In this deeply interesting episode, I’m joined by Julie from Luminous Voices, a professional choir based in Canada that’s been quietly reshaping its work by collaborating with First Nations composers and singers.

What started as an outdoor music project during COVID has become an ongoing journey into shared musical storytelling — one that honours Indigenous languages like Cree, explores traditional singing techniques such as vocables, and centres connection, slowness, and care

In this episode, we talk about:

• Singing in Cree and why language carries memory and healing

• The meaning of vocables — non-word syllables full of cultural significance

• What it means to begin with listening and relationship before performance

• How music helps bridge generations, especially in schools

• The story behind the song Ogawimaski — a love letter to Mother Earth

• Julie’s personal moment walking the land while singing — and feeling the past ripple through her

• How non-Indigenous allies can respectfully begin their own learning journey

• Why music might be the gentlest path toward reconciliation and cultural connection

Julie shares how this work has not only changed how they perform, but how they gather, listen, and walk alongside communities with deep roots on the land. We also talk about the personal impact — what it feels like to sing to Mother Earth, and how humility and love are at the heart of this ongoing journey.

If you're curious about how music can support reconciliation, or if you’ve ever felt like a song can teach you more than a textbook — this conversation is a beautiful place to begin.

Whether you're a musician, an introvert curious about culture, or someone wanting to explore a more heart-led path to connection, I hope this episode gives you something to hold and reflect on.

Acknowledgement:

This episode includes conversation around First Nations music and cultural collaboration.

I respectfully acknowledge the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land where I live and create. I honour their deep connection to land, song, and story — and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I also acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples of Canada — including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis — whose music, language, and cultural knowledge are shared in this episode through the lived experience of my guest.

=====================

Connect with Julie HERE:

=====================

www.parentmentornow.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/luminousvoices

Instagram: @parent.mentor.now

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-freedman-smith/

=====================

Here are ways to connect, support and work with me at Living on the B Side:

=====================

🎙️ For becoming a possible guest on my podcast, register your interest here: https://forms.gle/XLyXrwzt9jZ5S4Hp6

🎙️ For collaborations and other inquiries, please go to: https://livingonthebside.com/contact-us/

=====================

Connect with me on social media!

=====================

Website: ➡️www.livingonthebside.com

FB page ➡️ www.facebook.com/livingonthebside

IG➡️ www.instagram.com/livingonthebside/

In this rich and energetic episode, I am joined by the multi-passionate and deeply intuitive Blanca—massage therapist, holistic life coach, Zumba instructor, dancer, and certified canine massage therapist. With decades of experience in the healing arts, Blanca shares how music has always been her silent co-therapist—whether she's working with trauma survivors, veterans, or even dogs.

Together, we dive into:

• How music shapes the emotional landscape of a massage session

• Why silence can be just as therapeutic as sound

• Navigating energy exchange as a practitioner—and how music supports that

• The darker misconceptions about massage and the importance of boundaries

• Using specific playlists for dogs during canine massage

• The personal story that brought Blanca to a powerful emotional reckoning

From spa music to salsa, from trauma to trust, this conversation will inspire you to reflect on how deeply music moves through our bodies, memories, and healing journeys.

=====================

Connect with Blanca HERE:

=====================

https://www.woundedhealer.us/

https://www.instagram.com/woundedhealer.blancae

https://www.facebook.com/Woundedhealer1965

https://www.linkedin.com/in/blanca-e-rodriguez-58b20490/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVUGRv67OHed7yLIKOkdUVg

=====================

Connect with me on social media!

=====================

Website: ➡️www.livingonthebside.com

FB page ➡️ www.facebook.com/livingonthebside

IG➡️ www.instagram.com/livingonthebside/

What happens when life throws you curveball after curveball—grief, heartbreak, depression, loss of identity—and somehow, you’re still here?

In this moving episode, I sit down with Christian singer-songwriter Jay Davids, whose life reads like a roadmap of trials, but whose voice carries the weight of healing. Jay opens up about the personal storms he’s weathered: losing his father as a teen, going through a painful divorce, surviving financial collapse, and walking through seasons of deep emotional darkness. But at every turn, one thing remained—a song. A melody. A whisper of hope.

We talk about how music became his lifeline, even when he walked away from it. We explore the moments he wanted to give up—and the one song that helped him hang on. That song, "It Was You All Along," written in the midst of his lowest point, has now become a source of comfort to others walking through their own valleys. And in many ways, it’s the heartbeat of this conversation.

✨ In this episode, we explore:

• How grief and faith intertwine in Jay’s songwriting

• The difference between masking pain and truly healing it

• Why music can feel like a faithful friend when nothing else makes sense

• What “success” really means when you’re rebuilding from rock bottom

• The unseen power of sharing your story—even when it still hurts

This is an episode about what it means to start again. Not with everything neatly resolved, but with honesty, grace, and music as your anchor.

If you’re in a season of transition, emotional exhaustion, or quiet rebuilding—this one’s for you. Come as you are. There’s space here for all of it.

Listen now and let this conversation wrap around you like a warm, familiar song.

=====================

Connect with Jay HERE:

=====================

jaydavids.com

https://facebook.com/jaydavidsmusic

https://www.youtube.com/@jaydavidsmusic

https://instagram.com/jaydavidsmusic

https://twitter.com/jaydavidsmusic

https://www.tiktok.com/@jay_davids

About Jay:

On Long Island, where musical legends like Billy Joel had set the bar high, a kid named Jay discovered his passion. Growing up in a Christian household, worship was a way of life. The atmosphere of his home resonated with a chorus of melodies. After all, dinner table sing-alongs and impromptu guitar sessions were the norm, interweaving bluegrass, gospel, and praise tunes. This haven of warmth and unconventionality embraced “adopted” family members, overflowed with love, and nurtured faith.

Jay’s heart is dedicated to restoration, and his prayers echo with the hopes of bridging divides between fathers and children. His journey is a tapestry woven with threads of pain and triumph, loss and redemption, all intricately bound by faith and resilience.

With raw honesty, Jay’s message touches the heart. He combines hard-earned experiences with catchy hooks, delivering profound truths and finding peace in the Comforter of broken souls to communicate emotions through song that words alone struggle to convey. Jay’s musical style seamlessly blends the rough edges of classic and southern rock, the irresistible groove of R&B and funk, and the nuanced melodies reminiscent of the piano men who’ve left an indelible mark on generations. All of this is grounded in his faith and in the musical foundation of Contemporary Christian music that has surrounded him his entire life.

Jay serves as the Worship & Creative Director at Morning Star Fellowship in Quakertown and Pennsburg, PA.

=====================

Connect with me on social media!

=====================

Website: ➡️www.livingonthebside.com

FB page ➡️ www.facebook.com/livingonthebside

IG➡️ www.instagram.com/livingonthebside/

What happens when music becomes more than entertainment — when it turns into a tool for presence, healing, and human connection?

In this episode of Living on the B Side, I sit down with Joanne and Justin of Silvermouse, a genre-defying music duo weaving together psychedelic soundscapes, improvisation, and brainwave entrainment to create something truly unique. Their performances, often held in community gardens or tucked-away natural spaces, are not just gigs — they’re experiences. Invitations to come home to yourself.

We explore:

• How their journey began through raves, jam bands, and creative curiosity

• Their partnership with the Monroe Institute, a leader in audio consciousness research

• The science and soul behind brainwave entrainment and how it subtly shifts states of mind

• Why setting — the natural world, the people, the intention — matters just as much as the sound

• And how music can be both meditative and freeing, especially for those who struggle to “quiet the mind”

This is not about fixing anyone. It’s about creating space — through sound, presence, and deep listening — for something gentle and real to emerge.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by meditation or longed for a more intuitive path to mindfulness and connection, this conversation might just offer the soft doorway in you’ve been waiting for.

🎧 Tune in and allow yourself to be surprised by what music can really do.

➡️ Read about more inspiring, powerful podcast guest stories in my FREE download ➡️ https://bit.ly/8TopPodcastStories

About Silvermouse:

Blending live multi-instrumentals with electronic soundscapes and subtle brainwave entrainment, Silvermouse creates immersive, genre-defying experiences they call Future Folk. With grounding bass, soaring synths, and instruments like violin, mandolin, and flute, their music invites listeners into a spacious, trance-like journey — whether in fields, forests, or unconventional venues. Active since 2008, the duo’s sound is both earthy and otherworldly, designed to shift states of consciousness and expand presence.

https://silvermouselive.com

https://facebook.com/silvemouselive

https://instagram.com/silvermouselive

https://www.youtube.com/@silvermousemusic

=====================

Subscribe and listen to the Living on the B Side Podcast HERE:

=====================

👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livingonthebside

👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/living-on-the-b-side/id1548622108

👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ajiDp7FzS6FbWn3odD2Ri

=====================

Here are ways to connect, support and work with me at Living on the B Side:

=====================

🎙️ For becoming a possible guest on my podcast, register your interest here: https://forms.gle/XLyXrwzt9jZ5S4Hp6

🎙️ For collaborations and other inquiries, please go to: https://livingonthebside.com/contact-us/

🎙️ Help Keep the Podcast Going! https://ko-fi.com/livingonthebside

=====================

Connect with me on social media!

=====================

Website: ➡️www.livingonthebside.com

FB page ➡️ www.facebook.com/livingonthebside

IG➡️ www.instagram.com/livingonthebside/

=====================

#LivingontheBSide #powerofmusic #musicpodcast

=====================

About this interview:

Living on the B Side is a music podcast that showcases the power of music through people sharing their experiences with music and its impact in their lives. Your host B(irgit) also shares information and tips around how to integrate music as a tool for self-reflection and for emotional wellbeing.

What happens when one rooftop poem leads to a global peace movement?

In this episode of Living on the B Side, I’m joined by jazz pianist and activist Rick DellaRatta to explore the powerful story behind Jazz for Peace—a musical initiative sparked by the events of 9/11.

We talk about:

• Using music mindfully to process pain and inspire purpose

• The journey from grief to global action

• Why helping those who help others can change everything

• A concert that brought Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans together on stage

This is a story about creativity, resilience, and the ripple effect one person can have when they lead with intention.

Hosted by Birgit of Living on the B Side.

🎶 Learn more about Rick DellaRatta: http://rickdellaratta.com

🎶 Learn more about Jazz for Peace: https://jazzforpeace.org
🌐 Explore more at www.livingonthebside.com
📬 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://linktr.ee/livingonthebside
📱 Follow on Instagram: @livingonthebside

Discover how music transforms the lives of seniors in this inspiring episode with Sarah Martin McConnell, founder of Music for Seniors. We explore the powerful connection between music and wellbeing, and how Sarah’s non-profit brings live music experiences to older adults across the U.S.

🎵 From her journey as a singer-songwriter to her TEDx talk and her upcoming album Love Songs to the Universe, Sarah shares stories that highlight the healing, joy, and connection music offers — especially in later life.

Whether you’re passionate about music, aging, creative arts, or personal transformation, this conversation is filled with warmth, insight, and heart.

👉 Bonus: Grab my FREE download featuring 8 powerful guest stories: https://bit.ly/8TopPodcastStories

🔗 Connect and Work with Me

🎙️ Want to be a guest? Apply here: https://forms.gle/XLyXrwzt9jZ5S4Hp6

💬 For collabs or questions: https://livingonthebside.com/contact-us/

☕ Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/livingonthebside

💫 About Sarah Martin McConnell

Sarah is the Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Music for Seniors, a non-profit bringing live music to over 30,000 older adults annually. A TEDx speaker, award-winning advocate for creative aging, and accomplished performer, Sarah’s work has been featured on PBS NewsHour’s CANVAS series.

Her new Christmas single is out now: https://bit.ly/EveryHeartGoesHome

🎶 Album Love Songs to the Universe drops in 2025!

Connect with Sarah:

🌐 Website: www.sarahmartinmcconnell.com

📱 FB: Sarah Martin McConnell

📷 Instagram: @sarah.martin.mcconnell

🎵 TikTok: @sarahmartinmcconnell

100 episodes. Five years. Countless conversations about the power of music. During this personal and honest milestone episode, I reflect on my journey with Living on the B Side—the moments that moved me (to tears even!), the struggles I faced, and the lessons I have learned along the way.

I open up about the journey between passion and promotion, why turning this podcast into a business hasn’t felt right and hasn’t taken off so far, and the exhaustion of trying to fit into the traditional podcasting mould. After much reflection, I have made a big decision: this will be my last solo episode. From here on, I will focus on 1 on 1 conversation only, which I realised is me choosing joy over pressure, connection over numbers, and the freedom to create on my own terms.

If you’ve ever wrestled with the balance between following your passion and the expectations that come with it, this episode is for you. Let’s embrace the B-Side of life—where the real magic happens. 💙

=====================

Subscribe and listen to the Living on the B Side Podcast HERE:

=====================

👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@livingonthebside

👉 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/living-on-the-b-side/id1548622108

👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ajiDp7FzS6FbWn3odD2Ri

=====================

Here are ways to connect with me at Living on the B Side:

=====================

🎙️ For becoming a possible guest on my podcast, register your interest here: https://forms.gle/XLyXrwzt9jZ5S4Hp6

🎙️ For collaborations and other inquiries, please go to: https://livingonthebside.com/contact-us/

🎙️ Support my podcast to keep the episodes flowing: https://ko-fi.com/livingonthebside

=====================

Connect with me on social media!

=====================

Website: ➡️www.livingonthebside.com

FB page ➡️ www.facebook.com/livingonthebside

IG➡️ www.instagram.com/livingonthebside/

⏰ Timecodes ⏰

0:00 Reflecting on 100 Episodes

3:13 Personal Stories and Impact of Music

6:07 Challenges and Struggles in Podcasting

11:03 Future Directions and Focus

18:02 Final Thoughts and Gratitude

=====================

#LivingontheBSide #powerofmusic #musicpodcast

=====================

About this podcast:

Living on the B Side is a music podcast that showcases the power of music through people sharing their experiences with music and its impact in their lives. Your host B(irgit) also shares information and tips around how to integrate music as a tool for self-reflection and for emotional wellbeing

Have you heard of Violeta Parra? If not, then in this episode, you will discover that she was more than a musician—she was a poet, activist, and artistic force whose songs have shaped movements, comforted souls around the world, and stood the test of time.

In this interview, I sit down with Ericka Verba, musician, historian, and author of Gracias a la Vida: The Biography of Violeta Parra, to explore Parra’s incredible life. We cover it all—from her origins in Chile to her global influence, her artistic versatility to how her music gave voice to the marginalized, and the deep emotional truths in her lyrics.

Ericka shares how she first heard of Parra’s music, her journey writing this biography, and why she believes Parra’s work is so important and continues to resonate today.

It doesn’t matter if you already know Violeta’s work or are new to her music and life—this conversation will leave a lasting impression about the transformative power of music

About Ericka:

Ericka Verba is Director and Professor of Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. Her research interests include the cultural Cold War, the role of music in social movements, and the intersection of gender and class politics in twentieth-century Latin America. She is the author of the book Thanks to Life: A Biography of Violeta Parra.

Connect with Ericka:

erickaverba.com

https://www.facebook.com/ericka.verba/

https://www.instagram.com/ericka_verba/

Purchase Ericka's book 'Thanks to life'

=====================

Here are ways to connect and work with me at Living on the B Side:

=====================

🎙️ For becoming a possible guest on my podcast, register your interest here: https://forms.gle/XLyXrwzt9jZ5S4Hp6

🎙️ Join the B Side Community on Facebook right here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/livingonbside

🎙️ For collaborations and other inquiries, please go to: https://livingonthebside.com/contact-us/

🎙️ Support my podcast to keep the episodes flowing: https://ko-fi.com/livingonthebside