What does a former Baltimore County Police Chief listen to on the drive home after 9 days straight on the job during a city in crisis? And what song kept a Special Forces-trained Air Force Colonel grounded through a civil war evacuation in Libya?

In this live episode recorded at the Tomorrow City USA Conference, Shaka Mitchell sits down with two extraordinary leaders — Melissa Hyatt and Jerad Warren — both Aspen Institute Civil Society Fellows — to let music do what it does best: reveal who people really are.

Melissa picks Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" — not for the reason you'd expect — and Billy Joel's "My Life," a quiet declaration of hard-earned authenticity. Jerad reaches back to Nine Inch Nails' most vulnerable track, then drops Cake's "The Distance" as a lifelong anthem for leaders who refuse to quit.

The conversation moves from the weight of public service, to what it means to build your legacy, to why the best leadership development might look more like Kilimanjaro than a conference room.

What songs shape well known artists and bring them together? In this live, "Mixtape" episode of the Come Together Music Project, hosted by TEDx Nashville, host Shaka Mitchell sits down with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame legend John Oates and rising country artist MŌRIAH for a powerful conversation about music, memory, identity, creativity, and hope.

Together, they share deeply personal stories connected to songs that made them smile, shaped their careers, carried them through turning points, and continue to inspire hope today. From Mexican wedding dance floors to Chuck Berry's influence on early rock & roll, from artistic burnout and reinvention to timeless classics like She's Gone and Get Together, this episode explores how music helps us connect across generations, cultures, and life experiences.

🎵 Featured artists discussed include: The Temptations, Chuck Berry, Kacey Musgraves, Rosalía, Elvis Crespo, Jessica Andrews, The Youngbloods, and more. Subscribe for more conversations exploring how music deepens relationships, creates empathy, and brings people together.

Find the full playlist at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5hDlXQ5GnOHvVzA4OCFEZh?si=ZS_lcj4yRE--XQ6LHGJf-g #JohnOates #HallAndOates #MORIAH #ComeTogetherMusicProject #MusicPodcast #TEDxNashville #CountryMusic #RockAndRoll #MusicAndStorytelling #SongsThatBringUsTogether

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.