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We cover the lives of violin makers, their best parts and worst parts, yesterday and today. Historical stories, interviews with experts and makers in the field. Omobono Stradivari was the least liked son of his father, Antonio, he was remembered in Antonio's will as a screw up. He is our north star. We are all part of this. We all belong exactly here.

for Luthiers, by Luthiers


    • May 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 78 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The omo podcast is a refreshing and engaging show that delves into the world of violin making and repair. As someone who may not play the instrument but still appreciates the artistry and craftsmanship behind it, this podcast offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes stories and thoughts of luthiers. With its smart and funny approach, it keeps listeners entertained while also providing valuable insights into the industry.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the variety of guests and topics covered. From interviews with luthiers to discussions about the different paths that lead to this career, each episode offers something new and interesting. The personalities and humor of the hosts make it an enjoyable listen, creating a sense of camaraderie among listeners. Additionally, the stories shared hit the nail on the head in terms of capturing the world of violin making and repair.

    While there are many positive aspects to The omo podcast, one potential downside is that it may be more appealing to those already familiar with or involved in the industry. Some episodes may go into technical details or industry-specific jargon that could be harder for casual listeners to follow along with. However, for those with a passion for violins or an interest in learning more about luthiers, this podcast provides an informative and entertaining experience.

    In conclusion, The omo podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in violins, luthiers, or simply appreciating the artistry behind musical instruments. With its clever approach, engaging hosts, and diverse range of topics, it brings a much-needed voice to an industry steeped in tradition and change. Whether you're a player or just fascinated by instruments, this podcast offers an insightful look into a complex and inspiring art form.



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    Latest episodes from omo

    Episode 78: You asked, we answered.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 62:28


    Team Omo answers listener submitted questions

    Episode 77: Model Behavior

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 45:52


    Jerry interviews violin makers Michael Doran and Ryan Soltis about making new models and personal models. Special Guests: Michael Doran and Ryan Soltis .

    Episode 76: Bows & Riches

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 63:03


    Katherine and Joshua talk bows with bow maker Richard Morency. Special Guest: Richard Morency .

    Episode 75: Killer Business Apps!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 49:17


    Guest host Becka Hannigan talks with Rozie DeLoach-Zimmerman and Anya Burgess about applications to make running your violin shop easier. Special Guests: Anya Burgess and Rozie Deloach .

    Episode 74: The Linda Chronicles

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 52:16


    Omo meets the Violin Chronicles! Special Guest: Linda Lespets .

    Episode 73: The Bespoke Bow

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 47:16


    Katherine and Brandon talk with Bow Maker Darrell Hanks about his process for creating a bow tailored to the players needs. Special Guest: Darrell Hanks .

    Episode 72: Bruce Babbitt and the Music Region of Markneukirchen and Schönbach

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 52:24


    Brandon and Jerry talk with Bruce Babbitt about studying instruments and bows of the Music Region of Germany, publishing books, and being a "pollinator" of violins. Special Guest: Bruce Babbitt .

    Episode 71: Origin Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 48:25


    Katherine Kidwell and editor Joshua Litton go over community submitted responses of what got listeners into the trade, and what keeps them there.

    Episode 70: The Baton with Philip J Kass

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 59:10


    Rozie and Brandon talk to Philip Kass about his involvment with the VSA over the years. Also covered is the 50th anniversary of the VSA, and the upcoming convention. Special Guest: Philip J. Kass .

    Episode 69: Oberlin For Everyone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 57:56


    Rozie and Liz talk with Jerry Lynn and Jerry Pasewicz about what it takes to put on a workshop. Special Guests: Jerry Lynn and Jerry Pasewicz.

    Episode 68: The American Violin, with John Montgomery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 60:40


    “The American Violin” is a 2016 publication by the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (which we may refer to as AFVBM or “The Federation”). This book was a monumental culmination of efforts by many folks in The Federation and the general violin trade. It very eloquently tells the story of American violin making- when and where it started, how it spread, and to whom it served. Guest John Montgomery joins Jerry and Brandon to tell this story. Special Guest: John Montgomery.

    Episode 67: ViolinABox (The World Violin)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 62:11


    What happens when you put ten luthiers from nine countries in a box? Learn more about the ViolinABox, it's makers, and it's journey: https://violinabox.org/ Support Lutheirs Sans Frontiers: https://lsfusa.org/ Listen to more of Kat Glaze: https://www.instagram.com/katandthefiddle/ Special Guest: Andrew Carruthers.

    Episode 66: Unlocking Inspiration

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 40:48


    Elizabeth and Katherine are joined by guest Kristin Siegfried Ballenger to discuss creativity and getting the job done. Special Guest: Kristin Sigfried Ballenger .

    Episode 65: Interpersonal Relations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 68:56


    Katherine and Elizabeth talk to Korinthia Kline and Robyn Sullivan about navigating personal mistakes in dealing with the public. Special Guests: Korinthia Klein and Robyn Sullivan .

    Episode 64: 5 years in review

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 56:36


    Jerry and Rozie are joined by fellow Omo founder Chris Jacoby to talk about 5 years of Omo. Later, Gerard KilBride joins Brandon Godman to talk about bridges. Special Guests: Christopher Jacoby and Gerard KilBride .

    Episode 63: Love, Fear, and Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 69:50


    Katherine Kidwell gets real with Rozie and Jerry about taking direction of her own learning.

    Episode 62: Cultivating Focus

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 55:23


    Editor at large Jason Peoples puts Rozie and Jerry on the hotseat to talk about focus along with Omo host alum, and now guest, Christopher Jacoby. Special Guests: Christopher Jacoby , Jerry Lynn, and Rozie Deloach .

    Episode 61: Sam I am

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 60:35


    Rozie sits down to talk with Brooklyn based violin maker Samuel Zygmuntowicz. Special Guest: Samuel Zygmuntowicz .

    Episode 60: Building Bridges

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 57:45


    Brandon and Katherine talk to Grand Rapids, MI based restorer and maker Matthew Noykos about all things bridges. Special Guest: Matthew Noykos.

    Episode 59: The National Music Museum

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 48:00


    Rozie and Jerry discuss the importants of museums. We find out about the National Music Museum and it's reopening. For our Coda, we catch up with Ben Hebbert and get some words of wisdom. Special Guests: Andrew Dipper, Benjamin Hebbert, and Claire Givens.

    Episode 58: Cutting Necks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2023 43:35


    Rozie and Jason record live from the Oberlin Restoration Workshop with too many guests to list!

    Episode 57: Rest Insured

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 60:51


    Brandon and Rozie talk about the riveting world of insurance.

    Episode 56: What is tone wood?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 64:09


    Jason and Jerry talk to Shannon Rogers of Shannon's Lumber Industry Update about tone wood. Liz gives her reaction to the interview. Special Guest: Shannon Rogers .

    Episode 55: Project Blue Book part 3: Beyond the Bluebook

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2023 54:46


    Jerry and Liz talk with Joe Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert on their career in instrument restoration and their time at the Weisshaar shop. Special Guest: Grubaugh & Seifert .

    Episode 54: Pernambuco part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 60:57


    Rozie and Brandon talk with Yung Chin regarding the latest CITES developments. Special Guest: Yung Chin.

    Episode 53: Project Blue Book part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 53:45


    Rozie and Jerry talk with Bill Scott regarding his role with the Weisshaar book Special Guest: Bill Scott.

    Episode 52: Project Blue Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 51:04


    Rozie and Elizabeth discuss the importance of Weisshaarr book. Rozie interviews Margaret Shipman on it's creation. The book can be found at https://www.weisshaarrepairbook.com Special Guest: Margaret Shipman.

    Episode 51: Sharpening, how to cut corners.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 55:24


    Michael Doran is back on Omo to talk about all things sharpening. Special Guest: Michael Doran.

    Episode 50: Pernambuco

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 66:04


    It's time to dive deep into Pernambuco! This is a deeply consequential topic for stringed instrument musicians, music shop owners, and makers alike. What is the future of this endangered wood for bow making? Will it be legal to buy or sell just a few short weeks from now? Will Brazil, with the right leadership, be able to protect this dwindling resource? Join us, as we untease this thorny subject. For more information regarding the current situation, please check out allianceusa.org

    Episode 49: VSA 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 76:07


    Brandon talks all things VSA with Anya Burgess and Chris Ulbricht. Items for the VSA scholarship auction can be brought to the convention and dropped off in the vendor room on Monday, November 14th, or shipped to Howard Core by November 1st. Ship to: Hans Anderson/Howard Core Inc. 23371 Mulholland Dr 271 Woodland Hills, CA 91364 Special Guests: Anya Burgess, Chris Ulbricht , and Elizabeth Perry .

    Episode 48: Vienna

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 51:37


    Rozie talks about her recent trip to Vienna, and the Viennese tradition of instrument making with Ben and Jerry (not the icecream guys.) Special Guest: Benjamin Hebbert.

    Episode 47: The Experts Part 3: The path to attribution

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 55:46


    Team Omo is joined by Christopher Reuning, Claire Givens, and Stefan Hersh to discuss their process for instrument attribution. Special Guests: Brandon Godman, Christopher Reuning, Claire Givens, and Stefan Hersh .

    Episode 46: The Experts: Tools and Resources

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 59:41


    On Rozie and Brandon's continuing search to understand experts in the identification field, in this episode we explore the tools and resources of the trade. From blacklights to libraries, dendrochronology to databases, we consult with Christopher Reuning, Claire Givens, and Benjamin Hebbert. This episode sponsored by Hancrafted Market (https://handcrafted.market/) and Learning Trade Secrets (https://www.learningtradesecrets.com/). Special Guests: Benjamin Hebbert, Brandon Godman, Christopher Reuning, and Claire Givens.

    Episode 45: The Experts: Origins

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 64:54


    Three experts in the violin identification field share with us how they got their start. Join Rozie and Brandon as they chat with Christoper Reuning, Ben Hebbert, and Sawyer Thomson. Special Guests: Benjamin Hebbert, Brandon Godman, Christopher Reuning, and Sawyer Thomson.

    Episode 44: Tsukomogami: The Will of the Instrument

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 47:23


    Do inanimate objects sometimes have a will of their own? Does a violin have it's own agenda? Tsukomogami is a japanese folk belief that tools become more alive over time. Join Rozie DeLoach and Brandon Godman, discussing a few violin histories in which there seems to be more afoot than just the influence of humans. Jerry Lynn tells the story of the confederate owner's viola, Rozie discusses a few instruments from the Violins of Hope project, and Brandon tells the tale of the violin that did not want to be touched. Special Guest: Brandon Godman.

    Episode 43: A Sticky Situation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 54:09


    What are the origins of hide glue, and how did it become THE glue of choice for violin makers? Join Rozie DeLoach and Jerry Lynn as they interview violinmaker and glue enthusiast Michael Doran, who even experimented making his own batch of hide glue. And stay tuned for MJ Kwan, who talks about her Ultimate Glue Test and the recent national results of the Luthier Income Survey. Watch MJ's ultimate glue test (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBdbTPv172c). You too can fill out the luthier income survey (https://forms.gle/yrKpCD7MY25JQdhw9). This episode is proudly sponsored by Learning Trade Secrets (https://www.learningtradesecrets.com/), House of Note (https://www.houseofnote.com/), and you (https://www.patreon.com/omopod?fan_landing=true). Special Guests: Michael Doran and M. J. Kwan.

    Episode 42: Peaches: the Matchmaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 48:11


    Brandon Godman joins Rozie & Jerry, discussing the thrill of violin hunting, along with his multifaceted career. Splitting his time between The Fiddle Mercantile in San Francisco and The Violin Shop in Nashville, Brandon is deeply knowledgable through the country in the art of matching the right violin to the right restorer and right shop. Special Guest: Brandon Godman.

    Episode 41: The Egg and I, and Antoine

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 58:06


    Rozie and Jerry talk with the executive director of the Chicago School of Violinmaking, Antoine Nedelec. Special Guest: Antoine Nedelec.

    Episode 40: Family: Oberlin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2021 38:56


    What feels like family? For us, its Oberlin. Rozie and Jerry talk with Anna Hoffman, manager of the Oberlin Conservatory summer programs, about what the program offers for luthiers and beyond. For years this campus has been connecting people in the arts and fostering excellence.

    Episode 39: Trevor Davis: Gettin Wood

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2021 45:30


    From choosing the right tree for tonewood, to safely getting logs down the mountain, award winning bass maker Trevor Davis shares with Chris and Rozie his experiences traveling to Colorado to fell spruce. Special Guest: Trevor Davis.

    Episode 38: Women in Lutherie: The Movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 49:05


    What's next for Women at the workbench? Join Rozie as she interviews Jeemin Kim and Jennifer Creadick, co founders of the nonprofit organization (and all around amazing gathering of women) - Women in Lutherie. We discuss long standing issues in this field and how the WIL group is pushing the needle forward to create a more equitable space for women in this field. Special Guests: Jeemin Kim and Jennifer Creadick.

    Episode 37: Take Care of Your Butts: Cameron Robertson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2021 49:14


    Cameron has invested countless hours in finding workbench repair hacks, so that he and and other luthiers can have longer careers without sacrificing their bodies to repetitive stress injuries. Chris and Rozie go over several of his discoveries. Coda with Rob Wood, on exercises every luthier should be doing. Special Guest: Cameron Robertson.

    Episode 36: Jason Price: The Tarisio Effect

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 42:45


    Chris and Rozie chat with one of the founders of the internationally recognized violin auction house Tarisio - Jason Price. We cover some of the history of buying & selling, the purpose of auctions, and how Tarisio has changed the market. Special Guest: Jason Price.

    Episode 35: Christopher Reuning: Violins of Good Taste

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2021 52:50


    With influence far and wide across many levels of the violin industry, Christoper Reuning joins Chris and Rozie to discuss the many turns his career path has taken. Special Guest: Christopher Reuning.

    Episode 34: Iris Carr: Doing more, with less

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 43:30


    Rozie and Jerry interview master retoucher Iris Carr on her many seamless restoration jobs, her history of rubbing elbows with some of the greats in the field, and her newly launched education course, available now, for YOU! Special Guest: Iris Carr.

    Episode 33: Cajun flavor with Anya Burgess

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2021 46:29


    Anya shares with Chris and Rozie the history of Lafayette, Louisiana, and it's unique Cajun heartbeat, and the unique challenges of doing luthier work in swampland. Special Guest: Anya Burgess.

    Episode 32: Rahmaan Phillip & The Great Covid Escape

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 37:01


    Has anyone else out there had the urge to flee the US in the last year? We found the luthier who did just that. Rahmaan Phillip shares with us his story of the last year, when the vacation to Vietnam turned into a more permanent stay. Special Guest: Rahmaan Phillip.

    Episode 31: Quiz Show: Live at The VSA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 28:57


    Happy New Year! We present an audio version of the VSA Quiz Show we conducted in November. We look forward to seeing you Omosapiens for Season 3 in January!

    Episode 30: Sell It To Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2020 56:00


    How does a modern maker make money? What's the options for selling and how does one make it work? Chris Jacoby shares his years of experience making and selling, what has worked and what hasn't. We share lines we've used to make sales, and continue our segment: Two Truths and A Lie.

    Episode 28: Hot! Bow! Action!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 62:42


    When was the hot hot evolution of the bow? Rozie and Jerry bequeath the history of bowmaking in France, plus bow maker Matt Wehling delights us with his awewsomeness and schools us on works toward preservation of endangered bow materials. Stay tuned as Chris, Jerry, and Rozie play two truths and a lie.

    Episode 27: Made in the Americas, part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 51:00


    But how did violin making come to Mexico and South America? When European instrument making met indigenous American hands, what sprang from this? Join Rozie & Jerry for an interview with Jaime Gabriel, Mexican luthier and recent transplant to the states. Special Guest: Jaime Gabriel.

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