Casey Rupp on Overcoming Adversity, PTSD Awareness, and Music's Healing Power

Dennis Welch on Faith, Family, and the Transformative Power of Music

Dennis Welch joins Wild Willie to share his journey through music and life. Dennis reflects on his early songwriting and touring experiences, his return to music, and recent Grammy-nominated achievements. The conversation delves into the profound impact of music and faith on healing, with Wild Willie sharing his own story. They discuss how music can transform family dynamics and community, touching on parenting strategies and mental health awareness. Dennis talks about his inspiration, unique performance experiences, and the value of music beyond accolades. The episode also covers sound engineering tricks and Dennis's heartfelt songs for his grandchildren. It concludes with gratitude and how to connect with Dennis. (0:00) Introduction and background of Dennis Welch (2:01) Wild Willie’s personal story about music and emotions (3:00) Dennis Welch's early songwriting and touring experiences (10:33) Dennis Welch’s return to music and recent achievements (14:52) Recent albums and Grammy nominations (17:43) Wild Willie’s story of faith and healing (21:30) The power of music and faith (26:48) Technical issues and closing remarks (28:10) Parenting strategies and family transformation (29:46) Impact of parents’ transformation on community (30:13) Mental health awareness and personal experiences (32:31) Biblical teachings on worry and daily struggles (34:43) Inspiration behind Dennis Welch’s music (36:05) House concerts and unique performance experiences (37:08) How music saved Dennis Welch (45:22) The value of music beyond awards (47:04) Building a supportive music community (54:02) Performing at unconventional venues (55:19) Psychological tricks in sound engineering (56:26) Writing songs for grandchildren (57:08) Connecting with Dennis Welch (58:06) Closing remarks and gratitude

Brad Stewart on Music Mogul AI and Building a Supportive Music Community

Wild Willie welcomes Brad Stewart to discuss his journey into the music industry, from early career beginnings to founding Stewart Entertainment Agency. They navigate challenges posed by COVID-19 and Brad's pivot to developing Music Mogul AI, a platform revolutionizing artist representation. The conversation highlights the pay-to-play model, software development, and the importance of high-quality live video for bookings. Brad shares insights on pricing, consulting, and services offered by Music Mogul AI, along with client profiles and challenges artists face. The episode emphasizes the significance of infrastructure, systems, and staying true to one's music, while introducing the "Music Industry Architects" podcast and plans for an audiobook version. This episode is sponsored by Musician Builder. If you’re an artist ready to grow your music career, build your brand, and take the next step with confidence, check out Musician Builder at: https://musicianbuilder.com/ [https://musicianbuilder.com/] Big thanks to Musician Builder for supporting Soul Impact: How Music Saved Us. (0:12) Podcast and guest introduction with Brad Stewart (2:23) Technical difficulties and upcoming benefit events (3:39) Focus on mental health and Brad's journey into music (6:14) Brad's early career and transition to booking agent (8:09) Founding Stewart Entertainment Agency (10:09) Impact of COVID-19 on business (12:30) Creation and development of Music Mogul AI (17:29) Pay-to-play model discussion (22:12) Shift to software development and current artist representation (23:41) Pricing, consulting, and services for Music Mogul AI (27:14) Importance of high-quality live video for bookings (28:43) Advice on creating consistent, quality content (29:38) Consulting before using Music Mogul AI (33:37) Client profiles and ideal clients (35:29) Challenges for artists moving to higher revenue (37:31) Conflicts of interest in traditional agency models (40:52) Biggest success stories (47:41) Advice for artists in a lull (50:14) Importance of infrastructure and systems (55:16) Traditional booking vs. Music Mogul AI (57:32) Features and benefits of Music Mogul AI (1:06:08) How to sign up for Music Mogul AI (1:09:02) Financial benefits and cost breakdown (1:13:05) Marketing automation features (1:18:34) Staying true to your music (1:19:09) Mentorship and consulting services (1:22:50) Affiliate program details (1:24:12) Keeping the database updated (1:24:40) Soft ticket vs. hard ticket venues (1:26:42) Promoting the music business playbook (1:28:30) Future plans for audiobook version (1:29:31) Importance of consulting and mentorship (1:30:43) Announcing "Music Industry Architects" podcast (1:32:03) Building a supportive music community

Michael Cagle on Music, Healing, and Finding Authenticity

Join Wild Willie as he chats with Michael Cagle about his transformative journey through music and theater. Michael shares how these art forms saved his life, leading to his transition into podcasting and the release of his new album. They discuss themes of self-worth, mental health, and healing from trauma. Michael talks about his impactful songs "Mirror of the Soul" and "Broken Child," and the authenticity of independent artists. Reflecting on growing up gay and facing bullying, Michael highlights influential artists who shaped his music. The episode concludes with insights on human connection, support, and the power of forgiveness. (0:00) Introduction, welcome, and show mission (0:44) Sponsor: Scene Projects podcast network (1:33) Michael Cagle's background and struggles (5:00) How music and theater saved Michael's life (6:37) Transitioning to podcasting (7:14) Michael's journey in the music industry (9:08) New album and personal growth (10:30) Self-worth, criticism, and the podcast community (13:02) Importance of mental health awareness (14:28) Dealing with trauma through music (17:09) Overcoming victim mentality and healing (20:45) Michael Cagle on "Mirror of the Soul" (23:23) Judging others and growth (26:05) Songs addressing societal issues (27:27) Contentment, authenticity, and chasing dreams (29:05) Introduction and discussion of "Broken Child" (35:48) Emotional impact of "Broken Child" (36:24) Creating emotionally impactful music (45:00) Growing up gay and facing bullying (48:15) Acceptance, love, and faith in identity (51:38) Influential artists and the impact of music (56:48) Authenticity of independent artists (59:52) Being your authentic self in music (1:02:29) Experiences shaping music and lyrics (1:03:02) Wild Willie's journey and calling (1:05:42) Introduction to "Unbroken in Your Light" (1:12:17) Reflections and closing thoughts (1:15:11) Pre-screening guests and relationships (1:18:24) Wild Willie's insomnia, Facebook, and finding Michael's music (1:20:14) Human connection and acceptance (1:21:57) Closing messages on support, self-love, and advice (1:25:41) Acknowledging and overcoming past issues (1:26:42) Importance of forgiveness (1:27:12) Final remarks and sign-off

Shannon Standiford on Music, Healing, and Finding Redemption

Join Wild Willie as he welcomes Shannon Standiford to explore music's profound role in healing and transformation. Shannon shares his journey, highlighting music's impact on emotions and mental health. They discuss genres, artists, and children's music preferences, emphasizing authenticity. The conversation covers music as a universal language, cross-cultural influence, and the nostalgia of CDs. Shannon delves into overcoming addiction through music and discovering Christian music's power in personal growth. They reflect on evolving music preferences and finding hope. The episode concludes with advice on mental health and the importance of seeking help. (0:00) Introduction and Shannon Standiford's background (4:37) Music's role in healing and personal transformation (7:37) Wild Willie's experience with music and healing (10:06) Music's impact on emotions and mental health (14:30) Opinions on music genres, artists, and authenticity (23:03) Discussing children's music preferences (27:17) The universal language and cross-cultural impact of music (31:23) Understanding song lyrics and music as a love language (33:12) Nostalgia for CDs and the era of music piracy (35:46) Music's role in overcoming addiction and struggles (39:22) Discovering and embracing Christian music (42:58) The power of Christian music in personal growth (43:30) The concept of a perfect album (47:56) The evolution of music preferences and playlists (51:47) Finding hope and purpose through music (55:09) Personal stories of addiction and redemption through music (1:03:04) Songs about dads and their emotional impact (1:06:30) Advice for dealing with mental health issues (1:08:01) Importance of seeking help and support systems (1:11:22) Final thoughts on personal stories and their impact (1:11:59) Closing remarks and gratitude

Jayme Smith on Healing, Music's Power, and Giving Back through Song

Wild Willie introduces Jayme Smith, highlighting the podcast's mission and sharing his personal journey. Jayme discusses how music saved him, the healing power of expressing trauma, and the impact of Jimi Hendrix. They explore authenticity, music progressions, and a special moment involving Wild Willie's child and "Man in the Mirror." The episode covers music's role in sobriety, songwriting intent, community giving, and shared experiences. Jayme shares his military background, PTSD struggles, and Zach Bryan's influence. They discuss his work with veterans, pride in being a live sound engineer, and his song "Phone Home," concluding with a focus on embracing uniqueness in music. (0:10) Opening and introductions: Wild Willie, podcast background, and guest Jayme Smith (1:34) Wild Willie shares his personal story and hope through the podcast (2:37) Jayme Smith on how music saved him (3:39) Healing through expressing trauma (4:01) Jayme discusses a song that helped him—Jimi Hendrix’s impact (5:18) Influence of Hendrix’s national anthem and emotion in music (7:53) Authenticity in music and learning about music progressions (8:57) “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson and interacting with Wild Willie's child (10:35) Harvard study on music and dopamine (11:30) Avoiding drinking songs after sobriety and expressing stories through music (12:42) Intent and audience connection in songwriting (14:01) Giving back to the community through music (15:03) Shared suffering and heightened experiences through music (18:24) Little wins, mental health, and positive thinking (20:17) Passion for podcasting, hope, and avoiding victim mentality (23:03) Music preferences, focusing on the right audience, and not obsessing over analytics (26:52) Jayme’s military service, PTSD, and Zach Bryan's influence (29:04) Alienation post-retirement and leaning on music for transition (31:04) Technical difficulties (34:10) Jayme’s commitment to veteran causes and work with Lansing Correctional Facility (36:19) Pride in giving back and being a live sound engineer (37:24) Podcast beginnings, success, and family moments (40:30) Mental illness, PTSD, and supporting those struggling (47:15) Importance of authenticity in music (50:27) Playing Jayme's song "Phone Home" and its inspiration (55:48) Embracing uniqueness, labels, and the indie music scene (59:02) Humble beginnings, authenticity in recordings, and band formation