from our October 21st show, with weekly episodes releasing shortly after New Year's. We hope you'll stay with us as the music and the memories continue to unfold, and please spread the word about our show!

    18 min
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About

Music has the power to transport us—to pull us back to another time, another place, another version of ourselves. Each episode returns to The Songs That Shape Us stage, replaying the moment a song became a time machine for one of Atlanta’s top storytellers. Through live recordings and heartfelt reflections, host Josh Cuthbertson explores how music carries us through time, shaping who we become along the way. **New episodes are released on a weekly schedule (Mondays) following each "The Songs That Shape Us" live event. Those live events happen quarterly.

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