Best Mentalhealthformusicians Podcasts (2024)

1
085 Matt Guss: This is the Final Episode and it's a Dad Talk 2:02:04

1+ y ago2:02:04

2:02:04

How to go from amateur/hobby/"not a real" musician to someone with a deep connect with making sound. Thank you to every single person who has listened to this show over the years. I'm so proud of what we've learned together. Here's to whatever comes next.

1
084 Elma Linz Kanefield: Lessons From 35 Years of Psychotherapy Exclusively for NYC Performing Artists 1:06:27

1+ y ago1:06:27

1:06:27

For over 35 years Elma Linz Kanefield has worked with performing artists as a psychotherapist and life coach and has one of the only private practices exclusively for them in the country. In 1986, she founded the Juilliard School's Counseling Service. Recently, she released her findings in Hamlet's Mirror a workbook for "reaching your performance p…

1
083 It's Not About Getting The Gig... But Here's How I Get All of Mine 36:29

1+ y ago36:29

36:29

There's a wholesome way to get meaningful, fulfilling gigs. I'm talking about the best kinds of gigs. The ones you're so excited about you'd go to even if you weren't playing. The best part is there is no networking, sitting in, or jams sessions involved. If you enjoyed this episode definitely listen to the Trumpet Mafia episode for ideas on group …

1
082 Brent Wallarab – More Than a Trombone Solo: Rediscovering Our Self Worth 52:27

1+ y ago52:27

52:27

(REPOST) Brent Wallarab – acclaimed arranger and composer – joins me to discuss walking away from the trombone, making relationships work, rediscovering his self worth, and the expectations we tend to have as musicians that lead to misery.

1
081 Bethany Robinson: Vulnerable Education, Avoiding Band Room Status Games, & Work Life Balance Woes 1:02:18

1+ y ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Bethany Robinson–award winning high school band director and bassist–on building a wholesome band room culture. She built her program from 1 to *checks notes* 6 freakin’ jazz bands: she knows her stuff! What do students think makes a good teacher? How do you stay humble and curious as an educator? How do you avoid status games in a program with 6 b…

1
080: Making Real Friendships With The Musicians You Admire & Want To Play With 30:10

1+ y ago30:10

30:10

If you've found musicians who you resonate with on the deepest level, you also know it can be intimidating to approach them. It's easy to feel unworthy of their time, attention, and friendship. These are our creative heroes after all! Why should they care about little old us? What could we possibly have to offer? If I could just practice enough the…

1
079 Frustrated You Haven't “Found Your Voice” Yet? 5 Fresh Insights To Help Recognize What Makes Your Music Sound Like YOU 38:41

2y ago38:41

38:41

5 new ideas to help navigate the age old pursuit of finding your voice. Here's a hint: finding your voice isn't a one time discover, it's a daily opportunity! Here are this episode's journal prompts: 1. Our voice is the group of musicians you associate with Are there musicians you’re trying to impress, or play with, that you don’t actually like? Ar…

1
078 Garrett Spoelhof: Why Audio Engineers & Musicians Butt Heads & How We Can Bridge That Divide 1:21:55

2y ago1:21:55

1:21:55

Garrett Spoelhof-audio engineer and touring musician with indie rock outfit Secret Mezzanine-on the complex relationship between musicians and sound engineers. We explore several strategies for fostering good will, respect, and more wholesome music making between these two interconnected communities. We also discuss Garrett's decision to drop a per…

1
077 Avoiding Holiday Break Family Fights & How to Have Meaningful Conversations Through Music Instead 35:32

2y ago35:32

35:32

How to avoid fighting with our family when they ask us things like "What do you even do with a music degree?", "How's the little music thing going?", and "Can you really make money playing music?". Being a musician can be scary for us AND the people who care about us. With a bit of prep, planning, and compassion, we can all make it through the holi…

1
076 Josh Harmon: A New Kind of Musician & Going Viral... A Smooshed Banana Situation 1:07:49

2y ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Josh Harmon–comedic drummer behind the mega-viral "Rhythms of Comedy"–on the emotional behind the scenes of being the most viewed drummer in the world. This is not an episode on how to win the social media lottery, but rather what life is like offline when you do and whether being a viral success is actually the thing we're looking for as creatives…

1
075 Jenna McSwain: Growing Organic Gigs and Folk Soul Music Magic 51:03

2y ago51:03

51:03

Jenna McSwain–singer-songwriter, pianist, mother–on gardening, allowing abundance, leaving a teaching gig to be a full time artist, getting in touch with our bodily experiences, organically grown gigs, navigating the impulse to make your bandmates happy while honoring your own desires, mom lessons.

1
074 Noah Baerman: Gratitude For Music & Dealing With Grief 1:16:39

2+ y ago1:16:39

1:16:39

Noah Baerman–pianist, composer, educator, and activist–on playing with a physical disability, being open with our challenges, performance injuries, therapy mindsets, gratitude for our time with music, dealing with grief through composition, chasing truly selfless acts, crossroad moments, and "the process of the pursuit" of enlightening experiences.…

1
073 Jamison Ross: Layers of Musical Awareness, Our Biggest Fears, and The Reason Why Records Still Matter 1:09:05

2+ y ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Jamison Ross–soul singer, drummer, and Affective Music label owner–and I share our biggest fears and dreams right now. We talk about accessing new layers of awareness, interpreting spectrums of music, gospel chops, being afraid people won't hear you, making big career moves, understanding layers of fear, the ceiling for transplants in a music scene…

1
072 Nick Finzer: A Wholesome Take on Music Business and Marketing For Musicians 1:23:19

2+ y ago1:23:19

1:23:19

Nick Finzer–trombone maestro, educator, and Outside In Music label owner–on finding and connecting with people that care about what we do and answering the big question; Why should anyone care about your music? Listen for why websites and email still definitely matter, hyphenating your career, using a media company mindset, building a hedgehog conc…

1
071 Hannah Johnson–She Enjoyed a Gig For The First Time Ever and We're Gonna Talk About It 1:15:24

2+ y ago1:15:24

1:15:24

Hannah Johnson–drummer, teacher, and a true personal pal–on being a goober, the magic of having a best friend, femininity in music schools, finding a life-changing mentor, the toxic chase of impressing jazz bros, public school substitute teaching, the art of being a good friend, teaching girls to play loud, fast, and take of space, and my Brain Bla…

1
Repost: Meagan Johnson – Alexander Technique For Musicians (Guided Exercises!) 1:10:07

2+ y ago1:10:07

1:10:07

Revisiting a must listen episode from the early days bc I'm having "one of those weeks". In NYC for the week so hmu if you wanna connect! Meagan Johnson joins Tanner Guss to discuss the Alexander Technique as a wellness practice for musicians. She breaks down what the technique is, the benefits it offers, and talks us through several exercises. Our…

1
070 Cyrille Aimée: Strategies For Finding “The Moment” When You’re Stuck In Your Head On Stage 59:22

2+ y ago59:22

59:22

Cyrille Aimée–vocal sensation and life-improviser–on how her students sound incredible and they don't know it, and strategies for getting back the moment. We talk about finding permission to stop judging ourselves, putting health before work, figuring our where "home" is as an adult, how to live a freer lifestyle but still take care of business, bu…

1
069 Gaspard Panfiloff: This Guy Plays Concerts On Top of Mountains & It's My New Favorite Thing 53:33

2+ y ago53:33

53:33

Gaspard Panfiloff–French balalaïka maestro–shares about his incredible mountaineering concert series Tournée Des Refuges. In our hike of a conversation we pass mountain energy, how to get people off our phones and into the music, turning a performance into an experience, the magic of music, building a mobile recording studio in a truck, enhancing b…

1
068 Rushad Eggleston: Musical Quests, Eternal Kazoo Solos, and the Price of Authenticity 1:30:48

2+ y ago1:30:48

1:30:48

Rushad Eggleston–sonic pioneer & cello-goblin–on spiraling out of control, embracing chaotic good, climbing trees, letting our inner jester and wizard coexist, getting out of things you don't want to do, faith formulas, exploring the void, dad speeches, making up a language, imaginary lands, different zones of consciousness, brown rainbows, and sou…

1
067 Matthew Kilby: Creating a Sustainable Creative Practice and Actually Enjoying It 1:13:05

2+ y ago1:13:05

1:13:05

Matthew Kilby–of Ep. 1 fame–is back to debrief on two years of funding his original pop music by teaching middle school percussion. We also talk about collaboration, getting the cops called on him for practicing, process over product, controlling the uncontrollable, role models, valuing discomfort, and how to tell students they don't sound good. Ou…

1
066 Sammy Miller: Starting a Band, Selfless Playing, & Bringing Generosity Back to Music 1:07:47

2+ y ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Sammy Miller–drumming bandleader of The Congregation–on turning a concept into a reality, his time at Juilliard, finding home on the instrument, what it means to be a student of the music, family bands, treating music as a service, starting a band and keeping it together, finding gigs in NYC, why your sock choice matters, and his new virtual teachi…

1
065 Quinn Sternberg: Finding Family Through Bands, Defining Merit, & Accepting Himself as “guy from small town in midwest” 56:32

2+ y ago56:32

56:32

Quinn Sternberg is a bassist and composer. He's also "guy from small town in midwest" and that's enough. We talk about finding family through bands, anime, why making records still matters, bringing purpose to lame gigs, morning routines, getting to gigs on time, asking what is merit?, the importance of $20 gigs, and trucker hats. Listen to Quinn's…

1
Mikel Patrick Avery: Song Titles, Mentorship Among Friends, and Wanting Something That Doesn’t Want You 1:12:36

2+ y ago1:12:36

1:12:36

Mikel Patrick Avery–interdisciplinary artist–on being your full self as a leader and sideperson, how he started music as a lie, artistic identity, managing how our art is received by people, escaping the shackles of tradition, and what to do when you’re interested in doing lots of different things.

1
(BONUS) René Marie: Liner Notes Round 11:16

2+ y ago11:16

11:16

Some additional thoughts on important ideas from my conversation with René Marie. Going forward, these solo "liner notes" episodes will only be available to my Patreon supporters over at patreon.com/thehappymsucians You can join our wholesome-minded musician community for as little as $3 a month!

1
064 René Marie: Starting a Career at 42–How to Follow Our Inner Note & Make Music on Our Own Terms 1:40:52

2+ y ago1:40:52

1:40:52

René Marie–Grammy nominated singer who didn't start her career until she was 42–on following our inner note, sticking it to the patriarchy, getting hit by buses, getting out of an abusive relationship, recognizing a weed from a plant (not about gardening), accepting dormant periods, performing original material, doing "the shit", and why getting yo…

1
063 What It Means to Be a Happy Musician 1:12:48

3y ago1:12:48

1:12:48

My recent interview on The Misfit Musician podcast with Bronwyn Beth! We talk about what I've changed my mind about since starting the show, what happiness means to me these days, sustainability, and the importance of having open conversations with other artists. When it comes to musician mental health two heads are way better than one.…

1
062 Richard Wolf: Music as the Bridge to Mindfulness and Playing Our Spiritual Keyboard 1:17:41

3y ago1:17:41

1:17:41

Richard Wolf–multi-platinum music producer, Emmy-Award winning composer, mindfulness teacher–helps us understand the what and why of meditation. We get into panic attacks, checking ourselves before we wreck ourselves, creating space in our lives, the notes of enlightenment, a guided meditation, zen and the art of film composing, and exploring some …

1
061 LIVE @ JEN: 40 Hopeful Chats About Enjoying The Gig (ft. Lots of New Friends) 1:15:07

3y ago1:15:07

1:15:07

Over 40 mini interviews (miniviews) with wholesome folks at the 2022 JEN conference in Dallas. I'm feeling supercharged from all these hopeful perspectives! What's something you do to enjoy the gig? What's your favorite thing about music? What makes you hopeful about the future of music? What would you do to improve jazz education? Should music be …

1
Sean Jones – (REPOST) Overcoming Fear, Embracing Resistance, and the Universal Potential of Vibration 1:06:52

3y ago1:06:52

1:06:52

Sean Jones – trumpet icon, education trailblazer, bandleader, and composer – joins me to talk practice routines, your local weather channel, getting stranded on a cruise ship, insecurity, creations of time, the ancestral pipeline, the importance of resistance, and E pluribus unum.

1
060 Kenny Werner: Becoming the Instrument, Lessons on Self-Mastery from Music to Life 1:41:41

3y ago1:41:41

1:41:41

Kenny Werner–acclaimed pianist, composer, and famed author of Effortless Mastery–is here to discuss his new book Becoming the Instrument. We talk about finding The Space, MSD (music school disease), applying musical mastery to our lives, how to let go of the need to sound good, a 20 sec meditation for fellow lazy yogis, treating music as a spiritua…

1
059 Pedro Segundo: Thanks For The Ginger Beer 59:41

3y ago59:41

59:41

Pedro Segundo–otherworldly percussionist, sound wizard, and personal role model–is back on the podcast to talk about making other people feel valued, cultivating an unbiased relationship with sound, finding "home" when living in multiple places, travel tips, civilian life, making time for yourself, and celebrating silence.…

1
058 Emily Fredrickson: Treating Music as an Adventure & Exploring the Dungeon of Trombone 2:01:51

3y ago2:01:51

2:01:51

Emily Fredrickson–trombonist, composer, arranger–opens up about dungeons & dragons saving her life, trying to quit music, working with Dee Dee Bridgewater, day jobs, the nonprofit world, therapy and depression, permission to be selfish, growing your career through genuine connections, and getting excited about our flaws.…

1
057 Angie Marianthi: Bridging the Gap Between Musicians & “Non-Musicians” 1:46:24

3y ago1:46:24

1:46:24

Angie Marianthi–multi-instrumentalist and director of the adult education program Boise Music Lessons–joins me to talk about gate-keeping, teaching adults who don’t think they can play music, busking, finding your place in the music world, the Boise music scene, and if getting “serious” about music actually works.…

1
056 Brendan Keller-Tuberg: How Honoring Your Listening Journey Unlocks Your True Musical Potential 1:30:56

3y ago1:30:56

1:30:56

Brendan Keller-Tuberg–Australian bassist and composer–gives us all permission to honor the music we enjoy. We chat about rage composing, promoting collectivism, Bladerunner 2049, what makes music valuable, My Chemical Romance, "art" vs "popular" music, vulnerability, and (of course) institutional arts education. In Spite of It All is Brendan's new …

1
055 Monica Shriver: Imposter Syndrome, Diversity Without Tokenism, & Becoming a Brave Musician 2:00:23

3y ago2:00:23

2:00:23

Monica Shriver–woodwindist, educator, visual artist, and host of Brave Musician–joins me to talk about creating communities where everyone feels they belong, leading our friends towards a deeper connection with music, imposter syndrome, dropping out of school, challenges faced by doublers, and removing systemic obstacles imposed on female musicians…

1
054 Coty Raven Morris: Leaning Into the Dissonance, Vibrations of Doubt, & Advice on Middle/High School Education 1:28:22

3y ago1:28:22

1:28:22

Coty Raven Morris–speaker, educator, artist, conductor, and founder of Being Human Together–joins me to talk about judgement, being afraid of singing, proudly celebrating ourselves, houselessness, having uncomfortable conversations in the classroom, and accessing the healing power of the voice. This episode's theme music is a field recording of The…

1
053 Brad Webb: Say No To Linear Thinking, Yes To Getting Punched In The Face 1:28:37

3y ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Brad Webb – drummer, composer, bandleader, multi-hobbyest– on avoiding linear thinking, potentially quitting music, not having music as his main source of income, surfing, defining quality, exploring other interests, experiencing balance, and getting punched in the face by music. Brad was the first person to accept me in the New Orleans music commu…

1
052 Shea Pierre: Food Tips for Busy Musicians, Mindful Eating, & Ida Updates 1:11:03

3y ago1:11:03

1:11:03

Shea Pierre is a Louisiana native, husband, father, pianist, and community activist. We talk about diet tips for busy musicians, low vibrational cats, experiencing taste on a deeper level, and what comes next us him post-Ida. He and his community lost their homes and most of their material possessions to Hurricane Ida. In need of support, but wanti…

1
051: The 6 Episodes I Hope All Y'all Listen To 1:10:51

3y ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Whether you're new to the show, missed one of these, or just want another round of wholesome goodness, these are the episodes I believe best capture the essence of The Happy Musicians. Thanks Matt Kilby, Meagan Johnson, Mikel Patrick Avery, Brent Wallarab, Roxy Coss, and Sean Jones for your wisdom and support!…

1
050 Super Wholesome 50th Episode Montage Celebration 57:13

3y ago57:13

57:13

My favorite moments from every episode all in one place. This is a serious dose of human, wholesome connection, and it’s guaranteed to brighten your day. Thank you all for listening and being on this journey with me!

1
049 Susanna Klein: Reimagining the Classical Music Practice Model 1:22:50

3+ y ago1:22:50

1:22:50

Susanna Klein – violinist, professor, researcher – shares practice psychology tips for truly enjoying our time in the shed. We talk about performance injuries, confidence vs bravery, playing through pain, journaling, recording yourself, performance anxiety, enjoying the journey, utilizing technology, and reimagining the classical musician education…

1
048 Michael Spiro: Learning Music From a Community You Don't Belong To 2:18:53

3+ y ago2:18:53

2:18:53

Michael Spiro – world class conga player and renowned educator of Afro-Caribbean musics – shares insights from nearly 40 years of annual trips to Cuba. We chat about developing meaningful relationships with mentors, how to learn new instruments, the Vietnam War, trance states, sneaking in/out of Cuba, compensation for knowledge, conga drums, eating…

1
047 Q/A With Tanner: The Most Important Lessons I've Learned So Far 1:28:21

3+ y ago1:28:21

1:28:21

Ian Molinaro-Thompson – fellow drummer and dear friend – interviews me for this one. We talk about why I don't think musicians are special, and how that's actually a freeing idea. I also share my current hot takes on Dungeons and Dragons, finding your voice, the role of artists in the digital era, musical ownership, and insights from my meditation …

1
046 Joshua Starkman: Bringing the Social to Social Media 1:00:48

3+ y ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Joshua Starkman – the "Have a Great Day" guitarist – and I talk about having a great day, humanings, insomnia, the reality of making music in a capitalist society, the role of music in our communities, managing our relationships with social media, desiring things you can't have, confessions, therapy, how whack hyper-individuality is, and (because i…

1
045 Trumpet Mafia: The Power of Group Practice and Liminal Spaces 57:13

3+ y ago57:13

57:13

I'm joined by Trumpet Mafia members Branden Lewis, Ashlin Parker, John Michael Bradford, Emily Mikesell, Aurélien Barnes, Amina Scott, Michelle Welchons, and Jonathan Bauer. We talk about the power of social learning, becoming a leader, lineage, liminal spaces, cultivating community, and what happens behind Wendy's.…

1
044 Drew Tucker: How to Inspire Curiosity and the Danger of Music-Ed Degrees 1:54:57

3+ y ago1:54:57

1:54:57

Drew Tucker – vibraphone maven, social entrepreneur, and educator – joins me to talk about marching band education, taking the untraditional route, questions we should be asking our students, the elements of "good technique", weighing aesthetics vs musicality, booking your own gigs, learning to be yourself, and vibraphone players probs.…

1
043 Katie Ernst - The Chicago Music Scene, Serving the Music, and Blind Sloppy Trust 1:03:02

3+ y ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Katie Ernst – bassist, vocalist, composer, and educator – and I talk about fancy crayons, her social media detox, when to stop saying yes, growing your orbit, making room for what you want, how everyone can sing, networking, and accessing deeper musical conversation. Katie is a renowned member of the Chicago music community and has received widespr…

1
042 Sean Jones - Overcoming Fear, Embracing Resistance, and the Universal Potential of Vibration 1:08:09

3+ y ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Sean Jones – trumpet icon, education trailblazer, bandleader, and composer – joins me to talk practice routines, your local weather channel, getting stranded on a cruise ship, insecurity, creations of time, the ancestral pipeline, the importance of resistance, and E pluribus unum.

1
041 Melanie Shore – Trauma, Grief, Toxic-Positivity, and Specific Vagueness 57:50

3+ y ago57:50

57:50

Melanie Shore – pianist, composer, MD, and podcaster – functions in two worlds. She's the happiest person in the room and the poster child for trauma and grief. She shares not only how to function with trauma and grief, but how to best support people living in that reality. We also talk about the stress of learning to improvise at a later age, sync…

1
040 Abby Lannan – Letting Go of "Serious Music" and Other Healthy Listening Habits 1:06:18

3+ y ago1:06:18

1:06:18

Abby Lannan aka the Goofy Euph, and I talk through healthy listening habits and what it means to play "serious music". Abby is a classically-trained euphonium player with a masters degree, and she plays video game music. Why are musicians so hung up on what art counts as "serious"? How do university programs contribute to this obsession? How can we…

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