Listening to better music and listening to music better - with music industry veteran, author, artist, and producer John J. Thompson and a diverse panel of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry innovators who seek the deeper resonances in music and culture. Knowing that all music is spiritual, can we sing along with the good, the true, and the beautiful in ways that make us better neighbors, more compelling artists, and richer reflectors of the light by which we live and move and have our being? Let’s try.
The True Tunes Podcast
Claim This Podcastby John J. Thompson / True Tunes
4.9(173 reviews)
144 episodes
Updated Monthly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
Listening to better music and listening to music better - with music industry veteran, author, artist, and producer John J. Thompson and a diverse panel of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry innovators who seek the deeper resonances in music and culture. Knowing that all music is spiritual, can we sing along with the good, the true, and the beautiful in ways that make us better neighbors, more compelling artists, and richer reflectors of the light by which we live and move and have our being? Let’s try.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
7/3/2019
1 verified contact email on file for The True Tunes Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
November 26, 2025
The Roots, Rhythm, and Wisdom of Charlie Peacock
We are back where we started, in more ways than one, with songwriter, artist, producer, and musician’s musician – Charlie Peacock. In this comprehensive conversation, recorded in person at Charlie’s home studio in Nashville, JJT and CP revisit his earliest days as a young musician in California. The release of his recent memoir, Roots and Rhythm, and an EP worth of previously unheard recordings from 1981 called The Kahne Sessions, frames this story of formation and transformation. We then follow the man as he becomes one of the most successful producers in the history of pop music. A special 30-minute Jukebox feature traces the evidence – from his earliest production work with The Choir and The 77s, to a Top 40 pop breakthrough, his discovery and launch of one of the great 90s alternative rock bands, and multiple Grammy Awards in the 2000s in the Americana and Folk space. This may be our longest show yet (and it features over 60 musical cuts), but when considering the work of someone like Chuck, it seems more than fitting. His voice, both literally and as experienced through his piano, pen, and studio control board, has done as much to shape our concepts and imagination about the redemptive potential of art in a broken yet beautiful world as just about any other artist. So, sit back, relax, and let the words and the music wash over you as we give thanks for the gift that is Charlie Peacock. If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH! For full show notes, (including a list of all of the songs used on this show,) photos, and more, visit TrueTunes.com/CP25 (coming soon) Music List: Set 1 Watching Eternity Winsome Kelly Blues One Man Gets Around Charlie Peacock-Ashworth - Redbones In The Shadows John McLaughlin - Extrapolation Jeff Beck Group ft. Jan Hamme - Freeway Jam (Live) Scrappy Lil’ Cat We The People Dance 4 Me All Night (Afrobeat ’23) Jamming with Edward - The Boudoir Stomp Refuge of the Wild (f. Eric Harland, John Patitucci, Chris Potter & Marcus Printup) Suddenly Big Man’s Hat (Live) Istanbul, Gate To Prosperity (ft. Jeff Coffin & WonderTwins) Set 2 High Risk Casualty American Music Lie Down In The Grass (Bruce Neher STEM mix) Rhythm Girls Charlie Peacock Group - Motion Sickness (Last Vestiges of Honor) Charlie Peacock Group - No Magazines (Last Vestiges of Honor) Hot Night Downtown Vector - Running from the Light Charlie Peacock-Ashworth - Jude, as in Hey Jude Vector - Mannequin Virtue Congolesia I Will Need Your Help Iridium-2022-07-09-Demo-Mix Set 3 Message Boy (Video remix) Experience Rainbow Motherfunk Monkeys at the Zoo Blue for You (ft. Eric Harland, John Patitucci, Chris Potter & Marcus Printup) This is How the Work Gets Done Sexy Chill Sway Beauty Left the Room Go Light, Go Free (ft. Turtle Island Quartet) One Small Pebble A Boy and His Dreams Whole Lot Different, Whole Lot the Same (Pandemic version, ft. Jimmy Abegg, Sam Ashworth, Brent Bourgeois, Eric Heilman, Michael Roe, Aaron Smith, Bongo Bob Smith and Roger Smith) All songs credited to Charlie Peacock, except where noted. Jukebox Playlist 77s Ba-Ba-Ba-Ba Caught In An Unguarded Moment Someone New You Don’t Scare Me The Choir Fear Only You Render Love Russ Taff Down in the Lowlands Margaret Becker This Is My Passion The Hunger Stays Simple House All I Ever Wanted Soul Tattoo Jimmy Abegg Entertaining Angels Touch of Love Out of the Grey He Is Not Silent Charlie Peacock Every Heartbeat (Live at 3rd & Lindsley) Amy Grant Every Heartbeat dc Talk In the Light Aaron Smith Again and One Mo’ Time Sarah Masen All Fall Down Switchfoot Ode to Chin Dare You to Move The Civil Wars If I Didn’t Know Better Poison & Wine Barton Hollow Charlie Peacock Damnation Charlie Peacock ft. Sam Ashworth & Ruby Amanfu Good Things Charlie Peacock (ft. Brian Blade, Scott Mulvahill, Roger Smith &
October 17, 2025
@45RPM Charlie Peacock's "Kahne Sessions" (An Early 80s Time Capsule)
Millions have been impacted by Charlie Peacock's Grammy Award-winning production and songwriting work. A smaller, but devoted group has been with him since his days as a Sacramento-based alternative pop artist and member of the progressive Exit Records scene. But very few have ever heard the work he did prior to his 1983 debut, Lie Down In The Grass, until now. On the heels of the release of his expansive and revealing memoir Roots and Rhythm, Peacock just dropped a never-before-heard collection of songs he recorded in 1980 and 81 with the legendary rock producer David Kahne (later named among the 500 most important Rock Producers by Rolling Stone for his work with Regina Spektor, The Bangles, Paul McCartney, Fishbone, Lana Del Rey, Springsteen, Tony Bennett, Stevie Nicks and others.) The Kahne Sessions reveals a young diamond in the rough, and on this special episode Charlie takes us back to those early days in his career and puts it all into context. And there is a LOT more where this comes from. This conversation, recorded in person in Charlie's home studio, covered everything from his earliest days as a musician, to the transformation sobriety and faith brought to his work, to concerns he has over the ways commodification, dehumanization, and artificial intelligence are impacting the way today's artists are engaging with the work. That will all be coming soon, but we wanted to get THIS part - celebrating the release of The Kahne Sessions out to you right away. Be sure to subscribe to the show on whichever platform you prefer so you don't miss a beat. And if you missed our very first episode - way back in 2019 - it featured none other than Charlie Peacock. You can find that show HERE. For more information, including a list of all of the songs used on this episode, visit the show notes page at TrueTunes.com/CPKahneSessions If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH! Follow Charlie on Substack HERE: https://charliepeacock.substack.com/
September 7, 2025
@45RPM The Sound of Revolution; JJT Speaks at Audiofeed 2025 (pt 4 of 4)
In the final installment of our "True Tunes Live at Audiofeed 2025" series of 45RPM episodes, we listen in on John J. Thompson's speaking session dubbed "The Sound of Revolution." What does revolution sound like? What is countercultural music all about? This spirited conversation with a roomful of aspiring radicals provided some actionable perspective. (You'll have to forgive the challenging sound quality on this one. The tech was not in our favor. But it sounds much better than the boombox recordings we used to treasure after going to seminars at Cornerstone back in the day.) For more information, including a list of all of the songs used in this episode, visit the show notes page at TrueTunes.com/SoundOfRev If you want to support the show, please join our Patreon community or drop us a one-time tip and check out our MERCH!
144 total episodes available
Recent guests on The True Tunes Podcast
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Matt Hammitt
Guest
JJT
Guest
Gileah Taylor
Guest
Phil Madeira
Guest
Sam Wade
Guest
Dug Pinnick
Guest
John Fischer
Guest
Robert Deeble
Guest
Chris Taylor
Guest
Steve Hindalong
Guest
Dan Michaels
Guest
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Deep-dive analytics for The True Tunes Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is The True Tunes Podcast?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates monthly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.