Creative Podcast Teaching music, wellbeing movement and brain function

Solo show on the power of learning for mental health and the effect of environment or our brain function and why we need to move.

Teaching Philosophy & Student Demographics

• Teaching older professional students online who use music for unwinding
• Different approach needed vs exam-focused younger students
• Psychological perspective: tapping into creative aspects and life journey
• Focus on what experiences they can put into music and discover through it

Complex Systems vs Simple Systems

• Referenced Nassim Taleb (Black Swan, Fooled by Randomness)
• Simple systems (light switch): predictable cause-effect
• Complex systems (human body/mind): changes create effects elsewhere
• Richard Bandler (NLP creator) observation: healing one problem can cause it to appear elsewhere
• "Blotting paper effect"
• We ignore how environment affects health, creativity, happiness
• People you're friendly with, where you live, what you read, what you eat

Movement, Learning & Brain Function

• Humans designed to move around and walk great distances
• Brain designed for movement: assessing distance, balance, spatial awareness
• Most brain function is about things we don't consciously think about
• Intellectual thinking is "tiny bit" of what brain does
• Peripatetic teaching tradition (Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras)
• Walking and talking/teaching combined
• Satish Kumar example: Jain monk who walked thousands of miles while learning from teacher
• Young boys struggle sitting at desks - need movement for learning

Historical Context: Music, Words & Social Connection

• Music and words historically linked together (bards, Orpheus)
• Ancestors: walked thousands of miles, storytelling while walking
• Social time around fires for storytelling
• Modern technology removes social interaction and landscape awareness

Childhood Development & Risk

• Modern "micromanagement of children" vs historical independence
• Children's resourcefulness comes from problem-solving for themselves
• Spending time alone and with non-parents
• Learning to deal with risk by being confronted with risk
• Experiencing "weirdness" and developing coping strategies

Health, Creativity & Holistic Approach

• Older students: memory issues not because brain incapable, but unused "muscle"
• Learning music powerful for brain plasticity
• Art does something for wellbeing - not just intellectual pursuit
• Need to be "more of an animal" - understand what we require as living creatures
• Designed to walk, run, communicate, be sociable
• Tell stories (everything we believe is a story/hypothesis)
• Health connected to desire to live and share life with others
• Creative advice: get out walking, dictate ideas into phone, meet people, have fun

Creative Podcast Rob Rider Hill Fool's Errand Magician Musician Writer and Chef

Rob Rider Hill is a multi-disciplinary artist, musician, magical practitioner, writer and editor. He also spent 21 years as chef, plus 5-6 years music, sound engineering, event promotion

But is now focused on "magic, music and literary pursuits" - quieter, more sedentary life

We discuss creativity emerged from combination of outdoor exploration and enforced alone time (sent to room as punishment)

Rob talks about his writing in two modes: sedentary (cafes, pubs, trains) where scenery moves around you, and mobile (walking)

Lots of very deep psychological and magical thinking in this episode.

Website: roberiderhill.com

Books & Publications

• The Black Chapbook: 3-month primer for teenagers, removes Christian/Neoplatonist elements, £7
• The Zero, A Critique of Apocalyptic Reason: 26 unedited ecstatic poems over 16 days, based on Tarot majors + four aces
• Seven-part ritual frame book: Practical textbook for working with grimoires, step-by-step process with cheat sheets
• Book of the Law edition: Hardback pocket Bible-style edition
• All books available as free PDFs in download section of website
• Also offers tarot readings via website

Sacha Hughes Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, Healing Through Writing,

In this episode I'm talking to Sasha about her debut novel

Writing became a therapeutic healing process processing 20 years of grief allowing her to being able to let go of the pain which she described as a phenomenal godsend and therapy.

We also discuss self-publishing and the flexibility that it gives to being able to keep the story authentic. Sasha is already well on the way to completing her second novel.

This is a great chat which is deeply informative.

For further details check out

https://bit.ly/SachaHughes

www.sachahughes.com

https://youtu.be/iXZH2c5WaGs

Sacha Hughes graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Business

Studies before spending a decade working in financial services recruitment in London.

Her debut novel, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, draws inspiration from her personal

experiences navigating love, loss, and identity in her mid-to-late twenties.

She now writes from her kitchen table in Poole, Dorset, fuelled by strong coffee, daily

meditation, Common Roots cacao, and the occasional pinot grigio shared with close

friends. Sacha lives with her two children, Rose and Cato, and their black-and-white cat

Pickle — recently joined by a mischievous black kitten, Zuma, who has enthusiastically

appointed himself Chief Editor.

Genres: Adult Fiction, Comedy, Romance | Publication date: | 16 April 2026

Availability: International, EB (£4.99) PB (£18.99) | ISBN: 9781919470221(PB) 9781919470290 (EB) |

Publisher: Ocean Breeze Publishing Limited | Page count: 510 | Media folder & enquiries: https://bit.ly/SachaHughes |

[email protected] | Author online: www.sachahughes.com @sachahughes @sachahughesauthor

Owen Kennedy Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Saxophonist

Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Saxophonist and UK native Owen Kennedy, now based in Berlin, grew up immersed in a wide net of musical influences.

Known for his adventurous sound - fusing witty jazz, indie rock and art-pop sensibilities - Owen crafts music that feels both deeply personal and surreal. His second full-length album, Avalanche *(Step-by-Step), was recorded between London and Berlin over six months and mixed in Sydney, Australia.

We talk about his musical journey and his life in Berlin one of creative hubs of Europe.

Check out his work here

https://www.instagram.com/okhoneythunder

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

Jim Clark Abramelin Wolfe, Second Life, Motion Capture

In this episode, I speak to Jim Clark about his work in motion capture for computer games. Jim has worked for a number of years at the forefront of gaming and as this is a world that I know very little about and I found it absolutely fascinating with the creative processes used. Motion capture artist Jim Clark who also goes under the name of Abramelin Wolfe monetizes his creativity by humanizing our virtual lives -- one fluid movement at a time. He puts his dream of an immersive future succinctly: "We want a universe that we can step into!" Jim talks about his involvement in the online gaming of Second Life. "But the virtual world is more about fun than it is about commerce Second Life is about other people's creativity. Some of it is beautiful. Some of it is just strange...but all of it is amazing! It is like looking into their minds." Check out the video interview below to see more

https://youtu.be/3nSJpzzN4Ug?si=DAFi1KLKqu5cQiN9

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

Noah Petersons: Surfer, MA Journalism Student and DJ.

Great chat with Noah about his passion for surfing and his travels, and the motivational nature of surfing.

Noah is currently finishing his Masters in Journalism, and we talk about where media and journalism seems to be heading.

We also talk about his love for music and where being a DJ fits into his life.

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

Sara Mastros Magic, Witchcraft, Writing and visiting the founder of Wicca.

Sara Mastros, author of Orphic Hymns Grimoire, The Big Book of Magical Incense, and The Sorcery of Solomon: A Guide to the 44 Pentacles of the Magician King, is Pittsburgh's leading Witch for Hire. She teaches tarot, witchcraft, Greek and Near Eastern mythology, Pan-Levantine folk magic, and practical sorcery online and at festivals all over the east coast. She's also a co-owner of the Fool's Dog family of tarot, lenormand, and oracle apps.

We spend the day talking of Sara's work and we visit the home of Gerald Gardner the Father of Wicca.

You can check in on her courses and lessons at WitchLessons.com, sign up for her newsletter at MastrosZealot.com, or follow all her witchy shenanigans on facebook at Facebook.com/Sara.Mastros

Also visit WitchLessons.com

Watch here

https://youtu.be/4RN52XLHPIIerald

Listen here

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sara-mastros-magic-witchcraft-writing-and-visiting/id1481493729?i=1000747858885

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

The Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) The End of an Era

In this episode I am talking to Max Milligan, Dave Jones, and Barry Kitchen who have all been guitar examiners for the RGT over the last 30 years and we discuss how positive it had been in the role of guitar education in that time, and it's decline after being taken over by LCME exams.

This is a great discussion with some very highly respected examiners and guitarists as they tell their own stories about their involvement over the years.

http://www.davejonesguitar.co.uk/dave/index.php

maxmilligan.co.uk and YouTube

https://www.facebook.com/barry.kitchin.3

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

Harrison Marsh- Guitarist, Teacher, Examiner Music for TV and Film

Harrison Marsh is a freelance guitarist and teacher in Somerset in the UK with over fifteen years teaching experience.

He has written multiple guitar syllabuses for The London College of Music and The International School of Musicians as well as having written for Guitar Techniques magazine for several years.

He has been an examiner for LCME for ten years. When not teaching or writing about guitar, he performs as a solo fingerstyle player and writes, records and arranges music for TV and film.

We chat about being a working musician and leaving a career in finance for something you love.

For more details about Harrison visit

www.harrisonmarsh.co.uk

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do in France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music

Martin Haskell Radio Exile FM

Great chat with Martin about his lifelong interest in music, photography, hospital radio and of course ExileFM

Haskell's Sunday Brunch on ExileFM is a standout show that brings a unique blend of music and commentary to your Sunday mornings. Known for its diverse and eclectic playlist, the show offers a mix of genres that keeps listeners engaged, whether they're longtime fans or new to the station.

Martin's deep knowledge and passion for music shine through in his selections, creating a curated listening experience that's both refreshing and relaxing. His easy going and insightful commentary adds a personal touch, making the show feel like a friendly conversation over brunch.

Whether you're looking to discover new tracks or enjoy old favourites, Sunday Brunch with Martin Haskell is a perfect way to start your day.

visit

https://www.exilefm.com/

To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland

and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp UK and France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk

For details of the Ikaro music charity visit www.ikaromusic.com

Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music