Welcome to My Nerd Brain: A Dialogue on Musicians’ Health and Wellness

In this episode, Dr. Shane Huntington gets candid about the mental health issues facing PhD candidates and students in our academic institutions. He stresses the need for Universities to start emphasizing communication and re-invest in faculty teaching skills, in order to better prepare students for a wider variety of jobs in the Arts and Sciences.

In this episode, I get to chat with Tank and the Bangas’ Tarriona “Tank” Ball about new projects during the pandemic, the fleeting attention of social media, and the importance of physical health while touring.

Reid Wick, the Membership and Industry Relations Rep for the Recording Academy, talks about the Recording Academy’s community outreach and advocacy programs. Tune in to find out how you can apply for financial aid during COVID and learn how to help further the cause.

Sales and marketing admin/freelance festival contractor, Emily Cox Rebert, discusses the effects of COVID on the live music and festival scene and the ramifications of our current health crisis as we move forward. Also….BATS!!!!

Dr. Rachel White Galvin is a movement specialist, educator, and professional violinist/violist who works in musicians’ health and wellness. She is passionate about helping musicians play pain-free, and she is also a beefalo enthusiast!

Vocalist Mark-Anthony Thomas talks about vocal health and his recovery from a major surgery on his vocal cords that interrupted his early singing years and greatly influenced his current teaching approach….And the greatest “bear fact” you’ve ever heard.

Jason Crane talks about his choice to embark on a nomadic lifestyle, his belief in Buddhism and its positive effects on his mental health, and the ways in which his experiences as a musician inform his long-standing podcast, The Jazz Session. FYI: Jason is Foxy-approved….from afar.

Kam Franklin of The Suffers gets into some hot button music industry topics, where she discusses the changes that need to happen in order to provide a better future for our upcoming generation, while also supporting growth and diversity in our current environment. And don’t forget to support your public library!

I visited with Zak Knight for this episode, who is Director, Producer, and Songwriter at Earthtide Studios in Melbourne. Zak filled me in on some of his latest projects, and we talked productivity and mental health during this pandemic. And last but not least, Icelandic sea monsters. You heard me.

Jazz pianist, arranger, and teacher, Victor Atkins, weighs in on building a successful career despite living with chronic pain. He also gives us a specific practice plan for working within the constraints that hand problems present. We laughed. We cried. We talked about coffee.