Impropod Podcast

Poet, author, bodybuilder and former US Air Force veteran Peter Gunn discusses his extraordinary near-death experience at the age of seven, and how it influenced his creativity and outlook on life.

Luke improvises soundtracks to Peter’s NDE, exploring the intensity of heat, death, ascension and the feeling of being told it wasn’t his time to leave. Peter shares a memorable story about unexpectedly playing poker with... during a trip to Atlantic City. Luke gets a musical sense of the vibe of Atlantic City where the poker game takes place, and how the game unfolds.

The conversation explores Peter’s self-taught journey into music, his fascination with the spiritual side of creativity, and how he formed a band to create an album inspired by the nostalgic sounds of the 1980s.

They discuss:

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US military veteran and podcast host Donald Dunn talks about the importance of music in the military, while serving. He shares stories of soldiers coming together for impromptu jam sessions after difficult days, using music to build camaraderie, lift spirits and reconnect with a sense of home. Donald also talks openly about the challenges of returning to civilian and family life, including the emotional impact of repeated deployments and his struggles with PTSD. Luke improvises music to capture the uncertainty, distance and complexity of being reunited with loved ones. 

They explore how improvised music can be beneficial in the recovery process after serving in the military. Donald also tells a ridiculous story involving a popular video game Call of Duty. They discuss how improvised music and storytelling could be used as a therapeutic tool for veterans, and how music can communicate emotions beyond words.

They discuss:

◼ How returning home after deployment can bring unexpected emotional challenges, 

◼ How improvised music and personal stories could be used as a therapeutic tool to help veterans process experiences and emotions beyond words

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◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw

◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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Producer, podcaster and former spy Pete A Turner shares a gripping story about a potentially deadly checkpoint crossing in Iraq, revealing the tension and uncertainty of working in dangerous environments.

He talks about his lifelong love of music, from U2 to the extraordinary pipe organ his father played at home, and how music helped him process intense experiences during his time as a spy. Pete also explores the surprising similarities between espionage and podcasting: meeting people, understanding their experiences and translating their stories for a wider audience.

With over 2,000 episodes of his podcast, The Break It Down Show, Pete has interviewed an vast range of guests, including acclaimed musicians, and reflects on what he has learned from talking to so many different people.

They discuss:

◼ Pete’s experiences as a former spy, including a tense checkpoint crossing in Iraq where a skilled negotiation prevented a potentially deadly confrontation

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Author and host Rod Berger has conducted more than 4,000 interviews, speaking with figures including the late Pope Francis, NBA legend Magic Johnson and the Crown Princess of Sweden. He joins Luke to explore the power of storytelling and the way stories help us understand ourselves and the world around us.

Rod shares experiences from his work documenting stories in refugee settlements in Africa, and recounts a surprising interview with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, (who is the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion). Khabib reveals that beyond his intimidating fighting career, he dreamed of returning home to live a simple life selling vegetables.

He also reflects on his deep emotional connection to sport and recalls the childhood heartbreak of watching his beloved Detroit Pistons lose the 1988 NBA Finals.

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◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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Dr. Glenn Berger. is a psychotherapist and coach who's worked for over twenty-five years. Before that, he was in the music business, In the Studio with Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger and More. 

They discuss the mathematics of music, why you think and feel certain emotions or imagine things when listening to music. Glenn tells some great stories about how he made the decision to study psychotherapy and his connection to the song Bridge Over Troubled Water. All with a unique soundtrack.

They discuss:

◼ How the mathematics of music, overtones and harmonic relationships influence what we hear as consonant, dissonant, beautiful or unresolved

◼ How music triggers memories, emotions and vivid imagery through the brain’s associative networks, and why the same piece of music can mean something completely different to different people

◼ How a life-changing experience listening to Bridge Over Troubled Water led Glenn to confront his complicated memories of working with Paul Simon and ultimately write a memoir about his years in the recording industry

◼ How improvisation can transform stories of despair, uncertainty and major life decisions into musical journeys, and create a space for deeper emotional connection, creativity and self-discovery

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Youtuber and composer Dan Blackwell talks about his short film The Lonely Mushroom, which uses music generated from mushrooms, and synthesisers, before exploring how improvised music can transform strange memories and stories into vivid soundscapes. 

Dan shares a surreal late-night walk through Hong Kong involving a tortoise on a lead, a grieving woman, rave dogs and a man riding a strange Segway, as well as a jungle story about an orangutan, an aggressive monkey and the unexpected consequences of revenge.

They discuss:

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◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw

◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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In an eloquent interview poet and performer Pete the Temp discusses improvisation as both a creative practice and an underlying principle of life. He tells a story about a spontaneous marriage proposal involving a move to South Africa to study hyaenas, and a story about an awkward surprise in Soho. Pete and Luke explore how improvised music can reveal new emotional layers within stories, and discuss creativity, flow, music, metaphysics and the idea of existence itself as an act of improvisation.

They discuss:

◼ How an extraordinary story of love, a spontaneous marriage proposal and studying hyenas in South Africa inspires an improvised musical journey

◼ How an awkward encounter in Soho becomes a comic soundtrack, using musical tension, dissonance and sudden shifts to capture confusion

◼ How improvisation allows stories to reveal new emotional meaning, creating a musical landscape beyond words

◼ How improvisation, creativity and play can be seen as fundamental principles of life, connecting music with imagination, nature and existence

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◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw

◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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Newfoundland based composer and multi instrumentalist, Adam Foran tells some great stories involving a vicious great horned owl that wiped out his chickens, and meeting a humpback wale whilst in a kayak. He collaborates on Luke's improvisations with an impressive array of home made instruments, and skill. They discus the composition process and chicken music! They explore the creative process behind composing for film, TV and podcasts, and discover how different instruments can capture everything from peaceful landscapes and swarming fish to chaotic chickens and terrifying owls.

They discuss:

◼ How an encounter with humpback whales in a kayak inspires an improvised soundtrack moving from peaceful awe to fear, chaos and relief

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Writer & performer Malika Kegode tells an intriguing story about gaining a sense of integrity after falling down a hole on a late-night walk home,, as well as a story about the mysterious theft of an xmas tree, Zuzu. They also discuss the power of improvised music, what makes something sound 'christmasy', the musical interpretation of rain, false optimism and the power of musical idents like notification sounds.

 The conversation moves into the psychology of musical phrases, why unfinished melodies can get stuck in our heads, and how familiar sounds such as phone notifications and Facebook Messenger alerts can instantly trigger recognition and action.

They discuss:

◼ How falling into a hole on a late-night walk becomes a story about anxiety, self-awareness, integrity and finding perspective

◼ How the mysterious theft of a Christmas tree inspires an improvised soundtrack of Christmas cheer, detective work, betrayal and loss

◼ How improvisation can translate emotions such as nervousness, false optimism, rain and moments of realisation into music

◼ How familiar melodies and musical idents, from Jingle Bells to phone notifications, use musical expectation to trigger recognition and keep us listening

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Violin player Greta Murmaite, plays some fantastic improv. She talks about performing across classical, indie folk and jazz, and explores how improvisation has helped her reconnect with intuition and creativity. She tells a precarious bike ride story that quickly turns from excitement to chaos, inspiring a playful improvised soundtrack. She also recalls growing up on a farm in Lithuania, surrounded by forests, fields and lakes, and the sense of connection she felt watching the trees grow alongside her. The conversation explores the relationship between improvisation, classical training, intuition and the freedom to create without knowing the outcome.

They discuss:

◼ How classical training, nostalgia and memories of boarding school can inspire improvised music and emotional imagery

◼ How a childhood bike ride in Lithuania turns from excitement to fear and chaos, inspiring an improvised soundtrack of movement, rhythm and tension

◼ How memories of growing up in the Lithuanian countryside inspire music about nature, growth, connection and the changing landscape

◼ How improvisation can help musicians reconnect with intuition, creativity and the present moment, rather than overthinking the outcome

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◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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