The Song Inside

63. Manuel Bagorro is Curating Well-Being! Feb 06, 2023

Welcome to The Song Inside's second season, focused on Music and Healing.

This week I'm thrilled to introduce you to my colleague, Manuel Bagorro! Manuel is the Creative Advisor for Carnegie Hall Social Impact Programs (and a very nice fellow). Learn along with me about the inception of the Carnegie Music Program at Sing Sing, The Lullaby Project, and a new series of concerts Manuel is curating around the issue of Music and Well-Being. Along the way, we'll talk about songs as heirlooms, persevering in the work, and the alchemy of creation.

www.carnegiehall.org

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62. Vicky Finney is Opening Her Heart! Jan 30, 2023

Welcome to The Song Inside's second season, focused on Music and Healing.

Actor Vicky Finney was just living her life, when a series of events upended her trajectory. We talk about what led her to a course in Conscious Dying, how opening our hearts can ease our end of life, and how music is the bridge.

Find Vicky HERE

Resources:
*Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
*The five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski
Die Wise by Stephen Jenkinson
*When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön (not specific to dying but great!)
*Life After Life by Raymond Moody (about near death experience)
Who Dies by Stephen Levine
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanthi
Advice for future corpses* (*and those who love them) by Sallie Tisdale
Being with Dying by Roshi Joan Halifax
*Meetings at the edge by Stephen Levine
Breathe you are alive! By a Thich Nhat Hahn
Final Gifts by Maggie Callahan & Patricia Kelley
*Still Here by Ram Dass
*Welcoming The Unwelcome by Pema Chödrön
*In the Light of Death by Tim Freke
www.consciousdyinginstitute.com

Song: I'm Real (by Deidre Struck)

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61. Dave Wilbur is Grooving Like the Wind! Jan 23, 2023

Welcome to The Song Inside's second season, focusing on Music and Healing.

Dave Wilbur is a kickass bass player, runs a Rock Lab, and happens to be one of my oldest friends. Join us as we go deep on humor as healer, imperfection as humanizer, daily gratitude, and letting impermanence be a teacher.

Find Dave HERE

Songs: Tina and the River

Shafilea

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Garlands: Fortifications For Anne

60. David Garland is Interested and Curious! Jan 16, 2023

Welcome to The Song Inside’s second season, focusing on Music and Healing.

Settle in with a cozy blanket and perhaps some tissues, as David Garland takes us through the remarkable journey of his life as a visual artist, musical creator, and radio host of Spinning On Air, a weekly music show on WNYC for 28 years. After his wife Anne received a terminal cancer diagnosis, David and his son Kenji created and played music together in the room directly below Anne’s bedroom throughout the months leading up to her passing.

In this episode, we talk about creating without presumption, trusting our curiosity, and exploring ambiguity.

Find David HERE

Songs:

Garlands: Mortality 2

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59. Toby Williams Was Born To Sing! Jan 09, 2023

Welcome to The Song Inside’s second season, focusing on Music and Healing.

Toby Williams is head of the music therapy department at Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, as well as a professor at NYU and a licensed creative arts therapist. In this episode, she talks about her journey from bandleader to therapist, therapy as a conduit to insight, and shares personal stories of how music has helped clients at different stages of their lives.

Find Toby HERE

Read more at thesonginside.me

What we're listening to:

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Trailer: The Song Inside Returns Jan 08, 2023

Welcome to Season 2 of The Song Inside, the only podcast which does deep dive interviews about the songs which bring us from darkness to light.

This season will be focused on Music and Healing, with interviews from music therapists, doulas, and regular folks who have used songs to get them through tough times.

New episodes drop every Monday, wherever you find podcasts.

Find The Song Inside:

In the Breadth of the Moonlight

Summer Songs, Camp Edition: Oliver Dobrian and Vero Villalobos Aug 08, 2022

One of the great things about working at an arts camp is that you get to meet like-minded creative souls. Oliver (drummer from Orange County CA) and Vero (director from San Angelo TX) are two such souls, each with a unique perspective on songwriting to share. Enjoy!

Check out Oliver’s band Filmspeed!

Summer Songs: Revisiting Donny McCaslin Aug 02, 2022

Hey Songsters! Summer is flying by! I’m away at summer camp for two more weeks, but am delighted to present this previous interview with David Bowie collaborator, tenor saxophonist, composer, and excellent dude Donny McCaslin. Enjoy!

Summer Songs: Revisiting Byron Isaacs Jul 25, 2022

I’m living my best life here at summer camp in Pennsylvania, and this week’s guest is living his best life playing bass and singing with The Lumineers on tour. Byron Isaacs is one of my favorite people, as well as a stellar songwriter. You may need a tissue or two for this one!

Summer Songs: Revisiting Kate McGarry Jul 18, 2022

I’m still at summer camp, writing songs with campers and playing for the musical James and The Giant Peach (there’s nothing cuter than kids dressed as insects, singing about sticking together. For real.) This week, please enjoy this interview with Grammy-award winning songwriter/vocalist Kate McGarry. See you next week!

Summer Songs: Revisiting Blake Lewis Jul 11, 2022

I’m at summer camp with my girls, writing songs and playing for musicals! This means that there won’t be any new interviews for a few weeks. However, I’ll be bringing you updates from camp, and segments from earlier episodes. Enjoy, and I’ll be back with new songs soon!

58. Adam Fitch is Finding the Soul! Jul 04, 2022

I put out a call for songwriters for the pod, and Adam Fitch was the first to respond! I'm very grateful, because I loved getting to know him and his music. Our conversation goes from the art of falling apart, to creating a safe container of a song, to leaving love notes to God, to connecting to your inner child.

Learn about Adam HERE

Songs:

Love Note to God

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57. Richard Julian is in The Final Round! Jun 27, 2022

Richard Julian: bar/live music venue owner, renowned songwriter, tour aficionado. In this episode, RIchard takes us on a heady journey through his songwriting process, which involves him recording and listening to one song a whopping 100 times (!) while writing it. (Don’t worry, we only listen to four or five versions!)

We also give some thoughts on Delaware, the mastery of Norah Jones, the romanticism of touring, chasing down the lyrics, and listening to what the song is telling you.

Learn more about Richard HERE

Go see a show at LunAtico!

1. The Final Round

2. If You Stay

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Deep Beneath the City/Not There Yet

56. Russ Kaplan is Beautifully Distracted! Jun 20, 2022

It’s summer! But we’re taking a trip back to the chill of February, which is when composer Russ Kaplan moved from sunny Florida to icy Minnesota. We talk about minimalist metric modulation and manatees (say that three times fast), the organic creation of Broadway’s first (and last??) a capella musical, the tenacity to keep going, and following the crazy.

Learn more about Russ HERE

Songs:

Manatee

55. Russ Johnson is a Bad Mother*#!@er! Jun 13, 2022

Russ Johnson. One of my oldest and dearest friends. Also an incredible trumpet player, composer, and educator. Join us as we take a walk with our younger selves to reflect upon our careers, New York and Chicago, writing with deadlines, and the two (no, THREE!) rules for success.

Learn more about Russ HERE

Songs:

Why yes, I would LOVE a coffee! It literally fuels my music.

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54. Aimee Nolte is Playing the Devil's Music! Jun 06, 2022

It's Jazz in June here at The Song Inside, starting with the lovely pianist Aimee Nolte. We'll share some New York stories before talking about finding the right bandmates, her successful YouTube channel, and who our favorite jazz pianists are.

Learn more about Aimee HERE

Songs:

The Loveliest Girl

Looking for the Answers

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53. Falu Shah is Lullabies and Light! May 30, 2022

Indian singer-songwriter (and now Grammy winner!) Falu Shah has been an inspiration to me since we first started working on the Lullaby Project together years ago. Here we talk about how winning a Grammy is a group effort, how the downbeat unites us, how all life's occasions are important to celebrate, and how everything is music!

Learn more about Falu HERE

Songs:

Ghumar

Nishad's Lullaby

Tararum Pumpum

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Last Night When We Were Young

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52. Franck Amsallem is the Space Between the Notes! May 23, 2022

Franck Amsallem is a French jazz pianist and jolly good fellow. Join us as we talk about the meaning of names, 80s East Coast living, leaving something to be desired, and how music changes our DNA.

Learn more about Frank HERE

Songs:

Gotham Goodbye

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51. The Song Inside Celebrates One Year! May 16, 2022

We did it! 50 awesome songwriter interviews, a year of songwriting tips, and music which brought us from darkness to light.

In this anniversary episode, I'll be checking in with my brother and OG guest, Blake Lewis. (Do we have beefs with the music industry? Listen and find out!)

We'll also hear from other past guests, and I'll play some of my own favorite tunes for you.

I'm so proud to helm this podcast. Thanks to everyone for your support. Onward and upward!

Learn more about me HERE!

SONGS:

Tina Fey
Blue Early Morning
I'm Real

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Mama's House, Daddy's House

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50. Suzi Shelton is Feeling the Power! May 09, 2022

Continue celebrating Mother's Day with me and Suzi Shelton! We take you on a journey all the way from the weirdest place we've done gigs, to Coney Island, to a song about co-parenting (video and new recording just premiered! see below), to the most important thing of all-doing what makes us HAPPY!

Learn more about Suzi HERE

Songs:

Mermaids On Parade (collab with children's book author Melanie Hope Greenberg)

VIDEO PREMIERE OF Mama's House, Daddy's House

My Coney Island Day song/video

Wanna come to the Mermaid Parade this year? Check it out HERE!

Can You Feel The Power

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49. Graham Brice is Alright With That! May 02, 2022

Not only is Graham Brice a cool neighborhood dad; he's also a killer songwriter with a sense for surprising chords. We have a lively chat about Song Club, learning from The Beatles, melodies arriving at inconvenient times, and how lucky we feel not to have been child stars.

Learn more about Graham HERE

Songs:

Ask Me To (Live)

I'm Alright With That

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48. Ryan Keberle is All Ears! Apr 25, 2022

To close out INTERNATIONAL TROMBONE MONTH!, this week I'm joined by composer/trombonist Ryan Keberle. We have fun talking about trombone as a folk instrument, music as connection, rule implementation as freedom, and finding your own voice. Also, the composition that ends the podcast is one of my favorite songs, ever.

Learn more about Ryan HERE

Songs:

I Am a Stranger

Become the Water

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47. Curtis Fowlkes is a Jazz Passenger! Apr 18, 2022

I met Curtis Fowlkes my first day in New York. That's what we call Lucky! You, too, are now Lucky! Meet this true gentleman, soulful singer, and fantastic trombonist as we discuss goofing off at the circus, the origin of The Jazz Passengers, the foibles of working with Jeff Buckley and Lou Reed, and embracing the mess. As a bonus, OG Big Apple Circus bassist and friend of us both, Gene Torres, happens to call in during the interview! It's all gossip and goodness for this third installment of Trombone Month here at The Song Inside.

Learn more about Curtis HERE

Songs:

March 19th

Jolly Street

If I Were a Bell

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46. Brian Drye is Way Down in Hadestown! Apr 11, 2022

We continue our Trombone Month celebration with the hardest working trombonist in show business, Brian Drye! Come and listen to us geek out about the trombone, discuss the choreography of recording, marvel at the glue of ostinato, and learn about giving it your all on Broadway every night.

Learn more about Brian HERE

Songs:

Hawaii

Open Water

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45. Alan Ferber is an Economist! Apr 04, 2022

People! It is time to celebrate THE TROMBONE! All! Month! Long! Starting with Alan Ferber, co-director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and all-around talent. Join us as we talk about community through music, the beauty of a nonet, the importance of economy, and harmony as cake. (Great, now I'm hungry).

Learn more about Alan HERE

Songs:

The River

North Rampart

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44. Leah Paul is a Sweet Potato! Mar 28, 2022

Leah Paul is a sweet potato who runs a music business for kids called Sweet Potato Music! She also lives in LA, is a mom, plays the flute, and writes the coolest chamber pop tunes you've ever heard. We talk about pivoting after motherhood, treating vocals like flutes, finding home, and not waiting for happiness.

Songs:

Warm Streets

Thin Skinned

We Will Do The Worrying

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43. Luciana Souza is a Poet! Mar 21, 2022

Brazilian composer, singer, lyricist and percussionist Luciana Souza is a light in the darkness. In this conversation, we revisit our younger selves, call our friend (and Sunnyside producer) Francois live with a birthday message, reminisce about Cornelia Street Cafe, and explore the freedom of harmony and the gestures of melody.

Learn more about Luciana HERE

Songs:

Sonnet

Sleeping Ground

These Things

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42. Lucy Wainwright Roche is Hopelessly Herself! Mar 14, 2022

Singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche comes from a musical family. She also has a very amenable dog, and a voice like a damn angel. Join us as we talk about going to Wikipedia for song ideas, the dark tundra of not writing, how a song can be anything, and how life on the road is definitely funnier with a companion!

Learn more about Lucy HERE

Songs:

Ohio is for Lovers

Canterbury Song

A Quiet Line

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41. Lara Bello is the Soul Inside the Gold! Mar 07, 2022

Happy International Women's Month from The Song Inside! To kick things off, Spanish songstress Lara Bello (a fellow Carnegie Hall Lullaby Artist), joins me to explore the feelings inside the melody, the importance of introducing new cultures and languages to audiences, how to open our arms to new fruit, and just what the heck the meaning of Sikame is.

Learn more about Lara HERE

Songs:

Sola

Sikame

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40. Django Haskins is Shutting Up and Playing! Feb 28, 2022

Django Haskins calls in from his North Carolina cabin to talk about the discipline of Monday Night Song Group, musical and narrative dissonance, why proficiency shouldn't get in the way of being authentic, and the importance of lifting others up.

Learn more about Django HERE

Songs

state road valentine

Cutting Onions

Til My Voice is Gone

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39. Brittany Anjou is Ripping Off the Band-Aid! Feb 21, 2022

Pianist/Composer Brittany Anjou recently completed a Masters in Music Psychology and has done research on the mental health of musicians living in NYC. Join us for an intellectually stimulating conversation! Brittany tells me about hosting avant-garde jams in Kuwait before we move on to discuss jazz as a democratic art form, embracing opportunities to fail, and the eternal conflict between teaching and playing.

Learn more about Brittany HERE

Songs:

Starlight

No Tyrant

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38. Ohad Talmor is Brushing His Teeth! Feb 14, 2022

What do Tribe Called Quest and the Love Boat have in common? What did Stravinsky say to do daily, as if brushing one's teeth? Find out in this interview with master composer and saxophonist Ohad Talmor! We talk about his lifelong relationship with Lee Konitz, the importance of buying the scores, the purpose of etudes, and the responsibility of artists.

Songs

Flight to Missoula

Etude #2

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37. Robin Meloy Goldsby is Piano Girl! Feb 07, 2022

If you were in a Manhattan hotel 25 years ago, or a German castle recently, you may have heard Robin Meloy Goldsby tinkling the ivories, and not even known it. Her latest book, Piano Girl Playbook: Notes on a Musical Life, captures what it's like to play for all kinds of people in all kinds of places, and still find music at the heart of things. We talk about her storied life (played at Buckingham Palace? Check! Played for naked folks while wearing a concert gown? Done that!), the intentions of the composer, Mr. Rogers, and putting the work in.

Learn more about Robin HERE

Songs

Flying, Falling

December

Neighbor

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Swimming Through the Aisles

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36. Rich Bennett is Roman Angelos! Jan 31, 2022

Is Rich Bennett a producer, guitarist, composer, and music studio/school owner? Yes. Is he also Roman Angelos? YES. He makes music for underwater supermarkets, is a coffee and seltzer enthusiast, and enjoys the shifting of phrases and the art of the long fade.

Learn more about Rich HERE

Songs:

Shocked in Sciacca

Wild Ride

Night Part 1

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35. Eric Biondo is an Open Channel! Jan 24, 2022

Eric Biondo (aka Beyondo), is a behatted trumpet player, songwriter, and vocalist. Yes, we made up the word "behatted". We talk about song boats drifting by open channels, the many feelings about jazz, writing with whatever you've got in the moment, and whether or not Eric has a ghost living in his apartment. (My money is on YES).

Learn more about Eric HERE

Songs:

Life on Repeat

I've Learned to Dance

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34. Sonia de los Santos is a Smiling Fiesta! Jan 17, 2022

Sonia de los Santos was born in Mexico with a smile on her face, so the story goes. Listening to her music, it's easy to believe! Her joy is infectious. In this episode we talk about the beauty of informal singing, the importance of saying "I'm here", the rise of family folk musicians such as Dan Zanes, and the sound a chipmunk makes.

Learn more about Sonia HERE

Songs:

Alegria

Suena

Fiesta Fiesta

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33. Tony Malaby is Movable and Modular! Jan 10, 2022

Tony Malaby. Saxophonist. Teacher. Kung Fu Panda. Join us as we talk about Mexican food, NYC in the 1990s, falling into the waters of improvisation, and Ricardo Montalban.

Learn more about Tony HERE

Songs:

Mia

Corinthian Leather

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32. Alan Baylock is Full of Torque! Jan 03, 2022

It's a new year, and we are starting out by celebrating the large ensemble jazz arrangements of Alan Baylock! Full disclosure: Alan was my arranging TA at the University of North Texas, where he now runs the infamous 1:00 Lab Band. Lucky me! In this episode we discuss starting simple, what we learned in college, framing devices, and How To Gain Life Skills From Playing In A Big Band (this should totally be a college course, right?)

If you're lucky enough to be going to the JEN conference in Dallas this week, you can catch Alan and the 1:00 band LIVE Friday 1/7 at 7:45 pm!

Learn more about Alan HERE

Songs:

El Abrazo

Torque

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Flip and Mozi's Guide to How to Be an Earthling: Mimic Octopus

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31. Jason Rabinowitz is Finding the Weird Spark! Dec 20, 2021

It's a special family-friendly holiday episode here at The Song Inside! Curl up by the fire with The Pop Up's Jason Rabinowitz, and listen to why kids are the best audience, what it's like finding out you've been nominated for a Grammy, falling backwards into Broadway, and finding the weird true spark that is YOU.

Learn more about Jason and The Pop Ups HERE and HERE.

Jason's Songwriting Tip: When stuck, take a walk!

Podcast:

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30. Anna Dagmar is Amazed! (...and Amazing) Dec 13, 2021

This week, meet Anna Dagmar! Like me, she's a pianist, singer, and songwriter, as well as a mom. We get into the momtalk a bit with regards to the music theater industry, and move on to discussing inviting our idols to the table, growing up with both spirituality and science, the new Beatles documentary, and leaning on love.

Learn more about Anna HERE

Songs:

Satellite

Amazed

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29. Jannek is Dancing Toward the Sun! Dec 06, 2021

Composer Jannek and I meet for the very first time to talk about the unexpected surprises that come from being of service, the importance of mentorship, the experience of listening to electronica in Brooklyn warehouses, and dancing toward the sun.

Lear more about Jannek HERE

Songs:

Dyer Point

Bottomless Breath

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28. Pete Galub is Being Played by Timothée Chalamet! Nov 29, 2021

Attention, hashtag duneheads! Songwriter Pete Galub and I have cast ourselves in our own biopics, and, spoiler alert, Pete has cast hottie Chalamet to play him. This movie will include accepting the different parts of ourselves, the power skill of empathy, the fifth dimension, and how to prep for Bar Mitzvah using classic rock. And maybe sandworms and stuff. Have a listen!

Learn more about Pete HERE

Songs:

Plead the 5th Dimension

Crying Time

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The Things That Make You Grow

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27. Carol Lipnik is a Coney Island Mermaid! Nov 22, 2021

Visit the beautiful decay of Coney Island with me and songwriter Carol Lipnik. In this chat, we walk through pulling song rabbits out of hats, the metaphors of roses, throwing out the instruction manual, and finding our inner clowns.

Learn more about Carol HERE

Songs:

Honey Pot

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26. Paul Brill is a Powerline! Nov 15, 2021

In this episode, film composer Paul Brill and I talk about the current landscape of film composing, the residue of design, the imagery of powerlines, and the unswerving punctuality of chance.

Learn more about Paul HERE

Songs:

Everything I Believe In

Powerlines

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Songwriting Snack #1: Be Your Authentic Self Nov 08, 2021

In the first episode of this shorter "snack" series, I expand on a songwriting tip from my first podcast guest, Blake Lewis. The tidbit? Be your authentic self. Easy to say, harder to do!

I'll give a little personal background, dive into why I like this songwriting snack, and give everyone some concrete homework to try.

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25. Debbie Deane is La Dee Da! Nov 01, 2021

Debbie Deane is a neighbor of mine. More importantly, she has a new album out that will make you sing La Dee Da for days. We talk about school music committees, the importance of friends, telling our inner critics to take a hike, and living joyously!

Learn more about Debbie HERE

Songs:

La Dee Da

In This World

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24. Michael Harren is a Bee in a Beautiful Bonnet! Oct 25, 2021

Michael Harren, songwriter, teacher, and animal rights activist, sits down with me to discuss our analysts, the nature of cats, being OG podcasters (remember Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code??) and deflecting our inner saboteurs.

Learn more about Michael HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Mango

Go

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23. Jeremy Suarez is The Journey! Oct 18, 2021

Song Inside: Camp Edition! Bronx songwriter Jeremy Suarez and I met at summer camp this year, and directed teens together in a musical. I chatted with them in the staff lounge (aka barn loft) to talk about home recording, being our own biggest fans, creating new genres, and making people cry (in a good way).

Learn more about Jeremy HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Recreate

Sombra (How U Feel)

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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22. Greta Gertler Gold is Filling Her Trunk! Oct 11, 2021

Join Aussie singer/songwriter/composer Greta Gertler Gold and I as we talk musical theater and Moonfish, carving out personal space as we parent, showing ourselves grace, and being healed by Abbey Road.

Learn more about Greta HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Hard to Hope

Watch the Sunrise

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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21. Karen Dahlstrom is No Man’s Land! Oct 04, 2021

“There’s something about high desert,” Karen Dahlstrom says. I’ve known Karen forever. No, really! We hail from the Gem State (IDAHO!), played together in the 7th grade talent show, went to the same (Mormon) college, moved to NYC, and are both songwriters. We also left the church of our youth, which was, shall we say, intense. And we get INTO it. Crooked landscapes, crooked patriarchies, crooked tunes. Be not afraid! The truth will set you free! (Also-let the Ewoks have their celebration, for crying out loud!)

Find Karen: www.karendahlstrom.com

Songs:

No Man's Land

After the Flood

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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20. Donny McCaslin is Getting Uncomfortable! Sep 27, 2021

Composer and saxophonist Donny McCaslin is perhaps best known for his work as the bandleader on David Bowie's final album, Black Star. We talk about what it was like collaborating with a musical icon (Bowie's advice: it's good to be uncomfortable), tips on working with different producers while maintaining one's voice, embodying the authentic self, and readjusting after trauma. The groove is deep. The words are wise. You'll be glad you listened.

Learn more about Donny HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

What About the Body

Head of Mine

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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19. Abby Ahmad is a Benevolent Funhouse! Sep 20, 2021

Join me as I chat with vocalist and songwriter Abby Ahmad about benching our judgment, being a translator for one's instrumentation, the poetry of our youth, and breaking through the walls of resistance.

Learn more about Abby HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Say You Believe

Tea With Shadows

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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18. Adam Bernstein is Melting All the Guns! Sep 15, 2021

Adam Bernstein writes songs with a vivid imagination. In one of his latest, I got to play Margie! Who is Margie? You’ll have to listen to find out! (One tidbit: she wants you to cut your veggies without causing them pain). We also discuss what it’s like to write musicals.

Learn more about Adam HERE

Songs in this episode:

Margie and the Marxist

I Melted All the Guns

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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17. Francois Zalacain is a Champion Curator! Sep 06, 2021

As the head of jazz and world music label Sunnyside Records, French-born Francois Zalacain has championed many young, modern New York jazz composers and songwriters. Join us for a conversation about the unlikely birth of his iconic record label, what makes a great song, and how Sunnyside has thrived for 40 years (and counting). Celebrate with us!

Learn more about Sunnyside HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Forgetful (Luciana Souza)

Sunday Drive (Deidre Rodman)

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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16. Misty Boyce is a Creatress! Sep 06, 2021

Misty Boyce is a true force of sunshine. We have fun talking about the differences between auditioning in New York and LA, the pleasures of co-writing, the curse of Genesis, and the pure joys and pains of first time motherhood. Bring the tissues for this one.

Learn more about Misty HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

luv u always

genesis (n)one

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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15. MIchael Bacon is a Spigot! Aug 23, 2021

Film composer, songwriter, and cellist Michael Bacon (yes, one of those Bacons!) contacted me a few years ago to play keyboards for a large family Christmas concert. We talk about the conception and performance of that concert, growing up in Philly with a family who prized creativity over grades, the differences between songwriting and film scoring (and arranging and orchestration), and what it’s been like for Michael to collaborate with his brother Kevin for 25 years.

Learn more about Michael HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

The Way We Love

Shade

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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The Truth About Suffering

14. Jamie Leonhart is Full of Water! Aug 16, 2021

Jamie and Deidre sit down to chat about the optimism of Mister Rogers, the surprising value of teaching over zoom, fitting in vs. belonging (thanks, Brene Brown!), the art of performing covers, and slowing down.

Learn more about Jamie HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Wash Over

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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13. Rebecca Pronsky is a Singing Forager! Aug 09, 2021

Rebecca Pronsky and I started making music together after the 2016 election to heal. Our chat covers pizza, Bach choir, our Hillary Clinton musical, Candidate Jams, dark matter, and emerging from the pandemic chrysalis.

Learn more about Rebecca HERE

Songs:

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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I'm Not Gonna Miss This Dive

12. Josh Dion is Not Gonna Miss This Drive! Aug 02, 2021

Josh Dion is one half of the band paris_monster, and a consummate drummer, keyboard player, songwriter, and vocalist. In this episode, we talk about what it's like collaborating in a respected long-term partnership, the muse that wakes us up at night, the joy and work ethic of true gentleman Steve Swallow, and writing songs in the back of a van.

Learn more about Josh HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

A Vision Complete

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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11. Jean Rohe is the Sound Within the Songness! Jul 26, 2021

On a rainy day in Brooklyn, singer and songwriter Jean Rohe (my colleague at Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project) and I sit down to talk about group music making, surviving as a woman in jazz school, justice, and how sound can transcend language.

Learn more about Jean HERE

Song featured in this episode:

Sisterly

Forget/Remember

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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10. Rob Jost is Going to Finish His Songwriting Assignment! Jul 19, 2021

Rob Jost and I met at jazz camp! Banff Centre for the Arts, to be exact. We chat about what it's like to play bass for Sesame Street and Dear Evan Hanson, and move on to discuss minidisc players (remember those?), how songwriting isn't a zero sum game, and generous friends.

Learn more about Rob HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

On the Radio

Wide Eyebrow

Circle (Deidre Rodman)

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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hope, my sometimes friend

9. Elizabeth Ziman is Not a Placebo! Jul 12, 2021

Musings on loneliness, revising lyrics (spoiler: Elizabeth’s parents are involved), the nature of performing live vs streaming, and porgs and bunnies. Elizabeth and The Catapult will astonish you.

Learn more about Elizabeth HERE

Song featured in this episode:

Pop the Placebo

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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8. Ari Hoenig is an Orgasmic Epiphany of Resolution! Jul 05, 2021

Ari Hoenig, jazz drummer extraordinaire, picked me up from the airport when I first landed in NYC-and then immediately made ME drive us around. The nerve! In this episode, we do a deep dive on the Happy Birthday song, and discuss the art of building tension, having fun on the job, and how our songs make us who are.

Learn more about Ari HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Lyric

B.Left

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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7. Edel Meade is a Champion of Brigids! (AND Patricias!) Jun 28, 2021

Kate McGarry introduced me to Edel Meade, and I am forever grateful! I immediately felt at home with her music, which evokes misty forests, working class neighborhoods, changelings, and everything in between. In this episode, we talk strong women, witch hunts, stories old and new, and the cracks where the light gets in.

Learn more about Edel HERE www.edelmeade.com

Songs featured in this episode:

Long Way To Go

Hold On

Not For This World

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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6. Lee Feldman is Fresh and Inevitable! Jun 21, 2021

Lee Feldman once wrote a song called Lee Feldman. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Join us for a deep dive into humor in songwriting, the magic of The Beatles, practicing, and becoming our most authentic selves.

Learn more about Lee HERE

Songs:

I Remember The Night

Me and My Sara Remaining

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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5. Kerri Green is a Classical Nerd! Jun 14, 2021

Kerri Green, classical pianist extraordinaire, and I met in the freshman dorm bathroom at BYU. Since then, duets have been played, marriages and births celebrated, losses grieved. In this episode, we talk about the benefits of doing bad work, rejecting perfectionism, exceptional teachers, and the miracle of music.

Learn more about Kerri HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Aria

Le Bal

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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4. Byron Isaacs is Like Metallica...But Better! Jun 07, 2021

Byron Isaacs plays bass and sings with The Lumineers. He's also one half of Tiny Language, a project born out of writer's block. In this episode, we talk about getting past that block and creating an EP together, songwriting clubs, the balance of being an artist parent, and what it's like playing with one of the most popular bands in the world.

Learn more about Byron HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Almost Gone

Gallery Girl

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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3. Roy Nathanson is a Missile of Meaning! May 31, 2021

Roy Nathanson was born on the best of all days, May 17th. (Disclaimer: this is also Deidre's birthday.) In this episode, the birthday twins talk about their long history playing together in NYC. Also on the docket: the soul in a voice, the truth in the notes, and how the moment of the sound is all about the listening.

Learn more about Roy HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Complicated Day

Neurotransmitters

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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It Happens All the Time in Heaven

2. Kate McGarry is a Freaking Joy! May 24, 2021

I met Kate McGarry years ago, an angel in NYC, somewhere singing at a club. She captivated me! She ended up singing with a big band of mine, and I’d come see her collaborations and marvel at how pure her voice sounded. I hope this conversation about, among other things, the relationship between poetry and music, delights you as much as it delighted me!

Learn more about Kate HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Losing Strategy Number 4

I Carry Your Heart

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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1. Blake Lewis is My American Idol! May 17, 2021

Blake Lewis finds the Songs Inside (and outside of) American Idol, where he was the runner up in 2007. Deidre grew up a child of the seventies in Idaho; Blake, an eighties child, hails from Washington. They share the same mother, a love for the geography and air of the northwest United States, and a shared passion for all things music. Deidre and Blake learned of each other when Deidre was searching for her birth roots. On this episode, they discuss their reactions to discovering their sibling connection. They also, for the first time, talk about his time on American Idol. (Spoiler alert; it was EPIC).

Learn more about Blake HERE

Songs featured in this episode:

Trouble

Written in Stars

Full episode notes, workshops, and more at www.thesonginside.me

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