12-Bar Talk: A Blues Podcast

Episode 34: Teaching Beginners, a Conversation with Robert Jones

What makes beginner classes, or teaching the first class a person will ever take, different than other types of teaching? There are many different philosophies on it, and

Episode 33: On Teaching Blues with Jennifer Delk

In this episode, Dr. Adams sits down with national blues dance instructor Jennifer Delk to discuss ways to view teaching, what might make a good teacher versus what makes

Episode 32: Celebrating 10 Years of the Utah Blues Festival with Tripp Hopkins

The Utah Blues Festival is Utah's premier event for the latest and greatest blues musicians to perform in Salt Lake City, and it's celebrating it's 10th anniversary in 20

Episode 31: Listen to Everything, a Conversation with Derrick Dove

Dr. Adams sits down with the 2026 Winner of the International Blues Challenge & 2026 Best Guitarist of International Blues Challenge, Derrick Dove. They discuss his time

Episode 30: Delta Blues with Devin C Williams

Dr. Adams sits down with Devin C. Williams, runner up for the 2026 Solo/Duo Division at the International Blues Challenge (IBC). They talk about the Delta Blues, his favo

Episode 29: Blues for the Next Generation with Alice Faye Duncan

The blues has inspired many things, whether new genres of music, dance, or works of art. But as today's guest regularly reminds us, perhaps the most important part of all

Episode 28: The Blues and Mental Health at the Mitten Durch Festival

To start off 2026, Dr. Chelsea Adams features a blues festival supporting mental health resources in her hometown of Ogden, Utah. In this episode, she features artists Su

Episode 27: Theology, Protest, and the Blues

Dr. Justin McLendon, a professor of theology at Grand Canyon University and department chair for the Master of Arts programs for Grand Canyon Theological Seminary, joins

Episode 26: Blues, Songwriting, and Building Relationships with Piper and the Hard Times

Join Dr. Adams as she gets to know the lead band members of the multi-award winning blues band Piper and the Hard Times. They talk building relationships as musicians, ge

Episode 25: An Interview with Al Chesis

Al Chesis and his Delta Sonics played the Sunday set at Mile High Blues 2025. While they didn't have a chance to sit down and talk live, Al and Dr. Adams sat down before

Episode 24: Let's Talk Blues with Rex Peoples

Join Rex Peoples and Dr. Adams as they discuss blues music and dance, culture, and take audience questions in this live recording from Mile High Blues.    Guest: Rex Pe

Episode 23: Live at Mile High Blues with Maynard Mills and John Long

The podcast travels to Denver, CO for the first Mile High Blues since the pandemic to interview the Colorado blues greats at the event. Dr. Adams started the weekend off

Episode 22: On Lifting Others Up with Lady A

Dr. Adams sits down with Lady A to discuss her music, but overall, this is an episode about getting to know your neighbors, about lifting each other up, and about speakin

Episode 21: Let's Talk Culture and Community with Damon Stone

Dr. Adams sits down with dance historian and blues dance practitioner Damon Stone to discuss what we call the blues dance community, cultural ambassadorship, the good and

Episode 20: Blues Musical Complexity, a Conversation with Stef Rosen

Stef Rosen and Dr. Adams sit down and talk about his love for blues music and what it is like to learn the culture as you learn to play the blues, how he encountered the

Episode 19: Spotlight on Harrell "Young Rell" Davenport

Young Rell and Dr. Chelsea Adams sit down to talk music, the power of community and a crowd, and thoughts on college education. You can also take time to support Young Re

Episode 18: Clifford Antone's Legacy of Mentorship, a Conversation with Sarah Rucker

Dr. Chelsea Adams sits down with Sarah Rucker to discuss the life and legacy of Clifford Antone--the legendary owner of Antone's in Austin, TX--in his later years. Rucker

Episode 17: Mapping the Diaspora, a Conversation with Deirdre Molloy

How do you map dances across space and time, especially when doing so requires dealing with forced migration and slavery? Dr. Chelsea Adams and Deirdre Molloy discuss dan

Episode 16: The Tech Behind the Event, A Conversation about Accessibility with Josh Davis

In today's world of social media, much of what was once accessible through online events is no longer easy to access. Josh Davis, board member on the Blues Association of

Episode 15: "The Social Part Matters," a Conversation with Grey Armstrong

Writer, Instructor, and Lecturer Grey Armstrong and Dr. Chelsea Adams get personal about community, why people are leaving social dance, and what we can do about it.