Episodes

  • 52. Le Grand Bal de l’Europe
    May 13 2026

    What's the farthest you've been willing to go to try something new? William Watson loaded up his bicycle and flew halfway across the world, to a country where he doesn't speak the language, to stay in a stranger's backyard for two weeks for an absolutely one of a kind dance event where he didn’t know anybody.


    William’s info site on Bal Folk:

    https://www.quiteapair.us/balfolk/

    And his site on Le Grand Bal:

    http://www.quiteapair.us/balfolk/grandbal.html

    Support this work: My podcast, newsletter, and archives are all available to anyone, for free. However, the platforms and systems do cost me money, along with the time I spend (it's all me, I don't have a team). This is a labor of love and I greatly appreciate any support! https://zeitgeist-academy.kit.com/products/support-me

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Captions and transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!


    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • 51. Learning music through play
    Apr 15 2026

    Have you played this week? I don’t mean your instrument. I mean, have you engaged your brain and body in something make believe that maybe feels a little silly? Danielle McNamera is a music educator who believes the play involved in teaching kids music… is just as important for adults.


    Follow Danielle:

    LyricsandMelodiesStudio.com

    MiniMelodies.com

    Instagram: LyricsandMelodiesStudio

    Facebook: Mini Melodies and Lyrics and Melodies Studio


    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio


    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.


    Support this work: My podcast, newsletter, and archives are all available to anyone, for free. However, the platforms and systems do cost me money, along with the time I spend (it's all me, I don't have a team). This is a labor of love and I greatly appreciate any support! https://zeitgeist-academy.kit.com/products/support-me


    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts


    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Captions and transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • 50. Music, mindfulness, and gentle wisdom
    Dec 19 2025

    Finding joy is a challenge attempted by philosophers, religious gurus, and even chemists. Dr Michael McGee is a psychiatrist, author, and jazz pianist whose performances blend music and mindfulness. In his work, simple pleasures…are existentially important.

    Watch Dr Mike’s performance: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r0e9k8edxjga6al3b39fe/NAMI.mp4?rlkey=77ntaamj5kdjjh3w6mwad7kag&dl=0

    Visit his website: www.drmichaelmcgee.com

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Captions and transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • 49. Poetry and healing through songwriting
    Nov 12 2025

    Music is a tool that helps a lot of people get through tough stuff. Addiction, depression, body image issues, trauma… Bri is a singer-songwriter who doesn’t shy away from complex emotions and experiences.

    Follow Bri:

    SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/6A3qt0TX7AD6OsOnI9

    YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCsMWIMdgsoY4W2r7t9Y5fFg

    Listen to the songs she has published as of our interview:

    June - Bri Revé - June (Official Audio)

    Mirror - https://youtu.be/3KeR06gs8oE

    Previous episodes mentioned in the episode:

    Contra Dance Calling with Lindsey Dono:https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio/episode/3807972b/11-contra-dance-calling

    Music Therapy and Mental Health: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio/episode/299a68f7/31-music-therapy-and-mental-health

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Captions and transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 48. Contra Dance Music
    Sep 10 2025

    Contra dancing is an American folk dance that is laughably hard to describe… or is it? Jeffrey Spero is a contra dance musician, caller, and choreographer. We talk about the varied music of contra dance, what makes a great dance band, and everything that happens behind-the-scenes to make a wonderful dance evening (hint: there’s more improv than you might think!).

    Follow Jeffrey:

    www.jeffreyspero.com

    www.syncopaths.com

    You can listen to the episode on Contra Dance Calling with Lindsey Dono here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio/episode/3807972b/11-contra-dance-calling

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • 47. Building Kindermusik
    Aug 13 2025

    What age were you when you started learning music? High school choir? Middle school band? What about piano lessons at age eight? Or even earlier, like two or three years old… or even… earlier? Jacque Negus is a retired early childhood music instructor, specifically Kindermusik, and created a lot of the curriculum materials used by teachers everywhere. In this episode we discuss her journey with the program, the contributions she made to the program, and the joys of working in the field of early childhood music.

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!


    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • 46. Building a musical community
    Jun 11 2025

    How do you build a space where musicians want to hang out? John Avilla is a bassist and co-founder of Sound Union in Redwood City, California. In this episode we discuss his transition from a career in marketing and advertising to founding a 'health club for musicians.' We explore how a single community can cater to diverse age groups, genres and musical abilities, promoting a supportive environment over perfectionism. He shares his journey in creating his club and the connection he sees between community and creativity.

    Follow John:

    www.soundunion.com

    Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngavilla/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundunion/

    Instagram: @joinsoundunion

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinSoundUnion

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!


    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • 45. Folk dance through the ages
    May 7 2025

    What makes a folk dance, and what is it like to do these dances socially? The Bay Osos Folk Dancers meet every week to dance to music from Bavaria to the Western Sahara, Polynesia, the Balkans, and more. They share their experiences with the music, how they got started, how YOU can get started, and what keeps them dancing decade after decade.

    Follow the Bay Osos Folk Dancers:

    http://www.bayososfolkdancers.org/

    Facebook: @BayOsosFolkDancers

    Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

    Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

    Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

    Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins