Although Haley Simons was a constant presence in my youth, this interview was our first in-depth conversation. We were co-competitors in piano; when I saw her name among the entrants in a music festival class, I knew I’d have to bring my “A” game. When I read a recent article about the important work she is doing to ensure that creativity receives equal educational emphasis with reading and math, I decided to reach out to her on Facebook, and then to ask her to be a guest on my podcast.

Our discussion was delightful, insightful, wide-ranging and warm, covering subjects from motherhood to pop music to the “soul-destroying” practice of turning music into a battleground. Haley is soft-spoken but extremely passionate, with a keen intelligence and steely determination. She is also funny and self-deprecating—just a really cool person, in general. She is very serious about her mission, however, because she truly believes that the arts and creativity in general are indispensable to human survival. Looking for another important reason to contact your congressperson? Listen to this!