No 1 In Particular

What happens when grief, healing, and creativity collide? In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter Nadia Ackerman, whose life took a dramatic turn after losing her father more than 30 years ago. The loss shattered her world—the family business, their home in Sydney, and her sense of stability were all gone.

Through years of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Nadia not only found a path through her trauma, but also began to receive something extraordinary: dreams of fully formed songs. Out of pain came an unexpected gift—and a new way to share her art with the world.

Nadia packed her bags for New York City in 1998 to chase her dream of becoming a jazz singer. Since then, she’s released seven pop albums, performed on SNL, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and Good Morning America, and shared the stage with legends like Sting, Shirley Bassey, James Taylor, Eurythmics , and Elton John.

This conversation is about loss, resilience, and how the reprocessing of grief can sometimes open unexpected doors of creativity.

You can find natchie in many retail stores throughout the USA including MOMA, The MTA Transit Museum, Cocoa and Olive and The Seattle Art Museum. Her retail store is located in JFK terminal 8, Concourse B.

http://www.natchieart.com

http://www.nadiaackerman.com

Follow natchie on instagram @natchieart

Music we Mention:

Chopin

Markus Mumford 

Maro 

Papper Planes 

Fruit Bats

Zero 7

My guest is Julie Gordon, a true New York “It Girl” of the late ’70s. Julie was a regular at Studio 54, brushing shoulders with names you’d definitely recognize, and even counted Marla Maples—yes, Trump’s second wife—as a friend.

Julie takes us behind the scenes giving us a taste of what it was like to work as a model and party at the epicenter of New York’s heyday. It’s funny, it’s juicy...names will be dropped.

People Mentioned:

Eileen Ford

Wilhelmina

John Casablancas

Ernest Borgnine

Thomas Fitzsimmons  (author of Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard).

Jane Modine

Marla Maples

Barbra Bingham

Jim McMullen

Music Mentioned:

Yes

Barbara Streisand

Cat Stevens

James Taylor

Eminem

Adam Levine

This month, I sit down with Gordon “Gordy” Davies, a Jersey-born audio engineer whose life was changed the moment he walked into a recording studio. What started as a restless kid searching for direction turned into a career that’s run through legendary spaces like California’s Record Plant and the early 2000's New York music scene.

Today, Gordy runs his own studio——Singletrack Audio—as well as his role as chief engineer at Clementine Café in Harrisonburg, VA. We talk about the bands and albums that shaped his journey (and the royalty checks that still roll in), the explosion that forced him to start over, and the unlikely twist that has him now teaching audio engineering.

Gordy’s also an outdoors junkie—mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping. He’s found balance outside the studio and now seems like he's in a good place to lay down some roots.

It’s a fun, couch-style conversation about music and carving out a life doing what you enjoy.

Music we Mention:

Black Sabbath

Blow up Hollywood

Chick Corea

Miles Davis

Failure 

Tool

Kings X

Jason Isbell

The Judy Chops

Everyone knows the expression “what if you get hit by a bus?” Well, it actually happened to my guest Kimberli MacKay.

A near-fatal accident set her on a new path — one that led to healing and reinvention.

Kimberli is a milliner and world-class seamstress who’s worked in factories around the world, crafting stunning hats, coats, and accessories for people from all walks of life. She shares stories from the factory floor — including how she helped women gain access to birth control — and reflects on the deeper meaning hats can hold during life’s highs and lows. She will also let you in on some of the best fabric shops in New York and Connecticut.

From her passion-filled days as the Director of Design for Betmar to the heartbreak of being let go, Kimberli opens up about the beauty of starting over. She now teaches students looking to get into the Fashion Institute of Technology ( F.I.T) the #1 school for anything you want to do in the fashion industry. This is a story about the unexpected ways life stitches us back together.

Music we Mention:

Jules Avalon

Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox

When Joanne Price left the UK for San Francisco, she thought she was stepping into her happily ever after. Instead, she walked straight into chaos — a cheating husband, a sudden health crisis, and two young kids to raise on her own.

Told with grit, raw honesty, and humor this is a true story of a woman who turned heartbreak into purpose. From solo parenting to working on the homeless crisis in CA, Jo’s journey is anything but ordinary — featuring ghosts, a coma, and yes… a basement full of Champagne.

It’s messy. It’s real. It’s better than a Soap Opera.

Music we Mention:

Dom Dolla

Enzo is Burning

Fisher

Oasis

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Caleb Spaulding—a drummer, creative, and rhythm artist whose journey took him from band life to building a unique career in New York City. Caleb shares how he moved to the city chasing a dream with his band, only to face the big question: how do you make a living in one of the most expensive cities in the world while staying true to your passion?

What followed was an unexpected and inspiring evolution. Caleb found his path in the world of wellness, where rhythm isn't just music—it's breath, heartbeat, movement, and connection. From drumming in yoga and meditation classes to leading corporate team-building workshops, Caleb has carved out a niche that blends creativity, healing, and community.

We talk about the power of rhythm in religion and ritual, the emotional magic of music, and his transformative experiences at Burning Man. Caleb also opens up about how tools like MDMA and LSD—used responsibly—have influenced his understanding of music as therapy and a doorway to deeper self-awareness.

This is a conversation about listening to your inner beat, and building a life that feels aligned.

Books we Mention:

Drumming at the Edge of Magic: A Journey into the Spirit of Percussion:  by Mickey Hart & Jay Stevens

How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence: by Michael Pollan

Music we Mention:

Fela Kuti 

Burning Man DJ sets 

Chappell Roan

In this episode, I talk with Cianne Wallin—a mother of five, marathon runner, and law student at 40—about her extraordinary journey of resilience, faith, and fierce determination.

Cianne opens up about becoming a teen mom and putting her education on hold to raise all her children. After marrying and moving across the country multiple times for her husband’s career, her kids are now in school—and it’s finally her turn.

We talk about her calling to the courtroom, her deep desire to represent victims who aren’t taken seriously (something she knows about firsthand as a survivor of sexual abuse)

Cianne doesn’t pretend to be perfect—she’s honest about her struggles, including managing an eating disorder through running, and how grace and grit keep her going.

This is a powerful, layered conversation about learning to love yourself, motherhood, identity, and what it means to finally step into your calling—even if it takes decades.

Music we mention:

I dreamed a dream - ⁠Les Misérables

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John

While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles

To Make You Feel My Love - Garth Brooks

Amazing Grace

In this episode, I sit down with Mikey Maguire — a musician, audio engineer, digital media professional, educator, and curator of Cúl Street, an intimate music venue nestled in Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland.

Mikey and I first crossed paths back in the early 2000s when I was running a music blog. His SoundCloud releases under the name Mental Effector caught my attention, and after writing a few reviews of his work, a friendship naturally followed. This conversation marks the first time we've had the chance to sit down “in person” and properly catch up.

We dive into the story of Ardfert — the small, coastal village where Mikey grew up and still lives — exploring its rich history, natural beauty, and the quiet isolation that has shaped his creative spirit. Mikey opens up about becoming a father at a young age and how that responsibility helped him carve out a life with purpose and intention.

We also talk about the grounding force of nature in his life, his deep love for Gaelic sports and their enduring role in Irish cultural identity, and his evolving relationship with music — including a possible return to making sounds, this time perhaps more aligned with traditional Irish influences.

This episode feels like a conversation you'd have with an old friend at the pub — honest, reflective, and full of heart. And Mikey’s earthy, unpretentious Irish accent might just keep you listening even if the topics covered don't interest you.

Music we mention:

Molly O'Mahony

In this episode, meet Denise, a mother and wife who shares her personal journey with her recent ADHD diagnosis. As she explores how her neurodiversity impacts her daily life and her children’s potential neurodiversity, Denise talks about the tools she’s found helpful in managing day-to-day challenges.

Denise also shares her experience of dating women and her evolving feelings toward relationships, as she and her husband venture into an open marriage. Exploring the concept of "relationship anarchy," Denise dives into the complexities of emotional intimacy and what the future might hold for her.

This is just the beginning of her story and we hope to check back in with her to see how things progress.

Music we mention:

Harry Styles

https://www.hstyles.co.uk/

Taylor Swift

https://www.taylorswift.com/

The Head and the Heart

https://theheadandtheheart.com/

Noah Kahan

https://noahkahan.com/#/

Rob Isquierdo's journey is a story of transformation. He's witnessed some tragic events including at-risk-kids, murder and suicide. Growing up in the drug-ridden streets of London, California, to navigating the privileged world of Atherton, he’s seen both sides of life.

After college, Robert returned to his roots, working in a group home for troubled youth—a job that took a heavy mental toll on him. Seeking a fresh start, he entered the mortgage business, earning fast money but losing his sense of self. He eventually lost everything! Only after losing everything did Rob find his true calling.

Today, he’s not just an educator—he’s helping to rebuild and bring positive change to his surrounding communities . Rob uses his YouTube podcast RobLive to address mental health, by sharing stories of struggle and triumph with his growing audience.

YouTube - RobLive

https://www.youtube.com/@RobLive888

Non-Profit Link:

https://reestablishstratford.org/

Music we mention:

Jamiroquai https://www.jamiroquai.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@jamiroquai

Allen Stone https://www.youtube.com/@AllenStoneMusic