There is a little something different for this episode: the re-launch of the Matt O'Donnell substack! Join as Matt talks about reviving the newsletter and how it complements the podcast. Then, stick around for an audio reading of the first post! Very exciting times ahead in print as well as discussion.

Matt O'Donnell on Substack.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

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Matt on Instagram.

Ellen Angelico is a superb musician in the Nashville ecosystem. She recently released a documentary podcast, Girl In A Hurry, about the late honky-tonk singer, Shelly Bush. Ellen spent a good deal of time playing in Shelly's band during her early years in Nashville. Girl In A Hurry looks at Shelly's legacy told by many of her closest friends and examines the concept of success, ultimately asking if Shelly was, in fact, a success. Matt and Ellen talk about Shelly, how Ellen decided to create and develop Girl In A Hurry, the music industry, reminiscing about times gone by in the Lower Broadway district of Nashville, authenticity in artists, tenacity in artists, and why everyone cheers instead of boos when a singer forgets a lyric.

Girl In A Hurry is available wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Ellen on Instagram.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

Sarah Gavigan is the founder and president of Otaku Ramen, a thriving group of American ramen shops in Nashville. Since starting with popups in 2012, Sarah has been promulgating a style of ramen that eats traditionally but tastes of the time and place in which it's being made. During this discussion, Matt and Sarah cover the history of ramen, how umami is built, the differences in the noodles of ramen and pasta, craft and singular focus, and Sarah's analysis of the Nashville restaurant ecosystem.

Otaku Ramen

OBSESSED (Sarah's Substack)

Ramen Otaku: Mastering Ramen At Home: A Cookbook

Sarah Gavigan on Instagram

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Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

Aaron Smith is a stunningly terrific musician, currently playing keyboards for contemporary Christian music legend Michael W. Smith. He has also toured with Sara Evans, Matt Maher, Jason Crabb, Arbo, and others. During this conversation, Matt and Aaron touch on divine intervention in landing you where you should be, how to deal with having many interests that constantly change, a riveting discussion of modern synthesized music sounds, and the idea of a Cheesecake Factory workers' union.

Aaron's Website.

Aaron on Instagram.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

We open 2025 with a look back at last year, the first for Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know. To help work through it all, Matt is joined by Amanda O'Donnell and the returning guest from episode 001, Dave Jacquin. In the discussion, they break down favorite episodes, episodes that didn't go exactly as expected, throwing hands to keep the energy up in the intro blocks, goals, and the wild story behind recording Dave's maiden voyage episode.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

This "episode" is a very clever play on words, because Matt literally dropped the ball on what you're supposed to be hearing. Well, a little Matt, a little holiday season, and about a half dozen tornado warnings in Louisiana and Mississippi. It's all very $%!@&*# annoying. So, you're getting a podcast drop for 3 weeks in a row. Come on in and hear all about it.

We'll also test the concept of doing watchalong content as Matt watches a John Mayer performance from 2003 that he only recently discovered (and the early-period JM nerdery is strong with our host...). Enjoy!

John Mayer - Clarity on YouTube

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

Deborah Jones is a photographer whose work embodies boldness, class, taste, vibrance, timelessness, and modernity. Her work has been featured for Food & Wine Magazine, Lexus, Williams-Sonoma, The Robb Report, Levi’s, Pixar, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and as the visual focus of the entire Thomas Keller library of cookbooks. Matt and Deborah talk about working with Chef Keller, intentionality in photographs and life, plating food to be shot, and how Deborah was ready to be done with cookbooks entirely when she was asked to shoot The French Laundry Cookbook.

Deborah Jones' Website.

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Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.

Successful pivoting is a great skill. It can be tested to its limits when plans fall through right up against a holiday. You know what, though? We learned to have a bit of fun on this episode. Matt answers some listener/follower questions and then looks back to the taping of episode 006 with Steven Williamson for a quick discussion about mentorship and how Matt used situations he was in to develop some skills to be a solid working musician.

Matt O'Donnell Wants To Know on Instagram.

Matt on Substack.

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Matt on Instagram.