Inside Creativity

In this two part episode, I’m so honored to be hosting Atmospheric Instrumental Music Creator Composer, Mike Barden, creating under the artist name, i minus i!

Mike is super gifted musically, his technical musicianship is off the charts (he studied music theory and jazz piano and went on to get his masters degree in composition, he records and produces his own & other musicians music, he’s played with many well known bands and has worked with some legendary greats. (For Mike’s full professional bio, scroll below)

Part 2 is jam-packed with deep insights and palpable pondering ... with an in the moment deep dive Inside Creativity music experience from Mike right in the middle of it all!

This has been a treasured experience for me as the host of Inside Creativity. May Mike’s path ahead be filled with charmed success as he continues to expand into his creative limitless expression!

In Part 1 (in case you missed it, click here to listen!), we start at the beginning, with Mike’s early years of discovering his natural ear and curiosity for music, certain charmed experiences that offered confirmation to his path, and how that grew into a lifelong passion and study. Throughout the conversation, Mike returns to his knowing that he’s always felt a leaning toward using his creative force toward something meaningful, that could really make a positive difference to life.

This conversation is SO powerful. I’m grateful x infinity for Mike’s willingness to explore and expand Inside Creativity with me!

If you’ve enjoyed the show (of course you have!), and you want to support Mike and his i minus i creations, please be sure to follow, LIKE, and Subscribe … and comment and share! 🙂

About Inside Creativity’s Guest, Mike Barden, creating music as ‘i MINUS i’

‘i minus i’ is the latest musical project of instrumental composer and producer Mike Barden. Using “Stream-of-Consciousness Composition”, i minus i produces atmospheric, groove-based music.

“i minus i” is a philosophy of life and creativity. It simply means that the best results happen when life is lived from our Timeless self (i) rather than our Transient self (i).

Beginning with piano lessons at age 7 and his first paid gig at age 13, Mike followed his fascination with all things music to include guitar, audio recording, music theory, and composition. While working on his Bachelor’s degree at UW-Stevens Point, he studied music theory and jazz piano, and was fortunate to meet and perform with his then-classmate (now internationally acclaimed guitarist) Greg Koch, which had the effect of inspiring Mike to strive for new heights of musicianship. Mike went on to earn his Master’s degree in Composition at the University of IL, Champaign-Urbana.

Moving from there to work as a church music director, Mike was involved in the leadership of contemporary worship programs, being heavily influenced by black gospel and 90’s rock styles. During this time he filled the roles of band leader, arranger, choir director, and technical director. At that time he began playing with the River Cities Jazz big band, and accompanying for the Waupaca school music programs. Since then Mike has at times taught music lessons, played solo gigs, played with a variety of bands including Uptown, Unity, Ask Your Mother, Salsa Manzana, Jazz Orgy, etc., run live sound, produced his own recordings as a solo artist, and recorded other local artists in his home studio.

Over the course of his musical career, Mike has had the opportunity to work with performers such as Maynard Ferguson, Saturday Night Live alumni Joe Piscopo, Father Guido Sarducci, and Victoria Jackson, Joan Rivers, Wally Palmar of the Romantics, “Skip” Martin of Kool & the Gang, and Alex Ligertwood of Santana.

Currently, Mike is playing keyboard for Wisconsin cover band Boogie and the Yoyoz, and continuing to compose and produce original music. His new project, i minus i, specializes in atmospheric instrumental music.

If you love the show, show your appreciation by sending a donation to Savi and Mark so they can continue to bring you high vibe, creative conscious artists, and media!

And of course, SHARING is CARING!

Inside Creativity — with Savi Ma is a deep dive podcast exploring the realms of the creative force that literally lives, breathes and animates through each of us every single day. Through inspired conversation and curious questioning, we’ll embark on a journey of discovery with our visionary, ingenious guests who know what it is to tap into the creative flow that stretches and expresses through limitlessness.

In this two part episode, I’m so honored to be hosting Atmospheric Instrumental Music Creator Composer, Mike Barden!

Mike is super gifted musically, his technical musicianship is off the charts (he studied music theory and jazz piano and went on to get his masters degree in composition, he records and produces his own & other musicians music, he’s played with many well known bands and has worked with some legendary greats. (For Mike's full professional bio, scroll below)

In Part 1, we start at the beginning, with Mike's early years of discovering his natural ear and curiosity for music, certain charmed experiences that offered confirmation to his path, and how that grew into a lifelong passion and study. Throughout the conversation, Mike returns to his knowing that he's always felt a leaning toward using his creative force toward something meaningful, that could really make a positive difference to life.

In Part 2 (click here to listen to Part 2), we talk more about what Mike refers to as Stream of Consciousness Creativity. We’ll get to hear all about Mike’s latest improvisational composition, Emergence (an apt title!), and how it came to be, purely by way of allowing, trusting, and being receptive beyond the context of technical rules and thought/mind constructs. (Emergence is the beautiful track you hear at the beginning and end of both Part 1 & 2.)

This has been a treasured experience for me as the host of Inside Creativity. May Mike’s path ahead be filled with charmed success as he continues to expand into his creative limitless expression!

If you've enjoyed the show (of course you have!), and you want to support Mike and his i minus i creations, please be sure to follow, LIKE, and Subscribe ... and comment and share! :)

About Inside Creativity’s Guest, Mike Barden, creating music as ‘i MINUS i’

‘i minus i’ is the latest musical project of instrumental composer and producer Mike Barden. Using "Stream-of-Consciousness Composition", i minus i produces atmospheric, groove-based music.

"i minus i" is a philosophy of life and creativity. It simply means that the best results happen when life is lived from our Timeless self (i) rather than our Transient self (i).

Beginning with piano lessons at age 7 and his first paid gig at age 13, Mike followed his fascination with all things music to include guitar, audio recording, music theory, and composition. While working on his Bachelor’s degree at UW-Stevens Point, he studied music theory and jazz piano, and was fortunate to meet and perform with his then-classmate (now internationally acclaimed guitarist) Greg Koch, which had the effect of inspiring Mike to strive for new heights of musicianship. Mike went on to earn his Master’s degree in Composition at the University of IL, Champaign-Urbana.

Moving from there to work as a church music director, Mike was involved in the leadership of contemporary worship programs, being heavily influenced by black gospel and 90’s rock styles. During this time he filled the roles of band leader, arranger, choir director, and technical director. At that time he began playing with the River Cities Jazz big band, and accompanying for the Waupaca school music programs. Since then Mike has at times taught music lessons, played solo gigs, played with a variety of bands including Uptown, Unity, Ask Your Mother, Salsa Manzana, Jazz Orgy, etc., run live sound, produced his own recordings as a solo artist, and recorded other local artists in his home studio.

Over the course of his musical career, Mike has had the opportunity to work with performers such as Maynard Ferguson, Saturday Night Live alumni Joe Piscopo, Father Guido Sarducci, and Victoria Jackson, Joan Rivers, Wally Palmar of the Romantics, "Skip" Martin of Kool & the Gang, and Alex Ligertwood of Santana.

Currently, Mike is playing keyboard for Wisconsin cover band Boogie and the Yoyoz, and continuing to compose and produce original music. His new project, i minus i, specializes in atmospheric instrumental music.

If you love the show, show your appreciation by sending a donation to Savi and Mark so they can continue to bring you high vibe, creative conscious artists, and media!

And of course, SHARING is CARING!

Inside Creativity — with Savi Ma is a deep dive podcast exploring the realms of the creative force that literally lives, breathes and animates through each of us every single day. Through inspired conversation and curious questioning, we’ll embark on a journey of discovery with our visionary, ingenious guests who know what it is to tap into the creative flow that stretches and expresses through limitlessness.

Get ready for a true magic carpet ride of a conversation! In this episode, I dive deep Inside Creativity with Gina Maray. We talk about the essence of creativity, how it is a natural part of every being, and how it weaves through every aspect, every facet of our lives. 

Gina gets super real with us … we talk about what happens when fear enters the equation as an artist (or in life, in general), we discuss how creativity can help us move through painful times and murky waters, and how allowing creative expression can be a pathway to healing and transformation.

Catch Gina’s responses to my question, “If Creativity had a voice, what would it say to you … to the children … to the world?” Our entire conversation is filled with gems, this part was particularly sparkly! Gina is a wise, loving and exceptionally tapped in Presence.

We talk about Gina’s two life dreams and the journey to their manifestation, and how through twists and turns, bumps and brilliant-becomings, her creative spirit has continued to grow stronger and more vibrant. This is clearly demonstrated in the amazing high vibration paintings she is now in full-force creation mode with. 

Gina shares how these three words: Intention, Attention, and Love are at the heart of every piece she creates. 

Listen in, enjoy our conversation, be sure to check out the gallery of Gina’s work included below, and watch the video about Gina’s Reiki Painting offerings! Brilliant, unique and original. This goddess has her Creative Force ignited!

Follow Gina Maray Art on Facebook or

Gina Maray is all about heart and passion. Through many years on her own spiritual journey, Gina has dedicated her life to courageously following her heart and allowing herself to be guided and driven by her own unique passions. Following her golden thread, Gina has healed and expanded herself, sharing love through such passions as dancing, kirtan, meditation, energy work, drum circles, and painting. She shares her love with the world with her smile, her famous hugs, her guided meditations, her paintings, and even as a certified professional cuddler through cuddlist.com. 

Her background includes a Bachelor's degree in fine art. Having spent the last thirteen years caring for and homeschooling her three beautiful growing young boys; this mama is now birthing a new form of creation into the world. Gina is letting the creative juices flow through her painting. In her art, she weaves together bold colors, spiritual themes, symbolism, energy work, and the power of intention and attention. With art in the form of energy paintings, she is interweaving energy work and painting together into one experience for her clients. Offering reiki painting sessions where the client receives distance energy work in and through a personalized commissioned painting. 

Fully alive, embodied, full feeling, Gina’s sensitive empathic nature has shaped her ability to creatively engage with the world around her. She is creating powerful pieces of art that wash the viewer and the space in loving energy.

Art to Bathe You and Your Space in Loving Energy. Art to Empower Elevate and Inspire. Reiki Paintings From Gina Maray. Art with Heart. This is New. This is Exciting!

If you love the show, show your appreciation by sending a donation to Savi and Mark so they can continue to bring you high vibe, creative conscious artists, and media!

Venmo: loving-awareness-mark-debra

Inside Creativity — with Savi & Mark is a deep dive podcast exploring the realms of the creative force that literally lives, breathes and animates through each of us every single day. Through inspired conversation and curious questioning, we’ll embark on a journey of discovery with our visionary, ingenious guests who know what it is to tap into the creative flow that stretches and expresses through limitlessness.

Join us for a super special premiere show with our dear friend, Ted!

During the show, we’ll ask Ted how and where all of this music and magic making began, how the indigenous flutes called to his soul and the most perfect teachers appeared on his path, the flute making process … including the vision and spirit-guided aspects, and most certainly we’ll ask Ted to play for us!

Support our Guest Artist, Theodore Ceplina by visiting his website, sharing his name, and by ordering your very own flute or drum.

Reach out to Ted, he’ll help you meet your perfect match instrument that will have your soul singing and your spirit soaring! https://www.theodoreceplina.com/

Support our Inside Creativity show

Inside Creativity — with Savi & Mark is a deep dive podcast exploring the realms of the creative force that literally lives, breathes and animates through each of us every single day. Through inspired conversation and curious questioning, we’ll embark on a journey of discovery with our visionary, ingenious guests who know what it is to tap into the creative flow that stretches and expresses through limitlessness.