When things seem bleak, what can you do to make your life better? Kerry Cutrell (mindfulness coach) shares how, with the support of a shaman, she came to understand that “The first thing you have to do is learn how to love yourself.” Kerry chats with Kevin about how meditation has improved her life and how she now helps others through her guided meditation program, Find Your Strength. The Good Rascals episodes are available here: https://dogheartland.com/thegoodrascals/ Sources/Mentions/Resources/Corrections   For more about Kerry's Meditation Program, Find Your Strength: https://letsfindyourstrength.com/   Kevin mentioned one of Richard Rohr’s books again but did not say the title quite right. Here it is: Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life

Out of fear, many people run away from difficulty, but what if one is afraid of not truly living? Ivy Lewis (writer) talks about a pivotal moment when she decided to run toward a tremendous challenge because she feared having regrets. Check out the episode to learn more about what can be earned from pursuing an extreme personal test. Kevin and Ivy talk about Ivy’s storytelling interests and the basic choices people can make to live decently. Ivy Lewis is Ivy’s pen name, and she also chats about using a nom de plume. Keep a look out for Ivy’s forthcoming novel Ferrishyn: Book 1. Sources/Mentions/Resources/Corrections For more about Ivy and her writing: https://www.ivylewisauthor.co.uk/⁠ Also, here's a link to Scorpius Books (the publisher of Ivy's book, Ferrishyn: Book 1): https://www.scorpiusbooks.com/ Kevin mentioned one of Richard Rohr’s books but did not say the title quite right. Here it is: ⁠Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life⁠

How can we grow as artists/people in a society that works against our development? Billups Allen (writer, musician, and record store clerk) provides ideas on how we can create spaces where growth is encouraged. For example, Billups talks to Kevin about his micro-screening series based in Memphis called Off the Marquee. Kevin and Billups also chat about Billups’s book 101 Films You Could See Before You Die: A Film Guide for the Disenchanted. Sources/Mentions/Resources For more about Billups and his creative work: https://cramholezine.wordpress.com/about/ For more info about Billups' book, 101 Films You Could See Before You Die: A Film Guide for the Disenchanted: https://cramholezine.wordpress.com/101-films-you-could-see-before-you-die/ For more info about Off the Marquee: https://offthemarquee.wordpress.com/

What lessons can we learn from punk rock? John Rash (photographer, filmmaker, editor, and educator) shares some punk rock lessons he’s learned and how they apply to his filmmaking career. John also talks with ⁠Kevin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ about Our Movement Starts Here⁠, his latest documentary film that he co-directed, produced, etc. Sources/Mentions/Resources/Corrections Film: ⁠Our Movement Starts Here Podcast episode: Brian Brogan Explains How We Can Heal *Kevin may have been introduced to ⁠Sunny Day Real Estate⁠ during his sophomore year of high school rather than his freshman year. Regardless, hearing their music for the first time opened new creative pathways for him.

How can people really heal rather than being caught in a repetitive process of trying to heal? Brian Brogan (poet, artist, and healer) chats with Kevin⁠ about how to embark on a spiritual journey. Kevin also shares how he and Brian met over twenty years ago and how Kevin's company Dog Heart Land, under its small press Dog Heart Land Press, recently published Brian's latest poetry book, Tracking the Masked Dawn. Additionally, Brian also talks about the throughline in all his work. Sources/Mentions/Resources Book: Tracking the Masked Dawn by Brian Brogan (Brian's second published book of poetry) Book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (for more info about "source," fostering creativity, and making art) Book: The Dark Side of the Light Chasers: Reclaiming Your Power, Creativity, Brilliance, and Dreams by Debbie Ford (a resource about shadow work). Article: "Are You a Wounded Healer" by Diana Raab, Ph.D. (Check this article out for more learning about the concept of the "wounded healer" as discussed by Carl Jung)

What posture can best help people see their tremendous value? Ali Cheff (actor, voiceover actor, and a humanitarian clown) talks to Kevin about how to be present and engage those who are suffering. Ali also talks about their love of telling stories.

What style of thinking leads to more opportunities? Kris Coleman (comedian, AKA Comedian Big Daddy Ice) talks to Kevin about the mentality that's been generating positive results for him in his personal life and professionally. Kris chats about "pushing the envelope" in his comedy and how good things happen on "don't want to go nights" when he shows up anyway for a gig. Kris and Kevin also talk about how they met when Kevin was Kris' theater teacher in high school and how Kris became involved in comedy. Source/Mention/Resource: Article/Interview: "George Carlin" in The A.V. Club

What should we do when we see suffering? Suzy Hollenbach (Founder of the non-profit animal rescue organization All 4s Rescue League) chats with Kevin about what she's seeing in the Memphis neighborhoods that need the most support. She also shares how her work with All 4s Rescue League started. Source/Mention/Resource: Book -The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology by Thich Nhat Hanh

How can we make sense of the things in life that feel absurd? Murray Warburton (animator, editor, and filmmaker) chats with Kevin about how he's striving to tell an animated story about the war in Ukraine based on his experience being in a relationship with his girlfriend, who is from Ukraine. Murray and Kevin also discuss how difficult situations can lead to personal growth. *Murray's animation about Ukraine is now shifting into a different project concerning Ukraine. *This episode was initially recorded on April 30th, 2022. Source/Mention/Resource: Book - A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders

Is art required to remind us things that we ought to already know? Rollence Patugan (photographer and college teacher) chats with Kevin about his artistic motivations. Kevin also shares a story about how Rollence gave him one of his photographs during a challenging time in his life. Sources/Mentions/Resources: Article - "At War with the Obvious" Short Story - "The Bully"

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews Aris Lanaridis (composer and lecturer in Music). Aris composes for film and various media. On this episode, Aris chats about the connections he sees between narrative and music. He also shares a message of encouragement and perseverance to the next generation.  Source/Mention: Hunter Thompson Quote

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews Katherine E. Lewis (writer, storyteller, and filmmaker). Katherine’s written for TV, podcasts, storytelling apps, and recently, she’s co-written a novel. Other storytelling mediums for Katherine include: drawing, painting, and animating. On this episode, Kevin and Katherine chat about the coming-of-age novel that she co-wrote with her sister Rebecca Lewis, Convergence - Book One: Incarnation. Katherine shares some lessons she’s learned about family and place, and how these themes manifest in her writing. Source/Mention: The Naked Now by Richard Rohr

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews Megan Murtha (playwright, director, composer, and professor). Megan and Kevin share their experiences growing up in West Seneca, NY and how their hometown had an impact on their artistic practices. Megan explains how she is focusing on cultivating a supportive, community-conscious process in her art as well as alternative ways she can use her art to positively engage with the world. Source: Check out Richard Rohr’s meditation in which artist and author Christine Valters Paintner’s concept of receiving pictures rather than taking them was mentioned Here’s her book: Christine Valters Paintner, Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice (Sorin Books: 2013).

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews Kyndle Wylde (musician, singer, & songwriter). Kyndle explains how she learned to listen to her inner voice to tell her own story on her debut EP, Kyndle Wylde. Kyndle and Kevin both share stories from their youth where they felt on the outside of things and how these experiences led them to have greater empathy for others. At the end of the podcast, the audience can listen to a clip from Kyndle's single "Like You Used To."

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his long-standing friend and creative partner Mark Blaszak (entrepreneur, business owner, videographer, cinematographer, storyteller, & co-founder of Uplifter Video). Mark and Kevin chat about how they became friends in high school by playing in a band and how their creative partnership has continued all these years--most recently by working together on the movie Up on the Glass. They also chat about the importance of storytelling. Mark explains how his love of storytelling brought him to leave a corporate job and start his own business.

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his friend/cousin Matt Chavanne (lighting designer, electrical engineer, musician/drummer for Humble Braggers). Matt and Kevin chat about their upbringing and how they've become closer over the years. Matt describes maintaining a career that is both technical and creative and how there is unity between these concepts that are often inaccurately described as oppositional. He also shares a clip of the latest single from his band Humble Braggers entitled, "I'll Keep Running." *In the podcast, Kevin mentions a concept about supporting others articulated by Dave Chapelle in his comedy special, "The Bird Revelation."

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his longtime friend Rob Currin (teacher, coach, creative). Rob and Kevin chat about how their friendship began while rallying for the local public library. Rob explains the nexus between competition, inspiration, and creation. *The three books whose ideas I mentioned in the podcast were Making Movies by Sidney Lumet, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr, and The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert.

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his friend and neighbor Jon Hornyak (musician, entrepreneur, Sr. Executive Director of the Memphis Chapter at the Recording Academy). Jon explains the importance of mentorship in his multi-faceted music career, and how the Recording Academy now has mentorship programs. He also shares how Memphis provided him creative freedom as well as people who showed him the way along his music and business journey.

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his friend Gerry Trentham (dancer, choreographer, Artistic Director of pounds per square inch performance, teacher). Gerry shares how increasing body awareness allows for a greater sense of both pleasure and pain. He also chats about how certain questions can bring a person to zero, but at that place there is a hidden spine that can be discovered.

The Good Rascals host Kevin Del Principe interviews his friend and neighbor Ellen Rolfes (entrepreneur, storyteller, philanthropy strategist). Ellen shares how listening to her inner voice has guided her own story and allowed her to help others tell their stories too. Rather than perceived burdens, Ellen details how adversity and fears can be tremendous gifts that can lead to new possibilities.