British folk singer Linda Thompson joins Simon and Brian to talk about the writing of her new solo album Won’t Be Long Now. Linda talks about songs like ‘Love’s for Babies and Fools’, ‘If I Were a Bluebird’ (written with Ron Sexsmith), ‘Paddy’s Lamentation’ and the maritime themes of songs like ‘Never Put to Sea Boys’ and ‘Never the Bride’. Linda describes what it’s like working with family members, especially her son Teddy Thompson, and the vocal condition that silenced her live performance career.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Buy Linda’s albums© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith discusses his approach to the art and craft of songwriting by detailing the processes behind songs like ‘Secret Heart’, ‘Speaking With The Angel’, ‘Gold in Them Hills’, ‘Brandy Alexander’, ‘Believe it When I See It’ and ‘Life After A Broken Heart’. Ron talks in depth about his love for artists like Bill Withers, his collaborations with people like Mitchell Froom, Bob Rock and Don Black, and his ongoing pursuit of ‘hit’ records.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
One of our Twitter followers, John Dunbar, tweeted us recently to let us know that the Sodajerker podcast is mentioned throughout Traveling Sprinkler, the new book from award-winning author Nicholson Baker. It was a thrill for us to discover that the show has become part of Baker’s work in this way.
In the book, Paul Chowder, the poet protagonist of Nicholson Baker’s widely acclaimed novel The Anthologist, turns away from poetry with one goal in mind: to learn songwriting. Written in Baker’s beautifully unconventional prose, Traveling Sprinkler is an enchanting and hilarious novel by one of the most beloved and influential writers today.
You can pick up a copy of the book on Amazon USA or Amazon UK.
Sodajerker On Songwriting made the list of Rahul Verma’s podcast picks in a recent issue of Metro. Thanks for the mention guys! If you haven’t heard the show, you can check out all episodes in full on our podcast page, or subscribe in iTunes.
Singer-songwriter Chip Taylor picks up his guitar to talk Simon and Brian through the writing of songs like ‘Wild Thing’ (The Troggs/Jimi Hendrix), ‘Angel of the Morning’ (Merrilee Rush/Dusty Springfield/Chrissie Hynde) and selections from his recent solo albums such as ‘F**k All The Perfect People’, ‘Dance With a Hole in Your Shoe’ and ‘Phoned in Dead’. Chip also talks in detail about the Brill Building days and his alternate career as a professional gambler.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Neil Finn of Split Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers and Pajama Club chats with Simon and Brian about his songwriting process and the writing of songs like ‘Fall At Your Feet’, ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’, ‘Weather With You’, ‘Four Seasons In One Day’, ‘Not The Girl You Think You Are’ and ‘Edible Flowers’. Neil also talks about his work on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and details the production of his forthcoming solo record.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Singer-songwriter Rumer talks with Sodajerker about her approach to writing songs like ‘Slow’, ‘Aretha’, ‘Come To Me High’, ‘Blackbird’ and others from her debut album Seasons Of My Soul. Rumer also talks in detail about how events in her life have influenced her creative work, paying respect to great songwriters on her second album, Boys Don’t Cry, and her plans for the future.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Download Rumer’s albums© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Songwriter and guitarist Johnny Marr, loved by pop fans worldwide for his work with The Smiths, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, joins Simon and Brian for a conversation about the writing processes behind his fantastic new solo album The Messenger. Johnny also talks in detail about his musical influences, growing up in Manchester, his songwriting partnership with Morrissey, and his collaborations with artists like Kirsty MacColl (‘Walking Down Madison’) and Billy Bragg (‘Sexuality’).
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
The Anfield Wrap is a hugely popular award-winning podcast, website and radio show based in Liverpool. They’ve just published the second issue of their lovely free iPad/iPhone magazine containing an interview with Simon and Brian of Sodajerker. In the article, entitled ‘Going for a Song’, the songwriting team and fellow Liverpool-based podcasters talk about the first year of their popular show Sodajerker On Songwriting, how they got started, and some of their prominent guests.
Thanks to John Gibbons for conducting the interview. Download the free app from iTunes and read the interview on your iPad or iPhone.
Influential New Orleans songwriter, producer, arranger and pianist Allen Toussaint sits down with Simon and Brian to discuss his long career including the writing of classic songs like ‘Mother in Law’ (Ernie K-Doe), ‘Whipped Cream’ (Herb Alpert), ‘Working in the Coal Mine’ (Lee Dorsey), ‘Here Come the Girls’ (Ernie K-Doe), ‘Southern Nights’ (Glen Campbell), ‘Happiness’ (The Pointer Sisters) and more. Allen talks in depth about his creative process and also gives advice for young songwriters.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants take an hour out of their busy tour schedule to talk with Simon and Brian about their new album Nanobots; their approach to songwriting; the Dial-A-Song service; writing music for children; their collaborations with production team Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley on songs like ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul’, and more.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Our interview with Richard M. Sherman has made the virtual pages of Songwriting Magazine, the brilliant and comprehensive UK based website dedicated to the art and craft. Thanks to the kind people at Songwriting for featuring our podcast and our interviews so prominently. You may remember that our Ben Folds Five interview also made the cut a few months ago.
Episode 40 of Sodajerker On Songwriting is due for release tomorrow and features an hour with the seminal alternative American band They Might Be Giants. So look out for that! In the meantime, head over to Songwriting to read the Richard M. Sherman piece in full.
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Episode 319 – Linda PerryJune 20, 2026
Episode 318 – Sean Ono LennonMay 31, 2026
Episode 317 – Matt JohnsonMay 14, 2026
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