Welcome back to When Words Fail, Music Speaks, the show where we explore how melody, rhythm, and raw honesty become a lifeline for anyone wrestling with life’s highs and lows. I’m your host, James Cox, and today’s conversation digs deep into the heart of a true under‑dog story.

Our guest is none other than Paul McCoy, the powerhouse vocalist of 12 Stones—the band behind anthems like Anthem for the Underdog, We Are One, and the hauntingly relevant track World So Cold. Paul opens up about the exact moment that song sprang to life in a studio lounge, surrounded by a barrage of negative news, and why it still feels “as fresh as the day it was written.”

But the thread of this episode runs far beyond a single track. Paul shares:

• A gritty backstage pass to his collaborations with WWE—how his high‑energy music landed in the arena, the Judgment Day theme, and the ripple effect it had on film and television placements.
• A once‑in‑a‑lifetime trek with Navy SEALs in Coronado, the inspiration behind the EP The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday and the anthem We Are One.
• A personal battle with partial hearing loss, a childhood tumor, and a deaf ear that forged a built‑in “monitor mix” and an unexpected vocal superpower.
• The raw reality of being bullied, fighting addiction, and staying sober for seven years, and how the stage becomes his therapy when life tries to drown him in anxiety and depression.
• Why 12 Stones refuses the “Christian‑rock” label, opting instead to let listeners draw their own meaning from songs that blend heavy riffs with hopeful messages.
• Insights into his creative process—writing music first, letting songs sit for years, and the delicate balance between studio polish and the electric energy of live performance.
• A quick‑fire lightning round that reveals his favorite lyric, his love of silence, his preference for the stage over the studio, and the three words that define 12 Stones: real, loud, positive.

Whether you’re a wrestling fan, a veteran, a music‑maker, or anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog, Paul’s story is a reminder that even when the world feels cold, there’s always a light at the tunnel’s end—if we’re brave enough to reach for it.

Stay tuned; the conversation starts now. 🎧✨

Welcome to this week’s episode of When Words Fail, Music Speaks—the podcast that explores how melody and lyric become a lifeline in the toughest moments.

I’m your host, James Cox, and today I’m sitting down with folklaur—the soulful indie‑folk artist behind the hauntingly intimate album Leaves & Letters. Hailing from Philadelphia, Laura (who cleverly turned her English‑major love of stories into the moniker “folklaur”) invites us into the quiet spaces where her music lives—those still‑water moments that linger long after the final note fades.

In our conversation we wander through Philly’s vibrant but underrated live‑music scene, swap stories about cheesesteaks and creative compromises, and dig deep into the paradox of being alone to connect with a community. Folklaur shares how she balances raw emotion with lyrical storytelling, wrestles with perfectionism in the studio, and discovers that the most powerful songs are often the ones that feel imperfect.

We also get a rapid‑fire “lightning round” that reveals her late‑night writing ritual, her love for silence before a track, the word she over‑uses (community), and the artists who shape her—Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, Noah Kahn, and Greasy Abrams.

If you’ve ever felt unheard, wrestled with anxiety, or simply crave music that feels like a gentle, honest conversation, stay tuned. By the end of this episode you’ll understand why Folklore believes that “music heals because it’s real,” and you’ll leave with a renewed sense that you matter—just as her songs intend.

Press play, settle in, and let the healing power of Folklore’s music speak. 🎙️✨

Welcome back to When Words Fail, Music Speaks, the podcast where host James Cox explores how melody and rhythm become lifelines for those battling depression and anxiety. In today’s episode, James sits down with Kyle Thomas—the raw‑voiced frontman of New Orleans thrash legends ExHorder!!

Together they journey from the gritty beginnings of the band in the mid‑80s through four pivotal albums, unpacking the evolution of Kyle’s lyrics—from teenage outrage at organized religion to today’s more nuanced, honest storytelling. A rapid‑fire “lightning round” reveals Kyle’s unexpected love for Depeche Mode and Duran Duran, his philosophy that metal should stay fun rather than take itself too seriously, and the crucial lesson that technical fireworks mean nothing without genuine connection.

Listeners also get a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of Pat O’Brien’s (Ex Cannibal Corpse) comeback with Exploder, the band’s shift toward streamlined songwriting, and Kyle’s personal ritual of turning pain into cathartic verses. As the conversation winds down, Kyle shares the one album that still pulls at his soul—Black Sabbath’s debut—reminding us that even the darkest riffs can hold a timeless, soul‑shaking resonance.

Tune in for an honest, high‑energy deep‑dive into how heavy music can both weaponize aggression and heal the heart, proving once again that when words fall short, the music always finds a way to speak.