"Are you open?", a common theme from Seth Walker's (@sethwalkermusic) latest album by the same title explores themes that can be uncomfortable for most. "No More Will I" doesn't stray from this concept. Mary Bragg (@marybragg) helps us discover what Seth communicates, feels, and how his song even challenges his own perspective. 

Suzie Brown (@suziebrownsongs) with husband Scot Sax find common ground with Renee Wahl (@reneewahl) and David Strayer in humor, Nashville, and music. Renee was quick that her confessional song is a different kind of love song, but one that we should be more open to talking about.

It's only fitting we get close to the end of this season to catch back up with Jenny Tolman (@jennytolman) and Dillon Carmichael (@dilloncmusic) after both have released their latest projects. Dillon was quick to notice that Jenny's, "My Welcome Mat", took bravery to write, but Jenny reminded us that she has studied some of the bravest songwriters of the 20th century. One of the many lessons she's learned and even amplified in her song is one of happiness and confidence. 

Songs can find you in hotel rooms, when you're on a journey of sobriety, and even thru the pain of life. Jason Eskridge (@jasoneskridge) guides us through the conversation on the overall theme of Mike's(@mikefarrismusic) homage to home.

Co-written by fellow collaborators Waylon Payne and William Clark Green, Ross Cooper's (@rossgcooper) song "I Can't Hate You" came what would be a memorable write. Erin O'Dowd(@erinejodowd) helps us understand about breaking the rules of songwriting for the sake of art, writing with an agenda in mind, and pulling lyrics from a close relationship that is potentially damaging, but at the same time. It feels so good.

Suzie Brown (@suziebrownsongs) with husband Scot Sax find common ground with Renee Wahl (@reneewahl) and David Strayer in humor, Nashville, and music. Renee takes us in the conversation of how relationships can intertwine an artists output. For the good and the bad, but most importantly. It's honest. Music is so personal to artists but what is it like when music parallels with your innermost relationships?

Dustin Ransom (@dustinransommusic) and singer/songwriter Molly Martin (@mollymartinsongs) takes us inside the mind of Molly in her autobiographical song, "Impulse Issues". Molly confirms that spaghetti is ok for breakfast, and also confirms that observations of loneliness and rawness are a theme within the conversation. Dustin also outlines that specifics bring us into the writers' world, but how not to muddy a song with the right details in the wrong places. 

Szlachetka (@szlachetkamusic) takes us to a destination with his song "Lifeboat". The power of songs, and a tune like this one, has a special magic to transport us to a sense of nostalgia. Tangible and intangible. Austin Plaine (@austinplaine) taps into just that but also the headspace outside the obvious of the song.

Ben Jarrell (@benjarrellbama) really helps us understand Mando Saenz's (@mandosaenz) writing process. This is an important conversation especially coming from a seasoned writer like Mando. We're reminded that characters are still an important part of the development of songs. Direct or indirect life events really sculpt the music in our lives. The parallel we're reminded of is that we're all still searching for something and we're left with hope being what's hopefully discovered.

"Unlimited Love" was written by Maggie Rose, Bob DiPiero, and Paul (@thepaulmcdonald).  Lydia (@lydialuce) helps us realize the amount of trust in a co-write situation and how that trust has to go both ways even when an icon is in the room. Love is the theme of this conversation. A simple but complex theme. Meaning, the multiple directions an idea can go, but Lydia and Paul help us remember that there are still new ways to deliver a timeless message. 

Paul (@thepaulmcdonald) joins Lydia (@lydialuce) in a conversation about "Azalea", the title track from her latest record. Life mimics art and it's no different in the process of character development. Even though Azalea is fictitious, Paul helps us discover the real-life circumstance that brought the characters to life and the battle of the self-consciousness. 

It's hard to express how one truly feels after the hurt of a past relationship. Especially when a word like "love" can be so flippant in music and life. Adam (@adamchaffins) takes us through the conversation with Jeremy (@jeremyblister) about the flow of a song, the challenge of something used a lot as a theme, and the real-life experience of sharing the tune.

Robby (@robbyhecht) and Charlotte (@icharlotteleigh) discover a lightness in what could be a possible dark moment in a relationship's aftermath. Hope, longing, and coming to terms are all a part of Robby's "Version Of Me". Words are everything to Robby but there is a dilemma of getting lost in details. Charlotte discovers a real gift with Robby that there are ways to write a song without all the details to make you feel where the characters are in the human experience.

A little song coming from a workshop actually became more than what Erin O'Dowd (@erinejodowd) even expected. Ross Cooper (@rossgcooper), fellow up and coming songwriter, share mutual feelings about the craft and even Erin's therapeutic song, "Songwriters Breakfast". A song full of easter eggs, Erin pulls from home town tributes, making your own way, and even inner isolation. The latter, Ross agrees is common in the craft of songwriting but is it necessary?  

Sam Bush (@sambushband), notable bluegrass legend, sits down with premier fiddle player Michael Cleveland (@mcflamekeeper) of Michael Cleveland and The Flamekeepers to talk about instrumental music.  Already mutually shared a love for the fiddle in episode 5, Sam and Michael share a little background into Black Mountain Rag tuning, the importance of the bow, and the "terrible" experience of naming tunes.

Deliverable lines, being honest with yourself and to your audience, and to be willing to write down your mistakes can be found here in Katie Cole's (@katiecoleofficial) song "Time On My Hands". Katie admits that vulnerability isn't a struggle to share but through song and conversation, Scott Mulvahill (@scottmulvahill) helps us discover how honesty can be a struggle to share. 

Some of the best people in your life may have been the ones that you didn't expect to find. For Paul McDonald and Emily Kinney, an unexpected setup and eventually music becoming part of the picture was all they needed to start The Sweetheart Deal (@thesweetheartdeal). Nicki Bluhm (@nickibluhm) sits down with the duo to figure them out. Just as one would do early in a relationship, and discovers the beauty behind the building blocks of partnerships while creating music. 

Seth Walker (@sethwalkermusic) and Mary Bragg (@marybragg) share the motive behind, "I Thought You Were Somebody Else" and how the original version was recorded. Seth and Mary find common ground in their influences and the calling of being a songwriter. But what Seth and Mary really uncover in this episode is are things as they seem, or actually, are we fooling ourselves what they seem to be?

Fellow songwriter Jeremy Lister (@jeremyblister) can really sympathize with Adam Chaffins (@adamchaffins) on the level of connectivity and breaking through the opportunities to share something so personal with the world. As we walk through the creation of "Who I Am", it isn't lost on Adam that there are few things that remain constant in life. A sense of longing, making peace with life's growing experiences, and the human connection with unconditional love. 

After walking 300 miles on foot one would think that they'd love a break, but for Jason (@jasoneskridge), it led to something much larger. Love in it's purest form and his song "Save The Day". Rock 'n' Roller and vocal heavyweight Mike Farris (@mikefarrismusic) quickly points out characterizing an emotion in Jason's song and the uniqueness of personifying that in a lyrical line. This episode looks at things such as pursuit, love, and looking beyond than what we're capable to do. 

Rob Baird (@robbairdmusic) now has the opportunity to flip the script from episode 2 to now tap into the meaning of Edan Archer's (@edanarcher) "Monkey On My Back". We quickly discover that, in a traditional and unconventional sense, the title can be misleading. As Edan lays out the message of the song everyone might have a monkey on their back.

Katie Cole (@katiecoleofficial) sits down with upright bass virtuoso Scott Mulvahill (@scottmulvahill) to talk about yearning, desires, and frustrations with his song, "Himalayas". Complacency, a theme quickly picked up by Katie, is well defined by Scott. Armed with an intensity to never settle for a complacent life, Scott walks us through his self produced and written song that is available on the same-titled record.  

Never have met before, instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter Dustin Ransom (@dustinransommusic) and singer/songwriter Molly Martin (@mollymartinsongs) found a quick love for ice breakers. Dustin's "Except You" comes from a heavy place being disguised as a light, piano ballad. Molly was able to discover themes of sobriety, cathartics, letting go, and living in the now. For Dustin, there's a generosity of interpretation that allows the listener to understand their own emotions where...

Ben Jarrell (@benjarrellbama) brought his unreleased song "California Coldwinds" to the studio to have a conversation with seasoned songwriter, Mando Saenz (mandosaenz). Ben quickly helps us understand that one of the most human things to do is to try to understand that person.   

Intense emotions from the subtlest moments describe Austin Plaine's  (@austinplaine) writing style, but we found a kindred spirit with Szlachetka (@szlachetkamusic) when we put these two in a room. "Something More" is full of windows and opportunities for Austin's guitar playing and unique sense of writing. So there's no doubt that these two songwriters open the discussion to bring Austin's double entendres and character development to light.