Sonic Stories

Andy is a human and creator based out of Asheville, North Carolina. From photography to writing, to design to music, he can't help himself but to bring forth ideas rattling in his head. Additionally, he is a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu, though oftentimes he feels like a white belt again. He, like all of us, is trying to understand what it is to live and how to live.

1. Bayonnetwork-Norma Jean

2. Diamond-Stick to Your Guns

3. Contact-As Cities Burn

In this episode, Andy and I sit down and talk about music igniting us and sending us down constructive paths from an early age.

Regardless of where you come from and who you are, treat everyone as human beings. You never know what people are going through and they might even have the same problems as you.

@palaatx

https://mudwtr.com/collections/shop?rfsn=6297142.3f332b9&utmsource=refersion&utmmedium=affiliate&utm_campaign=6297142.3f332b9

Miles is an Elementary School Principal in New Orleans, Louisiana, a mental wellness and human rights advocate. He's passionate about creating spaces where everyone can discover and be the best version of themselves.

As a former college football player, Miles is familiar with the ups and downs that performers go through on a daily basis. He enjoys finding creative ways to eliminate barriers and create systems of support for individual and community healing. When he’s not working, Miles tries to spend time reading, writing, listening to music, playing Madden, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Love Yourz by J Cole

Ribbon in the Sky by Stevie Wonder

Int’l Players Anthem by UGK feat. Outkast

(bonus: Drake’s whole catalog)

In this episode, Miles and I sit down and talk about the power of gratitude, music being at the origin point of a relationship, and the bonding power of music.

Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Intentional.

@themileswill

https://mudwtr.com/collections/shop?rfsn=6297142.3f332b9&utmsource=refersion&utmmedium=affiliate&utm_campaign=6297142.3f332b9

Mali is a mother, doula, childbirth educator, and assistant professor of African American Literature at Howard University. Her first book, Scrap Theory: Reproductive Injustice in the Contemporary Black Feminist Imagination, Ohio State University Press will be published in 2023. Her work intersects in the medical humanities, technology, bioethics, contemporary Black art and culture, and reproductive justice practices. She spends her free time sleeping, doing HIIT workouts, and doing tarot readings.

https://www.malicollins.com/

Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey

Dougou Badia by Amadou & Mariam

Look Into My Eyes by Bone Thugs n Harmony

In this episode, Mali and I sit down and talk about realizing beauty in herself at an early age, making something out of nothing, and a survivor's mentality.

Content Warning: This conversation has sensitive themes related to trauma.

https://mudwtr.com/collections/shop?rfsn=6297142.3f332b9&utm

Jeremy Arambulo is an LA-based cartoonist and musician. His latest graphic novel, “A Challenge”, was self-published through Kickstarter, and he writes and records music as Fluorescent Beige. He also plays with Born That Guy. They released their latest record “Three” in early 2021, improvised at Chicago's Electrical Audio with Steve Albini.

Tame by the Pixies

Bachelorette by Bjork

Doomed by Moses Sumney

In this conversation, Jeremy and I sit down and talk about being galvanized by representation, the power of dynamics, emotionally charged music, and taking charge of our health.

http://jeremyarambulo.com/

Dr. Kiernan “Kiki” Steiner, DMA, (she/they/siya) is a holistic vocal coach, choral conductor, and decolonization consultant, and began her life journey on Ho-Chunk Nation lands in Southwestern Wisconsin. Dr. Kiki is a recent graduate from Arizona State University with her doctorate in Choral Conducting, where her research focused on the implications and importance of pedagogical language and discourse in collegiate choral programs. Currently, she is offering 1:1 Voice Activation sessions that focus on helping individuals release stories of shame connect deeper with their voices, in order to facilitate self-led healing.

Wildflowers by Dolly Parton

Praise to the Lord sung by the Millikin University Choir

I Just Wanna Live by Kuulei Music

In this conversation, Kiernan and I sit down and talk about finding strength in being different, honing your craft with others, and the freedom of just being yourself.

For more information about her offerings, follow her on Instagram @decolonizing_kiki and sign-up for her mailing list at her website: www.kiernanmsteinermusic.com.

Wade (he/him) is a songwriter and producer creating imaginative pop music under the name Sweetblood. After formative years playing in garage bands around Fergus Falls, MN, he has since recorded and performed extensively in the Twin Cities and around the greater Midwest. Wade brings both a drummer’s vantage point and plenty of beginners pluck to his own musical project, resulting in a world of layered synths, funky guitar, and cascading hooks. By day, Wade produces explainer videos for non-profits and mission-driven businesses with Next Day Animations. He lives in Duluth, MN on Dakota and Anishinaabe land.

In this conversation, Wade and I sit down and talk about the inspiration he drew from things that were flatout cool, getting his world expanded, and the power of raw and emotional songwriting.

Last Nite - The Strokes

93' Til Infinity - Souls of Mischief

Solo - Frank Ocean

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0B35yo5seZG7OL4UueabFj?si=j3mnGLcFSEm9B_w5go9lTg

Bianca is a Mental Performance Coach, girls basketball coach, and private duty account manager in St. Louis, MO. As a mental performance consultant, she works to empower athletes, performing artists, musicians, business professionals, and entrepreneurs, to transform their mental approach and elevate performance.

Her experience as a professional and D1 basketball player and educational background in sport psychology gives her insight into the mental approach essential to performing at a high level. Bianca uses cognitive-behavioral and person-centered approaches when working with clients. She equips individuals with different tools to transform their mindsets and elevate their performance. Fostering an environment for a growth mindset to overcome obstacles, increase awareness, and transform their mental approach to become the best version of themselves.

When she's not working she spends her free time doing community service projects with her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha), spending time with her family, friends, and watching Netflix series.

In this conversation, Bianca and I sit down and talk about getting locked in to compete, persevering in the America that we live in, and the identities that she holds.

We Ready by Archie Eversole

Alright by Kendrick Lamar

Dayenu

https://www.goatmentality.com/

Trigger Warning: Racially insensitive language

Robby is a Conservation Specialist at Operation Fresh Start in Madison, WI where he works with young adults on building their skills and preparedness for a career in conservation. He strives to bring joy to everything he does, whether it’s in or out of his professional life. As a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist of 20+ years, he’s been in multiple bands and carries a uniquely singular style in his pursuits that leaves a lasting positivity and levity whether he’s on the stage or catching up with family and friends.

In this conversation, Robby and I sit down and talk about love, Mel Gibson, teenage antics, and the healing powers of playing music with others.

The Very Thought of You by Billie Holiday

Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin

Morning Dew - Live in London, 1972 by the Grateful Dead

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vOFHgxUAPg4bewJLJCbib?si=FGwZ_3j6QaGtLzPF4Syz4A

Shelby is a mom of two, wife, freelance media producer, coach, and athlete. She recently shifted her career away from media production to more wholistically incorporate movement and community into her life and help others be prepared for life's adventures and obstacles. She is a NASM certified personal trainer and a Level One Certified Trainer in the MovNat natural movement system and is pursuing her Level Two in January. She loves working with beginners and people who are returning to or rediscovering movement. She has been a ninja athlete since 2019 and is a American Ninja Warrior season 14 hopeful. She manages multiple chronic health conditions and has navigated chronic pain for over a decade. Movement has been a powerful avenue for finding safety and joy in her body again, and she hopes to share that joy with others.

In this conversation, Shelby and I sit down and talk about pain, strength, and making decisions.

Greet Death by Explosions In The Sky

Unstoppable by Sia

Learning to Fly by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

Joe is a musician and lover of the make believe and on his better days a cooking enthusiast from Madison, WI. Professionally, Joe works on computers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and performs live music around the country. When Joe has free time he likes spending it making himself as well as his friends laugh. Joy is special.

In this conversation, Joe and I sit down and talk about the songs that made him want to be a guitar player, being an emotionally vulnerable teenager alongside his friends, and being comfortable in his own skin.

Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne

Svefn-G-Englar by Sigur Rós

Bodysnatchers by Radiohead

@kainalu.music

@birdseyeband