Strung Out

About Strung Out

Welcome to STRUNG OUT. The show is an eclectic mix of topics ranging from music, to art, to themes of the day to the supernatural to how to better this world we live in. If you like interesting conversation, along with some original music, we got your back. Martin McCormack resides in Chicago. He is known not only for his music, but for his writing and artwork. McCormack's entire catalogue of works can be viewed at www.MartinMcCormack.com. You can also see McCormack's involvement in the duo Switchback by visiting the website www.waygoodmusic.com.

Publisher

Martin McCormack

Category

arts · business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Jul 2020

Latest episode

8 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

282 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Nov 2026

   Episode 280: BIG SHOULDERS-CHICAGO WRITER AND MUSICIAN JAMES PORTER

   Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Strung Out, hosted by musician and writer Martin Lawrence McCormack, with guest James Porter. Porter is a Chicago-based writer and musician who navigates both artistic paths simultaneously. Key Topics Discussed: Dual Career: Porter discusses how he balances a career in journalism and writing with his life as a musician in the band "The James Dean Joint." He notes that both creative pursuits often sprouted together during his youth and college years at Loyola. Ch...

2. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Episode 279: Scribe to the Bards- The Creative Process of Aaron Cohen

   Send us Fan Mail The second part of a podcast interview on Strung Out, hosted by Martin Laurence McCormack, featuring guest Aaron Cohen, a writer and music chronicler known for his work on artists like Aretha Franklin and Ramsey Lewis. Key Themes and Discussion Points: The Creative Process of Music Journalism: Cohen discusses the challenge of capturing the essence of an artist and the "visceral experience" of live performance in writing. He emphasizes the importance of balancing factual rep...

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Episode 278: Soul Man: How Aaron Cohen Chronicled Chicago’s Soul Kingdom

   Send us Fan Mail Show Overview This episode of Strung Out—hosted by artist, writer, and musician Martin Laurence "Marty" McCormack—features an in-depth conversation with Chicago-based music journalist, author, and City Colleges professor Aaron Cohen. The discussion explores Chicago's rich cultural history, the intersection of music and social empowerment, and Cohen's extensive career chronicling influential soul, jazz, and Latin American musical movements. Detailed Summary & Topics Cove...

Who has been a guest on Strung Out

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Nora O'Connor
• Ted Russell Kamp
• Marcus Gentry

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

243,285

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

30

Contact Strung Out

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.