The Third Story: Recent Episodes
Leo Sidran
There are stories we tell ourselves. There are stories we tell our friends. There are the stories we tell strangers. There are stories we never tell.Somewhere, in the middle of all of this, is the Third Story. The intersection between the art and the craft, the living and the living, the personal and the professional…The place where all of these meet is the Third Story.The Third Story podcast features long-form interviews with musicians and members of the creative class, hosted by Leo Sidran. Their stories of discovery, loss, ambition, identity, improvisation, risk, and reward are deeply moving and compelling for all of us as we embark on our own creative journeys.Check out the rest of our line up at WBGO Studios.
Ben Wikler, author of This Is the Plan, talks to Leo Sidran about humor, organizing, civic life, and the Wisconsin values that shaped his approach to democracy. A thoughtful discussion of community, political communication, and why, as Wikler says, "democracy is exhausting until you discover solidarity."
Before The Irish Goodbye became one of the most acclaimed debut novels of 2025, Heather Aimee O'Neill spent years quietly writing it while building a career helping other writers tell their stories. Here she discusses the vulnerability of ambition, the challenge of living an authentic life, and the strange transition from observer to protagonist.
Saxophonist and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin has become one of the most dynamic voices in jazz. In this wide ranging conversation with Leo Sidran she recalls some of her early professional experiences, and how the mentors, heroes, setbacks and aspirations that shaped her journey continue to inform her new album, We Dream.
To mark what would have been Miles Davis's 100th birthday, The Third Story with Leo Sidran revisits a rare 1986 conversation between Miles and Ben Sidran, recorded on the terrace of Miles’s Malibu home.
After nearly three decades of resisting fixed categories, Julieta is returning to the place where that sensibility began. This year she releases Norteña, an album that turns back toward the border city where all of that started. She describes it as a tribute to the feeling of growing up on the border.
Dida Pelled talks to Leo Sidran about her latest album I Wish You Would, her approach to tradition, identity, finding a personal voice across genres, discovering the truth about her sexuality, her singing, and the six strings she loves so much.
Leo Sidran in conversation with Emily Cavanaugh. Emily is the founder of Song For You, a nonprofit organization bringing personalized songs to patients, loved ones, and frontline workers during times of crisis.
Part personal story, part philosophical inquiry, and part behind-the-scenes look at how creative work actually gets made, Leo Sidran chronicles the process of preparing a gig with his father.
"The Sporkful" podcast host Dan Pashman is the next guest on Leo Sidran's "The Third Story"
On this episode of The Third Story, host Leo Sidran has a story about Madrid’s Cafe Central
British singer-songwriter dodie has spent half her life in public. Long before algorithms and engagement metrics ruled the day, she began posting homemade songs and videos on YouTube as a teenager from Essex. Her soft voice, self-effacing humor, and unfiltered honesty drew millions of viewers who watched her grow up online—sharing heartbreaks, mental-health struggles, and moments of joy in real time.
On the latest episode of The Third Story, host Leo Sidran chats with film editor, producer, writer, and director Mary Sweeney
On this episode of The Third Story, host Leo Sidran has conversations with Aaron Parks and Marta Sanchez
On this episode of The Third Story, host Leo Sidran chats with Samora Pinderhughes and Jack DeBoe
On this episode of The Third Story, host Leo Sidran chats with photographer Allan Tannenbaum
On this episode of The Third Story, the joy, community and resilience of Lucy Kalantari
On the next edition of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran profiles singer-songwriter Jesse Harris
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with Ella Rae Feingold, guitar player, composer, orchestrator, educator and content creator.
Host Leo Sidran talks with singer-songwriter Paula Cole talk about her life and career.
Host Leo Sidran talks with his father, Ben Sidran, about his latest album ‘Rainmaker’ and his belief in the power of humor.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with Shabaka about his creative development and philosophy, as well as about his new record.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with singer-songwriter Jose James about his professional and personal journey.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with the members of the vocal group säje about their formation and journey.
Host Leo Sidran reflects on 10 years of his The Third Story podcast and converses with his first guest Will Lee and wife Amanda Sidran about the journey.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, trumpeter Keyon Harrold talks with host Leo Sidran about his latest album ‘Foreverland’ and reflects on his own career.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, singer-songwriter Lau Noah talks with host Leo Sidran about her new album "A Dos" and her journey out of Spain.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco guitarist about how she sees her work today, her early career, avoiding being labeled or boxed in, her idea of success, raising children in an era of performative identity, and other topics.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast. host Leo Sidran talks with guitarist brad allen williams about the relationship between suffering and art, connecting the threads of noise rock and bebop, specialization vs broad knowledge, the value of vulnerability in music.
In this episode of ‘The Third Story’ podcast, host Leo Sidra talks with Pete Min of Colorfield Records about his early development on the East Coast, how moving to Los Angeles gave him the space to reinvent himself musically, and what it means to make art music.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence about the overnight success that was a decade in the making, running their band like a business and more.
Host Leo Sidran talks with pianist Joey Alexander about his remarkable journey out of Bali and onto the bandstand and about his new album ‘Continuance.’
Leo Sidran, host of The Third Story podcast, talks with bassist and composer Todd Sickafoose about his multi-faceted career.
Host Leo Sidran talks with physicist, writer and social entrepreneur Alan Lightman in this episode of The Third Story podcast.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with drummer Gregory Hutchinson about music of the past, and present.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with drummer John ‘J.R.’ Robinson about his career in music.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with writer Jake Lamar about growing up in the Bronx, his lifelong love affair with writing, moving to France in the 90s, his career as a novelist, playwright, and cultural critic in Paris, and his new book.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with musician and author Warren Zanes about his latest book that explores Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Nebraska’ album.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with singer-songwriter Prateek Kuhad about his dramatic rise in popularity in India.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, for the fifth consecutive year, Leo Sidran interviews his father, musician Ben Sidran on his birthday, his 80th this year. . This episode features reflections and anecdotes by his friends and colleagues from throughout his career.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with singer, songwriter and pianist Laila Biali about her career and her new album ‘Your Requests.’
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, Leo Sidran talks with musicians at the 2023 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Leo Sidran spoke with harpist Brandee Younger about her new album, 'Brand New Life,' her journey from orchestra girl to emerging icon andthe challenges of playing the harp in a contemporary context.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with singer-songwriter Theo Katzman about his creative process.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, Leo Sidran talks with saxophonist Ben Wendel about performing at the Village Vanguard, his desire to connect and to belong, his ongoing negotiation with technology, and more.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, Leo Sidran talks with noted songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman about processing grief and loss through music and about the craft of songwriting.
Pianist and composer Vijay Iyer talks with host Leo Sidran about how he developed his musical identity alongside an academic career as a scientist, creating work for an uncertain future and how to make music matter.
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran talks with Christian McBride about his New Jawn
In this episode of The Third Story podcast, jazz vocal sensation Samara Joy talks with Leo Sidran about her sudden rise in popularity and acclaim.
This week on The Third Story podcast, host Leo Sidran turns the tables on himself and shares the stories and the creative process behind his new record What’s Trending.
Saxophonist Braxton Cook talks with Leo Sidran about his evolution from soloist to singer, sideman to leader, and child to parent.
Leo Sidran talks with steel drum virtuoso Andy Narell about his own personal story and also the story of the steel pan itself and its roots in Trinidad.
Leo Sidran talks with former Spotify executive Will Page about music, content and the internet.
Leo Sidran talks with Rachael Price and Vilray about their mutual love of the Great American Songbook and their musical collaboration
Leo Sidran revisits several of his favorite segments for The Art of the Story with WBGO News featuring select conversations and profiles
Conversations with Bill McHenry, Didi Gutman, John Dryden, Dan Tepfer, Jamie Breiwick, and Randy Ingram with Aubrey Johnson, collected around the world this year.
Larry Goldings talks with Leo Sidran about his early development and influences, his ongoing relationship with Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart, working with John Scofield, James Taylor and others, telling jokes on the bandstand, and more.
Leo Sidran talks with drummer Antonio Sanchez about the making of his Shift: Bad Hombre, Vol. 2 album
Leo Sidran talks with trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf about his childhood in France, developing his sound and concept, and much more
Leo Sidran interviews songwriter Jorge Drexler about his more than 30-year career composing and performing Spanish language songs
A conversation with one of the most acclaimed and influential producers of the modern era, Daniel Lanois, who helmed iconic albums for everyone from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to U2 and Peter Gabriel.
Peter Straub was the best-selling author of novels, short stories, novellas and essays. He passed away earlier this month at the age of 79.
Long before singer Cyrille Aimee spent any time on the road she was already a citizen of the world. She grew up in a small French town, Samois-sur-Seine, but says that she never felt fully French. She never felt fully any one thing. Her mother is Dominican, her father is French, and she says that “when you’re a mixed culture, you’re kind of your own thing.”
Creed Taylor was an inspiration to generations of music lovers. He was behind some of the greatest records ever made. He passed away earlier this week at the age of 93.
Earlier this month Stephen Colbert made an announcement about his band. Jon Batiste would be leaving and Louis Cato would be the new musical director.
We spoke recently about the healing power of music; what attracted him to music as a boy; his creative and professional development; and the moment in 1996 when MMW discovered their jam band audience.
On The Third Story, Israeli singer and producer Noga Erez talks about the fallacy of authenticity, the way personal stories can be seen as political, and what it means to make music with your heart instead of your head.
Pianist Emmet Cohen joins Leo Sidran on The Third Story to talk about balancing tradition and modernity, his community in Harlem, and the lessons imparted from his mentors.
Leo Sidran had attended the Montreal International Jazz Festival before as an artist. This time, he went to cover the fest for WBGO and The Third Story, diving into the deep end (and coming up with some treasure).
In this episode of The Third Story, guitarist Julian Lage talks with Leo Sidran about his relationship with the guitar, the path forward for a prodigy, and how music should feel like a conversation.
In this episode of The Third Story, recorded at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London, Stacey Kent opens up about why she’s a fatalist; her escape from New Jersey, and from the bounds of category; and her latest release, Songs From Other Places.
In a conversation from 2019, Donald Fagen reveals a lot of things, including his conviction that Steely Dan had "more in common with punk than with the confessional California singer-songwriters" they were often compared to.
Best known as the cofounder of Scary Pockets, Ryan Lerman is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, bassist, arranger and producer. He joins Leo Sidran on The Third Story to talk about the music business, viral funk fame, what he learned by being a sideman, and what minor nine chords have to do with any of it.
Eric Harland is one of the most in-demand jazz drummers of his generation. Speaking with Leo Sidran on The Third Story, he talks about coming up in Houston, learning from legends, and exploring the properties of "time."
Bob Power's records have a sound: it's in the depth and dimension of his mixes. Speaking about music and life with Leo Sidran for The Third Story, he brought a similar richness of detail.
Pianist and composer Jason Moran spoke with Leo Sidran for The Third Story in spring of 2020, when the idea of social distancing was just settling in. It shouldn't be a surprise that he had a lot to say.
The Third Story is a podcast with Leo Sidran that will be producing new episodes for WBGO Studios in June 2022. Keep an eye on WBGO.org/studios for "best of" episodes releasing each week in May.