S4 E5. Mark Rader: The Blues Are Still The Blues (Part 1)

S4 E5. Mark Rader: The Blues Are Still The Blues (Part 1)

Author: Blue Poncho Media August 11, 2026 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 before disbanding in 1995. Daniel sits down to chat with the band's guitarist and lead vocalist, Mark Rader, who formed The Traditional Grass alongside Daniel's papaw and dad: Paul "Moon Mullins and Joe Mullins. Gathered around his dining room table, Mark shares stories about growing up in Middletown and coming of age in southwestern Ohio during such an exciting time for the region's bluegrass scene. He recounts how The Traditional Grass was founded in 1983 and breaks down the excitement behind writing one of their signature songs, "The Blues Are Still The Blues." Mark is a great storyteller and is a lover of roots music. We get him to break down some his favorites artists, from Larry Sparks to Lonnie Mack! Enjoy Part 1 of our conversation with Mark Rader. 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
S1 E7. Mike Bub: Sideman Extraordinaire (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
From his time of growing up as a competition banjo player in the southwest, Arizona native Mike Bub has been a bluegrass staple -- from his time with the Weary Hearts to the Del McCoury Band, and even today as he is one…
S1 E6. Sierra Hull: From Fan to Icon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
From fan to icon, the grateful and brilliant Sierra Hull tells her story of how she got her start by meeting her personal musical heroes. From a bright family upbringing to becoming friends with her idols, Sierra is a br…
S1 E5. Danny Paisley: A Pedigree on Positivity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:25
The positivity of Danny Paisley. Hailing from Pennsylvania, Danny is what one would call “pedigreed Bluegrass.” He grew up playing this music alongside his legendary father, Bob Paisley, in The Southern Grass as they put…
S1 E4. Peter Rowan: The Keening Tones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:12
Peter Rowan, a former Bluegrass Boy, has a storied career that includes working alongside Jerry Garcia with the West Coast band, Old & In The Way, and a reputation as an innovative and multi-faceted solo artist. He and o…
S1 E3. Blake Williams: The Sparta Flash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:38
The Sparta Flash! Blake Williams is best known as a Bluegrass Boy, but one that witnessed some of the final years of his band leader, The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe. Road stories from the last days of the first gen…
S1 E2. J.D. Crowe (Part 2): Going for Broke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:47
We continue our conversation with Bluegrass Hall of Famer, J.D. Crowe today. J.D. shares advice for new bluegrass bands and musicians, his thoughts on doing things a little differently, and speaks fondly about the late K…
S1 E1. J.D. Crowe (Part 1): Grit and Innovation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:34
The unmistakable music of banjo master, J.D. Crowe has shaped a generation of bluegrass musicians. His seminal band, the New South was known for taking mainstream songs and making them bluegrass favorites, as well as upd…
S1 E0. Season 1 Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:10
On this inaugural season of Walls of Time, hear field interviews with the best in bluegrass. In this preview episode of Season 1, host Daniel Mullins and co-producer, Ty Gilpin, introduce themselves, and give a run down…