What Dreamers Do

Long before Daniel Boone was hired to widen it for the Transylvania Company, the path now known as the Wilderness Road existed as the Warrior's Path — a route traveled for centuries by Cherokee, Shawnee, and other Indigenous nations. In this episode, I follow that trail from Cumberland Gap (just a few miles from where I grew up in Whitesburg, Kentucky) all the way to Lexington, where I live n...

What if the simple act of remembering joy could change the world?  In this luminous meditation episode of What Dreamers Do , my friend Geoffrey guides us through a meditation that gathers our most tender memories and sends that energy out like a spider's web touching every living thing. We invite you to get comfortable and settle in for a gentle and uplifting meditation. You are the light. Yo...

Welcome to a deeply personal and transformative episode of What Dreamers Do . Today, I sit down with my longtime spiritual mentor and friend, Geoffrey Bullington, whose journey from the hills of Eastern Kentucky to the mountains of West Virginia—and through the darkness of trauma, war, and inner struggle—has resulted in a lifetime devoted to helping others heal and awaken. In this open, raw conver...

Host: Carla Gover In this episode, Carla Gover shares her behind-the-scenes thoughts about why she created the What Dreamers Do 30-Day Creative Living Challenge , kicking off on April 15th. Carla Gover shares her passion for "creating in public" and explains the power of art and community in counteracting negativity in today's world. She invites listeners to participate in daily cre...

Come with me on a track-by-track journey through Kentucky Queen, my first solo project in 15 years, where I share the personal, cultural, and musical roots of each song on the album. My aim for this episode was to share the stories I love to hear when I listen to a songwriter, like influences, inspirations, and anecdotes. I also share some about my process of song selection, and the musicians who...

Join host Carla Gover and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House as they discuss the creative life. The episode explores the fears and resistance writers face, the importance of honesty in storytelling, and the impact of cultural and religious conditioning on self-expression. Silas shares his journey, experiences, and thoughts on creativity, including his thoughts on representing marginalized groups,...

In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," Leonie Dawson, the vibrant and successful artist, writer, poet, and illustrator from Australia, opens up about her unique journey as a creative entrepreneur. From her time in the Australian government to her inspiring million-dollar online business and Brilliant Biz and Life Academy, you'll discover how Leonie seamlessly blends creativity with...

In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," host Carla Gover welcomes poet, songwriter, and renaissance man, Matthew Sidney Parsons. Born in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia and Tennessee, Parsons now resides in Eastern Kentucky on a family homestead, where he draws inspiration from the natural surroundings and his ancestral heritage in his creative work. During the conversation, Parsons...

Join host Carla Gover in her conversation with veteran Kentucky clogger (and professional psychologist) Steven Smith in this episode of What Dreamers Do. Carla and Steven also discuss the nuances of different dance styles, the importance of creativity in everyday life, and the challenges of teaching traditional dance styles that are similar yet different.  Steve has done it all, from Contemporary...

Welcome back to "What Dreamers Do," the podcast that explores the power of dreams, creativity, and the human spirit. Today we have a special guest joining us on the show. Please welcome Matthew Olwell, a multi-talented artist, musician, and dancer. In this episode, titled "Rhythm and Resistance," we dive deep into the world of dance, and how artists can use their performances a...

In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," host Carla Gover sits down with the talented and multipassionate Jennifer Reid, a researcher, presenter, educator, performer and provocateur.  In her lovely Northern Accent, we get a glimpse of Jennifer's work, as she takes us on a journey through the various art forms that she uses to highlight working-class issues past and present and connect...

On this episode of What Dreamers Do, host Carla Gover talks with Appalachian Author Bobi Conn about her work, her writing process, overcoming trauma, and offering a counter-narrative to stereotypical,  pop-culture representations of the region. The two friends also riff about their personal experiences with healing and success, encouraging listeners to find their own path and express their best se...

On this episode of What Dreamers Do, we catch up with Si Kahn, an activist, author, playwright, organizer, and singer-songwriter known for his powerful songs and lifelong engagement in labor issues, human rights, and environmental concerns. The conversation covers his experiences in the labor movement as an organizer, and his engagement as a folk singer focused on writing songs for and about real...

In this episode, you'll take a deep dive into Appalachian Flatfooting, Clogging, and the general dance history of the Carolinas. You'll also hear the origin story of Rodney Clay Sutton, recognized as a Master Folk Artist in North Carolina.  With a lifelong career in music and dance, Rodney is both a preserver and an innovator in Appalachian Percussive Styles, and was an early member of t...

Welcome back for season two of What Dreamers Do! I kick this episode off by recapping my summer travels with the band, sharing some fun and memorable moments from the UK, Ireland, Serbia, and Greece, and my takeaways about the insights we can gain from traveling. (Including my suggestion for applying the insights when we're back home!) Links Mentioned Cowan Creek Mountain Music School Appalac...

In this juicy interview, we chat with Singer/Songwriter/Producer Rosie Bans, who writes, performs, ad collaborates with other artists and activists to create change for women and other marginalized groups, AND has an innovative support group and course for songwriters who want to give their creativity and motivation a boost. We also discuss her free songwriting challenge, and how she helps songwri...

This is part of my meandering summer episode series, which don't necessarily come out each Thursday, but rather when inspiration strikes. I might be in a cool café in London or an East Kentucky Holler when I record, or maybe just in my cozy living room drinking a cup of tea as I was for this episode. I begin with a reflection on tours past and future, and share one of my zaniest tour stories...

Appalachian Author/Yogi Kelli Hansel Haywood's life and practice is firmly rooted in the soil of her native East Kentucky. In this interview, she speaks about home, art, motherhood, healing, and her artistic processes.  Some of the things we talk about include: The way her knowledge of her kin and extended family has informed her identity provided a lifelong sense of groundedness.  Her feelin...

I'm releasing this interview with Kentucky musician/artist/icon Cari Anna Norris, recorded in the summer of 2021. As Kentucky mourns her passing this week, I wanted to honor her memory with this sweet interview I conducted as part of my dance project, the Kentucky Tour de Dance. She tells us about her grandmother, banjo legend Lily May Ledford of the Coon Creek Girls, whose death when Cari wa...

Why is it that we don't always make time for doing the things we love? And then when we finally do them (and feel great ) we wonder why in the world we waited so long? In this podcast, I muse about why that might be the case, and argue for why we should all be prioritizing those "love-to-do" things in our lives.  I also touch on: Why "I Am" are some of the most powerful wo...

This quick episode is allll about giving you a sneak preview of the amazing creators and tips inside my free e-book, How To Live Your Most Creative Life. I put this together to inspire you, help you break through blocks and stuck places, and get a little motivation to add small creative moments to your everyday life. I quickly tell you a bit about each of our contributors (who are all past or futu...

How moving beyond fear and connecting with your intuition helps every area of your life. Are you someone who is drawn to growth, transformation, and living your most authentic, soulful life? If so, you’re going to LOVE this week’s guest.  Her name is Deepshikha Sairam , and she’s a Priestess of the Divine Feminine and spiritual mentor to high-achieving women entrepreneurs and leaders.  She is also...

This week I'm continuing my chat with musician/songwriter/educator/Appalachian Artivist Sam Gleaves about a bevy of subjects dear to our hearts and our work in Kentucky and beyond. He talks about how his work with cultural organizations such as the Appalshop, The Highlander Center, and Berea College have deepened his activism in the mountains. He also shares more about the educational work he...

Our interview guest for this week is multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, and Appalachian Music Professor Sam Gleaves, who was born and raised in Wytheville, Virginia. Rooted in Appalachian sounds, Gleaves’ songwriting sings of contemporary rural life and social issues. In 2015, Gleaves collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Cathy Fink and released a debut record of original songs, titled...

Whether or not you believe that our thoughts create our reality, I think we can all acknowledge that our attitudes and habitual thoughts can affect our quality of life. I have had a lifelong fascination with the ways that our everyday thoughts, especially the ones we think over and over again, can affect the outcomes of our relationships, career, and creativity. In this episode, I share some ideas...