What Am I Making
What Am I Making Podcast
What Am I Making Podcast #006 - Abigail and Barry Hummel of 'Pops on Hops'
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What Am I Making Podcast #006 - Abigail and Barry Hummel of 'Pops on Hops'

A conversation with the father/daughter duo behind the Pops on Hops podcast. We talk about the quest to make nerds of our kids, the power of encouragement and the generational costs devaluing art.

I love listening to Barry and Abigail Hummel talk about records and beer. Certainly, it helps that there are few things in this world I would rather do than talk music over a pint. But the real joy of Pops on Hops is the connection and conversation between a daughter and her dad. 

On each episode , the Hummels choose a record, and then pair it with a flight of beer from a specific brewery and Barry and Abigail go through the record track by track and talk about their feelings, impressions and attachments to the songs. What begins as a conversation about music and beer often leads to deeper discussions and a connection between a parent and child that is palpable, and beautiful.

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As the father of two adult daughters, Pops On Hops might seem tailor made for a dude like me. While I do fit the demo pretty perfectly, there is truly something here for everyone. Some of my favorite moments on the pod came as Abigail and Barry discussed songs or records that I had no feelings about at all. The honesty of the two of them as people, listeners, and family is genuine, and really lovely. And yeah, it helps a little that Abigail’s favorite band is REM. 

During our discussion we hit upon the quest to make nerds of our kids, the power of encouragement and the generational cost of devaluing art. We also talk about the power of making a commitment as it relates to your creative output and the vulnerability of sharing something you love and the fears of how that might backfire. Most importantly, we discuss the art of bullshitting your way there until you have it figured out. Something at which I have thousands of hours of practice.

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These are two truly wonderful people. Their podcast is fantastic. I am humbled to have been a guest on their show more than once, and to get to call them my friends. Enjoy this conversation. I sure did.

Cheers,
Matty C

Discussion about this podcast

What Am I Making
What Am I Making Podcast
Hey there. I’m Matty C. For the formally inclined folks in the crowd, the official designation is Matt Carlson.
I am a 50 year old musician, songwriter, and graphic designer that's spent the Covid era pondering deep and meaningful questions about music, film, literature and art in the 21st century.
It seems as though we’re living in age where musicians have to give their music away, content is around every corner and we don’t seem to really value much of any of it the way we used to.
What is it really like to make a living pursuing a life in the arts these days? Why are we seeing a lower percentage of artists in the workforce than at anytime in 100 years?
Now, I’ve reached a point of massive change in my life and I am preparing to spend more of my time, and hopefully, generating a portion of my income from my creative endeavors. That’s a terrifying endeavor, but it’s also incredibly exciting.
I’ll be discussing these ideas and a whole lot more of my own curiosity and creative endeavors on this platform using the written word, videos, podcasts, music and probably some other assets I learn along the way. I’ll be seeking out smart, and fascinating creatives as they build their own lives while fighting an ever-growing series of new challenges and opportunities.
All of these journeys and detours are an effort to share my exploration of culture in the modern world, and to help shine a brighter light on the work I have been doing for years as a musician, designer and podcaster.
This discussion is at the very center of our civilization, what it means to be human andhow to find a meaningful way to connect through that shared humanity in the form of artistic expression. Art is at the core of the relationship. Let’s explore it with that context, and that incalculable value, in mind.
If you enjoy what you hear on the show, please subscribe to my Substack where I also I post this podcast as well as a variety of essays, video and recordings regularly in my search to find out what art really matters to people right here and right now, and they are willing to do to invest in our culture.
Thank you so much for being here. It’s wonderful to have your support.
https://whatamimaking.substack.com