S4 E2. Fred Bartenstein: Bluegrass Guru (Part 2)

S4 E2. Fred Bartenstein: Bluegrass Guru (Part 2)

Author: Blue Poncho Media July 11, 2026 Duration: 1:16:10
In this second episode of our "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" season of Walls of Time, we pick back up with Fred Bartenstein at his home in Yellow Springs, OH. Fred was about to share "the quintessential Carlton Haney story" (trust us, you have to hear it!). Fred also discusses working in New York City with the Greenbriar Boys and the time he spent in the Big Apple with Joe & Lily Isaacs. He also shares fascinating stories about his publications on Joe Wilson and Uncle Josh Graves. Fred's "bluegrass spotlights" analysis of the genre will change the way you view our musical genre, and of course, we chat more about "Industrial Strength Bluegrass." Enjoy Part 2 of our conversation with Fred Bartenstein, who truly is a "bluegrass guru.". This episode is brought to you by the following sponsors: -- Greene County Public Library: greenelibrary.info-- Samson's Haircare: samsonshaircare.com (Use code BLUEGRASS to save 10%.) 

There’s a particular sound that feels like home-the drive of a banjo, the ache of a fiddle, the harmony of voices that seem to rise from the ground itself. Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast is built around that feeling, but it goes deeper, into the stories and people behind the music. Host Daniel Mullins doesn’t just sit in a studio; he takes his recorder to festivals, backstage areas, and front porches, capturing conversations where they naturally happen. This approach gives each episode an intimate, almost conversational quality, as if you’re right there in the room. You’ll hear from legendary pickers, innovative songwriters, and the dedicated souls who keep the tradition alive, all sharing their journeys in their own voices. The podcast, from Blue Poncho Media, is less about formal interviews and more about genuine connection, exploring how these artists live and breathe the genre. It’s for anyone who wants to understand not just how the music is made, but why it matters. Tune in for unfiltered stories, laughter, and the raw, unvarnished sound of bluegrass history being told by those who are shaping it, one note and one story at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 49

Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast
Podcast Episodes
S4 E6. Mark Rader: The Blues Are Still The Blues (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:07
Mark Rader was the lead vocalist and guitarist of The Traditional Grass, one of the foremost bluegrass bands on the festival circuit in the 80's and 90's. In this episode of Walls of Time, Mark shares great tales from th…
S4 E5. Mark Rader: The Blues Are Still The Blues (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:43
The Traditional Grass was one of the premiere bluegrass bands of the '80s and 90s. Originating in the Miami Valley, they developed a strong reputation and a national following, releasing four albums for Rebel Records bef…
S4 E4. Larry Sparks: Natural Thing To Do (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:47
Larry Sparks is truly one of one. We return to the Sparks home in eastern Indiana for the second half of our conversation with the "Youngest of the Old Timers". We chat with Larry about some of his biggest songs and albu…
S4 E3. Larry Sparks: Natural Thing To Do (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:19
There is no one like Larry Sparks. A member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, he is a large part of the "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" story. As we dive into the history of southwestern Ohio bluegrass, we visited wit…
S4 E1. Fred Bartenstein: Bluegrass Guru (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:58
In this inaugural episode of our "Industrial Strength Bluegrass" season of Walls of Time, we sit down with Fred Bartenstein at his home in Yellow Springs, OH. Fred is one of the editors of the book Industrial Strength Bl…
S4 E0. Season 4 Preview (Industrial Strength Bluegrass) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:33
Season 4 is almost here! Catch this exclusive sneak peek of our first "themed" season of Walls of Time: Bluegrass Podcast. We will be diving deep into the stories of "industrial strength bluegrass", learning more about s…
S3 E6. Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy: A Pair of Rounders (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:03
In Part Two of our conversation with Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy, we continue diving in to the fifty-plus year history of Rounder Records, which they helped found alongside Bill Nowlin. They tell us why J.D. Crowe &…
S3 E5. Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy: A Pair of Rounders (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:20:26
The story of Rounder Records is one of the most unlikely success stories in American roots music. Two of the historic record label's three founders, Ken Irwin & Marian Leighton Levy join us to tell the tale in this exten…
S3 E4. Jeremy & Corrina Stephens: Music In My Soul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:26
Jeremy & Corrina Stephens are truly old souls. They both seek a deeper understanding of their shared passions: traditional music and their faith. Both are uber-talented multi-instrumentalists with an immense knowledge of…
S3 E3. Tammy Rogers: I Choose You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:18
Tammy Rogers King is a founder of the Grammy award-winning band, The Steeldrivers. Known for her fiddling, singing, and songwriting, her musical journey includes touring with Patty Loveless, working as a Nashville songwr…