MikeyPod

Christopher Willits makes his third visit to the podcast today and I could not be more thrilled to share this with you. We talk about his latest album, Gravity, the concept of gravity, creativity, mortality, process, and the beauty in allowing things to be exactly what they are. This is another brilliant connection with a beautiful artist who has been a tremendous inspirational force in my own work, and I am so proud to share this conversation with you! Read more: MikeyPod 351 | Musician Christopher Willits Christopher Willits is a pioneering composer, guitarist, producer, visual artist, and co-founder & director of Envelop, a nonprofit with a mission to inspire and connect through immersive listening. As one of the core artists on the Ghostly International label since the early 2000s, Willits has navigated the field of contemporary ambient music with curiosity and ambition, realizing an acclaimed body of work that includes collaborative projects with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Taylor Deupree, and Tycho. This driven-yet-gentle devotion to deep listening led him to the forefront of cutting-edge spatial audio production, a nascent technology at the time of his 2017 album Horizon, now adopted widely across the music industry. Willits operates with the conviction that music can create physical and emotional space for us to slow down and feel the present moment, which is the central intention of his 2022 album Gravity, his most personal and refined to date. Timestamps:00:00 Intro07:38 Christopher Willits – Crescent12:28 Conversations with Christopher Willits54:47 Christopher Willits – Regrowth62:46 Outro Follow Christopher Willits on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Christopher previously appeared on MikeyPod 120 (2008) and MikeyPod 228 (2017). Here’s my (in progress) Apple Music playlist featuring every song that has been played on the podcast. Some of the songs aren’t available on Apple Music, so not every song, but you get the idea. This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will feature an extended conversation with today’s guest, Christopher Willits!  Learn more right here! I’d love to have you in the Discord server! Think of it as a big chatroom where we can talk about whatever without the typical social media negativity and randos harshing our vibe. There are a few of us active in there right now and we’ve been discussing gratitude, podcast guests, and a bunch of other stuff. If you want to join the community, you can join right here. I’m happy to help if you need it! Thinking of starting your own podcast? Do it! I’m a big fan of Blubrry for podcast hosting! You can get a month free hosting, or get your $100 Blubrry Pro Hosting fee waived when you use the code “mikeypod” at checkout!

Composer-Performer Sugar Vendil joins me this week to talk about one of her latest projects, hyPerFormFest, a one day (for now) eclectic, boundary-free music gathering featuring Jerome Gillespie, Chloe Alexandra Thompson, and Jasmine Hearn. We listen to some of her magnificent music, chat about our changing relationships with social media as artists, and so much more. I can’t wait for you to hear this! We didn’t get to talk about the opening piece during our conversation, which was a big miss on my part! Here’s what Sugar had to say about the piece: “May We Know Our Own Strength” is a short film by Jih-E Peng based on Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya’s installation of the same name. Sugar Vendil’s score, featuring her own voice, electronics, piano, and violinist Hajnal Pivnick, recalls feelings of horror and pain, the act of healing through ritual, and collective mourning and strength. Sugar Vendil is a composer, pianist, choreographer, and interdisciplinary artist based in Lenapehoking, known as Brooklyn. She started her artistic life as a classical pianist, and after spending nearly a decade searching for her own voice, her practice evolved into writing her own music and making performances that integrate sound, movement, and unconventional approaches to the piano. She writes and performs her own solo music for piano and electronics and has a keyboard/synth duo, Vanity Project, with composer Trevor Gureckis. Vendil is a proud second generation Filipinx American. Vendil was awarded a 2021 MAPFund grant to support Antonym: the opposite of nostalgia. Recent commissions include Chamber Music America to write a new work for her ensemble, The Nouveau Classical Project, which she founded in 2008; ETHEL’s Homebaked 2019 for Unsacred Geometry, and ACF | Create to write for Box Not Found.  Vendil loves dancing and collaborating with other makers. In September 2020, she danced in choreographer Emily Johnson/CATALYST’s The Ways We Love and The Ways We Love Better – Monumental Movement Toward Being Future Being(s) at Socrates Sculpture Park. She is part of Johnson’s Being Future Being, which showed at Bates Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow in July 2021, and will premiere at The Broad Stage in 2022. Vendil took part in premiering composer-saxophonist Darius Jones’ LawNOrder at The Stone and Being Caged in ICE (2018) at Roulette. She has performed at a variety of venues, ranging from arts spaces such as BAM Fisher, Dixon Place, Knockdown Center’s Ready Room, MoMa PS1, National Sawdust, the New School’s Glassbox Theater, The Stone, and Roulette; to galleries and spaces such as The Development Gallery, Milk Studios, and Spring Studios. Music:May We Know Our Own Strength – Sugar VendilBPM – Sugar Vendil Links:Follow Sugar Vendil on Instagram.Subscribe to Sugar Vendil’s Newsletter.Here’s Sugar Vendil’s blog entry about social media that I can’t seem to shut up about.Sugar Vendil’s 2016 appearance on MikeyPod Live! with Eve Beglarian. Photo of Sugar Vendil by Julia Comita.Follow hyPerFormFest on Instagram.Get tickets for hyPerForm 1 on Sept 25th This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will feature a long lost episode of a short lived podcast I created in 2005 for the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. In cleaning up old files, I found this tucked away and am excited to share it with Patrons! Learn more right here! As I mentioned in the outro, I am just getting rolling on opening up a Discord server. If you want to join the community, you can join right here. Discord is a totally free place where we can chat about the show and anything else. I’ll be adding more there, but for now, feel free to start up a convo in the MikeyPod or general channels. Thinking of starting your own podcast? Do it! I’m a big fan of Blubrry for podcast hosting! You can get a month free hosting, or get your $100 Blubrry Pro Hosting fee waived when you use the code “mikeypod” at checkout!

Author and musician Lotus Kay returns to the podcast today to talk about her new book, Friends Lift You Up, and the original music she has been releasing since her last visit on the podcast. I loved chatting with her about the book and how writing it helped with her own healing and in navigating autism. Lotus Kay is such a magnificent example of the way that younger folks are truly leading the us all into a more compassionate and just world. Lotus Kay is a singer songwriter and children’s book author who has been published in magazines such as  Kindness Magazine, Thrive Global, New Leaves, Light of Consciousness, and Voya: Voice of Youth Advocates and more. She is a recipient of a grant from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program for her work creating an educational campaign called Bears for Cares to educate youth about endangered species and wildlife. She is the author of the children’s books More Beautiful Than Heaven,  Billie the Octopus, A Thanksgiving for the Turkeys and Jenny the Chimpanzee, and Friends Lift You Up , all in collaboration with Bears for Cares to educate kids on the importance and beauty of nature, and motivate them to help protect the Earth, and create a kinder, more compassionate world. She is twenty one years old. Music:Trust Fall – Lotus Kay Follow Lotus Kay on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.Follow Bears for Cares on Facebook and Instagram. This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will feature a special recording from Lotus Kay.  Learn more right here! As I mentioned in the intro, I am just getting rolling on opening up a Discord server. If you want to join the community, you can join right here. Discord is basically a totally free place where we can chat about the show and anything else. I’ll be adding more there, but for now, feel free to start up a convo in the MikeyPod or general channels. Thinking of starting your own podcast? Do it! I’m a big fan of Blubrry for podcast hosting! You can get a month free hosting, or get your $100 Blubrry Pro Hosting fee waived when you use the code “mikeypod” at checkout!

Ayun Halliday‘s book, Creative, Not Famous: The Small Potato Manifesto, landed in my lap at precisely the right moment in time. I invited her on the podcast to discuss the book, and how she strives to embrace the act of being creative just for creativity’s sake. I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation which just happens to coincide with what feels like the end of a loooooong creative slump I have been going through myself. Enjoy! Ayun Halliday is the Chief Primatologist of the long running, award-winning zine, The East Village Inky, and co-founder of Theater of the Apes. She is the author of seven books, including No Touch Monkey! And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late and the Zinester’s Guide to NYC. She created and hosts the ongoing Off-Off-Broadway variety show, Necromancers of the Public Domain. Ayun lives in New York City with her husband, playwright Greg Kotis. Music: Radium Girls – Charming Disaster Follow Ayun Halliday on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTubeFollow Charming Disaster on Instagram, Bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, YouTube, and TwitterBe sure to check out the other magnificent titles at Microcosm! This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! Learn more right here!

On this episode of the podcast I chat with author, filmmaker, producer and serial entrepreneur, Miasha. We talk about her book turned film Secret Society, her inspiration, the importance of telling LGBTQIA+ stories through a BIPOC lens, and so much more. MIASHA is a real powerhouse, and was an absolute pleasure to talk with! Don’t miss this episode, and of course check out the book and the film. A west Philadelphia native, Miasha had ambitions of being a writer at the early age of 9, after her dad secretly submitted one of her poems to the Daily News and it was published. With newfound confidence received from seeing her name in print, she wrote constantly, from poetry to plays and scripts. In high school, she was known by her classmates for having juicy stories in her composition books.  Inspired by the keynote speaker at her college graduation, fellow Philadelphian and author Karen E. Quinones Miller, Miasha wrote her first novel, debut novel Secret Society, straight out of college and ultimately landed Miasha a historic book deal, seldom given to first time authors.  Miasha became a force in the publishing industry – from having book release parties hosted by celebrities like Kevin Hart, to Simon and Schuster designating June “Miasha Month,” during which no other urban lit author could release a book, to being the first urban lit author given a spread in ELLE magazine. And she’s doing it again with film and television. Following the overwhelming success of her first feature,Secret Society, she is adopting her other novels into movies and a TV series. The highly anticipated Secret Society Part 2 is scheduled to be released in April under Miasha Productions, her namesake production company established in 2020. When Miasha is not writing and producing, she has her hands full as a wife of almost 19 years, a mom of two teenage sons, and a bonafide businesswoman. She is the owner of Rich Boys Brand, Inc., a brand offering trending children’s clothing and accessories online, as well as Hype Frenchie, a breeding program for Exotic French Bulldogs. Miasha is also an investor of Kings Kloth, an online store for Muslim Menswear. A serial entrepreneur who is steadfast on building generational wealth and instilling financial freedom into her children and other youth, she is the founder of Rich Boys Academy, a free online course that teaches kids how to start and grow a successful business. Her ultimate goals include growing her portfolio of investment properties and giving back to underprivileged and marginalized communities worldwide. She lives in Miami with her family. For more on Miasha, please visit: www.MIASHA.com Follow MIASHA on Instagram (@miashaofficial and @secretsocietymovie), Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Watch Secret Society on Amazon Prime. Do it! This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! Learn more right hhttps://www.patreon.com/michaelharrenere!

Harpist Emily Levin joins me on the podcast to discuss GroundWork(s), a commissioning project she founded to celebrate living composers through harp-centric commissions, and to pay homage to the communities that first supported them through hometown premieres. I chatted with Emily just days before the premiere of her first commission and felt so inspired by her passion for music and her instrument.  Emily Levin is the Principal Harpist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Bronze Medal Winner of the 9th USA International Harp Competition. Her playing has been praised for its “communicative, emotionally intense expression” (Jerusalem Post) and the Herald Times commended her “technical wizardry and artistic intuition.” As a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber collaborator, Levin brings the harp to the forefront of a diverse musical spectrum, using her instrument to connect with all audiences. Emily works extensively with established and emerging composers alike, which led to commendation from the New York Times for “singing well and playing beautifully.” The 2021-2022 season marks Emily’s launch of GroundWork(s), a initiative commissioning fifty American composers, one from each state, for harp-centric works. Each piece will premiere in the composer’s hometown, celebrating the communities that first supported them. Current projects include a solo harp piece by Michael Ippolito, and chamber works by Reena Esmail, Aaron Holloway Nahum, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate. Follow Emily Levin on Facebook and Instagram Music: Le Rossignol – Emily Levin This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! Learn more right here!

Ian Lockwood joins me this week to chat about his latest EP, Not Like Other Girls, his brilliant videos, the idea of building art through community, and just so much more. Ian provides some great insight here about the way he creates his work and I can’t wait for you hear it! Ian Lockwood is a Brooklyn-based comedian and pop musician originally from Los Angeles. He  is the co-host of the stand-up show ‘Hot Teens’ at the Brooklyn Comedy Collective and has had recurring appearances on the Earwolf podcast Earwolf Presents. The Nasty EP released in 2020 introduced the comedy-pop style that has become Lockwood’s signature in the Brooklyn alt scene. He is an alumni of NYU Tisch’s Experimental Theatre Wing, Second City’s Comedy Studies, UCB, and The Annoyance Theatre NY, and his shows have been covered in Time Out, Brokelyn, Brooklyn Paper, Bedford+Bowery, and more.Follow Ian Lockwood on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Music:No Homo – Ian LockwoodYour Dad – Ian LockwoodNot Like Other Girls – Ian Lockwood This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will be an extended conversation with Ian Lockwood! Learn more right here!

On this week’s glorious episode of the podcast, I chat with author and musician Maria Konnor about her book, Girl Shock: I dressed as a girl for Halloween but then she took over my life! Maria’s story of how she escaped her “straight dude suburban life” is a fascinating one, and I found her journey toward self-acceptance especially enlightening and inspiring. We give a listen to some of Maria’s music as well with three selections from her fantastic Quarantine Sessions. Check out this episode at once and then run to your nearest bookstore to demand a copy of her book! After escaping from her straight dude suburban life, Maria Konner has been exploring and rocking San Francisco for over 15 years. She performs around the West Coast with her rock band Not From Jersey! playing guitar and singing mostly original songs, as well as playing jazz/blues/cabaret piano at various venues. She is also a host for her YouTube channel underthegoldengate.com where she performs, interviews guests (and some celebrities too!), and films various events around town interviewing people. ‘I don’t have the gay gene, I have the trans and kink genes”, she always jokes when it comes to music and pop culture. ”At the piano bar, they expect Judy Garland, but I give them Sweet Transvestite, Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath. I know almost nothing about TV shows, but I love talking about the Cosmos.” Maria started off as an engineer in the Tech world, then migrated into corporate management consulting, financial planning, marketing/sales, and lobbying. She wrote several books about green energy and corporate politics, but got so fed up with that world, she then decided to try something completely different and live a trans life in San Francisco. Originally from Jersey just outside NYC, Maria’s love of the unique, authentic, and colorful started with her spending a large part of her childhood in East Africa, The Middle East, and London/UK, and filling her alone time with books and science documentaries. After coming back to the US, she didn’t rediscover that self until she landed in San Francisco. She was so fascinated and inspired by the people she met, she created a web channel to capture it via hundreds of videos. Maria has a biomedical and electrical engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University where she was the valedictorian. She has a love-hate relationship with education as she believes that too much education distracts one from where the real education is, down in the trenches. Maria considers herself to be a musician above all else. ”Good music can’t lie. I don’t listen to words all that much. I care about the vibe more than anything else―it doesn’t matter if it’s a song, a conversation, a business, or a group effort”. These days Maria is working from home as a cybersecurity architect, making videos of her new piano music, writing down ideas for her next book and plotting to bring underground entertainment back to San Francisco after the COVID-19 crisis. Follow Maria Konnor on Facebook, Instagram, Medium, and YouTube Music:Tinder and Grindr – Maria KonnorSandos! – Maria KonnorConfused by Your Charm – Maria Konnor This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! Learn more right here! If you’d like to check out my other work, order The Animal Book directly from me here and get a free download of the album!Here are some other places you can find the book.Find The Animal Album streaming and downloadable here.Here’s some more merch and music. Thinking of starting your own podcast? Do it! I’m a big fan of Blubrry for podcast distribution and you can get a month free by signing up for Blubrry Podcast Hosting here, or Blubrry Professional Statistics here. Use the code “mikeypod” with your order for your free month!