The Traveler: Healing Journeys Through Music

Jonathan Goldman is one of the foremost pioneers in the Sound and Healing movement, with numerous awards, recordings, and books under his belt. He and his wife Andi Goldman teach workshops, seminars, and Healing Sound events throughout the world. They just returned from a sold-out sound seminar on Vancouver Island, and are preparing for the 19th Annual Healing Sounds Summer Intensive July 19–27 at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland, Colorado. In addition, Andi will be leading a group to Glastonbury, United kingdom, September 7, 2014.   Jonathan, a Grammy nominee, presented at the Institute of Noetic Sciences-Tucson in November 2013, and at the Royal College of Music in London in September 2013. World Sound Healing Day, founded by Jonathan, is in its 12th year with hundreds of thousands attending around the earth. You won't want to miss Cathy's in-person interview with this engaging couple on the next episode of Healing Journeys Through Music. Visit www.healingsounds.com for more information about their work.  

Join Cathy as she takes you on a virtual trip to the 62nd annual Florida Folk Festival, where she recently performed with many other fine and fun Floridians. This festival, held on Memorial Day weekend at the Stephen Foster State Park along the banks of the beautiful Suwanee River, is the longest running folk festival in the country! You'll learn how these folks use music to support causes they care about, and hear behind-the-scenes stories of late-night campsite song circles. With Amy Carol Webb, Elaine Mahon, Grant Livingston, Kathy Zavada, Janet Rucker, and Patchwork.

I first met David Beede nearly 40 years ago—that is hard for us to believe! But during that time I have seen him do many things—and do all of them well. He has been a boat builder and a maker of bowed psalterys and one-of-a-kind dulcimers, including the Eede Beede. Visit www.davidbeede.com.

Lauren Lane Powell is one of the most amazing musical road warriors I know. In her Chevy Express Conversion van, the Magic Cloud, she travels from her home base in Indiana as far as either coast, sharing her music, her stories, and her harmonies of healing workshops with Unity churches and spiritual centers throughout the country—also selling musical instruments, singing bowls, and Goddess dresses.

In this episode, Cathy shares a little bit of the history of the Season for Nonviolence, now in its 17th year, as well as several songs that help to carry this message forward. You'll hear from award-winning musicians Karen Taylor-Good, Claudia Carawan, David Friedman, Anthony Burbridge, and the duo Devotion, among others. You'll also hear some great ideas for hosting events in your own community to raise awareness of this season—study groups, programs for schools, family discussions, community dinners, 64 Ways in 64 Days ... Find out more about this initiative, which lasts from January 30-April 4, at the Association for Global New Thought, http://www.agnt.org.

Enjoy the beautiful soothing sounds of Megha's harp and voice, as this award-winning composer takes a break from her journeys to Europe, Australia, and South Africa to be on our show. We'll discuss and demonstrate some of the healing and interactive aspects of music, and you'll even be invited to sing along!  

You can have your own healing journey this week when you treat yourself to some laughter therapy with co(s)mic musician Greg Tamblyn. Cathy speaks with Greg as he finishes up his annual tour of Florida, getting ready (reluctantly) to return to "the frozen tundra formerly known as Kansas." You'll find out what becomes of "All These Atoms," how "Love Will Come Around," and why he wants "To be the man my dog thinks I am!" If you missed him during his winter tour, you're in luck because you can catch him streaming live right here on The Traveler: Healing Journeys Through Music.  

Legendary folk singer and icon for peace Pete Seeger died at age 94, but his legacy lives on in his music and his spirit. At age 90, he was seen marching in the streets of New York for the Occupy movement. Pete never doubted for a minute that music could change the world and have a positive impact on humanity; he himself is the ultimate example of that. In the early part of the New Millennium, Cathy DeWitt was able to spend several hours with Pete, interviewing him, jamming with him, and photographing him on the banks of his beloved Hudson River. Tune in to hear in his own words how and why the ship Clearwater was built, how he became a sailor, and how he feels about politics and music.

While attending the Posi-Fest this year, Cathy had a chance to sit down with David Roth, the extraordinary singer, songwriter, recording artist, keynote speaker, workshop leader, and mentor to many aspiring artists. David is one of the most compelling of New Thought musicians, and he shares stories of how his career began, his songwriting process, and his collaborations with other artists—including Cathy! And, of course, you will hear plenty of his heartfelt and beautiful music. As Jack Canfield said, "David and his music will touch you to the very depths of your soul. He'll make you laugh and cry, inspire you to rise and fly ..."  

Join Cathy for the first show of 2014, and take a virtual trip to sunny Florida for the annual Posi Music Festival and Awards Show! You'll be warmed up in more ways than one as you hear songs and stories from your favorite New Thought musicians, who come from all over to attend this annual event in Orlando. The festival, always held on MLK weekend, goes from January 17–20, and features performances, workshops, and pajama jams with the likes of David Roth, Jana Stanfield, Daniel Nahmod, Karen Drucker, Greg Tamblyn, Harold Payne, Armand and Angeline, and many more.

Along with a celebration of the Solstice, you'll hear an interview with legendary songwriter John McCutcheon, an icon in traditional and topical folk music, right up there with Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie. His song "Christmas in the Trenches," based on the Christmas Truce of World War I in 1914, is one of the most treasured seasonal songs of any genre and is an amazing tribute to the power of music. Hear in his own words how he came to write this beloved ballad. You'll also hear from Vietnam vet and historian Bill Hutchinson, who has his own story to tell about how an unexpected song saved his life in Vietnam.   Celebrate the songs of light from Peter Mayer, Dancing Light Duo, and Megan McDonough as well on The Traveler: Healing Journeys Through Music.

What happens when several of New Thought music's most beloved and accomplished songwriters get together at the beautiful home of Posi-Music supporter and fabulous fan Jodi Floyd in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 100-degree weather of May to write a group of songs for a new Christmas/holiday CD to be released in December? More Than a Season, a great new compilation from Empower! Hear the stories and songs from Richard Mekdeci, Faith Rivera, Sue K. Riley, Megan McDonough, and many more. Also, to win a copy of the new CD, visit www.thetraveler.us, click on BLOG, and be the THIRD person to write a comment about this episode.

This week, the Traveler takes an unexpected turn as Cathy is interviewed by her guest host Rob Rothschild about the making of her acclaimed recording of new music to the words of Unity poet laureate James Dillet Freeman. You'll get to go behind the scenes to see how this project came about, who played what, how and where they were recorded, and many fun facts about the process. You'll learn how the brilliant arranger Tracy Collins gets his inspiration and hear a little-known poem that was one of James and his wife Virginia Love-Freeman's personal favorites. Windham Hill artists George Tortorelli and Lisa Lynne, Acoustic Eidolon's cellist Hannah Alkire, accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman, and. Rev. Marciah McCartney all played roles in this project, plus many more!

Join Cathy as she celebrates Gratitude Month and offers ways to maintain the "attitude of gratitude," with music from Richard Mekdeci, Teri Wilder, Jan Garrett and J.D. Martin, Carolyn Gauthier, David Roth, and more. You'll hear her stories of amazing connections through the Unity Worldwide family, including her trip to three Unity churches in Oregon. You're also invited to share your own "grateful connection" story at our blog, http://www.thetraveler.us/blog/.

It's National Arts and Health Month, and Cathy's special guest is Tina Mullen, director of UF Health's Arts in Medicine program at Shands hospital. Tina has been involved in this world-renowned program since its inception more than 20 years ago. She has exhibited her own art throughout the United States, studied in France, and been a visiting artist at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida, and the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming.   Tina says she often uses the phrase “out of the blue” to describe unexpected events and ideas that come to her. Listen and learn about her unexpected journey into the world of arts in medicine, then take your own musical journey into trust, led by Jana Stanfield, Penny Nichols, and David Roth.

Join Cathy as she visits with Minnesota songbird, Kiki Carter Webb, of the duo Dancing Light. They share stories and songs, sing a live a capella duet, and talk about Kiki's most recent work, a single release of the Schubert Ave Maria, accompanied by pianist Kathleen Olive, and several other songbirds. Beloved Unity minister Rev. Joseph Bettencourt told Kiki after a recent performance, "When you open your mouth to sing, God comes through, and it has a healing effect on people." Take advantage of YOUR chance to experience this healing musical journey.

Join Cathy and her guest, Christina Tourin, the founder and director of the International Harp Therapy Program. The two met 20 years ago when Christina first had the idea of starting the harp therapy program. Now she has students and teachers all over the world, hosts educational modules everywhere from Ireland to Australia, and has 15 beautiful recordings. The beautiful tones of the strings of her harp will resonate the strings of your heart. You'll hear beautiful songs from her latest CD; amazing stories from her work in Brazil, the U.K. and the U.S.; and a fascinating conversation about the impact of music on people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Today's show kicks off National Arts and Health Month! During this month Cathy will be interviewing people who work in Arts and Health, starting with internationally known leader in the field, Mary Rockwood Lane. Dr. Lane is the cofounder of Shands Arts in Medicine program and codirector emeritus. When she's not traveling, speaking, and doing guest presentations around the world, she teaches Art, Health, and Spirituality for the College of Nursing at the University of Florida. Along with Dr. Michael Samuels, she has coauthored many books, including Healing With the Arts: A 12-Week Program to Heal Yourself and Your Community. Find out more at www.healingwiththearts.com/ and join today's program to find out more about this fascinating woman with a passion for art and healing.

Join Cathy as she plays music for the month of October—Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Bullying Prevention Month—and of course, Autumn! She'll share stories and songs about her Pumpkin Sail along the Hudson River and take you through a musical Ho-o-ponopono forgiveness journey. You'll hear music from Penny Nichols, Faith Rivera, Jamie Lula, and Richard Mekdeci as well.

Dieter Randolph, a brilliant speaker and fourth-generation minister, shares his love for music and his respect for the craft of the artist. You'll get to hear some of his favorite Posi-artists, including his 18-year-old daughter Raina Randolph, Clearwater's Sue K. Riley, and New York's Glen Roethel.

Join Cathy as she shares more experiences from her many years of playing music in health care settings. You'll also meet some of the other musicians who work with her, playing music for patients at the hospital while still maintaining successful music careers in their communities. Find out how they were drawn into this Healing work and how they achieve that balance.   

For this episode, Cathy is in Kansas City—for Sound Connections, the annual music conference for Unity musicians, ministers, and music directors. You'll have a front row seat and a chance to really get to know the amazing Daniel Nahmod.

On this debut broadcast of our new show, The Traveler: Healing Journeys Through Music, your host Cathy DeWitt shares some of her experiences as a hospital Musician in Residence, and demonstrates the soothing sounds of the pentatonic Celtic harp. You'll also find out how Marty Liquori, a No. 1-rated Olympic runner, transformed himself into a jazz guitarist after his cancer diagnosis. And you'll hear some great music designed to take you on your own healing journey.