Universal Folklore

Episode 17 is with my friend Peter Stone, a great person and a wonderful musician! He's also the last guest that recorded AT MY HOUSE! Everyone after this episode will have been recorded in the new studio (Universal Studios Steelton). We got deep in the woods on songwriting with this one. I've had a chance to play music with Peter a few times, and I've always loved it, so it was great to spend some solid time talking about our approaches to songwriting, and how we fell in love with the art of music. We talk about the value of making choices and getting busy with doing the work that comes with those choices. Thanks again for taking the time, Pete!

You can follow Peter on Instagram (@peterstonemusic) and be sure to listen to his beautiful song, Fells Reservoir, wherever you stream music. Be sure to follow me @stephen_michael_haas!

MATT LE-SCHIN-SKI! MATT LE-SCHIN-SKI!

My guest this week is a good friend of mine and a long time collaborator on the music side of things. Matt Leschinski has been instrumental in making my vision for Flower Garden come true. In addition to working with me on Flower Garden, he's done work with other HBG local icons such as Concrete Beach and The Belly Boys! But in addition to being a wizard with sound, he's a smart and interesting guy with an affinity for learning and soaking up ideas, whether they come from a book or from the woods. I really respect the way Matt lives his life and I loved getting a glimpse into his world for everyone to enjoy.

Find Matt on instagram @mleschinski and you can follow me @stephen_michael_haas. Be sure to like, share and subscribe to the podcast if you're enjoying it. Thanks so much!

It's always so nice when I get to catch up with Eli Studer! We were able to do just that for episode 15 of the podcast, and three hours went by so quickly! Eli is an awesome artist who works primarily as a tattoo artist at The Iron Dahlia Tattoo Lounge in Philadelphia. We talk about a lot of things, but we spend a good bit of time talking about the highs and lows of being a young artist still trying to figure out what being an artist even means. You learn quickly that there are a million ways resistance will try to talk you out of pursuing your goals as an artist. We also spend some time talking about history and empires, rock climbing, and our general workflows these days.

You can see what Eli is up to on Instagram @elistuder. Thanks so much for spending some time and being on the podcast, Eli!

WE ARE FINALLY BACK! It's been nearly 3 weeks since our last episode, and we're so happy to be back. We've been busy BUILDING OUR NEW STUDIO! It's not quite done, but it's getting there, and we can't wait to move in!

We're coming back strong with Tanner Bingaman for episode 14. Tanner's a musician and farmer, and just such a thoughtful and kind guy. We talk about a lot of things including playing music, regenerative farming practices, and the dissolution (or at least the checking) of ego and what life can look like once you've moved past your ego. I really enjoyed having Tanner on the podcast, and I think you'll enjoy it also. It's a long one, but #solidgold the whole way through. Thanks again for taking the time, Tanner!

We put two of Tanner's songs into this episode! The first one you'll hear is East Virginia, and the song at the end is Lauren's Song.

Follow me @stephen_michael_haas and at my website, stephenmichaelhaas.com. And think about leaving a review on iTunes if you're digging the podcast.

Zaywuap is a rapper from Harrisburg, and my second guest from artist collective Naomi 17 (shoutout to Geniuz)! I met Zay when I recorded the episode with Geniuz, and it was really great to have him back and be able to speak more extensively with him this time around. I think we really hit it off, and I'm stoked to have met another new friend through this podcast! We talked about our favorite cartoons and anime, instant versus delayed gratification, and the importance of honest and loving conversation.

We're including two of Zaywuap's songs in this episode! The first song you'll hear is called Michiko and after our conversation you'll hear Anime Titties. Be sure to check his stuff on SoundCloud here and be sure to follow him on all social media @zaywuap. Thanks again for being on the podcast, Zay!

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Also, check out my hot new watermelon shirts on my website!

This week's episode is with the brilliant Meghan Morrison! Meghan is an artist, poet and yogi. I've known Meghan for over five years now, and we always have a great time when we get together to chat. In this episode we focus on the importance of self-work and understanding your true nature and purpose. With all of modern society's distractions, it's so easy to lose sight of who you truly are and why you're on this Earth. It's so easy to focus on the shortcomings of everyone else, and we end up losing sight of our own shortcomings. This episode was a great reminder to me that we are all intuitive, deeply spiritual beings who require love and respect, first and foremost from ourselves.

You can find Meghan on Instagram @lavieenmeghanrose and at her website, meghanrosemorrison.com. Thanks a lot for being on the podcast, Meghan!

Be sure to subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts, and if you have an extra minute, please leave a review on iTunes! You can follow me @stephen_michael_haas and stephenmichaelhaas.com. Follow the podcast @universalfolklore and universalfolklore.com.

This was a great episode with my friend Jelly the Photographer! Jelani Splawn is a photographer based in Harrisburg, PA. He's currently working hard to capture the energy of everything that's going on right now, particularly within Black Lives Matter. Jelani works with Kevin Maxson and Voice For the Voiceless as a photographer. He's been sharing some really powerful images lately on his Instagram, and I wanted to bring him in to talk about his experience. We talk a lot about current events, and the need for strong community and support for one another. We talk about the importance of meeting the challenges you're faced with in order to achieve new levels of growth, and how admitting that you know nothing is probably exactly what you need in your life.

You can follow Jelani @jelly_the_photographer. Thanks for being on the podcast, Jelly!

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you're digging it, and if you're reeeeeally digging it, leave a review on iTunes. Thanks for the support!

Star Dxg! Xander Moppin! My dear cousin, friend and musician! I love this guy so much! I live with him and we talk all the time, but it's still so rare that we have in-depth conversations like this. It was so nice to put some time aside and dig deep with him. Xander is the bassist of Yam Yam, and the brain behind Star Dxg, which is so fly and funky! We talk a lot about the importance of striking balance in your life, the importance of getting into stressful situations, and really coming to the understanding that we need to be able to surrender to what we don't have control over. You can find Xander on Instagram @star_dxg and find his band Yam Yam @yamyamband. Check out his new single “Locked” on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/16hk6OAQyR3agbvgCeH5Jk?si=EXqxg7CvQ-OzMet_FduoVA.

Thanks for listening. Share the show if you're digging it, and if you're REALLY digging it, give it a review on iTunes!

@stephen_michael_haas

@universalfolklore

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Geniuz is a rapper and member of Naomi 17 Collective based in Harrisburg, PA, and a new friend of mine! It was so good to get to know him a bit during this conversation. He made me think about things in a way that I usually don't think about them. We talked a lot about the importance of hustling and setting a positive intention for yourself. Geniuz has a great vision for what he wants out of life, and I found his positive energy rubbing off on me even days after we recorded. Super excited to see his growth, and find ways to work together in the future.

Check out Geniuz on Soundcloud and on Instagram @geniuz717. Thanks for listening! Be sure to subscribe and leave a review if you're enjoying the podcast!

We took a week off last week, but we're back this week for episode 8 with Josh Nesmith. Josh is a filmmaker and musician in Harrisburg and someone who's work I've admired for a while. We had a great conversation about living as an artist and making that your main priority. We talk about how quarantine has been helpful for so many, and how we can take the positive lessons we've learned during this time into the future as we begin to open our society back up. We also spend some time talking about video games, which you all know I love to talk about. This was a really great talk. You can find Josh on IG @nesmithjosh or at his website nesmithfilms.com. Enjoy!

Follow the podcast @universalfolklore and universalfolklore.com. If you have a moment, subscribe, and leave a review on iTunes, it really helps! Thanks for listening!