The Live Ukulele Podcast

Join Brad Bordessa, a professional ukulele teacher and performer, for insightful deep-dives, interviews, and fun on The Live ʻUkulele Podcast! In these episodes you'll explore important uke lessons, hear first-hand stories from the Hawaiʻi music scene, and get to know some of the biggest names in the ukulele community.

With a background in Hawaiian music, Brad approaches the ukulele from the intuitive side. Through tips and tricks to improve your mentality surrounding music and the philosophy of the ukulele, he provides encouragement and permission to explore this four-stringed instrument in an organic way that works best for you.

Guests from Hawaiʻi and abroad join in to share heartfelt and insightful off-the-cuff conversations on a huge range of topics.

Tune in every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month for a new episode and be sure to subscribe.

The #1 Goal for Every Uke Player: Serving the Music
May 3, 2025 – 28:33
Singing Expression & Lesson with Joey Bradley
Apr 19, 2025 – 55:23
Huh? What? My Plan For Not Going Deaf as a Musician
Apr 5, 2025 – 32:36
TLUP Classic: Kelly Hyde
Mar 15, 2025 – 01:06:13
Stories About Plugging In + New Uke Ebook
Mar 1, 2025 – 47:53
Mim's Inside Scoop on Setups and the Ukulele Business
Feb 15, 2025 – 01:07:21
When to Give Up on Playing Something
Feb 1, 2025 – 26:43
Jamming Under the Influence(r): Jiggy with Viggy
Jan 18, 2025 – 01:03:25
Out With the Old, In With the New - Uke Style!
Jan 4, 2025 – 35:06
2024: Is it Over Yet? A Live Ukulele Review
Oct 19, 2024 – 38:44
Digesting my New Single: The Story and Arrangement Behind "Eat You"
Oct 5, 2024 – 49:57
Kingside: Exploring Ensemble Playing with Brad's Band
Sep 21, 2024 – 01:17:30
September is Improv Month!
Sep 7, 2024 – 20:24
Eminent Ukulele with Kimo Hussey
Aug 17, 2024 – 01:05:39
U-Basics - Bass for Ukulele Players
Aug 3, 2024 – 38:56
Bryan Tolentino: Professional Fairy Duster
Jul 20, 2024 – 01:02:31
Too Much of a Good Thing? Notes on Learning
Jul 6, 2024 – 36:01
Kevin Brown: Finding the Hawaiian Sound
Jun 15, 2024 – 01:02:10
TLUP: After Hours - Change Strings With Me
May 28, 2024 – 39:55
Spice Up Your Covers with New Genres
May 18, 2024 – 34:12
Learning a Song ALL the Way Through
May 4, 2024 – 29:23
I'm a Proud Uke Student at the School of Hard Knocks
Apr 20, 2024 – 37:00
4stringboy: Shredding, lack thereof, and innovating a new thumbpick design
Apr 6, 2024 – 01:00:40
The Most Important Part of Jamming Your Uke
Mar 16, 2024 – 50:03
Hualalai Keohuloa: Rock Music is Hawaiian Too
Mar 2, 2024 – 01:05:51
Using Better Arranging to Take Your Ukulele Playing to the Next Level
Feb 17, 2024 – 49:27
Craig Chee and Sarah Maisel: Giving Back Four Strings at a Time
Feb 3, 2024 – 01:05:51
Iteration: Better MPG for Your Ukulele!
Jan 20, 2024 – 42:58
Practicing Perfection: Brittni Paiva on Ukulele, Progress, and the Craft
Jan 6, 2024 – 39:55
Single String Songbook Announcement!
Dec 11, 2023 – 05:57
2023 Season Finale - Updates, an Anthem, and Mahalos
Oct 21, 2023 – 32:12
Keoki Kahumoku: Hawaiian From the Heart
Oct 7, 2023 – 55:21
Tone 2: How to Improve Your Tone (w/Examples)
Sep 16, 2023 – 39:28
Tone: The Magic of Your Fingers
Sep 2, 2023 – 47:52
Groove Ukulele: One Strumming Pattern to Rule Them All!
Aug 19, 2023 – 36:58
The Good & Bad of Playing the Ukulele as Your First Instrument
Aug 7, 2023 – 39:44
Avoiding Discouragement and Managing Expectations
Jul 15, 2023 – 39:03
The Power of Persistence: Kris Fuchigami's Humbling Journey to Virtuosity
Jul 1, 2023 – 56:55
Appreciating Hawaiian Music With Peter DeAquino
Jun 17, 2023 – 51:05
Selecting the Right Ukulele Songs to Play & Perform
Jun 4, 2023 – 38:37
Some Hard-Earned Tricks for Ukulele Teaching (and Learning) Success
May 20, 2023 – 47:52
Neal Chin's Killer New Chord Trick and Improv Tips
May 6, 2023 – 50:46
Strumming's Biggest Trick
Apr 15, 2023 – 24:02
The Most Important Part of Music
Apr 1, 2023 – 44:44
How to Support Your Ukulele: Technique & Straps
Mar 18, 2023 – 41:28
Off the Beaten Path with Brian Liu!
Mar 4, 2023 – 53:29
New Video Lessons Shoutout
Feb 25, 2023 – 01:08
Hawaiian Songs For Ukulele
Feb 18, 2023 – 40:00
Keola Donaghy on Keeping Mele Hawaiʻi Hawaiian
Feb 4, 2023 – 44:02
The ONLY Theory You Should Learn
Jan 21, 2023 – 59:10

Recent Reviews

meg.m.k.e

Thanks for all of your passion, love of music, and the ukulele

Thanks you for this podcast. There are so many profound lessons
aprilgrateful

A favorite

I love this podcast! Brad presents lots of very useful and practical and interesting information in such an approachable and affable manner. His interviews are also a source of great interest sharing info from other pro players, friends, up and coming stars and uke tech folks. He also happens to have one of the greatest speaking voices going. Just love listening to him!
vgybhunuhhu

I was looking for a crash course, thank you!

Awesome to find a crash course on pronouncing Hawaiian language, can’t wait to try it in person ❤️
Keep trying 60

Very entertaining

I admit I have only listened to one pod which was the one with Isaac Wang. But it was very entertaining and interesting. You can’t separate the ukulele and slack key guitar and I love the slack key guitar. My favorite part is the end where it was mentioned that talent is over rated. If you put in the work you can surpass those that had more talent. I tell my kids this often about school, sports and music.
Drum_head32

Fun & Informative

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying this podcast by Brad Bordessa, who is one of the premier uke players and teachers on The Big Island. Each episode is full of talk story kine teaching, where Brad breaks down his thoughts on all aspects of the ukulele, from picking out an instrument to tips for approaching playing with others. The guests are always great too!
JJ Everett

Great if you want to learn how to learn Music and other things Ukulele.

Great resource for learning ukulele and music.
Lost Archives

An Awesome Podcast From Hawaii

Brad Bordessa’s podcast offers a fun and easy introduction to the ukulele and what you can accomplish with it. He’s a master of instrument, and shares lots of interesting stories anyone will enjoy.
Srfnff

Knowledgable, Thorough and Articulate

Brad offers up some wonderful insights along with his thoroughly analyzed and researched teaching on learning and playing the ukulele. I especially enjoyed his podcast re ukulele “teaching” in Hawaii from the Hawaiians and how it is done. No ka heke!
MooreBettahUkes

Thoughtful and insightful

Many of us here in Hawaii know Brad as being a premiere ukulele teacher and performer. And as expected he does not disappoint with this podcast. His approach to teaching is about thinking of the music as a whole concept, not just the basic fundamentals that is usually found in books or other instructional materials. I think the grasp he has on his ideas about music can be applied to any instrument, not just ‘ukulele. I’m really looking forward to hearing many more future podcasts.