Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman - Pat McCusker: Scoring The Ezra Klein Show, Touring with David Duchovny, and Composing for Podcasts

Pat McCusker: Scoring The Ezra Klein Show, Touring with David Duchovny, and Composing for Podcasts

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

10/04/25

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77m

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Composer and audio producer Pat McCusker joins me to talk about his work creating music for The Ezra Klein Show, his role at The New York Times, and what it’s like touring the world as a musician with actor David Duchovny. Pat's music also appears on The Daily, Modern Love, and many more.

🎶 What we talk about in this episode:

Composing the theme for The Ezra Klein Show
Scoring for podcasts and working with The New York Times
Touring internationally with David Duchovny
The power of music in shows like Severance and White Lotus
Tools and gear Pat uses as a composer
Managing anxiety and building creative community

If you're a composer, musician, or podcast fan, you'll find plenty to connect with in this conversation.

Web page for the episode includes transcript, YouTube link.

Pat McCusker

David Duchovny

Other episodes with some of the media composers I've featured: Pat Irwin, Christoph Zirngibl, Adam Blau, Anže Rozman and Kara Talve

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🎙️ About the show: Conversations with Musicians. with violinist Leah Roseman: weekly episodes featuring a fascinating diversity of musical guests worldwide.

(00:00) Intro

(02:55) how Pat became a podcast composer

(07:16) creative process Magical Tree Creatures theme for “The Ezra Klein Show” with clip

(10:37) composing for podcasts at The New York Times, the function of music in podcasts

(18:01) listening and appreciating great podcasts, Marc Maron

(23:11) The Big Question Mark with clip, "Interesting Times with Ross Douthat”

(26:37) Severance and White Lotus inspirations, Moog synthesizers

(32:09) other episodes you’ll love, ways to support this podcast

(32:58) rock career, Buzzbody, David Duchovny, Pat Irwin

(41:00) Holding Patterns with David Duchovny (website linked in show notes)

(45:57) joy of performing and touring, his dad

(49:35) Pat’s youth, discovering guitar, Berklee

(55:43) Buzzbody Full of Fear, dealing with anxiety

(01:03:12) some personal creative projects, wife Simo

(01:10:52) suggestions for books, podcasts, music

Previous Episode

Clay Zeller-Townson of Ruckus Early Music

September 27, 2025

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78m

I have become a big fan of Ruckus, a dynamic Early Music ensemble, and I so enjoyed this uplifting conversation with Clay Zeller-Townson, their Artistic Director and bassoonist. ou’ll be hearing clips from The Edinburgh Rollick with music from the Niel Gow collection, featuring the violinist Keir GoGwilt, and because this music is very much at the crossroads of Scottish traditional music and Baroque music, it delights audiences who are more into folk as well as baroque. You'll be inspired to hear Clay’s ideas around crafting something truly personal and unique and connecting with audiences, as well the importance of access to music education at all levels. We also got into Ruckus’ Fly the Coop project with flutist Emi Ferguson with a wonderfully fresh take on the music of J.S. Bach, and a lot of what Clay shared was how the musicians connect deeply with their audiences with contemporary relevance in many different ways.

You’ll find the track names of the music included in the time stamps. The complete show notes on my website will take you the video and transcript for this episode.

Ruckus Early Music

Other episodes you'll love: bassoonist Christopher Millard, Lutenist Elizabeth Pallett, recorder player Sarah Jeffery , fiddler Alexis Chartrand, organist Gail Archer and cellist Juliana Soltis.

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(00:00) Intro

(02:04) Ruckus early music continuo band, creating unique style and sound

(09:10) violinist Keir GoGwilt The Edingburgh Rollick (clip from The Jenny Nettles Set), Neil Gow

(15:16) how Baroque bassoon is different from modern

(18:10) Ruckus’ collaborative creative process

(23:23) Mrs. Ferguson’s Strathspey, about the Beatles’ quote

(26:28) Playing for dancers

(31:54) playing for opera with no conductor

(37:02) Fiona Gillespie with clip of The Broome of Coudenknowes

(40:15) Clay’s childhood and discovery of the bassoon

(42:19) other episodes you’ll love

(43:11) Clay’s music education and forming Ruckus

(46:38) flutist Emi Ferguson, album Fly the Coop with J.S. Bach Siciliana

(54:53) The Edinburgh Rollick album art, The Gigg Set with clip

(01:01:10) Clay’s life as an educator

(01:08:02) Early Music scene

(01:14:07) Roscoe Mitchell project

Next Episode

Sam Sadigursky: Clarinetist for Philip Glass Ensemble, The Band’s Visit, The Solomon Diaries

October 10, 2025

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81m

Sam Sadigursky is a renowned clarinetist, composer, and member of the Philip Glass Ensemble. In this episode, we explore his latest project The Solomon Diaries with Nathan Koci, his work on Broadway in The Band’s Visit, and his career spanning jazz, classical, and contemporary music. Sam shares stories from touring with Philip Glass, mentors Brad Mehldau and Lee Konitz, and his upbringing in a musical immigrant family.

We also dive into improvisation beyond music, the impact of streaming algorithms, and the cultural legacy of the Borscht Belt. Listen to insights into Sam’s unique voice as a composer and performer, and hear excerpts from some of his wonderful creative output.

Sam Sadigursky’s website

Podcast website: episode page with YouTube, Transcript

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Other episodes you'll love: Meg Okura

Tasha Warren Yale Strom Colleen Allen Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield

(00:00) Intro

(02:11)Sam’s musical family and early influences

(08:02) jazz, hearing heroes play teen years in L.A.

(10:12) Isaac Sadigursky, VNP Hora with clip

(14:26) move out to New York

(17:05) about Six Miles at Midnight with clip, Nathan Koci, Satie influence