Interdisciplinary Investigations

A voice for silence- A discussion with Erin Sheehan

Erin Sheehan is a professor of mindfulness studies at Drew University and a PhD candidate at Lesley University - working towards a doctoral degree in Educational Studies with a focus on contemplative pedagogy. She works with children, adolescents, teens, and their parents to bring mindfulness practice into the entire family dynamic. She is passionate about continuing to create digital mindfulness applications in today's world so tethered to technology and devices. She brings mindfulness programs and instruction to businesses, schools, and clinical settings. She is a mother, wife, artist, and student of silence.  www.mapmindfulness.com [http://www.mapmindfulness.com/] Intro/Outro Music- Half Moon Island https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/

Ecomusicology- A conversation with Cate Byrne and Jake Zaslav

As a musician, Cate Byrne sees sound and music as an essential component of climate activism. A violinist, improviser, and composer, music and the importance of sound have always been a large part of Cate’s identity. A recent graduate of New England Conservatory, Cate strives to combine her musical interests with her passions for social and environmental justice. She is excited to start her masters in Climate Science and Policy this fall at Bard college, while still playing as much music as possible. Recent endeavors to connect music with the environmental movement include the composition Plasticity (co-written with collaborators Ryan O’Connell and Henry Wilson), as well as writing music about endangered ecosystems with her duo Half Moon Island. She will be joined later in the episode by her collaborator Jake Zaslav to discuss their electroacoustic music, and the process that went into their upcoming EP   Jake Zaslav is a trumpeter, video producer, and researcher based in New York, NY. A graduate of Tufts University, Jake has studied and performed with musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Ran Blake, Jason Palmer, and William Parker. He currently works in commercial video and television production including programs such as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and HelloFresh. His research draws upon his background in jazz, film, and immersive technology to explore the intersections of sound, power, race, and community.   https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/halfmoonisland_band/

Therapeutic Potential of the Lydian Mode- Observations from Nicholas Suchecki

Nick Suchecki is a researcher, musician, and educator, having earned degrees from Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory.  Currently, Nick is pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies and Graduate Certificate in Expressive Therapies Studies at Lesley University, focusing on the intersection of ecopsychology, music therapy, and mind-body medicine.  Additionally, Nick recently completed a mind-body medicine teaching certification at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.  As a jazz saxophonist, Nick has performed at the Newport Folk Festival and International Blues Challenge, as well as alongside Martha Reeves, Ronnie Spector, Dave Holland, Funktapuss, and the Cape Symphony.  Nick has a passion to combine research and practice from seemingly unrelated fields to create new programs aimed at cultivating physical and psychological wellness for all.   Intro/Outro Music: Half Moon Island: https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/releases

Hyperacusis- Insights from Carolyn Brazil

Carolyn Brazil is a second year student in the art therapy and counseling masters program at Lesley University. Her research this past year has examined autism spectrum disorder and how to use art therapy with this population.  She has worked with children who live with autism spectrum disorder and will continually work with these populations in her future internship and practice.   Intro/Outro Music provided by Half Moon Island: https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/ [https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/]

Profound Experiences with Nature Sounds- A conversation with Becky Mathers

Becky Mathers is the post-doc researcher for the USTRIVE project at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. The USTRIVE project (Understanding STEM Teaching Through Integrated Contexts in Everyday Life) offers professional development on creating lessons grounded in relevant social and scientific problems in the local community for STEM educators in the Philadelphia area.    Becky earned her doctorate from Antioch University New England where she studied the effects of what she termed "a profound experience with nature," an experience that shifts an individual's view of or relationship with the natural world.   Becky lives in central NJ, serving on her town's environmental commission and the school's wellness and sustainability council. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her two favorite little people.    Resources shared by Becky: Study that found that creek sounds (water) can induce changes in blood flow in the brain indicative of a relaxed state   https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s12199-009-0091-z [https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s12199-009-0091-z]   Study on postoperative coronary bypass graft patients listening to ocean sounds at night in the recover ward—better sleep depth, quality of sleep    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1307884/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1307884/]   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138121001576 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138121001576]   Human-nature connection and soundscape perception: Insights from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Conducted surveys on nature relatedness and soundscape perception in Argentina and found hearing was of secondary importance to vision in experiences of nature and nature relatedness was positively correlated with the valuation of soundscapes.   https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing [https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing]   https://mymodernmet.com/nature-sounds-health-study/ [https://mymodernmet.com/nature-sounds-health-study/]   https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2013097118 [https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2013097118]   https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/ [https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/]   https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/#positive-effects [https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/#positive-effects]   https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.764224/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Psychology&id=764224     Intro/Outro Music: Half Moon Island https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/ [https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/]