In this episode of At The Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Jason Paige—best known as the voice behind the iconic Pokémon theme song—for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about art, autonomy, community, and what it really means to build a creative life.

While Pokémon fans will appreciate Jason’s firsthand account of recording the theme song, its unexpected cultural afterlife, and the massive resurgence sparked by Pokémon GO, this conversation goes far beyond nostalgia. Jason speaks candidly about the realities of being a working singer in the late-90s New York session scene, the evolution of his relationship to fame, and the long journey from waiting to be “picked” to choosing himself.

Together, Christopher and Jason explore:

• Why Jason reframes birthdays as “birth-giving days”

• The myth of being discovered vs. the power of community

• Theater as the most complete and sacred artistic form

• The role of ego, soul, and authenticity in music—especially in the age of AI

• How nostalgia economies, fandom, and modern capitalism intersect

• What sustains a creative life over decades: ritual, gratitude, discipline, and purpose

Jason also shares what he’s building now—from global live events and performances to innovative collectible projects—and offers thoughtful guidance for artists navigating doubt, burnout, and the pressure to monetize creativity.

This episode is not just about where success comes from—but how to live with it, after it, and beyond it.

Learn more and get merch at jasonpaige.com

Honor. Cherish. Invest. | A Better Way to Start the New Year

The start of a new year often comes with pressure—resolutions, reinvention, and the feeling that you’re already behind before you’ve even begun.

This episode offers a different approach.

Rather than goals or hype, I share a simple, grounded framework for orienting yourself in the year ahead—one that respects how growth actually works and leaves room for patience, integrity, and real momentum.

We explore three guiding ideas:

• Honor what you’ve already lived, learned, and endured—without getting stuck in the past

• Cherish the present moment through attention and acceptance, even when life feels unfinished

• Invest wisely in your future through small, consistent actions that compound over time

This conversation is for artists and non-artists alike—for anyone interested in living, working, and growing with intention. It’s about shaping a life thoughtfully, forgiving missteps, and beginning again without drama or self-punishment.

Whether you’re listening at the start of the year or any moment when you need to reset your orientation, this episode is an invitation to move forward deliberately—steady, hopeful, and empowered.

The holidays can be beautiful. They can also be lonely, tender, complicated—and quietly revealing.

In this solo episode, I reflect on what the holiday season tends to bring to the surface: longing, grief, connection, memory, and meaning. I talk about spending my first Christmas without both of my parents, about chosen family and evolving traditions, and about what it means to move through this season as both an artist and a human being.

Rather than offering platitudes or forced cheer, this episode takes a grounded, compassionate look at the holidays as a kind of mirror—one that reflects who we are, what we value, and what we’re still carrying. We explore art as sanctuary, sensitivity as strength, and the possibility of belonging even when life feels unresolved.

Whether this season feels joyful, quiet, heavy, or somewhere in between, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, tell the truth gently, and make space for what’s real.

You’re welcome here, exactly as you are.