Music Therapy with Jessica Risker

Episode 91: Group Session featuring FRIKO or How to Live With Your Bandmates

Group Session featuring FRIKO!  Chicago indie-pop trio Friko takes the couch at Cafe Mustache for a live taping of Music Therapy.  Features an in-depth interview with the band, comedy, and a special live performance by Friko.  
Friko shares what it's like to live together, how they approach songwriting, answer audience questions and lots more on this special Group Session episode of Music Therapy!
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Songs featured: 
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
 

Episode 90: Jason Balla of Dehd on Recording, Lo-fi vs Hi-fi, and Touring Tips

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Jason Balla of Dehd and Accessory. We talk about Dehd's new album "Blue Skies" out now on Fat Possum, embracing mistakes in songwriting and recording, how to work past your inner critic, giving up control in collaborating, advice for touring and recording, and lots more!
Songs featured:
Chop Shop High School by Jessica Risker
Eyes for Berlin by Accessory
Bad Love by Dehd
 
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
 

Episode 89: Autism and the Best DIY Spaces Ever with Charles Joseph Smith

Charles Joseph Smith is an absolute fixture of the Chicago DIY scene.  He is also a musical genius, a prolific pianist with over 600 compositions and arrangements under his belt. 
In this episode of Music Therapy, Charles shares his story of growing up with autism, how he discovered and nurtured his talent for music, the differences between the classical and DIY music scenes, his top 5 favorite DIY spaces ever, and lots more. 
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
 

Episode 88: Psychedelics, Psychosis, and Death with Angela James

Angela James is a Chicago singer-songwriter who just released a beautiful new album, co-produced with David Vandervelde (Father John Misty) called "Now That I Have You". ​
"I'm making what I feel like is the best work in my career. I had a lot of opportunities early in my career, and that was great, but I was so new and I had just started writing songs and just started playing music, and I didn't have the confidence, and now it's like, I'm making better work. I have more confidence." - Angela James
I loved talking with Angela.  As a musician who is also a mom, I'm always excited to speak with other musician moms to see how they balance their lives and art.  
Angela speaks in a calm, thoughtful way about a range of pretty wild topics, including using psychedelics, postpartum depression and psychosis, death, grief, and working in hospice.  We also talk about her creative process, her new album, and how her relationship to her music career has changed over time.  Finally, we share our love for the Chicago music scene, and how unbelievably talented, accessible, and supportive it is.  
We cover:
How do you make music when you become a parent?
How does your relationship to art change when you hit middle age?
What does music success look like?
Can psychedelics help spiritual growth?
Should you wait to have kids if you're trying to be a musician?
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Songs featured: "Portrait of the Artist by a Middle-Aged Mother" and "The Caregiver" by Angela James
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 87 - Joshua Wentz, Musical Man of International Intrigue

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with musician, friend, and bandmate @joshua_w_wentz !! Josh and I discuss his rich and varied music career (not financially lol), how he stays so active in music, his perspective on success/failure in music, growth as a musician and how that changes output, authenticity in music, his annual 12 Days of Mike Oldfield album, his newest album Live at Tone Deaf Records out this Friday on 1473 Records,  and so much more!
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Song Credits: "Incantations Excerpt" by Mike Oldfield, performed by Kristin Johnston, Scott Simon, and Joshua Wentz
"Rave Dove" by Joshua Wentz
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 86: Toxic People and How to Deal With Them with Lynn Zakeri, LCSW

We see the phrase "toxic" all the time - toxic person, toxic workplace, toxic relationship - but what exactly does it mean?  And, how do you deal with a toxic person/coworker/family member/bandmate?
Chicago therapist Lynn Zakeri, LCSW and I dive into the meaning of the word "toxic" and share how to deal with a toxic person!
We explore:
What exactly is a “toxic person”?
How do you know if you’re dealing with a toxic person?
How does a toxic person make you feel?
How does a toxic person behave?
Why are some people “toxic”?
How do you deal with a toxic person you can’t escape (family member, etc)?
Can you change a toxic person?
How to deal with guilt when setting boundaries?
How to approach a disagreement/conflict with a toxic person?
How do I know someone is toxic?  How do I know I’m not the problem? 
My bandmate is toxic, but they also are very creative and add a lot to the band.  What do I do?
Song featured: "Empty Life" by Jessica Risker
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 85: Ryan Hall (Whited Sepulchre Records) Transmutes Pain Into Gold

Ryan Hall of Whited Sepulchre Records discusses using music as an emotional processing tool, running through the graveyard, how he manages to work two jobs and run a busy record label, squaring business with creativity, what exactly EMDR is, plus lots more on this week's episode of Music Therapy!
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 84: Devin Shaffer’s Screen Is A (Warped) Mirror

As a musician, how do you deal with the necessary evil of social media?  What does 2 years of quarantine do to your ability to perform?  If you had professional musicians for parents, would you want to follow their path?
We get into all these questions and more with Chicago musician Devin Shaffer - including her most debut album "In My Dreams I’m There”, the breakdown she experienced after its release, making a living off music, and what it's like going back to college as an adult.  
Tracks featured:  "In My Dreams I'm Here" and "Kissing In The Park" by Devin Shaffer.
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 83: Kirk Rawlings (Courtesy) on Drugs, Creativity, and Suicide

Kirk Rawlings is one-half of Chicago band Courtesy, and we go deep in this very candid, personal, and surprisingly uplifting episode of Music Therapy. 
Kirk shares Courtesy's creative process,  his relationship with psychiatric and street drugs, dealing with anxiety and depression, his evolving definition of artistic success and how his two suicide attempts changed him.  
We also talk about Courtesy's new album "Check the Milk" out now on Seasick Records, and listen to a couple tracks from the band.
Tracks featured:  "King Clave" and "Buy Me A Soda" by Courtesy.
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Episode 82: Overcoming Performance Anxiety with Dr. Claire Kubiesa

Does performing make you nervous?
In this week's episode of Music Therapy, I talk with psychologist Dr. Claire Kubiesa on overcoming performance anxiety!
​Whether you're just starting out or have been performing for years, this episode has tons of information on overcoming performance anxiety.  
​
In this episode we cover:
What is performance anxiety?
What does your identity have to do with performance anxiety?
How do our thoughts affect anxiety?
Why some anxiety is actually good for performing!
How to set SMART goals
How to manage performance expectations
How to develop a pre-performance routine​
Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.