True Conversation

AC

Conversations with artists, musicians, and others that added flavor to the music scene of Athens, GA and beyond. Getting to know the people they are and their personal stories.

  1. Tamara Holder-DeMaio - Women's Rights Advocate, Attorney, Philanthropist....and Badass!

    3D AGO

    Tamara Holder-DeMaio - Women's Rights Advocate, Attorney, Philanthropist....and Badass!

    Tamara Holder is a nationally recognized women’s rights and multi-plaintiff attorney. She was a legal analyst on Fox News Channel for nearly a decade before devoting her entire practice to representing (mostly) women as a feminist lawyer. Tamara has testified before Congress, obtained clemency for the rehabilitated, and worked with the nation’s leading social justice and political figures on legislation that protects women and minority workers. Her work has been recognized in numerous publications. I had such a great time talking to Tamara about her work, love for Live music, and philanthropy. Please use the below link to donate to the Divided Sky Foundation's Women's Scholarship Fund - which she formally established in 2023. The Holidays can be a tight financial time for all of us - but any donation we are able to make will help this tremendous cause.  CAMPAIGN - Divided Sky Women's Scholarship Fund - Campaign Tamara - we've only just met - but I sincerely appreciate all of the work that you have dedicated your life to. Thank you so much for coming on the show - and for the work you do on behalf of Women across the globe.  To my daughters Emily and Laureli - this episode is for you. - Daddy Tamara's Socials: Instagram https://www.facebook.com/share/1DdhnTeFHR/?mibextid=wwXIfr Women’s Rights Lawyer | The Law Firm of Tamara Holder Song Credit: 'Joy' - Phish - off the album ‘Joy (Deluxe Version)’ - ℗ 2009 Phish 'Waste' - Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell - 10/30/20 - The Barn https://youtu.be/LnjXTPJ2XKI?si=4yb7fjWzUm0VxoQh 'Bug' - Trey and Jovi - https://youtu.be/M_KHGeByNjI?si=N1p9nevH3TLw0XPL Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    43 min
  2. The Rock & Roll Hired Gun - Eric Martinez

    OCT 18

    The Rock & Roll Hired Gun - Eric Martinez

    Hailing from Rockville, Maryland and calling Denver, Colorado home, Eric Martinez is a guitarist in the rock/jam band world and a fixture of the local Denver Music Scene. ​Having been a member of multiple touring acts over the years, Eric has earned a reputation as a hired gun and polished music professional. Whether he’s onstage or in the studio, Eric’s precision and laser focus elevates most any act or project. His musical acumen and his demand for perfection keeps him high on people’s lists. In short, Eric is a musician’s musician; a player’s player; an artist’s artist. ​Eric’s diverse range of talents allows him to acclimate to most any musical setting. Whether engineering and producing a bluegrass track for Jojo Herrmann (Widespread Panic) in his studio or shredding solos on stage with Portland’s Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons, Eric is renowned for his ability to instantly add energy and prowess to the stage. ​However, it’s his songwriting on his newest solo effort You Know Why I'm Here out now plus his collaborations with other musicians like John "Jojo" Hermann, Jerry Joseph, Daniel Hutchens, Todd Nance, Eric Carter, Josh Stack, and Tori Pater that has set him apart from other guitar slingers. Eric sings, writes, produces, engineers and plays lead. His instincts for the instrument have been honed by his professionalism, work ethic, and standing alongside the best of the best, year after year. He’s not limited by tone or genre, scene or style. He's in for it all!.  It was truly my pleasure to sit down with Eric to learn about his incredible life journey. I really dig his music - and he was very gracious to give me a lot of time to talk about the music that we all love. Thank you Eric!! Go check out Eric at his website and Socials below: HOME | Eric Martinez You Know Why I'm Here | Eric Martinez https://www.instagram.com/ericmartinezmusic?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Song Credit: 'Heartbreak Kid' - Eric Martinez (feat. Eric Carter) - off the album 'Caldera' - ℗ 2022 Eric Martinez 'King of Birds' - Eric Martinez - off the album 'Covered' - ℗ 2020 Eric Martinez 'Henry Parsons Died' - Bloodkin - Live from Cervantes' Other Side, Denver, CO 7/7/2012 'The Game' - Cubanstack - odd the EP 'Menagerie' - ℗ 2022 Cubanstack 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' - Widespread Panic - off the album 'Everyday' - ℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment III, LLC 'Way Too Loud' - Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons - off the album 'Panther Tracks, Vol. 1' - @ 2025 World Will Turn 'Rooming House' - Eric Martinez - off the album 'Caldera' - ℗ 2022 Eric Martinez " End of the Show" - Bloodkin - Live from The Georgia Theater 12-10-16 Eric's Music Recommendations: - R.E.M - 'Document' - https://open.spotify.com/album/6gMv3MgFlieOM6Uz5GZBzy?si=DQyDwDRhQYuGknb--elrcw - Blizzard of Oz - https://open.spotify.com/album/4qUMByJ3Pk94BFnCmGaUPS?si=v3urJIdfRTah4RGvDNTpDw - The Clash - Sandinista! - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0rCbozekfWhxma7By68aPG?si=g0mkGHTETIK5fJ4OFeaFCQ - The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - https://open.spotify.com/album/0HfqHcAyFa8mOJI1VLs5Sg?si=1pKE7OyHTJ69fSBJ-NqIJQ Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    1h 35m
  3. Meghann5k and Matt Youngblood of Addie Tonic

    AUG 21

    Meghann5k and Matt Youngblood of Addie Tonic

    New friends of the show - Addie Tonic - is an alterna-rock band formed in Denver, CO featuring dynamic front woman Meghann5k (Vocals, Guitar), Matt Youngblood (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Dylan Tilton (Bass), and Dennis Valencia (Drums). Addie Tonic’s catchy songs are driven by Meghann5k’s pop-fueled lyrics and Matt’s rock-inspired guitar licks, building garage rock/shoegaze like walls of sound with a punk rock edge. is an alterna-rock band formed in Denver, CO featuring dynamic front woman Meghann5k (Vocals, Guitar), Matt Youngblood (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Dylan Tilton (Bass), and Dennis Valencia (Drums). Addie Tonic’s catchy songs are driven by Meghann5k’s pop-fueled lyrics and Matt’s rock-inspired guitar licks, building garage rock/shoegaze like walls of sound with a punk rock edge.  We spent some time discussing how Meghann and Matt met, subsequent formation of the band, and the music that they have put out to date. We discuss Matt's prior work with Jerry Joseph, Todd Nance & Friends, The Interstellar Boys, JoJo Hermann and how he and Meghann have collaborated with other amazing musicians and producers to put together their killer sound. We discuss many, many topics - give a listen! I really enjoyed sitting down with these beautiful folks to talk about all things Rock & Roll - go check these guys out if you have the opportunity! Here's a few dates: Saturday, September 6 @ 8:00PM | Addie Tonic / Bad Roommates / Hopefully Soon | Atrium Music Lounge, Fort Collins, CO Saturday, September 27 @ 7:00PM | Ben Ottewell of Gomez / Addie Tonic Duo | Bar 404, Denver, Colorado Connect with them on their Socials here: https://www.facebook.com/addietonic https://instagram.com/addietonic https://youtube.com/channel/UCKaNtXFNmNcWxMbuZZdCHtQ https://open.spotify.com/album/3k0KJ3gdfw1rmYdIErL5x7?si=upCxSPjJRJSgbJe5GVX22Q https://www.reverbnation.com/addietonic https://addietonic.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/addietonic Meghann/Matt music recommendations from the show: Teenage Bottlerocket viagr aboys The Brian Jonestown Massacre wet leg Song Credit: 'Crashing Cars and Fanning Flames' - Addie Tonic 'Brutal' - Addie Tonic 'Iodine' - Addie Tonic 'Seether' - performed by Addie Tonic (written by Veruca Salt) Episode Photo Credit - Dave Ingraham *A special thank you to Annemarie Jacar over at 'Almost Phamous' for use of her video/audio recording of 'Ride Me High' performed on 8/16/25 by JoJo Hermann, Daniel Donato, Duane Trucks, Kevin, Scott, Natalie Cressmen, Holly Bowling and more. (Conscious Alliance event) Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    46 min
  4. Perpetual Groove's Matthew McDonald

    AUG 19

    Perpetual Groove's Matthew McDonald

    Every now and again I get to sit down with an artist that helped define a genre, and this conversation with Matthew McDonald from Perpetual Groove was one of those opportunities. I consider P-Groove to be Athens, GA royalty, with their reach spanning the entire globe. His energy as a person and musician is palpable, and I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed partaking in it.  We discuss Matt's life journey, how Perpetual Groove was formed, and dig into a number of topics that were of immense interest to me. I learned a lot about audio engineering/recording - with this being my first introduction to 'The 5 T's'-  we discuss Matt's health journey that includes his dedication to yoga, breath work, and sound/vibrational healing.  He also shares information about upcoming P-Groove shows this fall, a sneak peek into plans for a 25th anniversary show, and touch on his upcoming release of his new album. Stay tuned to their socials and website for an Atlanta NYE show at Terminal West. Plenty of other interesting topics that I was lucky enough to get his perspective on - so please give a listen and let us know what you think about the episode! Perpetual Groove Instagram https://www.facebook.com/share/19XHo26EzB/?mibextid=wwXIfr Matt's Music Recommendations: - M83 - https://open.spotify.com/artist/63MQldklfxkjYDoUE4Tppz?si=mMv5bPluSP6f8KQTwUvsBw - Boreta - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO2zZcUW?si=bvI-Oc0_QVuxAOXUjeiMCA - Lord Huron - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ltzsmQQbmdoHHbLZ4ZN25?si=1u1qP4zsSQCmX7-bE-e1nA - Ben Hackett - https://open.spotify.com/artist/050oABtOYcWMjuoWR7saCa?si=sdD67ICfRlyE4ENh3DKI4Q - Loscil - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3GM5cpCBadq2PMHjFoEvhK?si=n3-kZVw7TsmfU4ms5GKflQ Episode Song Credit: - All This Everything, Part 2 - Perpetual Groove - off the album 'All This Everything'  ℗ 2005 Harmonized Records - Walking In Place - Perpetual Groove - off the album 'Sweet Oblivious Antidote' - ℗ 2023 Harmonized Records - Honey Cut - Perpetual Groove - off the album 'Heal' - ℗ 2009 Perpetual Groove - Three Weeks - Perpetual Groove - off the album 'Sweet Oblivious Antidote' -       ℗ 2023 Harmonized Records Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    1 hr
  5. Andy Greenberg (Runaway Gin) & Sean Mills (Machine Funk) of Bears Gone Phishin' - Live from Terminal West 6/21/25

    JUN 28

    Andy Greenberg (Runaway Gin) & Sean Mills (Machine Funk) of Bears Gone Phishin' - Live from Terminal West 6/21/25

    Hey Podcast Peeps! Been waiting to see Bears Gone Phishin' for quite some time now. Finally had the opportunity, coupled with a pre-show sit down with Andy Greenberg and Sean Mills before their show at Terminal West (Atlanta) on 7/21/25. BGP is an incredible lineup features the lead guitars of The Reckoning, Runaway Gin and Machine Funk, three of the most prominent and longest-running tributes in the United States. They fuse together Phish, Widespread Panic, and The Grateful Dead. MEMBERS: Andy Greenberg (Runaway Gin), Wallace Mullinax (The Reckoning), Sean Mills (Machine Funk), Bobby Hogg (The Reckoning), Jennifer Reiser (Runaway Gin), Stephen Sandifer (Dangermuffin), Wes Powers (The Reckoning.) Go check these guys if you have the opportunity - you will not be disappointed. Hope you enjoy the episode! Bears Gone Phishin' | Facebook Live from Asheville Music Hall 3/8/25: https://www.youtube.com/live/StmtmsamIkk?si=WIt2b5kvsHMLxvtS Song Credit: 'Feel Like a Stranger' - Bears Gone Phishin' - https://open.spotify.com/track/1AoavyACsjE5evZ1hn9kcB?si=fef75cfcbfcf4fc3 'You Enjoy Myself' - Phish - Live from North Charleston Coliseum - 11/18/1995 'Chalkdust Torture>Chilly Water' - Bears Gone Phishin' - https://open.spotify.com/track/3IcqbDgvkcqj6FUX4lJL7f?si=9e43dca417854e4b 'Godzilla' - Bears Gone Phishin' - https://open.spotify.com/track/2SggBMlGkiNjhepSCjpyW4?si=6d15d466033645aa Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    54 min
  6. Backline's Terra Lopez - Musician, Podcast Host, and Mental Health Advocate

    JUN 6

    Backline's Terra Lopez - Musician, Podcast Host, and Mental Health Advocate

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month - but the team at Backline helps the Musician community 365 days a year. On this episode of the show, I sit down with Terra Lopez, musician, podcast host, and Community Manager/Head of Marketing for Backline. We discuss the amazing work that Backline does in their mission to serve Musicians, road crews, venue personnel, and the family of all of the above, in the ever-so-important world of mental health.  Please check out Terra's amazing Music, her excellent Podcast, and Backline's multiple channels of support. Backline offers resources through a number of channels, including weekly Live webinars with mental health professionals, Monthly video conversations with songwriters & mental health professionals, and monthly authentic stories told by music industry professionals via Instagram Live.  Please take a moment to check out all of the resources they provide at Backline: Mental Health And Wellness Resources For The Music Industry. (https://backline.care) Also, be sure to give Terra's podcast, 'THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE', on Spotify and Apple: This Is What It Feels Like Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1BzEXvLSORSYQW2WaMkPNa?si=db16162b6bbf4585 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-what-it-feels-like/id1704229967 Lastly, but certainly not least, give her musical projects a listen wherever you stream your music: Rituals of Mine — ABOUT The Sisterhood of Sister Crayon | East Bay Express | Oakland, Berkeley & Alameda Song Credit: 'Devoted' - off the self-titled album 'Rituals of Mine' - ℗ 2016 Warner Records Inc. 'Revelation' - Flawed Mangoes - off the album 'Anomaly III' - ℗ 2025 Artist Partner Group, Inc. Send us a text https://youtube.com/@trueconversationpodcast?si=VdO2X40A6rsn1HAv

    32 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Conversations with artists, musicians, and others that added flavor to the music scene of Athens, GA and beyond. Getting to know the people they are and their personal stories.