Episode 005 — Who You Gonna Call? The Ray Parker Jr. Story

Episode 012 — Men At Large, Mental Health, and Music as Medicine with Dr. Dave Tolliver

A conversation with Dr. Dave Tolliver — founding member of Men At Large, Cleveland kid who grew up idolising the Dazz Band — on legacy, loss, the LeVert Experience, and why music is a soul vaccination. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Dr. Dave Tolliver grew up in Cleveland with his uncle Lynn Tolliver on the radio and Skip Martin on the stage — Skip was his inspiration to start singing before they ever met. In this conversation, Dave and Skip revisit a pandemic pop-up concert with Tony Terry, trace the history of Men At Large from Boys From The Hood through Michael Bivins renaming them to a 2022 album dropped 30 years after their debut, and talk about losing a bandmate and finding their way back. Dave opens up about his new rap single Too Much Pain and his mental health story. Skip closes on music as medicine and what gets left behind. Main Topics: Dave's Cleveland childhood — uncle Lynn Tolliver's 40-year radio career and growing up idolising Dazz Band and New Edition Seeing Skip perform live as a kid and Skip becoming the reason Dave started singing The pandemic pop-up concert with Skip, Tony Terry, and a member of Surface The story behind Skip and Dave's collaboration Someone Like You How Boys From The Hood became Men At Large — the Michael Bivins rename story The shift from novelty act to R&B lover-boy image and hits like Holiday and Let's Talk About It Losing bandmate Gemini Porter and reuniting with the original partner The LeVert Experience — Dave's current touring project with Joe Little and Marc Gordon Love Benefits — the 2022 album released 30 years after the group's debut Dave's rap single Too Much Pain and his personal mental health journey Skip on music as medicine, soul vaccination, and what legacy really means Intriguing Quotes: "A man at large is not only a man that's large in stature, but he's somebody that's large in the community. He has a lot of clout. He's a man at large." "That's a love prejudice. That's all that is." — Skip Martin "Music is a tool for change. It's a tool, it's a medicine. It's a soul vaccination, it's a healing." — Skip Martin "Once our lives are gone, we'll be forgotten in two generations. Nobody will even know who we were." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [00:47] Dave traces his Cleveland roots — uncle Lynn Tolliver, 40 years in radio, and a house full of music. [02:01] The pandemic pop-up concert. Skip, Dave, Tony Terry, and a member of Surface. What happened that night and why it mattered. [04:15] The story behind Someone Like You — how Skip and Dave came to make the record together. [08:26] Michael Bivins hears Boys From The Hood and tells them that name has to go. Men At Large is born. [12:42] Dave talks about losing bandmate Gemini Porter — and what it took to come back and reunite with his original partner. [13:09] Love Benefits drops in 2022. Thirty years after the debut. The group is still here. [18:03] Dave releases Too Much Pain — a rap single about his own mental health journey. He tells Skip why he had to make it. [18:39] Skip closes on music as medicine, legacy, and what gets left behind when we're gone. Notable Resources: Someone Like You — Skip Martin featuring Dave Tolliver, available on Spotify Too Much Pain — Dave Tolliver's rap single and video on mental health Love Benefits — Men At Large 2022 album, available on streaming platforms LeVert Experience — Dave's current touring project with Joe Little and Marc Gordon Connect with Dave Tolliver: Search Dave Men At Large or Dave Tolliver on all platforms Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 011 — Lessons Not Losses with Steph Payne

A conversation with Steph Payne — Emmy-winning singer, US Army intelligence analyst, fusion artist — on going from military intel to the main stage, why every loss is just a lesson in disguise, her father's advice that has never failed her, and the COVID project that won her an Emmy at the lowest moment. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Steph Payne grew up in Los Angeles, served as a US Army intelligence analyst during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and built her second home in Las Vegas over 13 years. She sings across R&B, jazz, rock, and gospel without picking a lane and calls herself a fusion artist. In this conversation with Skip Martin, Steph talks about the difference between losses and lessons, the simple advice from her father that gets her through every setback, what music means at the level of a universal frequency, and the People Get Ready project that won her an Emmy and lifted her spirits at the lowest point. Skip lays in two parables along the way — the goat in the well, and the tree that grows down before it grows up. Main Topics: Growing up in Los Angeles and making Las Vegas a second home over 13 years US Army intelligence analyst during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Lessons not losses — the reframe that protects her drive Her father's advice: find something else and make it work Music as a universal frequency, an outlet, an escape, a memory keeper Steph's identity as a fusion artist who refuses to pick a lane The goat in the well — Skip's parable about shaking off every attack The tree that grows down before it grows up — the unseen cost of greatness The People Get Ready project — winning an Emmy during COVID The price the people closest to you pay for your success Intriguing Quotes: "I went from the military to the main stage." "I don't like to call them losses. I like to call them lessons." "Find something else and make it work." — Steph's father "Music helps us be emotionally intelligent when we're not being rational." "I shake it off and I end up like that goat on top of the heap." "Success will come when you make others a priority." — Skip Martin "Music is the sound of a soul singing." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [01:43] Steph drops the line that names the episode — "I went from the military to the main stage" — after explaining her service during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. [04:54] Steph reframes every setback. "I don't like to call them losses. I like to call them lessons." [05:38] Her father's advice — said once, stuck forever. Find something else and make it work. [06:17] Skip tells the goat in the well parable. A farmer tries to bury a goat. Every shovel of dirt the goat shakes off and stands on. Eventually it walks right out. [12:12] Skip's tree analogy. The roots grow down in the dark before the canopy reaches the sun. People only see the tree. They miss what it cost to get there. [14:38] Steph reflects on People Get Ready. COVID. Discouraged. Borderline downtrodden. Skip's invitation lifted her spirits at the time. The Emmy lifted her career down the road. [16:22] Skip closes — 168 tracks in a three-minute-eighteen song. Success comes when you make others a priority. The biggest lesson of his life. Notable Resources: People Get Ready — Legends Unite for Saint Jude (Skip Martin's Emmy-winning project) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — beneficiary of the People Get Ready project Connect with Steph Payne: Search Steph Payne on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 010 — The God Force with Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra

A conversation with Tom Schuman — Grammy-nominated keyboardist for Spyro Gyra for 49 years, now living in Barcelona — on the music that saved a stranger's life, what it means to let the God force flow through you, and why less became his closest friend. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Tom Schuman grew up in Buffalo — son of a jazz bassist, raised on Oscar Peterson and Sarah Vaughan — and spent 49 years as keyboardist for Spyro Gyra before leaving in February 2023 and moving to Barcelona with his wife. In this conversation with longtime collaborator Skip Martin, Tom talks about the moment he knew music was his purpose, the fan message that made everything worth it, being called a myth by a man in Algiers who thought Kool and the Gang might not really exist, and why collaboration with someone whose gifts complement your own is the only place real magic happens. Main Topics: Growing up in a jazz household in Buffalo — a bassist father, a singer mother, music by osmosis 49 years with Spyro Gyra — and the decision to leave and move to Barcelona The God force — the creative philosophy Tom and Skip built their partnership around Less is more — what Tom taught Skip, and what Skip gave back The People Get Ready project and why it still matters The song Innocent Soul and the stranger who decided not to end his life A fan in Algiers who thought Kool and the Gang were a myth When — the song Skip and Tom wrote in 10 minutes during COVID Tom's new solo album I Am Human on Nama Music Intriguing Quotes: "I prefer to think of it as the purest form of a universal language which can in great detail represent the heart, soul and intellect of a musician or composer." "Music is also a source of immortality. I feel like I'm going to be here a lot longer than my body because of this music." "He was crying because he thought you were a myth." — interpreter in Algiers "If I had done nothing else in my life, hearing about that made me feel like — okay, this is what I'm here to do." "We are all empowered when we collaborate with others that have gifts that you don't have." "My definition of music is the sound of a soul singing." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [05:30] Skip tells Tom that Tom taught him how to play less — and that less became his closest friend. Tom says Skip taught him his place. Two legends, humbled by each other. [12:00] Skip shares his definition of music — the sound of a soul singing. Tom has been trying to find his phone notes to read his own. When he finally does, he says it's pretty close. [21:45] Tom receives a message from a fan who says that Innocent Soul, a song Tom wrote for Spyro Gyra, stopped him from taking his own life. Tom says if he had done nothing else, that was enough. [23:00] Skip tells the Algiers story. A man on a runway who spoke no English, arms full of albums, crying. The interpreter asks why. He thought Kool and the Gang might not really exist. The music had reached him thousands of miles from where it was made. [19:20] Skip and Tom write the song When — lyrics, concept, everything — in 10 minutes over a phone call during COVID. That's what 49 years of combined instinct sounds like. Notable Resources: Tom Schuman new album: I Am Human — coming soon on Nama Music People Get Ready — search on YouTube and streaming platforms Let's Stay at Home — Skip Martin and Tom Schuman, available on streaming platforms Connect with Tom Schuman: Search Tom Schuman and Spyro Gyra on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 009 — Acres of Diamonds with Greg Reid

A conversation with Greg Reid — author of 157 books, dyslexic, 38 years sober, rejected by 268 publishers before his first book — on sitting on your fortune without knowing it, what Steve Wozniak said about one microchip, and why a dream written down with a date becomes a goal. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Greg Reid can't spell, can't read in the traditional sense, and was rejected 268 times before a publisher said yes. He has since written 157 books, produced a Netflix film called Wish Man, and built Secret Knock — the most exclusive event you cannot find without an invitation. In this conversation with Skip Martin, Greg shares the parable of Acres of Diamonds, what Steve Wozniak said about one microchip, and how the founder of Make-A-Wish signed over his life rights on a single condition. Skip meets him story for story — his audiographic memory, his mother's 24-hour clock, and the reason he has never held a secular job in his life. Main Topics: The parable of Acres of Diamonds — most people are sitting on their fortune right now Greg's dyslexia, 268 rejections, and the book that produced a quote shared 37 million times Steve Wozniak on embracing what you don't have — how one microchip changed personal computing Secret Knock — 20 years of sold-out events, zero advertising, guests including Edward Snowden and a NASA astronaut whose wife discovered signs of life on Mars Frank Shankwitz, founder of Make-A-Wish, and the Netflix film Wish Man Skip's audiographic memory and the movie he's developing called A Boy Named Skip Skip's mother's 24-hour clock — the tool that reveals your true passion Greg's 38 years of sobriety and what the S in Greg S. Reid stands for Intriguing Quotes: "A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken into steps becomes a plan. And a plan backed by action makes your dreams come true." "We weren't trying to be cool or innovative. We could only afford one chip." — Steve Wozniak via Greg Reid "Stop looking at something as your greatest challenge. It could be your greatest blessing in disguise." "Everyone can be a hero. You do not need to be a celebrity." "First there's a dream. Then there's a challenge. Then comes victory. Unfortunately most people quit in the challenging times." "The measure of an educated man is the places he's been." — Skip Martin's mother Key Moments: [02:00] Greg tells the Acres of Diamonds parable — the man who sold his farm for pennies, went looking for fortune, and never knew he was sitting on diamonds the whole time. [05:00] Greg pulls out his rejection letters. All 268 of them. He kept every one. The first book that made it became The Millionaire Mentor — and one quote from it was shared 37 million times last year. [07:00] Steve Wozniak explains Apple's origin — they could only afford one chip. By embracing that constraint they found the shortest, cleanest path. And changed the world. [15:00] Greg reveals Secret Knock — no ads, no speaker list, no location until the last moment. Their next guest is a NASA astronaut whose wife just discovered the building blocks of life on Mars. [21:00] Frank Shankwitz signs over his life rights. His only wish — that his grandkids know he did something. Six years later, Wish Man lands on Netflix. [29:30] Skip's mother gives him a 24-hour clock. Write down everything you did in the last 24 hours. Whatever you spent the most time on is your passion. Go do that. Notable Resources: Wish Man — available on Netflix Secret Knock — secretknock.co The Millionaire Mentor — Greg Reid, available on Amazon and major retailers Greg Reid on Instagram: @GregSReid Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 008 — Still Taking Breath Away with Terri Nunn of Berlin

A backstage moment with Terri Nunn — iconic lead vocalist of Berlin, the voice behind Take My Breath Away — on new music, a new album, a new tour, and why she and Berlin are better than ever. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Terri Nunn has one of the most recognisable voices in music history. Take My Breath Away became a global phenomenon and it still stops a room decades later — as Skip Martin found out when they sang it together backstage. In this clip, Terri shares the news that Berlin is back with a brand new album called Transcendence, a fresh record deal, and a US headline tour running from August 2nd through September 24th alongside OMD and the B-52s. She and Skip have been performing together for years, and the chemistry between them is exactly what it sounds like — two people who love music and love each other's company. Main Topics: Berlin's new album Transcendence and how it came together over two years of writing The new record deal — and what it means to be back in the studio and on the road The US headline tour from August 2nd to September 24th with OMD and the B-52s Skip and Terri performing Take My Breath Away live backstage — together, unscripted What it feels like to still be doing it at this level and loving every minute Intriguing Quotes: "We ain't done yet. We're still doing everything." "You're better than ever." "If you want to get laid, buy this album." — Terri Nunn on Skip's music Key Moments: [00:18] Skip and Terri launch straight into Take My Breath Away — live, unannounced, just the two of them. No setup. No backing track mentioned. Just the song. [04:45] Terri reveals Berlin has been writing together for two years, landed a new record deal, and the album Transcendence is dropping August 2nd. [05:15] The full tour lineup lands — Berlin headlining across the US with OMD and the B-52s from August through late September. Two legends on one bill. Notable Resources: Berlin — album: Transcendence, available on streaming platforms Tour: Berlin headlining with OMD and the B-52s, August 2 — September 24 Connect with Terri Nunn and Berlin: Search Berlin Band and Terri Nunn on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.