Song of the Soul
656 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsSong of the Soul invites you to a soul-level encounter. Music has the ability to proclaim the soul's language beyond what mere words can speak. That's what we seek as we invite our guests to share their Song of the Soul. You will hear the music that has charted the steps of their spiritual journey, that has provided a touchstone in the soul's dark night, and sung the hearts awe and joy when come to the Light. As you listen to Song of the Soul, you are both witness and companion to our guest's spiritual path and sacred testimony.
Song of the Soul guests provide about 25 minutes of the music that speaks of their spiritual path, beliefs or journey, and Mark Helpsmeet explores with them the relevance and meaning of this music to their experience. Some guests are musicians, perhaps sharing their own music, but most guests are simply sharing music they've been impacted by, written and performed by others.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Sweden's Best Americana Heart-strings
July 21, 2023 04:57 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBSofia Talvik self-describes as “Americana/Folk with Swedish Roots”, and it's so much better and wonderful than that can conjure. With the voice of an angel, she can play the strings of our hearts. Sofia has toured extensively in the US, though she lives mostly in Germany these days, where she makes music as part of the German/Swedish folk duo Hansan, combining Sofia and David Floer.
Tom Smith: World's Fastest Filker
July 13, 2023 23:24 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBTom Smith, known as the World's Fastest Filker, has been making and sharing music at science fiction and fantasy conventions since 1985. He's written in many musical genres, including folk, rock, jazz, gospel, and showtunes; and can write incredibly funny political commentary just as easily as heart-felt eulogy. Today Tom shares with us a few of the songs that mean the most to him.
Latingrass & Artivism – Joe Troop Delivers
July 06, 2023 05:24 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJoe Troop introduced a new form of music called Latingrass, a combination of music from Joe's homeland, in the lower Appalachian mountains, with the tones and tunes of the Andes in South America. He also refers to himself by another new word, artivist, a combination of his musical art and his activist passions. Joe Troop was born with bones that resonated with music, grew into a banjophile, and found delicious riches of culture and humanity while living in Spain, Japan, and most recently, Ar...
Sparkling Diamond from NC – Abigail Dowd
June 30, 2023 03:54 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBAbigail Dowd's songs are rich deeply connected to both folk/Americana music, and to spirit-tinged lyrics, making her the perfect Song of the Soul guest. You'll also immediately hear Abigail Dowd's North Carolina accent, and you'll hear the voice of an angel poet in the same moment.
Digging In The Ruins of Our Age With Michael R.J. Roth
June 22, 2023 05:06 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBMichael R. J. Roth writes his songs on the deep end of the meaning pool, and his tone has the same depth, so that some have called him a cool dark troubadour. His voice ranges, sometimes recalling the tones of a Gordon Lightfoot or a Johnny Cash, and sometimes a bit of John Prine. But what's especially wonderful is how after retirement from a number of professions, including that of a diplomat, Michael launched into full-time music production around 65, and he's put out more than 9 albums to...
Roving Roots in Indiana, Oklahoma, & Scotland: Tim Grimm
June 16, 2023 03:38 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBTim Grimm delivers moving music grown out of the soil of the Midwest, music that's flavored folk, country, and Americana, and by the end of this program you'll have songs lodged in your heart that you'll carry with you for the rest of your life.
With Roses, Snakes, Tigers, & The Divine Mother: Ana Egge
June 09, 2023 02:06 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBAna Egge combines a beautiful voice with seriously deep lyrics to make transformative music. With 12 albums under her belt, and with a menagerie of creatures, like roses, snakes, tigers, & the Divine Mother, brought to life in her songs, there is both breadth & depth of vision channeled to us. With roots extending back to Saskatchewan, North Dakota, New Mexico, & Texas, Ana currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.
More Beauty, More Wonder: Meg Hutchinson
June 02, 2023 01:50 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBSince Meg Hutchinson last joined us in 2012, she obtained her Masters of Divinity as the only Buddhist in her class, and has added work including as Osal Doula Services, still continuing to produce the amazingly deep & moving music she is known for.
Bill Staines Sings One Last Time: Critter In The Choir
May 26, 2023 00:29 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBThe incredible and influential folksinger, Bill Staines died this past week, bringing tears of fond memories to my eyes when I got the news. I've been singing his songs in our local song circles for 40 years now, so I decided to again share my 2015 Song of the Soul interview with you, today, in homage of a wonderful man and musician.
Looking Forward to the Backroads: Johnsmith
May 19, 2023 01:43 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBOur guest is Johnsmith, a talented, engaging, profound, & easy-going guy.
Spotlight On The Folkpodist: Cheryl Prashker
May 12, 2023 03:01 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBCheryl Prashker is a talented musician with wide and deep skills, particularly on the drums, but she especially has a heart of gold and bestows endless blessings on all around her. Besides performing decades ago with a back called CC RailRoad, she performs currently with a Celtic-based band called Runa.
Fire, Blood, Booze, Lust, Spirit, & Yoga with Ethan Eckert
May 05, 2023 03:18 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBEthan Eckert is a player of music in a wild variety of genres, including folk, jazz, hip-hop, hard rock and just about whatever you can imagine. He's a drummer, keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist, and he writes songs on the creative edge. He will help raise you up, just as he does with his sourdough bread and his songs will answer your thirst, as does his mushroom tea. Ethan does all of this and more in Kansas City, Kansas.
Good Old Days & Ways: 7 Artists
April 27, 2023 23:29 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBSeven portions of seven Song of the Soul shows with seven great musicians back in the summer/fall of 2020, with songs linked by themes around old-timey music, old times, old folks, and new songs.
Leaping Music, Heart, & Animals
April 21, 2023 06:12 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBThe music of Ben Bedford talks on on a trip through a wider lens to life, not only that of humans, but of the vibrant world around us, with all our relations. While Ben's words dance lyrically through images and poetry, his tunes dance magically through guitar strings and vibrations.
Best Songs for Social Change 2022
April 14, 2023 07:37 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBEnjoy the rich fruits of the 7th annual Songs for Social Change contest, sponsored by RAWA (Renaissance Artists and Writers Association). The main organizer, Dada Veda, shares 6 of the finalists in the 2022 contest, including winner Allan Licht.
Give Trees a Chance!
April 07, 2023 01:47 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBTom Neilson is a folk singer's folk singer, using his songs to bring you all the news and issues that are of vital importance to the physical and ethical well-being of Americans but which get short-shrift in mainstream media. It's not a surprise at all that Just Plain Folks International gave Tom awards this year for best Traditional Folk Album & best Social Commentary album.
Music as Spirit & Lifeblood - Heather Pierson
March 24, 2023 02:43 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBHeather Pierson fell in love with music & the piano at a tender age, growing into singing in choirs & playing the guitar along the way. Music of all sorts of genres are her spirit & lifeblood. She was a part of Garajh Mahal, doing progressive rock, then with the country-leaning North Atlantic Band.
A Gift of Light: Joy Zimmerman
February 17, 2023 05:50 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJoy Zimmerman combines consummate instrumental skill, with moving lyrics, and with abundant Light & Love. Immersed in classical music & violin throughout her youth, it was later in life that she picked up a guitar and discovered her gift for songwriting. Joy shares deeply from her rich life and her passion for making a better world, and she does it with wonderful creativity, beauty, and her clear, ringing, passionate voice.
Iowa's Wonderful Chicago Folk Recluse: Bonnie Koloc
February 02, 2023 21:28 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBBonnie Koloc was a major presence in music, especially folk music, on the Chicago scene in the early 1970's, along with John Prine and Steve Goodman, one of the big 3 folk musicians there. She was a constant presence on the stage in those years, churning out 4 albums in 4 years, singing not only folk but jazz and blues. Eventually she wondered away from Chicago, including stints with other forms of art, like musical theater and visual art.
Wonder, Mystery, Beauty, & Christmas in the Ashram
January 27, 2023 05:27 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBChris Rosser moved to Asheville, NC, to be close to the folk music scene there, even as he performs as a jazz musician, and as part of the world-fusion trio, Free Planet Radio - and produces music for others.
Pain Into Connection, Dark Pop, & Scrabble Mastery
January 20, 2023 04:37 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBJessica Smucker is today's SOS guest, and she believes the best way to change the world is to channel our pain into connection. Jessica is one very captivating person, both musically and otherwise. She worked on movies, is a published poet & a social justice warrior, came into music through a rock band called The Sleeping World, and she knows all the two-letter words in Scrabble, so don't even think of challenging her.
Tear-jerking Joy with Carrie Elkin
January 13, 2023 05:34 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBCarrie Elkin brings to listeners a tear-jerking joy through her songs that seek to make the world better from the vulnerable places in each of our hearts. With a life, study, and career path including saxophone, Lutheran church music, pre-med studies, physiology, and environmental work using organic chemistry, it was a long road that led Carrie to her true home & profession as a singer/songwriter folk musician.
Serious Fun with Alastair Moock
January 05, 2023 21:07 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBAlastair Moock has been playing music in the Philly area since 1995, with a specialty of family music added after the birth of his twins in 2006. He was first place in the 2020 Songs for Social Change, a project of RAWA, with his song Be A Pain.
Six Songs & A Different Christmas: Part 2
December 30, 2022 04:35 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBCelebrating the winter holidays with 6 artists & songs, with very different glimpses & ideas about Christmas. Some are whimsical, some thought-provoking, some passionate.
Songs of Winter Holidays, Part 1: Cris Williamson & Friends
December 23, 2022 13:10 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBPart one of a rich assortment of guests & original music of some Winter Holidays, like the Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year.
Music of Summer 2020 – From Wonder Woman to a Frog in a Pond
December 16, 2022 00:55 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBA delightful retrospective of Song of the Soul guests from Summer 2020, ranging lighthearted to profoundhearted.
Songs of the Border #2: Dreams & Compassion With No Cages
November 24, 2022 21:07 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MB4 more artists from Georgia, Texas, North Carolina, & Wisconsin, with songs of welcoming, Dreamers, cages, & loving our neighbors.
Songs of the Border #1: Hearts Reaching Wide
November 18, 2022 03:41 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBThree artists share songs of compassion & connection, reaching across our borders. In this 1st installment, Randall Adams, Peter Alsop, & Anita Aysola sing of love for caged children, love of all children, and love of a new home, while facing off with fear, division, & disconnection.
Singing the Living Legacy
November 10, 2022 19:23 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBReggie Harris has always been full of music & inspiration, but never more so than as he finishes his 7th decade on the planet.
Home In Your Heart With SW Gem Jaspar Lepak
October 27, 2022 16:13 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBPrepare to have your heart stolen by today's guest, Jaspar Lepak. Jaspar did not really get into music till post-college, but she burst into it full-bore, including producing 5 CDs in a very short time, 4 of which you won't find among the 5 releases that do show up on her site.
Uplifting the World in a Song: Loretta Simonet
October 21, 2022 05:33 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBMinnesota's Twin Cities are teeming with musical talents, among them Curtis and Loretta. They've been making & performing fine mostly-folkish music for more than 3 decades. Loretta Simonet writes the lion's share of their songs, and her primary instrument is either the guitar or the folk harp, accompanied by Curtis' deep voice & rich instrumental skills.
Gracefully Walking Though Fire With Vanessa Lively
October 13, 2022 22:21 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBOn the website of Vanessa Lively you'll see noted that she creates folk & world music that beautifully joins heartfelt lyrics with soulful vocals. This is true - deeply true - and time with Vanessa is a rich, deep, and also uplifting experience.
The Road, the Reason, The Destination: Spring 2020 Song of the Soul
October 07, 2022 06:19 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBA visit to a rich variety of musicians featured on Song of the Soul in the early days of the pandemic, highlighting themes of The Road, The Reason, The Destination, with songs by Spook Handy, Andi Renfree, Laura Marie, Ksenia Mack,
Life, Loss, & Lyrical Longing With Judi Jaeger
September 29, 2022 18:19 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJudi Jaeger grew up in Canada, but moved to the USA decades ago and became a US citizen. Considering her early passion for and proficiency in music, it's surprising that she completely abandoned that side of her soul for about 25 years, while studying and working as a lawyer, and as a parent.
True Green Irish: Joanna Clare
September 23, 2022 00:51 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJoanna Clare started her violin quite young on rather standard Suzuki method fare, but along the way Irish music captured her, both as a dancer & as a fiddler. And along the way, new Irish tunes began flowing out of Joanna's fiddle. Though she is a Philadelphia-based material science/engineer by day, music is inextricably linked to her mind & soul.
No Regrets From Friction Farm - Aidan Quinn
September 15, 2022 22:00 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBAidan Quinn is half of Friction Farm, and together with Christine Stay (listen to her Nov 2020 interview) they make beautiful, fun, and inspirational folk-Americana-roots music.
Stand Up, Come Along America, It's Our Turn Now for a Love Revolution on Juneteenth: Songs for Social Change 2021
September 08, 2022 19:14 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MB6 songs from 6 finalists in the Songs for Social Change 2021 contest, sponsored by the Renaissance Artists and Writers Association, founded by Ananda Marga, presented by one of the judges, Arun/Ed Glassman.
Stardust Saltwater to Devil's Darner: Jonathan Foster
September 03, 2022 02:43 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJonathan Foster's music has magic, melody and even some mirth. He's got a deep connection with the Earth, grown out his origins in the shadow of the Adirondacks of the Eastern US, now thriving in the Rockies of Northern California. His alter ego/day job is as a wetland ecologist, glimpses of which peek through his great folk-country-rock lyrics and sounds. I may even get to see him in person, performing in Trempealeau, Wisconsin July 27, 2021, at the Trempealeau Hotel.
Musical Elements Pre-COVID
August 25, 2022 21:36 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBGlimpses of 7 of our musical guests back in early 2020, before the pandemic became our country's focus, focusing on songs of each related to earth, air, water, fire, and other essential elements of creation.
A Country Heart in Boston: Kirsten Manville
August 18, 2022 17:19 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBDespite having spent 6 years in Nashville, Kirsten Manville's true home is in the Boston area of MA. Raised with important influences from old-time, classical, folk, & rock music, country music has been foremost in Kirsten's heart since she was 8.
Passionate Guitar in the Woods: Sage Leary
August 12, 2022 03:05 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBSage Leary has a gift & a passion for music that blossomed early and impressively, such that he released his first album of all-original music at the age of 14, his second at 16. He can rock it, he can blues it, and he can definitely acoustic Americana it. Raised in the outdoors and the woods, his music touches the Earth but reaches celestial heights, powered by a visible and almost symbiotic communion between Sage and his guitar, enhanced by his looping, vocal, and beat-boxing skills.
From Strong Man to Song Man à la Québécoise
August 05, 2022 05:00 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBFor 20 years Frank Dutsh (AKA François Duchesne) has been a top-notch competitor in strongman competitions, but he's turned to another discipline over the past 5 years. Having started on violin at 4 years old, adding piano after that, Frank gave a few decades to other work before coming back to music. Besides his physical strength & endurance, Frank is gifted linguistically & has written songs in 4 languages already.
From Strongman to Song Man à la Québécoise
August 05, 2022 05:00 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBFor 20 years Frank Dutsh (AKA François Duchesne) has been a top-notch competitor in strongman competitions, but he's turned to another discipline over the past 5 years. Having started on violin at 4 years old, adding piano after that, Frank gave a few decades to other work before coming back to music. Besides his physical strength & endurance, Frank is gifted linguistically & has written songs in 4 languages already.
Blessing to All My Relations
July 28, 2022 19:20 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBWho do you know who speaks at least 3 languages, has lived in several countries, performed between Renaissance Fairs year-round for 10 years, writes & sings profoundly deep & moving songs, and can play the harp & the 12-string guitar simultaneously? Ariane Lydon and no one else (to my knowlege)! Living in the Midwest for a couple decades now, Ariane brings a world of beautiful music to our land.
Hope Hidden Within Heartache
July 15, 2022 00:41 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBMatthew French's singing & songs unlock hearts. An Ohio transplant to the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Matthew segged from a vibrant church music life to a musical passion stirred by personal trials & growth, finding deep community within the Twin Cities music scene. His voice & lyrics combine to find hope & strength out of our challenges and uplift us together. Past/present religious/spiritual influences: Non-denominational Christian, Assembly of God
Surfing The Undertow With Marci Geller
July 08, 2022 00:45 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBMarci Geller can be sweet, has a gift of poetry & melody, sings and writes beautifully, but most of all she weaves a web of magic and inclusion through her music, taking us on a journey of both depth and elevation.
Italian Woman On The Moon
July 01, 2022 05:01 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBGiulia Millanta is the best Americana singer from Italy you could ever hope to encounter. She's been in the USA, in Austin, TX, for the past 10 years or so, and she seems to be producing endless riches of music, 8 albums to-date. While her talent & craft are impeccable, it is her heart-and-soul touching lyrics and voice that make her a memorable treat for all who are blessed to hear her perform.
Music of Autumn Sky in a Spring Heart
June 24, 2022 04:26 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBAutumn Sky Hall is an amazing and astounding - and young - folk/Americana singer/songwriter hailing from Sacramento, CA, complete with an enchanting & versatile voice, dancing guitar fingers, and emotionally compelling lyrics. Autumn pours her inner experience and growth through her songs so that to hear her is to know her and the human condition better.
Dark Horse With Sparrow's Wings
June 16, 2022 22:50 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBLeslie Smith has shined as part of all the great folk locales, the Newport, Kerrville, and South By Southwest music festivals, and her songs have been done by many folk-greats, like Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams, although I think they are best out of Leslie's own mouth and guitar. Along the way to now she did a stint as part of a New York bluegrass band called Arabesque, but then she headed back to Pittsburgh, back to her center.
The Ghosts, Trees, Highways, & Hearts of West Virginia & Chris Haddox
June 09, 2022 22:26 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBChris Haddox has played so many instruments, hiked & paddled so many hills & rivers, and worked in so many fields that it's hard to wrap your mind around it. And even though Chris wrote his first song in 2nd grade and played an astounding variety of instruments all through school and beyond, this past year, at 62, is the first time he's recorded his songs for the world.