A Breath of Song

Apr 17 2024 21

A Breath of Song Podcast artwork

Ella Fitzgerald said, ”The only thing better than singing is more singing!” Use song to find wellness in ourselves, each other, and our world. In each episode, Patricia introduces a song that she trusts to help her navigate life. These songs provide a great soundtrack to your day — whether it’s comfort, presence, delight, grief-tending, or simply easing the way. Periodic interviews with song creators add color and understanding. Songs have helped Patricia heal, adapt, and grow, and she hopes these selections will become companions for you as well. Visit the website, abreathofsong.com, to learn more and suggest a song!

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

143. Love Stays

Apr 17 2024 15 mins

Song: Love StaysMusic by: Laszlo SlomovitsNotes: When Lois Zimmerman, at age 96, moved to a care home, her friends threw her a life transition party (brilliant idea, no?!). They asked Gemini, Lois's favorite group, to come and share a transition song -- so Laszlo Slomovits wrote this song of the constancy of love through change. I'm singing through the end of a cold (I did edit

142. Roadblock

Apr 10 2024 17 mins

Song: RoadblockMusic by: Debbie Nargi-BrownNotes: Debbie Nargi-Brown has written a powerhouse of a song, beloved by anyone who has gotten to sing it with her... it builds the energy to get up again, and again, no matter what the fall. Sometimes I need to temper this with the reminder to myself to be attentive to what I need as I'm getting up -- it can be done slowly, and that's

141. Suis ton rêve

Apr 03 2024 15 mins

Song: Suis ton rêveMusic by: Rafaele CarlierNotes: Rafaele and I struck up a friendship when we were both fortunate enough to spend a week exploring vocal improvisation together at Le Cercle Enchantée in the summer of '23. Now, Rafaele thinks of herself as a visual artist -- but listen to what came through her as she was freely exploring song a few months later. Wow! And then

140. The Feast with Guest Heidi Wilson

Mar 27 2024 63 mins

Song: The FeastMusic by: Heidi WilsonNotes: A lively songwriter conversation about gratitude, helping, useful questions, tending a group, getting traction with things we're passionate about, collaboration, caves & crankies and so much more! Heidi shares The Feast -- a gratitude song that intermingles the elements and us, and we get a special glimpse of 7-year-old Heidi songw

139. Bend and Rebound

Mar 20 2024 13 mins

Song: Bend and ReboundMusic by: Heidi WilsonNotes: Heidi is an incredible resource for songs connected with the natural world -- and this one turns to willows, with their ability to give and spring, bend and rebound. Next week, Heidi and I get to talk about how she accesses her own rebound during winter and other times. We ponder the urge to help, the balance of local and travel

138. My Thoughts Make A Difference

Mar 06 2024 14 mins

Song: My Thoughts Make A DifferenceMusic by: Chandler Yorkhall Notes: The energy and determination that this song funnels into me can be formidable. It steps from naming that our individual thoughts, feelings, words, and healing matters; next stop is a determination to pay attention to the struggle, because time is short; and then the question -- what can I do for this broken world

137. Kick Up Your Heels

Feb 28 2024 14 mins

Notes: You know how sometimes happiness just bubbles up inside you and it feels like the world is unbelievably sweet? And then maybe, you get a little voice that says, "If you notice it, it's gonna disappear!" Or, "Don't be too happy, it attracts bad luck!" Or any other little fear message that says it's not okay to be purely happy for a moment? This song was my way of letting that

136. Breathe Deep

Feb 21 2024 19 mins

Notes: I had an early morning voice as I was recording this, full of creaks and gaps -- and it shifts as it goes! I didn't rerecord, partly because, you know, time, and partly because I'm challenging myself to let recordings be human and real, and partly because A Breath of Song is all about turning up with the voices we have... so you're welcome! 😊 Sara Stutz's beautiful song s

135. What Would it Take with Guest Meg O'Dell Chittenden

Feb 14 2024 79 mins

Notes: Meg tells us where she goes "to integrate, to reorient around what matters most to me, and connect with the world around me and that sense of source within myself." We talk about "the good, the beautiful, and the true," and she doesn't shy away from the awkward questions I have about those words in today's world. Meg and her two children, Clancy and Celia, teach us "What Wou

134. Calling Us In

Feb 07 2024 22 mins

Notes: Even though I had a runny nose while recording, I practiced showing up with my voice where it is, feeling into the body, noticing the breath... it felt beautiful to be "calling us in," following Meg O'Dell's guidance "home to ourselves." I love the way this melody rocks and rolls through so many comforting words -- I come away with the sense of "true-ing" myself, "whole-ing.