Off The Charts – Details, episodes & analysis

Wayne Kirkpatrick transitioned from writing songs to writing musicals. His first, Something Rotten, became a Broadway hit nominated for ten Tony Awards, co-written with his brother Karey. Next came Mrs. Doubtfire, which played on Broadway before transferring to London's West End.

Along with his musicals, Wayne has earned a Grammy Song of the Year Award for Eric Clapton and Babyface's recording of "Change the World," and his songs have been recorded by over two hundred artists. We explore the mindset behind such lofty achievements and what has kept Wayne's creativity so vital and enduring.

From a Grammy Song of the Year to ten Tony Award nominations, Wayne Kirkpatrick embodies creativity.

A Hall of Fame songwriter with more than two hundred recorded songs — and a hit Broadway composer — Wayne’s résumé is long and deeply impressive.

In this episode, we look under the hood at what makes this lifelong creator so consistently inspired and productive. It’s clear that for Wayne, creativity isn’t just an occupation — it’s a way of life.

Todd Henry became a leading voice for creatives worldwide through bestselling books, a pioneering podcast, and talks to Fortune 500 companies. But first, he had to walk away from his dream of a music career in Nashville.

It takes courage to move on from a longstanding passion, to recognize that it might not be the best fit for your unique wiring. But there are usually indicators, as Todd points out, that lead to a better fitting dream, more aligned with who you are, with what lights you up.

Many people give up on creating a life fueled by curiosity and innate gifting, due to, as Todd says, a cul de sac. But cul de sacs are not dead ends, they're places to turn around and pursue unexplored possibilities.

Lolo is Logistics Manager for Post Malone's tour, her husband Dane plays lead guitar for Kane Brown. How do they make 18 years of marriage work with jobs that routinely create distance between them?

This episode is full of life hacks, marriage hacks, and insights into how two creative, enterprising people have learned to harmonize their passion for their work and their passion for each other; their dreams with the very real challenges of life on the road-apart from one another.

Lolo and Dane have found a way to endure time apart, and keep the center strong.

Nashville session players set the gold standard in musicianship, and bassist Tim Denbo is no exception.

In this episode, Tim unpacks the tools of his trade—from the Nashville Number System to classical notation—and reveals how he brings precision and artistry to every session, whether it's country, pop, or a Hollywood soundtrack. This is a deep dive into Nashville's elite recording world with a world-class musician who lives it every day.

Mo Tedder's co-songwriting sessions are not the norm. Her co-writers are trauma survivors.

Mo brings together her professional songwriting and therapy skills to write songs with people healing from trauma. Whether it's a room of two or fifty, she combines the insight of a therapist with the heart of a songwriter to give voice to her co-writers' life experiences. Will the songs win Grammys or top the charts? Maybe, maybe not. But the purpose and meaning behind these works of art are off the charts.

How many cellists can sight-read a Bach suite and invent a pop hook on the spot?

Matthew Nelson is that rare musician — classically trained, yet fluent in the Nashville number system. A go-to player for sessions and live work alike, he bridges notation and improvisation with ease. Whether you read dots or numbers, you’ll find deep insight and quiet mastery in this conversation.

Producer, engineer, and artist Michael Estok made the unconventional decision to leave Nashvil for a small town in Ohio, where he rebuilt not only his studio, but his life as a professional creative, as well as father and husband. The results have been impressive and life enriching.

The myth "I have to live in a music town to be a serious musician" has never been less true. Michael reveals how combining your strengths with your values can lead to new kinds of creative success.

Dr. Hector Qirko's life dismantles a persistent myth in music: that if you don't make all your income from music, you're not a real musician. The same could be said for most any creative pursuit.

Qirko does not consider himself a musical hobbyist or an amateur. A professional musician since his arrival in the United States decades ago, he has earned the respect of many in the roots, blues, and Americana world. From touring with Lonnie Brooks in the 1970s, to recording with RB Morris, to forming the Hector Qirko Band, and most recently to his Darwin Diego projects, Qirko has maintained a thriving musical career. He also worked with Lionel on the early TNN television series I-40 Paradise and Pickin' At The Paradise, where they recorded over 1,500 songs live.

Not only has Dr. Qirko's role as anthropology professor at the College of Charleston not diluted his musical creativity, it's actually enriched it. In this countercultural episode, it becomes clear that whatever being a professional musician entails, it does not hang on deriving an income from it. Fame and money may be the most common metrics associated with measuring creative success, but they are only two of many.

After navigating six record labels and the demanding tour circuit, singer/songwriter/entrepreneur Savannah Conley brings a battle-tested perspective to today's fractured music landscape.

Savannah Conley, singer/songwriter/entrepreneur, is reexamining what it means to be an artist in TikTok's bite-sized content economy.

Her experience with rigorous touring, being on six record labels, as well as patriarchal hierarchies and fractured revenue streams give her a vantage point yielding sharp insights into how streaming economics, social media algorithms, and industry consolidation are reshaping what it means to make a living as an artist.

• Off The Charts video version: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi-P8hoFrPjIIT-_myycOhauz9gRxVJMm

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