In this episode of the Come Together Music Project, host Shaka Mitchell sits down with West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and Chad Sourbeer of the First Responders Children's Foundation for a powerful conversation about music, identity, and legacy.

👉 Learn more or support the Come Together Music Project: www.cometogethermusic.org

Here's the playlist:

1. Choosin' Texas, Ella Langley

2. One Nation Under A Groove, Parliament Funkadelic

3. Beautiful Day, U2

4. Higher Ground, Stevie Wonder

On this episode of the Come Together Music podcast, Shaka Mitchell interviews Jason Caplan and Gilbert Smith. Jason an entrepreneur, musician, and founder of the Universal Language Room. Gilbert, aka, Chili G, is a rapper who also works in higher education administration.

Jason and Gilbert were asked to pick songs from their youth, that reminded them of a hero or mentor, that got them through a dark time, and songs that help them feel at peace.

Here's a link to their song selections: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7Lp8tmtT35iggkQthEZS02?si=rN1-sPV_QRWm6vSVRRYyVQ

Here's a link to their original song: https://divinesoulexperience.bandcamp.com/track/unity-one-god-one-human-family

Part 2 of the conversation between Hon. Freddie O'Connell and Devon Gilfillian at the TEDx Nashville Mixtape event on January 7, 2026. We asked them for a song that they associate with community. Once again, the song selections were GREAT!

The Come Together Music Project and TEDx Nashville partnered to host the first ever Mixtape event. We asked the Hon. Freddie O'Connell and Grammy-award nominated artist Devon Gilfillian to bring their song selections to the following questions: 1. If you were a DJ - what song would you play to get everyone on the dance floor? 2. What is a song that takes you back to middle school? 3. What is a song about someone or something you've lost? 4. What is a song that you associate with community? The resulting playlist was amazing: - September by Earth, Wind & Fire - Starry Eyed Surprise by Paul Oakenfold - Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice - All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo - Waiting in Vain by Bob Marley & The Wailers - So Long to U by Beautiful Small Machines - What's Going On? by Marvin Gaye - All Around the World (or the Myth of Fingerprints) by Paul Simon

The co-hosts of the ⁠Music|Life|Social⁠ podcast join Shaka to talk about songs that instantly give them energy, unexpected favorites, and songs about loss.

Shaka is joined by the hosts of the "We Made It Political" podcast.

It's a show where Lauren Hall and Lura Forcum talk together and with guests about what political science, psychology, and parenting has taught them about making politics better for everyone.

On this episode they choose songs that remind them of best friends, parenting, and protests. It's a great conversation full of surprises.

Shaka is joined by Dr. Tania Israel and Elizabeth Scharpf of the Ready to Be Strong podcast. They share: music from a college dinner party, songs about personal heroes, and songs about community. This episode covers everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the Boss.

Oh, and LOTS of content for Swifties!

Link to the playlist HERE.

Aspen Civil Society Fellows, Dhani Jones and Jorge Lima, join Shaka to discuss songs that remind us of places, songs that speak to our personal leadership styles, and finally music that encourages strengthening community bonds. Songs reviewed and reacted to:

• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell
• I Love This Bar - Toby Keith
• Danza Kuduro - Don Omar, Lucenzo
• River - Leon Bridges
• Redemption Song - Bob Marley & The Wailers
• Wanna Be Cool - Nico Segal
• What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Frederic Chopin
• Mi Gente - Fania All Stars, Hector Lavoe
• Simunye (We Are One) - PJ Morton, Soweto Spiritual Singers

This season of the Come Together podcast features guests from Nashville, sitting down to find common ground through music. Episode 1 features Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway and CEO of the Beacon Center, Justin Owen. This unlikely pair discusses where they grew up, what a constitutes a "hard day" at work, and the topic of justice.