The Pivotal Stories Project

Matt Keating is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been playing music since he was a kid, and recording ever since his debut album Tell It to Yourself was released in 1993. As NPR music accurately put it, "Matt Keating has established himself as one of America’s great under-the-radar songwriters.”Raised in a family that was constantly moving around the country helped shape Matt, and songwriting became one of the ways he tried to untangle that.Matt lives in NYC and is also a father...

In today's solo episode, Alan shares a little history of what led to launching this podcast, and also a story about his son that touches on being present, vulnerability, and how we are sometimes our own worst enemy.

Steve Michener is a husband, father, nurse, musician, and writer. If you’re of a certain age, and followed the music scene at all in the 80’s and 90’s, especially in Boston, then you have no doubt listened to, or at least heard of some of the bands that he has played bass in. These include the Volcano Suns, Dumptruck, and Big Dipper, whose music you heard in the intro, and will hear as we go out today as well.Recently, Steve also started to write about his album collection in a Facebook group...

Like so many of us, Leah Houghtaling is a person who is hard to pin down or describe succinctly in a brief introduction. Maybe it’s because they’ve pursued so many professional and creative paths; including opening and running a bar, starting and being the lead cook at their own restaurant, pursuing their musical passion, and most recently funneling their creative energy into an amazing woodworking business. All of this being done while trying to navigate a world that wants to neatly put you ...

Guy Macpherson is a father of two, a husband, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. During his career, his focus has largely been on the study of trauma and early psychosis. In 2014, Guy founded The Trauma Therapist Project with the goal of raising awareness around trauma and creating an educational, supportive and inspiring community for new trauma workers. At the time he had no idea where it would ultimately lead him or how it would evolve.His work now includes The Trauma Therapist ...

Rod Picott is a songwriter, a singer, a poet, and the author of numerous works of fiction . After spending some time with him, I would say he’s also a searcher, someone who is not afraid to look in the shadows, those of his own or others, to learn more about himself and the world he inhabits.In part 2 of our conversation, Rod talks about trying to break into the Nashville music business in his thirties, how creativity is a basic human need, Marlon Brando, and the power of trying to truly unde...

Rod Picott is a songwriter, a singer, a poet, and the author of numerous works of fiction. After spending some time with him, I would say he’s also a searcher, someone who is not afraid to look in the shadows, those of his own or others, to learn more about himself and the world he inhabits.Today, Rod and I talk about Springsteen, what makes someone extraordinary, what his creative process looks like, and the power of seeing the painting of the Girl With The Pearl Earring.

Mike Pagliarini is a critically acclaimed chef who, along with his wife Pam Ralston owns the sensational restaurant Giulia, in Cambridge Massachusetts, as well as their forthcoming sister restaurant Moeca, which will be opening this spring right around the corner from Giulia.In part 2 of our conversation, Mike brings us inside the kitchen at Giulia and talks about how much he relies on his team to help it run so smoothly. He also shares his philosophy of bringing out the essential aspect of a...