Guitars & Granola Bars

As we head into the final weeks of 2020, Jaime and I are checking in with each other to compare notes on our families, businesses, and alllll the feelings during this holiday season. In this episode, we share the highs and lows of business ownership right now, and talk about how we are planning ahead (or not) and handling the transition into a new year. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

We are now 8 months into the COVID-19 pandemic; that makes 8 months of pivoting, adapting, and overcoming challenges both at home and at work. I'm checking in once again with co-host Jaime Lawrence, owner of Harmony Garden Music Therapy Services, and we're sharing updates on family life, business ownership, and ourselves in general as we continue to be affected on all fronts by the pandemic. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

A lot has changed since I last spoke with my co-host, Jaime Lawrence (owner of Harmony Garden Music Therapy), back in April. The pandemic is still in full force, which has greatly impacted just about every aspect of our lives. In this follow-up episode, we're discussing the current state of our businesses since reopening our physical doors, and we also tackle the very timely issue of returning to school. Jaime and I both share our families' decisions for our own children. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

It's been over a year since I released an episode of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast, but when my co-host from last season, Jaime Lawrence, suggested recording one to chat about how we are managing during this global pandemic, I was immediately on board. In this special COVID-19 edition of the podcast, we talk about how we have pivoted our businesses, the ways in which we are providing services, and what life with kids at home 24/7 looks like. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

This is the final episode in our current season, during which I've been so lucky to have Jaime Lawrence as a co-host. I hope you've enjoyed her added perspective here on the podcast just as much as I have! Since we're making our way towards the end of 2018, Jaime and I thought it would be fun to share our favorite accomplishments of the year, both personally and professionally. This was such a fun episode to record, and it made me excited to think about all that I want to accomplish in 2019. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

Halloween is coming, and we are ready! So of course we had to dedicate an entire episode to how we celebrate this special day at home -- including decorations, our family's costumes, and favorite traditions -- and at work -- the songs we sing, how we integrate Halloween into our groups and sessions, and ways we get festive in our workplaces. To be honest, Halloween is not my favorite day of the year, as I share in the episode, but when you have kids and work with children, you really just have to embrace it. If you're like me, I hope this episode helps you do that, and if you are already a Halloween enthusiast, then you'll be even more pumped up after listening! Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

This week, Jaime and I are sharing our favorite working mom “hacks” -- big and little ways in which we've discovered make life just a little bit easier, both in terms of work and home. We actually ran out of time recording this episode, and have already planned a part 2 so that we can give you the rest of our hacks. In the meantime, we hope you find these just as helpful to your life as they are to ours! Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

As we approach the fall season, Jaime and I are both busy preparing for new sessions of our early childhood music classes. Since this topic is top of mind for us right now, we thought we'd take this opportunity to do a deep dive into our role as early childhood music class instructors. In this episode, we talk about what led us to providing these classes, the evolution of them within our business, how we've grown enrollment over the years, and how we handle the tough issues that come up. As you can imagine, we have a whole lot to say on this topic! Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

We talk pretty often here on the podcast about running our own businesses and the challenges associated with it. One of the BIGGEST challenges is being a boss -- deciding when the time is right to grow our team, conducting interviews, completing the hiring process, and then managing a team. In this week's episode, we tackle this tough subject matter and share our own experiences when it comes to being bosses. We also touch on some typically taboo topics, including how we pay our employees, how much we pay for our business space, and more. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

This week's topic was a no-brainer for two moms who also work with school-aged children. It's back to school time, which comes with a whole lot of excitement, overwhelm, challenges, and planning. In this episode, I'm talking about what it's like as a total newbie with my son getting ready to start kindergarten, and Jaime gives a whole lot of great advice having been through the back-to-school transition a couple times already. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

I never fully appreciated the proverb “necessity is the mother of invention” until I became a business owner. It didn't take long to realize that there are busy seasons in a private practice and teaching studio, and then there are slow seasons. Very, very slow seasons. Summer just happens to be the slowest of all, which has made it absolutely necessary to create new revenue streams in the form of programs, classes, and online courses. In this episode, Jaime and I are talking all about the opportunities we've created in our businesses...what's worked, what's completely failed, lessons we've learned, and how we've been able to fill in the gaps during otherwise slow seasons. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thank you for listening!

In Episode 70, Jaime and I are chatting all about the evolution of our musical lives: where we got our start as musicians, how we made music before becoming music therapists and before having kids, and how things have changed throughout the years since. How does music play a role in YOUR life outside of your work? Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at https://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thanks so much for listening!

This week it's just me, recording a solo episode for the first time since the beginning of the summer. I've been having so much fun chatting with my co-host, Jaime, and I hope you've been enjoying our episodes together, too. But in today's episode, I want to address a topic that I haven't talked much about publicly, hence this week's title. The confession I'm about to make is one that I've held back from sharing because honestly, I've been a little scared to, especially amongst my fellow music therapists. I've been putting it off for a while, but I feel like there's no better time than now. I started this podcast because I wanted a place to have honest conversations about the intersection of my professional and personal lives, and that's exactly what today's episode is. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thanks so much for listening!

A common theme of summer is TRAVEL. It's one of my favorite things to do, but it can also be a bit stressful, whether you're traveling with or without your family. In this episode of the podcast, Jaime and I are talking all about how we handle both kinds of travel -- as moms and as business owners. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thanks so much for listening!

There is a whole lot of crossover when it comes to being both a music therapist and a mom...especially when you teach early childhood classes and have young children. Jaime and I can check both of those boxes, and have a whole lot of experience playing both the role of music class teacher and mom at the same time. In Episode 67 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast, we talk all about having our own kids attend our music classes: the benefits, the drawbacks, the funny and memorable moments. This episode is a fun one whether or not you've played these dual roles yourself! Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thanks so much for listening!

Fun fact: both my co-host Jaime and I are total "Disney people" and have been from an early age. As a result, Disney has played a huge role in our lives, from taking Disney vacations, to using Disney songs in our music therapy and early childhood work, to sharing the love with our own children. In Episode 66 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast, we talk about our favorite ways to incorporate Disney music into our classes and sessions along with our favorite personal Disney experiences. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. Thanks so much for listening!

Children's books play a huge role in both our work as music therapists and our home life with our own kids. In Episode 65 of the podcast, Jaime and I talk about how we put them to use with our young students and clients, and also how they fit into our family lives. Additionally, we discuss our favorite children's books for both settings, all of which we've compiled in a list just for you as a free download. Visit https://listenlearnmusic.com/ggb65 to grab our list of must-have children's books for work and home!

Summer can be a tricky time for working moms. Our school-aged kids are out of school, everyone's schedules are out of wack, and life as we know it goes a little haywire. In this episode, Jaime and I talk about our plans for this summer and how we tackle this time of year in order to stay productive, keep everyone happy, and have fun (a tall order, we know). Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at http://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Instagram, @rachelrambach and @listenlearnmusic. I would love to connect with you!

Let me introduce you to the newest voice of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast! In this episode, I ask Jaime allllll the questions so that you can get to know her better. She fills us in on her professional background, family life, favorite life hacks for working moms, and much more. Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at https://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Instagram, @rachelrambach and @listenlearnmusic. I would love to connect with you!

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a career they love with being a mom. If you've been a listener of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast in the past, then you know it's been a hot minute since I recorded a new episode. This has always been a passion project for me, and I wanted to wait until I had the time and space to do this right. Good news: that time is now! In this episode, I talk about my plans for the podcast and share an exciting announcement. It's going to be an exciting season, and I'm so glad you're along for the ride! Let's continue the conversation in the comments of the show notes page over at https://guitarsandgranolabars.com or you can always email me, rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Instagram, @rachelrambach and @listenlearnmusic. I would love to connect with you!

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about self-care. This time of year is when I start to feel everything piling up on me, between both my kids and my business starting a new school year. You are probably in that boat too, and can't handle the thought of one more thing added to your plate. But here's the question: what are you doing right now for yourself? Today is the last day to get access to "The Ultimate CMTE Self-Care Package for Introverted Music Therapists" -- an opportunity to earn 34 CMTE credits while prioritizing self-care and professional growth. When you enroll in "Resilience Over Burnout: A Self-Care Program" by TONIGHT at midnight ET, you will also receive access to my course "Introvert's Guide to Thriving in an Extroverted Career" at no additional cost (a $75 and 3 CMTE value). Resilience Over Burnout: A Self-Care Program is an in-depth and online 31 CMTE credit program with Ami Kunimura, MA, MT-BC. This self-care experience is an exploration and immersion into sustainable self-care and burnout prevention. The Introvert's Guide to Thriving in an Extroverted Career is 3 credit CMTE course and a holistic approach to achieving success and happiness in a career that often requires a great deal of social interaction and energy. To learn more and enroll, visit https://resilienceoverburnout.com. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about my biggest struggle after becoming a mom: losing my sense of identity as a musician. I share an essay I wrote for an anthology about motherhood, which details my struggle and how I reclaimed my identity over time. To see the show notes for this episode, which include lots of photos of the new office, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about how I'm investing in self-care this weekend, why it's extremely needed, and how doing so can be so hugely beneficial to your own mental and emotional health. To see the show notes for this episode, which include lots of photos of the new office, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about how making a change in my work environment (moving my home office out of my dark basement and into a sun-drenched room upstairs) completely changed my feelings toward my work. To see the show notes for this episode, which include lots of photos of the new office, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about the surprising topic of conversation when I attended a recent conference completely solo, and how I am coming to terms with the reality of my new identity. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. In this episode, I'm talking with Tamara Leszner-Rovet, a registered music therapist in Toronto, Canada. Tamara shares her experience so far as a music therapist and mom whose son is currently going through the diagnostic process and receiving therapy services. More about Tamara: Tamara began learning piano at the tender age of 3. Growing up, she received many awards and scholarships for her piano performances. Aspiring to be a concert pianist, she received her Associateship of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) and became a Registered Music Teacher (RMT). She has taught piano to children, adolescents, adults, and to individuals with special needs since 1998. As Tamara developed a strong passion for teaching, she discovered the career of Music Therapy – a career where she could share her love of music and performing while being able to help individuals enhance their quality of life. She received her Honours Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree (BMT) from the University of Windsor, and is an Accredited Music Therapist (MTA). Most recently, Tamara became a certified Neurologic Music Therapist (NMT) by The Robert F. Unkefer Academy for Neurologic Music Therapy and is also a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Tamara's energy, passion, dedication, and enthusiasm shines through with everyone she works with, and it is her goal for all students and clients to have an enriching and rewarding musical experience that lasts a lifetime. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. This episode is all about an event I've known was coming since the day my daughter was born, almost 15 months ago. D-Day. The day my baby girl will embark on a great adventure otherwise known as daycare. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. In this episode, I share my strategies for maintaining my sanity in today's world, given the scary events happening far too often. I would love to hear yours, though, because they're probably far more effective. I don't mean for this to be a downer episode, but I figured that since it's a question that has consumed me lately, it's probably been on your mind, too. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. Feel free to leave a comment there or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. Amanda Clay is making her second guest appearance on the podcast, and this time we are diving in to the realities of postpartum depression. Amanda openly shares her experiences with PPD after the birth of her first son, and then again with her second son just a few months ago. Amanda and I discuss how we both dealt with our own circumstances related to postpartum depression and anxiety, and share advice for other women who may be facing the same challenges. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. I would love to know what YOU'D like to hear on Season 2 of the podcast, so feel free to leave a comment on the show notes page or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. In today's episode, I'm talking about why I came close to burning out this past year, and how I make sure to avoid letting that happen again -- by doing the thing that gives me that SPARK. What is that thing for you? To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. I would love to know what YOU'D like to hear on Season 2 of the podcast, so feel free to leave a comment on the show notes page or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. In my former life, which I call the B.C. — before children — days, my world revolved around work and music. A lot has changed since having two kids, but I've felt a little bit of the B.C. me surfacing, and I'm kind of loving it. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. I would love to know what YOU'D like to hear on Season 2 of the podcast, so feel free to leave a comment on the show notes page or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. In today's episode, I'm sharing my number one strategy for staying on track mentally and emotionally. It is probably going to sound way too simple, but it really is THE MOST effective form of self-care, at least in my experience. Thank you so much for listening. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. I would love to know what YOU'D like to hear on Season 2 of the podcast, so feel free to leave a comment on the show notes page or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

Thank you so much for joining me here on Guitars & Granola Bars. I'm your host, Rachel Rambach, and this podcast is for women like me who are balancing a passion-fueled career with being a mom. If you listened to Season 1, then you know that each episode featured a different guest who shared their experiences and advice when it comes to music therapy and parenthood. I interviewed 44 awesome moms (and 4 awesome dads) and learned so much from them in the process. But I'm doing things a little differently in Season 2. There will be some interviews here and there, but mostly I'll be going solo — sharing my trials, tribulations, tips, and strategies from the trenches of motherhood and my career as a music therapist and business owner. “In the trenches” is the perfect way to describe this past year of my life, during which I became a mom of two and stepped up my career to full tilt, all at the same time. I'd like to kick off Season 2 by sharing an essay I wrote for my blog which I titled “The Longest, Shortest, Hardest, Best-est Year”. Thank you so much for listening. To see the show notes for this episode, head over to guitarsandgranolabars.com. I would love to know what YOU'D like to hear on Season 2 of the podcast, so feel free to leave a comment on the show notes page or email me at rachel@listenlearnmusic.com. You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram, @rachelrambach. And last but not least, please consider rating and reviewing the show on iTunes if you liked what you heard. The Guitars & Granola Bars podcast is brought to you by Listen & Learn Plus, a premium site for music therapists, music educators, parents and anyone else who wants to give their clients, students & children a rich musical experience. Gain instant access to a vast collection of over 200 songs, videos, tutorials, and resources from Listen & Learn Music. Learn more by visiting listenlearnmusic.com/join.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Jamie George. Jamie talks candidly about the premature birth of her son and how it affected her, providing music therapy to him in the NICU, and life as a business owner after becoming a mom. Jamie is the owner and director of The George Center for Music Therapy in Atlanta, GA. The George Center employs 8 full time music therapists and serves all ages and multiple populations. The George Center bills insurance for most of their individual clients. Jamie is the proud mommy of little Steven who turned 19 months old on December 1st! For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Gretchen Chardos Benner. Gretchen talks about following in her sister's footsteps to become the second music therapist in her family, pursuing her masters degree while working full-time, and how she makes music with her family at home. Gretchen is married with two children (5 and almost 3). Her family motivated their relocation from PA to SC and now two of her sisters, an aunt, cousin and her parents are an hour drive or closer! Gretchen founded Piedmont Music Therapy, LLC to provide music therapy services in the Greater Charlotte Area from early childhood to older adults, and private music lessons. Their family time is most enjoyed with crafts, music, baking and frolicking outside! For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Ginny Driscoll. Ginny talks about her work as a music therapy researcher, pursuing her PhD while raising two girls, and how she includes her daughters in her self-care practices. Ginny is a mom, music therapist, researcher, and doctoral student. She has two beautiful girls-- Neala (7) and Madelyn (3)--and an amazing husband, Matthew, who is a professor of low brass. She has been a part of the Music Perception team in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for 11 years, where she investigates the ability of children and adults with cochlear implants to perceive music. She is currently in her second semester of her doctoral studies. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Amanda Ellis. Amanda talks about her approach to providing music therapy to 30+ classrooms each week, her son's impressive musicality as the child of two musicians, and the importance of communication between working parents. Amanda is a board-certified music therapist and full time working mom living in Greenville, NC. She is a graduate (cum laude) of East Carolina University with a Bachelors of Music in music therapy and a minor in violin performance. She currently works as a music therapist for Pitt County schools in Greenville, NC serving students with special needs from K-12th grades. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Emily Wangen. Emily talks about her experience with pregnancy loss, how long commutes and inclement weather affected the development of her private practice, and her ideal vision for the future. Emily is the owner of Music Therapy in Motion, LLC. She is the mother of Levi, 7, Lydia, 5, and wife to Jason, who is the finance man in their business. Emily is NMT and NICU-MT certified. Emily lives in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Her practice employs six music therapists, an intern, and spans over a 300-mile radius. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Mallory Even. Mallory talks about how her twin pregnancy shaped the course of her career, the health challenges her son faced immediately after birth, and running a business while staying home with her children. Mallory, owner of Metro Music Therapy, is originally from the Orlando, FL area, and earned her Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy from the Florida State University. She remained in Tallahassee to complete her internship with Leon County Public Schools and upon graduation from FSU, Mallory and her husband moved to the Atlanta, GA area. For two years before starting her practice, and for three years after, Mallory also worked as a music therapist in an adult and geriatric inpatient psychiatric unit located in Snellville, GA. Mallory is a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC), Licensed Professional Music Therapist (LPMT), and a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Music Therapist (NICU MT). For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Jodie Ross. Jodie talks about becoming an internship director shortly after completing her own internship, her readiness to return to work at the end of maternity leave, and how she relates parenting styles to music therapy approaches. Jodie is a 2010 graduate of Mississippi University for Women where she received her bachelors degree in music therapy. She completed her internship at The Baddour Center, a residential facility for adults with intellectual disabilities, in Senatobia, Mississippi. In May 2011, she married her husband, Cody, and in July of that same year, she began working as the board certified music therapist at The Baddour Center. She has continued to work there as well as serve as Internship Director over the past 4 years. In March of this year, Jodie and Cody welcomed their firstborn son, Griffin. They also have a 3 year old fur baby, a Basset Hound, named Dixie. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Jennifer Whitlow. Jennifer talks about starting her private practice while pregnant, why she actually enjoyed her labor and delivery, and her adjustment to new motherhood as a business owner. Jennifer is a board certified music therapist with degrees in Music, Psychology, and Music Therapy. After completing her Music Therapy degree in 2011, she began working with individuals with special needs and married her husband Chester. Now settled in Indianapolis, Jennifer has completed the advanced training, Neurologic Music Therapy. After working in the field for nearly four years, she opened her company Dynamic Music Therapy LLC, a Medicaid Waiver provider that provides individuals with special needs music therapy services. In May of 2015 Jennifer and Chester welcomed their beautiful daughter Elizabeth Esther into the world. As well as being a business owner and mom, Jennifer serves as the public relations chair for the Association for Indiana Music Therapy and is a current co-chair for the 2016 GLR Conference in Indianapolis. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Kimberly Sena Moore. Kimberly talks about how she and her family navigated 5 years of major transitions, her role as a music therapist in the academic setting, and her approach to parenting as a full-time working mom. Kimberly is a board certified music therapist who joined the University of Miami's Frost School of Music in Fall 2014 as an Assistant Professor of Practice and Clinical Training Director. Through her role as Regulatory Affairs Associate for the Certification Board for Music Therapists, she is involved in state-level advocacy, legislative, and policy issues affecting music therapy practice. Online, Dr. Sena Moore co-hosts the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, and blogs at “Your Musical Self” for Psychology Today and Music Therapy Maven. Her clinical and research interests center on music therapy and emotion regulation development in neurodevelopmentally at-risk children. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Morgan Sparks. Morgan talks about her unconventional path to music therapy, teaching Kindermusik classes just 6 days postpartum, and the give-and-take that comes with raising a young child and owning a business. Morgan is owner of Rhythm Garden Music LLC, where she offers music therapy services, early childhood arts programming, and private music lessons in her hometown of Jasonville, Indiana (pop. < 3000). Morgan also serves as president of her state's music therapy association. She her and husband Brandon have been married 3 years and are parents to Ian, their 17-month-old very energetic little boy. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Ashley Lundquist. Ashley talks about how losing her voice affected her music therapy career, the way she incorporated music during her labor and delivery, and how she is settling into her role as a first-time mom just a few weeks postpartum. Ashley owns a small business named Healing Melodies Music Therapy in which she works part time as a private music therapist. She also works with the Wounded Warrior Project providing support for those with traumatic brain injuries. Ashley is currently on maternity leave and had her son a little over 3 weeks ago as of this recording. She lives in Rosenberg, Texas and is married to her husband of almost 5 years. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Megan Resig. Megan talks about opening up a 6,000 square-foot facility with 12 employees while her daughter was just an infant, the role her husband played in helping make that possible, and how she's setting an example for her daughter by doing work she loves. Megan is the co-founder and director of Spectrum Creative Arts, a Rochester-based creative arts center specializing in offering music, art, creative arts therapy, and theatre programming to individuals of all ages and abilities. She is also mom to a precocious three-year-old daughter (who is obviously destined to become president one day!), and is constantly searching for that perfect balance between work and motherhood. Fleeting moments of free time are spent planning murder mystery parties and nerding out with her husband/partner-in-crime. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Maggie MacArthur. Maggie talks about the many plates she was spinning during her pregnancy, her realization that she wasn't meant to be a stay-at-home mom, and how her son's orthopedic condition has helped her better relate to her clients' families. Maggie lives in Fairport, New York with her husband John and son Keegan. She is the Music Therapist for Brockport Central School District and received her Masters degree from Nazareth College of Rochester. In addition to music therapy she teaches early childhood music classes and plays the fiddle in her band The Strings. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Catherine Hershey. Catherine talks about completing her internship in NYC while pregnant, how starting her blog was a turning point in her postpartum year, and the unique opportunity she has to design her ideal music therapy career. Catherine is a Board Certified Music Therapist currently filling the role of stay-at-home-mom to an energetic 1 year old boy. She maintains her professional identity by blogging, networking with other music therapists, and seeking out opportunities for advocacy. Catherine enjoys exploring San Diego with her toddler and husband, reading old books, and drinking the occasional glass of wine. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with music therapist Lesleigh Zundt. Lesleigh talks about pursuing her music therapy degree while raising a young daughter, overcoming baby blues after the birth of her son, and her adventures in pumping as a working mom. Lesleigh is a wife to JJ, a mom to Aliah (6) and Titus (1), and has been a Board Certified Music Therapist for almost 2 years. She lives in Canyon, TX home of her Alma Mater, West Texas A&M University. She works in Amarillo as a music therapist in the public school system, and contracts with a few companies to provide private music therapy services to individuals in the Amarillo area. Lesleigh and her family spend lots of their time volunteering at church, going to baseball or soccer practice and games, and attending football games in the fall. When she isn't on the go, Lesleigh enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and watching her babies grow! For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Kathy Schumacher. Kathy talks about her early success in the private practice setting, how she has structured her career around her family since having her children, and her adventures in creative entrepreneurship. In this episode, I'm chatting with Kathy Schumacher. Kathy is a music therapist, a lifelong learner with a pile to read in every room, and mom to three children—ages 8, 10 and 12. She has worked in private practice the majority of her 19 year career and has developed a specialty area of literacy and math tutoring through music. She currently lives in rural Wisconsin where she enjoys camping with her family (usually in the backyard) and tends 50-100 tomato plants every summer. In her spare time, Kathy blogs at www.TunefulTeaching.com. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Janet Stephens. Janet talks about her path that led to having a large family, the evolution of her successful business, and how her “big picture” mentality allows her to prioritize the important things in life. Janet is the creator, seamstress, and entrepreneur behind Bear Paw Creek, founded in 2000 to meet the needs of the music therapy profession. The original focus was movement props and bags for organizing and the traveling therapist. It has continued to grow and encompasses a larger market, both stateside and internationally. She lives in Southwest Missouri on 60 acres with her husband, eight children, and various animals. Along with running a business and homeschooling her children, Janet enjoys playing games with her kids, fishing, books, and of course, sewing. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Lauren Servos. Lauren talks about her experiences working in many different capacities at the same hospital, shares her beautiful natural birth story, and how she overcame the emotional challenges of working with medically compromised children after returning from maternity leave. Lauren has been a board-certified music therapist since 2009, and currently works at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where she has been working in various capacities since she completed her internship. Lauren opened her private practice, Joyful Melodies, in the spring of 2015. She is the wife of her high school sweetheart, Nathan, and the mother of their 15 month old daughter, Mary Mae. For show notes from this episode, visit www.guitarsandgranolabars.com.