New York City based composer and pianist Daniel Meron brought his trio to Clevland to perform pieces from his 2024 Pinch Records based release Pendulum. Over the past decade Meron has established himself as a prominent figure in the modern jazz scene releasing four critically acclaimed albums, along with featured performances at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Costa Rica Jazz Festival, and tours of the US, Canada, Europe and Israel. From a May 5th, 2024 performance that features Pablo Menares on Bass, Jimmy Macbride on Drums and Daniel Meron on piano, it’s the Daniel Meron Trio – Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes selections from Alice McClarity, The Swan Silvertones (pictured), Gene Martin & the Summer Youth Ensemble, Ohio Gospel Gems, a long set of sides from the record labels of Ted Jarrett, among others.

Rachel Campos de Ivanov is the Operations and Community Engagement Manager for Radium Presents, the organization responsible for bringing artistic events to the repurposed Radium Runway. Host Scott Piehler talks with Rachel about the history of Radium, the many events presented on the Runway, and the proposed Radium Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art performance and education center.

Terry Healey, author of At Face Value and The Resilience Mindset, discussed his experience with a recurrence of cancer, which led to significant surgery and changes in his appearance. He described how he coped with the physical and emotional challenges through faith, a positive mindset, and gratitude. Terry also shared his resilience framework, called ReBAR, which he developed to help others facing adversity. He emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with positive people, practicing mindful positivity, and using visualization techniques.

Obstacles Into Opportunities. Lasada Pippen shares his journey from IT professional to motivational speaker. He talks of growing up in Atlanta, Georgia; a city with a vibrant culture and a deep history. Familial and societal expectations had pressured Lasada into pursuing a “safe” career in IT, but his real passion was motivational speaking. It took a lot of time and willpower for him to switch gears to pursue his dream, but after years of using his personal time to speak at free events, and encouragement from his wife, he finally took a leap of faith and pursued motivational speaking full-time. ● Lasada initially hesitated to pursue speaking due to fear and societal expectations but ultimately chose to follow his passion. ● Lasada’s philosophy revolves around turning opposition into opportunity, leaning into one's strengths, and maintaining resilience despite setbacks. ● To change one’s life to pursue a dream requires a lot of sacrifice, discipline, consistency, and faith in oneself. ● Remember to be patient and gentle with yourself, and not beat yourself up.

If you’re a fan of Gypsy Jazz, or are in tune with the extensive legacy of Django Reinhart, then Stephane Wrembel likely needs no introduction. But if you’re new to the genre you’ll be impressed with Stephane Wrembel’s extensive list of accomplishments and his gifts. His original compositions for movies, including Midnight in Paris, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Rifkin’s Festival have earned him global accolades. He’s performed among luminaries from John Schofield to Elvis Costello to Shelia E. There’s inspiration to be had and groundbreaking performances to be found across all 17 of his releases, including 2023’s Django New Orleans – selections from which are featured in this performance. Featuring Josh Kaye on Guitar, Ari Folman-Cohen on Bass, Nick Anderson on Drums, and from a May 16th, 2024 sold out performance, it’s Stephane Wrembel – Live at the Bop Stop.

This episode includes music from The Dixie Hummingbirds (pictured), Philadelphia Voices for Christ feat. Kitty Parham, Pilgrim Jubilees, Operation PUSH Choir, Imperial Gospel Singers, Rev. J. S. Lane, and other featured performers.

Michael Meyers and Cary Weigle are the owners of Semifreddi’s Bakery. For over 40 years, Semifreddi’s has been bringing great baked goods to the Bay Area, and serving the area through educational outreach. Host Scott Piehler talks with Mike and Cary about the history of Semifreddi’s, their community commitment, efforts to eliminate food waste, and what makes Semifreddi’s the type of employer that people stay with for decades.

Speechless: How a Speech Therapist Lost Her Ability to Speak and Her Silent Struggle to Reclaim Her Voice and Life. This memoir by Vanessa Abraham, a Speech Pathologist who suddenly faced a rare neurological disease. Within a week, she went from being a mother and full-time employee to being unable to move, eat, or speak, relying entirely on others for care.In this emotional narrative, Abraham recounts her month-long stay in the ICU, grappling with profound challenges as a mother. The anguish of being unable to care for, hold, or communicate with her child weighs heavily on her. She confronts the emotional toll of her condition, including the psychological impact of her ICU experience and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). Abraham shares her mental struggles and feelings of isolation, but also chronicles her journey through rehabilitation, highlighting moments of resilience as she fights to reclaim her life. Her story offers profound insights into hope, fear, and the enduring strength of the human spirit amid adversity.

Author Laura Carney shares with us the story of trying to complete her father’s secret bucket list. Her father made a list when he was young of all the things he wanted to do in life; places he wanted to go, celebrities he wanted to meet, etc. He tragically passed away in an accident with a distracted driver when Laura was 25. The list was packed away in a box and forgotten, only to be discovered 13 years later by Laura and her brother. Laura decided to take it upon herself to try and complete the list. Her book, My Father’s List, tells the story of how completing the list provided her a way to navigate through her grief, and helped her find purpose in life. Laura is now an advocate for safe driving, and is currently working on a project to highlight women who were first in their fields. ● Her father’s secret list became a catalyst for her personal growth and activism, showing her the importance of resilience and following one’s passion. ● Laura emphasizes the importance of living intentionally, pursuing dreams, and the power of storytelling in healing and empowerment. ● Activism can be approached positively by promoting safe driving rather than just preventing distracted driving.