No Simple Road
More than just a Grateful Dead Podcast, more than a music and culture show, something other than a family of cosmic wanderers.... Join the hosts of No Simple Road as they dive deep into the world of psychedelic exploration, music, art, and spirituality. Each week, they bring you captivating interviews with musicians, artists, authors, and visionaries from all walks of life. Join them on their long strange trip! Support this show http://www.patreon.com/nosimpleroad
Episodes
November 21, 2025 • 100 mins
This week on No Simple Road, we’re stepping straight into the heart of Pacific Northwest bluegrass culture with the amazing organizers of the Newgrass Festival in Newberg, Oregon, joined by our dear friends Christian DeBenedetti and Rachel Bonnett of Newgrass Fest as well as Joe Suskind and Crystal Lariza of the band Never Come Down! If you’ve ever wondered how a festival becomes a living, breathing community—or what it takes to ke...
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November 7, 2025 • 77 mins
This week the No Simple Road Family welcomes the incredible Natalie Brooke — keyboard wizard, powerhouse vocalist, bandleader, and radiant force in the jam / funk / fusion universe! Natalie joins Aaron, Mel, and Apple to talk about her journey through music, creativity, self-discovery, and what it means to show up fully as yourself both on and off the stage.
We get into the early sparks that ignited her musical fire, the teachers ...
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October 31, 2025 • 69 mins
Get ready, family — this week on No Simple Road, we’re hanging with the one and only Larry Keel, a bluegrass legend, master picker, and true steward of the jamgrass spirit! Aaron, Mel, and Apple welcome Larry into the circle for a real, heart-forward conversation that goes way beyond the usual talk of tours and records.
We dive deep into the magic of community and connection that lives inside the music — from the Northwest String ...
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October 10, 2025 • 58 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week's rewind takes us into a discussion around how healing can show up at the oddest of times and our willingness to take the medicine we are served.
This is old school NSR at its best... Aaron, Mel, and Apple working it out in real-time, with a l...
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October 3, 2025 • 80 mins
This week on No Simple Road, we sit down with Brad Zerman, founder of Seven Point Cannabis, to explore how cannabis, music, and culture intersect to create something bigger than business.
Brad shares his journey of opening and running dispensaries across Illinois and beyond, and how his latest project in Danville, Illinois with Seven Point is redefining what a cannabis experience can be. Imagine an outdoor market, food trucks, nig...
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September 19, 2025 • 70 mins
This week on No Simple Road, we welcome guitarist and composer Ben Garnett to dive into the stories, sounds, and inspirations behind his brand-new album, Kites Keep.
Ben takes us on a journey through the making of Kites Keep, exploring how his love of film and visual storytelling shapes his approach to composition and improvisation. We discuss the interplay between music and cinema, the way sound can evoke imagery and emotion, an...
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September 12, 2025 • 64 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week's rewind has us in the studio (without Mel) with our special guests Kris and Chelsea Howland! Kris is the man at the helm of Heady Wax Fiends. We talk about the state of the union in the scene today, what Kris' origin story with collecting vinyl ...
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August 29, 2025 • 65 mins
On this episode of No Simple Road, we sit down with Trish Imbrogno, aka Trish Plays Bass! From her early days training in classical music to diving headfirst into bluegrass, Trish shares the story of how music has shaped her path.
We talk about the shift from structured classical training to the freedom of improvisation, the energy of the bluegrass scene, and what it means to be part of a thriving community. Trish opens up about c...
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August 22, 2025 • 55 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week's rewind has it all! We're talking about the upcoming Billy Strings shows here in Eugene this weekend which leads to a discussion around the genius surrounding the center of that particular whirlwind. Blending genres into something completely new...
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August 15, 2025 • 59 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week's rewind has all three of us back in the studio catching y'all up with Mel and Apple and diggin into some theories and thoughts on EMF smog, sunlight exposure, mitochondria, cold water therapy, small town people, overstimulation, and of course.....
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August 1, 2025 • 29 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week's rewind is a throwback to the very first episode of NSR. Aaron is here, solo, sharing what had been going on with him lately. Going through a re-examination of choices made, finding the strength to see the good, and reminders of how important co...
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July 25, 2025 • 75 mins
This week on No Simple Road, we sit down with the phenomenal mandolin player, educator, and sonic explorer — Joe K. Walsh!
From his early days with The Gibson Brothers to his mind-bending solo work and genre-blurring collaborations, to teaching at The Berklee College of Music, Joe has carved out a space as one of the most innovative voices on the mandolin today. We get into the heart of what it means to play with soul, why curios...
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July 18, 2025 • 79 mins
Self-taught guitarist Bella Rayne shares her inspiring journey with us, beginning from the serendipitous discovery of an old guitar in her Northern California garage during 2020. Bella's passion for 90s alternative and grunge music sparked a creative awakening that has since led her to The Grateful Dead and to performing with some of her heroes. Her story showcases not just her musical prowess but also her artistic inclinations in ...
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July 7, 2025 • 97 mins
We are joined by two-thirds of the dynamic force behind the art rock band Mind at Large this week... Eli Mathews and Alex Donahue! Eli jumps right in to share the exciting news of his engagement and the harmonious chaos of his life outside the spotlight. From the heartwarming proposal story to the everyday joys of dog sitting and culinary escapades, Eli gives us a glimpse into his world, all while balancing the rich flavors of life...
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June 20, 2025 • 74 mins
Ever wondered how music festivals can spark deeper human connections? Get ready to explore the transformative power of the Ramble Festival, as we chat with founder Brick Lohr and collaborator in this year's Ramble, Kris Howland of Heady Wax Fiends.
Discover the innovative partnerships shaping the festival scene, like the vinyl submission contest by Heady Wax Fiends. It is collaboration between individuals like Kris and Brick, who...
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June 6, 2025 • 50 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This is a tough one this week for us here at No Simple Road. We are coming in raw, unfiltered, and in the moment on this episode. We're getting ready to lose a member of the NSR Family/Household and, true to our form, we are here with all of you going thro...
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May 27, 2025 • 67 mins
We are extremely excited to have Mason Via join us for this week's episode of No Simple Road!
Mason opens up about the highs and lows of touring life, balancing the demands of performance with personal health, and finding harmony between the expectations of a musician's life and the realities of constant travel.
Our conversation meanders through Mason's experiences growing up in a festival community, where he honed his craft at ...
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May 16, 2025 • 65 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week on the Rewind we are in the studio, stuffy noses, coughs, and all talking about the emergence of A.I. Is it connected to a universal field of consciousness, can it be tapping into something that we humans cannot? Are we on the brink of a shift in...
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May 9, 2025 • 68 mins
Catch up with the No Simple Road crew as they discuss everything from the music scene, family life, show recaps & reviews, spirituality, psychedelics, and everything in-between!
This week on the Rewind we are finally recapping the whirlwind Spring Phish PNW run!! Better late than never, as they say.
Join us for an in depth chat about our experience seeing Phish in our own dojo for the first time! From tight security at Climate Pl...
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May 2, 2025 • 86 mins
We are so excited to have Crystal Lariza of Never Come Down wtih us on No Simple Road this week. This episode spotlights the vibrant experiences of Never Come Down, a band that has carved its path across borders and bluegrass festivals, becoming musical ambassadors on a global stage.
Excitement and exploration define our conversations with Crystal, as she shares insights into their transformative performances across Europe and bey...
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