Ryan Judd always knew he wanted to work with kids. Growing up, he took jobs as a camp counselor and babysitter. That led him through college and grad school into a career in music therapy serving children with special needs and autism. He experimented with creating a music therapy “package” that he could sell online. The project didn’t work but it led him to writing and releasing original, clinical-based music for people suffering from insomnia and anxiety. These projects were very successful and gave him the space to heed the calling he felt to make art.

Guest Bio 

Ryan Judd is a Billboard Chart Topping recording artist, award-winning musician, and internationally known music therapist. He is an accomplished fingerstyle guitarist and is committed to making music that inspires well-being. Ryan’s unique musical style on the nylon string guitar creates a warm and gentle soundscape for the listener. His recordings have been streamed more than 340 million times. As a board-certified music therapist, Ryan has had the honor of working with children with life-threatening illnesses. This has inspired him to donate a percentage of his profits to a non-profit organization called Lucy’s Love Bus which provides free music therapy services to pediatric cancer patients. Ryan is also the co-founder of the app, Cool Koala - Guided Bedtime Meditations for Children with ADHD and Anxiety.

Turning 40 and Letting Go of the Sure Thing

In this episode of the Forty Drinks Podcast, Stephanie talks to Ryan Judd, a musician and music therapist who has transitioned from a music therapist to a successful musician in his 40s. Ryan shares his journey from working with kids to a career in music therapy, to producing clinical-based music for insomnia and anxiety, and eventually transitioning into the world of making music as art. He discusses the role of mentorship and courage in following his passions and taking risks. Ryan also talks about the importance of vision boards and goal setting in achieving success. The episode concludes with a discussion about Ryan's milestone of reaching 100 million streams on Amazon music and the unexpected turns his life has taken. 

Highlights from the episode:

• Ryan's passion for working with kids and his journey into psychology and music therapy.
• The transformative experience of working with children with special needs and finding his calling in that field.
• Ryan's exploration into creating music for sale, and his transition from creating clinical-based music to pursuing his artistic vision.
• The role of mentorship and support in Ryan's journey and the importance of asking for help.
• The power of courage in pursuing new opportunities and overcoming insecurities.
• The success of Ryan's music on Amazon music and the impact of his work on listeners.

Resources mentioned:

• "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss: A book that inspired Ryan to explore passive income streams.
• Cool Koala app: An app co-founded by Ryan that provides guided bedtime meditations for kids with ADHD and anxiety.

Ryan’s albums: 

• Sleep Soundly
• Tranquil Guitar
• An Open Sky

Listeners are encouraged to rate, follow, and review the podcast.

Is ‘should’ a positive or negative word?

The people who tell us what we SHOULD do usually have our best interests in mind. They want to give us the path to success and - more often - safety. But “should” is a loaded word. According to the definition, the word is used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone's actions. And the bigger problem with “should” is that we can internalize those obligations or duties as the only “right” way to live our lives. But every one of those “shoulds” comes from outside our own heart and soul, which nobody else can fully know. In episode 3, Jaime’s friend asked when she was going to “stop shoulding all over herself.” And in episode 6, Eric talked about how our parents worked so hard to make sure we had opportunities they didn’t, and we could do things they couldn’t - and yet, many times, they tried to hold us to the same standards and timelines that worked for them.

Guest Resources

Ryan is generously offering Forty Drinks Listeners 20% off digital mp3 album or physical CD

Listening Link for New Album, Echoes of Peace (Includes all streaming platforms) 

Music therapy website: www.TheRhythmTree.com

Cool Koala app website: www.CoolKoala.co

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Do you have the Midlife Ick? 

Download Stephanie’s guide to the Ick to diagnose whether you or someone you love is suffering from this insidious midlife malaise. www.fortydrinks.com/ick  

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The Forty Drinks Podcast is produced and presented by Savoir Faire Marketing/Communications