The Baskis Project

What does it feel like to lose your independence, rely on others, or feel invisible in a world that doesn't always understand disability? In this episode of The Baskis Project, host Steve Baskis sits down with Richard McMillan, better known as "Beef," and longtime friend Nate Flowers for an honest, unscripted conversation about disability, vulnerability, identity, friendship, and the importance of human connection. Richard shares his experience living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain condition that dramatically changed his mobility, family life, and sense of independence. Steve reflects on his own experiences with blindness following his military service, exploring the challenges of accepting assistance, building trust, and maintaining independence. Together, they discuss the emotional and psychological effects of disability, the difference between genuine support and unwanted assistance, the role of humor in navigating difficult experiences, and how relationships evolve when life changes unexpectedly. The conversation also explores the healing power of music, creativity, and friendship. Steve discusses his original song "Invisible" and the experiences and emotions that inspired it. The episode features a brief excerpt of "Earthshaking" near the beginning and closes with the full song, celebrating strength, resilience, and perseverance. An open and personal conversation about being seen, being understood, and finding strength through connection.

What memories stay with us, what brings them back, and what do we hope others remember about us? This episode of Baskis 360 kicks off a new recurring conversation between Steve Baskis and his longtime friend Nate Allen, aka Nate Flowers. Nate, a Navy combat veteran, will join Steve from time to time to ask questions, exchange perspectives, share stories, and see where the conversation leads. For their first conversation in this new format, Nate brings Steve three questions centered on memory. Steve reflects on memories from before and after losing his sight and how music, food, travel, and shared experiences can bring moments from the past back to life. Their conversation eventually turns toward legacy and the memories we leave with others. Steve shares experiences ranging from paddling the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior to helping blind and visually impaired youth experience kayaking and the outdoors. Steve and Nate also reflect on their friendship of more than a decade, their lives as combat veterans, and their shared interest in music and songwriting. The episode features "Invisible," an original song written by Steve Baskis and brought to life using Suno, an AI music generation platform. It's the beginning of an ongoing series of conversations between two longtime friends asking questions, exchanging stories, and exploring life from different perspectives.

Steve Baskis and Nate Allen share the story behind their original reggae-inspired song "She's My Reggae Lover," discussing songwriting, collaboration, live music inspiration, creativity, IGY6, and how AI tools like Suno are changing music production while keeping human emotion and connection at the center.

In this episode of Baskis 360, Steve hits record with no plan and ends up in a raw, unfiltered conversation with his friend Nate Allen. What starts as a casual hangout turns into a deep dive into music, vibration, and the way sound impacts how we think, feel, and connect. They explore how music can be therapeutic, the difference between listening and performing, and how certain frequencies and energy can influence mood and experience. Along the way, the conversation branches into everything from jam sessions and building a home studio to bigger ideas around resonance, science, and the unknown. This is real life—unscripted, unpredictable, and honest. Just two friends talking music, energy, and whatever comes to mind.

In this heartfelt episode of Baskis 360, host Steve Baskis welcomes two passionate advocates for veterans—April Heard and Amy Eifling—from the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans in Montrose, Colorado. April, the Executive Director and an Army veteran, and Amy, the Volunteer Coordinator and a Marine Corps veteran, share deeply moving stories of community support, personal transformation, and the unique challenges faced by veterans returning to civilian life. Listeners will hear powerful reflections on moral injury, military sexual trauma (MST), housing insecurity, and the impact of peer-to-peer camaraderie. From music therapy retreats that turn veterans' stories into songs to annual events like the Blue Jean Ball and Memorial Day cookouts, April and Amy illustrate how their nonprofit uplifts veterans through meaningful connections and tailored resources. As a community-based organization unaffiliated with federal entities, the Welcome Home Alliance thrives thanks to the generosity and support of individuals who care. To learn more about their programs or to get involved, visit their website at https://www.whafv.org. If this episode inspires you to support their mission, consider making a contribution at https://www.whafv.org/donate.html Whether you're a veteran, a family member, or a community supporter, this conversation reminds us of the healing power of empathy, music, and volunteerism—and the difference a dedicated team can make.

In this special episode of the Baskis 360 Podcast, host Steve Baskis sits down with Les Williams and Jay Bob Bruce, two key leaders behind the Montrose Veterans Memorial Coalition (MVMC). They discuss the vision behind the Montrose Veterans Memorial, the progress made so far, and the challenges of bringing this lasting tribute to life.

The memorial will feature laser-engraved granite panels depicting military history from World War I through the Global War on Terror, creating a space for reflection, remembrance, and education. Les and Jay Bob share details about the new memorial location, the construction timeline, and how the local community, businesses, and donors can contribute to the project.

How You Can Support the Memorial:

• Donate or purchase a memorial brick to honor a veteran at MontroseVMC.us

• Contact MVMC for more information at (970) 765-2210

This episode highlights the emotional impact of building a veterans memorial and why it's essential to preserve the stories of those who have served. Tune in to learn more about how you can get involved in making this tribute a reality.

Just a quick update for everyone. Happy New Year! Check out my personal blog if you get the chance. Find it at this link: https://baskis.com

Sometimes Steve creates demonstrations for blind or visually impaired individuals. This episode features Steve describing how a blind user can use Pro Tools to record midi drums. Steve goes over creating an instrument track, loading a virtual instrument, recording a simple rock drum beat, editing & navigating midi notes, selecting & splitting midi notes and finally quantization. Visit Baskis.com and fill out the contact form to get in touch with Steve Baskis if you have further questions.

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Steve explains in more detail, how a blind or visually impaired individual scans physical mail.