Beyond + Back Podcast

Jerry Harrison may be best known for being in two extremely influential bands: The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads. He’s had great success as a music producer with bands including Live, No Doubt, and most recently Le Butcherettes, He’s been involved in film, start-ups, he’s in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, he’s maintained a creative career for over 50 years and he has a knack for knowing where to invest his energy.  In this conversation we talk about self-doubt, family bonds, ghosts, art & academia, and collaborating with large personalities. I want to thank Jerry for how present and forthcoming he was in this conversation, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Tunde Adebimpe is probably best known as the singer of TV on the Radio, one of my favorite bands. The band was founded by Tunde and Dave Sitek in 2001 in Brooklyn and they’ve released 5 studio albums, but as we’ll find out Tunde didn’t intend to become the lead singer of a successful band. He actually went to New York for film school, but while he was there he explored all avenues to his creativity. Now, In addition to being a musician, he’s also a working actor, often collaborates with other artists, and when we spoke, he was preparing for his first solo art show at a gallery in LA.  In this conversation, we talk about giving ourselves permission to do more than one thing, how art can save lives, and how we can use our creative outlets to help process the difficulties and trauma we experience. We talked in Tunde’s garage studio, so do enjoy the sound of passing cars in the background.

Aimee Mann began her career as a musician in the 1980s. Early on, she had a breakout hit, “Voices Carry” with her band Til Tuesday, but that experience has not defined her career. Since then she has created a body of work as a solo artist, winning Grammy Awards and nominations for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her work on the soundtrack to the movie Magnolia. She maintains her own signature voice and songwriting style, yet she’s adept at collaborations and transitions, including a successful move from a major record label to releasing work on her own independent label for over a decade. In this episode we talk about talent versus hard work, her approach to songwriting, and why Aimee thinks it’s important to say yes. We spoke in Aimee’s home in Los Angeles, California.

Billie Joe Armstrong is best known for his band Green Day. In the past three decades since they formed in the East Bay of California, they released a dozen studio albums, sold over 85 million records worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Having accomplished more than enough for a lifetime already, what I find fascinating about Billie Joe is that he continues to push himself creatively, adapting their album American Idiot into a Broadway show, acting in films, and just this year he debuted a new band, The Longshot, releasing new music and touring small clubs.  In this episode, we talk about the solitude needed to nurture a creative seed versus the fortitude needed to share it with the world, the benefits of encouraging others, and what we can accomplish when we keep pushing past our comfort zones.  I spoke with Billie Joe in his studio in Oakland, California.

Paul Frank is best known as the co-founder of Paul Frank Industries, a multi-million dollar company that found success in the mid-1990s with his iconic characters like Julius the Monkey. In this first of two episodes with Paul Frank, we talk about the beginnings of his creativity, what influenced his early work, where Julius the monkey came from and the fun and the function that comes from just figuring things out yourself.

In part one of this conversation (Episode 11), we talked about the beginning of Paul’s creative journey and the initial inspiration behind some of the characters you know and love, including the beloved Julius the monkey. In this episode we talk about how those original characters grew into Paul Frank Industries, the hugely successful company that he co-founded with two partners. Paul eventually left that company and then returned, then parted again ... and we’ll talk about how his relationship continues to evolve as the company changes hands. We also discuss his creative process around building the brand, from designing award-winning trade show booths to thinking of every element of design and experience within a retail store. And we talk about how making art can save you.

Storyteller Evelyn Ngugi, aka Evelyn From The Internets, and I spoke at her co-working space in Austin, Texas. Evelyn is a writer, speaker, performer and humorist with 10 years of videos she's shared on her YouTube channel, garnering more than 13 million views and 200K subscribers (Beyoncé is a fan!). We talked about the pros and cons of sharing your work online, how to separate yourself from your work, how learning new skills is a good way to combat inevitable self-doubt, and how we're comforted to know that all creatives grapple with similar questions.

For this episode, we’re turning the tables on my usual format, where I interview interesting creatives, because Kathleen Shannon is actually interviewing me. Allow me to explain. I’m a big fan of Kathleen’s podcast Being Boss. It’s a podcast for creative entrepreneurs that she hosts with her business bestie Emily Thompson.  Since 2015 they’ve recorded over 200 episodes, racked up nearly 8 million downloads and published a book together. At the end of last year, I was listening to the Being Boss podcast (episode #207) and Kathleen mentioned she wanted to go on someone else’s podcast to interview them. I really wanted to have a conversation about creativity with Kathleen so I wrote to her and much to my surprise, she wrote me back and said she’d do it! Then my nervousness set in. At that point I’d never been interviewed before, and I had also never recorded an interview remotely. I didn’t know how I would pull it off, but I didn’t want to turn down the opportunity. Despite my nervousness, I figured it out and went for it.  Kathleen is an experienced and generous interviewer, she’s an artist herself, and she’s not afraid to go beyond, so I feel fortunate to have had this conversation with her.

Jakob Dylan has been playing music for more than 30 years, touring all over the world and winning two Grammys with his band The Wallflowers. He’s released two solo albums and most recently he collaborated with his longtime manager Andrew Slater on the film and project called Echo in the Canyon, which celebrates the music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-1960s. In the film, Jakob performs with contemporary musicians and interviews musical legends from the era.   Something I often like to ask my guests is how creativity was viewed in their home growing up. Well we’re not going to discuss that in this interview. Jakob’s been surrounded by music his entire life, we all know his father as one of the greatest living songwriters, but that doesn’t make it any easier when you sit down alone to write a song. In this conversation Jakob and I talk a lot about his songwriting process, where inspiration comes from, and why we both think it’s important to share encouragement with others. Jakob and I spoke somewhere in the basement of ACL Live at the Moody Theater, located off of Willie Nelson Blvd in Austin TX.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 8/24/19 // TRT 55:55 In this episode, we go beyond and back with intuitive and animal communicator, DANIELLE MACKINNON.Danielle MacKinnon is an intuitive, animal communicator, and coach. She has two published books, Soul Contracts and Animal Lessons, and she teaches animal communication classes at the Omega Institute, the Kripalu Center, and also through her own online school.Today we’re hearing from someone whose creative work might go beyond your comfort zone of what’s real or acceptable. Many of us are open to the idea of psychics or intuitives, but the notion that humans can communicate intuitively with animals is still pretty controversial. We’re not here to talk extensively about what it means to be an animal communicator, or even to change your mind if it’s closed to the idea of it. I’m here to talk about creativity in its many forms, and what it feels like when you follow a path that the mainstream doesn’t really believe in. Danielle grew up in an environment that didn’t support her intuitive gifts, but she has come to embrace them fully and she now teaches others how to awaken their own.In this episode we talk about what it’s like when you take a left turn that the people around you don’t necessarily support, what it feels like to tune into your own intuition, and how staying present in our creative process allows it to flow and change in ways that benefit us. I personally have benefitted from exploring ideas that are beyond own my beliefs and comprehension, I find it stimulating to my inspiration, so please open your ears and your mind and I hope you enjoy listening.Danielle and I spoke over our laptops from Austin to Boston, so please forgive any strange audio quality.I hope this episode expands and inspires you to tap into your own inner knowing and venture bravely toward whatever it is that makes your heart sing. EPISODE SPONSOR:MISTER BEEVER’S PAWS & CLAWSThis episode is brought to you by Mister Beever’s Paws & Claws. Since 2004 they’ve offered animal & human training from highly trusted professionals. Services include phone or video consultations for people who have new puppies or need help with behavioral training; and if you're in the Oakland area they offer a wide range of in-person services as well. Mister Beever's is bonded, licensed, background checked and insured for your protection and is a proud LGBTQ business. Thank you Mister Beever’s for supporting the Beyond + Back podcast!LINKSDanielle MacKinnon’s website Danielle’s books: Soul Contracts and Animal LessonsDanielle’s courses and upcoming eventsSupport the BEYOND + BACK PODCAST VIA PATREONSONGS IN THIS EPISODEAll songs by David Garza. Visit his website at www.davidgarza.com to purchase original art & music.

Davíd Garza hails from Texas and has been making music and writing songs since the late 1980s. These days he collaborates with all sorts of artists; you might find him making music with Fiona Apple or scoring the recent Beto O’Rourke documentary. He just released a book called Lost Rhyme which pairs 100 of his paintings alongside 100 poems, or song lyrics, he’s written. Davíd has generously allowed me to use several pieces of his music for this podcast, including the theme song. I never see David without a pad of paper or an instrument, he has a creative practice that’s a daily devotion. So in true Davíd fashion, he had a guitar and a book nearby so you’ll hear some readings and some strumming during this episode. We talked in his brother’s kitchen in Austin, Texas.

Kelli Mayo is 19 years old and Peyton Bighorse is 23, but their band Skating Polly has already existed for 10 years. During that time they’ve played hundreds of live shows, toured with many of their heroes and released five studio recordings. They are a family band, Peyton’s mom and Kelli’s dad are a couple, and a few years ago they added their brother Kurtis Mayo on drums.  This is a story of two women who were encouraged to be creative and express themselves, from a very young age. If you’re a parent, this episode shows the importance of sharing your love for creativity with your kids, and to encourage theirs. We all were kids once, so if you didn’t get encouraged as a child, this could be a vicarious pleasure to hear about Kelli and Peyton’s experience.

TRT 1:00:56 // ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 10/5/19In this episode, we go beyond and back with speaker, teacher and podcast host Luke Storey. Luke Storey wears many hats. He’s a former Hollywood Celebrity Fashion Stylist, motivational speaker, kundalini yoga and meditation teacher and world-class biohacker. He is the creator and host of The Life Stylist Podcast, a show for people who are dedicated to living life at the highest level of human potential. Prior to this, Luke was a musician for 15 years and then co-founded School of Style, a fashion school for aspiring stylists.In this episode we talk about what it’s like to create your own life, to re-create it when the time comes, and the challenges that presents when people want you to explain just exactly what it is that you do. Luke is an eternal seeker and approaches life with an open-minded curiosity that is key when you want to engage your creativity. We talk about authenticity, vulnerability and influence. This episode is for you if you’re on your path, but you don’t know exactly how to explain that path to everyone else around you.SONGS IN THIS EPISODE:“Unraveling” by Stewboss from the album Pilgrims and Runaways [featuring Luke Storey on bass]LINKS:Luke Storey’s website & InstagramDavíd Garza’s websiteSUPPORT BEYOND + BACK PODCAST VIA PATREONTHEME MUSIC BY DAVÍD GARZA  

Bonus episode: I'm sharing the full episode of my appearance on the This Song podcast hosted by KUTX's Elizabeth McQueen. This was my second interview ever and the first one I did before a live audience. Naturally, I was nervous. In my introduction to this bonus episode, I talk through how I managed my nervousness so I could show up for the live interview. Then I share the full episode where I talk about my love for Jeff Buckley, followed by Elizabeth McQueen interviewing me about my journey to see myself as an artist and  why I started the Beyond + Back podcast. Thank you Elizabeth McQueen for your permission to allow me to share this episode.

LAND studio & gallery is a unique nonprofit day habilitation program that teaches life skills through the modality of art. Located in Brooklyn, NY, LAND was founded in 2005 by the League Education and Treatment Center (LETC) and serves as both studio and gallery for 16 adult artists with developmental disabilities. In February 2019, I visited LAND and spoke with six of the artists there, and then I visited the co-founder Matthew Bede Murphy at his home in Brooklyn.