This podcast is a production of Herizon Music Foundation, a nonprofit uplifting women in music through education, experience, and role-coding programs. It’s made possible thanks to fans like yourself.  Please donate today! In this episode, BlueSkye covers: — The origin of her unique name. — Her not-so-lucky Lucky Penny — The story of her song "America’s Middle Class" — What it's like to audition for the NBC television show The Voice. Visit https://herizonmusic.org/blueskye for full Show Notes, videos, social links, and videos! Disclaimer: Opinions of show guests are not nec ..read more

Recorded at the end of 2019, this chat with guitarist/singer/songwriter Jackie Venson foreshadows events that would unfold in Summer 2020. Just a few weeks before launching this episode, Jackie took a stand. She publicly turned down an invitation to play the perennial event “Blues on The Green” which is hosted by Austin City Limits Radio.  Listen to the episode to find out why she turned it down and what history-changing result came of it. Thanks to the international Wellness Shoppers Club for partnering with Herizon Music Foundation.  More information is at info.greenrushaustin.com ..read more

Maggie Szabo is a Canadian immigrant who's tackling feminine stereotypes, social injustice, and cellulite with lipstick in hand. Her pop music sensibilities poke fun at pop culture while redefining it for the next generation. We think she’s spot on… and 100% “worth the weight!” In this episode, Maggie Szabo covers: Making the music video “I Don’t Need You” during COVID (and who is the hot guy who wants his lipstick back?) Landing a promo song for BET series Tyler Perry’s Sistas and Jennifer Hudson choosing her song “Love Is Free” for The Voice contestant Kennedy Holmes. Her path to championing ..read more

In this episode you’ll hear: — The unconventional approach Ghostlight took to recording the album Best Kept Secrets — What it was like playing with two of her musical idols — Late night musical meditations (her best kept musical secret) — The most influential woman in her musical career ..read more

Terri Nunn is the lead singer of Berlin, which many remember from the height of MTV music video days as the sexy trio who brought us “The Metro,” “Sex,” and their runaway Top Gun soundtrack anthem “Take My Breath Away.” The track earned them an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.  Here we are 40 years and 8 albums later, and the band introduced their newest album titled “Strings Attached” featuring the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra re-visiting the band’s most iconic tunes. In early 2021, host Thea Wood conducted this remote interview with Terri Nunn.  In This Episode Terri shares — T ..read more

Ali Dineen is a singer-songwriter and musician based in New York City. She’s performed her original music from the American folk tradition at the Savannah Music Festival, the American Folk Art Museum, and the Brooklyn Folk Festival, just to name a few. Ali’s lyrics have been described as poetic and deeply personal. When talking about her new EP, Hold On, she said, “This album grew out of personal heartbreak, and the feeling of a collective heartbreak as we’ve watched the world descend farther into fascism and irreversible climate catastrophe… It took moving through heartbreak and disillusionme ..read more

Today, we’re Zooming to you from Austin, Texas as we are all practicing a social distancing lifestyle during the coronavirus pandemic. If you're feeling the covid blues, this is your episode! Meet Andra Liemandt, the co-founder of The Mrs, a pop band formed by a group of moms who have been on a mission since 2013. That mission and a powerful music video featuring a magic mirror earned national recognition on Good Morning America and the Queen Latifah Show. All in spite of record labels saying  "no" to their music based on ageism rather than merit. Andra Liemandt is the drummer, singer, so ..read more

Recorded in February 2021 via Zoom, Country music sensation Kalie Shorr shares her journey to voicing taboo topics in the first of a two-part podcast series. Her debut album “Open Book” was listed at #7 on the New York Times Best Albums of 2019, named one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, The New Nashville by Teen Vogue, a Top 10 Country Artists to Watch in 2019 by Huffington Post. In this Part 1 episode, Kalie Shorr covers: — Her tumultuous childhood growing up the youngest of 7 half siblings  — The tragic loss that opened her up to voicing taboo topics in her songwriting — Teen eating di ..read more

You’ll hear: — Which two country music icons can type and sell you a pair of cowboy boots. — The craziest online chat Thea can remember hosting (it involves beer and karate kicks). — The sad but true state of gender disparity in the music industry, supported by startling statistics. — Why Joan Jett and her band The Black Hearts induction into the Rock n Roll hall of fame in 2015 was a long time coming. Check out Joan Jett’s acceptance speech. — How sharing the stories of women in music and investing in the next generation of female music makers can empower each of us to make meaningful and las ..read more

Don’t let the sweet smile and upbeat outlook fool you. Throw Kendal Conrad to the wolves, and she’ll come back the leader of the pack. Kendal is country pop’s rising star who isn’t afraid to create her own opportunity in an industry full of closed doors and scary stories. In fact, she’s up for the challenge with her “I dare you” attitude and a killer cowboy boot collection.   Love what we're doing? Please click the "donate" button at https://backstagechats.com. In this episode, Kendal Conrad reveals: Why she hesitated to release her single “Leader of the Pack” How she wound up singing on ..read more