Empathetic Musicians

EP. 34 - Who Am I Without My Dog On today's episode of Empathetic Musicians, I am bringing you up to speed with where I am at after losing my “source of joy,” my dog Caramel. AND as we are all empaths in this community, I have some insight to how to go about this world as an empath. Grief is personal and you do not need to be understood. But you are not alone in your grief. Highlights ✨ : (3:...

On today's episode of Empathetic Musicians, tune into a BONUS version of our first podcast episode explaining my story with making music! I am reacting to how I first presented my story to the public - "It was very therapeutic for me." From rejection to New York to a music program to one of the greatest trips in my life, in the Philippines! I fell really hard, but I eventually got ba...

We are one week OUT from Mini Mindset for Soul Artists 2023! Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! On today's podcast episode hosted by Sophia Stermer, Founder of Release with Sophia, we are giving you a taste of what to expect inside the FREE 3-Day Event Mini Mindset for Soul Artists 2023. If you’re new to Release with Sophia, welcome! I refer to women and LGBTQIA+ musicians as Soul Artists.    Da...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! Today on the podcast, I have my dear friend Madison Kaminsky talking about her experience as a female composer and what film scoring means to her. Madison is a Composer in Los Angeles, California and her first solo piano album is out on Spotify! She graduated from Sonoma State University where she earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Ar...

Today is International Women’s Day and on the podcast, Empathetic Musicians, I am championing those who have supported me throughout Release with Sophia, the podcast, and my entire journey with music! I am honoring those who have supported me on this podcast by sharing their stories with me and being an example to you Soul Artist: (Ep. 2) Hayley George, (Ep. 3) Aly Leia Wein, (Ep. 7) Sarah Townsen...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! Today is story time and I am sharing a quick story about my recent adventure involving the train! As a soul artist, I also want to share how I stay connected to myself and inspired to make music. I LOVE TO EXPLORE. It’s a part of my identity and maybe it’s also a part of yours :) Highlights: 1:15 - exploring in an approachable way 1:32 - RECAP of trip to the Philip...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! I am the founder of Release with Sophia, formerly named So Just Collab! I have been a little busy while I was away from the podcast. All for a purpose :) BUT LET'S DIVE IN! A year in review✨: 7 incredible guests on the podcast in 2022 hosting my first free workshop I auditioned to sing the national anthem for my graduation from UC Irvine Class of 2022 Spontaneousl...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! I had such a pleasure talking with soul artist Mel (they/them) and diving into their absolutely magical world. I was transformed energetically that day when we had this conversation around music and mental health. Mel currently performs in the Santa Cruz area! "It's really EMPOWERING to LET OURSELVES SPEAK. To LET OURSELVES SHARE a message because I feel like there...

Hey Soul Artist! :) Welcome BACK! To Empathetic Musicians!  If you have been in the community for awhile you know we have switched the name from So Just Collab to Release with Sophia!  I start this episode with a very very short meditation <3  The rest of the episode is a "check-in" with yourself with your relationship with making music. Do you need a reset? This is your res...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians, hosted by Sophia Stermer, owner of So Just Collab LLC.  “One ritual that I like to incorporate when I have a performance or practicing, probably yoga. I think it is really difficult for people like us who are musical and creative and hard on ourselves to have a positive mindset without negative self talk and negative thoughts coming in.”  I loved having m...

Happy August Soul Artist! How are you feeling about this new month? For some, I know, thinking about the whole month is overwhelming. And there is some truth to that! I am a fan of focusing on the present! :) But for me it’s easy to overlook the whole month and stay present. I’ve wrestled with my relationship with music and I like to say that I made it through. Everything is easier said than done....

Hello soul artist! Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! On today’s episode I am sharing how July has been for me. The theme for the month was mindset. Today I covered: Where I have spent most of my free time My disruptor story about why I represent something different than most "musicians" Why I embrace and encourage imperfections Watching a musical in an outdoor setting Going to my first k-pop concer...

Hello soul artists! Welcome to Empathetic Musicians! I realized as I recorded this episode that I am an alum of UC Irvine now. One of my last classes I took was History of Sexuality, which I highly recommend if you are a UC Irvine student. Today, I share a little of how this class opened my eyes to Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community in general. As soul artists, I truly see all of us as human b...

Hello soul artist! In today’s episode of Empathetic Musicians, I am talking with my dear friend Noah Finn. I technically have known Noah since elementary school, but we went to the same high school and shared memories in the choir and drama department. Years after leaving our high school we reunited and it has been nothing but authenticity. Noah is truly one of the most incredible human beings you...

Hello soul artists! Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! As one of the new values of my company So Just Collab, Being Seen, I want to continue to evolve as I better plan for the months and holidays that I highlight and this goes for how I want to start 2023! I am your CEO, but I am your Soul Artist Sophia. I am half Filipino and want to highlight how I’ve recently incorporated...

Today on Empathetic Musicians, I talk about my emotional experience at a local music event hosted by MoCa (Musicians of Color Association) that deeply inspired me, musical theatre, and how this relates to human connection. Watching someone sing can creatively inspire you because you are sharing in their storytelling and their raw emotions.  “You don’t have to be a theatre nerd to love musical...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians, hosted by Sophia Stermer, owner of So Just Collab LLC. Today on Empathetic Musicians, I very much share how I reframed my way of thinking about myself. And this starts with our everyday thinking. In the 24 hours of a day, now 16 or more hours depending on how much you sleep, What do you think about? what do you say to yourself? How do you comment about yourself thr...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians, hosted by Sophia Stermer, owner of So Just Collab LLC. In today’s episode, we are sitting down with Annabella Johan, a soul artist at heart. Sophia met Anna virtually through a friend of a friend at UC Irvine, and ever since that day, she knew she wanted to share Anna's music story! Anna talks about how she had a connection to pop music at a young age, had several...

Hello soul artist! Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing as you listen to today’s episode of Empathetic Musicians. Hi! I am really glad you are here today because I can’t wait to share what is to come in the coming months! First, I think it’s important to reintroduce myself for anyone who is new to the podcast or the So Just Collab community! My name is Sophia Stermer and I am a Mi...

Welcome Soul Artist! On today's episode of Empathetic Musicians I walk through in depth how I was able to rebuild my relationship with music from the day I decided to move away from a traditional path as a music educator. Despite disapproval, rejection, shame, expectations, negativity, bullying, my own thoughts, personal experience and exposure I have come back to my peace. “If making music makes...

Hello soul artist! Today, I am talking about why karaoke has played such an important part of my new relationship with making music! When I was in the Philippines, it was karaoke that brought me back to singing for fun again. In today's episode I cover how I felt when I was asked to karaoke with friends in California and how fear can stop us from opportunities.   As always, empathy, vulnerabi...

Welcome to Empathetic Musicians, hosted by Sophia Stermer, owner of So Just Collab. Today, she is sharing a conversation that she had with her friend Blessing. During her first year at UC Irvine, Sophia met Blessing through a cappella auditions and eventually got to spend more time with Blessing as a member of Clair De Lune, an all-female identifying a cappella group. In today's episode, we talk a...

Hello soul artist! In today’s LIVE! episode of Empathetic Musicians, I talk about jealousy as a musician. Comparing yourself to other musicians who you put on a pedestal or label them as more “successful” tells your brain, that you are worth less than them. Where does this jealousy come from? Comparison? The real word is envy. Being envious of someone’s life, their gifts/abilities, or even their l...

Hello soul artist! Today is a very special day, but as you listen to today's episode I hope that you start to think about the energy that you allow in your life. Do you have a pet that gets you? Do you love to explore? I share insight into my personal life today, outside of being the CEO of So Just Collab, and talk about what keeps me going in life. I cover my opinion on being a student, a daughte...

Welcome my soul artists! Ever tried lyric writing? Today's episode dives into how you can start to explore writing lyrics from the thoughts that you have on your mind. This ranges from putting pen to paper or using a napkin, if need be. We spend a lot of time absorbing music in the grocery stores, the radio, listening to our favorite artists on repeat. And these artists are storytelling. They are...