From 8-Tracks to Algorithms: Tim Durling on Rock, Podcasts, and Staying Authentic

SeanGeek and FastFretFingers are joined by Tim Durling—author, podcaster, and fellow Maritimes native—for a wide-ranging conversation that blends podcasting, music history, and the ever-changing relationship between creativity and technology.

The episode kicks off with shared Maritimes and Acadian roots, recording setups, and the small-world podcast connections that brought Tim onto the show. From there, the discussion moves into podcasting strategy, including YouTube’s RSS distribution, audience growth, and why casual, conversational interviews often work better than rigid formats.

Music takes center stage as Tim digs into his deep knowledge of classic rock, touching on Rush and Triumph reunion news, KISS concert myths, Whitesnake’s evolving sound, and why certain 80s bands endured while others disappeared. The conversation also wrestles with the impact of grunge on rock music in the 1990s, oversaturation in the hair-metal era, and the recurring cycle of musical trends.

The group explores originality versus formulaic music, modern radio, and whether today’s hyper-polished sound will eventually collapse like past genre bubbles. Tim brings a radio professional’s perspective, balancing skepticism with optimism about authentic artists still breaking through.

The episode wraps with Tim’s journey as an author, including his unexpected deep dive into 8-track tapes, successful Kickstarter publishing, and his growing catalog of album-by-album rock books, from Y&T to his current Fleetwood Mac project.

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