Robert Earl Keen sits down with Texas singer-songwriter Hayes Carll for a conversation about songwriting, storytelling, and the people and places that find their way into his music.

From his early days growing up in The Woodlands, Texas, to a career spanning more than two decades, Carll has developed a distinctive songwriting voice built on sharp observation, humor, honesty, and an appreciation for the complicated characters of everyday life. Drawing inspiration from writers like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, and John Prine, he has carried the Texas songwriting tradition forward while developing a style unmistakably his own.

In this episode, Keen and Carll explore the craft behind telling a story in a song, the influence of Texas and its songwriting tradition, and the balance between humor and heartache that runs throughout Carll’s work. They also discuss the experiences, characters, and small details that inspire songs—and what keeps a songwriter curious after years of writing, recording, and performing.

It’s a conversation about finding meaning in ordinary moments, choosing the right words, and why a good story never goes out of style.

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