River of Suck

What can we learn from someone who thinks in pictures?  For the premiere of Season 2, Andy Reiner interviews Dr. Temple Grandin - an animal scientist, author, public speaker, and inspirational figure to the autistic community.  How do we solve big problems with simple, logical solutions?  What do animals feel?  How do we handle fear and reach a flow state?  Listen for Temple's enlightened answers...

Alex Hargreaves and Andy Reiner share tunes and talk shop - live at Fiddle Hell with the River of Suck Swim Team!  Dueling twin fiddles set the scene with improvised musical moments.  With an enthusiastic studio audience, good vibes abound for an open discussion about healthy musical attitudes and secrets to handle thought piranhas, downward thought spirals, improving musicianship, and playing wit...

Bugs on Bugs is a pivotal River of Suck episode about the intersection of microbial science, mental health and the learning process.  Anne A. Madden's experience speaking at TED conferences, thinking outside of the box and winning bizarre awards brings a delightful whimsy to swimming the River of Suck.    "When are the thought piranhas really piranhas - and when are they minnows with big shadows?"...

"From Here to Here" details Courtney Hartman's musical journey from her childhood home in Colorado to her current massive project renovating a barn on the same property.  Formerly of bluegrass band Della Mae, Courtney's insights into emotions, fear and creativity present a refreshingly honest view into the mind of an artist, willing to share what she has learned from her experiences with all of us...

Live at Rustic Roots Music and Food Retreat, host Andy Reiner sits down with teaching artist and special guest, Ric Robertson, in a historic dance hall from the 1800's.   Ric harnesses the power of lyrics and song for parsing packages of emotions.   With questions from the live audience of Rustic Rootians and Swim Team members, Andy and Ric go deep into the learning process, with tough mentors, pr...

Global Change Ecologist, Danica Lombardozzi, drops in to the River of Suck podcast studio to discuss climate change, political doubt about scientific research, making a difference, being outside, creativity in music and science, digging for worms, ignoring bad advice, community, taking criticism, compassion, making the world a better place, talking to people who disagree with your own views, failu...

Recorded in front of a live studio audience, River of Suck Episode 7 finds Andy Reiner connecting with drummer, percussionist and educator Cedric Easton, both teaching artists at Creative Strings Workshop in Delaware, Ohio.   Together, their journey begins with family and church, continues with musical connections, emotional pathways and choices, and features questions about self-doubt from member...

Megan Rau takes River of Suck listeners on a journey across pastures of fear, consciousness and thought piranhas through the lens of training horses and instructing riders.   Megan's unique take on French Classical Horsemanship makes a strong case for compassion for horses and other animals.   Episode 6 features being in the moment, rescue dogs, emotions, growth mindset, harmony with horses, domin...

Fiddler and singer-songwriter Jeremy Garrett takes a podcast-length break from the Infamous Stringdusters for a deep conversation about music and life.   True passion, success and satisfaction, lyrics and songwriting, playing solo and with the Stringdusters, motivation and believing in oneself.   "You can't get good without trying to get good."   How do we exist in a world filled with our heroes a...

Ecologist Pacifica Sommers takes a break from analyzing samples she collected in Antarctica to ponder rivers and water bears in Episode 4.   Cryoholes, oceans of suck, Ernest Shackleton's journey, impostor syndrome, tardigrades, microbes and thought piranhas.   Pacifica brings her unique perspective on science, life and the outdoors to the River of Suck conversation, to a groove cafe soundtrack of...

Colorado fiddler and educator Natalie Padilla discusses how to survive and thrive with host Andy Reiner in the third episode of River of Suck Podcast.  Family bands, fog, cooking, fiddling, contests, teaching, and of course, thought piranhas.  Traditional and improvised duo fiddle and octave mandolin jams provide the groovy soundtrack to the conversation.  

Intel engineer Nick Economou sits down with host Andy Reiner for a spirited discussion about science and thought piranhas.  The second episode of River of Suck offers insights learned from Nick's work on developing materials for smaller and smaller computer chips, as well as a lifetime spent in search of epic skiing and mountain experiences.  All original music composed for this podcast by host An...

The pilot episode of River of Suck with host Andy Reiner.  Cellist and singer/songwriter, Rushad Eggleston (the Bat Prince of Jick), sits down with Andy in a spare speck of time between electrifying performances and school visits in December 2018.  Using music and words, they trace the origins of the title phrase as well as Rushad's artistic journey through life and the river of suck.  Thought Pir...