The Mission Artist Podcast

Episode #12: Young Person’s Concerts with Gregory Smith

 In our last episode of season 2, we talk with Musician, composer, and arranger Greg Smith about the wide variety of music he has created and our shared enthusiasm for John Williams and Star Trek.  He also shares the story about one of his early studio contacts,  a hard-working violinist and conducting ingenue, Marin Alsop, who tasked, inspired, and commissioned Smith to create a series of Young Person's Concerts that would continue the Bernstein legacy.  

Episode #11: FACEing Mental Illness & Common Ground with Carrie Seidman

In this episode, we hear from journalist, storyteller, and advocate Carrie Seidman.  She shares her story and those she has met along the path to a better understanding of mental illness, discovering compassion, empathy, and inspiration.

Episode #10: "The Art of Teaching & Advocacy with Suzanne Lee"

Suzanne shares her remarkable story as an immigrant and educator and how that has shaped her mission to help communities come together and exercise their rights to democracy.

Episode #9: Unlocking Trauma with Andrea Blanch & Helen Neal

In this episode, we speak with Helen Neal and Andrea Blanch, co-founders of SRQStrong, a nonprofit organization that was created to promote community-wide trauma awareness. They do this through community-engaged, cost-free, and accessible education about trauma and resilience.  The long-term vision is to create a community that cares for itself with the tools given through the education and healing process.

Episode #8: Forging & Tempering with Andrew Lane

French horn player, conductor and horn craftsman Andrew Lane shares his experience as an accidental musician and his ability to adapt and flow with the challenges and changes that come with the profession

Special Episode: ”Summer of Music”

In this episode, we talk about the music and sounds that are associated with summer – a special time of year that is filled with travel, vacations, graduations, family reunions, and all sorts of transitions. 
Our guests Adam DeSorgo, Ellie Matsusaka, Danniel Anthon and Andrew Lane share their memories which include some of the “ancient ways” that we listened to music in the car before Bluetooth. This includes the tradition of mixtapes that functioned as social tokens and practical economics. Our guests also share their own playlist recommendations that we hope you will recognize, relate to and enjoy!

Episode #7: Songs of Hope with Craig Werth

In this episode, we talk with singer and songwriter Craig Werth.  Craig has worked at the University of New Hampshire as an educational program administrator, a facilitator for the Browne Center for Experiential Education, and a faculty member for UNH’s Thompson School of Applied Science. Currently, he teaches at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME) and serves as artist-in-residence and facilitator at Krempels Center – in support of people living with brain injury, designing and teaching classes in music, writing, improvisational theater and more. He is a Certified Music Practitioner through the Music for Healing and Transition Program. 
Craig has toured much of the world as a professional musician, earning a Canadian Juno Award as co-producer of a Best Album of the Year in the Folk category. He remains an active songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, bringing his passion for music into his ministry at the Nottingham Community Church.

Episode #6: Mindful Minutes & Creative Solutions with Stevey Jones

In this episode, we hear from Stevey Jones, a Sarasota-based teaching artist who is passionate about helping students learn and thrive through mindfulness and relaxation techniques. With a background as a former foster, as well as an award-winning journalist and teacher, Stevey brings a unique perspective to his work as an educator with a focus on historically excluded communities and students. In addition to this work, Stevey is the host of “Mr. Stevey Meditates,” an educational YouTube channel exploring mindfulness techniques.

Episode #5:Transitions & Transformations with Larry Haron

In this episode, therapeutic musician Larry Harron shares how a difficult employment transition led to his new role as a hospice chaplain and the important role music plays in this work.

Episode #4: Multiverse in Music with Tihda Vongkoth

We will be talking about music, culture, food, and non-profits with Tihda Vongkoth, co-founder of Modern Marimba, an organization dedicated to bringing the instrument to a broader audience through performances, education, and the pursuit of an equitable musical ecosystem by focusing, amplifying, and reclaiming the musical voices that have been unheard throughout western history.