The Resistance
Episodes
Madi Diaz: Optimism as a choice
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Madi Diaz didn't set out to make her rawest record. She just stopped hiding. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter joins The Resistance to talk about...
Jospeh final (1)
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
At a moment of real transition, Natalie and Meegan Closner of the band Joseph talk about loss, resilience, and learning how to let something evolve wi...
Paloma Young on the cost of always being available
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Paloma Young is a Tony Award–winning costume designer whose work spans Broadway and London, including Peter and the Starcatcher, Natasha, Pierre...
Steven Tracey on the surprising echoes between roles and real life
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Actor Stephen Tracey (Invasion, Anne with an E) joins The Resistance to talk about finding flow in the work, the surprising echoes between his roles a...
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata on the creative power in all of us
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata talks about her new album Starlit Alchemy, the healing power of creativity, and how transformation o...
Suzanne Vega on the lifelong work of finding her voice
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From smash hits like "Luka" and "Tom’s Diner" to her new album Flying With Angels, Suzanne Vega reflects on journaling as survival and how, even...
Tony winner Lauren Patten on finding her story in the creative work
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tony-winning actress Lauren Patten (Jagged Little Pill, Death and Other Details) opens up about identity, perfectionism, and pushing past fear to expl...
Kathleen Edwards on quitting, returning, and rewriting Her Story
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrated songwriter Kathleen Edwards reflects on the career leaps that didn't happen, the unexpected joys she’s embraced, and the creative arm...
Dominic Lewis on the Work We Do vs. the Work We Want
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From his restless ambition to create to the challenge of finding balance, Dominic Lewis takes us inside the life of an in-demand composer whose work s...
Composer Raashi Kulkarni on creative focus and pioneering new paths
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before Raashi Kulkarni ever scored a feature film, before she ever composed music for well over 300 television episodes (including The Flash, Supergir...
Bel-Air co-creator Rasheed Newson on crafting the stories he could never find
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rasheed Newson, the co-creator of Bel-Air and writer for shows like The Chi, Narcos, and Lie to Me, opens up about the difficulties of finding a voice...
Amy Millan (Stars, Broken Social Scene) on motherhood, creative blocks, and a new solo LP
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a member of beloved bands Stars and Broken Social Scene, Amy Millan has spent decades shaping some of the most defining sounds in Canadian music. T...
Wild Rivers on staying artistically honest in the face of success
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Resistance, we sat down with two-thirds of the trio known as Wild Rivers to gain a rare inside look at their creative chemistry...
Andy Allo on the challenges of spinning myriad creative plates
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From her soulful music career as a member of Prince’s New Power Generation to her breakthrough acting role in the hit series Upload to her recen...
How Mai Der Vang turns uncertainty into poetry
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pulitzer finalist Mai Der Vang opens up about the courage it takes to be a poet, the discipline required to stay with uncertainty, and the weight of w...
Thrice's Dustin Kensrue holds a holistic view of his creative priorities
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we typically speak with artists about the idea of resistance, we discuss their creative endeavors, but Dustin Kensrue (Thrice) has a more holisti...
Composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (Hacks) on casting aside his creative crutches
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emmy and Grammy-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (Hacks, The Queen's Gambit) details the painful lessons required to get to a healthy space of be...
Author/screenwriter Ben Winters on the challenge of distraction
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the best-selling books and hit TV shows, author/screenwriter Ben Winters (CBS' hit show Tracker, The Last Policeman) says distraction and...
Poet/author Tina Cane on the importance of congruent creativity
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tina Cane's work as an activist and educator has kept her work as an author and poet (including a long stint as the former Poet Laureate of Rhode Isla...
Behind the open-handed creativity of Tony Dekker and Great Lake Swimmers
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tony Dekker has had the right posture from the beginning. Of course, it probably helped that he was never trying in the first place. The central figur...
Hip-hop pioneer Lyrics Born on changing long-term paths
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed artist and actor Lyrics Born speaks about finding a new identity beyond hip-hop, what he’s learned in 30 years as a recording artist, and ...
Joan Osborne reflects on the organic origins of her musical career
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Acclaimed songwriter Joan Osborne says the artist will never stop pushing against the Resistance, but the doubts that arise will take on different for...
Land of Talk's Lizzie Powell on spurned opportunities and protecting the work
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Land of Talk's Lizzie Powell talks about spurned opportunities, lessons learned to protect the work, and the upsides of being a slow burn of a band—...
Ben Nichols (Lucero) on creation and boot camp experiences
24 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lucero front man Ben Nichols talks about the acclaimed band's desire for boot camp experiences in the studio, the lessons learned over a quarter centu...
Director Ron Underwood on the importance of fear and what it signals
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Resistance, acclaimed TV/film director Ron Underwood joined us for a meaningful conversation about the importance of fear and w...
Tim Baker (Hey, Rosetta!) on the need for creative friction
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From his days fronting the indie rock band Hey, Rosetta! to his current run as a solo artist, Tim Baker's music has always had a way of connecting at ...
Author/poet Michael Kleber-Diggs on feeling the necessity of one's voice
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite an impressive and growing list of fellowships, awards, and prizes, author/poet Michael Kleber-Diggs opens up about the difficulties of sensiti...
The Clientele's Alasdair Maclean talks about the falsehood of creative foolishness
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Resistance, Alasdair MacLean chronicles his songwriting journey and the creative lessons learned, how The Clientele's most popu...
Johnnyswim (Abner Ramirez & Amanda Sudano) on the healing power of music
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Johnnyswim's infectious pop music has carried them from The Today Show to The Tonight Show, but the primary goal of their work has always been about c...
Jill Andrews learns to ask for what she really wants
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our discussion with singer-songwriter Jill Andrews takes a number of turns, from her ability to differentiate herself from her music to the subjects t...
Hanson emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With 3 Grammy wins, 16 million albums sold, and 30 years of experience, the members of Hanson have learned a thing or two about creativity and resista...
Filmmaker Colin West on learning to mine the mundane
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Life doesn't get in the way, so to speak, for Colin West. As an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, West has instead learned to embrace the mund...
Travis front man Fran Healy on the willingness to dig for songs
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After nine full-length albums, numerous global tours, multiple Brit Awards, and four Platinum releases, you'd think Fran Healy and his bandmates in Tr...
The Wood Brothers on the creative need for distraction
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In nearly 20 years as frontman of The Wood Brothers, Oliver Wood has built an incredible catalog of Grammy-nominated, genre-defying music. The key to ...
Acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice on facing death and taking risks
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As a teenager, acclaimed vocalist Liz Vice lived with a severe autoimmune disease that could have killed her. On this episode, Liz tells us about the ...
Broadway star Joshua Henry on listening to the right voices
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua Henry, fresh off his appearance in the film Tick, Tick...Boom!, is a three-time Tony nominee known for his work in Carousel, The Scottsboro Boy...
Villagers (Conor O'Brien) tries to avoid the "algorithm blues"
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Conor O'Brien is trying his best to avoid "the algorithm blues." As the songwriter and central figure in the Mercury Prize nominated band Village...
Screenwriter Tony Tost on his uncommon path toward a career in the arts
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Resistance, screenwriter Tony Tost (Longmire, Damnation, The Terror) describes the (lack of) mental issues with writing in...
Josh Radnor on creative lessons learned from a career in the arts
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Josh Radnor has found success on the screen and stage and, most recently, as a songwriter, but despite his experience and expansive platform, he still...
Acclaimed author Natashia Deón on self-care in a demanding world
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Natashia Deón wears many, many creative hats, including that of acclaimed author (for her celebrated novel, Grace). On this episode of The Resi...
Emile Mosseri (Minari, Kajillionaire) on the creative journey to becoming a composer
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri speaks about the devastating beauty of Minari, his journey to becoming a composer, and the tension of working t...
Duncan Sheik on grappling with artistic identity in the face of success
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From his multi-Tony Award musical Spring Awakening to penning hit singles like "Barely Breathing", Duncan Sheik has experienced considerable success o...
Mat Kearney on how he steers in the face of Resistance
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After 15 years in the music biz, Mat Kearney says the only healthy rudder when it comes to his work is whether or not he's personally interested. It's...
Saunder Jurriaans on the anxiety and adventure of stepping out on his own
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We speak with musician/composer Saunder Jurriaans (Ozark, American Gods) about the anxiety and adventure of stepping out into something new—the ...
Josh Kelley details his journey toward personal betterment
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest episode, singer-songwriter Josh Kelley details his journey toward personal betterment, a years-long battle against toxic voices of fear...
Poet and author Mahogany L. Browne shines as a creative lighthouse
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
To hear Mahogany L. Browne's story is to not only understand more about the substantive work of an acclaimed artist but also to unearth something deep...
The Naked & Famous face the Resistance and find Recover(y)
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're not sure how Alisa Xayalith or Thom Powers crafted something so meaningfully synthetic, but their new album is a heartening, even healing listen...
William Fitzsimmons reflects on the shaping power of fear and friction
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There's no way to make this more palatable: friction is essential to creativity. This episode of The Resistance features an honest conversation with a...
Brooke Waggoner on the discernment required for risk and rest
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Resistance features an honest conversation with acclaimed musician Brooke Waggoner about the tension of when to stop and start, wh...
Singer-songwriter Mindy Smith on criticism and the Resistance
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fortitude and fragility are strange bedfellows, but singer-songwriter Mindy Smith says both are essential to her craft as a songwriter. It's a mix we ...
Award-winning poet Li-Young Lee on the need to face Resistance
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our conversation with award-winning poet Li-Young Lee opened our eyes to new layers of Resistance—a fearful proposition—even as we were al...
Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton on the boundaries needed for his positive, creative energy
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As one half of renowned electronic duo Thievery Corporation, Eric Hilton (along with his musical partner Rob Garza) is responsible for a massive catal...
Singer-songwriter Sarah Siskind on her struggles with time management and solitude
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Siskind's vulnerability as a songwriter is also what makes for such meaningful conversation. As a parent, she struggles to manage family and car...
Singer-songwriter Rosi Golan on the fears that loom larger than ever
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Despite Rosi Golan's 12 years in the music industry, the Israeli-born singer-songwriter says some fears loom larger than ever before. From the vulnera...
John Mark McMillan details a 10-year descent into doubt and confusion
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can you give away what you've lost? On this episode, singer-songwriter John Mark McMillan details the Resistance he faced during a 10-year descent...
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown discusses reward versus resistance
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown is one about reward and resistance. It asks tough questions about how far the burning ...
Zach Williams (The Lone Bellow) fights the pressure to please others
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Zach Williams is worried about what you will think of him. Aren't most of us? The latest episode of The Resistance is all about this tension and how i...
Alex Ebert discusses the steep cost of following his own creative interests
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For the last two-plus decades, Alex Ebert has stayed the creative course, a prime example of an artist who does what he feels. That might sound like a...
Pandemics and the challenge of being present
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the midst of a global pandemic and being quarantined with our own makeshift home studios, we thought it appropriate to process this greater reality...
Sierra Hull faces real Resistance despite such early successes
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What role does Resistance play for an artist who has achieved so much so early? To hear Sierra Hull tell her story, she's experienced as much Resistan...
Film composer Nathan Johnson (Knives Out) on his creative sandbox approach
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Film composer Nathan Johnson (Knives Out, Looper, Kill the Messenger) says he's always ready to jump. As a lover of creative challenge, Nathan says th...
The Resistance: A Reintroduction
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After a several month break, The Resistance is back with some exciting changes to announce! Listen in to hear more about the program going forward and...
Grammy-winning bluesman Fantastic Negrito shares his dramatic victories over resistance
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It was immediately clear that Fantastic Negrito would close our first season of The Resistance once we began our conversation. Here was a man speaking...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Glen Phillips (Bonus)
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time w...
Glen Phillips, solo artist and Toad the Wet Sprocket vocalist, reflects on a career filled with resistance.
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's taken some time for Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) to realize the ebb and flow of popularity and the shifting sands of the music indu...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Drew Holcomb (Bonus)
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time w...
The drive of Drew Holcomb to offer something beautiful to the world
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Resistance, Drew Holcomb explains the posture needed to consistently create and how he's learned to protect the initial im...
Rules for Artists: Dave Monks of Tokyo Police Club lays out lessons learned
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we have a special bonus episode that deviates from our typical interview format. Last week, Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks sat down ...
Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks on the tension of creative permission
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Even after a decade fronting one of Toronto's most successful bands in Tokyo Police Club and previous solo releases, Dave Monks still wrestles with a ...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Sarah Jaffe (Bonus)
12 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time w...
Indie pop artist Sarah Jaffe makes up her own creative rules
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our conversation with pop artist Sarah Jaffe speaks directly to the shadow side of comparison and how destructive it can be if we let it rule our...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Denison Witmer (Bonus)
06 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time w...
Singer-songwriter Denison Witmer on sacrificing his art for a greater cause
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's been six years since we've heard from Denison Witmer. In that time, he's settled into normal life of work and play, friends and family. He's nurt...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Lowland Hum (Bonus)
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Matt Conner, host of The Resistance, and Jay Kirkpatrick, audio engineer, as they reflect on the most recent guest conversation—this time w...
Indie folk duo Lowland Hum defies doubts with acts of creative courage
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you felt like an imposter—at your craft, at your vocation, at parenting? What if the moment you felt those feelings most ...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Theodore Shapiro (Bonus)
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with Theodore Shapiro, film composer for over 70 moti...
Film composer Theodore Shapiro on balancing ego and contentment
16 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Film composer Theodore Shapiro has scored over 70 films, from The Wolf of Wall Street to The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me to Ghostb...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Lynn Renee Maxcy (Bonus)
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with Lynn Renee Maxcy, writer for the HULU hit series ...
The Handmaid's Tale writer Lynn Renee Maxcy on success and resistance
09 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Resistance, Lynn Renee Maxcy will frustrate those of you who want to hear that all the self-doubt subsides after you’ve &...
Reflecting on the Resistance: Stephen Kellogg (Bonus)
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our weekly bonus episode where we reflect on our main interview of the week—this time with singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg—and discuss o...
Singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg on fighting to find your voice
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode with Stephen Kellogg not only features honest insights from one of the best (and most underrated) singer-songwriters in music today. His ...
Introducing The Resistance
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance." -Steven Pressfield, The War of A...