#016 - Maja Kraft: A Medic's Journey Through War and Art

#019 - Birds in the Sky - Recycling Pain into Art: Jason Pfaff's Journey.

In this episode of the Birds in the Sky podcast, host Matthew Crane welcomes musician Jason Pfaff, who discusses his journey as a multi-instrumentalist and composer. They delve into the creative process behind Jason's new album, which serves as a cathartic exploration of personal experiences, including a significant breakup and a life-altering car accident. Jason shares insights on the importance of improvisation in music, the influence of his musical family, and the evolving landscape of live performances. The conversation also touches on the legacy of Jason's late sister, Kristen Pfaff of the rock band Hole, and how her work continues to inspire him. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the 24 hour hotline at www.988lifeline.org [http://www.988lifeline.org] Find Jason's Music here: https://jasonpfaff.bandcamp.com/album/2025 [https://jasonpfaff.bandcamp.com/album/2025] Jason's Substack: https://substack.com/@iknowhowtolivebio [https://substack.com/@iknowhowtolivebio] Host: Matthew Crane Theme Song: "Good Times" by Matt Crane featuring Gantzer © Visit the Studio: www.matthewcranestudios.com [http://www.matthewcranestudios.com] IG: / matthewcranestudios Blog: https://substack.com/@matthewcranestu... [https://substack.com/@matthewcranestu...] FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...] #artistpodcast #podcasting #veteranscommunity

#018 - "You're allowed to take up space" with photographer and Navy veteran: Erica Duncan

In this episode of Birds in the Sky, host Matthew Crane speaks with Erica Duncan, a Navy veteran and photographer, about her experiences in the military, her transition to civilian life, and the healing power of creativity. They discuss the importance of community among veterans, the Odyssey Project, and how art can serve as a therapeutic outlet. Erica shares her journey of self-discovery through photography and the significance of tattoos as personal expression. Erica and Matthew explore themes of validation, creativity, and connection among veterans. They also discuss the importance of finding one's voice, the healing power of creative outlets, and the shared experiences of grief within the veteran community. The conversation touches on her journey of self-discovery through photography and the significance of reconnecting with old friends. Thank you for spending some time with this podcast. Keep spreading the power of creativity! If you or a loved one are having thoughts of Suicide, please reach out to the 24 hour hotline at 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org [http://www.988lifeline.org] Host: Matthew Crane Theme Song: "Good Times" by Matt Crane featuring Gantzer © Visit the Studio: www.matthewcranestudios.com [http://www.matthewcranestudios.com] IG:   / matthewcranestudios   Blog: https://substack.com/@matthewcranestu... [https://substack.com/@matthewcranestu...] FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?.. [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?..]. #veteranpodcast #artistpodcast #podcastingartists

#017 - Photography brought me back into the moment: Rob Healy's story.

In this episode of Birds in the Sky, host Matthew Crane speaks with Rob Healy, a veteran of the Air Force who shares his journey from military service to civilian life. Rob discusses the challenges of transitioning out of the military, the importance of community, and how photography has played a crucial role in his healing process. He emphasizes the therapeutic value of creative expression for veterans and the unique language that art provides in connecting with others. Rob also highlights the impact of the Odyssey Project, which uses photography to foster community and healing among veterans. Thank you for spending some time with this podcast. Keep spreading the power of creativity! If you or a loved one are having thoughts of Suicide, please reach out to the 24 hour hotline at 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org [http://www.988lifeline.org] Host: Matthew Crane Theme Song: "Good Times" by Matt Crane featuring Gantzer © Visit the Studio: www.matthewcranestudios.com [http://www.matthewcranestudios.com] IG:   / matthewcranestudios   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblZPS1RrbDBMY2RSTHJpa2FJX2l0VDlBOExfZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttNXFLbko3ZHg2SGptaUo5anRwU1lTVVRpa2Q4Z1hlMEhRcjdDQzFLRnM4VnhOZXl5T19ZSEZoeGY1WUtGSnQ0d0ZqN3BmSTRXX0l3RUk0R0ZQaGpKRUVfQXpkUzJHTmdDRWt4cnhRUFNZZ3ZZckNDYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fmatthewcranestudios%2F&v=OSHE3AIkrac] Blog: https://substack.com/@matthewcranestu... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3B4Rk9vNEFIZ3NoLW82dUIyTElpZXkwY3NvZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsWHVacFNZOHhMbWdsSDExV1lKR0lQTnEwRmc1TmVjajRFNE5Nd3JEUGx4S3ZkVk16QXBnNzBibzVjZDJjUGFkZUI3NHEyWFQ5OE1XQkRvTjhLWE9tWnlPbjdGcnp1TmZ6Tm5ZMjFmX25oMUNPWVo4bw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2F%40matthewcranestudios%3Futm_source%3Dprofile-page&v=OSHE3AIkrac] FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2FBTjN5RGpwemZZOWNYVkQtLWZqTEh2cGEyQXxBQ3Jtc0tuWHl1Y19FMWhva2pJT1g1ME1USlBnX1laZkUtZFphdkRuMVVaT1ltYTZWb2ZrSnR5Qk1KOWlBUl90QklvNnlSb3ItdWFPY0o0bmRXSGpvM09HeGhra0VtNHBYcE1JQUNvaDB2c0VwMXAzU3NMSGxVOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D61553739994552&v=OSHE3AIkrac]

#016 - Maja Kraft: A Medic's Journey Through War and Art

In this episode of the Birds in the Sky podcast, host Matthew Crane speaks with Maja Kraft, a former US Army medic who served in a forward surgical team during the early years of the Iraq War. Maja shares her experiences in the military, the challenges she faced transitioning to civilian life, and how art and photography have become therapeutic outlets for her PTSD. The conversation also touches on her background as an immigrant from Poland, her motivations for joining the military, and the impact of the Odyssey Project on her healing journey. In this conversation, Maja Kraft discusses her journey through various art forms, particularly ceramics and photography, as a means of emotional expression and healing. She shares her experiences in the Odyssey project, highlighting how art has helped her confront repressed emotions and connect with her identity as a veteran. The discussion also touches on the importance of engaging veterans in creative arts and breaking down barriers to artistic expression, emphasizing that everyone has the potential to create art regardless of their perceived talent. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of Suicide, please reach out to the 24 hour hotline at 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org [http://www.988lifeline.org] Credits: Host: Matthew Crane Theme Song: "Good Times" by Matt Crane featuring Gantzer © Visit the Studio: www.matthewcranestudios.com [http://www.matthewcranestudios.com] IG: https://www.instagram.com/matthewcranestudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/matthewcranestudios/] Blog: https://substack.com/@matthewcranestudios?utm_source=profile-page [https://substack.com/@matthewcranestudios?utm_source=profile-page] FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553739994552 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553739994552]

#015 - Veterans Voices: A Platform for Expression with Mansa Bey

In this episode of the Birds in the Sky podcast, host Matthew Crane speaks with Mansa Bey, an American folk artist and veteran. Mansa shares his journey from military service in the Army National Guard to discovering his passion for writing and poetry during his deployment in Iraq. He discusses how writing became a therapeutic outlet for him and how he now runs a creative writing workshop called Veterans Voices, aimed at helping fellow veterans express their experiences. The conversation also delves into the healing power of music and art, the importance of storytelling for veterans, and Mansa's future endeavors, including his work with Healing Frontline Heroes, which offers healing retreats for veterans. Mansa emphasizes the significance of creating a space for veterans to share their stories and the transformative power of art in the healing process. Find More about Mansa and his work here: https://www.land-studio.org/artists/meet-the-artists/mansa-bey [https://www.land-studio.org/artists/meet-the-artists/mansa-bey] Healing Frontline Heroes: https://www.healingfrontlineheroes.org/veterans-first-responders [https://www.healingfrontlineheroes.org/veterans-first-responders] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MansaLamontBey [https://www.facebook.com/MansaLamontBey] If you or a loved one are having thoughts of Suicide, please reach out to the 24 hour hotline at 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org [http://www.988lifeline.org] Host: Matthew Crane Theme Song: "Good Times" by Matt Crane featuring Gantzer © Visit the Studio: www.matthewcranestudios.com [http://www.matthewcranestudios.com] IG: https://www.instagram.com/matthewcranestudios/ [https://www.instagram.com/matthewcranestudios/] Blog: https://substack.com/@matthewcranestudios?utm_source=profile-page [https://substack.com/@matthewcranestudios?utm_source=profile-page] FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553739994552 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553739994552]