Chalk Dinosaur Podcast
54 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsThis is a podcast focused on music creation, professional and personal development, the creative process, and the inner workings of my life in music. My name is John O‘Hallaron. I release music under the name Chalk Dinosaur and I work as a freelance composer for television and games.
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Episodes
50. Solshine Reverie 2024
May 28, 2024 15:31 - 1 hour - 203 MBRecap of our experience playing at this year's Solshine Reverie Music Festival.
49. Four Day Run Recap
April 30, 2024 20:13 - 30 minutes - 69.7 MBRecapping the 4 day run we just did through WV, OH, TN, and IN
48. Acoustic Treatment, Tour, Rambling
April 23, 2024 18:07 - 1 hour - 156 MBRambling about my plans for my bedroom studio, upcoming run of 4 shows, 4 states in 4 days WV, OH, TN, IN! Also rambling about how we approach live performance and the balance of composition to improvisation.
47. New Co-Release with crypto WAVE radio - "Clear In My Mind (feat. Katriella)"
April 15, 2024 20:42 - 43 minutes - 98.5 MBDetails about the new Chalk Dinosaur x crypto WAVE radio song, "Clear In My Mind (feat. Katriella)"
46. Time Mgmt, 2 Night Run With Papadosio, Set Structure, Random Thoughts
March 12, 2024 11:54 - 1 hour - 177 MBLots of random thoughts from March 2024 about time management, our recent 2 night run with Papadosio, set structure, & random thoughts.
45. Dec 2023 - Philly Pigeons & Illinois Squeaky Feet Shows
December 20, 2023 16:41 - 1 hour - 207 MBTalking about my experiences playing the sold out Philly show opening for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and playing with Squeaky Feet in Illinois
44. Denver Indy Recap
August 28, 2023 20:39 - 1 hour - 188 MBTalking about how the recent shows in Denver and Indianapolis went.
43. NC, VT, MA, PA Recap
July 26, 2023 14:31 - 1 hour - 212 MBTalking about this summers shows so far in NC, VT, MA, and PA
42. Domefest & Summer Camp Recap
May 30, 2023 20:20 - 1 hour - 164 MBSharing the experience of playing Domefest and Summer Camp 2023
41. New Album - Stuck in Between, and Stuff
April 20, 2023 14:46 - 1 hour - 143 MBTalking about the new album, Stuck in Between, and current stuff April 2023
40. David Didio - Stone Throwers
March 10, 2023 20:06 - 2 hours - 340 MBChatting with my friend David Didio, a fellow Pittsburgh musician, songwriter and producer who releases music and performs under the name Stone Throwers. I've mixed and mastered some of their releases which is how I met them. You can find them on Spotify or any major streaming outlet.
39. Schedule Design
January 18, 2023 15:11 - 20 minutes - 47.6 MBThis might only be relevant to other people who self schedule. Here's the most recent schedule I've designed. I was trying to make a schedule that was going to flexible yet rigid enough to allow me to get to all the things that I'd like to work on. I haven't employed it yet so maybe it won't work well, but I'm thinking this might be the ticket for me. I'll 5:00 - Wake + breakfast 6:00 - Exercise + post workout meal 7:30 - meditation + journaling 8:30 - 12:30 - Work Block 1 12:30...
38. Chalk Dino Update 2023
January 18, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 145 MBTalking about the new music and things in the works for 2023.
37. Recording the New Album
November 07, 2022 23:16 - 1 hour - 204 MBTalking about yesterdays recording session at The Vault Recording Studio in Pittsburgh. https://thevaultrecording.com/
36. Keith Harker - Voice, Festivals, Travels, Random Stuff
September 30, 2022 17:48 - 3 hours - 475 MBThis episode features vocologist, band merch salesman, bubble extraordinaire, and friend Keith Harker.
35. Summerdance 2022 Recap
September 08, 2022 12:33 - 41 minutes - 94.7 MBTalking about my recent experience performing at Summerdance.
34. Career Strategies 2022
September 08, 2022 12:25 - 44 minutes - 102 MBTalking about my current strategies for surviving as a musician.
33. June-July Show Recap
September 08, 2022 12:17 - 48 minutes - 110 MBTalking about the shows we've played so far this summer. Our Pittsburgh show at Thunderbird, Peach Fest, and The Werk Out.
32. Covid Cancel || Sky Ridge || Release Strategy || Quitting Nicotine
February 23, 2022 01:23 - 46 minutes - 107 MBVenting about a recent covid cancellation, my collaboration with our guitarist Jon Henderson, release strategy, and quitting nicotine. Sky Ridge: https://soundcloud.com/jon-tom Instagram: @SkyRidgeMusic
31. 5 Factors to a Good Mix || How I Use EQ, Compression & Stereo
February 08, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 168 MBAnswering some listener submitted questions on mixing. If you have any topics or questions you'd like me to discuss on the podcast about Chalk Dinosaur, mixing, composing, bean mush, etc, email them to [email protected]
30. Sunset
February 01, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 216 MBThe making of the album Sunset. https://open.spotify.com/album/52of4cTlUnYH7wdpI50sIY?si=c3F465Z7THC4iQv444Tdzw https://linktr.ee/chalkdinosaur
30. Album Stories: Sunset
February 01, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 216 MBThe making of the album Sunset. https://open.spotify.com/album/52of4cTlUnYH7wdpI50sIY?si=c3F465Z7THC4iQv444Tdzw https://linktr.ee/chalkdinosaur
29. Album Stories: Song of an Eastern Wind
January 25, 2022 09:00 - 50 minutes - 116 MBThe making of Song of an Eastern Wind. https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1367115/song-of-an-eastern-wind
29. Song of an Eastern Wind
January 25, 2022 09:00 - 50 minutes - 116 MBThe making of Song of an Eastern Wind. https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1367115/song-of-an-eastern-wind
28. 2021 Wrapped
January 18, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 156 MBReviewing the highlights and challenges of 2021 for Chalk Dinosaur and me personally. https://linktr.ee/chalkdinosaur
27. Album Stories: Peace
January 11, 2022 09:00 - 20 minutes - 46.5 MBThe making of the album, Peace (feat. Ancient Frequencies) https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1520128/peace-feat-ancient-frequencies
27. Peace
January 11, 2022 09:00 - 20 minutes - 46.5 MBThe making of the album, Peace (feat. Ancient Frequencies) https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1520128/peace-feat-ancient-frequencies
26. BusCrates
November 13, 2021 00:31 - 45 minutes - 104 MBOn this episode I chat with Pittsburgh music producer and vinyl dj - BusCrates. He's one of my personal hometown favorites, and his music combines elements of hip-hop, synthesizer funk, and disco. He is also an avid user of the live streaming platform, Twitch. He does live streams of his vinyl dj sets and also production streams where he's composing new material. Find his music on Spotify, Bandcamp, and anywhere else music is available. Follow BusCrates: Instagram: @buscrates www.twitch....
25. What is Your Greatest Challenge as a Musician or Producer?
October 31, 2021 07:53 - 1 hour - 232 MBIn this episode I address some of the responses I got on Instagram when I asked the question, "what is your greatest challenge as a musician or producer?"
24. New Album - ”Fire on the Beach” - Listen Now With Commentary
October 22, 2021 07:09 - 2 hours - 322 MBListen to the new album with me before it comes out! In this episode I go through the upcoming album and comment on the making of each song and the recording process as a whole. The album gets released on October 29th, 2021. Hear it first here on the Chalk Dinosaur Podcast! All relevant Chalk Dinosaur links: https://linktr.ee/chalkdinosaur
23. Summer 2021 Recap
September 30, 2021 05:17 - 1 hour - 155 MBRecap of what's been going on with Chalk Dinosaur over summer 2021. Listen on Spotify Check Out the Entire Discography
22. Album Stories: With You
July 14, 2021 09:41 - 54 minutes - 124 MBIn this episode I share my memory of making the 22nd Chalk Dinosaur record, With You. Download or Stream Listen on Spotify Check Out the Entire Discography
21. Album Stories: Word of the Soul
June 30, 2021 06:36 - 59 minutes - 137 MBIn this episode I talk about the making of the album Word of the Soul. Lots of rambling. You can download or listen to the album here: https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1679013/word-of-the-soul or on Spotify.
20. Album Stories: Spectrum
April 15, 2021 09:00 - 44 minutes - 103 MBThe story of the Chalk Dinosaur album Spectrum. Purchase: https://chalkdinosaur.com/album/1811048/spectrum
19. What Just Happened
April 09, 2021 02:31 - 59 minutes - 137 MBRecap of what happened since episode 18. Spectrum: https://chalkdinosaur.bandcamp.com/album/spectrum Word of the Soul: https://chalkdinosaur.bandcamp.com/album/word-of-the-soul Chalk Dinosaur - Live at Homefest - 06.11.2020 https://youtu.be/2YPUZhdrJq0 Chalk Dinosaur - Live at the Rex Theater - 06.27.2020 youtube: https://youtu.be/zc_zJWwZJ7Q bandcamp: https://chalkdinosaurlive.bandcamp.com/album/rex-theater-06272020
18. Steve Ippolito - Drummer of The Clock Reads
April 21, 2020 19:11 - 1 hour - 236 MBIn this episode I talk music with Steve Ippolito, a drummer in Pittsburgh who plays in a band called The Clock Reads. note** There are a couple spots where the conversation cuts out and picks up later on in the conversation. This was my first attempt at a remote podcast and I encountered some unexpected technical difficulties. The Clock Reads: http://www.theclockreads.band/ Their new album "Gnomon": https://theclockreads.bandcamp.com/album/gnomon
17. New Albums, Game Music, COVID, Managing Doubt, Identifying Targets and Vision
April 17, 2020 17:21 - 1 hour - 212 MBIn this episode I talk about the 3 new Chalk Dinosaur albums, the music I've been doing for some new indie VR games, COVID-19, and my thoughts on managing doubt, identifying targets, and seeking vision. Relevant links: Chalk Dinosaur - "Peace" - Free meditative album featuring the sound of synthesizers with indigenous flutes. Chalk Dinosaur - "Service" - All sales donated to the service industry professionals in my life. Chalk Dinosaur - "With You" - All sales donated to the Rex Theate...
16. Katie Oltmanns - Radio DJ - Founder of Scene Unheard Podcast
March 11, 2020 17:34 - 1 hour - 138 MBOn this episode, I talk with Katie Oltmanns who works in the radio industry as a DJ on 105.9 and 104.7, the live music industry, and is the founder of a local music podcast called Scene Unheard. Katie details what it's like working in radio, how she arrived, and her experience doing Scene Unheard. Check out her podcast, Scene Unheard
15. Paul Guarino - Owner/Founder of ASCEND
March 02, 2020 18:19 - 1 hour - 221 MBOn today's episode I have a discussion with Paul Guarino, one of the owners and founders of ASCEND, a rock climbing gym in Pittsburgh. Interestingly, I've been involved musically with ASCEND since they opened. They've used Chalk Dinosaur music in some of their promotional videos and I've also DJ'd for the gym a couple times. I've been curious about what it was like starting that business, and the backstory behind everything, so I'm grateful for Paul taking the time to come and chat with me a...
14. Cultivating Inspiration
February 24, 2020 20:05 - 43 minutes - 100 MBIf we want to feel inspiration, we must not wait for it to find us, but rather, we must seek it out and cultivate it. If we feed it, it will grow. If we neglect it, it will wither. In this episode I share my thoughts on actively seeking and maintaining an inspired state.
13. Jeremy Colbert • Taragape - Spirit Maze
February 20, 2020 18:57 - 1 hour - 143 MBIn this episode I sit down with Jeremy Colbert who is a Pittsburgh based singer/songwriter, guitar and terrapan player. Jeremy plays in a Pittsburgh folk rock band called Nameless in August, but this episode focuses on his upcoming solo album called Spirit Maze and the story behind it. His solo artist alias is Taragape. The album release show is this Saturday, February 22nd, 2020. Details and links below! Artist: Taragape Album: Spirit Maze (Available 2.22.2020) Bandcamp: www.taragape.ban...
12. The Story of Chalk Dinosaur
January 31, 2020 23:50 - 1 hour - 140 MBIn this episode I tell the story of Chalk Dinosaur, from the first time I held an instrument all the way to the present time. All of the iterations of Chalk Dinosaur from solo project to full band.
11. Michael Berger of The Clock Reads
January 07, 2020 23:36 - 1 hour - 199 MBIn this episode I have a conversation with Michael Berger, bassist and writer for a Pittsburgh band called The Clock Reads. I would describe their music as a fusion of jazz, jam, funk, and latin. They just released a new album called Gnomon which is the main catalyst for our conversation today. You can find The Clock Reads at the links listed below. Happy New Year! Time to put a new ring in the tree trunk. http://www.theclockreads.band/ https://theclockreads.bandcamp.com/ https://www.face...
10. Sean Howard of the Sean Howard Orchestra and Soundbar Productions
November 28, 2019 05:43 - 57 minutes - 132 MBOn this episode I talk with my friend Sean Howard. If you go to any of the smaller PA music festivals, you've probably seen Sean running sound or lights. I met Sean at a festival called FarmJammaLamma in 2016. He was one of the lighting and sound engineers as well as a performer. In this conversation we talk about his work as a lighting and sound engineer, his band, and the recording studio project he is currently building. https://www.facebook.com/SHOrchestra/ https://www.facebook.com/...
9: Broccoli, Pastry Hands, Reflections
November 26, 2019 17:34 - 1 hour - 232 MBIn this episode I talk about a bunch of random stuff, both related and unrelated to Chalk Dinosaur. Recent and upcoming performances, reflections, and a bunch of random thoughts.
8: PT with CD ◊ Mixing
November 18, 2019 02:50 - 1 hour - 228 MBIn this episode I talk about some of my methods and thoughts on mixing.
7: Shane McLaughlin of Buffalo Rose
November 06, 2019 15:18 - 1 hour - 257 MBThis episode features songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Shane McLaughlin of the Pittsburgh folk band Buffalo Rose. In this conversation we talk about songwriting, recording, journaling, and a bunch of other random stuff. Links: Buffalo Rose Website Buffalo Rose Spotify Facebook Bandcamp The River Song (live clip from the beginning of the episode) Rocketship (single)
6: PT with CD ◊ Prolificity and Finishing Ideas
October 27, 2019 18:59 - 51 minutes - 117 MBIn this episode, I share my thoughts on the keys to prolificity and finishing ideas.
5: Lifestyle Design Experiment Conclusion
October 27, 2019 14:56 - 53 minutes - 122 MBIn this episode I reflect on the results of my "Lifestyle Design Experiment" in which I observe the following daily practices for one month: 1. Wake up at 4:30am 2. 15 minutes of meditation 3. 3 pages of journaling 4. 1 hour of exercise 5. 1 gallon of water 6. Write tomorrows task list before bed 7. No alcohol, cigarettes or recreational drugs In a nutshell, I had a remarkably productive month with a significantly higher and more consistent energy level. In this episode I also ta...
4: Lucas Bowman
October 23, 2019 01:45 - 1 hour - 266 MBThis episode welcomes my first podcast guest, Lucas Bowman. Lucas is a classical and jazz pianist who plays keyboard in a Pittsburgh soul-rock band called The Commonheart. Check out their new album Pressure, available everywhere. I met Lucas in 2016 and he appears in two Chalk Dinosaur songs: Farm Jam, and Rocket Dude off the album "Chalk Dinosaur and Friends". He's one of those musicians who is extremely fluent with his instrument and with the language of music as a whole. I have so many...