Artistry with Heart: A Musician’s Wellness Podcast

A Letter to My Future Self ft. Emmalese Schultz

In this episode, sit down with Emmalese Schultz who, at just 17 years old, is already becoming a force to be reckoned with both on and off the stage. Four years ago, Emmalese was battling leukemia, a fight that tested her strength, resilience, and determination in unimaginable ways. In this episode, Emily opens up about using music as a lifeline through treatment, what it meant to release her debut single "Endless Ties," and how she's helping launch TTA's new music division, TTA Sounds. Her story stands as a triumph of a journey defined by courage, resilience, and unwavering determination, even in the darkest seasons.   Key themes: * Resilience & Healing - Emma’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, relapse, and recovery. The shock, fear, and ultimately being cancer‑free while continuing treatment * Music as Therapy - Writing and singing become how Emma processes trauma and gives her purpose * Vulnerability & Performance - The recording studio and live performance experiences reveal vulnerability (sick during sessions, nervous on stage) and growth in confidence.  * Support, Family & Community * Coping Practices - Practical tools – exercise, grounding (bare feet in grass), breathing, all help manage anxiety and maintain focus.   Find Emmalese on social media platforms ‘Endless Ties’ is available to stream on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/track/0bgRn8lkivES6ptOX8rJyp] and Apple Music [https://music.apple.com/us/album/endless-ties-single/1840700210]   --------- Artistry with Heart [https://www.patreon.com/c/artistrywithheart1/] is a small, independent show hosted by Stephanie Bernards [http://stephaniebernards.org/] and produced by Vic Billones [http://vicbillones.com/]. Each episode is made with love – and tons of heart. This podcast was created for you: the dreamer, the artist, the one still figuring it out. If it's added something to your day, we'd love your support [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart]. ☕ Buy us a coffee [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart]

Healing and Overcoming ft. Allison Sky

In this episode, we sit down with Allison Sky, singer‑songwriter, chronic Lyme survivor, and mother, to listen to her remarkable story about illness, recovery, and reclaiming creativity. After decades of unexplained symptoms she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease at 23 and found life-changing results with a treatment called LymeStop [https://lymestop.com/]. Allison’s upcoming EP Behind This Smile [http://allisonskymusic.com] turns postpartum struggle, brain fog, and long seasons of doubt into songs of resilience and hope. Key themes: * Chronic Lyme disease: Diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and the limits of standard testing * LymeStop recovery – an alternative treatment that helped clear co‑infections * Mental health & postpartum depression: Navigating motherhood while healing, brain fog, anxiety, depression, and their physical roots * Music as medicine: Songwriting, performance, and using art to process trauma * Performance anxiety & the inner critic: Practical mindset shifts for artists * “Move out of your own way”: Overcoming victim thinking and taking small, brave actions * Resilience & purpose: Turning hardship into creative momentum and community Tune in for an honest, hopeful conversation that reminds us hard times can change us for the better — and that taking the next small step matters.   Find Allison at allisonskymusic.com [http://allisonskymusic.com/] or as Allison Sky Music on all social platforms.   ---------   Artistry with Heart [https://www.patreon.com/c/artistrywithheart1/] is a small, independent show hosted by Stephanie Bernards [http://stephaniebernards.org] and produced by Vic Billones [http://vicbillones.com]. Each episode is made with love – and tons of heart. This podcast was created for you: the dreamer, the artist, the one still figuring it out. If it's added something to your day, we'd love your support [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart]. ☕ Buy us a coffee [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart]

Guided by Dreams with Mallory Cooke

On this episode, I sat down with my sister, Mallory Cooke – a soulful Seattle musician. We dug into what it actually takes to use your voice — literally and emotionally. We talked about play, dreams, and the awkward bravery of sharing something raw. Her song “Guides” closes the episode and landed like a punch to the heart. Key themes:      •    Stepping into your voice: singing is literal embodiment — Mallory shares how getting in her body helped her stop hiding.     •    Play first, judge later: trying new instruments and dream-journaling opens surprising ideas without pressure.     •    Honesty over comfort: she strips a song down to just her voice on purpose — it’s risky, awkward, and necessary. Listen to “Guides” on Bandcamp https://dwarfstarmotel.bandcamp.com/track/guides-demo [https://dwarfstarmotel.bandcamp.com/track/guides-demo] Follow Mal on Instagram - @dwarfstarmotel For more resources, visit https://www.patreon.com/ArtistrywithHeart1 [https://www.patreon.com/ArtistrywithHeart1] and stephaniebernards.org/artistrywithheart/wellnesshub ——— Artistry with Heart is hosted by Stephanie Bernards, and is produced and edited by Vic Billones.   We are building a community for creatives. Putting yourself out there takes courage, and this podcast was created to help support you!   Support the show:      •    http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart

Honoring Our Legacy with Kyshona Armstrong

Kyshona is a Nashville-based musician, music therapist, and activist whose powerful work bridges music, healing, and social impact. This episode is deep-dive into her 2024 album, Legacy, which explores ancestry, generational trauma, and the work of healing through song. Kyshona talks bout therapeutic songwriting—turning participants’ journal entries into songs—and shares powerful stories about music as empowerment for incarcerated people, elders in memory care, and communities in recovery. She dives into the inspiration behind the track “Carolina,” the role of genealogy in reclaiming family stories, and offers practical advice for artists to align with a mission-driven practice and use their gifts in ways that are trauma-informed and community-centered. Learn more at kyshona.com [http://yoursong.org] and yoursong.org [http://yoursong.org]   ------------- Artistry with Heart is hosted by Stephanie Bernards, and is produced and edited by Vic Billones. We are building a community for creatives. Putting yourself out there takes courage, and this podcast was created to help support you! Support the show:  * patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 [http://patreon.com/aristrywithheart1] * buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart]

Roses from the Vault ft. Gale Bird

In this episode of Artistry with Heart, I sit down with Charleston-based trio Gale Bird. Josh, Melissa, and Sean share how their songwriting is shaped by marriage, long-term friendship, parenthood, creative doubt, and the constant work of choosing authenticity over performance—both in art and in life. Their original song featured at the end of the episode, Roses, was written from a place of deep heart and honesty—a reminder that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and that love is meant to be expressed while we still have the chance.  Throughout our conversation, we explore: * Balancing family, friendship, and music without sacrificing what matters most * How songwriting can become a grounding force during anxiety, conflict, and uncertainty * Why vulnerability is what truly connects us to each other Learn more [https://galebird.com/] about Gale Bird  Support Artistry with Heart:  * patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 [http://patreon.com/aristrywithheart1] * buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart [http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart] More resources at stephaniebernards.org [http://stephaniebernards.org]