The Story Behind Friendly Banjos (Podcast Episode)
I recently had the chance to sit down with Scott Paul, President of the American Alliance for Manufacturing, to talk about the winding and unexpected story behind Friendly Banjos.
What started as a desire to make music more accessible eventually led me from a sales career I had no passion for, across the country, and into the world of American instrument making. Along the way, I learned from some of the country's incredible artisan banjo makers and began imagining a different kind of instrument—one designed from the ground up to make learning music feel a little more friendly.
In our conversation, we talk about how Friendly Banjos came to be, why I was determined to manufacture the banjo in America, and how I partnered with Massachusetts-based Magic Fluke to bring the instrument to life using locally sourced materials.
We also talk about the painting that helped reshape my entire mission, the Kickstarter campaign that got Friendly Banjos off the ground, our unexpected moment of going viral on TikTok, and the much more personal role that learning to make music has played in my own life.
Watch the Conversation
If you'd rather listen, you can find the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:
Thank you to Scott and the American Alliance for Manufacturing for giving me the opportunity to share the story behind Friendly Banjos. If you want to learn more about my little banjo company, start here!
