Today’s guest began on YouTube — a teenager posting bedroom covers to a handful of viewers.

Now, his songs have been streamed billions of times across the globe.

He’s headlined sold-out arenas on multiple continents, become a global fashion force, and built one of the most devoted fanbases of his generation.

He’s collaborated with legends like Max Martin, while never losing the raw honesty that made his music essential in the first place.

He’s not just a rising star — he’s already one of pop’s defining voices.

And with his new album, he proves that even at the biggest scale, vulnerability is still his superpower.

And the writer is… Conan Gray!

Follow us on socials! @andthewriteris

Thank you to NMPA for sponsoring this season, and fighting for songwriters as well as this podcast.

00:00 – This Is Conan Gray (teaser)

01:00 – Singing Disney With Ross 🎶

02:00 – From Bedroom Dreams to Billions

02:59 – Growing Up Lonely, Writing to Survive

04:45 – The Music Video That Rewired His Brain

06:30 – When Adele Proved Bedroom Songs Were Possible

07:30 – Uploading at Age 9 (Before He Knew the Internet)

14:15 – “Nothing Sounded Like Me”

15:45 – Panic Attacks → Falling in Love With Touring

21:15 – Dropping Out & Betting Everything on Music

23:20 – The Moment His Sister Realized He Was Famous

24:30 – Turning Heartbreak Into Healing on Stage

26:00 – The Nightmare of Empty Venues

28:30 – Dan Nigro: The Producer Who Changed Everything

30:15 – Why Conan Refuses to Believe He’s ‘Made It’

33:22 – Ad Break – Support Songwriters (NMPA)

34:00 – ‘Maniac’: The Shower Song That Hit a Billion 🚿

35:45 – Heather: The Song Everyone Slept On… Until They Didn’t

40:32 – Found Heaven: His Public Bootcamp

43:23 – Max Martin’s Biggest Lesson (That Changed His Writing)

47:00 – Rediscovering Himself on Wishbone

50:05 – The Falsetto High Note That Almost Broke Him

52:07 – Cornell: The Song Too Honest to Ignore

53:00 – Why Radical Honesty Is His Only Rule

55:00 – Why His Art Isn’t Just Music

56:00 – The Three Songs That Define His New Era

01:03:15 – What He’d Tell 12-Year-Old Conan

01:07:00 – Ross: “You Wrote a Song I Wish Was Mine”

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He believed before anyone else did.

Before the Grammys.

Before the 39 billion streams.

Before Say My Name changed the sound of radio forever.

He was just a kid on a New Jersey bus, chasing a dream no one else could see.

In this episode, legendary producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins shares how faith, fire, and pure conviction took him from a basement studio to shaping the sound of a generation. From Michael Jackson to Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Sam Smith, Rodney opens up about the mindset behind the music — and why belief is still the most powerful tool a creator has.

You’ll hear about the reset that saved his career, the changing landscape of songwriting in the AI era, and the stories behind some of the most iconic records of the last 25 years.

And The Writer Is... Rodney Jerkins.

Topics:

• The real story behind Say My Name
• Working with Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Gaga
• Why belief matters more than talent
• How to stay inspired (even after burnout)
• AI, music tech, and what’s missing from today's process
• What every songwriter needs to know about their value
• 
  

Sponsored by:

SONA, DIMA, Amazon Music, and YouTube Songwriters.

Thank you for supporting us and protecting the future of songwriting!

Produced by Ross Golan, Joe London, and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really take to become irreplaceable in music?

This is more than a lesson in music. It’s a masterclass in how to make yourself essential in any room you enter.

In this episode, Ryan Tedder shares a raw, unfiltered blueprint for building a career that stands the test of time.

From mastering guitar, piano, and production to writing two songs a day, Ryan unpacks why versatility, humility, and relentless work ethic are the hidden currencies of longevity. He breaks down the mindset shifts that separate fleeting success from lasting impact, and why assuming everyone is more talented than you might just be your greatest advantage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.