CBC radio host Tom Power ("q") and BGS (The Bluegrass Situation) bring you the most in-depth podcast about the origins of bluegrass ever created.
Power sits down with luminaries of the genre such as Del McCoury, Ricky Skaggs, Alice Gerrard, Jesse McReynolds, Jerry Douglas and more for an intimate conversation about their origins within the world of bluegrass music. Episodes will be released bi-weekly on TheBluegrassSituation.com and wherever you get your podcasts.
PRODUCED BY: Tom Power and Amy Reitnouer Jacobs / BGS
CO-PRODUCED AND EDITED BY: Stephanie Coleman
THEME MUSIC BY: Chris Eldridge and Kristin Andreassen
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Billy Strings
Billy Strings sits down with Tom Power for a special live episode of Toy Heart recorded at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass conference i
Aug 24 46 min
Alison Krauss
We could hardly think of a better guest with whom we’d conclude our second season of Toy Heart than 27-time Grammy Award winner, Alison Krauss. Arguably the most prominen
Apr 23 2024 1 h 22 min
Jody Stecher
For the latest episode of Toy Heart, we embark on a journey through the primordial, musical ooze that birthed bluegrass, old-time, and country music with the incredible J
Apr 9 2024 1 h 09 min
Tim O'Brien
Our latest guest on Toy Heart is bluegrasser, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Tim O’Brien. His conversation with host Tom Power begins by remembering the music of h
Mar 26 2024 1 h 29 min
Laurie Lewis
In the latest episode of Toy Heart, we explore the roots and evolution of bluegrass in the modern era by examining the story of legendary bluegrasser, singer-songwriter,
Mar 12 2024 1 h 00 min
Mike Compton
Bluegrass fans know Mike Compton from his long and eclectic resumé, including decades of touring and recording traditional Monroe-style mandolin with greats like John Har
Feb 27 2024 1 h 21 min
Larry Sparks
The legendary Larry Sparks, a prominent player in bluegrass for over six decades and a Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee, joins host Tom Power for Toy Heart. Sparks shares
Feb 13 2024 57 min
Sam Bush
“Newgrass” luminary Sam Bush joins host Tom Power for the highly anticipated first episode of Toy Heart Season 2. Bush - the celebrated mandolinist and co-founder of Newg
Jan 30 2024 1 h 11 min
Seaon 2 of Toy Heart is Just Around the Corner...
The most in-depth podcast about bluegrass is coming back for its second season, from CBC radio host Tom Power ("q") and BGS (The Bluegrass Situation). This time around, P
Jan 23 2024 1 min
Bobby Osborne in Conversation with Tom Power
On a special edition of Toy Heart, we remember Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer, Grand Ole Opry member, seven-time Grammy Award nominee, CMA Award winner, and roots music le
Jul 7 2023 44 min
Remembering Tony Rice - Episode 3 (Chris Thile, Critter Eldridge, Molly Tuttle, and Bryan Sutton )
In the final chapter of our three-part tribute to Tony Rice, Tom talks to the musicians who have been inspired by Tony Rice throughout their career, and the musicians thr
Feb 5 2021 1 h 55 min
Remembering Tony Rice - Episode 2 (Peter Rowan, Béla Fleck, Sharon Gilchrist, and Josh Williams)
On episode 2 of our limited series, Toy Heart: Remembering Tony Rice, host Tom Power begins with Béla Fleck, talking about the making of two legendary albums: Drive and T
Jan 29 2021 1 h 59 min
Remembering Tony Rice - Episode 1 (Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, David Grisman)
Host Tom Power speaks with Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, and David Grisman about their old friend and bandmate Tony Rice, in the first edition of our special tribute, Toy Hear
Jan 22 2021 1 h 45 min
The Bluegrass Breakdown Podcast - Keith Whitley and Ricky Skaggs - Second Generation Bluegrass
In lieu of new episodes of Toy Heart, host Tom Power introduces an episode of "The Bluegrass Breakdown" podcast featuring a deep-dive into the making of Second Generation
Nov 5 2020 53 min
Jerry Douglas
For the final episode of season one of Toy Heart, we have host Tom Power’s 2019 sit down with legendary artist, musician, and sideman Jerry Douglas at the International B
Jun 9 2020 1 h 28 min
Tony Trischka
Host Tom Power speaks with progressive banjo legend Tony Trischka at the home of his friend and former student, Béla Fleck.
Trischka and Power talk about the time he saw
May 28 2020 56 min
Jesse McReynolds
Host Tom Power talks to Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Jesse McReynolds of Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys about his career in bluegrass.
One of the last founding father
May 14 2020 1 h 06 min
Alison Brown
Banjoist and record label head Alison Brown speaks with host Tom Power from her studio at Compass Records headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. They begin with her early
Apr 30 2020 1 h 08 min
Béla Fleck
On this episode of Toy Heart, Béla Fleck talks to host Tom Power from his home studio and for the first time, he tells his story in bluegrass.
Fleck started out in New Yo
Apr 16 2020 1 h 26 min
Alice Gerrard
Old-time legend and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Alice Gerrard talks to host Tom Power at her kitchen table in North Carolina.
Gerrard tells stories of how she and other
Apr 2 2020 1 h 21 min
Chart trend
Position in the Music Interviews chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#101#200JunJulAugSep
#38
all-time peak
5
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Toy Heart with Tom Power (A Podcast About Bluegrass) ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 15, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
This is my new favorite podcast. I love the guests and interviews as they delve into the art and soul of bluegrass music. I’m an old time and bluegrass musician and appreciate the range of artists and discussions Tom Power is able to facilitate. He is a great interviewer, sensitive and thoughtful. I appreciate his heartfelt approach and love for the music.
Andrew Behla · Apr 2024
I follow just about every bluegrass podcast that I can find. This one is not only my favorite bluegrass podcast, it’s one of the best music podcasts I’ve heard.
Tom is such a great interviewer. He obviously knows his subjects, he’ll ask a question and then he sits back while his subjects tell amazing stories with information that even the most hardcore fans haven’t heard before. Every single episode I’ve heard is a treasure. He is capturing important audio biographies that are sure to provide a historical archive of the greatest artists of this genre.
My husband and I co-host a bluegrass radio show and this podcast is turning into an invaluable resource for us.
Thank you Tom and keep them coming!
RCCpudge · Apr 2024
Tony Rice is my all time musical hero, influence and a constant source of inspiration and elevation in times of need 🎶💯❤️
Coming from an Irish Traditional Flute player that’s a big feckin deal.
You’ve no idea how much your podcast has meant to me as I listened so intently to these incredibly personal, heartfelt and honest tributes to Tony.
Thank you for sharing these with us and major kudos to both yourself and Stephanie Coleman for presenting and producing such a stellar and seriously in-depth documentary in podcast form.
RIP Tony Rice.
Kevin Crawford
lowflute · Jul 2023
What a great podcast. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical coming in but the Tony Rice tributes were just so good. Now I am going back to S1 and working my way through it. I already can’t wait for Season 2!
The Real J-Lo · Feb 2021
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