In this episode, Neil speaks with Laura, a science teacher from Illinois. They discuss the confidence and intimacy felt while studying abroad, wanting children "early" after growing up in a big family, depersonalized parenting, the ferocity and snoopiness of tweens, 9/11's transformation of country music, Johnny Cash's humanizing hurt, what it means to be truly hungry, and Sally Rooney on the neurosis of being "late" to romance. They explore which song most reminds Laura of her dad and which song reminds her of someone she once knew and wishes she still did.

Host: Neil Van Cott
Guest: Laura P.
Intro/Outro Song: "Reminiscing" by Little River Band
Featured Songs: "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Johnny Cash, "Blue Sky" by The Allman Brothers Band

Created & Produced by Neil Van Cott
Creative Contribution by Allison Asselbergs

#7: Laura the Teacher, Johnny Cash & The Allman Brothers Band

In the first half of this episode, Neil speaks with Nick, an actor, comic, barista, and gamer from Jamaica. They discuss the waking nightmares of serving coffee, "making the moment right" for fastidious customers, his father's career as an Abu Dhabi-based commercial pilot, the Etihad A380's first-class apartment seat, what makes a long-distance relationship successful, Chris Brown's comeback and "manhood," Rick Ross's visual and lyrical absurdism, the challenge of having a peculiar hairline, and the Rick Ross school of moral philosophy. They explore which song most reminds Nick of his dad.

Host: Neil Van Cott
Guest: Nick C.
Intro/Outro Song: "Reminiscing" by Little River Band
Featured Song: "New Flame" by Chris Brown, Usher & Rick Ross

Created & Produced by Neil Van Cott
Creative Contribution by Allison Asselbergs

#8 PART ONE: Nick the Barista, Chris Brown, Usher & Rick Ross

In the second half of this episode, Neil speaks with Nick, an actor, comic, barista, and gamer from Jamaica. They discuss the utility of music for actors' emotional work, the supposed gayness of befriending women, visiting Wisconsin as a Black man, showing Jordan Peele's Get Out (2017) to a white family, Neil's favorite Afro-Surrealist trope, Timberlake Wertenbaker's Our Country's Good (1988) and humor's ability to humanize, the U.S. retaining live aliens, the intimacy of one-night stands versus that of love, the hauntology of breakups, and the mistake of begging an unloving partner to stay. They explore which song never fails to get Nick in his feels.

Host: Neil Van Cott
Guest: Nick C.
Intro/Outro Song: "Reminiscing" by Little River Band
Featured Song: "Jealous" by Labrinth

Created & Produced by Neil Van Cott
Creative Contribution by Allison Asselbergs

#8 PART TWO: Nick the Barista, Labrinth

In this episode, Neil speaks with Miranda, a dancer, actress, and writer from Seattle, Washington. They discuss attending grad school during the pandemic, how Miranda discovered her calling, dancers' vulnerability and relationship with music, the nonlinearity of modern dance versus popular expectations for storytelling, Lady Gaga's best songs and revolutionary music videos, the danceability of Afrobeats rhythms, the recent trend of remixing Afrobeats for Western audiences, Miranda's internationally located family, her late grandmother's love of music and fighting spirit, and the divine symbolism of the natural world. They explore which song never fails to make Miranda want to dance and which song most reminds her of her grandmother.

Host: Neil Van Cott
Guest: Miranda S.
Intro/Outro Song: "Reminiscing" by Little River Band
Featured Songs: "Love Nwantiti" by Ckay, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain (Reprise)" by Julie Andrews

Created & Produced by Neil Van Cott
Creative Contribution by Allison Asselbergs

#9: Miranda the Dancer, Ckay & Julie Andrews

In this Christmas Special, the final episode of Key Changes's first season, Neil has a cup of cheer and speaks to himself. He discusses the state of his and Allison's apartment, his gratitude for Key Changes's listeners, his semester abroad in St Andrews, Scotland, drug addiction and its effects as seen on city streets, suffering that's set in motion for you, his best friend Alex, the melancholy and imperfection of the holiday season, Australian musicians Nick Cave and Alex Cameron, controversies caused by unsavory lyrics, Yung Lean sampling Billy Bragg, and two musicians' remembrances. He explores which song reminds him of a trip he's taken and which song never fails to make him smile.

Host & Guest: Neil Van Cott
Intro Song: "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi
Outro Song: "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" by Vince Guaraldi

Featured Songs: "Another Man's Rain" by Jackie Leven, "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues

Created & Produced by Neil Van Cott
Creative Contribution by Allison Asselbergs

#10 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL: Neil the Podcast Host, Jackie Leven & The Pogues

Key Changes is a music talk show hosted by NYC native Neil Van Cott. Through intimate conversations with all sorts of guests, he'll explore and play the songs closest to people's hearts. Want to be on the show? Let's get in touch: keychangespod@gmail.com.

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