Composer Jessica Mays brings us into her internal and external worlds of observation and creative flow. Side quests include observing children as sages, seeking home in the body, trying not to try, and lots of plants and bird sounds. Super gratitude to Mays for a great convo, for opening up about her adult development of synesthesia, and of course for writing such sweet and quirky TPQ theme music.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/yWynDyqHkE0

Go here to soak up more Jessica Mays: https://jessmaysmusic.com/

Go here to learn more about synesthesia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi_0wqFmT4A

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

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Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

Town Justice and Mediator Russ DeFonce guides us through making judgements and finding agreement in rural smaller population communities where communication skills and positive relationships are vital. Side quests include reverence for the arts, teaching as a learning tool, and obviously the most important topic - cats.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/Qe1diO_OMlk

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
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Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

Author Dave Maass and Illustrator Patrick Lay walk us through collaboration, compromise, and commitment to staying the course through the lens of their work adapting Peter Kien and Viktor Ullmann’s suppressed 1943 opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis into their acclaimed 2024 graphic novel Death Strikes: The Emperor of Atlantis. Side quests include some pretty solid and totally worthy idol worship of Dark Horse Comics’ Karen Berger, how finished is better than perfect even though there will always be what-ifs and could'ves, and how every interview should come with someone whipping out a viola.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/nu9CMjwflEs

Go here to learn about Death Strikes: https://bit.ly/46MM41I

Go here to learn about Der Kaiser von Atlantis: https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/musicdb/pieces/4123/the-emperor-of-atlantis

Go here to watch a clip from the Louisville Orchestra production featuring Dave and Patrick’s work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f81kGzl58Q

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
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Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

Conductor and Music Director Kelly Kuo explains the difference between listening and hearing, and how trusting someone else’s ears is frequently a better plan. Side quests include leading when you’re not really in charge, encountering unexpected compliments, dealing with bad reviews, and living by the golden rule.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/nYK7OT1c-r0

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
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LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/catherinebeeson

Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

Paramedic Railey Zantop-Zimlinghaus is not having it with your fake shark attack but she is definitely going to thoroughly assess, prioritize, and delegate her way through both complex and mundane 911 situations. Side quests include learning the ABC’s, the pros and cons of snacks for dinner, and professional level Grade A snooping.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/lC-frXjL3_U

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
Instagram https://instagram.com/iamcatherinebeeson
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/catherinebeeson

Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

World class musician Josh Jones takes us on a journey through the wild and wooly world of percussion. Spoiler alert, it’s not just about whacking on things! Josh exercises a host of skills for planning, flexible thinking, and creative solution making in his leadership roles. Side quests include a trash can disaster triumph, Bruce Lee, Animal’s triangle skills, and coping with stress/anxiety in a mostly subjective field inhabited by a large number of people who struggle with appropriate interpersonal skills.

Go here for video: https://youtu.be/OPPP3j-6XS0

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
Instagram https://instagram.com/iamcatherinebeeson
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/catherinebeeson

Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

Denver "Lucky" District 7 City Councilmember Flor Alvidrez nerds out on mentorship, representation, authenticity, and leadership, and delights in some deep cut symphony goss. Side quests include navigating difficult conversations about important issues of the day including - somehow - the height of grass at the park??

Go here for video! https://youtu.be/OMOlafWgTYA

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
Instagram https://instagram.com/iamcatherinebeeson
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/catherinebeeson

Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.

WELCOME! You've found your way to The Pants Quandary – huzzah!

The Pants Quandary is a podcast about how people navigate life with curiosity and creativity hosted by musician/writer/educator/super-nerd Catherine Beeson, who takes you on podcastland field trips to meet these mostly totally normal people. Whatever that means.

Season 1 features conversations with a first time elected representative, a symphony percussionist, a city paramedic, a music director, a graphic novel author and illustrator, a rural judge and mediator, a composer and singer/songwriter, and a community building digital media and politics consultant.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ko7Er0B4f94

🎤🎧The Pants Quandary lives here: https://www.catherinebeeson.com/tpq and everywhere else you go to get podcasts.

👣🤓📬 Follow Beeson for more Nerd Content!
Newsletter https://www.catherinebeeson.com/newsletter
Facebook https://facebook.com/catherine.beeson.58
Instagram https://instagram.com/iamcatherinebeeson
LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/in/catherinebeeson

Special thanks to Matthew Ward for creating the show art, to Jessica Mays https://jessmaysmusic.com for composing and mixing the theme music, to Susanna Klein https://www.practizma.com/, Sonya Stith Williams, and Jordan Gunn https://www.jordangunn.org/ for recording it, and to Tiffany Valvo https://www.tiffanyvalvo.com/ for being a creative tech wizard hype machine.