Surprise Cast

Surprise Cast #229 Andrew Darby

Dear Andrew, Thank you so much for returning to my podcast program, Surprise Cast. It was a pleasure speaking with you about music, faith, and personal transformation.  I particularly enjoyed listening to the backstories of songs such as "Oceans" and "Never Leaves Me". They were interesting in terms of their seeds of inspirations and connections to your spiritual journey. Thank you for being transparent about your past addictions and how you've managed to handle them now with success. Amazing! Keep creating music for others to enjoy and appreciate. May your art always be an outlet for you to express your creativity and love for the divine. Follow Andrew:  https://linktr.ee/andrewdarby [https://linktr.ee/andrewdarby] Other music courtesy of Prayers for Change: https://playingforchange.org/ [https://playingforchange.org/] Al Green: https://www.al-green.com/ [https://www.al-green.com/] Follow Surprise Cast on Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #228 Becca Hannah

Dear Becca, It was so much fun sitting down with you on Surprise Cast to unpack your new album, 'Tonight in my Dreams' and a whole lot more. Our conversation was wide-ranging. Hearing your perspectives on songwriting, live performances, the recording process, and what it means to be "intentional" was fascinating. I loved hearing about the album's songs, such as "Caramel", "Empathy", and "Future Trip", and the stories behind each one. The collaborative process with band members seemed engaging and memorable. Thank you so much for opening up about personal growth in 2025, moving from cautious to curious, and how those shifts influenced your music. Your candidness about ADHD, the gifts and challenges it brings, family life, and your endless creativity were extraordinary to hear. Thank you for giving it your all during our conversation. Your storytelling, vulnerability, humor, and craft are to be admired, as is your ability to relate and feel for others. The world needs more empathetic people like yourself.  Follow Becca: https://linktr.ee/beccahannah [https://linktr.ee/beccahannah] Additional Music by https://theblackkeys.com/ [https://theblackkeys.com/] Additional Music by Blondie: https://blondie.net/ [https://blondie.net/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube.

Surprise Cast #227 Leon Joyce Jr.

Greetings, Leon! I'm grateful to have seen you perform in San Francisco in 2025. From the moment you picked up the sticks, I knew my eyes would be filled with wonder. In our podcast conversation, you did a great job sharing your personal experiences, including your positive childhood, Marine Corps duties, and, of course, your extraordinary journey as a musician. What really made me smile was hearing about your relationship with your father. I hope everyone who listens to this podcast can appreciate the quality of friendship you two built together, especially when talking about baseball. Thank you for a conversation that didn't miss a beat. It was lively, smooth, and confident, just like your fabulous drum playing. Keep hitting those beautiful notes of life. Follow Leon Joyce Jr: https://www.leonjoycejr.com/ [https://www.leonjoycejr.com/] Please support other musicians featured in this podcast: https://fatsdominoofficial.com/pages/the-life-of-fats-domino https://www.ramseylewis.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #226 Worm School

Dear Worm School, I love your youth, spirit, and infectious energy! All of you shared interesting stories about how music plays a central role in your lives. It was great fun to jump behind the scenes of your incredible single, "Jacob's Ladder," a song as good as any in the dreampop/shoegaze world. I enjoyed learning about the band's creative process. May 2026 and beyond be filled with more great music and memorable live shows. I know this is only the beginning of great things to come your way. You'll play an important role in the musical landscape.  Follow Worm School:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7sOjGIpf4A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7sOjGIpf4A] https://craftingroomrecordings.bandcamp.com/ [https://craftingroomrecordings.bandcamp.com/] Follow Simon Scott: https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/ [https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/] Follow Ben Easton: https://www.instagram.com/beneastonmusic/ [https://www.instagram.com/beneastonmusic/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #225 The Sundries

Dear Sundries, From a former teacher to current teachers, thank you for a lovely conference about life as musicians! I love listening to how music impacted each one of you whilst growing up. You focused on the role of art and its true impact, which was great to hear. I appreciated how you shared sharp insights on songwriting ideas, importance of simplicity and figurative language in your lyrics.  You released one of the most sparkling albums of 2025, so thank you for taking a deeper dive into its sound, production, and thoughts behind it. May your 2026 shine brightly and look forward to hearing more of your infectious music. The band received an 'A' in my grade book! Follow The Sundries: https://thesundries.bandcamp.com/ [https://thesundries.bandcamp.com/] Follow https://janglepophub.home.blog/ [https://janglepophub.home.blog/] Follow Surprise Cast:Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube