Mandolin Secrets Podcast

# 53 One Mandolin, One Mic: Baron Collins-Hill on Teaching from Bangkok

Magnus Zetterlund talks with Baron Collins-Hill, the mandolin teacher behind the MandoLessons YouTube channel, running strong for nearly 20 years. Baron picked up mandoli

#52 Mando Mike on Teaching, Technique & the Broken Hand

Join Magnus Zetterlund with UK-based mandolin teacher Mike Giverin (Mando Mike) to explore why learning an instrument transforms lives. Mike shares his journey from seein

#51 Does Your Pickguard Kill Your Tone? Hayes Griffin Weighs In

Join Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin as they discuss gear essentials, touring adventures, and what happens when you remove a pickguard from your mandolin. Hayes shar

#50 Four Chords to Solo Concerts: Malin Foxdal's Octave Mandolin Journey

Join Magnus Zetterlund as he welcomes Swedish artist Malin Foxdal to discuss her journey with the octave mandolin, from knowing just four chords to performing solo concer

# 49 Karl Tirén: Composing, Band Leadership & Overcoming Injury

Join Magnus Zetterlund as he sits down with Swedish mandolin player, bandleader, and composer Karl Tirén to discuss his innovative Atlas project—a unique trio featuring m

#48 The Making Of Bingsjö Lilla Långdans

Go behind the scenes as Magnus Zeterlund breaks down his latest release, "Bingsjö Lilla Långdans"—a traditional Swedish tune reimagined on electric octave mandolin and gu

#47 Deconstructing a Classic: When You Wish Upon a Star

In this episode: Magnus Zetterlund takes a deep dive into his unique mandolin arrangement of the 1940 Disney classic. Using an AI-generated technical overview as a jumpin

#46 Pick Slanting Breakthroughs & Practice Priorities for 2026

Join Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin as they wrap up 2025 and dive into the real work happening in practice rooms across the mandolin community. In this candid conver

#45 Your best practice advices

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: What are the best practice advice or helpful tips you have learned?Did you attend any good c

#44 How to find a good teacher?

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: When getting started, were you mostly self-taught or did you take lessons?What got you to pi

#43 Getting the most out of workshops with Tristan Scroggins

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund interviews one of the young mandolin stars in the bluegrass scene, Tristan Scroggins. He is a musician based in Nashville, and

#42 // Should you play the electric mandolin?

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: What are your thoughts about the electric mandolin?Hayes’s new video lesson about The OTHER

#41 Learning a new instrument

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: Learning a new instrument.5 Tips for Jam SessionsThe great online resource for learning the

#40 Learning for the long term with David Betcher

In this podcast episode, I(Magnus Zetterlund) am chatting with my student, David Betcher, from Michigan, USA. A few of the subjects we touched upon are: Taking one step

#39 How to use the entire fretboard

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: What is your biggest struggle when it comes to fretboard knowledge?How do you visualize scal

#38 Where do you find inspiration?

In this month’s episode, Magnus Zetterlund and Hayes Griffin are discussing: Where do you find the songs/tunes that inspire you?Do you have music goals for 2025?Magnus’s

#37 Finding your own style with Radim Zenkl

In this month’s episode, Magnus interviews one of the most innovative mandolin players on the world, Radim Zenkl, from the Czech Republic. He plays a variety of styles an

#36 Holiday greetings and gear talk

In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund are discussing: What music-related items are on your holiday wish list this year?Does your mood affect your

#35 Play by tabs/notation vs by ear

In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund are discussing: The 5th anniversary of Mandolin Secrets Academy. How to use the powerful back-chaining techn

#34 How to succeed with contest playing

In this podcast episode, Hayes Griffin and Magnus Zetterlund discuss the interesting subject of contest playing. Why do it? How to apply? What to focus on? It's not