In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," host Carla Gover welcomes poet, songwriter, and renaissance man, Matthew Sidney Parsons. Born in Kentucky and raised in West Virginia and Tennessee, Parsons now resides in Eastern Kentucky on a family homestead, where he draws inspiration from the natural surroundings and his ancestral heritage in his creative work. During the conversation, Parsons and Gover delve into the complexities of living a creative life, balancing multiple passions, and the realities of being an artist who is also a parent.  Parsons shares insights into his approach to prioritizing his passions and the impact of fatherhood on his music and poetry. The episode also explores Parsons' latest work, including his poetry book "Mountain Roosters," which focuses on his Appalachian identity, toxic masculinity, and the responsibility of shaping the narrative about Appalachia. The conversation touches on the intersection of art and technology, the ethical considerations surrounding AI, and the challenges and joys of parenting while pursuing a creative career. You'll also hear an excerpt from Parsons' newest song, "Middle Class," which delves into an exploration of values and class issues in the USA. Learn about the enriching impact of parenting on creativity and career, and gain valuable insights into finding inspiration in the everyday moments. Thank you for joining us on "What Dreamers Do," and don't miss out on the chance to engage with Matthew Sidney Parsons and his latest work.Where to connect with Matt:@miraclematts on most platformsFacebookInstagramTikTokMiddle Class Song on YouTube Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Join host Carla Gover in her conversation with veteran Kentucky clogger (and professional psychologist) Steven Smith in this episode of What Dreamers Do. Carla and Steven also discuss the nuances of different dance styles, the importance of creativity in everyday life, and the challenges of teaching traditional dance styles that are similar yet different.  Steve has done it all, from Contemporary Clogging to Flatfooting to Waltz Clog to Buck Dance. Even better, he has released all of his teaching materials free to all on YouTube, which he discusses on the show.Get ready to be inspired to live your most creative life, and learn more about the history of clogging in the state of Kentucky and beyond!Steve's YouTube Dance ChannelSteven on Facebook Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Welcome back to "What Dreamers Do," the podcast that explores the power of dreams, creativity, and the human spirit. Today we have a special guest joining us on the show. Please welcome Matthew Olwell, a multi-talented artist, musician, and dancer. In this episode, titled "Rhythm and Resistance," we dive deep into the world of dance, and how artists can use their performances and classes to address social injustices.Throughout our conversation, we explore the importance of acknowledging our own immigrant histories, the power of the arts in engaging in difficult conversations, and the need to create spaces for meaningful change. Drawing on his extensive experience in both Irish dance and Appalachian flatfooting, Matthew shares insights into the connections between these styles and the nuanced elements that make each unique. We discuss the whitewashing of Appalachian history and the complexity of its dance origins, including the influence of African diaspora dances. Matthew challenges reductive versions of these dance forms, highlighting their gradual amalgamation and hybridization over time. Additionally, we delve into the significance of dance and music in connecting with others, creating shared spaces, and bridging divides. Matthew shares personal stories of powerful moments of connection and understanding that he has witnessed that were brought about by artistic exchange.As we navigate the conversation, we confront uncomfortable histories, address the legacy of slavery, and examine our own responsibilities as artists in helping to create meaningful change in the world.  This is an episode you won't want to miss!Featured LinksMatthew Olwell's BlogOlwell FlutesAugust Heritage CenterKnock On Wood Tap StudioLoyd Shaw Foundation (dedicated to education about American folk dance)Country Dance and Song SocietyMaivish (Matt's Band)Terpsichore's Holiday (live dance week) Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," host Carla Gover sits down with the talented and multipassionate Jennifer Reid, a researcher, presenter, educator, performer and provocateur. In her lovely Northern Accent, we get a glimpse of Jennifer's work, as she takes us on a journey through the various art forms that she uses to highlight working-class issues past and present and connect audiences to their heritage through the captivating world of Lancashire dialect songs.  She even sings a sample of the  North Manchester song "The Weaver of Wellbrook." She sheds light on the importance of oral tradition in preserving and passing down these songs, with special attention to the rhythm of the hand loom that echoes through the music. The conversation then delves into the broader context of ballads in industrialization-era slums and their societal roles as they evolved. Jennifer shares her experiences teaching art and music, and the joy she finds in live performances, adapting her set lists to match the atmosphere of the room. We learn about Jennifer's vast repertoire, and how she carries a box of 300 songs to cater to different preferences, even tailoring songs to specific locations. She touches on the healing power of live music as a form of medicine, and how she chooses songs for audience members based on their needs. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as Carla and Jennifer discuss the fascinating world of street hawkers selling ballads, and the historical importance of these sellers in reminding Irish workers of home. We gain insights into Jennifer's acting career, including her role in a critically acclaimed period drama directed by Shane Meadows featuring her improvisation of 1700s songs. The two move on to discuss Lancashire clogging and singing, and Jennifer's journey into 19th-century print culture while volunteering at Chetman's Library in Manchester. We delve into the significance of folk ballads and using music as a powerful tool for social change. Jennifer shares stories, knowledge, and her knowledge about broadside ballads and the importance of preserving folk traditions. The episode concludes with a sneak peek into Jennifer's future plans, possible performances in the UK and the United States, and an invitation to visit her recently updated website for more information and music. Jennifer's Website Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

On this episode of What Dreamers Do, host Carla Gover talks with Appalachian Author Bobi Conn about her work, her writing process, overcoming trauma, and offering a counter-narrative to stereotypical,  pop-culture representations of the region. The two friends also riff about their personal experiences with healing and success, encouraging listeners to find their own path and express their best selves to the world.The episode wraps up with a discussion about Bobi’s two existing books as well as her upcoming novel, which all explore universal themes and Bobi’s lived experiences and struggles, with a focus on women's lives.BiographyBobi Conn was born in Morehead, Kentucky, and raised in a nearby holler, where she developed a deep connection with the land and her Appalachian roots. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at Berea College, the first school in the American South to integrate racially and to teach men and women in the same classrooms. After struggling as a single mother, she worked multiple part-time jobs at once to support her son and to attend graduate school, where she earned a master’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In 2020, she released her first book, an elegiac account of survival despite being born poor, female, and cloistered. In her honest and vulnerable memoir, we find a testament of hope for all vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls caught in the cycle of poverty and abuse. Bobi's second book, a novel called "A Woman in Time," was published in 2022 and draws inspiration from the true stories of her great grandparents. It portrays a woman who challenges the constraints of life in Prohibition-era Appalachia in this sweeping and richly rewarding novel about endurance, survival, and redemption.Bobi’s WebsiteBobi’s Instagram Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

On this episode of What Dreamers Do, we catch up with Si Kahn, an activist, author, playwright, organizer, and singer-songwriter known for his powerful songs and lifelong engagement in labor issues, human rights, and environmental concerns. The conversation covers his experiences in the labor movement as an organizer, and his engagement as a folk singer focused on writing songs for and about real people with real stories. Si shares his insights into the world of social justice actions (musical and otherwise) and offers some golden advice on how to keep going during times when political situations make us feel despair and hopelessness. We also learn more about the host's own experiences with activism and social change, and how she’s used music and dance to create solidarity and community. The episode ends with a discussion about how the energy we carry in our hearts has the power to help heal the world, and that carrying signs and protesting are the only ways to effect change.Some key subjects shared by Si:his thoughts about how to keep going during trying times his experiences in the labor and organizing movements the importance of supporting Indigenous-led environmental movements the use of artistic platforms platforms to amplify marginalized voices  Links:Si Kahn's WebsiteCreative Community Organizing: A Guide for Rabble-Rousers, Activists, and Quiet Lovers of Justice by Si Kahn"If" by Rudyard Kipling (poem) Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

In this episode, you'll take a deep dive into Appalachian Flatfooting, Clogging, and the general dance history of the Carolinas. You'll also hear the origin story of Rodney Clay Sutton, recognized as a Master Folk Artist in North Carolina. With a lifelong career in music and dance, Rodney is both a preserver and an innovator in Appalachian Percussive Styles, and was an early member of the world-renowned Green Grass Cloggers. We spend time talking about  Rodney's influences and early life, the evolution of the dance stylings of the Green Grass Cloggers, walking the line between tradition and innovation, and how some of the steps and dances in the GGC repertoire came about. Other topics include:The importance of LIVE MUSIC for performanceHow dance contests affect the perpetuation and evolution of a styleThe relationships between old-fashioned and contemporary cloggingCultural sensitivity in dance educationDancers and educators like Willard Watson, Robert Dotson, Dudley Culp, Amy Sarli, and moreLinks MentionedRodney's WebsiteRodney's Facebook PageTalking Feet FilmGreen Grass CloggersAppalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyMusic Used:Sugar Hill by Jim Couch (Harlan County, Kentucky)Digital Library of Appalachia Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Welcome back for season two of What Dreamers Do!I kick this episode off by recapping my summer travels with the band, sharing some fun and memorable moments from the UK, Ireland, Serbia, and Greece, and my takeaways about the insights we can gain from traveling. (Including my suggestion for applying the insights when we're back home!)Links MentionedCowan Creek Mountain Music SchoolAppalachian Frolic Dance Weekend December 9-11, 2022, Berea, KY Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

In this juicy interview, we chat with Singer/Songwriter/Producer Rosie Bans, who writes, performs, ad collaborates with other artists and activists to create change for women and other marginalized groups, AND has an innovative support group and course for songwriters who want to give their creativity and motivation a boost. We also discuss her free songwriting challenge, and how she helps songwriters spur themselves to get out of their own way to write more and more freely. LinksBe Radical Make Music Facebook GroupRosie on InstagramSongwriting WebsiteRosie's PodcastSongwriting Challenge Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

This is part of my meandering summer episode series, which don't necessarily come out each Thursday, but rather when inspiration strikes. I might be in a cool café in London or an East Kentucky Holler when I record, or maybe just in my cozy living room drinking a cup of tea as I was for this episode. I begin with a reflection on tours past and future, and share one of my zaniest tour stories from the road. I then share my monologue from a project we've been sprucing up lately, the Cornbread & Tortillas Folk Opera. It's about all the things my Granny taught me, including how to make cornbread. I finish with a sneak peak from the new CornMaiz Stringband album, and a toast to all my friends!LinksCornMaiz String Band Cornbread & Tortillas Folk OperaAppalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Appalachian Author/Yogi Kelli Hansel Haywood's life and practice is firmly rooted in the soil of her native East Kentucky. In this interview, she speaks about home, art, motherhood, healing, and her artistic processes. Some of the things we talk about include:The way her knowledge of her kin and extended family has informed her identity provided a lifelong sense of groundedness. Her feelings of not quite fitting in outside East Kentucky, but ironically not fitting in fully there, either.How having children changed her artistic process, and allowed her to realize that inspiration is always there for her.The sensation when your kids model your examples and start becoming artists themselves.The seemingly-paradoxical fact that there is a lot of rhetoric in Appalachia about men being the leaders of home and church, but that strong women uphold the communities and families. Her style of feminism and her conflicted feelings about changing her name after marriage.What she wants folks from outside Appalachia to know about the region.Why Appalachian ways of knowing the world are sometimes discriminated against.How a mountain accent does NOT signal a low IQHow she got a book deal from consistently posting on Instagram, and how she used her own healing and transformation to create the content that became the book.The way knowledge has become wisdom over the course of her life.Personal Alchemy and Jungian shadow workThe special gifts that artists have to share with the world, and which should NEVER be taken for granted.Links Mentioned:www.kellihansel.comKelli's book Sacred CatharsisIG: @darkmoon_kelliDownload the How to Live Your Most Creative Life Guide Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

I'm releasing this interview with Kentucky musician/artist/icon Cari Anna Norris, recorded in the summer of 2021. As Kentucky mourns her passing this week, I wanted to honor her memory with this sweet interview I conducted as part of my dance project, the Kentucky Tour de Dance. She tells us about her grandmother, banjo legend Lily May Ledford of the Coon Creek Girls, whose death when Cari was 15 was a pivotal moment in her musical life. She also discusses her other early musical influences, including the legendary Jean Ritchie, Sue Massek, Rich Kirby, and others, and how the ancient music of Appalachia helped her feel connected to her ancestors. And she rounds out the interview with some metaphysical musings on the synergistic relationship between music and dance in Appalachia. Read more about the Kentucky Tour de Dance here.  Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Why is it that we don't always make time for doing the things we love? And then when we finally do them (and feel great) we wonder why in the world we waited so long?In this podcast, I muse about why that might be the case, and argue for why we should all be prioritizing those "love-to-do" things in our lives.  I also touch on:Why "I Am" are some of the most powerful words in our language and why they should be used with care.Why so many of us are multi-talented or multi-passionate, and yet we struggle to own our full awesomenessWhy being a "Jack-of-All-Trades" is actually a great thingWhy using tools like affirmations, journaling, and visual aids can be helpful in reprogramming our subconscious minds to help us live our best lives. And I've also created a free resource for you, a Permission Certificate that you can fill out and display somewhere prominent, so that you have permission to do more of what you love the most. And in case you didn't get it yet, be sure to sign up for the FREE e-book How to Live Your Most Creative Life. Books for Creative Inspiration (I am not an affiliate for any of these. I just dig them!)You Are a Badass by Jen SinceroYou Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertAnything by SARKThe Artist's Way by Julia Cameron Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

This quick episode is allll about giving you a sneak preview of the amazing creators and tips inside my free e-book, How To Live Your Most Creative Life. I put this together to inspire you, help you break through blocks and stuck places, and get a little motivation to add small creative moments to your everyday life. I quickly tell you a bit about each of our contributors (who are all past or future podcast guests here!) and the creative strategy they offer in the guide. Listen to the episode, then grab your free copy right away!Episode LinksClick here for your free copy of How To Live Your Most Creative Life Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

How moving beyond fear and connecting with your intuition helps every area of your life.Are you someone who is drawn to growth, transformation, and living your most authentic, soulful life? If so, you’re going to LOVE this week’s guest. Her name is Deepshikha Sairam, and she’s a Priestess of the Divine Feminine and spiritual mentor to high-achieving women entrepreneurs and leaders. She is also the creator of The Path to Self Mastery, a revolutionary self discovery framework rooted in ancient wisdom, science backed methodologies and spiritual tools & rituals, designed to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be, so that you can live a more creative, joyful and meaningful life. Deepshikha has helped me expand my own thinking about what I’m capable of achieving, and the meditations and exercises I’ve done with her have helped me not only understand myself better, but connect more deeply with my own inner spiritual guidance system. And if that weren’t enough, I have had some powerful energy clearing sessions where we worked together to clear my body and subconscious mind of some of the past traumas, failures, and frustrations that I didn’t even know were buried there, but which were holding me back. We had such a deep and meaningful conversation that I know you’ll want to listen to the whole interview, but here is a sneak peek of some of the topics we address:>>Why she changed her career focus when she was at the top of her game and earning multiple six figures each year.>>How she has been pushed by spirit her whole life to step into the role she is finding now. >>How each stage of our development and awareness has a shadow and a gift. >>How creativity is our birthright.>>The paradigm shifts that have helped her become more intuitive in her life. I hope you love this interview as much as I did, and take away some strategies for living more creatively, intuitively, and from your soul. Episode LinksDeepshikha on InstagramInfinite Possibilities Meditation Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

This week I'm continuing my chat with musician/songwriter/educator/Appalachian Artivist Sam Gleaves about a bevy of subjects dear to our hearts and our work in Kentucky and beyond. He talks about how his work with cultural organizations such as the Appalshop, The Highlander Center, and Berea College have deepened his activism in the mountains. He also shares more about the educational work he does with Berea College in teaching traditional ad bluegrass music to students there from many cultures and places. We discuss the tightrope that artists living and working in traditional art forms sometimes face in trying to convey our authentic truths while maintaining awareness that sometimes our audiences have vastly different sociopolitical or religious beliefs than we do.  Sam also shares more about navigating the traditional music world as a queer man, how his music has changed as he has embodied his personal truth, and the importance of singers as storytellers who have the power to help shape new narratives of the world. (And how they're MORE than just entertainers!)And when asked about coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, anxiety, and despair around world events, his biggest exhortation is.....SING!Artists/Links mentioned in show:Sam Gleaves WebsiteSam Gleaves on FacebookAppalshop Cultural OrganizationHighlander CenterThe STAY ProjectCowan Creek Mountain Music SchoolReel World String BandMy Singing Bird by Sam Gleaves Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Our interview guest for this week is multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, and Appalachian Music Professor Sam Gleaves, who was born and raised in Wytheville, Virginia. Rooted in Appalachian sounds, Gleaves’ songwriting sings of contemporary rural life and social issues. In 2015, Gleaves collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Cathy Fink and released a debut record of original songs, titled “Ain’t We Brothers,” which has been featured by The Guardian, National Public Radio, and No Depression. A passionate teaching artist, Gleaves has shared Appalachian traditions at numerous music camps, colleges, universities, and public schools. He currently serves as a traditional music instructor and director of the Bluegrass Ensemble at Berea College. In our chat this week, we discuss how Sam got started as a young musician growing up in the hills of Appalachia, the mentors who encouraged him, and his various influences from pop icons to local legends. Sam also opens up about how impostor syndrome shows up for him, how he started adding original songs to his repertoire of traditional music, the mentors who made a difference in his life, and why he considers himself an "artivist" rather than an "activist."We get to hear his original tune "Ain't We Brothers", accompanied by West Virginia legend Tim O'Brien, chronicling the story of a gay coal miner and his plea for simple dignity and acceptance. Artists/Links mentioned in show:Sam Gleaves WebsiteSam Gleaves on FacebookForked Deer as fiddled by Roger CooperKentucky Author Silas HouseKentucky Author Jason Kyle Howard Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

Whether or not you believe that our thoughts create our reality, I think we can all acknowledge that our attitudes and habitual thoughts can affect our quality of life. I have had a lifelong fascination with the ways that our everyday thoughts, especially the ones we think over and over again, can affect the outcomes of our relationships, career, and creativity. In this episode, I share some ideas about small ways that we can shift our thinking to enjoy more peace, self-acceptance, and even prosperity. I also discuss how I currently have goals for what I'd like to FEEL in my life, and not just what I'd like to achieve--and how this actually positively affects my achievements. And I finish up with why I believe it is ESPECIALLY important to hold ourselves in a loving vibration with loving thoughts during times of conflict and turmoil, even though it can be hard to do. Join me if you'd like to focus your mind on something positive, and be more intentional about the thoughts you are entertaining today. Episode Links:Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive as sung by Paul McCartneyBlowin' In The Wind as sung by Zoe Speaks Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

This was a hard episode to record, because there are SO MANY songs I love. And, full disclosure, this list might vary on any given day--just as yours likely would!Some of these you will likely have heard, and I hope that others will be a delightful discovery. I tried not to include too many by the huge pop stars and bands that everyone has heard, although I couldn't resist a couple of my British Invasion faves. And a few others I had to leave off since I made an accompanying playlist, and the songs I was thinking of were not on Spotify. Give it a listen, and let me know a few of your favorite songs! Bonus points if it's one I've never heard before!Spotify Playlist: 10 Songs I Really Love Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show

I love a good love story, so I decided to share the improbable story of how I met my true companion a bit later in life. (Even though we'd met as kids when my search for baklava in a town we'd both just moved to landed me in his dad's bakery!)I get candid about my own struggles to find harmony in the realm of romance, in spite of most things in my life going pretty well. I also talk about the dance of how  how I made what I thought was an impossible list of characteristics I was looking for in a companion and vowed not to date anyone who didn't meet them ALL, how my partner and I got to know each other when we were both a bit "gun-shy", and  a mystical moment when I first started to believe we could have something truly special together!I also share three of the qualities that I believe comprise a great relationship, and what makes this one so different (and fulfilling) for me. Thanks for listening to my stories, and please feel free to share yours with me---I'd love to hear what you're dreaming of in love or a tale of how you met YOUR sweetie! Contact me at carla@carlagover.com or over on the 'gram @kentuckycarlaLinks MentionedJitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins Learn a little about one of my "cheats" for serving my family healthy meals, even when I'm strapped for time! Post-Roll with information about the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging AcademyBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREESupport the show