The Third Story with Leo Sidran

Leo Sidran is a musician himself, which changes the entire dynamic of how these interviews unfold. Over 330 episodes, he's sat down with creative professionals from across the arts -- though the center of gravity is firmly in jazz and music -- for long-form conversations that prioritize depth over soundbites. The show's name refers to that moment in a conversation when someone moves past the rehearsed version of their story and says something real, and Leo has a genuine talent for getting people there. The interviewing technique is what separates this from a standard music podcast. Leo asks smart questions, then actually listens to the answers instead of just waiting for his turn to talk. He's comfortable with silence, which sounds like a small thing but completely transforms how guests respond. You end up hearing artists reflect on discovery, loss, ambition, and identity in ways that feel unguarded -- the kind of thing that usually only comes out at 2 AM after a gig. New episodes drop biweekly and consistently earn the show's remarkable 4.9-star rating from 173 reviews. The guest list ranges from household names to working musicians whose stories are just as compelling even if you haven't heard their records yet. At its best, The Third Story doesn't just tell you about someone's music -- it changes how you listen to it afterward. The production is clean and unobtrusive, letting the conversations carry themselves.