A trigger warning for those listening to this latest episode. Please note that this episode contains content surrounding trauma, self-harm, and PTSD. Please exercise self-care as you need. Normally, as the title of the podcast dictates, it's a LIFE in six songs, but this episode is a little different. This one will be highlighting a specific experience through music. Today's special episode will focus on our founder and host, David Reese's recent experience in traveling to Mexico for PTSD...

Fulden İbrahimhakkıoğlu, a passionate academic and punk musician, is our final guest on this first album of the show! Fulden, an associate professor of philosophy and gender and women's studies at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, traces her musical voyage from Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" and connecting with Courtney Love to finding her voice with Babes in Toyland while an undergrad in Istanbul and being inspired by Bratmobile while doing her PhD in Eugene, Oregon....

This week, we explore the ebbs and flows of life with our guest, Ben Roorda, a husband, father, engineer, entrepreneur, and saltwater addict. How being brought up in a conservative evangelical home limited his exposure to music outside the church. How watching 'Under the Sea' from The Little Mermaid ignited his saltwater addiction and the realization that he could leave the life he knew, like Ariel did, 'Brown Eyed Girl' reminds him of his wife, and 'Three Little Birds' by Bob Marley serves...

In this episode, we have an amazing conversation with Don Michael Barbour, a retired US Army JAG and founder of the Veterans Legal Foundation. Don Michael candidly and honestly reflects upon growing up in a traumatic environment and his determination to graduate high school early at 17 to join the Army as his way out. AC/DC, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and Elton John accompany us on this leg of the journey. He openly discusses Everclear's "Father of Mine" as epitomizing the feelings toward his father,...

Join us on this musical journey with our guest, Sarah Mahmood, where we go from her first encounter with System of a Down's 'Chop Suey!' at age 7 to the “dance it out” release of 'La Mama de La Mama' during her demanding pharmacy residency. Sarah's story includes a move to Pakistan at nine and the traumatizing incident of bombs going off near her school. The Beatles' 'Hey Jude' and Kanye West's 'Flashing Lights' served as her therapeutic anchor during these challenging times. Our conversation...

June Johnson, our guest for today's episode, provides a fascinating exploration of her life's journey through six memorable songs. These are not just melodies to her; they serve as a soundtrack to her life. June reveals her transformation from a law student and attorney to a writer and filmmaker. Music played a pivotal role in this transition and her creation of True Bliss Television, which is “dedicated to promoting, portraying, and developing positive and loving images of people of color.”...

Our guest, Dr. Tyler Calabrese, shares how his profound connection with music has been a transformative force in his life - his altar of hope, solace, and energy. Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' reminds him of his Mom, and the uplifting messages of positive hardcore in H2O’s ‘Found the Truth Within’ helps him during challenging life transitions. The Canadian punk band Propagandhi's lyrics motivated him to use his privilege for those less fortunate. ‘Somewhere Out There,’ from...

In this episode, our very first guest, Andrea, shares her six song story of the process of coming out, the pain of losing loved ones, and the life-saving role of marching band, with some tackle football thrown in! From Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, and Brandy to Alanis Morissette, Trick Daddy, and even Yanni (you’ll have to watch!), Andrea shares not only the stories attached to these songs, but her passion for being a musician rings loud and clear throughout. Pull up a folding chair, grab...

In this episode, we share co-host Raza’s six song story, thus finishing out these episodes introducing you to our hosts. We wouldn’t ask our guests to do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves. Check out Raza’s stories of growing up in Pakistan, his audiophile Dad and family members exposing him to a diverse set list of artists and genres. Learn about his musical journey arriving in the US at 10 years old ready to consume all the entertainment he imagined would be available to him in the States....

Ever learn about someone’s life story through their personal soundtrack? Sounds pretty cool right? In this episode we get to know one of our three hosts, Carolina, as she walks you through the joyous and painful moments of her life through a diverse score of songs. From disco and hip hop to salsa and alternative music, it’s quite the ride. Learn how the cool teenager next door opened her world to new music, why Alicia Keys makes her cry following the death of her first husband, and everything...

Here it is! The very first episode of A Life in Six Songs! Join us as we get to know one of our hosts, David, and his motivations for starting the podcast, as well as his life in six songs. David shares his heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking journey, from his early musical encounters to his stint in the Army, his battle with PTSD, and his growing recognition of the therapeutic power of music. Every song offers a peek into a unique chapter of his life, be it the hair bands of the 80s...