Ambients

Check back with us for Season Two this fall. Thanks! Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast produced by Michael Robinson Music by Dana Wachs: "Preetyland" https://vorhees.bandcamp.com/album/preetyland Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Eric Nakamura is a co-founder of Giant Robot, an influential zine that spotlighted Asian popular culture and had an incredibly wide audience from 1994-2011. That publication morphed into Giant Robot retail stores in LA, New York and San Francisco selling eclectic products and art, again spotlighting Japanese culture. Definitely go to giantrobot.com and purchase every single thing on the website;) This conversation with Eric Nakamura was recorded several months ago so I want to apologize for the delay in its' release, as I had to focus on other business ventures. I’m honored to have this episode with Eric as the finale for Season 1 and I think you will appreciate his creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and the importance of Giant Robot throughout the US.  Topics covered: Giant Robot formation, early creation of the zine and its' distribution, Japanese culture, immigrant parents, foray into the restaurant industry, indie bands, interviews he did on Giant Robot, My Bloody Valentine (we REALLY nerded-out here), The Swirlies, Gwar interview (funny), Giant robot stores openings and closing (pandemic), post-its project (democratization of local art with famous and unknown artists), among so much more... www.GiantRobot.com Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast produced by Michael Robinson Music by Dana Wachs: "Preetyland" https://vorhees.bandcamp.com/album/preetyland Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Dana Wachs is an audio engineer, musician and sound designer based in New York City. She has toured with and done sound for acts like St Vincent, Jon Hopkins, Deer Hunter, MGMT and many many more. Her solo work, beautifully moving ambient music, has been featured in films, live dance performances, and many other formats and settings. Think: very interesting improvisational ambient experiences. She will be performing (Vorhees) July 6, 2021 and September 2021 for Oda, an incredibly well-produced online music performance platform. You should become a member! Dana’s music: VorheesMusic.com  Vorhees.bandcamp.com Live performance: Oda.co Topics covered:  Growing up in New Jersey, getting lost in the timeless Pine Barrens, punk rock and goth music, MTV 120 minutes, Lenape Native Americans, Brian Eno, Beyoncé, L’Rain, sparse but powerful pop music, current hip hop, nervous before doing any sound engineering for concerts, self taught audio engineer, Stanley Kubrick, film as inspiration, favorite shows she has done FOH sound for, touring for YEARS, Iceland, Primavera Festival, doing sound for Deer Hunter and more, overcoming attitude from stagehands and major equipment issues, process in creating her own music (Vorhees), equipment she uses, amazing Eventide pedal, forthcoming coming Vorhees performances, sound engineer work in Central Park this summer… Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast produced by Michael Robinson Music by Dana Wachs: "Preetyland" https://vorhees.bandcamp.com/album/preetyland Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Matt Evans is a Brooklyn-based artist, composer and percussionist. We hear about his background and training as a musician, his process in producing and performing music by himself and in collaboration with others, and a whole lot more. I also appreciated his more recent forays into teaching and actively supporting equity within the music community. The music you will hear throughout this episode is from Matt’s record called a Touchless, that comes out June 25, 2021. This incredibly tender and vulnerable recording was written after the tragic loss of his girlfriend who died in a biking accident. As I edited this episode I was struck with how sensitive, intelligent and insightful Matt is. I think you’ll really enjoy this conversation with Matt Evans. www.ThisIsMattEvans.com Purchase "Touchless" here: https://thisismattevans.bandcamp.com  Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Ted Passon is the co-founder of All Ages Productions, a Philly-based creative and video production company that has been doing incredible documentary, commercial, and music video work for over a decade. Philly DA is their most recent production that is out on PBS that Ted co-directed with Yoni Brooks and is a fascinating eight-part series that follows the polarizing Larry Krasner from campaigning for, and then winning, office of district attorney. Ted gives us very interesting insight into the mechanics of producing the documentary, and we discuss activism, progressivism and other words with the suffix “-ism”. You also hear about the formation of All Ages, it’s challenges and successes, and the employees that Ted has such deep appreciation for.  AllAgesProductions.com Must watch: Philly DA on PBS Worn Stories on Netflix Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

This episode features Kurt Heasley, frontman and songwriter behind the great indie band from the 90’s and beyond, Lily’s. In my perspective, the ever-shifting sound of the band was a manifestation of Kurt's ever-shifting and deeply creative mind, a mind I find insightful and endearing. Lilys records were undeniably part of the soundtrack in my formative years, and as I went on to be a part of the Philly music scene, the band I was in (Aspera ad Astra) released a split EP with Lilys and played several shows with them as well. Good memories.  We talk about the mechanics of Lilys, people who worked with Kurt, personal growth in relationships and health, among many other things. You will get to know Kurt from his formative years in school systems that literally couldn't handle his talents, mind, affinities. You’ll also hear about Kurt‘s most recent work creating music for the network television show, Lodge 49. This is one of my favorite conversations on Ambients thus far, and I think you’re gonna love it as well. Welcome to Kurt's vast mind. Find "In the Presence of Nothing", "A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns", "Eccsame the Photon Band", "Better Can't Make Your Life Better" and more anywhere you buy digital downloads. I recommend the vinyl versions of these albums as well.  New Lilys song on TV show Lodge 49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTsdtOMunzc Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Nancy Sun is a fantastic stage, television and film  actor, and now a coach for all types of creatives, from designers to writers, visual, vocal, and installation artists she guides them through their own unique process. We follow her trajectory from being a first generation immigrant to being educated at the University of Pennsylvania and into recruiting work with financial institutions. It was here that Nancy took a major turn and moved to Costa Rica and became a yoga instructor, essentially resetting her vision of her authentic vocation. The conglomeration of these skills and experience is the foundation of Nancy’s successful coaching business. Oh and, she has been on set with some amazing actors like Morgan Freeman and you will hear all about it! Enjoy! NancySun.com Coaching: PossibleThings.co @thenancysun Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Claire Rousay is an experimental ambient music artist living in San Antonio, Texas. Her captivating new release is called 'a softer focus' and we discuss the process and production of this impressive recording, her most poignant work to date. We delve into Claire’s identity as a queer woman and the exploration of relationships and self-perception within her immersive and beautifully strange music that creates a mindful, otherworldly and intimate experience for listeners. We also talk a lot about family, gender identification, and power dynamics in society and relationships. If you want to simply hear about 'a softer focus' skip halfway through this episode. If you realllllly want to get to know Claire Rousay, hang around for the whole episode (suggested). Enjoy! clairerousay.com Buy 'a softer focus' on Bandcamp: https://clairerousay.bandcamp.com/album/a-softer-focus Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Max Smith is a three-time All-American track athlete who ran on fantastic Providence College teams in the early 2000s. If you’ve ever seen the video of Alan Webb breaking the American mile record in 2007, the guy who finished in second place? Max Smith. I couldn’t get Alan Webb on the podcast so...Max Smith it is. Max runs us through his trajectory as an elite track runner from his early days in his home country of New Zealand where he started running to lose weight to be more fit for rugby. We hear about epic runs in the mountains of New Zealand where the local running community supported and guided him to eventually being recruited by Providence College, making the difficult transition to an entirely new country, and his long process becoming a US citizen. This conversation with Max Smith is about allowing our skill sets to be drastically improved by surrounding ourselves with hard working, talented people, including our partners when raising children in this strange modern world. Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Go inside the mind of a beginner meditator and follow the progression of the practice through this series. This second episode is part of a series that takes a comedic look at the "monkey mind" that occurs when we sit, do nothing, and utilize our body (the breath) to come more fully into the moment (reality). I will have a diverse group of voiceover actors during this series so it may be better relatable to different listeners. I hope you have a laugh from this content because this constant noise in my mind was definitely my experience while learning meditation. Note: I have taught meditation in Philadelphia, NYC, and San Antonio and pass along the technique of sitting meditation to help people free themselves from their minds. I was taught this skill by Won Buddhists many years ago and it has been a steady practice in my life. Meditation and mindfulness (purposeful action) has given me more mental discipline and the ability to better observe my ego being a jerk so I don't attach to low energy, and instead, maintain focus on high energy, health and joy that surrounds. Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance with podcasting. lkreslins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Ricardo Rivera, founder and creative director of Klip Collective, based in Philadelphia, gives us the nitty-gritty about his process creating immersive light and art experiences for live music, companies like Nike and Target, and tons of other astounding installations. I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing several works by Klip, and I'm not exaggerating, they were two of the most memorably beautiful experiences in my life. Ricardo takes us through the trajectory of his career and company, being a VJ in the 90’s at raves, to live visuals for bands, to the advertising world, and into being one of the most sought-after experience creators for companies and organizations in the US. We also talk about balancing work and parenting, his upbringing in Delaware with two immigrant parents, and nerd out on music and movies. Buckle up for this conversation, because Ricardo is what is known as "high energy". Enjoy!  www.klip.tv Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com Thanks to Justin Geller for technical audio support. contact: jgeller@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Umbrellywelly is a women-owned umbrella/wine bag company based in NYC that has solved the problem of what to do....when you come in from out of the rain. They are an advertiser on this podcast, but more so, a great example of how to design, patent, manufacture and take a product to market. In this conversation with the CEO, Nina Boone, and the designer Aston Penn, we hear about the entire process of how Umbrellywelly has launched their first two products, and we have a few laughs as well. I enjoyed this conversation Nina and Aston and I think you will too. www.umbrellywelly.com.  Get 10% off with code: Ambients Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Jessica Hundley has and continues to do it all. A writer, director, producer, author, editor, consultant, connector and enthusiast. We hear about her interviews with David Lynch and Yoko Ono, as well as, beautiful music videos she has directed and books she has edited (including one about cooking in Marfa, TX!) Her current creative output is a book series about the world of esoterica, published by Taschen. The first book about Tarot cards, the second about Astrology. These publications include mind-bendingly (is that a word?) beautiful art work that you should definitely check out (and buy). We discuss witchcraft as an alternative to the patriarchal major religions, as well as, working with feminine and masculine energies in creative spaces. Since I LOVE Marfa and Joshua Tree National Park, we talk about experiences we have had there and how the hum of the desert transforms us. This is a conversation with an incredibly gifted creative person. Enjoy! Find all info here: www.JessicaHundley.com (Disclaimer: when the 12 steps are discussed on Ambients, I and my guests are in no way speaking FOR those fellowships. Instead, we are merely discussing how the program, community support of the fellowships, and working the steps with a sponsor have been indispensable in our recoveries and mental health.) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast  FB: Ambients Podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Jesse Elder is an action philosopher, time piercer, author, mentor and entrepreneur who lives in Austin, TX. He curates plans for clients to awaken from stagnation and into possibilities that were not previously perceived, from making a living with dignity to helping people to love themselves and others more deeply. Jesse is ultra-focused with a novel upbringing, martial arts discipline, and great success as a business owner. Level up with Jesse Elder. www.jesseelder.com (Disclaimer: when the 12 steps are discussed on Ambients, I and my guests are in no way speaking FOR those fellowships. Instead, we are merely discussing how the program, community support of the fellowships, and working the steps with a sponsor have been indispensable in our recoveries and mental health.) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

John is a "human Yoda" to many people, myself included. If you ever wanted to hear someone talk to their mentor openly and intimately, you should listen to this episode of Ambients Anon-a-Friends. John is a wealth of wisdom and experience, has served as a mentor to me for over a decade, and is single-handedly the most influential person in my life. We discuss relationships, transmuting anger, A Course in Miracles and much more. Oh, and as always, some laughs.  (Disclaimer: when the 12 steps are discussed on Ambients, I and my guests are in no way speaking FOR those fellowships. Instead, we are merely discussing how the program, community support of the fellowships, and working the steps with a sponsor have been indispensable in our recoveries and mental health.) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for marketing, production, and booking guidance. contact: LKreslins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

If you want to hear an ULTIMATE transformation from an acid head as a teen, into deep heroin addiction, all the while owning businesses and parenting five children, then this is the episode for you. The one thing from this conversation that really stands out to me is the escape acid afforded John and his friends from the trauma of going to a Catholic school with a suspected pedophile vice principal and truly abusive nun teachers. And.. you couldn't talk to anyone about your fears around this because you would be reprimanded or worse. Scary stuff. That said, the resounding message here is John's experience accepting help in 12 step programs and therapy, as well as, from a federal probation officer. We laughed our asses off in this transparent conversation because we both recognize that we are not our story, and instead, something much greater that is revealed to us if we stay open. Enjoy! Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast (Disclaimer: When the 12 steps are discussed on Ambients, my guests and I are in no way speaking FOR those fellowships. Instead, we are merely discussing how the program, community support of the fellowships, and working the steps with a sponsor have been indispensable in our recoveries and mental health.) Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Raj Haldar is the New York Times best-selling children's author and hip-hop artist known as Lushlife. He walks us through the production and release of the newest Lushlife EP Redamancy (March 12) and we discuss the artists he has worked and toured with. Raj also demystifies the process of writing and publishing his best-seller P for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever and gives some scoop on his book Word Travelers: The Mystery of the Taj Mahal Treasure later this year. We talk about how parenting completely changes our focus and attention, and the challenges and joys of being a father. Enjoy! Raj's work and links: PlateauVision.com linker.ee/lush.vida Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Intro/outro: "Toynbee Suite" by Lushlife Interludes: " Redamancy" by Lushlife Podcast produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Justin Gellar is a Philly-based producer of music, podcasts, and works on many other collaborative endeavors. JG is a leukemia survivor, a father, and one of the most optimistic people I have ever met. This episode is a wide-ranging conversation about putting in the hard work to create excellent music, juggling parenting and career, and the process of overcoming serious illness. I must add, observing him being a father to his children has been a model and inspiration for me, something that I am very grateful for. You will also hear about pop music, Dua Lipa, Cocteau Twins, Klip Collective, and more...  Enjoy! Links to JG's work:  justingellar.com remote-places.com r3dlttr.com  moqita.com Thank you to Ambients sponsor: Umbrellywelly.com (Women-owned, luxury umbrella/wine/accessory bags line) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Emily Flake is a cartoonist, humorist, illustrator, performer, and mother. Her work can be found in The New Yorker, The New York Times, MAD, and many other publications. Her most recent book, That was Awkward: The Art and Etiquette of the Awkward Hug, was unfortunately released right before the pandemic hit, a time when no one was hugging or even interested in a book about hugging. (silence) Regardless, I highly recommend you check that book out for a good laugh (plus, awkwardly long hugs will be making a comeback once things open up). We talk about Emily's process of creating and publishing books, as well as, share some fears and hopes about parenting, especially during a pandemic. If you don't like laughing, I recommend finding another Ambients episode to listen to because this session was so fun. Thanks Emily.  Find her work here: EmilyFlake.com Thank you to Ambients sponsor: Umbrellywelly.com (Women-owned, luxury umbrella/wine/accessory bags line) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message

Naomieh Jovin is a photographer and rising star out of Philadelphia with works displayed in The African American Museum in Philadelphia, as well as, writing articles in The Nation and Buzzfeed. She takes us through her journey as a first generation Haitian-American, losing her parents at the age of ten, and navigating the process of college admissions and financial resourcing, among other traumatic challenges. Naomieh tells us about her process of creating photos that not only represent her Haitian culture and family, but also speak to the vulnerability of the human form and the dislocation and shame some feel about their bodies. This is an episode about significant challenges and pain being transmuted through photography and giving a voice to Haitian culture and personal struggles. Keep an eye out for her photobook "GWO FANM" coming out soon! Support by purchasing a print of her work: linker.ee/njovn  artsy.net/artist/noamieh-j Instagram: @njovn Thank you to Ambients sponsor: Umbrellywelly.com (Women-owned, luxury umbrella/wine/accessory bags line) Please support Ambients: www.patreon.com/ambients Venmo/Cashapp: AmbientsPodcast Paypal: ambientspodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @ambients.podcast Podcast and music produced by Michael Robinson Big thanks to the listeners financially supporting this podcast. It means a lot to me and my family. Thanks to Laris Kreslins for his guidance with podcasting. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ambients/message