How do you build a space where musicians want to hang out? John Avilla is a bassist and co-founder of Sound Union in Redwood City, California. In this episode we discuss his transition from a career in marketing and advertising to founding a 'health club for musicians.' We explore how a single community can cater to diverse age groups, genres and musical abilities, promoting a supportive environment over perfectionism. He shares his journey in creating his club and the connection he sees between community and creativity.

Follow John:

www.soundunion.com

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johngavilla/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundunion/

Instagram: @joinsoundunion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinSoundUnion

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Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

What makes a folk dance, and what is it like to do these dances socially? The Bay Osos Folk Dancers meet every week to dance to music from Bavaria to the Western Sahara, Polynesia, the Balkans, and more. They share their experiences with the music, how they got started, how YOU can get started, and what keeps them dancing decade after decade.

Follow the Bay Osos Folk Dancers:

http://www.bayososfolkdancers.org/

Facebook: @BayOsosFolkDancers

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

What is the difference between spoken word poetry and rap? Coco Peila, a hip hop artist and songwriting coach from New York City, has done it all, and career hinges on one surprising comment her sister made on this difference. In this episode. Coco shares her winding journey through the music industry, from shy spoken word artist to performing at prominent venues like the Hollywood Bowl. We talk about her work intertwining art with social and climate justice, her role as a songwriting coach, and what goes into being a “hip hop and R&B African diaspora flex”

Follow Coco:

IG: @cocopeila

TikTok: @cocopeila

Facebook: Coco Peila

LinkedIn: Coco Peila

Website: cocopeila.com

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

Have you ever held an instrument and felt like it was made just for you? Jeff Hampton started out building a custom guitar for aesthetic purposes, but his interest expanded into ergonomics alongside cool-looking design. In this episode Jeff shares the tools, techniques, and creative processes behind creating a guitar.

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

The string quartet has been around for a LONG time. Is it time for a refresh? Members of the Videri String Quartet think so. They are a classically trained string quartet that performs the music of Zelda and Mario alongside Beethoven and Shostakovich. In this conversation they share their philosophy about music and connection, bringing conservatory training to the video game scene, and the massive impact Covid had on creators and performers across the video game music scene.

Follow Videri:https://www.viderisq.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/viderisq/

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@VideriStringQuartet

Sign up for my newsletter:www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here:https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

Sometimes it seems there’s not much happening in the innovation of instruments. But in the world of electronics, there’s a whole world of creativity! Joe Newman is an arranger and performer out of the Bay area in California. In this conversation he describes an interesting innovation in wind instruments - the EWI, or Electronic Wind Instrument. We also discuss video game arranging competition Dwelling of Duels, and a themed jazz jam Joe started in San Francisco.

Follow Joe:

Bandcamp: https://joenewman.bandcamp.com/

Jam Discord: https://discord.gg/QUbCW2eK

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/newmajoe

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

Who were the top three most influential people in your early life? If you were in music, I bet at least one of those was your music teacher. In this episode I speak with Rachel, a high school choir teacher from Western Washington. We discuss the rewards and challenges of shaping young lives through music. She describes the unique camaraderie among choir members, her approach to selecting repertoire, and the balance of maintaining professionalism while developing vulnerability and trust with her students.

Follow Rachel on Instagram @earlysparkle37

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!

Video games make a big impact on people, especially kids… and the music from these games can leave a strong imprint as well! This episode I speak with Stemage, a guitarist, composer, performer, and audio engineer out of the Bay Area in California. He shares an overview of the video game music (VGM) scene, the events and festivals where people gather to share their creative covers or new material, and the wildly varied array of styles represented in this scene.

Follow Stemage:

Website: https://www.stemagemusic.com/

X: https://www.X.com/stemage

Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/Stemage

Sign up for my newsletter: www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio

Zeitgeist Radio is on Facebook and Instagram @zeitgeistacademy.

Zeitgeist Radio transcripts are available here: https://www.zeitgeistacademy.com/radio-transcripts

Music for this episode was created by Ian Boswell. Transcripts generated by Descript. Please subscribe and tell all your friends you found a cool new podcast!