A U High! U High! classmate and old friend of mine, Mr. Sean Leahy joined me in the studio recently to chat on the podcast about his business: Full Spectrum Ice Sculptures.  Sean has been in the ice sculpting game for a LONG time, and we go through how he got into the artistic pursuit, how he formed his business, and what he is doing with his business these days.

We talk failures in business, set-backs, major wins, the artistic process, parenting, and much more.  I was particularly struck by a story he told about a contract he has with the Texas Longhorns ... listen to the episode, it's a doozy.

Here's the link to Full Spectrum's website where you can get in touch with Sean and his whole team for any of your ice sculpting needs in or around the Austin TX or St. Louis MO areas: https://fullspectrumice.com

Karla Harris, a highly accomplished and talented singer/songwriter from my hometown of St. Louis, and her team reached out to me a few months ago in order to have a conversation about music, specifically jazz. 

I am very happy she did find me, because this is a great conversation between the two of us. Karla is a fantastic singer, and a very kind woman. She informed me during our time together that she has been going through some health issues, and sadly she had to cancel two of her events in St. Louis, which would have been happening this weekend. So, for those looking to enjoy some time getting to know Karla, I truly hope this conversation gives you some insight into her artistic life. 

Here's a little from her website: Jazz vocalist Karla Harris has made a career within the art form she loves for more than three decades, captivating audiences from Portland to Provence. Her performance credits include events such as the Sarasota Jazz Festival, Portland Jazz Festival, Oregon Coast Jazz Party, Nantucket Arts Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Atlanta Jazz Party, Atlanta Jazz Festival, and a TED Talk.

Marlin Bonds, the master of the hook, came into the studio to chat with me on October 30th of this year to talk up his newest venture, HypnoLoops.  For those who don't know, Marlin is a VERY accomplished musician, music producer, and songwriter who has been in the music business for a long time.  He's been nominated for multiple Grammy awards and has sold enough records to be called 7x Platinum.  The man has many talents.

This truly was an incredibly fun and informative conversation.  We talked traumatic experiences, swapped stories about songwriting, spiritual practices, binaural beats, and meditation, among others.

What I really enjoyed in this episode, though, was hearing Marlin's stories of personal loss in his life and how he has healed from those terrible experiences and has devoted his time and work to helping others who may be going through something similar.

HypnoLoops is an app designed to incorporate personally recorded mantras for the user that they can use in their mindfulness practice any time that they need.  I think the app will be VERY helpful for young people struggling with regulating their emotions.  

Please enjoy this very special episode.

My old friend Sherri Jost joined me in the studio for a conversation about her book "Stronger Together: Walking Through Trauma, PTSD, & Abuse" which is her personal story of struggle and perseverance in life.  Her book is quite personal and deep, but it also includes pages for the reader to use some of the tools offered by Sherri through journaling and reflections on the book's content.

Here's the link to her book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Together-Walking-Through-Trauma/dp/1684881005

I have always been interested in how or what brings people to work with people with disabilities, and what makes them persist in spite of such massive challenges.  Sherri and I dive into this question and more as we explore her journey as a single mother of two girls.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed having a long conversation with my friend.

This is my second in my Katrina series of podcasts, and I welcome my old friend Charlie Oxford, a singer-songwriter / producer / all-around good guy based in Nashville, Tennessee.  On this episode Charlie and I discuss parenting as a musician, the use of social media to advance your music career, and of course the central traumatic event in both of our lives, Hurricane Katrina.

I hope you enjoy this lively conversation I had with an old friend.  I am quite impressed by what Charlie has been able to accomplish during his career, and I hope you all buy his new record!

I've wanted to do this since I started the podcast ... get two moms of kids with special needs into the studio and record our conversation.  My "fast friend" Jessica started bringing her daughter Rhae into The Music Exploratorium recently and mentioned to me at the elevator that she wanted to start a podcast with her friend Samantha, and thus the stars aligned.

This episode is phenomenal.

The three of us go on for THREE HOURS about so many different topics, namely school options for severe and profound learners, genetic issues, diabetes, personal life trauma, haunted houses, the beneficial effects of music, Imagine Dragons, medications, and of course having red hair.

Jess and Sam are best friends, and they met each other through their kids, who both have disabilities that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.  Their bond is deep, real, full of love and laughter, and inspired me to open up about many of my experiences, both in my personal life and my professional life.

There was crying five minutes into recording, which was followed by bouts of cathartic laughter.  These two incredibly bright and dedicated women share with me so many insights into what it is like to be a mom with a kid with a disability, and I try to give my perspective the best that I can.

Listen along with our conversation exploring these difficult to tackle life issues.

It is my joy and pleasure to introduce to you, the podcast public, miss Vannah Leigh.  Vannah is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and bandleader at the beginning of her career in the St. Louis region.  

Vannah and I met when she and her two guitar slingers played a benefit for a friend of mine with ALS that I produced at Bar K in St. Louis.  During the event I was immediately impressed with Vannah's maturity, her joyful attitude, and particularly her selection of music that she performed, many of which were originals.

Our conversation mainly circles around growing up, going to school, having issues with other kids, playing sports when you don't really want to, and how music offers solace.  We dive into her songwriting process and talk about what a cathartic experience it is to write and perform your own music.

I got her to play one of her unreleased songs for y'all and I think you'll really enjoy it, she's the real deal.

This young lady has such a bright future, which will come across clearly if you listen to this conversation ... and she's only 18.  My goodness she has so much to look forward to.  Enjoy.

We got one published!  My friend Gabe and I collaborate on this podcast to play a little music ("Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "Amazing Grace"), discuss the beginning of the school year, talk neurodivergence, do some throat singing, and talk teachers and students.  

Gabe was a student of my previous guest Carolbeth True, and we talk a bit about what it was like for him to learn from her and how that experience has informed his own teaching.

Gabe and I play together in the church band at Ascension Lutheran in South St. Louis, and it's some beautiful music if you ever want to come check it out.  He's also played with me in Sour Soda, my kids' music band.  He's a great musician and an even better human being.

I hope you enjoy this episode!

On this, the first of my Katrina Series of podcasts, I welcome my old friend Georgia Agerton (AKA Georgia McBride) who is a music therapist with McConnell Music Therapy Services in Northern California.  

Georgia does amazing work for her clients and gives a beautiful run-down of what music therapy is, how it is used from beginning of life to end of life, different factions within music therapy as a discipline, and insights into brain science.

Back in August of 2005, Georgia and I had the shared trauma of having to evacuate from New Orleans with the advance of Hurricane Katrina.  Georgia's family was gracious enough to put up my whole band in their house so we could be safe in the aftermath.  From there, we both ended up in the city of Chicago, where we both had to pick up our lives and figure out what we were going to do.  In this episode, we dive into some of our experiences at that time.

Georgia was a groomsmaid in my wedding and we've stayed close over the years, and this was an incredible opportunity to get to know my friend better as a professional.  I hope you all learn something new about music therapy and enjoy our fun conversation!

She hates being called a legend, but when you know enough of Carolbeth True's students who heap enormous praise on the music education they have received from her over the years, it's tough to deny her legendary status.  She has been a mainstay of the St. Louis jazz scene for so many years and is still teaching as an adjunct professor over at Webster University, teaches privately, and keeps a very full performance schedule.  Her next performance is Saturday, June 29th at Ascension Lutheran Church, where I play in the church band.  Small world!

In this podcast, Ms. True and I discuss a WIDE range of topics (this is becoming routine ... I mean, this is a music podcast produced by a musician) including an instructor's approach to a teaching a beginning student, the changing landscape of jazz, her approaches to working with students who are neurodivergent, and most importantly how she works with Holly Connor, the young lady I get to work so closely with in The Music Exploratorium.

I am honored to publish this episode of my podcast, which was the very FIRST podcast that Carolbeth True has ever been on, so take THAT other podcasts!!  I believe music educators especially will get a wealth of knowledge and insight from our conversation.  Enjoy.