Glitter and Sage

Welcome to Episode 010 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! After taking a break for a couple weeks while celebrating her birthday, Melissa comes in this week with a shorter solo episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Melissa recorded this episode deep in the forest, tuning into nature, sharing from her journal a list she wrote on her birthday of “28 Lessons, Reflections, and Bows of Gratitude for 28 Trips Around the Sun.”

RESOURCES:

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Quiet Hours Silent Disco

Instagram: @quiethours.ny

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/QuietHours.NY/

Website: https://www.nysilentdisco.com/

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 009 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! Today’s very very special guest is Producer/DJ Mr Atwood (David Atwood), who also co-founded our silent disco company Quiet Hours along with our friends Adam Reed and Rob Rink, and myself. AND David is the producer/sound engineer of this podcast! I had so much fun having him on this side of the podcast today to highlight his amazing offerings. It is an honor to be growing this podcast together, as well as growing our dance community together. I have so much gratitude for David being my all things creative partner, and great friend.  We took last week off from sharing an episode, as we had some technical difficulties come up, but also started getting busy with our first silent discos of the season! We have also decided to move our episode release day from Monday to Thursday, to give us more space to finish up episodes after event-filled weekends. It feels so good to be back in the flow of having these heart-centered conversations with people who inspire me, and so special to have Mr Atwood as my guest this week!

GUEST BIO:

Mr Atwood is a Brooklyn based dubstep producer and DJ who has been DJing for almost 10 years and producing for one. He has always found an interest in mixing different genres of music to bring people with different musical interests together. Mr Atwood found a love for the rollercoaster that ecstatic dance offers. Combining the flow of ecstatic dance and the fusion of different genres, Mr Atwood enjoys creating a space for people to dance freely, openly and as hard as they can.

After releasing his first single, Bloom on April 1, 2020, Mr Atwood has been working on music to be released in the near future.

IN THIS EPISODE:

-David shares his journey with music, how he became a DJ, and grew to now produce music as well. 

-We talk about how living in community together expanded both of our creative projects, including this podcast!

-We reflect on the growth of our silent disco company Quiet Hours. 

-David shares from his perspective what it’s like to DJ during a silent disco

-We reminisce on the magic of the PHOTOSYNTHESIS music and art event in Kingston last weekend that David played at. 

-We reflect on past events, including the ecstatic dance with DJ Luminus (who came on the podcast for Episode 008!) and David explains binaural beats, which he played for a sound healing at the end of the dance with DJ Luminus playing didgeridoo over it. 

-David shares his process for creating a set and the beautiful unfolding of the journey that comes about through the music. 

-I share a *festi magic* story of how I met Griz at the Hudson Project. 

-We connect on gratitude for community and music. 

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Mr Atwood

Connect

Facebook

Instagram

Listen

Apple Music

Spotify

Soundcloud

Quiet Hours Silent Disco

Instagram: @quiethours.ny

Facebook: https://facebook.com/QuietHours.NY/

Website: https://www.nysilentdisco.com/

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 008 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! Today’s episode features a heart-centered conversation with DJ Luminus, (Marek Tresnak) all about the musical journey of ecstatic dance, and the weekly virtual ecstatic dance I-Opener that he co-organizes and DJs alongside DJ Journey Weaver.

GUEST BIO:

Musical journeys of DJ Luminus aim to engage your body, heart and soul. His sets will take you on magical travels around the globe with a colorful blend of funk, global bass, and melodic house balancing both organic and electronic rhythms.

DJ Luminus (Marek) is originally from Prague, currently nesting in Massachusetts where he co-organizes I-Opener Ecstatic Dance (www.iopenerdance.com ) (taking place on-line every Sunday morning during the pandemic) and Vortex Ecstatic Dance. He has been bringing his heartfelt musical waves to events around the US, Canada, Europe and Central America.

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Marek shares his wisdom of what ecstatic dance is, the guidelines that hold the dance container, and how the energy is different from going to a club to go dancing

-Marek’s shares the evolution of I-Opener, from a monthly in person ecstatic dance in Western Massachusetts, to a weekly Sunday virtual ecstatic dance connecting a global community via Zoom

-We talk about some of Marek’s other dance offering collaborations, including the ecstatic dance in Kingston, NY he collaborated on with the silent disco company I co-founded, Quiet Hours, and we manifest having him come collaborate with us again when we returns from Prague

-Marek speaks to his psychotherapy practice, and we discuss how dance and somatic movement practices can also be healing and spiritual practices

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

DJ Luminus

Instagram: @djluminus

Mixcloud: www.mixcloud.com/DJLuminus

Weekly Virtual Ecstatic Dance I-Opener with DJ Luminus and DJ Journey Weaver:

https://www.iopenerdance.com/

I-Opener Instagram: @iopenerdance

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Quiet Hours Silent Disco

Instagram: @quiethours.ny

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/QuietHours.NY/

Website: https://www.nysilentdisco.com/

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 007 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! Today’s episode features a heart-centered conversation with Connie Dasilva, on all things plant magic, including some amazing upcoming events in Kingston!

GUEST BIO:

Connie Dasilva loves introducing people to plants in new and interesting ways. She founded Whole Clarity, a plant based skincare line in 2013 and has since evolved the brand into a Plant Based Design Firm creating custom nature based art and biophilic interior design. Most recently she launched Dance With Plants, combining wellness and nature with the electronic music party scene in Kingston NY. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Connie tells us about the evolution of her offerings

-We reminisce on some of the previous magical Dance With Plants events

-We talk about different heart opening plants that are great for party gatherings as an alternative to alcohol

-Connie shares about Concrete Jungle, her outdoor venue in Kingston on the Hudson River, and some of the upcoming (and Covid-safe) events

-Connie gives us the breakdown of the Photosynthesis event April 27, produced by Dance With Plants, NY Photobus, and Haüs of Peculiar, where Cosmal is playing a set (the intro/outro music to the podcast is Cosmal’s beautiful song “Drishti”), Haus of Peculiar will be doing drag performances with fire spinning, and then we’re bringing the Quiet Hours Silent Disco, with music from BigMongo and MrAtwood (Quiet Hours co-founder and producer of this podcast!)

-We share exciting news about a ticket giveaway for Photosynthesis! Head to the Dance With Plants Instagram to enter to win 3 tickets to the event!

-Connie gives inspiration for different ways we can connect with plant energy at home, from filling our spaces with plants, to working with tinctures of different plants

-She shares so many great plant-care tips, and we also go over some safety tips if you have any pets at home, some plants and essential oils can be toxic to animals!

-We talk about how receptive plants are to energy, including how you speak to them!

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Connie Dasilva Instagram: @wholeclarity

@dance_withplants

@concretejunglekingston

Photosynthesis Event 4/27

Tickets: https://concretejunglekingston.simpletix.com/

Facebook Event Page:

https://www.facebook.com/events/481350179562458

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Quiet Hours Silent Disco

Instagram: @quiethours.ny

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/QuietHours.NY/

Website: https://www.nysilentdisco.com/

Weekly Virtual Ecstatic Dance I-Opener with DJ Luminus and DJ Journey Weaver:

https://www.iopenerdance.com/

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 006 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! Today’s episode features a conversation with Nate Gerry, an incredible singer-songwriter, and one of my great friends!

IN THIS EPISODE:

-We listen to a clip of Nate’s song “The Gift,” which this podcast episode is the very first time a recording of this song is being shared! Such an honor, thank you Nate!

-Nate tells us about his new album coming out at the end of this month of 14 songs written in 28 days from a February songwriting challenge

-We talk about “The Artists Way” and some practices for cultivating creativity

-Nate shares what is in his creative space where he writes music

-We talk about the magic of being in community and how that catapults creativity

-Nate shares about his path of exploring spirituality, from traveling to Israel on Birthright, to playing in a Catholic church band

GUEST BIO:

Nate Gerry is a singer-songwriter based in Boston, MA. When's he's not doing musical things, you can find Nate walking his puppy, riding his bike, or transforming his room in a jungle

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Nate Gerry Instagram: @nate.gerry

Nate Gerry Bandcamp: https://nategerry.bandcamp.com/

Nate Gerry Photo Credit: Leah CS Photography

https://instagram.com/leahcsphotography?igshid=hwj32h0succq

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 005 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! This is the Spring Equinox episode, featuring a conversation with Carleena Lara-Bregatta, also known as Carleena la Curandera. We recorded this episode on the Spring Equinox right after I attended Carleena’s incredible workshop honoring the Equinox, Inner Alchemy. Her workshop was such a special way to welcome Spring, with approachable movement/yoga, meditation, journaling, and distance Reiki. The class was recorded and is still available! I had a magical experience and highly recommend checking it out at Carleena’s website below. Recording this conversation right after the class was so lovely, and I was so honored to connect with Carleena heart to heart and discuss all of the magic of the Equinox and her offerings!

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Carleena shares about all of her different offerings in yoga, energy healing, herbalism and more

-She tells us all about her new workshop series Inner Alchemy

-We discuss the magic and importance of gathering

-We honor the Equinox, and Carleena shares so much wisdom with us on the energy of the seasons, Chinese medicine, the 5 elements, and the history of Easter

-I share my most powerful story of manifesting

-Carleena offers different ways to honor the energy of Spring and some rituals

-Carleena tells us all about her new podcast Ancestral Awakenings that just launched last week

-We each share which season we are feeling energetically, and what seeds we are planting in our manifestations 

-We close the episode with Carleena pulling some Tarot cards for Spring!

GUEST BIO:

Carleena is an intuitive healer, yoga & embodiment teacher and spiritual mentor who envisions a world where every one of Earths children feels inspired to express their authentic truth and innate chaos as well. As a daughter of Mother Earth, her mission is to awaken the Sacred Yin for all.

Carleena is an 800 Hour E-RYT (experienced registered yoga teacher) offering regular yoga classes in studio and online through her online membership portal The Curandera Coven (on Patreon). She is also a Reiki Master offering intuitive healing sessions in person and virtually. Her passions include spellwork, psychic channeling, plant medicine crafting and working with the Law of Attraction. 

She loves to lead yoga retreats, transformational teacher trainings and online workshops where guests tap into their personal power & innate creativity (Shakti).

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Carleena Instagram: @carleena.la.curandera

Website: http://www.carleenalarayoga.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carleenalacurandera

YouTube:https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPf8IOUN6DMfjgBn6m_Zo-Q

Ancestral Awakenings Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5taSs1wJMbsCSaAJswbdvi?si=lWeTgPp1QGOOnXoNC3BHIw

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 004 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! In this episode, I hang out with musician/songwriter/my friend Adam Fitch in Rishikesh, India while we were both traveling. Adam and I have a beautiful conversation while gazing into the holy Ganga River.

In this episode:

INTRO

-I share about how I met Adam while living in community at a holistic studies retreat center

-I give an update on Adam’s offerings since we recorded the interview over a year ago, including an upcoming EP release in the spring and guitar/songwriting lessons

INTERVIEW

-Adam opens the conversation with playing the singing bowl

-He shares about his journey of playing music and songwriting, and reflects on music as a spiritual practice

-Adam sparks to the magic of playing in improvisational band The Vegan Beats and their upcoming (at the time) 3 month residency in Mexico together to record their first album

-Before we met up in Rishikesh, Adam was in Dharamshala to see the Dalai Lama, he shares that story with us

-We talk about some of the visions we’ve each had while in a dance journey, including a past life of Adam’s

-We share stories of lucid dreaming

ARTIST BIO

Adam Fitch is an alternative folk solo artist from Millburn, New Jersey. Over the years, his style has developed into its own unique blend of folk and soulful jazz. He has an eclectic array of experience playing with bands as a guitarist, bassist, and vocalist in genres such as progressive metal, hip hop, electronic music, soul, blues, and more. Lyrically, Fitch has a level of emotional transparency and depth that invites personal exploration and doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of being human. He draws lyrical influence from artists like Conor Oberst and Gregory Alan Isakov, while offering more jazzy and exploratory chord choices. Sometimes fun and sexy, sometimes loving and soft, and often raw and exposed, his songs always dig beneath the surface and offer listeners his open, honest self. His performances are highly intimate, with fans claiming that he "offers up his soul when he sings". This has created a small group of devoted fans during his young career. His other band, The Vegan Beats, will be releasing an LP in late 2020. He is currently based out of West Palm Beach, Florida. 

RESOURCES:

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Adam Instagram: @adamfitchmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1N8YVV1yfoB6ozRywpopa3?si=rJ9ZTpf0TqKNxrjoKr5NSA

YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCa2Ec9O3rFFq0GZHOXAYZ0A

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mind-and-melody

https://soundcloud.com/soul-folks

The Vegan Beats Instagram: @theveganbeats

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/theveganbeats

Bandcamp: https://theveganbeats.bandcamp.com/

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @cosmal.live

https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to Episode 003 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! In this episode, I hang out with world percussionist Arjun Bruggeman and his sweet dog Mooji at The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. Arjun had just finished playing tabla with Grammy nominated artist Krishna Das at the Kirtan workshop Ecstatic Chant. As Arjun and I throw Mooji his bunny toy, we have an inspiring conversation.

In this episode: 

INTRO 

-I share about how I met Arjun at the retreat center I was living/working at 

-I give an update on Arjun’s offerings since we recorded the interview over a year ago, including upcoming album releases and virtual percussion lessons INTERVIEW 

-Arjun explains Kirtan music -He shares about his Guru, Siddhi Ma, and his time in India 

-Arjun talks about touring in a punk rock band at the age of 14 

-We both talk about our connections to our animals, and Arjun shares how Mooji came into his life -Arjun talks about importance of having a morning practice and the experience of spaciousness 

-He shares about his improvisational music 

-Mooji sings for us and inspires a new musical project 

-Arjun plays for us on the bendir frame drum 

ARTIST BIO 

“Arjun Bruggeman, world percussionist, drummer, composer and session recording artist, is highly acclaimed for his unique hybrid of East-meets-West rhythms. 
At the age of 9 Arjun started playing guitar, bass and drums. By the age of 14 he embarked on a touring career playing drums with punk rock bands. His interest in early progressive, metal and jazz rhythms led him into a creative journey and later found himself enthralled by world percussion. Simultaneously, Arjun practiced many forms of Eastern spirituality. Through these explorations he merged the inner quest with the exterior expressions of sound and found himself supporting spoken word with Coleman Barks and David Darling. Arjun recalls, “I wanted to go deeper. I wanted to support something that was bigger than me.” This profound experience led Arjun to meet Krishna Das and a connection with Neem Karoli Baba. Soon thereafter he began touring with Krishna Das worldwide and over the past decade has shared the stage with noted musicians Sting, John Densmore, Mark Egan, Jerry Morrata, Steve Gorn, Jackson Browne and David Crosby and Graham Nash. In 2016, Arjun released his self-titled debut album Arjun. The six-track album features all original compositions exploring the musical journey of the soul. In June 2019 Arjun has released his follow-up offering of world percussion centered on improvisation and other worldly soundscapes with friends Mark Egan, Shane Theriot and David Darling called Otherworld.  Additionally, he has partnered with renowned jazz artist Mark Egan, the duo’s album "Dreaming Spirits" was released in 2018 in which he was rated #3 for best percussionist for that year by Jazz Station LA.” 

RESOURCES: 

My Instagram: @glitter.and.sage 

Arjun Instagram: @arjun108b 

Website: https://www.arjunbruggeman.com/ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2nIOY5jfkuhF4f6aYiQrjP?si=Q-GiaoxWR_CXwo06zrrKeg 

His dog Mooji’s Instagram: @moojipupmania 

Krishna Das Instagram: @krishnadasmusic 

My favorite Ravi Shankar video at Monterey Pop: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lk60ObnbIOk 

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood Instagram: @mratwoodmusic https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vSKrFQnV2MfsilThMT9Tc?si=gPCRB7E4QQWTqke-37K4TA 

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal Instagram: @cosmal.live https://cosmal.bandcamp.com/ 

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation, next week’s episode features an interview with musician/songwriter Adam Fichtelberg. See you next time, friends

Welcome to Episode 002 of the Glitter and Sage podcast! I am so excited to share this episode, as it is the first interview I recorded for the podcast, and it is an interview with one of my favorite bands, Calliope Musicals, that we recorded sitting in a big circle with the whole band and some of my friends, on the floor of the venue Pianos in NYC right after they played a really fun show!

ARTIST BIO

“Calliope Musicals exist in multiple mind-bending dimensions. The larger-than-life psychedelic pop collective, led by Carrie Fussell, wows concert-goers with a blast of interactive secondhand glam and woos music listeners alike with invigorating avant-garde anthems. Standouts amongst their Austin, TX peers, Calliope Musicals were hailed by NPR as a “perennial SXSW favorite”. As Fussell sums up the group: “We came from space. We’re all going to die”. Calliope Musicals’ latest EP, Between Us, is slated to release on April 23, 2021 via Spaceflight Records.” In this episode:

INTRO

INTERVIEW

RESOURCES:

Calliope Musicals

YouTube:

Band photo used in the episode card shot by Kate Blaising

Newly released “Can You Tell Me” video

“Cosmic Poison Arrow” official video

“That’s Why We Dance” official video

Glitter and Sage podcast sound engineer/video editing: David Atwood

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

The weekly Sunday morning virtual ecstatic dance on Zoom I mention in the Intro:

Thanks for tuning in and joining our conversation, next week’s episode features an interview with tabla player/world musician, Arjun Bruggeman. See you next time, friends!

Welcome to the first episode of the Glitter and Sage podcast! Before we get into our flow of episodes featuring conversations with special guests, I felt it was important to come in and introduce myself, and set some intentions for this podcast.

In this episode I share:

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @glitter.and.sage

Intro/Outro Music: “Drishti” by Cosmal

Instagram: @mratwoodmusic

Instagram: @quiethours.ny

Instagram: @calliopemusicals

Instagram: @arjun108b

Instagram: @adamfitchmusic