Best Cousins Williams Productions Podcasts (2025)

1
Should I: Talk to My Cousin About Theology? 32:39

1d ago32:39

32:39

Bailey—an ordained minister in a progressive church—recently got married. But their conservative Christian cousin didn’t attend the wedding, citing his opposition to queer marriage. Until now, they’ve had a good relationship, and Bailey knows a conversation needs to happen. The question is: should theology be part of it? This week, Mauricio and Bai…

1
Bonus: Interview with Andor's Tony Gilroy And Beau Willimon at ATX TV Festival 20:26

1d ago20:26

20:26

In early June, Lorin had the privilege to sit with the showrunner and head writer of Disney+'s Andor. Screenwriter Tony Gilroy and House of Cards creator Beau Willimon discussed the journey to craft Star Wars for grown-ups.

1
Indigo Girls: Activism Through Fashion and Community Through Food (REISSUE), ep. 317 57:13

6h ago57:13

57:13

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the past several weeks, Basic Folk has been digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. This is our last Reissue for now, so please enjoy! This episode featuring separate interviews with The Indi…

1
Should I: Change my Relationship to Making Music? 34:32

8d ago34:32

34:32

Sophie has been a songwriter ever since she was 12 years old. She put out her first album when she was 16 years old. But as she's gotten older, she's been recording less and feeling more uncomfortable with the label 'musician.' She has such a mix of feelings connected to making music – joy, embarrassment, disappointment. It's all led to the questio…

1
Joy Oladokun Writes Worship Music for Youth Group Rejects (REISSUE), ep. 316 51:18

7d ago51:18

51:18

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the past several weeks, Basic Folk has been digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. Enjoy! This episode featuring Lizzie No interviewing Joy Oladokun, was originally posted on February 24, 20…

1
Emmy Nominations Preview 37:16

11d ago37:16

37:16

This year's Emmys are rapidly approaching, with the nominations due to be announced next month. This week, the duo discusses their frontrunners for the coveted spots in the Drama, Comedy, and Limited Series categories. Elsewhere, Brandon mourns his Indiana Pacers, and we collectively drag Madea.

1
Watchhouse in Conversation with Jacob Sharp (Mipso) (Bonus) 45:55

9d ago45:55

45:55

(Editor's Note: Oh, WOW! A bonus, surprise episode with Watchhouse? Yes! And it is a treat. We are pleased to have Jacob Sharp of Mipso as our guest host in conversation with his friends Andrew Marlin and Emily Franz of Watchhouse, talking about their new studio album, 'Rituals.' The record was co-produced with Ryan Gustafson of The Dead Tongues. T…

1
The Practice of Re-Enchantment (with Brooke Williams) 23:00

15d ago23:00

23:00

Today we’re breaking our normal format to speak with Brooke Williams, the author of Encountering Dragonfly: Notes on the Practice of Re-Enchantment. Mauricio and Brooke discuss the Jungian concept of ‘synchronicity’, the practice of active imagination, and the power of attention. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | …

1
Chris Thile: Calvin and Hobbes, Classical Music, and Curiosity (REISSUE), ep. 315 1:21:20

16d ago1:21:20

1:21:20

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. Enjoy! This episode featuring Cindy Howes interviewing Chris Thile was originally posted on September 9, 2021 aft…

1
Should I: Get a Preventative Mastectomy? 29:18

22d ago29:18

29:18

Elyse's mom died of breast cancer a few years ago. Recently, she's tested positive for the same cancer-causing gene that her mom had. That puts her at high risk of getting breast cancer too. There are two paths forward: she can rigorously test and monitor her health, or she can get a preventative mastectomy. This week, Mauricio and Elyse explore ou…

1
Dar Williams: Music was Decided for Me (REISSUE), ep. 314 1:03:07

26d ago1:03:07

1:03:07

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. This episode featuring Lizzie No interviewing Dar Williams originally posted on October 14, 2021. Enjoy!) Dar Williams…

1
The Last Showgirl; Mickey 17 29:40

25d ago29:40

29:40

This week: reviews of The Last Showgirl and Mickey 17 with discussions in the news including the NBA Finals, the French Open, and the ATX TV Festival.

1
Should I: Stop Doing People Favors? 36:22

29d ago36:22

36:22

Jolie Doggett struggles with boundaries. She's a classic 'yes' person – when someone asks her to jump, she says "how high?" She knows this about herself and she wants to change it. But how do you change something like that? Should she just go cold turkey? Spend a month telling everyone 'no'? This week, Mauricio and Jolie explore why we sometimes pr…

1
John Hiatt is Actually Not Scared to Talk about His Feelings (REISSUE), ep. 313 51:06

1M ago51:06

51:06

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. Enjoy!) This episode featuring Cindy Howes interviewing John Hiatt originally posted on August 5, 2021. In 2021, …

1
Should I: Let My Parents Buy Me a Flat? 36:55

1M ago36:55

36:55

Stefanie and her parents have never quite seen eye-to-eye about the best way to live. Stefanie has sought passion and spontaneity. Stefanie's parents would much prefer she choose a life of stability and family. Now, Stefanie's parents have offered to buy her an apartment. But what would it mean for her to accept it? Would it feel like a concession …

1
Anaïs Mitchell: 2019 Pre-Broadway interview on Hadestown, Lamb Rearing, and Untangling Third Wave Feminism (REISSUE), ep. 312 51:22

1M ago51:22

51:22

(Editor’s Note: Welcome to our Reissue series! For the next several weeks, Basic Folk is digging back into the archives and reposting some of our favorite episodes alongside new introductions commenting on what it’s like to listen back. Enjoy!) Listening back, I feel like this 2018 interview with Anaïs Mitchell holds up. Originally published on Jan…

1
The Last Of Us S2 finale 48:53

1M ago48:53

48:53

This week, Brandon & Lorin break down the season two finale of HBO's The Last of Us. Following the universal praise for its first entry, the second may have been as divisive as the second game. Elsewhere, we discuss headlines from TV upfronts.

1
Should I: Care Less About Work? 23:30

1M ago23:30

23:30

Theodora is starting law school in the fall and she's nervous about the workload and intensity. She's a hard worker and she's worried that she'll get totally wrapped up in school and won't be able to slow down and attend to the other things in her life. Does she need to change her relationship to work before it all starts? This week, Mauricio and T…

1
Morgan Toney on Circles, Elders, and Phil Collins, ep. 311 1:00:58

2M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Circles have played a huge role in fiddler and singer Morgan Toney's life thus far: from drum circles, to talking circles, to the Earth itself (a circle!). In our Basic Folk conversation, Morgan talks about his L'nu (also known as Mi'kmaq) heritage and growing up on what's now called Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where his ancestors have lived since ti…

1
Should I: Quit Keeping Kosher? 25:24

2M ago25:24

25:24

Gillian doesn't eat pork and doesn't eat shellfish. It's her version of keeping kosher and she's been doing it for the past decade. Recently, however, she realized that she doesn't really know why she's doing it anymore. Is it still a meaningful practice in her life? Or is it something it's time to set aside? This week, Mauricio and Gillian reflect…

1
Kris Delmhorst: Inching Forward through Sleepless Nights, ep. 310 52:20

2M ago52:20

52:20

Kris Delmhorst is not a good sleeper. The Western Massachusetts songwriter is usually awake from 2 or 3 am to about 4 or 5am. Sometimes it feels nice and floaty, but other times she is wide awake worrying about anything her brain can get a hold of. This is similar to a feeling with which she ended her tenth record, 'Ghosts in the Garden,' with the …

1
Sinners Make Hollywood Great Again 33:37

2M ago33:37

33:37

This week we're all about the movies as Brandon & Lorin discuss y'all's president's plan to save Hollywood with tarifs. In addition to tariff talk, we circumvent anticipated films of the year, what's happening at Cannes and review Coogler's Sinners, Marvel's Thunderbolts*, and the crime heist classic, Heat.…

1
Should You: Get a Divorce? 37:20

2M ago37:20

37:20

This week we have a special episode on the topic of divorce. Vanessa calls her friend, couples and family therapist Colette Potts, to discuss common issues for couples, infidelity, and the practicalities of divorce. Next week, we're back to our regular format with Mauricio! The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find us at our website | Follow…

1
Sara Watkins on I'm With Her's Witchy AF New Record, ep. 309 54:09

2M ago54:09

54:09

Sara Watkins joins Basic Folk to talk about 'Wild and Clear and Blue,' the new album from I'm With Her, her band with Sarah Jarosz and Aoife O'Donovan. The new LP was inspired by looking back on your life in order to move forward, with a very witchy manner of speaking that encompasses the ancient, mysterious, and spiritual. Sara shares insights int…

1
Should I: Remain Childless? 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

There's certainly been a theme with our submissions lately! Just like our guest from Should I: Have a Child?, Emily feels pulled in two directions about having kids. She can imagine a very full life for herself either way. As she nears the end of of her biological opportunity for kids – is she ready to shut the door on that possibility? This week, …

1
Mary Gauthier & Jaimee Harris on THE Three Shoes, Alchemy and Weeding out Baddies, ep. 308 57:54

2M ago57:54

57:54

Mary Gauthier and Jaimee Harris talk to Lizzie and Cindy for Basic Folk on-board the Cayamo cruise in front of a live audience. We get down to business in addressing NICE things by asking Mary what kind of shoes she's wearing – as she has a reputation for enjoying the good stuff, especially on her feet. After that, we asked and Jaimee Harris enthus…

1
The Last of Us; Andor; The Order 42:54

2M ago42:54

42:54

Brandon & Lorin digest the first two episodes of HBO's The Last of Us. The critically acclaimed second season finds Joel and Ellie at a crossroads just as a new threat rises. Later, the two review Justin Kurzel's The Order starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, and Lorin speaks briefly on Andor season two.…

1
Should I: Expand My Business? 30:02

2M ago30:02

30:02

Brandon runs a successful restaurant group with his husband. Things are stressful, it’s a lot to manage, and they just got a great offer to open another restaurant in a hip part of town. Brandon is seriously tempted, but he’s also suspicious of his own temptation. Does he want to expand for the right reasons? This week, Mauricio and Brandon explore…

1
Susan Werner on Defining Hard Work, Paid Vacations, and Relaxing as Indie Musician, ep. 307 46:29

3M ago46:29

46:29

The dynamic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Susan Werner talks to us onboard the Cayamo cruise, which she describes as a "paid vacation." Reflecting on her upbringing on a working farm, Susan discusses the hard work that shaped her, but also how she’s learning to embrace rest and relaxation. With humor and insight, she navigates the balance be…

1
Should I: Invite My Dad to My Wedding? 36:15

3M ago36:15

36:15

Natalie has been ‘low-contact’ with her dad for a while now – she doesn't reach out or put any effort into the relationship, but hasn't totally cut him out of her life. Her upcoming wedding is putting some pressure on that resolution. If she does invite him, and he makes a scene or disappoints her, it will hugely impact the joy of the day. But if s…

1
Jon Muq: Uganda, Cruise Ship Food and His Googly-Eyed Guitar, ep. 306 34:55

3M ago34:55

34:55

Originally from the village of Mutungo, Uganda (near the country's capital of Kampala), Jon Muq's journey to his current life of touring with an Austin, Texas home-base has been unconventional. Onboard the Cayamo cruise earlier this year, we talked to Jon about his childhood experiences, including fetching water with friends and "We Are the World,"…

1
Q1 Review/Q2 Preview 51:40

3M ago51:40

51:40

This week, Brandon & Lorin wrap with our Q1 Review, discussing our favorite TV and film titles of the last three months. We also look ahead to our anticipated titles through April, May, and June.

1
Should I: Change The Way I Talk About My Health? 38:29

3M ago38:29

38:29

In the course of Sarah’s life, she often finds that she has to talk about her migraines. But the reactions she gets from people are frustrating and sometimes really hurtful. Can she take another approach to these conversations? This week, Mauricio and Sarah discuss the large and small ways that chronic illness interrupt life. The Real Question is a…

1
Ani DiFranco & Carsie Blanton: Menopause, The Wild Child, and Naps to fight Capitalism, ep. 305 43:44

3M ago43:44

43:44

Basic Folk is making trouble at sea with Ani DiFranco and Carsie Blanton! Hosts Lizzie and Cindy had the opportunity to speak with the two like-minded radical songwriters aboard the 2025 edition of Cayamo, a roots music cruise. Our conversation kicks off with Ani sharing her transformative experience performing as Persephone in the Broadway show 'H…

1
Should I: Have a Child? 31:53

3M ago31:53

31:53

Our guest this week has always wanted to have a kid. He’s also aware that having a kid will totally transform his life! Is he willing to give up parts of his life to make room for a baby? This week, Mauricio and our guest explore how to make space for aspects of our identity that sometimes compete. The Real Question is a Not Sorry Production Find u…

1
Loudon Wainwright III: Oversharing, Family Ties, and Musical Legacy, ep. 304 46:20

3M ago46:20

46:20

The legendary Loudon Wainwright III, whose career has spanned over five decades, is known for his deeply personal songwriting and sharp wit – and oversharing. The patriarch of the Wainwright folk dynasty (which includes Rufus, Martha, their late mother Kate McGarrigle, as well as Lucy and her mother Suzzy Roche), Loudon reflects on the balance betw…

1
Anora; Sing Sing; Queer 39:26

3M ago39:26

39:26

Brandon & Lorin discuss the year's Best Picture Winner, Anora. Starring Mikey Madison, the film follows a young sex worker's whirlwind romance with a wealthy stranger. Is the praise and acclaim deserved? Elsewhere they review Sing Sing and Queer.

1
Should I: Quit Being an Atheist? 29:39

3M ago29:39

29:39

About five years ago, River left Christianity. He felt constrained and needed space to explore and ask questions. Recently, he has been thinking about a return – but can he bring everything he learned on the outside back in? Or would he have to hide the new parts of himself to belong again? This week, Mauricio and River discuss the joys and drawbac…

1
Olivia Ellen Lloyd: West Virginia to Brooklyn, Finding Ground in Water, ep. 303 1:01:14

3M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

Olivia Ellen Lloyd's latest album, 'Do It Myself,' sees the West Virginia-born Brooklyn-based songwriter reflecting on the powerful imagery of water. She shares how it has been a source of grounding and calmness in her life, from childhood memories spent on the Potomac River to her current love for the ocean, these elements have shaped her artistic…

1
Should I: Continue to Travel to See Family? 25:42

4M ago25:42

25:42

Meghan lives with her partner and daughter in Costa Rica, far away from the rest of their family. They travel frequently to see their family, but it always feels like a huge effort to do so. Should they quit traveling so much? Or would that deprive themselves and their daughter of necessary family time? This week, Mauricio and Meghan discuss the du…

1
Bonnie "Prince" Billy On Making Nashville Musical Magic, ep. 302 1:04:32

4M ago1:04:32

1:04:32

Will Oldham, also known as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, has led an illustrious, sometimes mysterious career which has spanned decades and genres. Hailing from and still living in Louisville, KY, in our Basic Folk conversation Will reflects on his journey from a young artist struggling to find his place in the music world to a seasoned musician who embrac…

1
Marvel's Daredevil Born Again; Severance S2 38:12

4M ago38:12

38:12

Brandon & Lorin return to the TV world with Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again. A decade after Marvel and Netflix released the groundbreaking series, we return to Hell's Kitchen for a new 9-episode season. Elsewhere we recap Apple TV+'s Severance ahead of the season two finale.

1
Should I: Quit My Bookclub? 29:51

4M ago29:51

29:51

Elizabeth Rowe's bookclub reading has started to feel like homework. She loves to read, but after a long day of work she wants romance and adventure and fantasy. Her bookclub, on the other hand, wants Tolstoy. Should she leave the club? This week on the show Mauricio and Elizabeth discuss the importance of community space. Elizabeth Rowe is a leade…

1
Rose Cousins & Edie Carey: Bast Friendship, Music, and the Art of Spatula-ing Life, ep. 301 1:25:31

4M ago1:25:31

1:25:31

Rose Cousins and Edie Carey's friendship has blossomed for over two decades. On the occasion of Rose releasing her new album, 'Conditions of Love - Vol 1,' the pair appear on Basic Folk to discuss the new music. They reflect on their early days and their first meeting as well as the ways they’ve influenced each other's careers and personal growth. …

1
Should I: Start Charging for My Work? 28:29

4M ago28:29

28:29

Ray is graduating with a Masters of Divinity this year but they know they don't want to pursue a traditional path towards ordination. They do want to continue providing spiritual care and counseling to their community. But should they be charging for that work? Shouldn't care be accessible to people who need it, without being a financial burden? On…

1
Sierra Hull: Mandolin Magic and Small Town Roots, ep. 300 1:06:40

4M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

When mandolinist Sierra Hull was little, her dad told her she was really good "for a ten year old." The older Hull knew Sierra had a fiery passion for the instrument and he knew exactly how to motivate his daughter. He went on to say that if she wanted to go to jams and porch-play for the rest of her life, she'd learned enough. He gave her realisti…

1
2025 Oscars Recap 29:46

4M ago29:46

29:46

Brandon and Lorin recap the 97th Academy Awards. The Oscars aired on Sunday, March 2 on ABC with host Conan O'Brien. The annual ceremony marks the end of the current awards season.

1
Basic Folk Presents: Folk Files: Shady Grove 25:27

4M ago25:27

25:27

Editor’s note: Basic Folk is pleased to introduce our listeners to one of our favorite podcasts by sharing an episode in our feed! Folk Files is a podcast hosted by Olivia Harding that seeks to uncover the mysteries of folk music through the ages and dive deep into the tangled history of murder ballads, sea shanties, rebel songs, and other music th…

1
Should I: Have a Life Partner? 33:20

4M ago33:20

33:20

Anna knows she wants to be a parent and she doesn't want to do it alone, but she's never particularly wanted a life partner. Should she reconsider that position for the sake of raising a child? On today's episode, Anna and Mauricio explore Anna's relationship to partnership and uncover some of the deeper anxieties at play for her. The Real Question…

1
Gary Louris talks to Mark Erelli on Songwriting, Late in Life Love, and Technology, ep. 299 1:01:02

4M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

You probably know Gary Louris as the leader of The Jayhawks – or as they refer to themselves, “a band from Minnesota.” The Jayhawks are pioneers of roots rock, alt-country, and Americana. Whatever you wanna call it, they’ve been making records where rock, pop, country, and other forms of American roots music overlap since the mid-1980s. But Louris’…

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