Today we're talking with Kiernan McMullan and Stevie Rae Stephens, founders of the Pindrop Songwriter Series! They have some great stories and insights about writing, performing, touring, Ireland (and being on American Idol.) There's some excellent advice in this episode, particularly for those musicians who are new to - or planning to come to Nashville.

Make sure to follow these amazing people and find their music!

Stevie Rae Stephens

Kiernan McMullan

Music from the show:

Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)

More about the podcast at

BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at

DefernMusic.com

Check out our video and production work

ZenMantis.com

In this episode we talk with Juanita Copeland, manager and partner at Nashville's historic Sound Emporium. She's got some amazing insights about the business, including stories about working with Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Jelly Roll, T Bone Burnett (and being serenaded by Joan Baez while doing yoga). We talk about advice for engineers starting out and advice for women in the music business.

Music from the show:

Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)

More about the podcast at

BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at

DefernMusic.com

Check out our video work

ZenMantis.com

In this episode we talk with Manuel and Julie Delgado, the beating heart of Delgado Guitars and the Music Makers Stage (and La Tradición Music and Music City Mariachi!) They've worked with so many artists, ranging from Jose Feliciano to Los Lobos and Old Crow Medicine Show. We talk about moving from LA to Nashville, starting a business, making guitars, making relationships, and what it was like having dinner with Jackson Browne.

Music from the show:

Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)

More about the podcast at

BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at

DefernMusic.com

Check out our video work

ZenMantis.com

Today we're talking with the amazing Mike Fiorentino. Mike is a long time songwriter and producer, having worked with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 - and is the director of A&R and Production at Spirit Music Nashville. Mike gives us a glimpse into the day in the life of a professional co-writing session, how publishing works, and many other things. And he's just a great guy!

Music from the show:
Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)
https://open.spotify.com/track/0T3bLY8349EZhWH8AqQbL8?si=5275b790fdab445c

More about the podcast at
BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at
DefernMusic.com

Check out our video work
ZenMantis.com

Today we're talking with CJ Boggs, an amazing audio engineer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business (and we were lucky enough to get him to work on a few of our songs!) He has done so many different things over the years, from touring as a keyboard player to touring internationally as an engineer. We cover lots of ground - especially interesting to us was hearing what it was like to tour regionally out of Nashville (from the experience of his daughter Nicole Boggs). 

Music from the show:
Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)
https://open.spotify.com/track/0T3bLY8349EZhWH8AqQbL8?si=5275b790fdab445c

More about the podcast at
BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at
DefernMusic.com

Check out our video work
ZenMantis.com

We first met Donnie when he was hosting the famous Douglas Corner Cafe open mic in Nashville - and he's one of the reasons we decided to move here. Donnie had his first cut when he was only a freshman in high school! He comes from a long line of musicians and he's been on the grand old opry stage with Marty Robbins, and has opened for Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Allman's with the Winters Brothers Band! We talk about what it means to be a professional and why relationships are so important. 

Music from the show:
Putting Out Fires by Defern (Parkway South)
https://open.spotify.com/track/0T3bLY8349EZhWH8AqQbL8?si=5275b790fdab445c

More about the podcast at
BetweenTwoDeferns.com

Find our music at
DefernMusic.com

Check out our video work
ZenMantis.com

In this episode Mike & Heather talk with Nat Peterson about ... pretty much everything! It was originally 2 1/2 hours long, cut down to about an hour!

Some of the things we talk about ...

-singing into a hairbrush
-inherent drama vs learned technical
-A.D.D - didn't start medication until his 30's
-fears and misconceptions around starting our own business
-wrestling obsession
-Nat started wrestling
-started promoting shows (created his own shows)
-songwriting / David Bowie
-church - may the force be with you
-spirituality
-kindness
-"resist a cruel impulse"
-the quest for fellowship
-extremes
-"it doesn't matter how right you are if you're pushing people away"
-addiction is lack of connection, AA forces you to connect with others = waking up and "filling the hole"
-true evil?
-social media and wanting people to like me
-caught up trying to change people's minds
-"oh, I didn't know I could be friends with a liberal"
-"I felt so betrayed by the stereotypes"
-why can't we all get along!
-cheap shots vs the long game
-how to feel good without being destructive

That's Nat singing at the end of the podcast with a band called Reign of Zaius

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Make sure to subscribe to our podcast “Between Two Deferns” wherever you listen to podcasts – iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc

You can find links and more at
https://michaeldefern.com/podcast/

Mike & Heather’s music
https://parkwaysouthband.com

Mike & Heather’s business
https://zenmantis.com/

In this episode Mike & Heather talk with Tanner Scott, a health coach and food & travel enthusiast. He has talks about his transformation, learning to "tweak his life" for optimum enjoyment, and risking a good corporate job to go out on his own. He has some great extremely down-to-earth advice as well!

Some of the things we talk about ...

-why the harmonica is so awesome
-waffle brownies
-skinny doesn't mean healthy
-originally went to Belmont, wanted to be in the music biz
-building earth ships in New Mexico
-living off the grid for a month
-creative reuse - the turnip green
-"We are all capable of living the life we truly desire. It all starts with loving ourselves enough to try."
-being intentional vs reacting
-mindfulness - 14 day email prompts
-setting alarms for when to eat
-we're not really and more advanced than dogs ...?
-advice about eating (to avoid making bad choices)
-no one size fits all
-Tanner uses insight timer mediation app
-Mike uses Waking Up app (Sam Harris)
-Why Tanner is so excited about meditation
-meditation is like a cigarette break
-Twerking yoga in Hawaii
-practice until it starts working = self awareness grows
-meditation can be like a drug
-intention starts with awareness
-left a really good job and took a chance starting his own business
-helped his mom lose like 50 pounds
-"this isn't about me, it's about empowering you"
-really cool tip for drinking more water
-urine color ... he knows too much about that
-stories from being an experiences coordinator with living social
-the food in New Zealand
-hiking on a narrow mountain path in Peru and having to poop

book a free first conversation with Tanner
http://ComeAliveHealthCoaching.com

connect with Tanner on facebook
https://www.facebook.com/tanner.scott.9803

that's Tanner playing the harmonica at the end of the episode!

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Make sure to subscribe to our podcast “Between Two Deferns” wherever you listen to podcasts – iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc

You can find links and more at
https://michaeldefern.com/podcast/

Mike & Heather’s music
https://parkwaysouthband.com

Mike & Heather’s business
https://zenmantis.com/

In this episode, Mike & Heather talk with Derrick Brown, a.k.a. the Good Vibes Coordinator! Derrick has a great story to share, and just listening to his voice is guaranteed to improve your mood!

Some of the things we talk about …

-Sync licensing / Catch The Moon program
-finding music supervisors for shows Tunefind.com
-learning to do cold emailing
-how to write with authenticity but still on topic for a show
-creating relationships instead of trying to "get"
-Father Shine
-Quantum Leap
-reference tracks
-how Heather started writing songs and where Parkway South name came from
-binaural music / meditations
-432 vs 440 hz
-the more physiological aspects of being more present / mindful
-replacing thoughts with visualizations
-fear is a liar - replace "I can't do this" with gratitude, with all the love you have
-the broken part is where the light comes in
-Yungblud
-how Derrick writes songs
-Boss RC-505 loop station
-"as long as my butt is in the chair, whatever will come through me comes through me"
-that's how I make friends - I'm a giver more than a taker
-"I'm gonna keep doing this until it doesn't hurt"
-5 years sober ... it made me a more intentional human
-"Derrick is an embrace, personified"
-you don't have to believe everything you think - our thoughts become our reality
-"love your shadow self"
-is it fear or excitement?
-when fear falls away we start to let people in (opportunities) instead of repelling them
-so, what is a Defern?
-Derrick's job title is "Good Vibes Coordinator"

Find out more about Derrick …

Website
https://derrickbrownlovesyou.com/

YouTube
https://youtube.com/derrickbrownlovesyou

Relaxing Soothing Vibes Music / 432hz meditation music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcU2g05nPQcZhjeZg3eLPA

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/letsgetbrunch
@letsgetbrunch

Jill's website
https://www.awakejourney.com

The song you hear playing at the end of the show is "Limitless" by Derrick Brown, soon to be released!

–

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast “Between Two Deferns” wherever you listen to podcasts – iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc

You can find links and more at
https://michaeldefern.com/podcast/

Mike & Heather’s music
https://parkwaysouthband.com

Mike & Heather’s business
https://zenmantis.com/

In this episode, Mike & Heather talk with long time friend Sherry Johnson, who works at Bridgeport Hospital ER, is a professional photographer, and music aficionado. She is full of energy and heart, and we can all learn a lot from her!

Some of the things we talk about ...

-removing cucumber seeds
-Sherry has covid fog
-tik tok video and big white box
-how to have a happy marriage - "he is always making me laugh"
-talk about what's going on, and let things slide off your shoulder
-being aware of the other person in a relationship
-once you reach a certain age, there's not way you would mistreat the one you love
-what's so great about Keith Urban?
-if music makes you feel something, who cares about the label
-Sherry's sister likes to fight at concerts
-why go to see the same band over and over? it's about the community
-how they steal your purse during a concert
-how not to sneak a camera into a concert
-love is bigger than drinking and drugs
-"he truly loves his fans ... makes you feel you are the only one in the room"
-giving someone your full attention
-quality over quantity - creating raving fans one at a time (who tell their friends)
-working in and with the emergency room during covid
-learning to detach
-going to church is like working out?
-using music to change my thought process ... understanding this pain is temporary
-"music helps me change the future"
-getting hit with a drone
-creativity keeps you young

Find out more about Sherry Johnson ...

Website
https://www.sherrylynnphotography.com/

The Big White Box
https://www.sherrylynnphotography.com/the-big-white-box

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SherryLynnPhotographyCT

Sherry & Rich's Tik Tok Video
https://www.facebook.com/sherryjohnson99/videos/10158248901965917/

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Make sure to subscribe to our podcast "Between Two Deferns" wherever you listen to podcasts - iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc

You can find links and more at
https://michaeldefern.com/podcast/

* (song played at end of episode)
California Highway - Parkway South Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar3IK-BKGR8&list=PLfc2G2JuEyir6HVb5jIGOVoqi2bc3ZZT9&index=8

Mike & Heather's music
https://parkwaysouthband.com

Mike & Heather's business
https://zenmantis.com/