Episodes

  • Smalltown Poets: Listen Closely, Ep. 2 - Anything Genuine
    Oct 7 2024

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    Kevin: You know, we just kind of went our separate ways. It was like a scene out of a movie....

    The making of a band from their early days as Villanelle to finding Kevin at the Gospel Music Association's GMA Week. Michael talks about the inspiration behind the album's biggest hit, "Anything Genuine", which also appeared on the 1999 WOW compilation album.

    New episodes release each Monday.

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    17 mins
  • Smalltown Poets: Listen Closely, Ep. 1 - Call Me Christian
    Sep 30 2024

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    MICHAEL: So that combined with just an honest wrestling of a 19, 20 year old, you know, am I all in on this? Is this something that I'm okay with going public with, you know?

    The Christian alt. rock band from Tifton, GA speaks about getting their start as Villanelle where Ardent Records president, Dana Key found the opening track, "Call Me Christian".

    New episodes release each Monday.

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    18 mins
  • Jennifer Knapp: Kansas 25, The Conversation
    Aug 8 2024

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    In August of 2023 I released a podcast series with Jennifer Knapp, going song-by-song through her 1997 major label debut album, "Kansas" with Gotee Records. After the release of the series, Jennifer announced she was going back into the studio to re-record the album in its entirety for the 25th anniversary.

    In this special episode, we circled back around with Jennifer to discuss, not song-by-song necessarily, but the overall making of the new album.



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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Joel Smallbone (For King & Country): Unsung Hero Movie
    Jul 2 2024

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    In this special episode, we interviewed Joel Smallbone, one half of the CCM pop duo For King & Country to discuss everything from 80's christian rock bands to 90's pop music. All of which provided the inspiration for the soundtrack to their autobiographical film, Unsung Hero.

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    21 mins
  • Jennifer Knapp: Kansas, Ep. 10 - "Visions"
    Feb 12 2024

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    I keep saying yes because people keep asking me to play. And that's kind of all you ever get to do. Like don't stop writing and doing what you're doing. And if people say yes, then go play. It's that simple.

    On this episode of the CCM Deep Dive Podcast, we hear from Jennifer's first manager and the man who introduced her to Toby Mac and Gotee Records - Byron Funk. Oh, and why Katy Perry owes her start to Jennifer as we wrap up our tour of Kansas.


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    40 mins
  • Jennifer Knapp: Kansas, Ep. 9 - "Hold Me Now"
    Oct 16 2023

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    It's a very vulnerable position to say, you know what, today I really actually need you to say out loud that you love me. You know, whatever, you know, you don't have to have done anything wrong or screwed anything up. Just sometimes we really have a need to say out loud, I need to audibly hear you say, I need to physically feel, I need you to show up right now to this place and tell me that I am loved.

    On this episode of the CCM Deep Dive Podcast, Jennifer Knapp recalls her inspiration from the gospels for her song, Hold Me Now along with her complicated relationship with the Contemporary Christian Music industry.


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    21 mins
  • Jennifer Knapp: Kansas, Ep. 8 - "Refine Me"
    Oct 9 2023

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    What does this revelation mean? That, those are like, in terms of like a theological study, I think that's the question you theologically ask is why is Christ significant and what is that a revelation of?

    On this episode of the CCM Deep Dive Podcast, Jennifer Knapp discusses how she was first introduced to Christ in college and the one song on the album she didn't write - Refine Me. We also hear from Kim Bontrager, the songwriter about the inspiration for Refine Me and how it made its way up to Ontario, Canada and a young, then unknown Justin Bieber.


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    30 mins
  • Jennifer Knapp: Kansas, Ep. 7 - "Romans"
    Sep 25 2023

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    Oh, it's a funny thing, you know, for a while there, you know when you walk into, well, for whatever it's worth, I'm about ready to answer that. This is what it's worth....

    On this episode of the CCM Deep Dive Podcast, Jennifer Knapp discusses her thoughts on her #1 hit song, Romans (and singing the name, "Jesus" in the chorus), along with what it was like working with producer and Audio Adreneline frontman, Mark Stuart and the influence that Dave Matthews had on her playing style.

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    21 mins