Episode 1

Running Into Your Ex and Keeping Your Resolve with Rachel Sumner

Published on: 5th February, 2024

S2E1: We’re kicking off season 2 with a chat with Rachel Sumner! We get into a wide range of topics, from the creative flow to structuring a stand-up routine, to grounding techniques for when you run into an ex in public. This episode features Rachels’ new single “So What” off of her upcoming album “Heartless Things” (out May 10).

Do you have a predicament? Submit it to the show!

For a full-spectrum advice experience listen to the accompanying DB: S2E1 Playlist, hand-selected songs to pertain to this letter writer's predicament!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, subscribe, and send an episode to your favorite people! Your support is invaluable to a wee podcast like Dear Balladeer, and I so appreciate it!

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About the Podcast

Dear Balladeer
The perfect song for your predicament
Ever listen to the right song at the right moment and think, "Man, I want to talk to whoever wrote this song!" Well now you can! Dear Balladeer is here to blend the genres of advice podcast with interviews from up-and-coming folk and folk-adjacent musicians!

The premise behind Dear Balladeer is that you write in your anonymous advice submissions and I (songwriter and musician, Sadie Gustafson-Zook) band together with my musician friends to find a song to go with that predicament. I then talk with the songwriter about the context for their song and have them weigh in on your advice submission!

My Patreon members also get an exclusive extended cut with a more in-depth chat with the songwriter about their writing process!

To submit your own quandary, fill out the anonymous link in the Instagram bio for @dear_balladeer!

About your host

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Sadie Gustafson-Zook

Sadie Gustafson-Zook (she/they) is a Midwestern songwriter, people person, dabbler of artistic mediums, and host of this podcast! She has enjoyed giving advice for as long as she has enjoyed making music as long as she has enjoyed talking to people, and this podcast helps her do all of these things at once. To learn more about Sadie's music visit her website at www.sadiegustafsonzook.com and to support her and this pod visit her Patreon at www.patreon.com/sadiebgz