Reduce Your Stress with Tim Ringgold

In this, my final episode, I tell the story of how this whole project came about, as well as the second blessing the emerged... all from lockdown back in March of 2020.  For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

Hey before we get into the music, I want to tell you about a new platform. It's an app called Wisdom, and it's not unlike Clubhouse in its design. I'm going to be doing a live session of my relaxation vacation this Thursday at 4:30 PST so if you want a nice relaxing way to end your day, come find me. It's only on iphone currently, so sorry to my android listeners.  Alright, let's kick off this week with three of my favorite uptempo songs from the past 6 months. They are all from around the same period and interestingly they all relate to my other passion which as you know is playing pickleball! First up, we have New Heights from episode 51, then Another Level from episode 49, followed by After the Storm from episode 57. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

You know what time it is? It's time for another music block of three of my favorite down tempo songs from the past 6 months. We're starting with Tenderness from episode 78, moving into “Partners” from episode 65 and finishing up with Mountainside from episode 66. There's definitely an homage to my amazing wife Angelique in these three tracks, because I wrote Partners and Tenderness for her, and learned Mountainside while we were holed up in a cabin for a romantic long weekend in Big Bear over the summer. So, sit back, relax, and  as you're listening, maybe think about a special someone that you hold close to your heart, and I'll see YOU on the other side. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

On the first day of my Reduce Your Stress Summit in August, something amazing happened. Without planning this on my part or theirs, every single presenter touched on one specific concept to help YOU begin to reduce your stress FAST… BREATH. Here's the final interview of that day with my friend Neil Cannon. No matter what kind of day you are having, you can always pause, and take control of your breath, which instantly influences your nervous system, thinking, and feeling. To learn more about Neil, go to www.vitalitysecret.com For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

In this episode, I had the joy of interviewing a true ambassador of the power of music: Frank Fitzpatrick. Frank is a best selling-author, Grammy-nominated multi-platinum music producer, international keynote speaker, social entrepreneur, and wellness expert redefining human potential through the convergence of health & wellness, music, creativity and technology. He is a leading voice in the emerging Hearables market, contributing writer for Forbes, and faculty at Singularity University's Exponential Medicine. He has created successful programs reaching over 200 million people and generating over $1B in revenues. Frank's mission is to amplify human potential at scale through the power of music, health, creativity and technology. More about his best-selling book, Amplified, can be found at www.AmplifiedBook.com. We talk about his journey and how music forged a purpose in him in childhood that still drives him to this day. For Frank's Non-profit: www.earthtones.org For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

Today's track is an adaptation of a hymn that I wrote way back during my 20s. It's original title was "His Love is Everlasting," but I changed the title to "Everlasting Love" to better match my current relationship to my spirituality, which doesn't include a male paternal figure, but more like an ever present, all encompassing energy of love that is conscious which the entire physical universe is an expression of at a level we can't comprehend in the way a single muscle cell in my leg may not be comprehending I'm saying this right now. It now feels clear to me that no matter what, for eternity, there is one unifying energy that I will never be turned away from, and that is love. At the source of it all, waiting for me in all moments to sink into it, is love. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

This episode is an excerpt from my Reduce Your Stress Summit I hosted in August. I've been practicing cold showers and breathwork for a couple of years now which are two of the pillars of the teachings of a gentleman named Wim Hof. He's quite a character, but his techniques are validated and results are amazing. I interviewed one of his chief trainers, Dr. Josephine Worseck about the benefits of cold exposure for stress reduction. You're going to be fascinated, because the science is NOT intuitive. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

Thinking about all the different costumes that kids would be wearing for this tradition got me thinking about the roles they play in society. The Hero archetype is definitely one of the more prominent roles and I thought about how important this concept is. What is it like for a kid to have a hero in their life? What is it like for a kid to BE a hero in someone else's life? Many adults cast aside Halloween costumes at some point (not me, I'm still a total kid at heart), but let me ask you… do you still have heroes in your life… someone that inspires you to be the best version of yourself you can be? Are you a hero to someone in your life? Get this… you may be a hero to someone and you don't even know it. Just by being the best version of you that you can be can inspire those around you to do the same. So this week's new track was written with that in mind… I wanted to create a track that is uplifting, inspiring, and hopeful, which are three things that a hero provides me. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

In this episode I have the pleasure of interviewing David Sonnenschein about the intersection of sound, music, games, and learning. David is a Sound designer, filmmaker, game developer, musician, sound healer, audio consultant, and author of international textbook, “Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema.” He's currently CEO of edtech company iQsonics based in Santa Monica CA, creating services and products that utilize music and audio for brain health. Their flagship program is called SING AND SPEAK 4 KIDS. It's a music-based game for supporting language development in Early Childhood Education for the autism population and English Language Learners, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Education SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research). David has a BA in Neuroscience/Music from UCSD,  and an MFA inCinema/TV from USC. We trace his journey from music student to music healer and learn some powerful things about why music and sound are so powerful for our mood management. Learn more at https://iqsonics.com/ For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

I told you in episode 76 about my ketamine treatment for depression that I'm currently undergoing. I've completed 3 of 6 sessions so far, and one thing that seems to happen is that a theme or a message comes out of each session. This past session, the theme was affection. For those that don't know, my wife and I were married in 2003, and we're in that time frame of life with school age kids where it seems like we just run from day to day to keep up with them, the house, our two businesses… and I've come down with a case of affection atrophy. That's when you're so busy ‘doing all the things' you forget to keep some of that original spark or flame alive in your marriage. I was scheduled to go into the studio to record immediately after the ketamine session, so the topic of affection was top of mind. For me, the term tenderness is related to affection, and so I sat down with my classical guitar and thought, “what would tenderness or affection SOUND like as a lullaby?” so, here's what came out of my fingers. For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com  

Today you're going to hear a presentation from my Reduce Your Stress Summit. It's from a phenomenal woman named Sukie Baxter on the nature of healing trauma. I've been on a learning journey about trauma since about 2016 and what I can say is it's A LOT more nuanced and complex than what we think on the surface. I'm really excited for you to hear from Sukie; she's an amazing presence and resource. Make sure to check out her youtube videos as well because they are really well done and worth checking out.  https://www.youtube.com/c/SukieBaxter For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our Sponsor: www.drneecie.com

"Fresh powder” is a term I grew up hearing about, but never experienced. As a skier growing up in Connecticut, when you ski the Berkshires, you don't get fresh powder too often. When I'd watch Warren Miller ski films and see skiers out west skiing fresh powder, it looked magical. There was this blank slate of a hill just waiting for that lucky skier, and they were free to move in whatever direction they chose down that mountain. All routes were possible.  Well, last week, I completed my first of six sessions of ketamine therapy to help treat depression. During my consultation, the nurse practitioner explained the neurological benefits of ketamine using the ‘fresh powder' analogy. He said, imagine you have all these ski tracks in your brain. Those are ingrained patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior. Now imagine a fresh snowfall, and imagine that fresh powder temporarily filling in those tracks. In the 2-4 days following treatment, Ketamine triggers the release of chemicals in your brain that essentially do just that. This allows you to more easily carve new tracks in the snow… you know… CHANGE direction with less effort because you are not stuck in a rut - so to speak -. We know that the term neuroplasticity means that the brain can literally change shape over time, and ketamine creates a window of time where the brain is more malleable than normal, so new patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior can be established during that time. I'm extremely excited about this, because the treatment is once a week for 6 weeks, which essentially gives me a 6 week window where I can really create some serious, positive change in the way my brain works. For those that don't know my story, I have documented 18 concussions with 6 occurring between 2016 and 2018. I was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury which has exacerbated issues related to emotional regulation, memory, and focus. I've been on a journey to continue to heal my brain with as many cutting edge therapies I can find, and during January's summit I hosted, we had a ketamine therapy expert speak. He opened my eyes to some exciting and very promising research. I'm now looking to 2022 with so much hope. It's like I'm standing at the top of a ski run, and there's nothing but fresh powder in front of me. For the relaxation vacation, visit www.sonicrecovery.com For our sponsor, visit www.drneecie.com

Brain health is body health AND mental health. In this episode, interview an extraordinary man named Alex Doman. Alex is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, psychoacoustic music producer, and TEDx speaker with more than twenty-five years' experience in neurotechnology. The third generation in a family of pioneers dedicated to improving brain performance for over seventy-five years, Alex founded Vital Neuro, Advanced Brain Technologies, and Sleep Genius. His bestselling book Healing at the Speed of Sound® is published in five languages. Alex has contributed articles to scientific journals, magazines, and books. He's the host of the Advanced Brain Podcast and a global keynote speaker. Doman's production credits are extensive, guiding teams who've created cutting-edge solutions that have helped millions of people worldwide. His current passion project is bringing Vital Neuro to market, a mobile cloud-based neuroscience platform for brain wellness to help the masses manage their stress and optimize their performance. We talk about his family's amazing journey in studying music to help the brain and how he is furthering his family's work through using music to help people deal with the global pandemic called STRESS. It's super exciting to hear what the future holds for how we'll all be able to reduce our stress like never before thanks to the ancient gift of music and modern gift of digital technology. Find out more about Vital Neuro at www.vitalneuro.com For the relaxation vacation, visit www.sonicrecovery.com For our sponsor, visit www.drneecie.com  

Do you still have dreams? Not at night... in life. As always, I like to look at how life and art are metaphors for each other. Today, what I see is that my life has a creative process to it as well. If we look at a finished podcast episode as the result or output on a micro level, my life as it looks today is also a result on a more macro level. My creative process when it comes to my life is really a function of my values, or what I think is most important. I might not have conceived myself to begin this journey, but at this stage, I believe each one of us is the one “behind the wheel” steering our process towards our results. So, where do YOU want to go? What do you dream of being, doing, or having? What's the creative process that will take you there? After reading enough stories of ordinary people overcoming extraordinary obstacles to make their dreams come true, I'm convinced that if we just trust the process, and don't make the mistake of trying to predict the timeline… that's a rookie move… we can all make at least some of our dreams come true. Oh, and just because you think you missed out on one particular dream in your past DOESN'T sentence you to missing out on the dreams of your future. You just need the courage to dream again… and believe me… I KNOW how much courage that takes.   For the Relaxation Vacation: www.sonicrecovery.com For our sponsor: www.drneecie.com

This week we're going to hear from an extraordinary man that I met at my one and only live business conference I attended in 2021, Mr. Michael Unbroken. Michael's personal story is a testament to the resilience of the human being. It's not that we want to get competitive with our suffering or struggles… you've heard it before… just after you express something you're going through, someone immediately counters with “You think THAT'S bad, dot dot dot, yada, yada yada.” Then they go one to try to one up you on your own challenges! Great. Thanks. Having said that, there IS this thing called perspective, which we CAN use to put our challenges into some sort of framework of understanding. Let's face it, some things simply ARE more challenging than others, and when we hear another person's story when NOT presented as a counterpunch, we CAN take inspiration in that story. The inspiration goes something like THIS, “If blank got through blank, maybe I can get through THIS.” In addition to having an inspiring story, Michael's going to give you two key frameworks to help you through any stressful situation you're facing.  Learn more about Michael at https://www.thinkunbroken.com/ Learn more about our sponsor at https://www.drneecie.com To get my relaxation vacation go to https://www.sonicrecovery.com  

Hey, last week, I lapped the sun one more time… I turned 49 on Tuesday August 31, and Tuesdays are studio days, so I decided to write myself a birthday song! I decided that this time around I was going to write whatever felt good to me without any concern as to whether it sounds like anything I've written before, or as to whether it sounds like anyone else. The working title was “another lap” but as I reflected on that title, it didn't match the exuberance of the track. It also didn't match my own way of thinking when I'm in my best state. Truthfully, I struggle with depression and the days before and after my birthday were rough, but the clouds parted on my personal holiday and I enjoyed the day from start to finish. I am an eternal optimist out of necessity, because it's too easy for my mind to spiral into dark spaces and places, so I invest a great deal of time effort and energy to take as good care of myself as I can so I can access moments of peace, wonder, fun, and connection. “Another Lap” sounds tiring to me, which is how life can feel sometimes. However, a new beginning sounds like it holds the promise of possibility. THAT's the kind of mindset I WANT to have, so I'm CHOOSING to look at this year as just that… a new beginning. That's the beauty of this game. No matter what my past looks like, I can still create a new future for myself that includes all the good… and even more of it! For the relaxation vacation, visit www.sonicrecovery.com For our sponsor, visit www.drneecie.com

This week's episode is an interview with a fellow music therapist-turned-entrepreneur named Brian Harris. He is the CEO and Co-founder of an innovative company called MedRhythms which creates digital therapeutic devices to help people walk again after a stroke, brain injury, or neurologic disease. Brian is one of only 350 people in the world to hold the title of neurologic music therapy fellow, and has been serving patients in neuro rehab at Spalding Neurologic Institute since 2015.  Now, Brian's work may not be specifically related to stress reduction… he just helps people walk again… but our conversation underscores the power of music on the brain and body, and how digital devices can deliver music to us in ever increasingly curated and targeted ways. Learn about Brian at www.medrhythms.com Get the Relaxation Vacation at www.sonicrecovery.com Learn about our sponsor at www.drneecie.com    

This past week was the first week back in school for both of my kids. I know in our culture we use the phrase “Back to school”, and in some ways it's accurate, but in some ways, it's not… ESPECIALLY this year. For my sophomore, there was not a single day in her freshman year where all the students were on campus at the same time due to COVID, so her first days “back” this year look NOTHING like last year… and since she didn't have a freshman orientation last year since NO ONE was on campus at the start… this year's freshmen know more about the campus than she does.  It got me thinking that this past Wednesday was really a first day FORWARD for her, more so than a first day back. Then it got me thinking some more… what if everyday as an adult holds the possibility of being a first day forward? That was interesting, but a little intimidating, but I realized that if I ever want to land on different shores and experience new things, not just a rinse and repeat of yesterday, I'm going to have to chart new courses and move in new directions… which immediately brings up the idea of THE UNKNOWN…. Now what I've learned is some people are innately more comfortable with the unknown than others, but I've also learned that that comfort can be developed. It's not fixed. So in this track, there's a mixture of the unknown and the known… tension and resolution… uncertainty and certainty. I also wanted to convey an overwhelming sense of peace throughout the track, because for me, this life is not a sprint, it's a marathon, and if there's ONE THING I want to KNOW I can find throughout the journey, it's peace. For more information about the Self Care for Healthcare Workshop, visit www.timringgold.com/selfcareworkshop For the relaxation vacation, visit www.sonicrecovery.com For our sponsor, visit www.drneecie.com  

Learning about Polyvagal Theory was a game changer for me in helping me understand my nervous system works. Today's interview is with my dear friend Mike Govoni who is an expert on trauma and healing. Right now, we are being sent so many mixed messages of threat and stress from our environment. Mike's message is super timely because stress triggers cravings, and if you're interested in overcoming any habit, you need to understand the role stress plays on your nervous system, and the role your nervous system plays in recovering.  Learn more about Mike at www.mikegovoni.com Go to www.sonicrecovery.com for the relaxation vacation

Today, August 9, is day one of my Reduce Your Stress Summit for healthcare professionals! Over the next 5 Days, 23 experts will be sharing TED style talks on actionable ways to heal trauma, end burnout, and balance work and life. You don't have to just keep burning the candle at both ends. We all did it to get through our education, and in many work environments the expectation seems to be keep doing it. But you may have noticed it's not sustainable. We wear out, get sick, burn out, develop our own diseases and conditions, and then become the patient our colleagues now have to treat. Don't let the rat race consume you, too. The numbers are NOT GOOD with respect to burnout, depression, and even suicide in the medical profession. If you or someone you care about works in healthcare, PLEASE tune in or share with them this FREE RESOURCE to help you or them become stress resilient so you or they can reignite that flame that had them enter the field in the first place. You or they can STILL register at www.reduceyourstresssummit.com. Back to Front Okay, onto the music. The reason you didn't hear music in the background during the intro is because on THIS episode, THAT music is moving to the foreground! This past weekend, I spent time with a dear friend in his studio where I shared this podcast through his amazing speakers. He simply purred when he heard the background track I use for the intro and outro, and it dawned on me that while “Going Home” - that's the name of the track - appears underneath the announcements, I've never released it publicly before. A Gift I wrote Going Home for an old friend named Ray who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident many years ago. As I think back, it was probably 2004 or 5. Ray's doctor's didn't give him a chance of surviving the accident, but they didn't know what a fighter Ray was and is. I sent him and his parents a card saying the day would come when Ray came home from the hospital and we'd all share a toast. Well, it took quite a while and that day came. And while I was in school in CA and they were back in CT, we toasted over the phone, and they played “Going Home” on their CD player. The vibe of going home represents the peace and good vibes of Ray's parent's home in CT, combined with the happiness of family being reunited. So while you listen to the full track today, I invite you to think of the love and connection that turns a house into a home, and picture that setting in your life, whether it's reminiscing over your home of origin, or it's the one you have now.

Hey, last week you heard me announce my next free online summit is coming up called the Reduce Your Stress Summit for Healthcare Professionals August 9-13. My goal is to help as many people in my life heal the trauma they've been through, turn burnout around and balance work and life so BOTH can be pursued with passion. In my work as a coach and speaker, I meet other experts in the health and wellness space throughout each year, and I've asked over 20 of them come share their knowledge, wisdom, experience, passion, and expertise... with you… for free. They'll be giving short TED-style talks that include action steps you can take that very day to improve your world. You can find out more about the event at www.reduceyourstresssummit.com so check it out! As you know I like to interview artists who also write what this month's guest might call functional music, music that serves a specific therapeutic purpose beyond entertainment or education. This month, I had the honor of interviewing the composer behind the name Liquid Mind otherwise known as Chuck Wild. Chuck is an LA based composer, producer, and Emmy nominated songwriter who was in the band Missing Persons and has worked in the studio with countless artists including Michael Jackson, Frank Zappa, and Paula Abdul. Along the way, Chuck realized he needed to write music for himself as well, and launched the project Liquid Mind more for his own mental health than as a commercial endeavor. Still, 17 albums later, Liquid Mind albums have consistently charted on Billboard sales charts and have reached #1 on itunes USA New Age chart several times. You can find out more about Chuck and Liquid Mind at http://www.liquidmindmusic.com  

Last weekend, we celebrated Angelique's birthday "up the mountain" which means in the tiny town of Big Bear Lake, CA. Tucked alongside the lake itself, the town is a charming break from the sprawl and crawl of southern California. I brought my travel guitar and this melody just JUMPED out of my fingers. It's from the song, "Last Light" off of the Lifescapes CD called "Relax & Unwind: Lakeside" and I'd love to give credit to the composer and performer of the original piece, but it's not listed. Anyhow, when I got home, I literally couldn't play anything besides it, so here is a "timmified" version of Last Light called Mountainside. Hopefully you can hear the majesty of nature inside. Do you work in healthcare? Do you KNOW someone who does? I'm hosting a FREE online summit to help healthcare professionals reduce their stress August 9-13 called The Reduce Your Stress Summit for Healthcare Professionals. Over 5 days, I have over 20 experts share with you actionable ways to heal trauma, banish burnout, and balance work and life… these are things that CAN be done, and ARE being done even in the midst of a healthcare system that is not built to sustain its own. Systemic change is OVERDUE, but there are things YOU can do on the individual level to help yourself in the meantime, and a better you leads to a better family and better outcomes and experiences for your patients, too. Just go to www.reduceyourstresssummit.com for the details, and Come join us!

When you think of partners, what comes to mind? This new track is a tribute to the amazing partner of mine who just had a special birthday. Angelique is not just my life partner, she's my business partner as well. I know not all couples would dare to work and live together (and we work from home so there's NO ESCAPE LOL) but we really do life quite well together. Ask our kids how many times they've heard us raise our voices at each other, and they'll probably admit they've never heard it happen.  I know that early on in our relationship, one of the things that attracted me to Angelique was envisioning life along side her. Her steady, laid back focus, coupled with a razor sharp sense of humor was something I wanted beside me. I, too, like to laugh at life, but I'm a bit more, well, "all over the place" when it comes to my emotions and my focus. I bring the spice, she brings the steady. It's a great fit ! Musically, this track is very much created with two specific partnerships. First, the main rhythm track is elevated into a new level of dreaminess when its partner arrives to harmonize with it. Second, even though there technically is a melody, this song is more a duet. When you hear the melody's partner enter, they both sound better together than apart. That's me... I'm a better man because of Angelique's mere presence. She doesn't have to tell me to do anything. Just being around her makes me want to. So, join me in wishing my amazing partner a very happy birthday!

Loving the Whole... meaning the whole... of me? Whew. That's STILL something I struggle with... not gonna lie here. I'd love to say that I've learned to love the good and the bad, but part of my own challenge is that I still look at past experiences - especially things I either did or failed to do - through the binary prism of 'right and wrong' or 'good and bad.'  Yoga and Recovery expert Nikki Myers is here to tell both you AND me a story of hope: it IS possible to love the whole. In this interview, Nikki shares just what this did for her in her life, and the method she uses to help countless others do the same in theirs.  Whether or not you consider yourself in recovery, Nikki's prescription is relevant, because I'm willing to bet there are things in your past that you'd rather not have there. Listen carefully for the tiny, three-letter word she discovered that changes everything. You can find out more about Nikki and her work at www.y12sr.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsor: Dr. Neecie Moore  

Ride the wave. Such a useful metaphor. Yes, I am actually going to tell you a story about surfing actual waves, but my experience surfing really helped me see how riding the metaphorical waves of life can go well, or poorly. There was a time in my life when I decided I was gonna learn to surf. I had just moved from AZ to SoCal, and my neighbors were surfers, and one day, one of them invited me to learn to surf… in Mexico. Why not? I thought to myself. We drove to his surf shack in Mexico, and down to the beach we went… but this wasn't like any beach I'd been to… you see… there was no sand anywhere… just rocks. Rocks are Better Than sand My friend explained that rock beaches make for the best surfing because they rocks don't shift like sand does, so the waves break in exactly the same spot… every time. “Sounds logical” I told myself… until it was my turn to drop into a wave, because all I saw through the crystal clear waters were ROCKS should I fall… and I was a beginner so guess who expected to be doing a lot of falling that day! I'm not gonna lie. I was a bit terrified, but as I paddled over to the side where the waves weren't breaking, I watched my buddy drop in to the same spot over and over again with a smile like a little kid. He wasn't looking at the rocks. He was looking at the wave. The Art of Focus Recently, life has afforded me the opportunity to ride the wave metaphorically speaking. I've got a BIG wave at work, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm frightened by its size. The game is for me to make sure I manage my focus, because if I look at the wave, it's potentially a thrilling ride, but if I look at the rocks, it's terrifying. In uncertainty, we can look at the wave or we can look at the rocks. I know from experience what both feel like when surfing, and I know from experience what both feel like in life. That's what makes life a wave worth riding. In this new track, you're going to hear the churn of the waves, and you're going to hear my friend's joy riding on top of those waves. Hopefully this track allows you to reflect on 'the surf' that is in your life. What are YOU focusing on? For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsor: Dr. Neecie Moore    

Music That Listens. Wait... what? I know. How does THAT work? Well in this interview with composer and technologist Aaron Labbé, co-founder of LUCID Technologies, Aaron describes his company's amazing technology that actually listens to "where you're at" emotionally, and curates custom musical experiences based on where you want to go emotionally.  Interactive technology using our phones is something I wrote about in THIS BLOG POST. I've also reviewed the music lesson platform Yousician that listens to your playing and scores how well you're learning the material, and that blew my mind when I first encountered it. Aaron's app, called Vibe, blew me away in a similar way.  What makes this technology more powerful than just a playlist, is that you give the app realtime feedback on how you are feeling, and the music changes (or doesn't) based on how you are feeling in the moment, so as you start to feel 'better' the music moves in the direction of your mood to further support the change in emotion. It's what a music therapist does in real time, but through an app. I've honestly never seen anything like it. I'm also excited to announce that this is the first episode we are posting on my youtube channel as well, because Aaron's technology needs to be seen as well as heard, it's that cool. My apologies along the way if while you're simply listening to the audio version of this interview you feel a little left out of the conversation… I was geeking out in screen share mode showing off some cool videos and visuals and I forgot in that moment how to describe what I was seeing to YOU my dear podcast listener.  So, head over to my YouTube Channel to see what all the fuss is about in the video. And I'll tell you what, I'll hook you up for doing so. If you head over to the channel, like and subscribe, and tell me the name of the band poster behind Aaron in the interview, I'll send you a copy of my ebook, Sonic Recovery: Harness the Power of Music to Stay Sober for free, and I'll pick three of you and send you a signed paperback version of the book as well! You can just email your answer to the easter egg to office@timringgold.com. To learn more about Aaron, Vibe, and Lucid, check them out at www.thelucidproject.ca Sponsors: www.McConnellMTS.com www.DrNeecie.com

Calm Down. LOL. If you want me to ramp up, tell me to calm down. However, how do I calm down? What does that really mean? For me calming down is synonymous with turning off my stress response and resetting my nervous system from "React and Protect" to "Create and Connect."   In this episode, I share 3 of my instrumental music tracks that are designed specifically to help your nervous system calm down, down-regulate, and/or reset... whichever language speaks to you, it's all the same to me. Humans need tools to calm down. Breath is one tool, and music is another.  However, the music needs to be a slow tempo, and there needs to be a perceptible beat if your want your nervous system to really, in fact, calm down. The Autonomic nervous system responds automatically to the tempo, or speed, of the music you listen to. So pick music slower than your heart beat when you're wound up, and your body will slow itself down to sync up with that external beat.  Enjoy these three tracks from 'the vault;' putting them together like this gives you 3X the listening experience of a typical episode. My goal by the end of the year is to create 2 albums of an hour each... one upbeat and one downbeat. Stay tuned for that and more!  Sponsors: www.McConnellMTS.com www.DrNeecie.com  

Now before anyone starts throwing things at me... thought mastery does NOT imply thought perfection or control. It means understanding the nature of why and how you think so that you are not at the effect of your thoughts, but actually the master who decides what thoughts to heed, and what thoughts to ignore... and... what thoughts to consciously think yourself. In my experience, it seems like a great many of my thoughts arise in and of their own making... like I am a spectator to them, not the author. I am the audience. If that is the case,  1) who am "I" and  2) where do "they" come from? The way I might answer this may differ from how you might, but here's what I would say:  1) I am a spiritual being inhabiting a physical body  2) Thoughts come from a construct of that physical body known as 'the mind.' So, given this understanding, I am not my mind, I have a mind. I am not my thoughts, I have thoughts. Those thoughts originate in the mind, and I observe them. However, I'll be honest, I don't live my life from that understanding. I forget this on a daily basis. Mastering my mindset is a life long journey, and there are several other podcasts that have helped me along the way (I shared a post about 5 of them HERE) The game really changes when you can realize that you are not your thoughts, and this presentation by The Sober School founder Kate Bee will help you understand this at a deep level, and she'll show you ways to wrangle that mind of yours and not be wrangled by it!   Kate is an amazing, gentle soul to be with, and super smart and eloquent in her ability to articulate some potentially 'heady material.' She has a online coaching program that helps women to quit drinking or take a break from alcohol. It's a 6 week long class that runs a few times each year and the next one is coming up soon, in July. Head over to  https://thesoberschool.com/course and you can find all the details there.  

The challenge with releasing one track at a time on this podcast is that you, the listener, only get to hear one track at a time without having to sift through intros and outros on multiple episodes. Well, it's time for a "Greatest Hits" episode where I pick THREE tracks from the past year and put 'em together so you can finally listen for more than 8 minutes or so.  About 2/3 of my music is downtempo, chill, relaxing stuff, but 1/3 is a little uptempo, or at least starts slow and progresses into an upbeat groove. So this episode, I've selected three "Up" songs from the archives: The T Groove Surprise, Awakening, and Eternal Light.  My goal is to re-record and release a full record this year of an HOUR of these gems, so you can eventually build your own playlists of up songs and down songs. This podcast owes its existence to another music podcast called "The Melodic Sessions" by DJ Prototype 202, and on there, I float away to roughly an hour's worth of dance music at a time. That's my hope for you.  So, this is like a Baskin Robbins taster spoon of things to come. I hope you enjoy! For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnell Music Therapy Services  http://www.mcconnellmts.com Dr. Neecie Moore http://www.drneecie.com

Changing direction is one of the quintessential human strengths, yet it takes more than strength to change. A while back over on the blog, I reviewed a seminal book called "Change Anything," and in that book, the authors trace the change equation to three main influences: Our thoughts, our relationships, and our surroundings.  In this interview with Andre Norman, you're going to hear an amazing story of changing the direction of one's life. In his inspiring story, you'll also hear concrete examples of the three influences listed above. If Andre can go from prison yard to Harvard yard, what kind of change can you make? Be inspired by Andre's story of transformation. Find out more about Andre HERE. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnell Music Therapy Services  http://www.mcconnellmts.com Dr. Neecie Moore http://www.drneecie.com

There are two areas of life that both fascinate me and often frustrate me. They are the concepts of #skillset and #mindset. We might call them the outer game and the inner game. My experience is that they are two sides of the same coin, and if I want to succeed at something, BOTH need to be present, having been built through training and practice. One reason I love art and athletics so much is that they can both be great teachers. I've learned that skillset and mindset are just as vital in these two arenas as anywhere else.   Today's track is called "After the Storm," and it represents the newness - the freshness - that I experience after the rains have passed and the sun breaks through the clouds. It's like a rebirth, a new beginning. I'm looking forward, and I'm thinking forward to what's possible, now that the storm has passed.  What's interesting is that I don't think twice about the fact that there was a storm in the first place. I don't resent or lament the storm. In fact, once it passes, I hardly give it a second thought, even if it's left some sort of damage. I think that's because in my head, I've given nature permission to to be what it is. I just accept it and don't resist whatever comes. However, I'm NOT that way in other areas of my life. For example, when I fail or fall short of my expectations in business, I lament whatever happened, and sometimes dwell upon the metaphorical storm that occurred for weeks, months, or even years. This track is a reminder to me that I can look forward in business, just as I do in nature. It's a choice. Hopefully you'll experience the joy and serenity I feel when moving past the storm in nature, and may we all find the way to looking forward past whatever storms are in our recent past. Enjoy, and if you like it, please let me know either through a review on Apple or even an email or FB or IG shout out! It REALLY means a lot to me. What if you could see your work instantly help others feel better? The band called 2002 experienced this epiphany before they were even a band. Meanwhile, close to thirty years later, as they prepare for their next album release, Randy and Pamela Copus take some time to share their amazing journey of following the flow of music, creativity, and inspiration. Find them online at www.2002music.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com

What if you could see your work instantly help others feel better? The band called 2002 experienced this epiphany before they were even a band. Meanwhile, close to thirty years later, as they prepare for their next album release, Randy and Pamela Copus take some time to share their amazing journey of following the flow of music, creativity, and inspiration. Find them online at www.2002music.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com

In this episode, Tim shares a brand new track that captures the intimacy and majesty of sacred spaces, whether they be indoors or outdoors.  For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews New York Times best-selling author Tana Amen about how she healed her past trauma and how she manages her present day stress. Her latest book, The Relentless Courage of a Scared Child, is available by CLICKING HERE. You can learn more about Tana at www.tanaamen.com. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim shares a sweet new track inspired by his morning routine. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews Listening to Smile founder Ian Morris about the amazing personal transformation that sound healing brought into his life, and how Ian has in turn helped so many more through his unique approach to what he calls "frequency minded music." Learn more about Ian and his company at www.listeningtosmile.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com

In this track, Tim shares another new piece of music inspired by - yes, you guessed it - Pickleball of all things! He recently attended a two day "camp" where he got to be mentored by some of the top professionals in the world, and it gave him a glimpse of how he could take his game even higher. Once again, it was a great metaphor for life.  For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews the father of biohacking himself, Mr. Dave Asprey, on his new book "Fast This Way," and how intermittent fasting is a sure fire way to help beat stress. Find out more about the book at www.fastthisway.com and find out more about Dave at www.daveasprey.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim shares a fresh new track he just wrote drawing inspiration from playing with a professional Pickleball player / instructor for the first time of all things. See if you can picture a new elevation in the harmonics that begin this track. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett  

In this episode, Tim interviews Grammy Award winning producer, author, and songwriter/ composer Barry Goldstein about his work using music, sound, and intention to help people heal their hearts and minds. To learn more about Barry's amazing work, you can find him at www.barrygoldsteinmusic.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim shares another super chill track that had him falling asleep while trying to mix it!  For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews Dr. Shauna Springer from The Stella Center about an amazingly effective and straightforward approach to treating PTSD that could help thousands who suffer from its effects. You can learn more about The Stella Center and their approach at www.stellacenter.com. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim shares a fresh new track inspired by some recent "R&R" that was definitely needed for his body, mind, relationships, and spirit.  For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews Emmy winning artist/composer/music supervisor Michael Whalen on creating music for service and the new way Myndstream shares music in a whole new way. Find out more about Myndstream at www.myndstream.com and find out about Michael at www.michaelwhalen.com. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews artist, composer, and music supervisor Michael Whalen about the purpose of music, and of the exciting platform Michael is head of A&R for called Myndstream, which completely reimagines how to deliver new music. Find out more about Michael at https://www.michaelwhalen.com. Find out more about Myndstream at https://myndstream.com. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim releases a new track that captures the feeling of triumph. In a time where there is so much adversity, now more than ever it is important to celebrate our triumphs. Focus on something you accomplished either last week, last month, or last year, and really give yourself the credit you deserve while this track celebrates YOU. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews internet marketing expert Eelco De Boer on how to practice internet fasting. For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim shares about two things that bring him joy and how he combined them into a piece of music that at the same time pays tribute to his earliest influences.  To learn more about Tim's coaching program that is open right now, go to www.recoveryourrhythm.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews Founder of the software app "Focus@Will" which uses music to help people focus at work. Learn Will's journey from finding pop stardom, and how he left it all behind, and dedicated his life to serving others in a much more therapeutic way with music. Learn more about Focus@Will at www.focusatwill.com. To register for the Stress Elimination Summit: Recovery Edition, go to www.stresseliminationsummit.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim creates one of his most uplifting melodies yet, with a groove that both relaxes and energizes along the way to bring hope to an important week for us all.  To register for the Stress Elimination Summit: Recovery Edition, go to www.stresseliminationsummit.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett

In this episode, Tim interviews his vocal coach on how to use the breath and the voice to quickly and easily move from bing stressed to being relaxed... NO musical talent required. You can find Orgena online at www.chakrasing.com For the "Relaxation Vacation", visit: https://www.sonicrecovery.com For the Music in Recovery Self-Care Guide for Healthcare Professionals, visit: https://hcp.sonicrecovery.com/ Learn about our sponsors: McConnellmts.com DrNeecie.com Production Support: Chris Millett