Shared Visions Unlimited with Greg Dixon

Greg Dixon spoke with Bethany Stone – Montessori educator (23+ years), mindset & life skills coach, singer, dancer, podcaster, and founder of Thriving by Nature about the importance of music in her life.

Core Theme

Music isn’t just fun—it’s a soul-deep tool for learning, healing, connection, personal growth, and becoming your truest, most vibrant self. Bethany shares how music has woven through her entire life, from childhood performances to classroom magic to adult coaching, proving that songs stick forever and help us thrive.

Key Highlights & Musical Moments

• A “Sound of Music” Childhood in Swiss Style.
  Bethany grew up in a musical Swiss-immigrant family of seven kids. Dressed in dirndls and lederhosen, they sang traditional Swiss songs around Mom’s piano and performed across Idaho and Utah. These family sing-alongs became core memories of joy, togetherness, and unselfconscious music-making—exactly the kind of playful, group music vibe that lights up playing music with others!
• Montessori Magic + Music as a Learning Superpower
  As a longtime Montessori teacher, Bethany explains the philosophy: meet people (kids or adults) where they are, embrace their unique edges, and adapt instead of forcing them into boxes. Music fits perfectly because it embeds knowledge deeply—especially for neurodivergent brains. She sings her classic U.S. states song (alphabetical order, rhyming perfection—ideal for third graders!): “Alabama and Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas…” → all 50 states in one catchy tune. This demonstrates how group singing turns facts into lasting memories.
• Butterfly Life Cycle Song – A Classroom Legacy
  Bethany created an original song for kindergartners about the butterfly metamorphosis because no good one existed. Decades later, teachers still request voice clips—proof that kid-created songs become timeless legacies. Music = learning + creating + lasting impact.
• Coaching Through Song: Life Skills & Mindset Shifts
  Now a coach at thrivingbynature.com, Bethany helps busy entrepreneurs and leaders overcome burnout by building life skills in five “self-care buckets” (emotional, spiritual, physical, social, intellectual— inspired by “There’s a Hole in My Bucket”!). She drops fun musical mindset reminders, like her patience ditty: “Be patient, be patient, never in a hurry, for when you’re in a hurry, it only causes worry.” These tiny songs create big shifts—music makes wisdom stick!
• Affirmation Bear Hug Song
  A sweet, repeatable classroom affirmation turned podcast highlight: “Give yourself a bear hug because you’re strong. Give yourself a bear hug because you’re brave. Give yourself a bear hug, ’cause you’re important. Give yourself a bear hug every day.” (With breathing interludes—perfect for realistic, kind self-talk.)
• Embracing the Goo: Metamorphosis, Dancing & Staying Playful
  Bethany ties butterflies to personal growth: the uncomfortable “black goo” phase leads to beauty. Music, dance, hiking, skydiving, and silliness keep us from stagnating. We’re all big kids inside—it’s okay (and essential) to dance, sing, and stay light even on tough days.

Next Steps

Visit thrivingbynature.com for drop-in group coaching, one-on-one sessions, a free patience journal, her self-care course, and podcast episodes (including musical affirmations). Check her YouTube for more mindset tunes and nature-inspired wisdom.

This episode is a delightful reminder: keep singing, keep playing, keep growing—and never outgrow being a little bit silly. Music helps us become our butterflies!

Greg Dixon, Chief Cheerleader
Playing Music For Fun

Want to share your musical adventures and insights?

Book a Time with Greg Dixon

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

Have you aspired to be a published author?

Or simply want to share stories or insights with friends and family?

Have ideas? A finished manuscript? Something in between?

I encourage you to write, even if just for yourself.

So I am offering to help you with the entire writing and publishing journey for an absurdly low monthly rate of $𝟴𝟴 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻. That is about $𝟲𝟱 𝗨𝗦𝗗! 

Cancel at any time, though we could work on many books over decades.

With this Writing For Fun Retainer, I can meet with you regularly to discuss the writing and prepare one or more books.

Here are some of the ways we can publish your writing:

𝗔 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲

This can be used to publish excerpts, the full text, or to promote books available on Amazon and other outlets.

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸

Make your books available to everyone.

𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸

A flipbook is a great way to share with anyone interested in your writing.

𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀

Many people enjoy listening to audiobooks and readings.

I can help with editing, formatting, and publishing when ready.

And help you with the writing process.

Let’s talk about your writing and publishing goals.

https://www.gregdixon.net/calendar

Greg Dixon, Chief Enabler

Shared Visions Unlimited

Writing, Publishing, and Marketing

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

Today, Greg Dixon talks with Cindy Ballaro about her Sunflower New Author Club.

Cindy Ballaro is the founder of Sunflower House Publishing and the Sunflower New Author Club, where she helps writers transform ideas into beautifully published books and audiobooks.

With decades of experience in marketing and creative project management, Cindy guides authors step by step with clarity and encouragement.

https://sunflowerhousepublishing.systeme.io/getsnac

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

February is Heart Month, and what better time to start — or restart — some good habits.

Your heart beats about 60 to 100 times a minute. That adds up to roughly 100,000 beats every single day, day in and day out, for your entire life. With each beat, it pumps blood out to deliver oxygen and nutrients and pulls blood back in to be refreshed again.

All of this blood travels through an incredible network of approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels—arteries, veins, and capillaries—enough to circle the earth more than twice. Even while you sleep, your heart never takes a break.

The good news?

Your heart responds quickly to care. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week can strengthen the heart muscle, improve circulation, and lower blood pressure. Walking, dancing, swimming, or even energetic housework all count.

The key is movement -and consistency.

Nutrition also plays a starring role. The heart loves a diet rich in omega-3 fats (think salmon, sardines, walnuts, and flaxseed), high-fibre foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains, and lower amounts of saturated and trans fats. Small changes really do add up over time.

Our hearts are surprisingly resilient. They can recover from years of stress, poor diet, or inactivity. That said, it’s far kinder -and easier – to take care of your heart now than to ask it to bounce back later.

Daily Heart Health Habits

Modern medicine can do remarkable things. Hearts can be repaired, supported, and even replaced — but often at a very high personal and financial cost. Prevention remains the most powerful medicine we have.

This Heart Month, consider one simple habit you can start today:

• Walking daily.
• Adding one more vegetable to your plate.
• Taking a few deep breaths to manage stress.
• More of your favourite activity …

Your heart is listening – and it will thank you for every act of care. 

Bonnie Dixon
Your Health Advocate
HealthyWealthyCamper.com/Bonnie

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

This year, I thought it would be fun to take a tour of our body systems, beginning with your eyes!

Can you see well? It’s a simple question, yet our eyesight plays a huge role in how we experience daily life. From reading and driving to recognizing a familiar face, our eyes quietly work for us every waking moment. Like the rest of our body, they deserve thoughtful care.

Nutrition

Many of us remember our mothers saying, “Eat your carrots-they’re good for your eyes.” Turns out, Mom was right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, an essential nutrient for vision, especially in low light.

Our eyes thrive on good nutrition. Vitamin C helps maintain healthy blood vessels in the eyes and may reduce the risk of cataracts as we age. Oranges are an easy and delicious way to add vitamin C to your day, along with other citrus fruits, peppers, and berries. Healthy fats are just as important. Avocados provide vitamin E and beneficial fats that help protect eye cells from oxidative stress and support overall eye function.

Fish oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is another eye favourite. Omega-3s support the retina and can help reduce dry eyes, a common complaint in our screen-heavy world. If you don’t eat much fish, talk with your healthcare provider about whether a supplement might be right for you.

Hydration

Hydration is often overlooked, yet it’s essential for healthy eyesight. When we don’t drink enough water, our eyes can become dry, irritated, and tired. Drinking water consistently throughout the day helps keep eyes comfortably lubricated.

Daily habits matter too. Take regular breaks from screens, blink often, and let your eyes focus on distant objects. Wearing sunglasses that block UV rays protects your eyes year-round.

Modern medicine can do amazing things for eye conditions, but prevention is far kinder and far less costly. Nourish your body, hydrate well, and treat your eyes with care. They are, after all, the windows through which we see our world.

— Bonnie Dixon, Health Advocate

We are LifeWave Health Ambassadors. What are your health challenges?

Discuss with Bonnie at https://healthywealthycamper.com/calendar/

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

Greg Dixon talks with Bill Allman about many of their musical adventures, with insights into both what makes music fun and what it takes to be a top musical performer and creator.

Bill Allman is the founder of Famous Artists and has helped many West Coast artists with productions and inductions into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Greg met Bill when playing with a band called The Old Kids on the Block with Bob Braganza and Mike McCray.

The Saints Christmas Carollers branched off to become The Strange Bedfellows (to do something beyond Christmas).

The costumes were brightly coloured bedclothes — the KKK meet the Smurphs!

Greg was the Teal Smurf.

The emphasis was on entertainment and fun.

The band got better and transmorgrified into Blazing Saddles, which has endured and grown over twenty-five years.

Greg and Bill produced two quirky music videos.

The first one was written by Mike McCray and produced by the very talented Chris Boden.

Geoff Eddington, famous for being the lead singer of The Seeds of Time, sang the Blind Rhymin' Cornbread part. There was a whole fictional backstory to the song.

Someone recently did a YouTube review, thinking the band was real.

The next music video with My Baby's Going To Jail For Christmas, based on a phrase used in a courtroom. Bill's lawyer friend said it should be a song. And soon it was!

Bill wrote most of the lyrics, and the talented Chris Boden again arranged and produced the song.

Greg Dixon created the video and appeared as Cellmate Steve.

Fun stuff!

Bill Allman arranged to present a musical at a local theatre before the show was created. He collaborated with Alan Marriott and Kevin O'Brien to get the show ready on time.

Bill estimates that writng and arranging process took about 140 hours over many weeks.

Greg and Bill then discuss how the Beatles learned their craft by playing some of the best pop and rock songs of the day, and how they applied those experiences to master and further revolutionize music. 

They discuss how the best musicians make others sound great, using examples from The Rolling Stones and The Eagles.

They also talk about musicians like Rob Ford, who played guitar while others did not, leading them to work with Lindsay Buckingham and other top-tier musicians.

Interest plus attention to craft is what made the great players and music creators.

Greg Dixon, Your Fun Music Enabler

Playing Music For Fun

https://playingmusicforfun.com/

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

I have launched the Playing Music For Fun Membership Program.

You can learn more and join at https://playingmusicforfun.com/membership/, including the video version of this podcast.

The Playing Music For Fun Membership Program is for anyone who wants to enjoy a lifetime of exploring music.

I believe we were all born musical with innate human musical abilities.

If you always wanted to make music, but were discouraged, stuck, or were told you have no musical talent — this is for you!

If you have ever wondered how musicians of all levels can play together without learning or reading each song, this is for you!

I will provide the encouragement, insights, and resources to enable you to play music for a lifetime at whatever level you want.

You will never run out of places to play and learn.

See https://playingmusicforfun.com/membership/

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

My older brother loved turning our kitchen into a concert hall, banging on pots, pans, plates, glasses, and counters with kitchen knives. It proved a simple truth: Anything that resonates can become a percussion instrument.

Even car fenders, tractors, or farm equipment can deliver satisfying thumps. If it makes a noise when you tap it with your hand, a stick, or another object, it counts as percussion.

For inspiration, check out the hit stage musical STOMP, which creates electrifying rhythms from everyday items like brooms, garbage cans, and matchboxes.

Though it ended its 29-year run in New York City in 2023, tours are still going strong—see upcoming shows at stomponline.com/.

The best part? You can make music with whatever’s on hand. Let’s start in the kitchen.

Kitchen Music Basics
Grab a pot or pan and try tapping it with your hand. Pick one with a pleasing tone—the bottom usually sounds richest.

Discover Different Tones

Experiment by striking various spots on the pan with your hand, a kitchen knife, or a stick. Notice how the tones change? That’s the magic of percussion—subtle shifts create endless variety.

Building Rhythm

Vary your sounds by changing the spacing between hits. Most music uses four beats per measure. Start with even taps, counting to four:

1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4

Each tap is a quarter note. For faster rhythms, double up with eighth notes. Count them as “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” (or use “+” for “and”):

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Create patterns by skipping some “ands”:

1 2 3 + 4 | 1 2 3 + 4

Adding Flair with Accents

A musician friend once noticed something unique in my drumming but couldn’t pinpoint it. Years later, I realized it was my natural use of accents—varying how hard I strike each note. Louder hits emphasize the melody or riff.

Try it with steady eighth notes:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Now, play a familiar tune like “Jingle Bells” by accenting certain beats (make them bolder in your mind):

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Your Unique Style and Touch

Just like guitar legends Jimi Hendrix or Carlos Santana, who could make any instrument sing in their signature way, your rhythm, accents, and touch define your sound. (We’ll explore this more when you try it on a piano keyboard later.)

Peanut Butter Jar: Your Portable Percussion Tool

If banging on pots draws complaints, grab an empty plastic jar with a lid. It’s perfect for practicing rhythms, experimenting with pressure, and testing strike spots.

Add rice or candy sprinkles inside for a shaker effect. Shake, tap, and groove—endless fun!

Have a blast exploring the music hidden in simple items.

Greg Dixon, Your Fun Music Enabler
Playing Music for Fun

Join Playing Music For Fun at https://playingmusicforfun.com/join/

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/

The inspiration for Playing Music For Fun is the sense that many people of all ages have always wanted to play and sing, but have been discouraged by criticism or are unsure where to start.

I believe that musical ability is an innate human ability that can be nurtured throughout one’s life.

While there are tremendous resources available now to learn and make music, there is room for some simple encouragement and some strategies to get going with playing music for your own enjoyment and some insights into how musicians can play with each other even when they don’t know each other or know what songs they will play next.

This applies to friends jamming and top musicians stepping into a recording session.

I aim to show the building blocks and spirit of fun experimentation that can lead to a lifetime of joy with music.

My musical adventure includes playing drums and bass professionally. I also play guitar and sing my own songs, as well as a few favourites.

I am also learning keyboards and aspire to be one of those magicians on stages and in studios that play piano, organ, strings, percussion, and other sounds to create comprehensive musical expressions.

How Music Works

I will use the piano keyboard to explain how notes combine to create melodies and chords.

The piano keyboard provides a visual representation of how Western music works.

Anyone, at any age, can start playing the white keys to make music. The emphasis is on joyful play.

The same musical ideas apply to other instruments, such as guitar, mandolin, violin, cello, bass, woodwind, percussion, and brass.

The piano is both a string instrument and a percussion instrument.

A MIDI keyboard can be ANY instrument or sound.

The playing mechanics of various instruments differ, but the musical ideas remain the same.

Also, musicality is mostly about rhythm, touch, and style—things that apply to all instruments, including singing.

Blog Posts and Emails

I have a growing list of topics to write and present that will appear as blog posts, live streams, and podcasts.

I will also send the articles to the mailing list or some inbox fun.

Complete this fun survey about your musical activities and aspirations to join the mailing list:

Here are some topics:

• You Were Born Musical
• Your Body is a Musical Wonderland
• You Can Drum On Anything
• Exploring Notes and Chords
• Exploring Music With An Inexpensive Portable Keyboard.
• A Chart Showing Almost Everything You Need To Know About Music
• Chord Progressions For Most Music.
• Karaoke Magic When You Want Musical Accompaniment.
• Endless Resources On YouTube.
• Reviews of Books and Programs for Learning Music.
• How I Prepare For A Gig With A Setlist.
• Leadsheets.
• Interviews and Profiles.

Printable Book

I am working on a book in a format suitable for printing with charts and illustrations that you can put in a binder.

Online and In-Person Music Experience Funshops

I am working on ways to create a fun music experience for people in-person and in virtual sessions.

Join Singing For Fun at https://playingmusicforfun.com/

Greg Dixon, Chief Fun Enabler
Shared Visions Unlimited

Come learn more about Shared Visions Unlimited at https://sharedvisions.com/