Songwriters’ News April 2025

Songwriters’ News – Volume V, Issue 4

President's Message

OVERCOMING WRITER’S BLOCK
By Paul Nye, MAS President

NOTE: As my first 'official” contribution to the MAS Newsletter as president (after last month’s introductory column), I am hoping to write about all things songwriting, hopefully in an open, creative manner. This month I want to address something that affects many songwriters. This is a very important issue because simply put, as songwriters – we write. But what happens when we can’t for one reason or another. So, let’s get at it….

A songwriter friend recently shared his struggle with writer’s block. As a former journalist, I could relate. Ironically, as a songwriter, I’ve never run out of things to write about. If you’ve heard my songs (or just read the titles), it’s clear I’ll write about anything—good, bad, intelligent, or just plain stupid. Lately, I’ve been averaging a song every three days, aiming to push that to one every two.

One key lesson I’ve learned in MAS is Write. Write. And write some more. Some of my best lines have come from ideas I initially thought were ridiculous. There’s gold in “stupid.”

To help others push through writer’s block, I’ve put together some strategies:

10 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block

1. Keep a Songwriting Journal (aka “Hook Book”)

Jot down interesting words, phrases, or snippets.
Record melody ideas on your phone.
Keep a running list of song titles or themes.

2. Write Every Day (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)

Set aside at least 5-10 minutes daily.
Write nonsense, even stupid ideas-sometimes gems emerge.

3. Use Prompts & Challenges

Write a song using only one-syllable words.
Join songwriting challenges
Let objects around you inspire lyrics.
Side Comment: Recently, I wrote a 9- line, 85-word song that was 60 seconds long and every line had 11 syllables. The song was one long run-on sentence.Certainly not “a good song,” but a lot of fun. Try something similar.

4. Change Your Process

Start with melody instead of lyrics (or vice versa)
Try a new genre or instrument.
Co-write with others for fresh ideas.

5. Borrow from the Greats

Rewrite a favorite song with new lyrics.
Create a response or alternate version of a classic.

6. Keep Your Creative Well Full

Read, watch movies, explore new experiences.
Engage in non-music creative activities.
Have deep conversations—real stories spark great songs.

7. Give Yourself Permission to Write Bad (or Stupid) Songs

Not every song has to be a masterpiece.
Write through bad ideas to find the good ones.

8. Take Breaks When Needed

Step away and return with fresh ears.
Go for a walk or do something unrelated.

9. Use AI or Random Generators

Try rhyme dictionaries, AI lyric tools, or word generators.
Google online resources such as MasterWriter & others
Get feedback from AI

10. Set Deadlines & Stay Accountable

Challenge yourself to finish songs within a set time.
Join songwriting groups (like MAS) for motivation.

BONUS TIP:
I recently came across a video made by Marty Dodson, Grammy-winning songwriter who runs SongTown with fellow Grammy-winning songwriter, Clay Mills. Marty suggested going through a magazine (like PEOPLE Magazine) that contains a lot of short stories. Come up with one song idea from something on each page of the magazine. Might seem daunting at first, but even if you were to do 10-15 pages, that could help “jump start” your creative genius at getting you out of “writer’s block.” Give it a try!

The bottom line? When songwriting is the last thing you feel like doing—do it anyway. Just write.

Meeting Dates

By Mike Rudquist

Please Note: Going forward, all online Zoom events will use the same Zoom link. Here is a member-only link to our "Member Event Access" page which has the Zoom link:

https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/member-event-access/

Also Note: All monthly MAS online meetings will be held within the same time frame of 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (This does not include the Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show. See the event listing below for times.)

Monthly Mixer with Doug Millaway

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

This meeting allows for all types of topics to be explored and discussed as it relates to songwriting – the writing process, production, inspiration, the music business – all topics related to the craft, production and business of songwriting. This is a moderated open discussion, and participants are encouraged to share their personal experiences and expertise.

Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show with Carl Unbehaun

Thursdays all month – April 3, 10, 17, 24

Every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 pm, fellow MAS member and radio DJ Carl Unbehaun offers music written and/or performed by Minnesota musicians on his Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show. Radio station KSRQ in Thief River Falls (90.1 FM) streams Carl’s show via the Internet. On the FIRST Thursday of the month, Carl dedicates his entire show to music written by members of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters!

To submit your songs to Carl’s MAS-dedicated show or to have it played on any Thursday night, contact Carl at minnesotahomebrew@gmail.com.

To listen to Minnesota Homebrew on your devices, click here: https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/radio-airplay/.

April Co-Writing Workshop Invitation with Rachel Dunlap

Saturday, April 5th 2-4pm

Please see the Live Events Schedule for complete information

Online Round Robin Song Share with Paul Nye

Wednesday, April 9 – 6:30 – 8:30

This is a laid-back, come as you are type get together with fellow songwriters to share your songs in a take turns fashion either performing live via zoom or with a recorded version of your songs. Just for fun and just to get together and play. Even if you want to just join in to listen, this is the place for you!

Monthly Online Song Review Session Hosted by Doug Millaway

Wednesday, April 23 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

This is our general information and song review meeting. You are welcome to play an original song in any phase of its development or completion for purposes of potentially improving it based on feedback received.

Please refrain from submitting songs you do not intend to change from feedback given. You’re welcome to share those in our Round Robin Song session above.

Our review sessions are one of the best opportunities to help you learn and improve your craft. Giving feedback on other writers’ songs, and listening to others doing the same, is a great teaching tool.

You may submit your song’s audio and-or lyrics only for review up to the time of the review session. Please note, we are limited in the songs we can fit in, so you’ll want to watch for the email announcement to submit them and get it in early. Please do not submit songs prior to the announcement to avoid missing out.

We will play an MP3 of your song directly in the room. While MP3s played digitally in the room are generally easier for people to hear, they are not required for feedback. We’ll also accept lyrics only.

Find more detail, go to our Song Review Meeting page on our website: https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/meetings.

You can check out all MAS events on our website calendar at https://mnsongwriters.org/events/

MAS April 2025 Live Events Schedule

April Co-Writing Workshop Invitation with Rachel Dunlap

MAS Songwriters,

I will be hosting another co-writing workshop coming up next month and would love you to attend!

WHO: MAS members (You!)
WHAT: In-person writing workshop instant co-writing time
WHERE: Shoreview Library, Community Program Room
WHEN: Saturday, April 5th from 2-4pm
WHY: To give you an opportunity to co-write

WHAT ONE MEMBER IS SAYING:

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last three songwriting workshops I’ve attended, hosted by Rachel Dunlap. She is always well-organized, and each session has been incredibly constructive and inspiring. Through these workshops, I’ve learned valuable songwriting techniques, explored rhyme structure and co-writing, and gained helpful resources that have enhanced my creative process.

– Matthew B. Wilson, DMA, NCTM, M.A.S. Member

Editor's Note

By Mary Kealy-Falk

First and foremost, I want to thank all the MAS members who are participating this month with their personal content for the newsletter. This includes member submissions to the “Putting it Out There” and “Kudos and Congrats” columns which features news and events that are happening each month with MAS members. This is such a great opportunity to get the word out to our members and newsletter subscribers about any and all songwriting activities that members are involved in.

We also have great feature articles from Doug Millaway, Brad Dunse, Paul Nye, and first-time contributor Dan Barnes. You can read about song hooks, adding more imagery into your lyrics, a rundown of some favorite podcasts, and overcoming writer’s block in member submissions who are writing about what they know from firsthand experience in their songwriting endeavors.

I’m also including information that Richard Schletty, our Webmaster, would like to pass on to the members:

From: MAS Webmaster
To: mnsongwriters-members

Just a reminder that the monthly Songwriters' News gets cross posted to our MAS website in the Blog area.

https://mnsongwriters.org/blog/

And don't neglect your opportunity to post songs in our Music Gallery.

https://mnsongwriters.org/music-gallery/

Let us know if you value the Music Gallery. It's good for artists who don't have a website and want to post some songs that they can share with others.

Richard Schletty
Webmaster
Minnesota Association of Songwriters
mnsongwriters.org
call/text 612-562-7324

Richard does a fantastic job of managing and developing our website. If you haven’t already, go on to the website and take a close look at all the great features that are available to members. And if you do have any questions, you can get in touch with Richard at the contact information he has listed above.

MAS Members Putting it Out There

Listed are events and happenings that were submitted by request of the Newsletter from MAS members.

Sarah Peterson

Join area singer-songwriters for a unique acoustic musical experience with the first Songwriters Showcase concert of 2025 at the St. Mane Theatre in Lanesboro, MN on Saturday, April 12th at 7 pm. Address is 206 Parkway Avenue North, Lanesboro, MN. Audience members will be immersed into this intimate concert setting, where four singer-songwriters will share their original songs, along with the inspirations and stories behind them!

Each concert in this series is presented in a Nashville-style round robin format, which removes the usual distractions of a normal gig, and allows the audience to be drawn into the emotional heart of each song.

EARLY BIRD TICKETS: $15 | Regular Price: $20 | Early Bird pricing good through 4/5/2025. Please contact St. Mane Theatre – 507-467-2446 for more information.

Box Office open day of event starting at 6pm | Doors open at 6:30pm | Show at 7pm. Pop, water, beer and wine available for purchase.

Interested in songwriting? Check out the Songwriting Workshop at 2pm the same day.
Workshop: Songwriting through Inspiration, Intuition & Practice
Sat, Apr 12 @ 2:00PM St. Mane Theatre, 206 Parkway Avenue North, Lanesboro, MN
Join us in beautiful Lanesboro on Saturday April 12th for this songwriting workshop. Together we'll look for inspiration, follow our intuition and discuss ways to build the practice of songwriting into our daily lives. Along the way we'll discuss tools & tricks to help get you get inspired to write your next song and help you build your creative practice of songwriting. No experience necessary.

Note: We will be doing several short songwriting writing exercises. If you write better with a guitar in your hand, feel free to bring it, but it's not required.

Sarah Peterson is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Vicki Morrison Goble

I have started a new project that I believe members can benefit from. I'm publishing stories on obscure singer-songwriters (by my definition, everyone in MAS qualifies) on Substack. By the time the April MAS newsletter comes out, there will be four posts live. All MAS members are eligible to submit their info for consideration. So far, I have stories lined up through April 25 with six more tentative stories pending. The link to the stories is lateblooming.substack.com. Members are invited to contact me at vicki@latebloomerrock.com to suggest singer-songwriters (themselves or others) to be featured.

Tony Wentersdorf

Tony Wentersdorf will be doing a CD release concert at
The Finnish Bistro (2264 Como Ave/St. Paul) on
Saturday, April 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

He and his singing partner, Mary Parker, will be performing songs from his new CD — Golden Nuggets Stew. His CD contains 17 original songs,
arrangements, and instrumentals, and will come out in the middle of April. The songs on his new CD include socio-political themes such as the results of the 2024 election, the problem of bullying in the schools, and the easy access to guns. There are also songs about animals like birds and dogs, the power of music to uplift the spirits, and the benefits of friendship.

Tom Mobry

This month (April) I have several shows that I am excited about.

April 2nd I will be hosting a Songwriters Showcase at The Savage Tap in Savage, Minnesota. This is a monthly Showcase that features four local musicians performing in a Nashville Rounds style show.
April 12th I'm playing at FROGGZ in Northfield with my good friend Tim Goodwin. We have a monthly residency there on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
April 25th Tim Goodwin and I will be playing at Gingko Coffeehouse in St. Paul. This is a ticketed show.
April 26th I will be playing the Sounds of Schmidt Music and Art Festival in the Rathskeller.

Chad Shank

Meetup
At Home Songwriting Workshops scheduled a new event

Cowriting Challenge Song Share Meeting
Saturday, April 26, 2025 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Online event
Details: Join us on Saturday April 26th at 10:30 AM Central for the Cowriting Challenge Song Share Meeting! We will be listening to songs submitted for the first ever At-Home Songwriting Cowriting Challenge!
Go to Chad Shank’s Meet-Up forum At-Home Songwriting for more information.

At Home Songwriting Workshops Scheduled a new event

Songwriting and Production YouTube Live Stream
Monday, April 28, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Online event
Details: Join Chad Shank and Brian Funk LIVE on YouTube on April 28th at 7 PM ET for an engaging conversation and Q&A about songwriting and music production! Chad Shank is a seasoned songwriter, producer, and instructor with over 30 years of experience having written thousands of songs across genres like pop, country, dance, and hip-hop.

Kudos and Congrats

Tom Mobry

I have been co-writing with Rya Peck for the last month or so and it has been a great way to expand my songwriting skills and try to stretch my comfort zone. We have completed one song and are nearly finished with another.

Being new to a lot of this (I just started performing in late 2022) I have really focused my attention on writing better songs.

Recently I have had the great honor of having three of my songs covered by other artists! It's gratifying to know that I have written a song that others feel is worth sharing.

A couple of my songs that I released as singles have been getting airplay on several internet radio programs and it's still mind-blowing to me. I always dreamed of performing my songs and it's true that you should never give up on your dreams.

KEEP YOUR HOOK BOOK HANDY: HOW TO TURN LIFE'S WIERDNESS INTO SONGS

By Doug Millaway

If you’re anything like me, sometimes the songs show up like an old friend knocking on your door—easy, natural, and full of good stories. Other times, though, you sit there staring at a blank page like a deer in the headlights, hoping inspiration will show up before your coffee gets cold. That’s where a hook book comes in handy.

A hook book is just a fancy name for a little notebook (or voice memos if you’re the high-tech type) where you jot down all the strange, beautiful, and downright ridiculous things you see, hear, and feel throughout the day. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that great songs don’t come from staring at a wall. They come from paying attention to the way folks talk, the things they leave unsaid, and the odd poetry hiding in everyday life.

Here are five song starters I’d throw in a hook book if I were you. Feel free to take one and run with it, twist it into something new, or let it sit there until the right melody walks in the door.

"Midnight’s got a secret, and I’m the only one who knows…"
Somewhere out there, someone is up to no good—probably a poet, a lost soul, or an old man feeding a stray cat behind a gas station. Either way, mystery makes for a good song. Once upon a time, Wayne Hamilton and I co-wrote a song called “Build Your Own Damn House” about an old man sitting on the beach that formed an unusual bond with a woman going through change. Based on a true story, it became one of our favorites.

"She said forever, but forever’s got a deadline."
Love is a beautiful lie, and heartbreak is what makes songwriters necessary. If you've ever watched two people promise each other the moon and then call it quits over who left the dishes in the sink, you’ve got a song in there. Wayne’s song “Second Wife First” is a good example of how things can turn and often turn out better.

"We danced like we had no history, but our shadows knew the truth."
Ain’t it funny how people try to outrun their past? But their past is always two steps behind, drinking a beer and laughing. This reminds me of my song titled “What You Don’t Know”. In it, the singer makes his feelings known about the concept that what you don’t know won’t hurt you. In the end, those things often come back to bite you. A co-writer in California, Amy Sems, is in the process of re-recording this song today.

"I don’t want a love that leaves like a summer storm."
Quick, loud, and over before you know it. Love’s a funny thing—some of it sticks, and some of it washes out the back door with the rain. Wayne and I also recorded a song called Natural Disaster. We never really did much with it, but it reminds us that navigating relationships can be tricky at times.

"I found your letter in the pocket of my old blue jeans…"
Ain’t nothing more dangerous than an old letter. It either brings back a memory you miss or one you were trying real hard to forget. This concept reminds me a bit of a song that Dan Barnes and I co-wrote called Next to My Heart. In that song, a photograph found on the floor is the impetus for the story.

The Weird Life is the Good Life
The best songs don’t come from trying too hard—they come from noticing things. Maybe it’s an old man mumbling to himself at the bus stop, or the way your neighbor always sings off-key when he waters his plants. Maybe it’s a kid at the grocery store making up a song about cereal. Life is weird, and that’s a good thing.

So keep a hook book. Fill it with odd phrases, bits of conversation, things you saw that made you laugh, or things you felt but didn’t understand yet. One day, when you’re staring at a blank page, you’ll flip through it and find the spark you need.

Because life’s too short for bad songs. And the best songs are already out there—you just have to listen.

Doug Millaway
Mill Away Publishing
Blind Owl Studio

SONGWRITING HACK STOLEN FROM EVERYDAY CLEANING PROFESSIONALS

By Brad Dunsé

If the long lines at the car wash isn’t proving springtime is toying with us, I’m not sure what is. One thing is for sure. You’ll never clean your car again without thinking about this songwriting technique. Or maybe you’ll never write another song without thinking about cleaning your car.

Whatever the case, I’m about to prove to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, without a shadow of a doubt, songwriters are guilty of ripping off a technique used by cleaning
professionals across the globe. Okay, I’m sporting with you, but it is true. Cleaning professionals know this technique. Most of us learned it when we were seven, and songwriters can use it to write stronger songs. Are you? Let’s find out.

Take hand-washing a car, for example. Just spit balling here, but I’d guess you don’t start with the tires and work your way north, do you? No, you start at the roof and work down—the windows, hood, sides, fenders, and tires. If you didn’t, the spiffy tires and rims would be covered in splashes and spittle dripping down as you so-called… cleaned.

So, the best way is to start at the top and work your way down. Here’s the thing, the same applies to imagery in your song lyrics. We’ll call this technique ‘top-down imagery.’

So how does this work? Let’s look at an example, which is the best way to see it in action.

What if we say:

We were teenagers back then, but we owned those streets
Well, so long, old friend, we’ll run those streets of gold one day soon
Yeah, my 67 Mustang, your 72 Chevelle
Those glass packs sure rumbled Keystone rims around the downtown loop

Wow, that’s messed up. We didn’t follow top-down imagery, and it feels disjointed. So, what’s this lyric trying to say? It’s telling us an old friend is saying goodbye to another, reminiscing about their teenage muscle car days.

What if we said it this way?

Yeah, my 67 Mustang, your 72 Chevelle
Those glass packs sure rumbled Keystone rims around the downtown loop
We were teenagers back then, but we owned those streets
Well, so long, old friend, we’ll run those streets of gold one day soon

That’s a little better. See how it sets up the last line more powerfully with context behind it?

That’s top-down imagery at work. When images appear at the beginning of a verse, they flow down to the emotional lines and give them punch.

Let’s try another:

Those two seconds of bliss took minutes to pass
My stomach flip-flopped, and my skin grew colder
Mr. Ward was at the board with his back to the class
My high school crush blew me a kiss over her left shoulder

Again, a messed-up situation here. We build up to thekiss,but then we have to go back to the singer’s reaction to ‘get it.’ Plus, we have no context as to what is going on in line one. So,
that really doesn’t work.

Let’s put top-down imagery on this thing:

Mr. Ward was at the board with his back to the class
My high school crush blew me a kiss over her left shoulder
Those two seconds of bliss took minutes to pass
My stomach flip-flopped, and my skin grew colder

There we go. We’ve got images at the top and emotion at the bottom. It reads more conversational and in a chronological order, too. A stronger lyric all up.

These are simple examples to make a point, but checking your verses for imagery placement is a good idea. When you find images stuck mid-verse or at the tail end, move them up top and work the verse downward to see if that strengthens your lyric.

Here’s a helpful ‘top-down imagery’ formula to try.

Line 1. Image
Line 2. Image
Line 3. What it feels like or means now
Line 4. What it feels like or means in the past or future

How about ‘Still They Ride’ by Journey?

[Image] Jessie rides through the night
[Image] Under the Main Street lights
[Image] Ridin’ slow
[Emotion] This old town ain’t the same
[Emotion] Now nobody knows his name
[Emotion] Times have changed

Try re-arranging that lyric with emotional lines first followed by lines with images. It squeaks the air out of the lyrical balloon.

In keeping with our opening courtroom metaphor, we want imagery to lead the emotional witness. It makes the closing statements more convincing for the jury—the listener.

This is a good opportunity to look back at some of your older songs. When you find some misplaced imagery, rearrange them so they’re at the top. See if that strengthens them. Or try writing top-down imagery in your next song.

FAVORITE SONGWRITING PODCASTS

By Dan Barnes

Podcasts about songwriting can be good sources of information and inspiration. Since they’re mainly audio content, you can fit them into parts of your day when you can’t
write or practice or even watch a YouTube show. This article introduces three podcasts that are favorites of mine, and they list a few more.

My songwriting interests and my podcast preferences aren’t very exotic. I lean to country and Americana and musical theater. I’m drawn to storytelling, and I like podcasts
that have organized and articulate hosts who explore the songwriting process or analyze respected songs. My favorite songwriting podcasts also have a minimum of banter and self-promotion: They are:

• What’s In a Song with Scarlet Keys
• Strong Songs with Kirk Hamilton
• Nashville Anthems with Melton McMaynerbury

Here are rundowns on those podcasts, plus a bonus YouTube series:

WHAT’S IN A SONG

Host: Scarlet Keys, Berklee songwriting professor with a music degree, former pro songwriter. What the episodes usually are like: Generally interviews, often with successful former
students or respected Berklee colleagues or pro writers.
Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-in-a-song/id1593031703
Frequency: Biweekly or so
Episodes so far: 77
Typical episode length: About an hour

Recommended episode: “Hank Williams in Hell” chord progression exercise part 1 of2, a live co-write with Mark Simos — not a typical episode, but a cool one.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hank-williams-in-hell-exercise-and-live-
cowrite/id1593031703?i=1000623351293

Some recent episode titles:
• Creative agility and the writing process with hit songwriter Rodney Alejandro
• Singer/songwriter Ingrid Saga on jazz, Joni Mitchell’s influence, guitar tunings
and process
• Aidan Laprete on finding your sound and gibberish as a lyric writing process

STRONG SONGS

Host: Kirk Hamilton, multi-instrumentalist with a music degree, whose song analysis is deep and his enthusiasm infectious.
What the episodes usually are like: Kirk generally digs into one song (pop or country or jazz) per episode. His shows are well researched. Sometimes his analysis turns a little poetic. He recreates parts of recorded song arrangements in his home studio.

Website: strongsongspodcast.com
Frequency: Monthly or so Episodes so far: 153
Typical episode length: About an hour
Recommended episode: “Wichita Lineman,” by Jimmy Webb, recorded by Glen Campbell
https://strongsongspodcast.com/blogs/episodes/wichita-lineman-by-jimmy-webb-glen-
campbell

Some recent episode titles:
• “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “With or Without You” by U2
• “Born To Run” by Bruce Springsteen
• “Easter Theatre” by XTC

NASHVILLE ANTHEMS

Host: Melton McMaynerbury (Likely a pseudonym, given that the same host does a podcast about the “King of the Hill” animated TV show, where McMaynerbury is a fictional Texas town).

What the episodes usually are like: Each show analyzes a randomly selected country hit from the 1980s and 1990s, a strong era for country. Melton reminds me of Nick Spitzer, host of the public radio music show “American Routes” in that his analysis sometimes leans a little literary.
Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nashville-anthems-dissecting-80s-90s-
country-music/id1604788265
Frequency: Biweekly or so
Episodes so far: 84
Typical episode length: About 30 minutes

Recommended episode: “Amarillo by Morning,” by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, recorded by George Strait
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dissecting-amarillo-by-morning-by-george-
strait/id1604788265?i=1000697313527
Some recent episode titles:
• Dissecting “Brand New Man” by Brooks and Dunn
• Dissecting “Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart” by Randy Travis
• Dissecting “Gone Country” by Alan Jackson

SONGTOWN ON SONGWRITING (quite a lot of self-promotion)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/songtown-on-songwriting-podcast/id1543832585

Here are some tips for consuming audio podcasts:
The links above take you to web pages where you can listen.
iPhones and iPads and Macs come with Apple’s free Podcasts app. I’ve had
good luck with the free Pocket Casts apps for iPhone and Android. In all those
apps, you can search for and then subscribe to (aka “follow”) a podcast. The developers of the Pocket Casts apps recently launched “play.pocketcasts.com”as a free web-based podcast player for Mac and PC.
Many podcasts are available on Spotify. (Some are exclusive to Spotify.)

dan@danbarnes.net