What Dreamers Do: Recent Episodes
Carla Gover
Hi, I’m Carla Gover, an Appalachian musician, flatfoot dancer, mama, and DREAMER from Kentucky. I'm on a mission to share fierce love, good humor, and inspiration to help you live a life of creative freedom. I decided to start the What Dreamers Do Podcast to help answer the question: How can we use our gifts and talents to build a better world, and have fun along the way? You’ll also find musings about Appalachia as well as interesting conversations with songwriters, poets, dancers, educators, world-changers, social justice warriors, and other people like you who are working to make a difference using their art, their voice, or just the way they live their lives. Each Thursday, you’ll hear ideas, conversations, and actionable items to help you unlock your creativity and live your purpose. Grab a mason jar full of sweet tea (or something a little stronger) and pull up a chair, cause it’s time to get YOUR dream on!
Come with me on a track-by-track journey through Kentucky Queen, my first solo project in 15 years, where I share the personal, cultural, and musical roots of each song on the album. My aim for this episode was to share the stories I love to hear when I listen to a songwriter, like influences, inspirations, and anecdotes. I also share some about my process of song selection, and the musicians who helped me bring the songs to life. Whether you’re a new listener or a longtime fan, pull up a chair and settle in for a glimpse behind the scenes of writing and recording. (As well as my favorite weird method for writing songs!)
Listening/Purchase Links for Kentucky Queen
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Join host Carla Gover and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House as they discuss the creative life. The episode explores the fears and resistance writers face, the importance of honesty in storytelling, and the impact of cultural and religious conditioning on self-expression. Silas shares his journey, experiences, and thoughts on creativity, including his thoughts on representing marginalized groups, collaborating with other artists, and much more. This candid discussion is filled with wisdom, humility, and encouragement for all aspiring artists.
**Key Points Discussed:
Fear and Resistance in Writing:**
- The challenges of writer's block and distractions like social media.
- Importance of honesty and writing stories or poems you want to read.
- Fear as an engine that drives the creative process.
Cultural and Religious Conditioning:
- Expressing oneself fully despite cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Working on a novel addressing strict cultural backgrounds, faith, and desire.
Representation and Responsibility:
- Importance of representing marginalized groups like gay Kentuckians.
- Impact of Silas's work on young queer individuals.
- Being conscientious and authentic on social media.
Impostor Syndrome and Humility:
- Challenges of feeling inadequate in elite literary settings.
- Maintaining a down-to-earth attitude despite high-profile connections.
- Personal validation from readers vs. professional awards.
Balancing Tasks and Self-Care:
- Juggling various activities using checklists and prioritizing tasks.
- Importance of self-care and knowing personal limits.
- Psychological approach to to-do lists and rewarding oneself.
Thoughts on Creativity and Art:
- Creativity as a constant state of being.
- Daydreaming as an essential part of the creative process.
- The complexity and multidimensionality of personal identity.
Projects and Future Works:
- Upcoming picture book "That Dog Won't Hunt."
- New novel set in the early 1900s focusing on environmental issues.
Connect with Silas
Website
Instagram
Facebook
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In this episode of "What Dreamers Do," Leonie Dawson, the vibrant and successful artist, writer, poet, and illustrator from Australia, opens up about her unique journey as a creative entrepreneur.
From her time in the Australian government to her inspiring million-dollar online business and Brilliant Biz and Life Academy, you'll discover how Leonie seamlessly blends creativity with business without compromising her values and integrity.
Show Highlights:
- The beginnings of her career back in the early days of chat and message boards
- Overcoming physical health challenges while flourishing in her business and art
- Running the Brilliant Biz and Life Academy with 5,000 dedicated members
- Advocating for integrity and supporting artists and women to take up space and share their art
- Creating invaluable resources and free content on her website
- Leonie's deep admiration for the inspiring artist Sark
- Shifting mindset towards self-worth, imposter syndrome, and joy in creation
- Streamlining business and valuing happiness and work-life balance
- The power of money in creating positive change and redistribution to nonprofits
Tune in to be inspired by Leonie's radical approach to business and creativity, self-care and motherhood. Discover how she challenges self-doubt and gender limitations, shining a light for people carving their own paths in entrepreneurship and art.
Leonie Dawson is a reminder that success can be cultivated with authenticity, joy, and unwavering dedication.
Leonie Dawson is a self-taught artist, writer, and poet who knew from a young age that she wanted to make a difference in the world through her creativity. Despite growing up in a pragmatic farming family, she pursued her passion and has since become a successful and influential figure in the art and writing community. Leonie's determination and talent have allowed her to achieve her childhood dream of changing the world through her art and words.
Links from the Show
Brilliant Biz & Life Academy
Leonie's Free Resources
Website for the artist SARK
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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 platforms
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok
Middle Class Song on YouTube
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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 Channel
Steven on Facebook
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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 Links
Matthew Olwell's Blog
Olwell Flutes
August Heritage Center
Knock On Wood Tap Studio
Loyd Shaw Foundation (dedicated to education about American folk dance)
Country Dance and Song Society
Maivish (Matt's Band)
Terpsichore's Holiday (live dance week)
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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
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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.
Biography
Bobi 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 Website
Bobi’s Instagram
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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 Website
Creative Community Organizing: A Guide for Rabble-Rousers, Activists, and Quiet Lovers of Justice by Si Kahn
"If" by Rudyard Kipling (poem)
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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 performance
- How dance contests affect the perpetuation and evolution of a style
- The relationships between old-fashioned and contemporary clogging
- Cultural sensitivity in dance education
- Dancers and educators like Willard Watson, Robert Dotson, Dudley Culp, Amy Sarli, and more
Links Mentioned
Rodney's Website
Rodney's Facebook Page
Talking Feet Film
Green Grass Cloggers
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
Music Used:
Sugar Hill by Jim Couch (Harlan County, Kentucky)
Digital Library of Appalachia
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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 Mentioned
Cowan Creek Mountain Music School
Appalachian Frolic Dance Weekend December 9-11, 2022, Berea, KY
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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.
Links
Be Radical Make Music Facebook Group
Rosie on Instagram
Songwriting Website
Rosie's Podcast
Songwriting Challenge
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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!
Links
CornMaiz String Band
Cornbread & Tortillas Folk Opera
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
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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 IQ
- How 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 work
- The special gifts that artists have to share with the world, and which should NEVER be taken for granted.
Links Mentioned:
www.kellihansel.com
Kelli's book Sacred Catharsis
IG: @darkmoon_kelli
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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.
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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 awesomeness
- Why being a "Jack-of-All-Trades" is actually a great thing
- Why 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 Sincero
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Anything by SARK
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
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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 Links
Click here for your free copy of How To Live Your Most Creative Life
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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 Links
Deepshikha on Instagram
Infinite Possibilities Meditation
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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 Website
Sam Gleaves on Facebook
Appalshop Cultural Organization
Highlander Center
The STAY Project
Cowan Creek Mountain Music School
Reel World String Band
My Singing Bird by Sam Gleaves
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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 Website
Sam Gleaves on Facebook
Forked Deer as fiddled by Roger Cooper
Kentucky Author Silas House
Kentucky Author Jason Kyle Howard
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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 McCartney
Blowin' In The Wind as sung by Zoe Speaks
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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
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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 @kentuckycarla
Links Mentioned
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
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So many dances in my childhood began with the caller shouting, "All join hands and circle to the left...!"
The community of loving hearts and lively music that I grew up in anchored my love of the art forms, and I enjoyed sharing with you some of the elements of how I became an improvisatory flatfooter and clogger who makes music with my feet!
A few things I talk about include: how most of our "square dances" in Eastern Kentucky are done in circles, how I learned old-timey and more contemporary styles, and how I went from learning steps and choreography from other people to learning how to put the steps together to "dance the fiddle tune."
You'll also hear a little tune from Marion Sumner, who along with banjoist Lee Sexton, provided an important part of the soundtrack to my early dancing life.
And finally, I'll talk a bit more about what inspired me to create the Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy!
Links
Marion Sumner plays Sally Goodin
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
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In this episode, I interview longtime friend and accomplished Appalachian Clinical Herbalist Andrew Bentley of Lee County, Kentucky.
This is part two of two, where he shares more about what it's like to visit his clinic or have a tele-health appointment, opens up about projects on the horizon, and tells us more about his new online school of herbalism, called The Hedge School.
He also talks about the ways that he promotes his services, by sharing his sense of wonder about the magic of the healing plants around us.
Links From Show
Andrew Bentley's Facebook Page
Andrew Bentley's Instagram Page
Andrew Bentley's Website
Andrew Bentley's YouTube Channel
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In this episode, I interview longtime friend an accomplished Appalachian Clinical Herbalist Andrew Bentley of Lee County, Kentucky.
This is part one of two, where he shares his earliest experiences learning about herbs from his Irish-American family, and talks about his childhood in Appalachia.
You'll learn about all the components of his education which went into his eventual decision to pursue herbalism as a full-time career, including his family traditions, his studies of chemistry and molecular biology and his later forays into linguistics and anthropology, his travels throughout Central Asia and his work with indigenous healers there, and the ways he learned to assess the illnesses of his patients to help determine which herbs might best support each person's equilibrium.
We also talk about his fascinating family history stretching back to Ireland, with ancestors who were Bards and Travellers, and who have long shared medicine, history, stories, and music with their communities.
We finish up this episode discussing how he forages and crafts his medicines, his philosophical approach to the healing arts, and how he blends science and traditional wisdom to provide holistic care for his community.
Links From Show
Andrew Bentley's Facebook Page
Andrew Bentley's Instagram Page
Andrew Bentley's Website
Andrew Bentley's YouTube Channel
Starvation on Hell Creek played by Charley Fraley of Lee County, KY
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As an artist who performs traditional Appalachian music and dance, I get lots of questions about the styles of music and dance that I play.
"You play banjo--does that mean you play bluegrass?"
"What's the difference between flatfooting and clogging?"
And, quite often, "Will you play Dueling Banjos?"
In this episode, I sketch out the major differences (and similarities) between all those things, and share how I came to understand them in spite of a background where we tended to just call it all "music and dance."
And I discuss the fluid nature of folk music, along with the phenomenon of "prescriptive culture" and the tendencies of traditions to evolve over time, even as there are some groups and individuals who would wish for it to be static or to fit neatly into boxes or rules.
Links Mentioned:
Cowan Creek Mountain Music School
Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy
Listening Links:
Lee Sexton
Paul David Smith
John Harrod
Marion Sumner
Art Stamper
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In this episode, I take you on a little trip through time and the backroads of Kentucky, across swinging bridges and up dirt roads to the tiny dwelling of my mother's mother, Ollie Gilbert Hudson.
I wanted folks to feel what a visit there was like for me as a child, and I also share a special story about a moment I shared with her as a child, and how I had an experience years later that let me know she was still with me and looking out for me.
If you enjoy stories of magical realism, you'll like hearing about how my Granny sent me a sign when I needed it the most .
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In this episode, I take on a potentially sensitive subject: cultural insensitivity toward Appalachian people, as manifested in the musical community. This episode deals with what I see as respectful vs. insensitive ways to approach performing and participating in cultures of groups and places that are different from your culture of origin.
To lay the foundation, I discuss how I believe the music and dance of Appalachia should be performed and celebrated by all who love them, how our heritage and history have been whitewashed historically, and how it's important to acknowledge the privilege I have in being a white, able-bodied, and cis-gendered heterosexual woman.
I also discuss some of the problematic examples of "performative culture" I've seen, including:
- artists from elsewhere using fake accents onstage
- stereotypical songwriting tropes with 'southern gothic' and 'poverty porn' themes
- writers, academics, and performers who attempt to paint Appalachia with too broad a brush or explain our culture and its problems without addressing the bigger picture and the nuances of our lived experiences.
I also share some personal experiences about how those behaviors can sometimes feel mocking or belittling to those of us who have had to process stigma and stereotypes and/or been made to feel less than due to where we're from.
Finally, I address the importance of having these conversations with each other, among various cultural, ethnic, and racial categories, as we all work together to dismantle the systemic oppression inherent in our society.
Links Mentioned
Me & The Redbird River Song
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I was blessed with a mother and grandmother who were both incredibly generous. The older I get, the more I appreciate the sweet spirits they had and the way they lived their values via their actions---they TOTALLY walked their talk!
In this episode, I tell a quick story about the way their generosity affected the children in their communities.
And I also share information about how the generosity of a whole bunch of Kentucky artists is helping the tornado victims in Western Kentucky via our new "Happy Hollerdays" recording project!
Links Mentioned in Show:
Happy Hollerdays Album
"Unawares" Poem by Emma Lent
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In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on songwriting and why I have a bit of impostor syndrome when it comes to calling myself a songwriter.
I also share tons of information that I normally give in my songwriting workshops, including information about: song forms and structures, rhyme schemes, formats, story songs, and ballads.
I also share some actionable tips for songwriters (and perhaps other creative souls) who might need a jog of creative inspiration!
Lastly, I share some "behind-the-song" details about one of my more popular songs from the back-catalog.
Even if you're not a songwriter, I hope you'll enjoy hearing about the process, with a bit of music along the way!
Links:
I Was an Oak Tree by Jonathan Byrd
Polaroids by Shawn Colvin
Summerflight by Carla Gover and Zoe Speaks
Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts song by Bob Dylan
Barbry Ellen by Carla Gover and Zoe Speaks
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In this episode, I explore the ways in which patriarchal and colonial thought systems affect the parts of ourselves we get to experience and express, and how we can begin to think of ways to be more complete, free human beings.
I touch on how our dominant thought systems shape the reality we experience, how qualities associated with the "feminine" are often looked down on in Western systems of thought, how how misogyny can cause us to disown important parts of ourselves, and how the process of accepting and integrating all of our qualities and characteristics can help us find more creative freedom and inspiration.
I also offer some simple suggestions for finding your way toward habits that help you court your muse and access your intuitive, creative, and receptive qualities.
And finally, I offer an example of a creative practice I've used in songwriting (and other endeavors) and share a song that was written with that practice.
Links to things mentioned in show:
Books
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
You Are a Goddess by Sophie Bashford
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Song
Cheat the Blues by Carla Gover
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Sometimes, when you're meant to hear a message, the universe will send it to you over and over again in a variety of ways. That's what happened to me this week with the message about how we all need to become more of who we are, so that's what we're talking about on the podcast!
I'm happy to be joined this week by my sweetheart and partner in all things, Yani Vozos. Yani is a Greek-Appalachian musician, farmer, educator, activist, visionary, and champion of sustainable agriculture.
We chat about our shared commitment to helping each other be our best selves, times in his life when he made bold moves toward fulfilling his purpose, the mentors that have shaped his thinking, and some of his favorite creative practices.
And we talk about the power of the words "I am", plus why you're "kind of a big deal"!
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Gratitude is something we often talk about in November in the US, but I truly believe it's important to cultivate all through the year.
In this episode, I tell some stories about how growing up in Appalachia and also my experiences interacting with people from other cultures have shaped my ideas about abundance, lack, and the importance of appreciating what we have.
I truly believe that dwelling in gratefulness is one of the "magic superpowers" of creating a life we want and getting in alignment with our souls.
From recounting the day Big Mommy got indoor plumbing to sharing the story of Juanita and the Tortillas, I get personal about moments that have helped me be more grateful in my life.
Click here to read more about the Ven. Dyhani Ywahoo whom I mention in the show.
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Today we're talking about....CREATIVE HABITS!
You know, those things that you do to cultivate your creativity and keep your ideas flowing, no matter what your interests and skills are.
In this episode, I cover:
The paradox inherent in a regular creative practice, the idea of discipline vs. playfulness and spontaneity, how to deal with the frustrating bits, living in alignment with our values, and the BEST part of a creative practice, to me.
And I also share 3 tips that I've used throughout my creative life to keep going, no matter what, a song I recorded about feeling free, and a challenge for you about your daily creative routine!
Links mentioned today:
Click here to download Easy To Be Free
Click here to learn more about Atomic Habits
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“What’s this podcast all about? Who’s it for?”
I’m sure those are some of the questions you have.
In this debut episode, I talk about my origin story a bit: the family and community members that influenced my growing-up years in Appalachian Kentucky, the artistic journey that brought me where I am today, the ups and downs of being a self-employed performer, and how my art informs my activism.
It can be overwhelming to look at all the problems in the world, and it’s easy to feel powerless. But I believe that we can inspire each other to use our voices and talents to make the world a better place, which is what this podcast is all about. I’m showing up to help you connect with your own source of creativity and keep you inspired to live your most juicy, authentic, and fulfilled life.
Oh, and you’ll want to listen until the end, when I share for the first time how a COLOSSAL disappointment was one of my biggest creative catalysts to date, and how it ironically helped me believe in myself like never before!
So, raise a glass with me and toast the beginning of the What Dreamers Do Podcast! Let’s jump right in!
Note: If you'd like to learn more about the organizations and groups I mention in the show, here are the links:
Appalshop Cultural Arts Organization
Cornbread & Tortillas Collective
CornMaiz String Band
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Hi, I’m Carla Gover, an Appalachian musician, flatfoot dancer, mama, and DREAMER from Kentucky. I'm on a mission to share fierce love, good humor, and inspiration to help you live a life of creative freedom.
I decided to start the What Dreamers Do Podcast to help answer the question: How can we use our gifts and talents to build a better world, and have fun along the way? You’ll also find interesting conversations with songwriters, poets, dancers, educators, world-changers, social justice warriors, and other people like you who are working to make a difference using their art, their voice, or just the way they live their lives.
Each Thursday, you’ll hear interesting ideas, conversations, and actionable items to help you unlock your creativity and live your purpose. Grab a mason jar full of sweet tea (or something a little stronger) and pull up a chair, cause it’s time to get YOUR dream on!
Support the show (https://ko-fi.com/carlagover)