Welcome to

The Hook Podcast

with Johni & Jess

with  Johni & Jess

Fishing hook, curved metal with pointed tip.

Once You’re Hooked,  There’s No Going Back

Fishing hook, curved metal with pointed tip.

Once You’re Hooked,  There’s No Going Back

The Hook is a podcast about the moment creatives get pulled in — and never let go. Just like a hook in a song stays with you, every creative has something that grabbed hold and shaped who they became. This isn’t just about what artists create. It’s about why they couldn’t stop.

"I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart."

Vincent Van Gogh

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Interviews

Real conversations with musicians, artists, and creatives who aren’t afraid to tell the truth behind their craft. We go beyond the bio to uncover the turning points, the doubts, the breakthroughs, and the moments that defined who they became.

Microphone and musical notes.
Live performances

Raw, unfiltered performances that capture artists in their element. Not just polished tracks—but real moments, real emotion, and the sound of someone doing exactly what they were meant to do.

Black open book with a feather quill.
Real stories

Every creative has a moment that pulled them in and never let go. We explore the risks, the failures, the obsession, and the experiences that shaped their journey—because the real story is always deeper than what you see on the surface.

Listen to The Hook

The Faces Behind  The Hook

Real conversations with creatives who felt the pull and followed it.

Group of people seated around a table, possibly for a podcast recording. Three posters in the background.
Four people smiling in front of a podcast setup with a TV, microphone, and neon sign.
Four people in a room; one with a guitar, three near a table with audio equipment. All are smiling.
Group of four women seated around a table with microphones, recording a podcast.
Woman with headphones and man with a guitar in front of a River City banner, both indoors.
Two smiling women, one wearing a cowboy hat, taking a selfie.
Three people posing together in front of a

Testimonials From our guests

Relaxed conversations. Real stories. We’re grateful for every guest—and every episode they’re proud to share.

"Just finished listening uninterrupted. Very very well done. I usually cringe listening to myself also afraid I’ve said something crazy, but I enjoyed listening almost as if it was someone else. Great questions, very engaging and well edited. 

Thanks again and again."

Mighty Joshua

“The Hook with Johni & Jess is one of Richmond’s top new podcasts. Johni and Jess are so much fun and really care about their guests. As a recent guest I can say it’s one of the best times I’ve had being on a podcast in quite some time.”



Dave McKenney

Dreamsicle -The Classic Jimmy Buffett Tribute Experience


“Ya'll...this is one of the most fun podcasts we've gotten to do. If you've got the time, give it a listen. God forgive me, I did my Lucinda Williams impression.”





Sarah Frances Santamaria

VEXINE

Four people smiling in front of a podcast setup with a TV, microphone, and neon sign.
Group of people seated around a table, possibly for a podcast recording. Three posters in the background.
Two smiling women, one wearing a cowboy hat, taking a selfie.
Woman in zebra print and headphones, man with guitar, in front of a River City backdrop.
Four people in a room; two women smile at the camera. A man plays guitar. The fourth wears headphones. Podcast setup.
Four people at a table with microphones, recording a podcast. Studio setting, posters on the wall, guitar.
Two women at a podcast studio, one seated, wearing headphones, the other standing behind her. Microphone and River City Podcast sign visible.
A smiling man stands between two women, each with an arm around him, in an office space with a podcast sign.
Four people stand smiling together in front of a colorful, illuminated sign inside an office or studio setting.
Four people smile for a selfie in front of a neon sign for The Hook Podcast.

"Just finished listening uninterrupted. Very very well done. I usually cringe listening to myself also afraid I’ve said something crazy, but I enjoyed listening almost as if it was someone else. Great questions, very engaging and well edited. 

Thanks again and again."

Mighty Joshua

“The Hook with Johni & Jess is one of Richmond’s top new podcasts. Johni and Jess are so much fun and really care about their guests. As a recent guest I can say it’s one of the best times I’ve had being on a podcast in quite some time.”

Dave McKenney

Dreamsicle -The Classic Jimmy Buffett Tribute Experience


“Ya'll...this is one of the most fun podcasts we've gotten to do. If you've got the time, give it a listen. God forgive me, I did my Lucinda Williams impression.”

Sarah Frances Santamaria

VEXINE

Two black quotation marks on a white background.
A song is anything that can walk by itself.”
Bob Dylan in a black suit, staring intently. He has curly, messy hair.

Bob Dylan

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you.  Call us at 804-690-1692 or send us a message using the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Interested in being interviewed

on The Hook?

Contact Us