The Third Story Podcast with Leo Sidran
A Grammy-winning musician interviews other creative people about the intersection of their art, craft, and life story.
A long-form interview show where host Leo Sidran explores his guests' "third story": the space between their public art and private life. Each episode opens with Sidran's signature, a lengthy and personal narrative monologue that frames the guest's journey and the conversation's core themes. The discussions are intimate, deeply researched, and focus on the guest's origins, creative process, and defining moments.
“The host's multi-minute, story-driven monologue that opens each episode is the show's most unique feature, setting a rich narrative and emotional stage. As a lifelong musician himself, Sidran's peer-level understanding, particularly with jazz artists, allows for conversations of unusual depth and specificity.”
Who hosts this show
Leo Sidran is a Grammy-winning musician, producer, composer, and podcast host based in Brooklyn. The son of jazz musician Ben Sidran, he began his career as a teenager, writing songs for the Steve Miller Band and playing drums for his father. His podcast, "The Third Story," features long-form interviews with creative professionals and is produced in partnership with WBGO Studios.
Credentials & credits
- Grammy-winning musician and producer
- Co-producer of Oscar-winning song "Al Otro Lado Del Rio"
- Songwriter for the Steve Miller Band
- Film and TV composer (ESPN 30 for 30, Discovery, PBS)
- University of Wisconsin graduate (History)
- Multi-instrumentalist (drums, guitar, keyboards, vocals)
Other ventures
- Solo recording artist (8+ albums)
- Producer for artists including Ben Sidran and Alex Cuba
- Co-founder of Nardis Records
- Touring musician
- Host of "The Art Of The Story" for WBGO
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01324: Heather Aimee O'NeillJun 19, 2026 · 58 min
- 02323: Lakecia BenjaminJun 9, 2026 · 1h 13m
- 03Lakecia Benjamin talks to Leo Sidran about WE DREAMJun 9, 2026 · 1h 09m
- 04Emmet Cohen talks to Leo Sidran about Universal TruthMay 29, 2026 · 52 min
- 05322: Miles DavisMay 26, 2026 · 52 min
- 06Leo Sidran talks to Mike HarrisonMay 21, 2026 · 33 min
- 07321: Julieta VenegasMay 18, 2026 · 54 min
- 08320: Dida PelledMay 3, 2026 · 1h 14m
Notable episodes
- 01323: Lakecia Benjamin
A perfect example of the show's format, featuring a deep dive into the guest's origin, mentorship by Clark Terry, and challenges as a woman in jazz.
- 02322: Miles Davis
Features a rare 1986 conversation between Miles Davis and the host's father, Ben Sidran, highlighting the show's deep roots in jazz history.
- 03324: Heather Aimee O'Neill
Showcases the host's ability to interview a personal friend, exploring themes of hidden ambition and the transition from private creator to public figure.
What you'll be asked on this show
Leo Sidran begins each interview with a detailed, personal monologue that serves as a narrative overture, often lasting several minutes. He uses this introduction to frame the guest's story and establish the themes he wants to explore. His first question often springs directly from this intro or a candid moment from the pre-interview chat. Sidran favors broad, open-ended questions to start, particularly about a guest's origins ("What was the scene like when you were a kid?"). He actively listens for key anecdotes and follows up with specific questions that connect a past event to the artist's present identity or craft, such as asking how navigating a male-dominated world shaped them. The conversations feel like a peer-to-peer exploration of the creative life.
This is a single-host interview show. Episodes begin with a signature narrative introduction before transitioning into a relaxed, story-driven conversation. The tone is informed and empathetic, with a clear focus on origin stories and artistic development. The podcast is a production of WBGO Studios, reflecting a public radio sensibility.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
9 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“What was the musical or creative environment like in your neighborhood when you were a kid?”
This is a frequent opening question used to establish the guest's origin story before they became a professional.
craft
1- Q.01
“What was the process of figuring out what you had to say and finding your own voice?”
He asks this to get to the core of a guest's artistic development, moving from influence to individuality.
personal
2- Q.01
“Did you ever get to tell [your hero] what they meant to you?”
After a guest names an idol or mentor, he uses this to explore the personal side of their professional relationships.
- Q.02
“It sounds like you're confronting what it means to become a public person. Is that right?”
He is adept at turning a meta-comment or observation into a thematic question about public vs. private identity.
industry
1- Q.01
“What was it like for you, as a young woman, entering that largely male and older world?”
He asks this to directly address and explore the challenges of identity within a specific industry.
backstory
1- Q.01
“How did you end up getting involved with [a major crossover artist or project]?”
This question probes the story behind a pivotal or unexpected turn in a guest's career.
advice
1- Q.01
“Would you advise young people today to take the same risks that you did?”
This is a forward-looking question that asks the guest to reflect on their journey and offer guidance.
relationships
1- Q.01
“Did you have a mentor who guided you?”
He often asks this to understand the support systems and key figures who shaped the guest's path.
process
1- Q.01
“How do you actually do that? What are the mechanics of jumping on stage with a star like Prince?”
When a guest shares a bold story, he follows up to get the practical, 'how-to' details of the moment.
Signature segments
- · The 'Third Story' concept
- · Long narrative guest introduction
- · Father-son musical heritage
- · WBGO Studios production
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The guests are primarily accomplished musicians, with a strong emphasis on the jazz world (Lakecia Benjamin, Emmet Cohen), but also include authors (Heather Aimee O'Neill) and other creatives with a compelling story about their craft and identity.
- Heather Aimee O'Neillon 324: Heather Aimee O'Neill
- Lakecia Benjaminon 323: Lakecia Benjamin
- Emmet Cohenon Emmet Cohen talks to Leo Sidran about Universal Truth
- Julieta Venegason 321: Julieta Venegas
- Dida Pelledon 320: Dida Pelled
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is presented by WBGO Studios, a public radio entity, suggesting a non-commercial, mission-driven focus. Sponsorship would likely appeal to brands centered on arts, culture, education, and storytelling.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is the host's background?
- Leo Sidran is a Grammy-winning musician, producer, and composer who grew up in the music business as the son of jazz artist Ben Sidran.
- What is the 'Third Story'?
- It's the show's core concept, referring to the intersection between a creative person's art and craft, their personal and professional life, and the story that exists between what they tell others and what they tell themselves.
- What is the show's format?
- It's a long-form, one-on-one interview show. Each episode begins with a detailed narrative monologue by the host about the guest before the interview begins.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases new episodes regularly and is an active production.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, its own website (third-story.com), and episodes are also posted on YouTube and the WBGO website.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Leo Sidran Official Website - Bioleosidran.com
- [02]The Third Story Podcast Official Websitethird-story.com
- [03]The Third Story with Leo Sidran on WBGOwbgo.org
- [04]Leo Sidran - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]Leo Sidran | Meet the Staff - WBGOwbgo.org
- [06]Tape Op - Leo Sidran: Producer's Journey & Creative Processtapeop.com
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