Warm the Room with Shoeless Sounds

Mark Rust - Where Family Becomes Music

Jessica first heard Mark Rust play in a tiny collegecoffeehouse back in the 1980s — and even then, his music felt like it carried generations with it. Today, we’re thrilled to share our newest Shoeless Sounds episode featuring Mark, whose musical roots stretch from his grandmother’s nightclub “Swiss Trudy’s” to stages across the U.S., Canada, and Japan. A multi‑instrumentalist, songwriter of around 200 songs, former Broadway performer, and lifelong storyteller, Mark brings a depth of history and heart you can feel in every note. Give this conversation a listen —it’s a beautiful journey through family, craft, and a life built around music. He reminisces on his time with Pete Seeger and Peter, Paul& Mary. And listen for snippets of his mesmerizing hammered dulcimer tunes. Check out his website here. [https://www.markrust.com/] See images of  RPI’scoffeehouse lineups in the 80s here.  [https://shoelesssounds.org/]

Jeremy Facknitz - Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back

When we started our house concert series, we wanted to getpast small talk. This musician interview series installment features Jeremy Facknitz for a musician guest conversation titled “Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back.” Jeremy has a rare gift for using humor to navigate difficult topics, pulling belly laughs from trying situations to create remarkably light, entertaining concerts. He believes letting fear stop you is "just dumb,"a perspective earned from facing profound loss and silencing nay-sayers. This episode delivers the heartfelt music conversations we aim for—blending live music interviews with real-world live music conversations about artistic grit. These musicians’ interviews and music artist conversations provide clarity for anyone who has ever doubted their own path. Jeremy said something during our time together that reallystuck with us: “What a stupid way to live, to let fear hold you back. It is just dumb.” It’s a blunt statement, but it comes from a place of hard-earned perspective. Jeremy has faced more than his share of darkness, including losing loved ones to suicide and dealing with years of people telling him a career inmusic was a pipe dream. Instead of folding, he used those experiences to fuel a career that is as rewarding as it is honest. These are the kind of stories we love to tell—the ones thatremind us why we do this. Our discussions aren’t about PR; they are about the reality of being an artist. We hope you’ll join us as we sit down with Jeremy and learn what it actually looks like to choose courage over fear. In this episode, we talk about: * The "Dumbness" of Fear: Why Jeremy stopped letting "what ifs" run his life. * Finding Resilience: Processing grief and loss through the lens of creative work. * The Power of Humor: How Jeremy uses laughter to bridge the gap between heavy lyrics and an entertaining show. * Proving Doubters Wrong: How he ignored the skeptics to build a sustainable, successful life in music. Connect with Jeremy Facknitz on his website! [https://jeremyfacknitz.com/home ]

April 2026 - Carrie Welling

Get ready for an intimate session with the luminous and gifted Carrie Welling, whose voice masterfully blends the grit of Sheryl Crow, the heart of Stevie Nicks, and the twang of Natalie Maines. Join Jessica & Will as they uncover the raw stories, sparks, and serendipities that breathe life into her songs. It’s a beautifully human, front-row pass to the soul of the music you won’t hear anywhere else. Join us for the conversation behind the craft—your seat is waiting.To reserve your seat at the April 2026 house concert: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carrie-welling-bold-voice-radiant-soul-tickets-1984387796317 [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carrie-welling-bold-voice-radiant-soul-tickets-1984387796317]