Better To... Podcast with D. M. Needom

D. M. Needom

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The Better To Podcast is a place where we'll discuss what was the inspiration for their perspective projects and how it all came about. Sometimes, we’ll take a deeper dive into that moment that placed them on the creative path. On the podcast, we honor achievements, discuss new projects, and reflect on life lessons and the beginnings of the creative journey.

8 MAY

Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah - Margaret Gurevich

Send us Fan Mail This week on the episode author Margaret Gurevich stops by to discuss her latest book, Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah. Growing up as an immigrant and more. **** Margaret Gurevich (she/her) is a middle-school teacher and the author of Ain't It Funny, multiple Who Was? books, and the award-winning Chloe by Design series. When not writing or teaching, Margaret enjoys hiking, bingeing too many shows, and spending time with her family. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, son, and their wise cat, Goosie. YASHA'S AMAZIN' BAR MITZVAH offers a poignant and authentic portrayal of the Russian American experience in the 1980s while speaking to the universal challenges of growing up and finding one's place in the world. “Like Yasha’s parents, my parents fought hard to achieve the ‘American Dream’,” says Margaret. “However, in spite of attending night school for months to learn English, holding degrees from the Soviet Union equivalent to MA+ in the US, and achieving a level of employment in the United States that allowed them to save up to buy a house in the suburbs, to many, my parents’ Russian accents were still their main identifying feature. As for me, while I did not have a Russian accent, it took a long time for people to stop seeing my differences—food, clothes, experiences—as anything besides being ‘other’. In time, like Yasha, I learned to embrace the reality of being a hyphenated American—someone who is Russian and Jewish and just as American as others." When author Margaret Gurevich set up to write YASHA’S AMAZIN’ BAR MITZVAH she was basing the story on her own experiences growing up during the end of the Cold War. Gureveich’s latest novel is a touching and humorous story following the journey of a young Russian American boy as he navigates the challenges of adolescence, cultural identity, and the pursuit of his dreams. Set in 1986, thirteen-year-old Yasha Reznik is struggling to adjust to his new life in the suburban town of Rockwood, New Jersey. Having moved from the close-knit Russian community of Brighton Beach, Yasha finds himself feeling out of place and yearning for the familiarity of his old neighborhood. His parents may see their move as the fulfillment of the "American Dream," but for Yasha, it feels like anything but. As Yasha prepares for his Bar Mitzvah, he faces the typical trials of adolescence, compounded by the cultural differences that set him apart from his peers. Despite his efforts to fit in, including adopting the name "Jake," he is still seen as an outsider. The only person who truly understands him is Bernie, a resident at the senior citizen home where Yasha volunteers for his Bar Mitzvah project. Bernie shares Yasha's passion for the New York Mets, and together they dream of seeing the team win the World Series. Determined to make this dream a reality, Yasha embarks on a quest to secure tickets to the game, all while grappling with his own identity and the complexities of friendship. **** If you would like to contact the show Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2 Support the show

44 min
24 ABR

Gas Me Up - Lightning Stills - Craig Fort

Send us Fan Mail Craig Fort stops by the show to discuss, music sobriety, inspiration and more. *** Lightning Stills isn’t an album detailing the evils of alcohol. Instead, it’s life stories while still in the moment. “I started this project as a way to keep me occupied and help me through getting sober,” vocalist/guitarist Craig Fort of Omaha’s reigning outlaw country band explains. Aside from the obvious health benefits of quitting the sauce, his reason for quitting was far more personal. “Ultimately, I got sober for my family,” he confesses. “Once I had my first son, I started trying to stay away from the bar except for playing shows. My drinking stuck with me though and eventually took over. I realized I needed to get some help or my boys weren’t gonna have a father anymore.” Though he has sworn off alcohol, the offending substance flows freely figuratively throughout the band’s makeup. “The band name ‘Lightning Stills’ is a character I created - a reference to white lightning moonshine stills,” Craig explains, about the eponymously named alter-ego, a rhinestone cowboy in the vein of Waylon Jennings and Johnny Paycheck. “Lightning Stills” alludes to the clear high proof, unaged corn whiskey that is made in a ‘moonshine’ still. “When I first started, the ‘Lightning Stills’ character was a bootlegger. I have some history of that in my family and that lifestyle appealed to me I guess. Even off the sauce I feel like I’m still trying to find the right potency for my brew,” he laughs. Lightning Stills is a venerated cast of Omaha musicians - a who’s who of local artists of varying genres, all unified in a love for pure and unadulterated Outlaw Country. Originating in 2020, Craig (a hardcore, metal, and garage mainstay whose leads the post-rock mainstays Leafblower) first formulated the band with Omaha music icon and multi-instrumentalist Mike Friedman who had been playing country for decades. Pulling into their magnetic orbit a “good-timing odd bunch” that features guitarist Tom May, bassist Dan Maxwell, and drummer Javid Thunders, Lightning Stills was born. “We’re a real sundry assortment,” he says. “Dan and I have been playing together in various projects for 15 years. The other fellas have played in folk, indie, garage, metal, etc. That’s one thing that’s always been nice in my experience about Omaha. You can have a bill with hip hop/metal/country, and everyone that comes out are friends and possibly play in other projects with each other as well.” Deciding it was time to record a full record after releasing a handful of tracks in 2020 and 2021, the self-titled debut started taking shape, and a caboodle of punk-infused Outlaw Country was born. “Coming from a small town, I grew up with the outlaws and ‘90s popular country that I couldn’t escape,” he concludes. “My grandpa played in a country band. So in a sense, Lightning Stills is still just me playing music with my buds. We just aren’t playing as loud.” **** If you would like to contact the show Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Nee Support the show

33 min
10 ABR

UK Tour and More - The Ritualists - Christian Dryden & David Andreana

Send us Fan Mail Christian Dryden and David Andreana from the Ritualists stop by the show to discuss the up coming UK tour, new music that might be coming out in the fall, AI and more. **** Rising from the NYC underground scene of the Lower East Side, The Ritualists first attained international critical acclaim for their debut album, Painted People, released just prior to the pandemic on Out of Line Music. The record, and particularly, its lead single “Ice Flower,” was hailed as a seamless blend of dark beauty & anthemic pop sensibilities. The follow-up effort, Baroque & Bleeding, produced by Brit-Pop icon, Ed Buller(Psychedelic Furs, White Lies, Pulp, Suede), has been described as “pure new romantic psychedelia,” by Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, and continued the trend of critical adoration, along with regular airplay on SiriusXM. This momentum lead to multiple US tours and multiple collaborations, performing with members of Blondie, Love and Rockets, D Generation and The New York Dolls. The Ritualists now seek to build on their brand of “Gothic Art Rock” (Hollywood Life) with their latest, full-length effort, Too Pure to Cure (Suite484Music) produced by GRAMMY-winner, Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Willow). The band, which has oftentimes been identified as proudly embracing the more ornate elements of rock-and-roll, further tested such boundaries, as this newest release was honored on multiple "Best of 2025" lists & has been described as "Moody, melodic & undeniably magnetic" by Savoir Faire & "a heartfelt and adventurous offering from a band that seems poised to usher in a new era of new romantic art rock" by Regen Magazine The Ritualists have announced their first-ever tour of the UK in support of their 3rd album, Too Pure to Cure. Christian Dryden and co. will embark on a short, but compelling run of shows across the UK, with stops in London, Manchester, Reading and Nottingham, from April 17th-22nd. The Gothic Art Rockers (Hollywood Life), will be showcasing material from the new album alongside selections from their critically-acclaimed back catalogue, much of which will be fresh to British Audiences. Their latest, full-length effort, released on all platforms through (Suite484Music) and produced by GRAMMY-winner, Mario McNulty (David Bowie, Prince, Willow), has been honored on multiple "Best of 2025" lists & described as "Moody, melodic and undeniably magnetic" and by Savoir Faire as "a heartfelt and adventurous offering from a band that seems poised to usher in a new era of new romantic art rock" by Regen Magazine Tickets & More Info available through www.theritualists.com/event-list Website: https://www.theritualists.com/ **** If you would like to contact the show Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2026 Bette Support the show

1 h 10 min
27 MAR

Moment in Time - Chris Eveland

Send us Fan Mail This week on the show Chris Eveland stops by the show to discuss, being a studio player as well as a touring one. We talk music, life, and more. **** Chris Eveland is a dynamic and versatile guitarist whose style emulates many genres. With a deep passion for music that began at a young age,Chris has spent over 35 years and north of 3000 live shows, honing his craft, developing a reputation for technical skill, emotive playing, and a unique sound that blends many of his influences. Chris has performed in Theaters, Festivals, Arenas all over North America and the UK as well. As a composer, he creates intricate, melodic guitar parts that resonate with many listeners and has him known as a go to hired professional. Whether on stage or in the studio, Chris brings an infectious energy and technical precision that resonates with audiences and fellow musicians alike. Chris also has acquired an Artist endorsement deal with the Canadian guitar company Godin. In addition to performing, Chris has collaborated and toured with Sony BMG recording artist Aaron Walpole (3rd place Canadian Idol) and is currently working with a north American touring Abba tribute. Known for his improvisational skills and stage presence, he brings a fresh and ex- citing approach to every performance, leaving a lasting impact wherever he goes. Chris is currently performing, recording and touring with, SOS the Abba Experience, FyRe, John Miles Music, Sammi and the Boys and is regularly hired as a fill-in for many bands in Ontario. **** If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Video of the interview is available here onYouTube. Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: dauna@bettertopodcast.com To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Needom Support the show

35 min
13 MAR

A Rush to the Starting Line - Bren Holmes

Send us Fan Mail Bren Holmes stops by the show to discuss music, AI, chasing his dream, and more. *** For thirty-plus years, Bren Holmes has been playing his craft as a musician, songwriter, and bandmate. As an original member of the Irish Rock band The Young Dubliners, this Los Angeles-by-way-of-Dublin Ireland band has gigged all over the world--and lived to tell about it. In the fall of 2019, Bren decided to part ways with the band in the pursuit of a solo career. After several months, he put together a list of songs he had written and got together with co-producer Bryan Dobbs to record his very first solo album, Everything You Never Wanted. His debut album was very well received throughout the industry and not too long after it’s release, Bren didn’t waste any time and got right back to work to start on his sophomore album entitled, A Rush To The Start Line… With 10 new songs under his belt, he enlisted his co-producer Bryan Dobbs to complement his previous endeavor. It comprises of a mixture of themes and emotions with not any two songs sounding alike yet somehow strung together gracefully…it deals with a number of themes from a runaway child ("Gloria") to the topsy-turvy life of Sinéad O’ Connor ("Ordinary World") to Mother Earth speaking to humanity as a whole ("Need Some Time") to a couple of breakup songs, which Bren never seems to shy away from ("Satisfied", "Don’t Say You Will"). Bren and Bryan played most of the instruments but brought in some great talent when required, including bassist Paul Bushnell (Tim McGraw), Ben Thomas (Dweezil Zappa) to name a few… Bren is hoping to take his new album around the country throughout 2026 and beyond. He hopes that it will bring you some enjoyment and solace while listening to it… *** If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Video of the interview is available here onYouTube. Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: dauna@bettertopodcast.com To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Needom Support the show

41 min
20 FEB

Blessn - Gerald Jones

Send us Fan Mail Gerald Jones stops by the show to discuss, his new app, Blessen, trauma, doom scrolling and more. **** Gerald Jones and Kevin Clark's friendship goes back over 20 years, to the night they first met backstage at the Academy Awards. Their bond grew through creativity, shared values, and a deep desire to make a difference. Together, they later won an Emmy Award for a public service announcement addressing school gun violence - a project that reflected their heart for inspiring hope and protecting the next generation. Beyond their work in media, Gerald and Kevin have also been long-time business partners supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, running programs focused on empowerment and compassion. This commitment to community is woven into everything they do - and it became the foundation of Blessn. The story of Blessn began in March 2023, when Gerald Jones became sick of doom scrolling on social media, and found himself bummed out after every TikTok session. It occurred to him that maybe there was a better way. There should be a short form video social media that uplifted and encouraged instead. At its heart, Blessn is more than an app - it’s a movement. A space where users can share uplifting videos, connect with others who believe in goodness, and replace endless “doom scrolling” with “faith scrolling.” Gerald and Kevin believe that positive scrolling has the power to change hearts, strengthen communities, and remind people that light always wins over darkness. For more information on the Blessn app, visit: blessn.com (http://blessn.com/) ***** If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at Dauna@betertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0ETs2wpOHbCuhUNr0XFTw?view_as=subscriber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Video of the interview is available here onYouTube. Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: dauna@bettertopodcast.com To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast Support the podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom ©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Needom Support the show

40 min
6 FEB

Deathrock Devotionals - Justin Warfield

Send us Fan Mail Justin Warfield stops by the show to discuss, Deathrock Devotionals Vol II, inner peace, change in perspective and more. ***** After a year of steady build-up, bold reinvention, and dancefloor resurrection, WARFIELD - the darkwave/deathrock project helmed by She Wants Revenge lyricist and frontman Justin Warfield - arrives at a pivotal moment. Today marks the release of Deathrock Devotionals Vol. II (out via Black Heathers/Cleopatra Records), the latest installment in Justin’s ongoing love letter to the early Los Angeles deathrock and post-punk scenes that shaped him. Just two weeks later, on November 28, the saga culminates with the release of the full-length album Deathrock Devotionals - an all-encompassing statement piece that merges narrative depth, goth energy, and propulsive hooks into one darkly luminous body of work. “Like its predecessor, Vol. II is a continuation, and remembrance of, the early years of goth and deathrock in Los Angeles,” Justin explains. “I’m taking inspiration from 45 Grave, Super Heroines, Rozz Williams, Patrick Mata - all those people who pioneered this thing that not only lives on, but is thriving so many years later it. I’m just continuing that spirit and making something new, fun, full of energy, and from my point of view.” He continues, “In many ways this project, this band, and this record specifically is really the child of a time in the early ’80s in LA when there was a confluence of art-rock punks, East LA punks, Queer culture, late-night diners and after hours, basement shows, dueling live music venues in Chinatown as the epicenter of the scene, and suburban backyard parties. When Hollywood was dangerous and full of possibility, and before the jocks and bros crashed the punk party.” ****** If you would like to contact the show about being a guest, please email us at Dauna@bettertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi ©2025 Better To...Podcast with D. M. Needom Support the show

45 min
23 ENE

Retribution - Annie Kuchenmeister of Loki's Folly

Send us Fan Mail Annie stops by the show to discuss music, how Loki's Folly came together, anxiety, new music and more. ****** ‘Retribution’ is a song looking at the parallels of extreme sides of emotions and how we react to difficult things,” says Annie Kuchenmeister, guitarist and singer for Loki’s Folly, the Minneapolis-based indie-punk trio made up of sisters Annie (24), Nissa (19) and their brother Oskar (15). “The verses are an exploration of defensive and protective anger - wanting to hurt those who hurt you. While there’s gratification and justification to seeking retribution, the chorus creates a vulnerable opposition to these harsher feelings. It’s really about just not wanting to be alone forever and wanting to be cared for after being hurt.” At its core, “Retribution” channels raw emotional honesty through the band’s trademark blend of kinetic guitar work, cathartic drumming, and melodic grit - a sonic space where fury meets tenderness head-on. “This song came out of a lot of feelings of frustration and anger,” Annie continues. “Dealing with those big emotions can be hard, and I really didn’t want to be consumed by them. So, this song became a way to lay everything bare - the good and the bad - and explore it all honestly. The music and lyrics really came together as a unit; as the melody came about, an old lyric idea immediately clicked.” Following on the heels of their September 2025 single (“King of All Alone”),” “Retribution” continues Loki’s Folly’s evolution toward deeper, more introspective songwriting. This reflective thread connects “King of All Alone” and “Retribution,” both songs were produced by Ryan Smith of Soul Asylum and born from turbulent emotional spaces that transform struggle into strength. Where “King of All Alone” aches with longing and cautious optimism, “Retribution” pushes back with defiant honesty - together forming a striking one-two punch from a band unafraid to confront both the chaos and the catharsis of modern life. Formed in South Minneapolis, Loki’s Folly began as a project between sisters Annie and Nissa, later joined by their younger brother Oskar on bass. Their bond - both familial and creative - gives their music a distinct urgency, weaving together themes of identity, isolation, neurodivergence, and resilience. On their debut Sisu, the band worked with legendary producers Ryan Smith (of Soul Asylum), Ed Ackerson (The Replacements, The Jayhawks), Kevin Bowe (Etta James, Jonny Lang), and John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Andrew W.K.), crafting a record that explored the complexities of adolescence and the emotional weight of finding one’s voice in an uncertain world. While Sisu introduced listeners to their youthful defiance and eclectic spirit, “Retribution” feels like a step into something more introspective - a song that acknowledges the anger beneath the surface, but also the fragile hope that lingers within it. It’s a fitting next chapter for a band growing up in public, unafraid to document the messy process of becoming. For more info about the band: https://lokisfolly.com/ **** If you would like to contact the show about being a guest, please email us at Dauna@bettertopodcast.com Follow us on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi ©2025 Better To...Podcast with D. M. Needom Support the show

36 min

The Better To Podcast is a place where we'll discuss what was the inspiration for their perspective projects and how it all came about. Sometimes, we’ll take a deeper dive into that moment that placed them on the creative path. On the podcast, we honor achievements, discuss new projects, and reflect on life lessons and the beginnings of the creative journey.

Creador

D. M. Needom
Años de actividad

2021 - 2026
Episodios

233
Clasificación

Explícito
Copyright

© 2026 Better To... Podcast with D. M. Needom
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Better To... Podcast with D. M. Needom