In this September 2017 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Ballake Sissoko & Nicole Mitchell discuss early experiences with music, improvising across musical traditions, and working in different languages.

In this June 2017 conversation with Seth Kim-Cohen, Lou Mallozzi improvises his way through an intertwined performance and interview.

In this September 2021 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Jessica Ackerley talks about playing clean electric guitar, the role of enjoyment in playing music and collaborating with Shane Parish in Hawai'i.

In this August 2020 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Magda Mayas talks about her early musical influences from her family and seeing Cecil Taylor, shares her experience being a student of Misha Mengelberg, and discusses her techniques working with a prepared piano.

This week's Option Talks podcast episode features pianist and composer Mabel Kwan. In this conversation from 2019, Mabel talks with Tim Daisy about who and what influences her music, and how she works at the intersection of multiple musical genres.

In this October 2015 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Terrie Ex and Andy Moor discuss the several social, political and creative scenes in Amsterdam that shaped them, the longevity of The EX, and shines light on the bureaucracy of international artists to be in the United States to share their music.

In this March 2021 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Jim O'Rourke talks about 1980s and '90s Chicago music, the impact of studying on creativity, and his move to Japan. This episode features a playlist assembled by Jim.

In this November 2021 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Karen Ng talks about her technical exploration as a saxophonist, her ups and downs of her musical education, and they both discuss the similarities and differences of the Chicago v. Toronto scenes.

In this October 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Greg Kelley talks about developing a palette of sounds for the trumpet, the importance of context and narrative to an improvised set, and seeing how much “music” can be taken out of music.

In this October 2018 conversation with Tim Daisy, Gerry Hemingway discusses the under documented New Haven sound scene, the active differences between listening and hearing, and touches on his background as a videographer.

In this 2016 duo performance and conversation with Ken Vandermark, Christof Kurzmann discusses making music about the second Iraq war, using the laptop in improvised music, and working as a concert organizer.

In this April 2017 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten talks about his upbringing and schooling before becoming a musician, discusses the techniques and practices that inspire him, and his personal relationships with different cultures between Norway, Chicago and Austin.

In this March 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Ingrid Laubrock discusses the role of the room in solo playing, working on an orchestral scale, and moving to New York from London.

In this March 2016 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Fred Lonberg-Holm looks back to his origins of how he came to build his signature cello sound, being called the “anti-cellist”, and discusses his thoughts between art as a job and art as a hobby.

In this October 2017 conversation with Tim Daisy, Michael Vatcher reflects on the narrative elements of solo performance, moving to Amsterdam in the 1980s, and playing chess with Anthony Braxton and Misha Mengelberg.

In this September 2016 conversation with Ken Vandermark, William Parker looks back at the beginning and formation of The New York Loft Scene, his musical journey from the 70s, 80s, 90s into the new millenium, and gives advice on proper technique vs. individuality.

In this October 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, LaDonna Smith talks about experimentation as a way of carrying childhood forward, fostering a creative music community in Birmingham, Alabama, and sustaining the Trans Museq Records from 1976 to the present.

In this August 2018 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Luke Stewart talks about his bass and amplifier exploration, becoming a key musical organizer in D.C and his views on social justice and artistic sustainability within our collective arts communities.

In this July 2017 conversation with Tim Daisy, Helen Gillet talks about taking inspiration from languages, bridging classical, Indian, and jazz cello technique, and living in the New Orleans Musicians' Village.

In this September 2019 conversation with Tim Daisy, Myra Melford talks about taking inspiration from visual art, studying with legendary Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer, and working with improvisation conductor Butch Morris.