Discover The Road with Kirk Wheeler

Peter Jesperson is currently the VP of Catalog Production at New West Records, but in the time I have known him he has escaped any nomenclature I would normally use for someone at a record label. The titles that come to mind are more like Chief Fanatic, or Senior Evangelist. To me these better describe the way he talks the work he does. Quite simply put, he is the most passionate music person I know. He exudes a wild enthusiasm and has a reverence for music as a craft unlike anyone else I have ever met. Peter is widely known as one of the founders of the Minneapolis based label Twin/Tone Records that was in operation from 1977 until 1994. The label was home to such acts as The Replacements, Babes in Toyland, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and many more. Over the life of the label over 300 records by more than 100 acts were released. In the late 90’s Peter joined New West Records, home to artists such as  Kris Kristofferson, Delbert McClinton, John Hiatt and Dwight Yoakam. In his role in A&R he signed artists like Vic Chesnutt, Chuck Prophet and Ben Lee. I had the good fortune of meeting Peter when our boys began to attend the same school. We hit it off thanks to a shared love of music and literature and I could talk to him for hours about both. A moment that inspired me greatly happened in 2012 when former Replacements guitar player Slim Dunlap had a stroke and Peter put together the non-profit Songs For Slim. This project brought together an incredible array of talent including, The Replacements, Jeff Tweedy, Joe Henry, Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, and more –  all to help Slim and his family. I am really excited to have Peter on the Podcast for two reasons. He has been able to sustain a deep passion for music over the course of a lifetime and continues to share that passion with others. He has an amazing ability to remember not only records, but dates and musicians and producers and can roll them into a tale worth listening to. IN THIS EPISODE: What it was like to grow up in Minneapolis How refusing to cut his hair landed him a job Why he started his first record label The record store where it all began The moment he heard The Replacements first demo DISCOVERY QUOTE: “If this makes me feel so good, we should try to spread this around” [Tweet This] CONNECT WITH PETER: PETER’S BEST OF WRITINGS | TWINTONE | NEW WEST RECORDS |SONGS FOR SLIM

Peter Jesperson is currently the VP of Catalog Production at New West Records, but in the time I have known him he has escaped any nomenclature I would normally use for someone at a record label. The titles that come to mind are more like Chief Fanatic, or Senior Evangelist. To me these better describe the way he talks the work he does. Quite simply put, he is the most passionate music person I know. He exudes a wild enthusiasm and has a reverence for music as a craft unlike anyone else I have ever met. Peter is widely known as one of the founders of the Minneapolis based label Twin/Tone Records that was in operation from 1977 until 1994. The label was home to such acts as The Replacements, Babes in Toyland, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and many more. Over the life of the label over 300 records by more than 100 acts were released. In the late 90’s Peter joined New West Records, home to artists such as  Kris Kristofferson, Delbert McClinton, John Hiatt and Dwight Yoakam. In his role in A&R he signed artists like Vic Chesnutt, Chuck Prophet and Ben Lee. I had the good fortune of meeting Peter when our boys began to attend the same school. We hit it off thanks to a shared love of music and literature and I could talk to him for hours about both. A moment that inspired me greatly happened in 2012 when former Replacements guitar player Slim Dunlap had a stroke and Peter put together the non-profit Songs For Slim. This project brought together an incredible array of talent including, The Replacements, Jeff Tweedy, Joe Henry, Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, and more –  all to help Slim and his family. I am really excited to have Peter on the Podcast for two reasons. He has been able to sustain a deep passion for music over the course of a lifetime and continues to share that passion with others. He has an amazing ability to remember not only records, but dates and musicians and producers and can roll them into a tale worth listening to. IN THIS EPISODE: What it was like to grow up in Minneapolis How refusing to cut his hair landed him a job Why he started his first record label The record store where it all began The moment he heard The Replacements first demo DISCOVERY QUOTE: “If this makes me feel so good, we should try to spread this around” [Tweet This] CONNECT WITH PETER: PETER’S BEST OF WRITINGS | TWINTONE | NEW WEST RECORDS |SONGS FOR SLIM

Erik Hemingway is a father, sailor, traveler, and host of The Family Adventure Podcast where he shares the adventures of families who travel together and live to tell the tale. The story of his own family’s incredible journey has been featured on NBC, FOX and Today. In this episode we talk about the spark that led to a journey of 16,000 miles aboard a 37 foot Dean catamaran with his family of seven (and in the middle of the adventure becoming eight), and why putting the deposit down on the boat was even scarier than crossing the Atlantic Ocean in it. I am really excited to have Erik on the Podcast for two reasons. He has been on an adventure that many people dream about but never find the time or courage to take. He has also started a podcast to share the stories of other families like his who are traveling on their own terms. IN THIS EPISODE: Why he was ready for an adventure What it was like to drop anchor for the first time Homeschooling on the boat Sailing up a river in Africa and seeing hippos in the wild How he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 16 days with his family of 8 Why he started his podcast DISCOVERY QUOTE: “If we can do what we’ve done, then absolutely anybody can do it. ” [Tweet This] CONNECT WITH ERIK: FAMILYADVENTUREPODCAST.COM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER |INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tripp Lanier is a men’s coach and host of the The New Man Podcast, where has has interviewed experts and authors from a wide range of fields including Laird Hamilton, Tim Ferris, Steven Pressfield, and more.  The tagline of the show is “Beyond the macho jerk and the new age wimp” and it takes off from there. In his podcast he explores many ideas on what it means to be man it today’s world. I met Tripp through a previous guest on the show, Alex Gibson and was really glad to be able to speak with him about how he started his podcast, some of the techniques he uses with his coaching clients, and what it means for him to serve others. In this conversation we explore ideas like attachment, projections, appreciation, and small actions we can take to expand our emotional worlds. Late in the interview he catches me on a math problem about frogs that I have been mulling over ever since (my answer, not the frogs….) I am really excited to have Tripp on the Podcast for two reasons. He has the ability to clearly articulate common problems that we all face as humans and ways that we can see them with new eyes. As he says in this interview, he makes his living asking questions and I am inspired by his curiosity. IN THIS EPISODE: How he started his podcast Why he left a thriving business to become a coach Why he meditates How he lets his own curiosity drive the show he creates The story of the four frogs DISCOVERY QUOTE: “I’m amazed at how much more powerful I feel, when I allow myself to have a dynamic emotional life.” [Tweet This] CONNECT WITH TRIPP: TRIPPLANIER.COM | THENEWMANPODCAST.COM | FACEBOOK  | TWITTER

Brandon Schott is a musician and songwriter who has seen his share of challenges and triumphs and yet through it all he finds a way to retain a deep and abiding love for what a song can mean for the soul. From the inspiration of fatherhood to the shadow of cancer, he has consistently turned to music to express his experiences. Over the last decade he has produced 4 records and is now readying his new EP, Verdugo Park, for release on October 7th, as well as a forthcoming full length for 2015. He has hosted his own show about songwriting called Defying Gravity and founded the non-profit Artists For Healing. The creative juices are constantly flowing and in everything he does honesty, compassion and authenticity seem to shine through effortlessly. One of my favorite moments in the show is when Brandon talks about how he imagines mixtapes while he meditates and then puts them together later to see if they hold up (spoiler….they seem to). This is a sure sign of someone who has a huge catalog of songs running around their head. I am really excited to have Brandon on the Podcast for two reasons. His journey of surviving cancer has been an inspiration for me ever since we sat down and spoke about it earlier this summer. He continues to cultivate a sense of joy and wonder about the art of songwriting that is unlike anyone else I know. IN THIS EPISODE: Growing up in England as the son of two Air Force parents Meeting the love of his life in High School Why he decided to move to Los Angeles What it was like to learn he had cancer and become a survivor Why he only shaved half of his head The woman that saved his life (and he doesn’t even know her name) Who his favorite songwriters are what he loves about them DISCOVERY QUOTE: “It’s not mine to keep, it’s only mine to borrow for as long as I need it, and if I don’t need it anymore, then I should share it. ” [Tweet This] CONNECT WITH BRANDON: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE | BRANDONSCHOTT.COM DISCOVER MORE: DEFYING GRAVITY Brandon on Soundcloud MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Songwriters: Elton John Billy Joel Michael Penn Amiee Mann Jon Brion E from The Eels Josh Ritter Neil Finn Harry Nilsson Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) Andy Reed (An American Underdog) Books: The Pilgrimage [Affiliate Link] The Alchemist  [Affiliate Link] The Artist’s Way  [Affiliate Link] I’m Too Young For This

Jen Bricker is an acrobat and aerialist, a TV personality and speaker. But most of all she is one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet. I was introduced to Jen by my previous guest Mike Chat and I had the opportunity to sit down with her and talk about her incredible story. Jen was born without legs and put up for adoption. She was then raised in a small town in Illinois and  grew up participating in all kinds of sports, from tumbling to softball, all the while surrounded by the love and support of her adoptive family. In a crazy twist of fate, at the age of 16, she discovered that he biological sister was  Dominique Moceanu, the Olympic gymnast who was one of her idols growing up. This unlikely story has been featured on 20/20 and in Dominique’s book Off Balance. After graduating high school she moved to Florida to work at Walt Disney World. While in Florida she met Nate Crawford, and began to perform as an aerialist. A year later she was a featured acrobat on the Britney Spears Circus Tour. She has also been featured in Muscle and Fitness Hers, HBO Real Sports, Good Morning America and has spoken at TEDx. I am really excited to have Jen on the Podcast for two reasons. She has lived such an inspirational life and yet manages to remain humble and is willing to share her story with such vulnerability and empathy for others that when you hear her speak, you feel like anything is possible. Her extraordinary journey is one of resilience,  dedication to a craft, and hard work. IN THIS EPISODE: Growing up in the midwest How being born without legs has shaped her view of the world and people What it’s like to perform for 30,000 people Why she eats clean and takes care of her body How her faith impacts her life everyday The daily practice that keeps her mind in top shape What she plans to accomplish next DISCOVERY QUOTE: “The small decisions that we make daily, are where the battles are won “ - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH JEN: FACEBOOK |  INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | JENBRICKER.COM  

Joel Martin is an extremely versatile musician who is a composer and the driving force behind the power-pop band, The Running Jumps. He plays guitar, pedal steel, and loves the mellotron. I first met Joel years ago through mutual friends and we have worked on many different kinds of creative projects together over that time. His band The Running Jumps is inspired by the likes of Guided By Voices, Superdrag and the psychedelic leanings of the Beatles. One of the things that I love about the band is the attention to detail in all aspects of the production, down to the incredible artwork that evokes the feeling of the 70′s and yet still retains a modern dreamy flavor. Joel has worked closely with my previous guest Chris Schwab on many of his films and in the score for Look Closer you can hear just how versatile Joel is as a musician. Joel is also a raw vegan, and we kick this show off by talking about his reasons for adopting this lifestyle and how it has impacted his energy and focus. About halfway through the interview we talk about the  life changing car crash that nearly killed him and the journey of resilience that has followed. I am really excited to have Joel on the Podcast for two reasons. His road has been one of challenges that many of us never face and yet his kind spirit and loving heart continue to shine through. He is a perpetual learner who is always exploring new ways to express his creativity and he is happy to share his enthusiasm with the world. IN THIS EPISODE: What being a raw vegan has done for his energy Training for a half-marathon How Yoga changed his body The ins and outs of being in a band Why surrounding yourself with good people is important What a knee lever is (Hint – Its not connected to your shinbone) DISCOVERY QUOTE: “Everyday there is another opportunity to challenge yourself with”  - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH JOEL: FACEBOOK |  THE RUNNING JUMPS

Dallas Clayton is an author and illustrator who brings an incredible sense of joy, wonder, possibility, and adventure with him wherever he goes. The way I like to describe him is a mashup of Dr. Seuss and John Lennon. He works with brightly colored visuals and strong thematic ideas cleverly disguised in words. His Do-It-Yourself ethic lead him to self publish An Awesome Book in 2009,  and once the internet grabbed a hold of it, it did not let go. He began to ship the book worldwide out of his livingroom and then piled into a van with some friends to challenge the idea of what a book tour could be. He now tours the world world reading to kids and collaborating on murals and showing them what it means to dream big. He has since published a host of books, including An Awesome Book Of Thanks and An Awesome Book Of Love, and been able to work with a variety of publishers like Amazon and HarperCollins. In 2012 the story of his success was featured in an ad campaign for Google Chrome. One of the things that I love about him is that early on in his journey he started the non-profit Awesome World Foundation to give away books and promote literacy. His latest creation is Lily The Unicorn who is being developed as a television show. I was first introduced to his creations through the short film for An Awesome Book Of Love. You can see the result below and I am sure you will find it as inspiring and moving as I did. I am really excited to have Dallas on the Podcast for two reasons. His path has been one of exploration, experimentation, and a strong sense of questioning what is possible for himself and children of all ages everywhere. To paraphrase his own words, because he is taking something that makes him happy and using it to make other people happy. IN THIS EPISODE: How growing up in the DIY culture shaped his world view When he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life How dreaming about a magical marshmallow machine and college can be the same thing The author who is a beacon in his life How he taught his son about chores by paying him to learn songs What he has learned by working with different publishers Why he loves people who play the unpopular instrument DISCOVERY QUOTE: “Be grateful for the things that you have on the way to achieving those dreams”  - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH DALLAS: DALLASCLAYTON.COM |  INSTAGRAM | TWITTER  | AMAZON

WHO Stuart Davis claims to love the hyphens. Musician-Writer-Director-Comedian-Actor-Painter-Television Host. The list goes on. Whatever title you want to give him, one thing is certain, he will not be contained in a box. He is a creative force who expresses himself with the tools at hand. He spent years living in hotel rooms as he toured around the world and most recently landed on a boat in Amsterdam where as he says, he is firing on all cylinders creatively. I met Stuart through Alex Gibson who told me about the first time he saw Stuart play live and how he followed him to San Francisco the next night to see him play again. They have worked together on his last five studio albums. Their latest together is Music For Mortals. Stuart was also the host of the show “Sex, God and Rock ‘n Roll” on HDNet and has recently begun to release a series of videos on YouTube, including an interview with Harvard theoretical physicist Avi Loeb. I am really excited to have Stuart on the Podcast for two reasons. I love the wild and creative spirit that beams brightly in all of his work and the way he speaks about what he creates and the process behind it. He has interviewed Kermit The Frog and in the world of six degrees that puts me one step closer to Fozzie Bear. Waka Waka. IN THIS EPISODE: Growing up in the Minneapolis His first experience with Zen Buddhism How his relationship to an audience can be like “spiritual crack” What it’s like to live on a boat in Amsterdam with his family Why he thinks of things as little rehearsals for death What the upside down question mark means for him How having children changed his world view DISCOVERY QUOTE: “Balance at the expense of one’s own nature is a false balance”  - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH STUART: STUARTDAVIS.COM |  TWITTER  | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK DISCOVER MORE: Stuart on NPR

Blair Sinta, Rob Benedict, Luke Adams, Michelle Carmen Gomez, Chris Schwab, Alex Gibson, Mike Garson, and Mike Chat talk about the unexpected discoveries on their roads.  

Mike Chat is a martial artist, actor, founder, and mentor. He is a seven-time World Forms and Weapons Champion, former Blue Power Ranger, has been called the Tony Hawk of martial arts and most recently developed a program to bring together the best of martial arts, gymnastics, and acrobatics into a unique brand called Xtreme Martial Arts or XMA. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Chat at the XMA World Headquarters in North Hollywood, California and talk about his journey from the midwest, to championships, to having over 1300 XMA licensed schools worldwide. I am really excited to have Mr. Chat on the Podcast for two reasons. He is an inspiring and motivational speaker who has crafted a life for himself based on hard work and dedication to becoming the best. He has chosen to be a mentor and a role model to students of all ages and brings out the best in others while honoring his heritage and the best in himself. IN THIS EPISODE: Growing up outside of Chicago Why his family had such a strong impact on who he is today What it was like to fight a girl and lose Lessons learned from his toughest competitor How strong habits have influenced him His first big break as an actor Why he decided to dedicate his life to serving others How he prepares for the unexpected and maintains balance without having everything in balance DISCOVERY QUOTE: “You won’t do what’s uncomfortable, if you’re always comfortable”  - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH MR. CHAT: TWITTER |FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | XMAHQ Yan Can Cook Tony Robbins Fernando Espuelas Richest Man In Babylon How To Win Friends and Influence People

Mike Garson is an incredibly accomplished pianist and composer who is known for his work with David Bowie,  Nine Inch Nails, Free Flight, Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins, as well as an impressive solo career in both the jazz and classical realms. He recently premiered a twelve movement work entitled Symphonic Suite for Healing where he partnered with brain surgeon Dr. Christopher Duma and collaborated with patients to use music as an aid in the healing of various disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Mike is a lifelong learner who has studied with Leonard Eisner of Juilliard, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock,  Lennie Tristano and more. He is also someone who shares his knowledge of music through teaching master classes and private instruction, as well as through guest lectures on university campuses worldwide. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mike at his home studio in Los Angeles and talk about his path as a musician and as a human being.I am really excited to have  Mike on the Podcast for two reasons. He is truly someone who is a master of his craft and yet claims to know less about music now than he did in his 20′s. He has demonstrated over and over a deep passion for music as an art and for using his talents and gifts to give back and inspire others. IN THIS EPISODE: Growing up in Brooklyn Why he enlisted in the Army What he has learned by devoting 160,000 hours of practice to the piano How he manages to “spiritually juggle’ his marriage of 46 years, 2 daughters, and 6 grandchildren Why he has a gratitude practice DISCOVERY QUOTE: “The prerequisite for any kind of new understanding requires you to realize you don’t know it all”  - click to tweet! CONNECT WITH MIKE: TWITTER | MIKEGARSON.COM | YOUTUBE Mike Garson – Searching on Resonance Records via Soundcloud Wikipedia Article in the Los Angeles Times about the Symphonic Suite For Healing All Music  

Alex Gibson is a Artist, Producer, Mixer, Engineer and Brand Developer. He has worked with some of the biggest names in music,  including Ringo Starr, Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Sting, and Bon Jovi, as well as other talents such as Stuart Davis and Echo Echo.  The production teams he has been a part of have been responsible for sales of over 25 million albums worldwide. He has worked with brands like Nike, Volvo, Apple and HBO in various capacities. Alex began his journey in Florida and made his way to Los Angeles via Boston where he studied at  Berklee College of Music. He started off in LA as a staff engineer at A&M Studios and stayed with the facility as it made the transition to Henson Recording Studios, where he eventually became the Chief Engineer. We were connected by drummer Blair Sinta, who saw that we were both in a similar place in life and might have some things in common. In this interview we talk about his path to making records and what it takes to get something productive out of an artist. We also talk about the transition he is making from the music industry to points unknown. The week I spoke to him, he was in the middle of producing local artists, mixing a band from Russia, building a website for a venture capitalist, and helping someone build a social media app. I am really excited to have Alex on the podcast for two reasons: He has a deep passion for music and helping artists craft their vision to create the most authentic expression possible. He has been at the heart of a seismic shift in the musical economy and having seen both sides, is trying to imagine what come next. IN THIS EPISODE:   What it was like to get to work with his heroes Why he was blown away by Stuart Davis How the d.school at Stanford has inspired him The triggers and signs that are leading him to make a shift How learning about psychology helped him in the studio

Chris Schwab is an independent filmmaker who grew up in North Carolina and started making his own films in high school. He has since moved to Los Angeles and made two feature films, Look Closer and Neither Day Nor Night, as well as  a number of shorts.  His early exposure to Martin Scorsese's Goodfella's left a deep impression on him and he has been learning and growing as a filmmaker ever since. His latest film Look Closer has just won Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles Reel Film Festival and was also an official selection at the Cape Fear Independent Film Festival. When I was looking for someone to create the trailers for my book he was the first person I called.  I have also had the pleasure of working with Chris to create the sound for both of these features. I asked Chris to be on the Podcast for two reasons. Because he is able to imagine something he wants to create and regardless of the obstacles before him, money, time,  or resources, he seems to have a way of making it happen. He is one of the kindest, most down to earth people I have ever met.

Michelle Carmen Gomez is an artist who combines her passion for art, photography, and fashion into a unique brand called aboutMichelle. Tommy Landau, founder of the Museum of Contemporary Art, described her work  “…like Warhol,without the cynicism…”. Michelle began her journey in a small town in Texas and eventually moved to Los Angeles to work in the film industry,  but it was her work as a tutor that eventually led her to pursue life as an artist. Seeing those she worked with change in an instant made her realize that we all have the same capacity and since that time she has continued to explore and re-invent herself. Her brand aboutMichelle also has a non-profit component where a group goes into targeted cities and takes shots that will later be printed on clothing items and sold worldwide to benefit a charity in the area where the photos were taken. Michelle has pitched a show to the Oprah Network, run a magazine, and each new idea seems to flow from the last and unfold organically for her. This organic feeling extends to the variety of media she chooses to work with – wood, canvas, tin, clothing and more. I asked Michelle to be on the Podcast for two reasons. The use of color in her paintings. Stark black and white images. And the use of symbolism in all of these have made me a huge fan of her work. She is a vivid and dynamic example of what it takes to continually be open to what the universe has in store.

Luke Adams is a composer, producer, drummer, and history buff. He has a new band called Luke and Laura  and is also the founder of a music production house called Handsome Music. As a drummer Luke has toured with artists like Pete Yorn and Lenka and as a composer he has crafted music for major clients such as Applebees and NASCAR. When he is not in musicmaking mode he is avid student of military history. In this interview we talk about his early days in New Jersey, going to music school,  setting up shop in Los Angeles and more. I asked Luke to be on the Podcast for two reasons. He has been able to carve out a life for himself on his own terms and is constantly learning and experimenting. Luke is one of the most real and upfront people I know. He is willing to speak his mind and is not afraid to have an opinion.

Rob Benedict is an accomplished actor with a long list of television and film credits. You may recognize him from his work on shows like Felicity, Supernatural and Alias. He has guest starred on The Mentalist, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI, House and many more.  His film credits include Waiting, A Little Help, State of Play and Not Another Teen Movie. At the 2013 Comic-Con in San Diego he debuted a short film that he wrote, produced and starred in called The Sidekick. The film has an amazing cast that includes Ron Livingston, Jordan Peele, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr and more. The story centers around the life of an out of work sidekick as he contemplates what to do next. Rob is also the frontman for the band Louden Swain, whose first few records I had the pleasure of working on. Their 5th full length album Sky Alive has just been released. Last year at a Supernatural convention in Toronto Rob had a stroke caused by a tear in his carotid artery and in this interview he talks candidly about what it was like to recover.

Blair Sinta is a world class drummer who has toured with artists like: Alanis Morissette, Damien Rice, and Melissa Etheridge. His studio credits include Annie Lennox, Idina Menzel, James Blunt and more. He has been a member of bands like Pedestrian and the Desktop Rulers and in whatever role he is called to play he remains an extremely creative musician who brings a wide palette of tools to all of his artistic endeavors. I asked Blair to be the first guest on my new Podcast for two reasons. I asked him to do the music for the show and it seemed like a fun idea to start the conversation. His journey is one of hard work and love of the craft.