Improv Exchange Podcast

Leander Young started this show with a specific mission: keeping jazz relevant by having honest conversations with the people actually making it. Over 180 episodes, the Improv Exchange has become one of the best places to hear directly from contemporary jazz musicians about their experiences -- not just the polished press-kit version, but the real stories about building careers, finding audiences, and staying creative in a music industry that doesn't always make that easy. The guest list is particularly strong on younger and mid-career artists -- pianists, saxophonists, vocalists, and composers who represent jazz's present and future rather than just its past. Episodes run 25 to 57 minutes and release roughly bimonthly. Leander's interviewing approach is direct without being pushy, creating space for guests to be candid about topics that don't always get discussed in jazz media, like the financial realities of touring or the social dynamics of a music scene. The show carries a perfect 5.0-star rating from 13 reviews, and listeners specifically praise it for filling a gap in jazz coverage. One reviewer called it "desperately needed in the jazz world," which speaks to how effectively it captures perspectives that are usually underrepresented. If you graduated from a music program and wondered what actually happens next, or if you're curious about the daily lives of working jazz musicians in 2026, Leander is asking exactly the right questions.