The world of classical music has gotten a modern makeover.
The Bach Society of Saint Louis has spent 85 years celebrating the work of Johann Sebastian Bach and other classical composers through special performances and programs. And one way they’ve kept the genre relevant to a new audience is by entering the world of podcasts.
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The society’s official podcast, titled Bach Talk, is kicking off its third season hosted by longtime classical music radio host Ron Klemm. The podcast, which can be found on most streaming platforms, has reached listeners in not just 49 states, but 53 countries and counting.
For Klemm, the podcast is all about telling the stories of those who continue to uplift classical works. As he puts it, “It’s about the people who bring this music to life and what their lives are like.”
The podcast’s next episode in January will feature Border CrosSing, a Minnesota-based group bringing Latin American culture and further diversity to choral music. Other upcoming episodes will feature guests that Klemm has had the opportunity to speak with recently, including Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra founder Nic McGegan.
“Classical music doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It exists because people are living it,” Klemm says. “This music has survived because it still speaks to people. The question is how you help people hear that.”
The answer? According to Klemm, “It’s not about lecturing people on history—it’s about helping them connect.”
Klemm says that helping listeners feel connected to the podcasts’ guests comes down to asking the right questions. “Once you understand the person behind the music,” he says, “it doesn’t feel distant anymore.”
To bring audiences even closer, Bach Talk has hosted live recordings of the podcast, including the season two episode with Grammy Award-winning conductor Leonard Slatkin, which was recorded live at the 2025 Chorus America conference in St. Louis. Live opportunities will continue in 2026, and so far Klemm has plans to host Bach expert and author David Gordon for a live show in May. These opportunities allow audiences to not just hear these stories, but experience them alongside the host and guest.
“What matters is what’s behind it—who the people are, what they’ve lived, and why they do what they do,” Klemm says. “When someone opens up and tells you how they got there, suddenly the music means something different.”
He added, “Think about music written hundreds of years ago still being performed today. That doesn’t happen by accident.”
While a classical music podcast sounds educational—and Klemm says that each episode will certainly allow listeners to learn something new—-Bach Talk ultimately follows the conversational style of a podcast from any other genre. Because of its format, Klemm noted that anyone, regardless of their prior knowledge of classical music, can find enjoyment in listening.
“You don’t need to know anything about Bach to listen,” he says. “You just need to be curious.”
And tuning in can even enhance a listener’s entire music-listening experience.
“When you go to a concert, you see people on stage and think, That’s nice,” Klemm says. “But once you know their story, you listen differently. You stop hearing just the notes and start hearing the human experience behind them.”
Bach Talk is available on bachsociety.org, as well via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music.
