Matthew Paul Turner is living every day as his whole self. And the journey to get to that place is nothing short of extraordinary (and gorgeous!) The New York Time's bestselling author and gay dad of three stopped by the podcast to talk PRIDE, to share his coming out journey, and to weave his remarkable story together with the songs that have carried him through all of the healing and trauma into his own beautifully-gay liberation. From his rebellious days sneaking Amy Grant CDs behind his fundamentalist parent's backs, to transcendent experiences on the Jagged Little Pill tour and Lilith Fair, to the salvation of Brandi Carlile, Wilson Phillips and Taylor Swift in his coming out journey, follow Matthew through the songs that provided the safe and transformative spaces along his path to inner freedom, joy and flamboyance!

Kevin Coloso and his band, Collection of Lone Souljahs, are bringing the positive vibrations everywhere they go. In this episode, we sit down with the talented roots & reggae singer-songwriter to discuss his inspiring and transformative journey in music. The native of Maui, Hawaii, found himself in the Portland, OR area after college, which is where the music that lived within his soul began to emerge onto the strings of his beloved ukulele, and led to the Collection of his fellow Lone Souljahs into the band that is now rocking shows and elevating spirits everywhere along the west-coast roots reggae circuit - and beyond! Kevin talks with us about the sacred music and traditions of his people, how all of that finds its way into his songwriting and performing, and shares his influences with us - everything from 50s and 60s doo-wop to Fiji and Bob Marley to Linkin Park! What comes first for Kevin is the music: Is it real and does it move you? This is how he believes music transcends all barriers between us and unites us together - even across languages!

In this episode, our Creator and Director Jonathan Bristow flys solo, getting vulnerable about the story that sits behind Ascent Radio: His story. Retelling the journey of how Ascent came to be, including the traumas in his life that led him into his dreams for a new kind of radio platform that would inspire hope and change through the power of song, and celebrating his first Pride Month being out! - sharing how music has been integral in his journey coming out as bisexual in 2023 - this episode sets the table for all that we hope the show to be going forward! Discussing his unabashed love for Elton John, Mr. Rogers, Tom Petty, Lauryn Hill, hip-hop, and all things Brandi Carlile, Jonathan drops twenty songs that have made a lasting impact on his story and everything he hopes to be in the world!

Tash Haynes is in the business of inspiring people. In this episode, we sit down with the award winning Seattle Lifestyle Influencer to talk about the legacy she and her husband Ike are building for their three beloved daughters, the importance of Juneteenth and how their family celebrates, and her extraordinary journey into photography - which began when she was gifted her first camera as a young foster child. With a musical journey that spans from her childhood love of Toto’s “Africa,” and “Optimistic,” by Sounds of Blackness, is rooted in the masterworks of Beyonce and Destiny’s Child, and amplifies the work of Black liberation with Common and Janelle Monae, don’t miss your chance to be transformed by the very music that inspires Tash’s gorgeous life and groundbreaking work!

Performing under the name Zax Vandal, Vince Meneses is a veteran singer-songwriter from Portland, OR… and also just happens to be Jonathan’s brother-in-law! In this episode of the Ascent Radio Podcast, Vince talks about what it’s like growing up on Englebert Humperdink as a Filipino kid in the Pacific Northwest, and how he draws inspiration from the different musical eras of his life - from his days immersed in the crusty punk rock scene of Tragedy, and Hellshock, to Billy Joel’s “The Stranger” ushering him into fatherhood for the first time. He also gets real about the heartbreaking dissolution of the original lineup of his band, Zax Vandal, starting over again as a solo performer, and his work on the Zax Vandal Show, the local cable access show he orchestrates in Portland as a platform to feature local talent - which he describes as “the Filipino Wayne's World.”

To kick off our show, Jonathan sits down with inspirational, veteran singer-songwriter Avery Stafford to discuss his newly recorded single, Hourglass (available everywhere October 18th!), the impact this new song has had on him, as well as the artists that inspire him - including the great Bonnie Raitt, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers and Mavis Staples! - as he endeavors to bring about a better world through his life and art.