Neurons to Nirvana

Here's a conversation with the lead singer and guitarist of Calliope Musicals, Carrie Fussell. We go into songwriting, how the band formed and evolved, and more about the magic of the UTOPiAfest and its profound impact on her and other musicians who attend the festival. Carrie categorizes the band's sound like a wholesome psychedelic exploration of feelings through music.    Listen to Calliope Musicals: https://www.calliopemusicals.com/ Learn more about Utopia Fest: http://www.utopiafest.com/ -------- Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.

Just moments before retro garage R&B band Greyhounds took the stage at UTOPiAfest, I sat down with them just off stage and dropped in on several topics such as their writing process, touring, collaborations with the Tedeschi Trucks band, and a deep dive into plant medicine, Lakota spirituality, and more. This episode's featured track is "What's On Your Mind" by Greyhounds and you can listen to it on Bandcamp, stream it on Spotify, or Apple Music. Learn more about Utopia Fest: http://www.utopiafest.com/ -------- Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.    

What does it mean to be a Utopian? After twelve years, attendees of UTOPiAfest celebrate mind-blowing musical performances, breathtaking West Texas Hill Country sunsets and dark skies showcasing the Milky Way.  In this first of several Discover UTOPiA episodes, I interview founder Travis Sutherland, and creative mastermind Wayne Dalchau. UTOPiAfest encompasses the best aspects of the festival experience: great performances, musical discovery, quality time with new and old friends, and a true alternative and escape from the large festival scene. In April, I went backstage to hear from the musicians about what UTOPiAfest actually meant to them. There are great songs and stories that you can only hear on the Discover UTOPiA episodes. Stay tuned for future episodes featuring many great musicians.  Learn more about Utopia Fest: http://www.utopiafest.com/ -------- Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.

Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Do most Americans really agree on 90% of the issues facing our country? Why do we feel so divided? Can comedy and podcasting bring us closer together rather than create even more distance? Continuing our discussion on the craft and artistry of stand-up comedy, improvisation, and the platform of podcasting to express yourself, I am joined today by Shane Rogers, stand-up comedian and co-host of the Midnight Facts for Insomniacs podcast. Shane spends weeks preparing and consistently deep dives into researching obscure topics and themes for every episode. Both he and co-host Duncan MacEwan provides a refreshing take and unique style of humor and entertainment for their listeners. Connect with Shane Visit his website to learn more about Shane and his podcast.   Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community. Follow Tom on Instagram and Twitter  

Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Stand-up comedy may be the hardest artistic craft, and today’s guest is comedian, improviser, storyteller, actor, writer, musician and jack of all trades, Steven Morgan. Steven and I talk about this challenge, including the longevity and relevance of comedic material and the dilemma in balancing improv versus scripting during a performance. We also talk about how the resilience of being a comedian can cultivate leadership in unexpected times.  Connect with Steven: https://stevenmorgan.wales/ Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.

Would you speak in front of hundreds of people naked? After listening to this episode, you won't have to, but you'll understand why having the confidence to be seen for who we are is crucial in developing our ability to share our voice. Sean Tyler Foley is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage. As a lifelong actor and showman, he knows how to entertain, and has delivered hundreds of talks on everything from employee engagement to personal growth and achievement. His ultimate goal is to coach people to step into their speaking power so they can create a positive global impact by reaching the hearts and minds of millions with their stories. He is author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked. Connect with Tyler: https://www.seantylerfoley.com Get Tyler's book: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Speak-Naked-Communicate-Effectively/dp/1631954458 Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.  

How do we heal trauma and grow closer through intentional intimacy and sex? Today, we’re speaking to the author of the book Blossom –7 Steps to Sexual Healing, Chief Pleasure Officer, Carolin Hauser. Carolin’s work is based on cutting-edge intimacy advice, quantum physics, and biology.  We explore topics that many may consider taboo, like infidelity, addiction, and oral sex and how all of this relates to our vibrational state. Carolin is redefining pleasure and offers training and teachings from Sedona, Arizona and she offers a new perspective on traditional lovemaking and healing relationships.    I welcome the opportunity to learn about this alternative paradigm. If you like content like this, please like and follow the podcast on your preferred listening platform.   We’ve just launched a quick survey and your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here.   Connect with Carolin: carolinhauser.com Grab Carolin’s book here.   Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.  

What do we gain when we lose someone we love?  My guest and I explore this topic in-depth in this heartfelt episode. I talked to poet/writer and director Maggie Daniels on how to stay motivated as an independent artist. Maggie explains how writing her poetry book "Swimming" helped her through a traumatic experience. Maggie shares some real wisdom about capturing moments from our loved ones while we have them as well as shares several of her powerful poems. She's pushed through trauma by making a trailer for a movie script called "Tanglewood" based on a true story.    Learn more about Maggie here: maggielogic.com --- Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. Be a part of this podcast! Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.    

Your feedback helps guide the future of the show! Please consider filling out this short questionnaire by clicking here. From across the pond comes alternative singer/songwriter Billy Nomad, a successful independent musician who has used songwriting and music to bridge the gap of self-expression and social interaction. At 15, Billy was diagnosed with a chronic illness. His illness and high-functioning autism inspired Billy to funnel his energy into all aspects of music as a creative outlet. Now a writer, performer and budding record label producer, Billy talks with Tom about his life as Billy Nomad —the past, the present and his vision for the future. Learn the stories behind some of his songs and his upcoming production plans. For more information visit BillyNomad.net It isn’t just his accent that put a smile on my face, but some of his insights on curiosity, creativity, and mental health. Bill brings an authentic voice and story and his lyrics are often healing and direct. He speaks of suicide and darkness, using music to cope and escape horrendous bullying and mitigate emotional burnout. Listen to Billy Nomad on bandcamp: https://billynomad.bandcamp.com/ -------- Be a part of this podcast!Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.

From the NOLA streets to the stage to the studio, two-time grammy nominated band Cha Wa delivers an organic sound, an authentic story and an undeniable energy. This brass band-meets-Mardi Gras Indian outfit shares their electric energy and thoughts on their unique style of music. Tune in and hear about the history behind the funk and feathers. http://www.chawaband.com/ ------------ Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.  

Does passion for life include an experience of joy? Indra shares that joy may indeed be part of the overall experience, yet folks seem to be both tormented as well as excited in living their passions.  This week’s guest is Indra Rinzler and he's a life-time spiritual seeker.  He has traveled to 56 countries and has a broader view of society than most in his 75 years of life.  Indra shares wisdom from the observations and life experience he's had. We discuss his vocation with Vedic astrology and use of the enneagram.  You'll really need to explore the rest of the story as we explore other interesting points of connectivity. Connect with Indra: www.indrarinzler.com ---- Sign up on our website to receive exclusive show insights and be the first to know about podcast extras and join the Neurons to Nirvana community.  

What does it mean to be a man in 2022? How do we integrate psychedelics into rites of passage in a safe and effective way? Join me as I speak with Keith Gilmore, a writer, speaker and coach who writes primarily on culture, ethics, psychology, spirituality, philosophy, and psychedelics. He’s the co- founder of Texture Life Coaching and offers one of the top ranked psychedelic integration coaching programs in the country.  Keith offers a 12-week community program called The Integrated Man, which is a free program for men to have support, get real and share wisdom.www.texturecoaching.com

Sit in on this fun conversation and time travel with us as Ivan FunkBoy Bodley shares hilarious and heartbreaking stories from his search for fame, financial stability, and peace of mind through the joy of playing music with some of the all time greatest musicians across many genres.  https://www.youtube.com/user/funkboynyc https://www.abebooks.com/9798711152200/Famous-Memoir-Working-Class-Rock-Star/plp

Continuing the exploration of the power of music to heal, inspire, and inform, on this episode I bring on Maven Avila, the frontman for Dead Letterman. Maven is a budding artist from Kentucky and he brings a strong viewpoint to his music and his political advocacy. We discuss music and creativity as an avenue for healing from abuse, the state of our nation, social equity, and Maven's pursuit of his passion. www.surj.org https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/deadletterman/departures

This episode is one is for the music history lovers. Join Tom Hartridge and today's guest, Eric Alper as they go on a deep dive, exploring some of the greatest musicians of all time and exchange a wealth of details about music history.  Eric Alper has worked with Bob Geldof, Natalie MacMaster, Carole King, Matt Dusk, Randy Bachman, Ringo Starr, Slash, The Wiggles, Snoop Dogg, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ray Charles, Sinead O'Connor, Robert Palmer, and many more legends.   Eric Alper is a Canadian music correspondent, blogger, radio host and former director of media relations at eOne Music Canada based in Toronto, Ontario. Since 2016 Alper has run a music public relations company That Eric Alper and is the host of @ThatEricAlper show on SiriusXM.    Connect with Eric:  Twitter: @ThatEricAlper www.thatericalper.com