The Volume Knob

Keith Serry
  • 5.0 (9)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS

The Volume Knob is the songs that saved your life. Every Monday, host Keith Serry asks his guests to tell the story of how music changed, inspired, soothed and moved them. The result is a music show that's less about chorus and verse and more about the ways that music makes us feel. The results are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes side-splitting and always relatable.

  1. 12/12/2025

    Tennette: Use ta Be My Girl

    As mentioned in the intro, there are still tickets available for this season's episode of The Song that Saved My Life (live). Saturday, December 13th at the fabulous Sala Rossa featuring Matt Goldberg, Me, five talented storytellers and the musical stylings of Sarah Segal-Lazar and her band.  Many thanks to Tennette who does not have a massive social media presence but is slowly building up a serious resume of appearances around NYC. Google her and get out to a gig! You'll be glad you did. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or at our website volumeknob.net. And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    17 min

  2. 04/11/2025

    Will: Unconditional 1 (Lookout Kid)

    If TVK is a success at all it's because of people like Will who is not only a talented storyteller and producer, he's been responsible for introducing me to many of the other wonderful storytellers in the New York area who have appeared on the show in the last year or two. For that generosity, I continue to owe him a great debt.  Will is also one of the founding producers of the Awkward Teenage Years  storytelling series. You can follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Twitch (?). You can also follow Will directly on Twitter and the 'gram. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or at our website volumeknob.net. And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    25 min

  3. 02/17/2025

    Julia: Tom's Diner

    Working with Julia was a genuine pleasure. She is one of those people that is so entrenched in the NYC storytelling scene that Facebook has been suggesting we know each other for years.  You can learn more about Julia's work by following her on Insta. Or you can follow the links get more info about Happy Hour Story Hour every Monday at the Duplex (60 Christopher Street) and Top Shelf Stories at UCB, NYC (this month's show includes TVK alumni Adam Wade and Jeff Simmermon).  Side note, were you aware that Tom's Diner is an actual place? It's actually called Tom's Restaurant and it is most famous as the "exterior shot" of Monk's Cafe in Seinfeld. The more you know. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com. And don't forget to sign up for the TVK Mailing List. To continue to hear the latest and greatest regarding Keith's live shows and other fun stuff.

    24 min

  4. 12/19/2024

    Gina: Into the Mystic

    So happy to finally have Gina on the show!  I love her style. Direct, vulnerable and delivered at a human pace. If you like it too, you might want to watch her work from The Moth or one of her many appearances on the stage at Confabulation.  You can also follow Gina on Instagram and (in case anyone is still doing it these days) Twi(x)tter.  Oh! As promised here's the new TVK "places" playlist featuring London, LA, Ontario Cottage Country, New York - of course - and a little Birmingham). While you're in a following mood make sure you add The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    20 min

  5. 11/20/2024

    Juanita: There is a Light that Never Goes Out

    So happy Juanita could join the show this week! If you're paying close attention, you'll notice that the production schedule has slowed a little around here in TVK land but it's pitches like hers that keep me coming back to the mixing desk. You can learn more about her on her website or by following her on Instagram (not posting to Twitter anymore, so why should you?). While you're on her website be sure to read the info on Juanita's two books: Tales of an Inland Empire Girl and Portrait of a Deputy Public Defender: or, how I became a punk rock lawyer.  Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    18 min

  6. 07/23/2024

    Jesse: Waiting For You

    Very happy to have Jesse on the show this week. He first pitched TVK over 2 years ago (things have been moving SLOWLY around here at world HQ) and I think you'll agree that this is a case of better late than never.  You can learn more about Jesse by following him on Instagram. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    14 min

  7. 06/26/2024

    Jonathan: Viva La Vida

    Johnathan and I have been working for -- no exaggeration -- over a year on bringing this story to you. I hope you think the results are as worth the wait as I do.   He's an amazing storyteller and the writer of the one-man rideshare show We Are Traffic which you can learn more about here. If you're interested you can also follow Jonathan on Twitter and Instagram. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    20 min

  8. 05/06/2024

    Meg: Just Friends

    Hey everyone! Thanks a million to the lovely Meg Stafford for sharing her story this week. As I mentioned in the intro, Meg and I met on the set of PBS' Stories from the Stage. You can find Meg's story from that show here.  You can also learn a tonne about her work (including her two memoires, Topic of Cancer: Riding the Waves of the Big C, and Who Will Accompany You? My Mother-Daughter Journeys Far From Home and Close to the Heart) on her website.  As a saxophone-playing teenager, I've always been amazed by Charlie Parker. That said, my all-time favourite sax player has always been John Coltrane. For the longest time the ringtone on my phone was Giant Steps. So, why don't we call it this week's "this story reminds me of" track. As promised here's the ticket link to my show The List: A Traumady About Probiotic Masculinity at the Montreal Fringe.  Also, there are only a limited number of tickets still available to the preview reading of the show at Variations Mile End on May 10th. You can get one of those here. Make sure you follow The Volume Knob on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook . And if you have a story about the song that saved your life be sure to send it to me at volumeknobpod@gmail.com.

    15 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Volume Knob is the songs that saved your life. Every Monday, host Keith Serry asks his guests to tell the story of how music changed, inspired, soothed and moved them. The result is a music show that's less about chorus and verse and more about the ways that music makes us feel. The results are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes side-splitting and always relatable.

Information

  • Creator
    Keith Serry
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    118
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Volume Knob