So Important: The Interview Podcast!

Hello and Welcome! My guests today are Lisset Diaz and Miguel Comas, two members of the terrific young band, the Sweet Lizzie Project. These guys have a story to tell!

Some time ago, PBS went to Cuba to learn more about the music scene there. That led to the migration of Lisset, Miguel, and the rest of the Sweet Lizzie Project band to the United States. Here's the amazing story of how it happened!

I saw the band at a small house party about two months ago and I was instantly hooked. The band resides in Nashville, and their music uniquely reflects influences from both residences. Yet it is unequivocally and uniquely their own and I can't recommend it enough. Diaz is a powerhouse of a singer; Miguel Comas produces their music, and adds his signature lead guitar to the mix; and together they lead this young band that you need to learn more about. 

And here's your opportunity!

The songs you'll hear are Something, from the debut album Heaven, and their recently released duet with Raul Malo and the Mavericks, entitled Flower's In The Seed. Diaz is a truly unique stylist as these songs attest; but make sure you check out the entirety of the Heaven album. It's been in my heavy rotation for some time now, and for good reason! And a new album, entitled Technicolor, is coming soon!

You can find all of it on their comprehensive website. They also have a Facebook page and they're on Instagram. And check out the first rate videos for both Flower's In the Seed and Turn Up The Radio - a true classic, as we discuss on the show. Both - and many others - can be found here.

Thank you Lisset and Miguel for joining me. And to all of you who like the show, please share it, rate it, and all those good things. In the meantime, enjoy getting to know the Sweet Lizzie Project!

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dennis and PJ Aubrey about their wonderfully unique life's work - visiting the great Romanesque and Gothic churches of Europe, and brilliantly photographing and writing about - and now also podcasting about - their efforts. What started out as a hobby has turned into a spiritual adventure for the Aubreys, who have visited over 900 churches to date. What a treat it was to chat with Dennis and PJ. 

You owe it to yourself to check out their great work. Their photography is regularly exhibited worldwide, and their website - and in particular, their blog - provide wondrous excursions to a different time, where these churches were the centerpiece of rural and urban communities alike. The photographs on their social media sites, along with the carefully crafted accompanying text, and worth checking out - though you may find yourself unable to stop enjoying all that the sites have to offer.

The Aubrey's blog, entitled Via Lucis: Photography of Religious Architecture (or, the way of light), is an essential site to check out. The Via Lucis website is a great overview of the Aubrey's work; and while you're at it, check out Light and Stone, the new podcast! All take you to a different world, in the capable and caring hands of Dennis and PJ. 

And oh yes, there is indeed a Facebook page!

I hope everyone enjoys the podcast, and thank you again Dennis and PJ!

Kat Murti is the founder and CIO of Feminists for Liberty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the ideals of libertarian feminism. The organization's motto is "anti-sexism and anti-statism, pro-markets and pro-choice." Kat and I talked about the organization, its objectives, and about libertarian feminism - the organization's underlying philosophy.

As listeners know, we don't talk politics on this podcast, but policy is fair game, and Kat's perspective on a number of issues is worth hearing. I appreciate that Kat spent some time with me, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. 

Kat is a media presence. Check out the Feminists for Liberty Website, as well as the organization's Facebook page to learn more about Kat and her work. And you can follow the organization on Twitter. 

Hope you enjoy the episode, and thank you again, Kat!

Rabbi Chuck Diamond is the former Rabbi at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where on October 27, 2018 a lone gunman massacred eleven congregants. His only rationale was that he "wanted to kill Jews." 

Rabbi Chuck joined me to share his story. He knew the slain personally, he is a native of he neighborhood where the slaughter took place, and he was a prominent spokesman in the aftermath of the massacre. He is a man of great wisdom with a unique perspective on the events in Pittsburgh, and I am very appreciative that he spent a few minutes with me. 

In 2017, Rabbi Chuck founded his own community, Khalila La La, dedicated to providing a unique Jewish experience in the Pittsburgh area. You can learn more about Khalila La La, and support Rabbi Chuck's inspirational work, here at the official website.

Rabbi Chuck also spoke at Temple Emanuel in Kensington Maryland recently, and an article in the Washington Jewish Week about Chuck's talk can be found here. 

Thank you Chuck, and thank you dear listener. 

Monte

Hello everyone, 

I had so much fun putting this episode together!  I chatted with Stacy Godfrey, a long-time fellow fan of the band Genesis, and a co-host of the terrific podcast, Tabletop Genesis. Listening to her podcast, it became obvious to me that she would be fun to chat with. Why? Well, we both came to Genesis in very different eras of the band's history (me in the progressive 1970s, Stacy in the more pop-focused 1980s). Yet both of us spent time discovering, and learning to appreciate, all of the band's music and I knew that would be fun to talk about. It  was!

And...we make some recommendations! I recommend some great Genesis songs from the 1980s that old stalwarts like me might appreciate. Stacy, in turn, highlights some of her favorites from the 1970s for those mostly familiar with the more pop-focused version of the band in the 1980s. And as a special Awesome So Important! Bonus, here's a link to a spotify playlist with almost all the songs we discussed:

Stacy and Monte's So Important Genesis Playlist!

And here's a link to the Tabletop Genesis Website as well as the Facebook Page - highly recommend you check it out!

Thank you again, Stacy!

Enjoy!

Thank you Stacy, and I hope everyone enjoys our conversation about one of the all time greatest bands in the history of music!

Hello friends! A new year is upon us...and as the holiday season proceeds, it's hard not be a bit reflective. Is there more we can be doing to help bring folks together, to encourage tolerance and patience, and respect for each other's feelings? I think there is, and for this special episode, I went right to the source.

Karen Struble Myers is the Associate Director and Director of Development and Communications at the Fred Rogers Center For Early Learning and Children's Media, on the campus of St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, PA. Karen and I talked about how the Center is implementing Fred's vision through a number of programs dedicated to Fred's vision; we talked about Fred's legacy, and we talked quite a bit about the relevance of Fred's message today. it was an inspiring talk and I am so pleased to share Karen's great words and insights. Fred has an inspiring message and maybe we can all take a minute to reflect, and think about what Fred teaches us today.

There is a link to the Center below. It's a wonderful website and I encourage you to take a look.

I want to thank my loyal listeners and welcome new ones. I hope you are enjoying all the great guests and I promise you there are more to come. Please help spread the word about the Podcast. This would be a GREAT episode to share and of course, a kind word and rating on I-Tunes is always appreciated. Anyway, best to everyone, happy holidays, and have a great new year. See you soon! 

http://www.fredrogerscenter.org/

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Monte A. Melnick, the former tour manager of the legendary rock band, The Ramones. For over 20 years the Ramones toured the world playing to adoring and loyal audiences; but it is only now, over 20 years after their retirement, that their contributions to music are fully appreciated.

Monte was there throughout the duration of their career and brings a unique perspective to what made this band tick  through think and thin, good times and bad. It was an honor to talk with Monte about the legacy of this legendary band. 

Monte has written a classic book about the band and his time with them, and I highly recommend it. The book, On The Road with The Ramones, is a great read and can be found here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Ramones-Monte-Melnick-Frank-Meyer/dp/1606710206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543688724&sr=8-1&keywords=Melnick+Monte

For those who would enjoy seeing a little bit of the Ramones in action and at their best, here's a little clip. 14 songs in 26 minutes! It doesn't get better than that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3zaeOyL7Q&t=128s

And finally, here's a great way to get familiar with their songs - a classic collection of hits. If like me, you prefer to hear actual albums, you can't go wrong with their first or third. But this collection will get you started: 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ramones+mania+full+album

Thanks again to Monte, and I hope everyone enjoys this episode of So Important!

Hello everyone! I talked with Tosh Berman, an influential and beloved member of the Los Angeles literary scene, on his new book entitled, Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World. This book is a masterful story of growing up as the son of the well-known artist Wallace Berman, who is often referred to as the creator of Assemblage Art and was a beloved figure in the early "beatnik" or hippie scene in California. Tosh recounts his unique childhood and talks openly about the cavalcade of luminaries that visited his home, his father's influence in the art world, and the impact of Wallace's untimely death on the young Tosh. 

Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World is published by City Lights books, and is a beautifully written, honest, and endearing memoir of a unique upbringing. The book will be available on Amazon and directly from the publisher. You can learn more about Tosh's book, and Tosh himself, here:

http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100746120&fa=description

Thank you, and enjoy the show!

Hello all, 

As I mention in the introduction to this episode, this podcast is a little bit different than the norm, in that we don't just focus on one topic, but we focus on people. My goal is to give all kinds of people the opportunity to talk about something interesting, or important, to them. 

Often our topics are lighthearted, perhaps biographical, perhaps cultural, perhaps chatting with a respected teacher about his philosophy, or a musician about their craft. But sometimes we tackle serious issues, such as Poverty. Or, as in this episode, mental health awareness. 

Jonna Murphy is a remarkable individual. She has had to deal with mental health issues in her own family, and she had made it her mission to become an authority on this topic, and to help others find the help and expertise to find help for themselves or a loved one, if there is a need. She has great insights into mental health and I think we all benefit from hearing what Jonna has to say. I salute Jonna's bravery for talking about such a difficult issue, and I thank her for sharing her great, and very practical knowledge about this topic. 

I encourage you to share this episode with any and all who may find it inspiring, or who may be looking to take a first step toward addressing this difficult issue. And Jonna, thank you again. 

If you'd like to connect with Jonna, please contact me at somportantpodcast.gmail.com. In the meantime, Jonna has shared some key links and I am happy to share them with you, below. 

Thank you for listening and thank you, Jonna. 

From Jonna Murphy: 

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml

So, this one is special to me.  I first saw Barrence Whitfield and the Savages perform in the 1980s and I have loved Barrence and his music ever since. Led by Barrence and long-time guitarist Peter Greenberg, the Savages put on a full-assault rock and roll attack every time. Describing their sound is never easy. The Savages build their sound on a garage band foundation, adding old-time rock and roll, hard rocking rhythm and blues, soul, and whatever else works to create the classic Savages sound. And at the heart of it all is the Savages full-throated, no-holds-barred lead singer, Barrence Whitfield.

There's nothing like the Savages sound, and we discuss their sound extensively in our discussion.

It was a great privledge to have the chance to talk with Barrence - a consummate musician and performer whom I have admired for so long a time. 

You can learn more about Barrence at his website: 

http://barrencewhitfieldsavages.com

Or visit his facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/BarrenceWhitfieldSavages/

And of course, the music of the Savages is widely available on Amazon and elsewhere, including from Bloodshot Records at:

https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/barrence-whitfield-savages

The songs you'll hear on this podcast are Pain and I'll be Home Someday, from the Savages' most recent release, Soul Flowers of Titan, as well as Mama Get The Hammer and Bloody Mary, two Savages classics. Because a great part of appreciating Barrence is the live experience, I went with the version off of the great Live Emulsified album - check it out at:

https://www.amazon.com/Live-Emulsified-Barrence-Whitfield-Savages/dp/B005G6QR1E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537635053&sr=8-1&keywords=Barrence+Whitfield+Live+Emulsified

I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great Barrence Whitfield!