John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton: The Art of Songwriting

Folk music veterans John McCutcheon and Tom Paxton discuss their collaborative album "Together Again" with interviewer Cris Cohen. The conversation explores their songwriting philosophy of addressing macro issues through intimate personal stories, their creative partnership that has flourished through Zoom co-writing sessions, and their optimistic view of folk music's current health. They reflect on mentorship from Pete Seeger, the importance of surrendering to the creative process, finding success outside mainstream formulas, and maintaining artistic vitality throughout their careers. The interview touches on specific songs from the album while offering insights into collaboration, the role of technology in creativity, and the enduring power of storytelling in music. (Note: At one point Tom drops from the call and is unable to reconnect.)