Music Is My Mantra

🎙️ New episode of Music Is My Mantra is here — Episode #44 is a journey from the battlefield to embodied healing. I’m joined by Susanna Stokes — former Marine Corps officer, Afghanistan veteran, and now mindfulness teacher and energy priestess guiding others through transformation. Susanna shares how music was a lifeline during deployments, how moments of disillusionment cracked open her path to d...

🎙️ New episode of Music Is My Mantra is here — Episode 43 takes us from the battlefield to the breath. I’m joined by Tim Thomas, former Australian Special Forces commando turned breathwork teacher, who discovered in the silence of combat that the breath is life’s hidden rhythm. After facing PTSD, adrenal fatigue, and near-death exhaustion, Tim transformed his pain into purpose — creating the Breat...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode of Music Is My Mantra – Episode #42, and it’s a deep dive into music, community, and creative freedom. I’m joined by Mendeleyev — baritone singer-songwriter, producer, and voice improvisation facilitator — whose career has taken him from The Voice (Team John Legend) to opening for Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, and Madison Cunningham, to leading circle singing communities in Lo...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode of Music Is My Mantra – Episode #40. I’m joined by Kyle Fleming — board-certified music therapist, assistant professor, and clinician specializing in child and adolescent mental health — who shares how music therapy bridges creativity, science, and compassion. From its roots in World War I hospitals to modern trauma-informed care, Kyle takes us through the history of music t...

🎙️ New Podcast Episode of Music Is My Mantra – Episode #40 and it’s a journey into emotional freedom, healing, and self-empowerment. I’m joined by Sophia Torrini — certified EFT practitioner, neuro change consultant trained by Dr. Joe Dispenza, and founder of Tap Into Your Best Self. Sophia shares her powerful story of survival and transformation — from a near-death surgery and 16 years of health...

New Podcast Episode of Music Is My Mantra – Episode #39: It’s all about artistry, resilience, and the evolution of a songwriter. I’m joined by Veronica “V” Torres — singer-songwriter, guitarist, and storyteller — who takes us behind the creation of her new album 'Woman'. From growing up in Harbor City surrounded by her parents’ eclectic record collection, to discovering guitar at 11 after watching...

🎙️ New episode in My Mantra episode 37 is here, and it’s all about reinvention and resilience after 60. I’m joined by Allison McCune Davis — author, traditional naturopath, mom of five, and entrepreneur in the world of natural health. With her new book 60 Is a Good Start: A Powerful Body, A Purposeful Life, and a Plan to Make It Happen, Allison shows that aging is not an ending, but a powerful beg...

🎙️ New episode in My Mantra episode 37 is here, and it’s a journey from monkhood to entrepreneurship. I’m joined by Madhu Das, wellness practitioner, musician, podcast host, and former monk who now leads a conscious marketing agency helping others share their gifts with the world. Madhu shares how music, mantra, and spiritual discipline shaped his path—from growing up surrounded by Indian instrume...

🎙️ New episode of Music Is My Mantra is live! Episode #36 features Victoria White—artist, teacher, and creative force whose journey embodies recovery, resilience, and radical self-expression. From practicing law to painting vibrant portraits, from battling illness to finding healing through The Artist’s Way, Victoria’s story is one of transformation and courage. Her shows blend art, music, and sou...

🎙 New Music Is My Mantra episode 35 is here! I’m joined by Amita Sharma, co-founder of NourishDoc, a global holistic wellness platform supporting women through every stage of hormone transition from PMS to post-menopause. Amita shares her powerful perimenopause journey, how music and mantra supported her healing, and why opening conversations around women’s hormones is essential in workplaces and...

🎙️ New episode of Music Is My Mantra is here, and it’s all about the healing power of sound. I’m joined by Ruth Goncalves — The Frequency DJ, who curates soundscapes designed to rewire the nervous system and shake loose stored trauma through beats tuned to your soul’s blueprint. Ruth shares her journey from Australia to Spain, from skepticism to sound healing, and how frequencies, intention, and v...

New episode of Music Is My Mantra is here, and it’s all about healing from the inside out. I’m joined by Erin Cutrone, therapist, trauma specialist, and founder of Anahata Wellness, whose work focuses on the nervous system and how our bodies hold (and release) stress. Erin shares her powerful journey from early days in psychology to discovering how sound, vibration, and subtle body practices can u...

🎙️ New Music Is My Mantra episode just dropped, and this one’s a journey into the unseen. I’m joined by Ada Trinh, a modern shaman who blends ancestral wisdom, energy work, and music to heal on a soul-deep level. Ada’s path began in the world of Hollywood makeup artistry, traveling with bands and working behind the scenes with artists like Echosmith, Judith Hill, and Chanel West Coast. But in 2020...

In this inspiring episode of Music Is My Mantra , host Courtney McKenna sits down with Brian Goodall, songwriter, producer, and executive director of City Psalms , a faith-based nonprofit in Tucson, Arizona. For over 20 years, Brian has written and produced music across genres — from indie rock to gospel — with one central mission: to use creativity as a bridge between communities. Through City Ps...

🎙️ New Music Is My Mantra episode just dropped, and it’s a deep, soulful dive into healing, embodiment, and voice reclamation. I’m joined by Miranda Mitchell—an embodied leadership guide, voice activation mentor, and creator of Dancing with Shadows and Stillness, a human design oracle deck and web app. In this episode, Miranda shares her extraordinary journey from personal training and single moth...

🎙️ New Episode of Music Is My Mantra just dropped—and it's a powerful one. I’m joined by songwriter, entrepreneur, and content creator Bubba Startz, who’s using music and podcasting to build real community from the ground up. In this episode, we dive into Bubba’s journey from busking on Venice Beach and performing in rural Mexico to launching The Scene Projects and winning Content Creator of the Y...

New Episode of Music Is My Mantra is here, and it’s a soulful one. I’m sitting down in person with the incredibly talented Joe August—music therapist, multi-instrumentalist, and indie artist blending healing with artistry in powerful ways. In this episode, we dive into Joe’s journey from growing up in a family of artists in Pasadena to launching his own private music therapy practice in L.A.—suppo...

🎧 This week on Music Is My Mantra, I’m joined by Nakeya Fields—licensed therapist, author, speaker, and founder of the Therapeutic Play Foundation—for a heartfelt, wide-ranging conversation about the real power of play. From creating safe spaces that go way beyond the therapist’s office to using music, art, and movement as healing tools, Nakeya shares how her work is helping people reconnect with...

This week on Music Is My Mantra , I’m getting real about how playing live music again is reshaping my health, mindset, and creative life. Recorded from my car (yes, it’s busy season!), this solo episode is an honest look at why performing with others feels so different—and so necessary. Whether you’re a seasoned musician, a hobbyist, or someone craving creative purpose, this one’s for you. ✨ Epis...

This week on Music Is My Mantra, I’m talking about saying yes—even when it feels awkward. Recorded right from my car (because life is busy!), this solo episode is all about how showing up, even solo, leads to genuine connection and surprising opportunities. From running into friends at local shows to landing three gigs in 24 hours without sending a single cold email—this one’s proof that community...

This week on Music Is My Mantra, I’m sharing a heartfelt solo reflection on the power of play—and why community makes all the difference. Inspired by my recent conversation with Robin Jackson, this episode explores how music, friendship, and shared creative spaces can help us heal, connect, and thrive. From singing with friends old and new to navigating the balance between building a business and...

This week on Music Is My Mantra, I’m joined by award-winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and community catalyst Robin Jackson—and this conversation is a soul-nourishing ride through grief, creativity, and healing through music. From European tours with steampunk marching bands to creating songwriting retreats that change lives, Robin shares how music became a lifeline—first in the shadow of...

This week’s episode is a quickie—but a goodie. In the spirit of June’s theme—play—I'm keeping it light, fast, and fun. From road trip memories with my mom to unexpected sweatshirt purchases and a spontaneous Pink Floyd deep dive, this episode is a reminder that playfulness is healing, and presence is powerful. We’re talking classic rock, Sedona vortexes, and the freedom of not taking yourself (or...

Welcome to a new season of Music Is My Mantra! This month, we’re shifting gears into the power of play—not just as an artistic practice, but as a profound tool for nervous system regulation and creative liberation. In this solo episode, I open up about the perfectionist mindset that used to keep me stuck—and how learning to play again brought freedom back into my music, my voice, and my life. From...

This week on Music Is My Mantra, we close out Mental Health Awareness Month with one of the most personal episodes I’ve ever shared. Join me for a solo reflection on my song Galaxies Collide, a track written at a time when I mistook chaos for chemistry and believed that intensity equaled intimacy. In this heartfelt journey, I open up about the patterns I didn’t yet recognize, the grief I hadn’t ye...