Joined by Josh Simons, CEO of Vinyl Group and founder of music industry networking platform Vampr, this episode explores the psychology of music fandom, parasocial relationships, and creativity in the digital age. We unpack why, in a streaming-first world, people are still drawn to deeper, more tangible connections with music, artists, and the communities around them.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

02:27 Josh’s Journey From Musician to Music Tech

29:05 The Resurgence of Vinyl and Collectibles

37:40 Artists, Fans, and Parasocial Relationships

44:12 Monetisation vs. Authenticity in Music

53:21 The Future of Music and Human Experience

01:02:40 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

Download Vampr: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=1069819177&code=SOUNDMIND  

Get $5 off an annual subscription with the code: SOUNDMIND

This episode explores the rise of MTV and how visual storytelling reshaped the music industry, artist identity, and global pop culture. We explore the psychology behind this shift, exploring how music videos shape memory, emotional interpretation, and our attachment to songs and artists.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

06:04 Before MTV: The Origin of Music Videos

12:59 The Launch of MTV: Video Killed the Radio Star

19:13 When Music Became Visual Identity

26:16 The Controversy: MTV and Representation

33:21 The Psychology of Music Videos

42:17 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

Joined by Jennie Silber from Koodos Labs, we unpack how platforms like Shelf are turning taste into something social and even predictive, from matching people through music to building a broader picture of identity across culture and lifestyle.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

01:58 Jennie’s Journey: From Law to Data

06:32 What Is Taste?

17:20 Can Taste Be Measured? Inside the Data

29:05 Building Shelf: Turning Taste into a Product

34:32 Music, Identity and Self-Presentation

45:19 Taste and Compatibility: Connecting Through Music

51:35 Beyond Music: The Future of Taste

57:50 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

Connect with Jennie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennie-silber/

Follow Jennie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniesilber/

Download the Shelf app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shelf-music-books-movies/id1667391175

To honour both World Music Therapy Week and World Autism Month, this episode explores the power of music therapy in autism. From understanding how autistic individuals experience the world to the psychology and neuroscience behind why music can unlock connection, we explore how music can become a language of its own and what it reveals about expression, connection, and what it truly means to communicate.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

02:25 What is Autism?

08:18 Defining Music Therapy

16:48 Why Music Works for Autism

24:44 Case Study

29:27 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CuAjiU7RBg

What happens in your brain when creativity unfolds in real time? In this episode, we explore the psychology of jazz, from its rich history and roots in expression and identity, to the neuroscience behind improvisation, flow state, and emotional connection. Discover how jazz musicians create in the moment, why it feels so powerful to listen to, and what it can teach us about creativity, focus, and letting go.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

02:05 The History of Jazz Music

08:48 Emotion and Expression in Jazz

12:18 The Brain on Jazz Improvisation

21:13 Jazz as a Language: Prediction and Surprise

23:54 Benefits of Listening to Jazz

29:47 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

How do we understand the history of music when so many women have been left out of the story? In this Women’s History Month special, we explore how women have always shaped music — from medieval composers to modern-day global superstars — despite being overlooked, excluded, and undervalued across the industry.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

02:05 The Earliest Women in Music

08:21 The Age of Erasure

16:08 Early Industry and Hidden Roles

23:14 Jazz, Blues and Resistance

29:58 The 60s to 90s

37:13 The Modern Industry: Power vs. Inequality

44:11 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

How do we stay emotionally steady when the world feels unpredictable? In this episode, we explore how music becomes a tool for regulation, release, reconnection, and even reclamation during times of collective stress. You’ll also learn how to design your own emotional soundscape with intentional playlists that help you regulate, release, reconnect, and reclaim a sense of agency in uncertain times.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

05:31 Doomscrolling, News Fatigue and Nervous Systems

09:59 Why Music Helps During Uncertainty

18:55 Collective Stress vs. Individual Regulation

25:04 When Music Amplifies the Chaos

28:59 Trauma Recovery and Healing

32:13 Designing Your Emotional Soundscape

36:27 Final Reflections

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

How can music move us so deeply when we don’t even understand the words? In this episode, we explore how Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language Super Bowl performance sparked global streaming surges, inspired thousands to start learning Spanish, and reignited conversations about identity, cultural pride, and representation on one of the world’s biggest stages.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

04:58 The Neuroscience of Music We Don’t Understand

12:00 Music as a Language Learning Tool

16:00 Language, Identity and Cultural Power

19:59 The Bad Bunny Effect

24:58 The Internationalisation of Music

31:05 Summary and Outro

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

In this 1st anniversary episode of The Sound Mind, we return to the question that started it all: why do we love music? One year on from the very first episode, we revisit the original themes through a new lens: not theory first, but real voices. Drawing on audio responses and conversations, this episode explores how music helps us regulate our emotions, navigate our darkest moments, connect with others, shape our identity, and transcend time through memory.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

04:00 Music as Emotional Regulation and Survival

13:39 Music as Connection, Companion and Meaning

20:41 Music as Identity and Self-Expression

27:04 Music as Memory

33:52 Music as Embodiment and Sensory Experience

39:48 Summary and Outro

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

In our first guest episode of The Sound Mind, we sit down with John Butler to explore a life immersed in every corner of the music industry, from college radio and record labels to Spotify and the era of streaming. We discuss what it truly means to listen: to music, to audiences, and to the cultural shifts shaping the way we connect with sound. Plus, John shares his bold predictions for 2026, from the gamification of music to the impact of AI on how we experience music.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 Intro

02:18 Meeting Cyndi Lauper and the Moment the Industry Became Real

09:37 From College Radio to First Promotion Projects

32:49 The Spotify Era: Balancing Data and Musical Intuition

45:40 2026 Predictions: Gamification, Genre-Less Radio and Catalog-Only Labels

59:56 AI Music and the Future of Human Connection

01:03:38 Guiding Artists Today: Mentorship and Community

01:08:30 Summary and Outro

Follow us on Instagram: @thesoundmindtalks

Support us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/thesoundmindtalks⁠

Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-butler-29727b/

All Hands Collective: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-hands-collective/