Documentary First

In this profoundly moving first installment of a two-part episode, Documentary First host Christian Taylor interviews Steve Cohen, Billy Joel’s longtime creative director and the executive producer of the new HBO docuseries Billy Joel: And So It Goes.Steve Cohen, the executive producer, shares his journey from lighting stages to producing emotional documentaries, emphasizing the collaborative effort that brings these stories to life.Steve reflects on:Meeting Billy Joel in 1974 and forging a lifelong creative partnershipThe soul of Billy Joel’s songwriting: honesty, heartbreak, and healingHow Susan Lacy’s empathetic direction helped uncover hidden emotional truthsWhat it means to tell someone else's story with care, depth, and dignityThe healing power of revisiting past relationships through artFor listeners who’ve ever found themselves in a song—or wanted to understand the quiet brilliance behind a musical legend—this episode is a masterclass in the art of documentary storytelling and a heartfelt tribute