Compassionate Measures Podcast

Sit Down with Crys Matthews

Pull up a chair for a message of hope and truth from Crys Matthews. Her profound message might just enable us to hang in there, and continue the good fight. Crys describes her invitation and the experience of opening the Artists United for Our Freedoms Rally. She discusses the beginning of her songwriting career with one inspirational night and a well-deserved award in Boone, North Carolina. The first lyric she wrote – amazing! She goes on to offer a few awesome tourism suggestions for the city. Crys eloquently provides her definition of a social justice music maker and later, a community. She takes us through her catalogue from 2025’s Reclamation album to April’s release of two songs – Citizen and Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. We’re gifted with an intimate look at Crys’ intentionality and songwriting process. She offers insightful truths when asked about the importance of hope in today’s world. Crys shares, “When we hope for better, we fight for better” and reminds us that today’s social justice heroes were ordinary people who were concerned about what was happening in their communities. We all have the power to be ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And, you guys… as Crys’ mom teaches us, “all things work together for good”. Crys supports The Remix Way who is doing heroic work for Nashville residents' immigrant neighbors.    Visit Crys’ website at crysmatthews.com and check out her amazing Patreon offerings. Learn more about The Remix Way at theremixway.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their hard work. Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Crys Matthews for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Eric Hirshberg

Pull up a chair for some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of Eric Hirshberg’s amazing music (and, perhaps, a few life lessons to consider). Our conversation with Eric begins as we learn about his service to nonprofits through his own organization, Will Work for Change. Later, we get to hear about his support for the XPRIZE Foundation and the impressive work that they are doing. Eric explains the interesting stories behind three of his incredible songs, It’s Hard to Be a Human Being, For Real, and More Is Not the Answer. That third song, More Is Not the Answer, came out the day after we spoke! The lyrics were inspired by the mere minutes that Eric and his family had to evacuate their home during last year’s fires in Los Angeles. Eric shares the story of meeting Aloe Blacc, developing their songwriting collaboration that brought us For Real, then performing it on Live with Kelly and Mark. Yes, Kelly Ripa did proclaim that their song “sounds like an anthem”! Eric describes how his family responded to the long days of Covid19 and recouped some power and a bit of positivity during the experience. There’s a lot of great information about shifting one’s mind throughout our talk. Eric mentions Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. Finally, we get to hear just how good Activision’s former CEO is at Guitar Hero. Yea, it’s here! We end our conversation with a trip down Memory Lane to discuss Eric’s favorite adolescent albums. YOU remember… vinyl, album design and liner notes were the best!   Visit Eric’s website at erichirshbergmusic.com And learn more about the XPrize Foundation at xprize.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their world-changing work. Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Eric Hirshberg for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Miist

Pull up a chair for an amazing story that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. A few short years ago, at the age of 34, Miist unearthed her own extraordinary musical gift. In a very short time, she became the first native Chinese artist to break into Billboard’s Top 25 Adult Contemporary chart. Her 2024 debut album, The Songs from the Living Room, was executive produced by legendary hitmaker Narada Michael Walden (who suggested that they work together)! Miist has also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli’s creative partner, Mauro Malavasi. Amazing, right? Miist’s anthem, “Could You Lend Me a Smile,” was recorded in 15 languages across five continents, featuring artists with a combined 60 Grammy wins and nominations—a feat that earned a world record for most languages used in individual music videos released simultaneously. Miist's global nonprofit, the World Smile Initiative, is built on the belief that music, storytelling, and community can help combat loneliness and disconnection. Founded to support her vision, its mission is simple: to bring smiles back into everyday life. In our conversation, Miist explains the genesis of the initiative and details its current project. We hear Miist describe her professional journey of the last three years in only one word. She discusses believing in oneself and the importance of being of service in our world. She helps us to understand how her musical career and her journey of self-discovery align. Miist not only raises important issues in her music but also offers solutions that each person can do. You’ve GOT to check out what she tells us about the mind blowing Compound Effect, and how each one of us can change the world in just over 33 days! Keep your eyes and ears open for Miist’s newest release, Love Will Show Us Our Way, on March 13th. We cannot wait to see what is next for this talented artist! You can visit Miist’s website at miistthesinger.com And learn more about the World Smile Initiative at worldsmileinitiative.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their incredible work. Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Miist for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Marc Broussard

Pull up a chair for an exciting conversation with Marc Broussard on the day before he releases his fifth charity album! Marc explains the process of releasing SOS V– Songs of the 50s from its earliest beginnings to some pretty big changes mere days before its recording. He describes what he’s feeling at this moment of the project. He offers a wonderful explanation regarding how Love of People, the benefactor of this project, supports others. Marc goes on to detail how his collection of five charity albums came to exist. And he describes his own feelings of being blessed by the release of his charitable recordings. Marc gives us a glimpse into the differences between recording a record for charity and recording his original projects. Hear how his upcoming album of original material (currently due on April 18th) was created and the record number of songs that Marc wrote for it in three days! He enthusiastically tells us about his upcoming tour in Europe and the United States, and how the set list is developed. Marc speaks with great love about his parents, his wife and his community (and lets us in on a little fact about a local grocery store). He might just be the first Compassionate Measures guest to offer a hometown restaurant recommendation! Finally, Marc explains how that music-making legacy continues in the Broussard family. You can visit Marc’s website  at marcbroussard.com Spread the word about Mark’s 2026 projects (two records and the tour)! You can learn more about Save Our Soul Foundation at marcbroussard.com/charity-1. Please consider making a small donation to support their amazing work. Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Marc Broussard for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Liz Stookey Sunde and Alastair Moock

Pull up a chair for the handbook on guiding top-notch organizations that will change the world! The daughter of Noel "Paul" Stookey (of Peter, Paul & Mary), Liz Stookey Sunde is the CEO of the national nonprofit Music to Life, which she co-founded with her father. Music to Life empowers artists across genres and geographies to become sustainable social entrepreneurs. Through leadership and entrepreneurial training, Liz helps musicians strategically connect with communities facing persistent economic, environmental, or racial injustice. Alastair Moock co-founded The Opening Doors Project – an organization that amplifies voices of color and advances interracial conversations about race through the arts. Through live concerts, storytelling, and education programs, they bring communities together to explore race, identity, and history in a way that only music can. From classrooms to concert halls, their artists create spaces where tough conversations turn into meaningful connections. Alastair recounts the concert that changed his life as a young person and identifies the legendary folk musician who ultimately became his North Star. Liz describes a particularly memorable and humorous Peter, Paul and Mary concert from her own youth. Alastair informs us how bias and racism are perpetuated unknowingly without malice and why he respectfully declined his second Grammy nomination. His insights about examining bias and teaching it to youth of all ages is by far one of 2025’s greatest lessons. Following Alastair’s comments – and even before describing Music to Life’s incredible work – Liz reminds us that her organization carries out its mission to support world-changing artists like Alastair. Music to Life has a network of 400 artists in 42 states and 300 communities who cover 39 music genres. They come to Music to Life with a burning interest to facilitate change. The organization supports artists to recognize and own their worth in today's social change marketplace. Both Alastair and Liz consider The Opening Doors Project and Music to Life as their life’s work. You will be blown away by their shared wisdom, dedication, passion and heart! You can visit Music to Life at musictolife.org and sign up for their mailing list. Visit The Opening Doors Project at openingdoorsproject.org and please consider making a small donation to their groundbreaking efforts. Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Liz Sunde and Alastair Moock for their transformational work and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.