
Ian Brennan Part 2: Recording Music in Remote Communities | Ghana, Bhutan & Oakland Stories
From Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman by Leah Roseman
May 7, 2026 · 1h 0m · Season 6 · Episode 14
About this episode
Leah Roseman interviews Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan about his unique approach to recording music in remote communities around the world.
This is my second conversation with Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan, whose work continues to make a meaningful impact around the world. If you missed Part 1 of our interview, be sure to check the link in the show notes. In this episode, we explore Ian Brennan’s remarkable approach to recording music in some of the most remote and overlooked places on Earth. You’ll hear stories from his travels to Ghana, where he recorded in witch camps, as well as projects in Bhutan and within unhoused communities in Oakland, California—near where he grew up. This ongoing series within my podcast highlights more than 50 albums Ian Brennan has produced, many of which have helped local musicians gain international recognition and perform outside their home countries for the first time. In addition to his work in music production, Ian Brennan is also an accomplished author and a respected expert in nonviolent crisis resolution. In this conversation, we also discuss his book Peace by Peace and the philosophy behind his work. The excerpts from the albums featured in this episode are linked in the show notes. The show notes also take you to: transcript, YouTube video, Ian Brennan's website…
People in this episode
Host: Leah Roseman
Guest: Ian Brennan
Topics covered
- music production
- remote communities
- cultural impact
- storytelling
- nonviolent crisis resolution
Keywords
- Ian Brennan
- music production
- Ghana
- Bhutan
- Oakland
- cultural stories
- Peace by Peace
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Peace by Peace
Places: Ghana, Bhutan, Oakland
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