Ryan Martinez turns the events of his life into musical diaries, and despite this year’s turmoil, he has a lot to sing about. His latest album, “Ensemble,” explores the ever-flowing river of time, pays tribute to the love of his life, Tatyana, and marvels at the miracle of their first-born son, Milo. We led Ryan into the woods of Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, to listen to his songs and talk about the sentiments behind them.

Listen to “Ensemble” on the following platforms:

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/martinezsenior/sets/ensemble

Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2KBFFSM

Apple Music: https://apple.co/3nvWo8y

David Ross & Dan Bloom take to the woods of Rock Creek Park to discuss the disaster that is the United States in 2020: over 150,000 dead in a pandemic with no end in sight, raging protests for racial justice, and the 45th President ordering secret police into the streets. If this moment doesn't call you to introspection and action, nothing will.

Articles referenced:

• The New Yorker: 'Homeland Security Was Destined to Become a Secret Police Force' by Masha Gessen https://newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-dhs-was-destined-to-become-a-secret-police-force

• Washington Post op-ed: 'Barbara Boxer: DHS was a mistake. I regret voting for it.' https://wapo.st/3keBycz

Harpers: 'A Letter on Justice and Open Debate' https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/

• NY Times op-ed: 'Tom Cotton: Send In the Troops' https://nyti.ms/3iaOtu7

• NY Review of Books: 'The Designated Mourner' by Fintan O'Toole https://nybooks.com/articles/2020/01/16/joe-biden-designated-mourner/

• NY Times: '1619 Project' https://nyti.ms/2XtuOh2

Ben Tolkan is anything but naive; he’s well aware that each day is a fight for his life. In facing down years of chemotherapy, Ben has powered through illness and fear to arrive at a triumph of love. He is a part of a wonderful family, has a great job with Brooklyn Brewery, and in December, he married Abby, the love of his life. The future is unknowable for anyone, especially for him. But despite his protests, everyone who knows Ben and everyone who hears this episode will learn lessons of how to value the present. And we thank him for that. We wish you, your wife Abby, and your family many beautiful years together.

Washingtonian article about Ben: “I Was All Set to Become the Most Popular Guy in the Cancer Ward. Then I Met My Nemesis: Ben” https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/12/11/my-mr-chemotherapy-contest-nemesis-ben/

Intro music: “Gum Gum” by Hailu Mariga (http://soundcloud.com/hailumergia)

Ending music: “Burn Baby Burn” by Ladygod (http://soundcloud.com/ladygodftw)

Everyone goes through struggles in life, and we believe that the way forward begins with knowing yourself. Today, we discuss the twists and turns along our sometimes difficult paths in order to better understand ourselves and the world around us. Remember that life is a journey, and sometimes the story that we tell ourselves and the world isn't right anymore; maybe it hasn't been right for a long time. But there are ways to find yourself again: through discussion with loved ones, therapy, medication when needed, by grabbing onto the "wheels of happiness," maintaining perspective, and practicing appreciation for life's many gifts.

If things get dire, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need help, call 1-800-273-8255 or visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. To access free or low cost mental health services, check out the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective at https://openpathcollective.org. No matter who you are, you deserve to learn, grow and be happy. Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Love, David & Dan.

Intro music: “Gum Gum” by Hailu Mariga (http://soundcloud.com/hailumergia)

Ending music: “Burn Baby Burn” by Ladygod (http://soundcloud.com/ladygodftw)

When a cryptic op-ed appeared in The New York Times, it set off a frenzy in US politics. The writer, an anonymous senior official in the White House, criticized the President for whom they served as amoral. With his interest piqued, co-host Dan Bloom decided to do a little online sleuthing. Although the writer's identity remains unknown, there was one key clue that led to Dan's guess. Vice President Mike Pence happens to use an unusual word conspicuously often that also appears in the op-ed: "LODESTAR," defined as “a star that is used to guide the course of a ship.” Just two days later, while basking in the viral notoriety of his hypothesis, Dan was surprised to find his own vocational lodestar suddenly go dark when he was laid off. Luckily, a new, and exciting project quickly materialized, which in turn led to an invitation to the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism conference (ARIJ18) in Jordan. When David Ross left a steady office job to find his own lodestar in more creative work, he could never have anticipated the emotional peaks and valleys he would come to traverse. Along this path, David developed resilience, resolve, and tangible skills like the art of booking talent. David is now using this unique skill set to manage musicians and other acts with his company “Forest and Farms.” DJ/Producer wunderkind Dreamcast (http://soundcloud.com/burymeinamink), indie rock band Ladygod (http://soundcloud.com/ladygodftw), and NBA legend Rod Strickland all make appearances in David’s story, which illuminates the invaluable lessons of “consistent persistence,” self-discovery, and transformative reinvention.

One of David’s aforementioned acts, Ladygod, is playing a show at Washington DC’s Songbyrd Music House on Wednesday, January 9th, 2019. Come hang with the maDCap boys at this complimentary ($7 suggested donation) soiree. Find more information and RSVP here: https://www.songbyrddc.com/shows/2019-01-09-ladygod

2018 heroes: Robert Mueller III and Michelle Obama

Podcast recommendations: "Bag Man" and "Slow Burn"

Next week, we present a no-holds-barred conversation about mental health, starting with our own.

Intro music: “Gum Gum” by Hailu Mariga (http://soundcloud.com/hailumergia)

Ending music: “Burn Baby Burn” by Ladygod (http://soundcloud.com/ladygodftw)

Rod Strickland's podcast, "Strictly Speaking": https://theshadowleague.com/strictly-speaking-live-chris-mullin/

David Ross got on a Megabus bound for New York. Nine hours and forty minutes later, he'd learned valuable lessons about himself, humanity, and the nature of time. Daniel Bloom convinced David to tell the tale.

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Music by @flamingosis

How do you get through an identity crisis? And what do you learn on the other side?

"Remember the things that make you human."

How much power do we have to tell our own stories and shape reality? And if it turns out we have a lot of this power, how much should we use it? As the years crash against the sands of time, these questions get more and more pressing. Good thing we have this podcast.

David Ross and Dan Bloom asking big questions about life, recorded at Dan's living room in Northwest Washington DC. Thanks to Blue Microphones for the equipment.

+ Discipline and focus

+ Is mental illness related to artistry?

+ Acknowledging the demons of XXXTentacion

+ The gap between i™age and ®eality

+ Confronting Sarah Sanders

+ Seeing opponents for who they are

+ Preparing for the worst

+ How do you know when it's too late?

maDCap is the story David Ross and Daniel Bloom's friendship. We record in Washington, DC.

+ DC's Funk Parade was excellent

+ Appreciating mom

+ Investing in people who invest in you

+ Figuring out life

+ The Royal Wedding

+ Finding a way to love