The Hook and Bridge Podcast

2026 Grammys Recap/ The H&B Awards!

Send in your music story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1982180/open_sms] A blizzard outside, a firestorm in music. We start with the easy stuff—laughs, life updates, and a nostalgia trip through 2000s anthems—then dive straight into the friction points shaping live music right now: dynamic ticket pricing, runaway fees, and why mid-level artists can’t afford to tour while mega-acts sell out arenas. It’s Grammys week, but the real story sits underneath the trophies. We unpack a headline-heavy slate: tours from Queens of the Stone Age and Zayn Malik, a tragic breaking loss in the community, and a ceremony that crowned Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar while Post Malone led a surging Ozzie tribute with Slash, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Andrew Watt. On the red carpet, the tone trended surprisingly classic—Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter kept it timeless—punctuated by a single shock piece that lit up the timeline. Performances got the microscope from us too: what landed, what missed, and how televised moments dovetail with marketing cycles like a Super Bowl halftime. Then we tackle the question that won’t die: should artists speak on politics? Jelly Roll’s refusal to weigh in sparked backlash, and we push back on the expectation that entertainers must campaign. Autonomy matters—for artists and for fans. We talk about separating art from the artist, when lines get crossed, and how to “vote” with your wallet without letting parasocial noise make your choices. It’s a candid, sometimes uncomfortable, always honest conversation about taste, ethics, and the business machine behind the music we love. To end on a note that’s ours, we host the HB Guest Grammys. Fan Favorite goes to TX2 for the interview that lit our early charts. Best Album shout goes to Keep Flying’s Time and Tide, with love to Snacktime for pure fun. “Realest” guest turns into a heartfelt debate—Forest Day, Scott Blasey, and Ralph Sutton each get flowers—because the best part of this show is still the people behind the songs. If this hit your feed just right, follow, subscribe, and drop a review. Share it with a friend who’s argued about Ticketmaster this year—we want your take and your winners. Check out our Website! Become a member! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1982180/support] 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/

The Darkside of Music: Unraveling Kurt Cobain’s Final Days

Send in your music story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1982180/open_sms] Check out our Website! Become a member! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1982180/support] 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/

Episode 182 WHERE ARE YOU : Blink182 Day

Send in your music story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1982180/open_sms] Blink 182 isn’t just a pop-punk postcard from the past—it’s a living diary that swings between dumb jokes and devastating honesty. We dive straight into the songs that defined our teens and still sneak into our playlists: the rush of First Date, the eternal wink of What’s My Age Again?, the meme-proof pull of All the Small Things, and the gut-punch storytelling of Adam’s Song and Stay Together for the Kids. We even settle a lyric Mandela moment—“I wore cologne” changes that opening scene more than you think—and debate whether “overplayed” is just another word for bulletproof. While we’re in the time machine, we widen the lens. Taylor Swift heading to the Songwriters Hall of Fame sparks a talk about craft, longevity, and why clear storytelling wins across genres. Arctic Monkeys resurface for a star-studded charity record and remind us how a band can re-enter with purpose. Tennessee’s songwriter rounds bring new voices forward—proof that scenes still matter. Then we pull apart Spotify’s “prompted playlists” tests: discovery dream or pay-to-play rerun? We lay out the upside for music lovers, the risks for independents, and what it means for how we all find the next favorite track. The big news: we’re bringing back our Battle of the Bands—this time with a live, in-person showdown on a Virginia stage. Brackets, finalists, and real amps in a real room. If Blink taught us anything, it’s that songs live best when a crowd screams them back—even the sad ones. Come for the rankings and misheard lyrics, stay for the stories, and leave with a few tracks to replay on your drive home. Enjoyed the ride? Follow, subscribe, and share this episode with a Blink fan who still knows every word. Drop your top three Blink 182 songs in the comments and tell us what we bungled—we’ll fight you, lovingly, in the next one. Check out our Website! Become a member! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1982180/support] 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/

Behind The Hook And Bridge: Fan Q&A

Send in your music story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1982180/open_sms] 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. Check out our Website! Become a member! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1982180/support] 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/

Music News, Laughs, And A Wild Game Night

Send in your music story! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1982180/open_sms] 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 [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1982180/support] 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/