Life With Strings Attached
Everything in life is better understood if you can learn to see the strings attached.
Jamie Gale is a thought leader who rose to prominence in the guitar industry by simplifying complex concepts. In this podcast, he engages in cross-disciplinary discussions to reveal how everything from guitar design to architecture, philosophy, physics and more can be better understood if you learn to see the universal truths that underpin our world.
Episodes
64 episodes
From Wine Cellars to the Workbench: Raymond Kraut’s Path to Luthiery
Today’s guest is Raymond Kraut, an exceptional luthier whose work blurs the lines between science, art, and soul. In this conversation, Raymond and I dive deep into the evolving craft of guitar making: from the physics of sound and the role of ...
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Episode 64
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2:01:07
Biography | The Story of Adriano Sergio | LWSA Ep 63
This week on Life With Strings Attached, we dive into the remarkable story of Adriano Sérgio. An artist, musician, and luthier whose life journey is as inspiring as the guitars he creates. From his early days as a political...
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Episode 63
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51:08
The Anti-Luxury Luthier: Andy Manson on Touch, Tools, and Truth
Welcome to Life With Strings Attached. In this episode we sit down with master luthier Andy Manson, a maker whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, chaos, and craftsmanship.Andy takes us on a journey through travel, ...
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Episode 62
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2:30:22
Not Everything Has to Shine | A Conversation with Luthier Mario Beauregard
On this episode of Life With Strings Attached, we sit down with luthier Mario Beauregard. An innovative guitar maker whose journey spans rural Canada, the streets of Japan, and a lifetime of travel, music, and craftsmanship.Mari...
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Episode 61
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1:51:33
Dana Bourgeois: 50 Years of Innovation, Tradition, and Tone
Today’s guest is a true icon in the world of acoustic guitar making. Someone whose influence has quietly shaped the way modern luthiers build, voice, and imagine the steel-string guitar.With over 50 years of experience at the workbench, ...
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Episode 60
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1:53:09
Tradition, Disrupted: Fred Kopo’s Uncompromising Approach to Guitar Making
In this episode of Life with Strings Attached, I sit down with Fred Pons (also known as Fred Kopo) a deeply respected luthier from France whose journey into guitar making began with what he describes as “a slap of inspiration.”
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Episode 59
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2:04:59
Biography | Mike Sankey: Building What No One Asked For
This episode is part of a new Biography Edition of Life With Strings Attached, a space to pause and reflect on the people behind the instruments. It's been our experience that these remarkable ideas come from remarkable people, who hav...
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Episode 58
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1:12:52
Dan Furman, PhD: What Brain Signals Teach Us About Music, Focus, and Feeling
Dan Furman, PhD, is a neuroscientist, Harvard graduate, and co-founder of Arctop, a company developing real-time brain-computer interface software that translates electrical activity from the brain into usable data. In this episode, Dan joins J...
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Episode 57
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1:53:58
Rethinking the Electric Guitar with Two of Its Leading Historians: Jan Herbst & Steve Waksman
Few people have shaped the way we understand the electric guitar like Jan Herbst and Steve Waksman. Both have spent their careers asking deeper questions about sound, design, meaning, and the role of technology in music.Steve is the auth...
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Episode 56
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2:27:12
Dan Erlewine (StewMac): A Life in Guitar Repair, Innovation, and Legacy
[re-upload with improved audio quality]Legendary guitar repairman, luthier, and educator Dan Erlewine (StewMac) joins us for a conversation on innovation, legacy, and the craft behind the music.In this episode of Life...
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Episode 54
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1:40:49
How Michael Tobias Designed the Bass You Didn’t Know You’ve Heard
Michael Tobias didn’t set out to change the sound of modern music, but that’s exactly what he did. In this episode, he joins Jamie Gale to reflect on five decades of instrument building, from the early days of repairing guitars in Washington, D...
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Episode 55
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1:40:45
From Hollywood to Handwork: Concept Artist Tim Warnock on Creative Identity
What does a concept artist who’s worked on Harry Potter, Transformers, and The Expanse have to say about boutique guitars?Plenty, as it turns out.In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, J...
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Episode 53
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1:52:02
Gangs, Guitars, and the Grit to Keep Going — Bob Robinson
What does it take to stay creative in the face of chaos?In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, Jamie Gale sits down with Bob Robinson — a luthier, furniture maker, and all-around builder — to hear how his journey took hi...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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1:49:58
Frank Deimel on Sound, Identity, and Building Guitars That Rebel
In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, Jamie Gale speaks with German luthier Frank Deimel, a builder whose instruments blend fine craftsmanship with punk energy, political commentary, and sonic experimentation.Fra...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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1:42:20
Isaac Jang on Legacy, Faith, and the Craft of Making Happy Guitars
[re-upload with highly improved audio]In this episode of Life With Strings Attached, Jamie Gale sits down with luthier Isaac Jang — one of the most admired voices in the modern guitar world — to explore what it means to build in...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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1:48:37
Rewiring the Brain: Living, Creating, and Surviving with Intention | J. Galen Buckwalter
J. Galen Buckwalter is a research psychologist with over 30 years of experience exploring the intersection of psychology, technology, and human behavior. He started his career as a research professor at the University of Sout...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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1:58:56
Deconstructing the Guitar: A Whole New Approach | Michihiro Matsuda
Over the last two decades, Michihiro Matsuda has crafted some of the most innovative and inspiring guitars in the world. His work seamlessly blends tradition and creativity, reflecting his deep Japanese heritage and culture. The principles of c...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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1:51:25
Building Guitars with Innovation and Purpose | Simon Padalka
Today on Life With Strings Attached, we have a truly inspiring guest—luthier Simon Padalka, the mastermind behind Padalka Guitars. Simon’s journey into guitar-making began in 2011 in his hometown of Krasnodar, Russia. Tho...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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1:56:52
Why Handmade Guitars Matter | Eric Weigeshoff
Today on Life With Strings Attached, we’re joined by Eric Weigeshoff, the visionary luthier behind Skytop Guitars. With a background in design and film, Eric approaches guitar-making as both an art form and an immersive experience....
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1:59:36
Redesigning A Country Music Icon | Ric Riordon
What does it mean to redesign a cultural icon?Ric Riordon was already a well-established designer when, over two decades ago, he and his team were asked to redesign the trophy for the Academy of Country Music Awards. The or...
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1:47:39
Building Guitars for Steve Vai, Jerry Cantrell & Slash | Stephen McSwain
How in the world do you get your first guitar build in Steve Vai's hands?Well, you take some big risks and make some bold choices, and Stephen McSwain has certainly done plenty of both.From hand carving horror-themed installatio...
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1:20:19
Making The Crazy Leap To Guitar Making | Michael Bashkin
Michael had his dream job working for the US Forest Service – until the sight of a luthier's workshop turned his interest in guitars into an obsession that couldn't be ignored. Now, Michael is a master guitar maker with over 25 yea...
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1:47:56
AI & The Artist | Kosta Lagis (Pt. 2)
Here's part 2 of my conversation with visual effects artist Kosta Lagis, whose credits include blockbusters like Prometheus, Man of Steel, and Deadpool.In this episode, we dive deeper into Kosta's experience with generative AI and what t...
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1:34:16
Creating Visual Effects For The World's Biggest Movies | Kosta Lagis (Pt. 1)
With over 25 years of expertise in film, advertising, and industrial design, Kosta Lagis has worked on blockbuster movies like Prometheus, Man of Steel, and Deadpool, as well as high-profile commercials for brands such as Huawei and Mobil. He's...
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1:47:28
Not Taking Seriously Good Guitars Too Seriously | Doug Kauer of Kauer Guitars
Doug Kauer is always the least serious guy in the room, which makes him a great podcast guest – it’s also part of what makes him a successful guitar maker with his own unique style. Doug started building guitars when a lifetime of ...
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1:43:34