Send in your music story!

Plans changed fast after a storm rolled through, our co-host got called into work, and the “Pokemon live play” turned into something more revealing. We open the mics and go all-in on the real stuff: how this show started, what we’ve learned from wild guests and early missteps, and how it feels to build a community when the industry worships follower counts over actual listeners.

We swap nostalgia—VHS Pokemon marathons, Yu-Gi-Oh binges, and the new Pokemon LEGO sets that look incredible and cost a small fortune—and sketch our dream: a true “Pokemon Classic” anthology on Switch that respects fans and preserves the games’ history. From there, we get practical about production: why some early episodes came down, how latency and live tech checks influence the flow, and the difference between a tight interview and a warm hang. Expect shoutouts to underrated conversations (Men Without Hats, Ohio Weather Band, Just Happy To Be Here) and a few candid notes on episodes we’d love to redo with the skills we have now.

The heart of the episode lands on music, mental health, and purpose. We share the songs that carried us through rough seasons, morning rituals that keep us grounded, and “parallel play” routines that make ordinary days feel gentle again. We also face the creative math: follower growth drives bookings, and that reality can sting when posts get silence. Still, a single message from a listener on a health journey or a guest who felt truly seen is enough to keep going. If you’ve ever wondered what keeps an indie podcast alive, it’s this mix of honesty, small joys, and a stubborn belief in connection over clout.

If you’re new, welcome—hit follow, share this with a friend who loves Pokemon, music stories, and real talk, and leave a quick review. Your note might be the reason we can book the next dream guest and keep these deep dives coming.

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Support the show

Please give us a quick rate and review. If you enjoyed the audio version head over to our Youtube for video content! Follow the Instagram for special content and weekly updates. Check out our website and leave us a voice message to be heard on the show or find out more about the guests!

Ever wanted to start your own podcast? Here is a link to get started!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1964696

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCONMXkuIfpVizopNb_CoIGg

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https://www.thehookandbridgepodcast.com/

Send in your music story!

A wedding request to Scott Blasey, a brand-new video spinoff we’re slightly scared to make, and a lyric game that derails into glorious chaos—this one moves fast and hits a lot. We kick off by revisiting last week’s interview, then clip an on-air invite to the Clarks frontman to perform at a future wedding. From there we pivot into real talk about editing choices, how small cuts can smooth a show, and why honesty on the mic matters more than polish.

Our music news run is stacked: Fetty Wap’s release, BTS returning from military service with a world tour, Slipknot teasing new material, and Hillary Duff’s latest single with a side of mom-scene drama. The big legacy story lands hard—John Fogerty reclaiming the CCR songbook and celebrating it with an NPR Tiny Desk performance—opening a wider conversation about artist rights, masters, and what it means to finally own the songs that define you. Along the way, we weave in pop culture and everyday life: a car speaker sacrificed to Billy Joel at max volume, a misdiagnosed turbo that turns out to be a cracked line, and a quitting story punctuated by free celebration donuts.

Then we crank up a reimagined lyric challenge, trading “finish the lyric” for smarter prompts that spark memory and laughter. Journey’s train, Miley’s hands in the air, Queen’s silhouettes, and Creed’s six feet from the edge all make an appearance, serving up nostalgia with a wink. We even wander into a spirited Helen Keller debate that says more about how stories spread than the story itself. To cap it off, we share community-first merch—DJ ABC tees priced to move—and tease Off The Record, our video-only experiment that feels equal parts exciting and reckless.

Hit play for music news, banter, and a game you’ll want to steal for your next hangout. If you’re into artist rights, pop culture tangents, and lyric nostalgia, you’ll feel right at home. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and drop a review—tell us which headline or lyric stumped you most.

Check out our Website! Become a member!

Support the show

Please give us a quick rate and review. If you enjoyed the audio version head over to our Youtube for video content! Follow the Instagram for special content and weekly updates. Check out our website and leave us a voice message to be heard on the show or find out more about the guests!

Ever wanted to start your own podcast? Here is a link to get started!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1964696

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCONMXkuIfpVizopNb_CoIGg

https://www.instagram.com/hook_and_bridge_podcast/

https://www.thehookandbridgepodcast.com/

Send in your music story!

A melody can hold a whole life. That’s where we start with Scott Blasey of The Clarks—peeling back the layers of songs that carry grief, joy, and the strange electricity of a room that finally goes quiet. Scott shares how Broken Dove found its shape after a late-night guitar figure unlocked everything, and why Irene needed space, pedal steel, and restraint to let a life story breathe. We talk right-hand rhythm, arranging for emotion, and the art of knowing when to strip a track down to bone and truth.

From the roaring 90s Pittsburgh scene to careful producer touches, the conversation travels through the venues that built loyal crowds, the record-store signings that made releases feel like events, and the long bar nights that sharpened a band’s instincts. Scott recalls writing Hey You on 9/11, a song whose meaning clicks into place once you know the day, and revisits If I Had A Gun, born from the sudden loss of a friend. We hit the bright side too: On Saturday’s playful build, the lyrical puzzle of Born Too Late weaving Hendrix, Elvis, and Garcia, and the steady influence of Tom Petty that still colors heartland rock.

There’s new energy as well: Better Off Without You opening an HBO scene with the Pittsburgh skyline, proof that discovery can arrive decades in. Scott talks openly about family first, slow-and-steady growth, and why new songs remain the lifeblood of The Clarks. If you care about songwriting that feels lived-in, performances that read the room, and a catalog that meets you at every season of life, this conversation is your map.

If this resonated, follow and share the show with a friend who loves honest songs. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us which Clarks track lives rent-free in your head.

Check out our Website! Become a member!

Support the show

Please give us a quick rate and review. If you enjoyed the audio version head over to our Youtube for video content! Follow the Instagram for special content and weekly updates. Check out our website and leave us a voice message to be heard on the show or find out more about the guests!

Ever wanted to start your own podcast? Here is a link to get started!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1964696

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCONMXkuIfpVizopNb_CoIGg

https://www.instagram.com/hook_and_bridge_podcast/

https://www.thehookandbridgepodcast.com/