Episoder

  • My appearance on KPTZ Radio’s show Cats in Our Laps with host Phil Andrus. We discuss my memoir, The Last Sandstorm, which includes a reading and conversation.

  • This season's finale is a follow-up episode of season 3’s finale “Confronting the Culture of Shame”, the most listened to episode of my podcast to date. In this episode, Crystal takes us through the aftermath of that first episode, and what has happened since. We are also joined by a special guest who shares insights from a powerful perspective.

    Crystal McDonald grew up in Hawthorne, CA a suburb of Los Angeles. Attending Catholic School in Elementary and Middle School, she converted to the Catholic faith practice when she was 10 years old. Crystal found the support and love in her Catholic School that she didn’t feel in her childhood home. After moving to Olympia in the Summer of 2000 she met and Married her husband and together are raising three beautiful children. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest of our nation has Crystal facing conflict between her personal faith in Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church. This conflict paired with old cultural beliefs, brought Crystal to a reckoning, and today she faces these traumas and dysfunctions by shedding light on a system of shame and taboo that has failed and continues to fail so many on all sides of the conversation.

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  • Mary Boissel Corcoran is an educator and more! She grew up in Ireland in a liberal family and her college education in Dublin led to a BA in Psychology /English and a BA in French Language, completing her academic goals with a with a Masters in Pastoral Care. Throughout her educational and professional career, Mary received diplomas in Community Development, Marketing, and Setting up Businesses. Mary’s international life led her to live and work in many places, including Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Russia and Croatia. She returned to Ireland in 1996 and worked as a French/Latin teacher for almost 20 years teaching bright 13 year old boys.

    Mary has also worked as a chambermaid, bar maid, apple tree pruner, cashier, English language teacher, in Sales, marketing , as a sales manager and as head of PR for a 5 star Intercontinental hotel in Gabon. Mary’s incredible accomplishments continue with work as an Account executive for L’Union newspaper in Gabon and a volunteer at a children’s hospital in Zagreb as well as President of International Women’s Association in Zagreb. Mary has loved all of her many jobs and careers, and everywhere she worked she was an inspiration, a teacher, and a learner. Mary is a mother of 3 and in post-retirement has founded “Getting There” in 2016, an organization which assists retirees look for part time, temporary jobs., a gratifying service that she is passionate about.

    Mary is a powerful character featured in “The Last Sandstorm: A Memoir” by Jasmin Faulk-Dickerson. In this podcast episode, discuss the book, the relationship between student and teacher, and the challenges of teaching and learning in the midst of cultural differences.

    Website: www.gettingthere.ie

    Book: The Last Sandstorm

  • Hailing from Norway, Kent Olaf is one of the top Michael Jackson impersonators around today. He became a fan of Michael Jackson in 1987, practicing the dance moves and mastering the art since 1994. Studying and observing the choreography of the King of Pop, Kent Olaf transformed himself into a top level dancer. In 2005 fans of Michael Jackson got a first glimpse of Kent Olaf when he performed at the 2005 European Jackson Event. Soon after, he became known in the fan community for his perfected dancing skills.

    Kent Olaf has performed on national TV, toured Norway with big production tribute shows, and thrilled thousands of people with his MJ tribute show.
    Kent Olaf continues to perform as MJ and teaches children the art and magic of the legendary Michael Jackson dances.

    Follow Kent Olaf on:
    Instagram
    YouTube

  • Cade Russo-Young is a second generation dyke and native New Yorker. She was born in 1980 to lesbian moms and has a sister born in 1981. Her moms used known donors to conceive. In 1991 her sister’s donor sued her family for paternity and visitation and in 1993 her family became the first lesbians in history to win a court case against a donor. Their family’s story is now the subject of the mini-series documentary “Nuclear Family” by Cade’s sister, filmmaker and producer Ry Russo-Young.
    Cade is a graduate of Smith College where she studied Women’s Studies and designed her owned concentration in women’s health. For years she worked in the HIV prevention and education field before transitioning into real estate, which she has been working in for the past 13 years. She met her now husband in 2015 when he still identified as female. He transitioned late in the summer of 2015 and they were married at the LGBTQ center in 2016. They live in Greenwich Village with their incredible daughter who just turned 2. She is looking forward to the holidays and to hopefully getting surprised with a dog for Christmas.
    Instagram: @Cadelade

  • Chenoa Murphy was born and raised in Memphis, TN. At the age of two, Chenoa attended her first classical music concert given by the Japanese violin students of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki. This sparked her interest in music and she was enrolled in the Suzuki Violin Method a year later.

    Demonstrating her love and enthusiasm for music, Chenoa continued to develop her natural ability and trained gift in violin and vocal studies throughout her childhood and teenage years. She attended the Overton High School of Performing Arts, summer music camps such as Aspen Music Festival, Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Sewanee Music Center, and the Governor’s School of Performing Arts and the Colour of Music Festival. She has achieved both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as well as 4 years of Doctoral studies at the University of Iowa. Her principal teachers during these earlier and formal years of study were Yuko Honda, Pak-Chung Cheng, Katherine Wolfe, Kurt Sassmannshaus, Dorothy Delay, and Dr. Won-Bin Yim.

    Besides being a former violin and viola private teacher, Chenoa is also a highly sought-after educator, guest lecturer and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitator for various music organizations and college campuses. Her online courses: Introduction to Black Classical Composers and Musicians and Black Classical Musicians: The Journey Onward highlight the contributions and achievements of classical music composers of African descent. Her article “Black Representation in Classical Music Matters” was featured in the Summer 2020 edition of the American Suzuki Journal.

    Currently, Chenoa Murphy resides in Springfield, IL where she is a member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and is a mother of two beautiful children, Victoria, and Jonathan. Chenoa is married to the love of her life, Victor who resides in Glasgow, Scotland. Chenoa has been interviewed by CNN, NPR Illinois, and Huffington Post. Her podcast, “Black, White & In Color,” can be heard on all platforms.

    Website: www.blackclassicalmusicians.com
    Instagram: @blackclassicalmusicians2  

  • Yasser Al-Ghaslan is a Saudi journalist, and media personality. A graduate of King Saud University, in Riyadh with a major in journalism and media. In 1990, Yasser began his journalistic career as a press correspondent with the RAI (the national public broadcasting company of Italy) covering the second Gulf War. Early in his career, he joined several of the most prominent Saudi and Arab newspapers, including Riyadh Newspaper, where he worked as a reporter in the local news department with many contributions in the departments of culture and social investigations. He later joined the editorial staff of the newspaper’s economic section as one of its first journalists. He also worked in Okaz newspaper as a reporter in local affairs in the Riyadh office before transferring  to work in “Al-Hayat” newspaper as an economic journalist in the newspaper’s regional office in Riyadh.

    In 2006, he was appointed managing editor of the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat and director of its offices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He interviewed the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, and Saudi billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.

    Since 2011, he has become a weekly opinion writer in a number of Saudi newspapers such as Al-Bilad, Al-Iqtisadiah and Al-Watan, in which he has been writing since 2013, in addition to his participation as a writer in a number of specialized news sites such as CNN in Arabic. His articles appear on well-known websites Such as Al Arabiya Net and Elaf website and several other websites.

    Yasser’s work includes time as a media advisor and member of several important committees and events, including the saudi Ministry of Labor and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the Media Committee in the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, the advisory committee for the “Our Home is a Trust” campaign, the Committee for the Kingdom’s Participation in the Venice Biennale, and currently a member At the National American Press Club in Washington DC.

    Yasser is a published author. His books include “Information.com": An Attempt to Reveal the True Color of the Red Line by Dar Al-Rayes in Lebanon, "Back to the Front" The Search for so called Saudi uniqueness by the Arab Science House publishers in Lebanon, and his most recent book, Pillars of the Triangle .. Saudi Arabia, America and the War on Terror published by Dar Difaf in Lebanon in 2018.

    Founder and President of the Arab Center for American Studies based in Washington, DC, where he has lived for the past five years.

    Website: http://alghaslan.me/

    Arab Center for American Studies: https://usaarabic.com/contact/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/alghaslan?lang=en

    You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/alghaslan

  • *Season Finale*

    Crystal McDonald grew up in Hawthorne, CA a suburb of Los Angeles. Attending Catholic School in Elementary and Middle School, she converted to the Catholic faith practice when she was 10 years old. Crystal found the support and love in her Catholic School that she didn’t feel in her childhood home. After moving to Olympia in the Summer of 2000 she met and Married her husband and together are raising three beautiful children. The recent COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest of our nation has Crystal facing conflict between her personal faith in Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church. This conflict paired with old cultural beliefs, brought Crystal to a reckoning, and today she faces these traumas and dysfunctions by shedding light on a system of shame and taboo that has failed and continues to fail so many on all sides of the conversation.

  • Monica Peabody grew up singing in family hootenanies and square dancing at granges in the sandhills of Nebraska. She plays and teaches clawhammer banjo and loves to travel, especially touring with her old time band, Yodelady. She works at the Olympia Food Co-op and loves collectives, food justice and community building. She's on the Board of Directors at POWER (Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights). She commutes mostly by bicycle.

    More information on Monica’s music: Yodelady 

    More on the Olympia Food Co-op 

    More about POWER

  • Pastor Amy began her ministry at First Christian, Olympia July 1, 2010. Amy moved to Olympia from Indianapolis, In. where she served as an associate at Allisonville Christian Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Christian Theological Seminary and is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry degree at Claremont School of Theology. Her undergrad work, in theatre, was at Texas Christian University and Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis, IN. Prior to accepting her call into ministry she owned a used bookstore, was a massage therapist, and was co‐founder of the Indianapolis Children's Theatre. She is passionate about creating an open, affirming and welcoming faith community that truly seeks to do justice and be a sign of God's all inclusive love in the world.

  • A prolific composer, Hanneke writes music from personal experiences of love and loss as well as to commemorate the joys and sorrows in the lives of loved ones. Hanneke’s latest release, Trip to Walden Pond, features traditional Scottish and Cape Breton tunes and seventeen new pieces composed in the Scottish idiom. While her lively style is very much evident, this new album carries a deep, soulful sound with songs of celebration and farewell. Produced by Finnish musician Antti Järvelä (FRIGG, JPP, Baltic Crossing), the album showcases long-time musical collaborators cellist Mike Block, guitarists Keith Murphy and Christopher Lewis, fiddler/violist Jeremy Kittel, and pianist Dave Wiesler. Antti Järvelä contributes guitar and piano to a couple of tracks and piper Samppa Saarinen is featured on the uilleann pipes. Trip to Walden Pond, similar to Hanneke’s five previous albums, offers mellifluous arrangements of traditional fiddle music and original tunes that evoke humor and heart. This latest album also includes several compositions penned by Hanneke as commissions to benefit Many Hopes, a children’s education nonprofit based in Kenya that she avidly supports.

    A native of Port Orford, Oregon, Hanneke started out as a Texas-style fiddler and went on to win the 1997 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship, which awarded her the opportunity to study with Alasdair Fraser and introduced her to fiddle camps and the folk community -- both of which continue to play an integral role in her life. Hanneke teaches regularly at Fraser’s Valley of the Moon and Sierra Fiddle Camps, the Mike Block String Camp (run by her husband, acclaimed cellist Mike Block), Harald Haugaard’s International Fiddle School, and the Boston Harbor Scottish Fiddle School. She has served as a guest instructor in the American Roots department at Berklee College of Music, where she received her Bachelor’s of Music in Violin Performance.

    Hanneke is a sought-after performer who has graced stages across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. She has been featured at Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland), KVMR Celtic Fest (Grass Valley, USA), Milwaukee Irish Fest (Milwaukee, USA), Celtic Colours (Cape Breton, Canada), WGBH Christmas Celtic Sojourn (Boston, USA) and the National Celtic Festival (Port Arlington, Australia). The Hanneke Cassel Band features Mike Block on cello and alternating guitarists Keith Murphy and Christopher Lewis.

    For full bio and more on Hanneke and links to all her social media:
    https://www.hannekecassel.com/home

  • Vicky was born in Bermuda to Military father.  She lived most of her life between California and Colorado. For 9 year she lived in Saudi Arabia working at the King’s hospital.  After her time in the desert of Saudi Arabia, she fulfilled a big dream and moved to the desert of Arizona.

    Vicky says: “I am what is known as a geriatric Mom, I was 41 years old when I had my one and only child in Saudi Arabia.  I have two step children, one in Colorado and one in Maine. Have a granddaughter who is 2 and a granddog who is 1 year old as well as three cats!

    I was born hard of hearing and used to wear hearing aids.  I attended special education up until 5th grade.  Then, I mainstreamed into regular school with its challenges.  In 2004, I got my cochlear implant which I love and it came in time, too.  My work started using personal work phones shortly after that and the cochlear implant assisted  me with hearing on those phones at work.  Cell phones were becoming popular, too.  But, gravitate to texting instead of hearing on the phone.

    I am quite active. I ride bikes, used to mountain bike seriously, but now take hilly streets nearby; hike, treadmill, and floor exercises.  I climb stairs at work. I love to sew, read, and cook.  I do play the piano if only I would sit long enough!”

    Vicky attended nursing school in Colorado, and eventually obtained her BSN after her diploma in Colorado followed by her Master’s in Arizona. She has been a nurse for almost 40 years, working mostly on a Med/Surg floor.  While in Saudi Arabia Vicky climbed the ladder to be a Head Nurse on a Med/Surg floor.  After a rich career in nursing, Vicky is planning for her retirement in the next year or so!

    Vicky met her wonderful American-Italian husband 16 years ago, and has been happily married for 13 of those years.  Vicky and Sal travel a lot, and plan to travel more after retirement!

  • Black History Month series

    Raymond returns to the podcast in this live conversation during the Northwest Scottish Fiddlers annual event. We celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with our special guest Raymond.

    Raymond C. Mobley is an artist based in Olympia, WA. He composes, records and produces R&B, hip-hop and jazz music. He is a veteran who has proudly served his country until retirement. As a black American in a bi-racial marriage, Ray talks about how he comes to terms with the challenges in society's racial injustices and how he rises above it  thanks to his upbringing and color-free view on life. Ray released his debut album "Breathe" on July 17th with Green Monkey Records.
    In Raymond's words: "This album is a reflection of my life. I wrote, performed, recorded and edited the whole thing. I used tools from all areas of my travels and experiences to do so. It took me a while to realize that I could do all of these things if I simply applied myself. This album has been one of many ups and downs. This album took a while to complete as I struggled to find who I really was as an artist, even though I started at a young age. My siblings often ask me for advice and the one thing I always tell them is to be true to themselves without comprises. Today, Breathe is a perfect representation of who I am. It is dedicated to the struggles that my people face still today. It is also a song that identifies the struggles that my fellow soldiers had to face in order to preserve freedom."
    For more, please visit:
    https://greenmonkeyrecords.com/artist-raymond-c-mobley/
    https://raymondcmobley.wixsite.com/website

    To purchase the digital album Breathe: CLICK HERE

  • Black History Month series

    Briar is a singer of vintage jazz, blues and original music. By blending a powerful voice with stories about the history and origins of her music, she shines a light on singers and tales that have been forgotten by the country that created them. Raised in the small community of Chimacum, Washington, Briar uses her music to help explore her unique background as a black woman from the rural Pacific Northwest.

    Whether belting Bessie Smith numbers or crooning original songs about Sherlock Holmes, her performances are defined by her combination of grace and playfulness, elegance crossed with down-home bravado.

    In addition to her regular engagements as a singer and ukulele player, Brair teaches music for Seattle JazzEd, is a leader of the Rhapsody Project,  and is currently pursuing a degree in environmental science from Olympic University.

    Tune played: Keep It To Yourself (Briar, vocals - Joe Seamons, guitar - Sunpie, accordion) 

    More info:

    Website: https://www.briarsings.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briar.sings/
    Rhapsody Project: https://www.therhapsodyproject.org/ 

  • Black History Month series

    Alisa McDuff has spent her whole life facing challenges like a champ. Born to black parents, she was raised by her adoptive white father who married her mother when she was a toddler. After losing her mother at a very young age, she was raised by her white father and an entire white family when years later her father remarried and she gained a new mother and adult siblings, all white. These events and people shaped Alisa’s life and helped her become a strong advocate of racial understanding. She has experienced life as a young black child and adult black women behind a different lens than most of her black brothers and sisters.
    Today she raises her three daughters with a strong sense of self. With deep pride in her racial identity and also deep gratitude for her white family, she knows first hand how important it is to grow up with limitless potential and freedom of self expression.
    Alisa is also a health advocate and a student of Ayurveda. Her goal is to make natural healing and self-care accessible for marginalized communities and underserved populations.

  • Black History Month series:

    Tehran Von Ghasri is ½ Black, ½ Persian, and ½ Amazing; these are the ingredients that make Tehran “SoParvaz” one of the most dynamic entertainer newcomers today. Exploding on the SCENE hosting, performing, and throwing events from s Read More old out comedy shows to rock concerts his energy, excitement, and unique sense of humor have made him a formidable comedian/entertainer in his own right.
    Hosting highly rated TV and Radio programs, the 25 yr old sharp witted Law student has been compared to a mix of Dave Chappelle and Stephen Colbert meet Maz Jobrani. Tehran has the best of both worlds. Hailing from the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., Tehran was born and raised in the United States to an Iranian father and a Black-Tehran-2American mother.
    His parents chose the name Tehran as a reminder of his Persian roots and culture. Much of his clothes are custom made to proudly display the name Tehran. The nickname “SoParvaz” which is a more literal way of saying “So Fly” was added much later.
    Speaking, reading, and writing Farsi, he has great respect for his Iranian heritage as well as his American side.
    In his humor he encourages young Iranians to learn Farsi and appreciate Iranian culture. As a proud Iranian/American, Tehran has always been a leader in the community, working diligently toward a stronger, more united better tomorrow.
    Tehran is definitely NO angel. In fact he is very “sheytoon.”
    Being in trouble and getting out of it is part of his charm. From going to school to going to court, Tehran talks openly about his life exploits and lessons on stage, TV, and stage connecting to audiences of all walks of life. Putting motivation and inspiration in his humor or vice versa Tehran-3Tehran encourages younger and older audiences alike to understand each other, respect each other, learn from each other, and teach each other. Look for this charismatic newcomer on Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam, NBC Sitcom, and/or Sold-Out Show near you.
    More on Tehran:
    Website: https://www.iamtehran.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamtehran/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TehranVonGhasri

  • Maz Jobrani is a comedian, actor and host of his own podcast, BACK TO SCHOOL WITH MAZ JOBRANI on the All Things Comedy Network. His new standup comedy special PANDEMIC WARRIOR is now available for streaming on PeacockTV.

    As an actor, he was most recently seen playing the loveable “Fawz” on the CBS comedy SUPERIOR DONUTS. He has made many appearances on television’s most popular shows including GREY’S ANATOMY, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BETTER OFF TED, LAST MAN STANDING, and SHAMELESS. He has also been a regular guest on THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT AND THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN. Maz starred as the title character in the award-winning indie comedy, JIMMY VESTVOOD: AMERIKAN HERO, a feature which he co-wrote and co-produced. He has co-starred in many additional films, including Sydney Pollack’s THE INTERPRETER, Disney’s DESCENDANTS and Ice Cube’s FRIDAY AFTER NEXT.
    Maz’s other standup comedy specials include IMMIGRANT, which was filmed at the prestigious Kennedy Center and is a NETFLIX original, as well as 3 additional solo specials on SHOWTIME: BROWN AND FRIENDLY, I COME IN PEACE, and I’M NOT A TERRORIST, BUT I’VE PLAYED ONE ON TV.

    In the Spring of 2016 he performed at the White House where he had the privilege of introducing Michelle Obama. As a UC Berkeley alum, Maz gave the keynote speech to the graduating class of 2017.

    Maz served as the host for the 45th International Emmy’s in New York. He was a founding member of THE AXIS OF EVIL comedy tour, which aired on Comedy Central. He is a regular panelist on NPR’s WAIT WAIT DON'T TELL ME and has given 2 TED Talks. His LA Times Best Selling Book, I’M NOT A TERRORIST BUT I’VE PLAYED ONE ON TV, was published by Simon & Schuster. Maz executive produced EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE, a documentary about his sister’s battle with breast cancer which is currently available on iTunes.

    For More, please visit:
    Website:      mazjobrani.com/
    You Tube:    youtube.com/user/Mazjobrani
    Facebook:   facebook.com/mazjobrani
    Instagram:  instagram.com/mazjobrani/
    Twitter:       twitter.com/MazJobrani
    Podcast:     mazjobrani.com/back-to-school-with-maz-jobrani-podcast/

  • Annie Barrett is a Bilingual Educator, Certified Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coach, Yoga Health Coach, Ayurvedic Wellness Consultant, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Trainer.​

    Annie has worked in the field of education since 1995, and in the fields of yoga, and wellness since 1998. She educates and empowers groups and individuals to live more vibrant lives with the tools of holistic wellness, coaching, mindfulness, habit change science and yoga.

    As an educator and public speaker, she is skilled at conveying holistic health and wellness information to a variety of diverse populations in a clear and effective manner. She's talented at creating and delivering wellness curriculum and courses in both online and in person formats. She has an excellent record of service in public education, community healthcare outreach and multicultural education.

    As a Certified Integrative Health and Wellbeing Coach, Yoga Health Coach, and Ayurvedic wellness consultant she is trained to focus on integrative and preventive healthcare as well as health promotion with a specific focus on diet, lifestyle, and stress reduction techniques utilizing the tools of the Ayurvedic healing system, yoga and habit change science. She has a comprehensive knowledge of health, nutrition, and fitness issues and is familiar with the types of diseases arising due to poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. As a coach, Annie’s aim is to listen deeply, see each client as a unique and whole person, and work cooperatively to restore balance and well-being.

    As a certified yoga teacher and trainer with over 20 years of teaching experience and advanced training in yoga philosophy, meditation and Ayurvedic yoga therapies, Annie excels at creating and executing inspiring, effective and therapeutic classes, programs and retreats for groups and individuals for mind-body wellness. She founded her own Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School and has offered 200 and 300 hour yoga teacher training programs. She has mentored yoga teachers and yoga health coaches.

    For more information, visit:
    https://www.vibrantsoulful.com/ 

    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/vibrantsoulful 

  • Samira is a Fresno native that lived in Texas for several when she later moved to the Bay Area with her two bi-racial sons .  She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Technical Management.  As a hyphenated American (Iranian-Muslim) woman, she is passionate about people and celebrating diversity.  She is an award winning Program Manager and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) champion.  She is also the co-founder of several DEI initiatives that focus on intersectionality and organizational accountability.

    Ali is a Bay Area native having spent most of his time between Richmond and Oakland. Both his parents are from the south and moved to the Bay Area when they were young. Ali is a proud father and has 3 other siblings. He went to North Carolina A&T State University which is a historically Black university and majored in Finance. He has worked on both the east and west coasts and is a co-founder of several DEI initiatives that focus on intersectionality and organizational accountability.

    For more:

    Website: https://www.wnsdifferent.com/    
    You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wnsdifferent
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wnsdifferent/
    Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-not-so-different/

  • MARÍA SAN MIGUEL

    Beginning the violin at age three, Maria developed a passion for the instrument as well as a true vocation for music. She pursued her studies at the Conservatorio Profesional de Música de Valladolid and finished her music studies in University at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Castilla y León. Her interest in trying to complete her music education brought her in touch with other music styles, eventually collaborating with the Edu Soto Plan Renove Band, Mariachi Guerrilla and more. Her new-found fascination for other culture´s music and its origins guided her to Scottish folk music which woke up her curiosity for the Castillian folk music being played in her own culture. Simultaneously her passion for teaching and pedagogy specialized in infants, learning from the musician and pedagog Paulo Lameiro, let her put together part of what is becoming a world-wide trend: Music Workshops for Infants. She has conducted these workshops to great success in both Spain and Germany. Currently, she continues her classical and folk music studies, taking classes from Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Diego Galaz, Begoña Riobó, Casey Driessen and belongs to the acclaimed European folk bands, “Atalantic Folk Trio”, “Brigantia” and “Dahvar”.

    GALEN FRASER

    Galen Fraser is an accomplished fiddle player, composer, engineer and producer from the foothills of Northern California. Best known for his modern take on celtic traditional music, he tours with the praised Spain-baised Atlantic Folk Trio and the original duo María San Miguel & Galen Fraser.

    Galen has performed at The Mandavi Centre, The Palace of Fine Arts, Symphony Hall in Boston, Ma, with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and many other esteemed venues in the United States and Europe.

    With a love for improvisation and composition, Galen's passion led him to pursue music as a career, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music. In August 2016, Galen released his debut solo album, "Mischief Managed" featuring all original fiddle music and songs with guests such as Natalie Haas, Alasdair Fraser, Jenna Moynihan and Neil Pearlman.

    For more on Galen & Maria:
    Websites:
    galenfraser.com
    mariasanmiguel.com
    atlanticfolktrio.com
    stayathomefestival.com

    Facebook:
    facebook.com/galenfrasermusic
    facebook.com/atlanticfolktrio
    facebook.com/stayathomefestival2020

    Instagram:
    instagram.com/galenfrasermusic/
    instagram.com/galenfraserphoto/
    instagram.com/marymeryfiddle/
    instagram.com/musicaenfamilia/
    instagram.com/atlanticfolktrio/
    instagram.com/stayathomefestival/