Nathans & Roncast

Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt
  • 5.0 (17)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Each episode of the Nathans & Roncast features a deep dive into a single song. Hosted by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, this podcast includes conversations with the artists, as well as subject matter experts about the real-life stories behind story songs you know and love.

  1. FEB 6

    Vance Gilbert on cancer, paying bills, and leaving space

    We were honored to speak with the great Vance Gilbert, a master songwriter, performer, and teacher whom we have long admired. He’s funny as heck, and it’s common to see him headlining folk festivals around the country as he cracks up his audience, makes them think, and leaves them moved. We cover the full range of emotion in this poignant conversation about his recent struggles with cancer, his origins moving from a violent home to homelessness, and how he made the transition from a young powerhouse singer-songwriter from Boston into a folk elder who knows how to say more with […]

    46 min

  2. JAN 21

    James McMurtry never runs out of road

    For our Season 3 premiere, we are honored to present our interview with the great James McMurtry, the Texas songwriter who paints vivid portraits in song with sly and smart observations. In our conversation, we cover what motivates him to write; his memories of participating in the Kerrville Folk Festival song contest; his thoughts on international touring and his memories of Guy Clark. His most recent release is The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy.

    45 min

  3. SEASON 3 TRAILER

    Season 3: And so it begins

    We’re back, and with a twist: We now have a video edition of this podcast as well! You can finally see us at our YouTube channel, @nathansronstadt. Or, stick to audio and hear us as nature intended. We’ve got some great guests this season. We can’t wait to share a few details with you.

    2 min

  4. 11/14/2025

    The Fire Within: Ronstadt Radio

    We continue Michael’s “Ronstadt Radio” series, beginning with “Riders In The Sky,” which contains a fiddle tune in the middle by Ronstadt Generations in 2012. John Ronstadt is back with Miles Davis’ “All Blues” with lyrics. We finish the set with a “The Fire Within” featuring Will Clipman on percussion and Michael on cello.

    19 min

  5. 10/31/2025

    Round Midnight: Ronstadt Radio

    We have three more fun tracks from the family vault! First up is Round Midnight sung by John Ronstadt in 1994 from the album Maiden Voyage. We then here my dad Michael J. Ronstadt lead on John Prine’s Paradise in 1998. The last one is Wildly Ethereal featuring Will Clipman on percussion.

    21 min

  6. 10/24/2025

    Papa Mike Ronstadt's "La Barca De Oro": Ronstadt Radio

    In Episode 3, we have three more tracks from the Ronstadt family. We start out with “My Walking Stick” performed by the Ronstadt cousins, which is a song by Irving Berlin. We next go into the beautiful Mexican song “La Barca De Oro” sung by Michael’s dad, which was a favorite song of his grandfather, Gilbert Ronstadt. (Papa Mike is backed by the full Ronstadt Generations band.) We finish up the set with Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage” performed by Round Midnight featuring John Ronstadt.

    18 min

  7. 10/16/2025

    Ronstadt Cousins play Wild Mountain Thyme: More Ronstadt Radio!

    This week we introduce three songs from the Ronstadt Family vault, first featuring Michael’s dad’s long-time trio, the Ronstadt Cousins and their recording of Wild Mountain Thyme (live in Canelo). He also features his instrumental recording of the fiddle tune Arizona into Wayfaring Stranger from his 2020 instrumental album Nine Stories. It finishes with Ronstadt Generations’ recording of Papa Mike’s song, The Mill of Oracle. Enjoy!

    18 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Ronstadt Radio!

    For our third season premiere, we introduce several episodes we are calling the Ronstadt Radio Podcast, featuring music from the Ronstadt family vault! This one starts out with Petie Ronstadt’s instrumental banjo piece, Chicago Bar Stomp, performed by Ronstadt Generations. Next, enjoy The Ronstadt Cousin’s Solamente Una Vez, a group my dad had for years with two of his first cousins. Finally we finish with the song Run Run Run Away originally recorded by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, but this one is Ronstadt Brothers live in Oxford, Ohio. Enjoy!

    12 min
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About

Each episode of the Nathans & Roncast features a deep dive into a single song. Hosted by Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt, this podcast includes conversations with the artists, as well as subject matter experts about the real-life stories behind story songs you know and love.

Information

  • Creator
    Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Aaron Nathans & Michael G. Ronstadt
  • Show Website
    Nathans & Roncast