The DR & the DJ

Humans Need Winterizing, too.

This week on the podcast, John and Amy spoke about how to winterize.  We winterize our house, car or even a boat but what about us? The winter season has high expectations of being warm, delightful, and filled with joy shared with the people we love.  But a lot of the time it is cold, depressing, dark and filled with some bullsh*t from people we’re supposed to love. This is then followed by New Year’s where we seem to try to reinvent ourselves with the pressure and expectation that a “new year, new you” will fix everything so why even try right now. This creates even more expectations that often don’t go as planned. Anxiety and depression rise, and we lose that feeling of joy or even the ability to see the good all around us. WTF? Maybe there is another way. Take care of yourself with more sleep, sex, cooking, hiding, moving, creating and writing “Stop Doing” lists. Listen in.You are not alone,John, Amy and the whole DR & DJ Team*Reminder: Nothing in this podcast is a substitute for medical or professional advice. Please always consult your doctor.

Reflecting on Death & Music

This week on the podcast, John and Amy spoke about their experiences and the history of putting together their event Death & Music. The event navigates the delicate intersection of life, loss, and the emotive power of music. Bagpipes, bands, a string quartet and more made the night special and something John and Amy look forward to every year. John and Amy reflect on their own history of death and grieving, and Amy shares  some recommendations on how to try and cope and move forward when dealing with a passing. She mentions trying to "look up" and remember that death is a shared experience. You truly are not alone. Amy also reminds folks that if you know someone who is dealing with a recent loss, it's great to comfort them but maybe hold on to your own stories of trauma for the first 6 months or so as to not overwhelm them.You are not alone,John, Amy and the whole DR & DJ Team*Reminder: Nothing in this podcast is a substitute for medical or professional advice. Please always consult your doctor.

Connections Happen When You Put Yourself Out There, A Conversation with Nabil Ayers

This week on the podcast, John and Amy spoke with Nabil Ayers, writer, drummer, President of the Beggars Group US, and long time friend and colleague of both Amy and John. Listen to this powerful conversation where the three of them discuss Nabil’s book “My Life In the Sunshine” and his complicated and inspiring search for, and discovery of, family.   The three of them reminisce about their time in Seattle in the music scene, moving here around the same time and bands and experiences that shaped their lives. Nabil’s journey is an incredibly rich and emotional story not to mention the fact he started one of the best record stores in Seattle, caught the Journey tour in Utah and stood as a child side stage while the Smiths played. Once again on the podcast, a deep connection was discovered live when Amy asks about Nabil’s time in Salt Lake City and the discovery that, not only did they both attend the same high school, but that he was in the same graduating class with her late sister, and at some point, she was on the back of a snowmobile with him.   Thank you for listening. You are Not Alone,John, Amy and the whole DR & DJ Team*Reminder: Nothing in this podcast is a substitute for medical or professional advice. Please always consult your doctor.

Live from Desert Hot Springs with Musican Jen Wood

We recorded the podcast live from our retreat in Desert Hot Springs on Friday, so fun! Listen in to an awesome conversation with musician Jen Wood!. Jen talks about her recent tour as a singer with the Postal Service, plus her ongoing struggles to be "seen" while taking artistic and personal risks. We also get to hear a sneak peek of one of Jen's songs from her new album that hasn't been released yet.You can watch on YouTube or listen to the audio-only wherever you get your pods.Be sure to follow us on The DR & THE DJ Instagram.This is a very special episode from our retreat!You are not alone,John, Amy and the whole DR & DJ Team*Reminder: Nothing in this podcast is a substitute for medical or professional advice. Please always consult your doctor.

Conversation with Shaina Shepherd

It’s Friday the 13th. Perfect Day for Luck.  This week on the podcast, John and Amy spoke with Seattle Musician, Shaina Shepherd. Listen to this powerful conversation where the 3 of them figure out a connection between them all that changed all their lives. Thank you Shaina for your generosity and sharing your voice and your story with us. We didn't just talk with Shaina, we discovered with her.Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as front-woman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy to being a soloist with the classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres.