The Aching Hearts

It’s no secret to folk and roots music enthusiasts that there exist a phenomenon known as “the floating verse”. These floating verses, as they’re called, have a way of showing up again and…

It’s amazing how adaptive we humans can be and how, as a result of this condition, we can end up taking for granted so many of the miracles of our…

Episode 10: Where Did You Come From? How Do You Go?

The listeners have spoken and The Aching Hearts have listened! Well, kind of. Actually, a listener suggested that our beloved duo do a show focusing on shoes and their…

Diverging a bit from the show’s standard format, this special episode has Kelly and Ryan turning their attentions to the lyrics of a single old song by the name of “I Truly…

Episode 8: How Many Whiskeys Can You Drink This Morning?  

Today’s topic is whisky. A companion to last week’s coca-centric convo, this session contemplates the culturo-musical impact and importance of spiritus frumenti. So, raise a glass and gather round…

Episode 7: Dude, Where's My 8-ball? 

If you’re a fan of older, American folk & roots music you’ve surely noticed that there are quite a few songs about cocaine. Kelly and Ryan dig into some reasons why cocaine has made…

Episode 6: What Makes Your Hair So Red?

The Aching Hearts have a lively discussion about absurdity and the arts. Kelly and Ryanshare their own absurd musings as the chatter moves from muskrats to  World War II nihilism to non…

Is there any better modality for the sharing of human experience than the story? Have a listen and decide for yourself as Kelly and Ryan explore the function of stories in history, music, and…

Today’s repartee attempts to flip the script on all this rambler business. Thus far the show has defined, celebrated, and even deified the ramblin’ man in traditional song but what about…

Episode 3: Have You Forsaken Your House and Home?

Episode 003’s conversation takes a look at wanderers and wayfarers. Kelly and Ryan try to define just what it means to ‘ramble’ by exploring the meaning and impact of the rambler…

Episode 2: Do You Really Mean That?

In this episode, Kelly and Ryan explore the role of overstatement as an expressive tool. During the course of the discussion they cite the work of such broad-ranging artists as Prince and…

Episode 1: Why Do Sad Songs Feel So Good?

In this inaugural episode, Ryan Spearman and Kelly Wells set up the series, talk about love, death, drinking, murder, David Bryne, Robert Johnson, and play their very own rendition of Rose…