VetArtSpan Fred Johnson

Fred Johnson, the host and guiding light of these podcasts, sits down for a deep conversation with Theo and Brianne Rooding. Theo is an Army veteran who was medially discharged after a severe injury. His road back to civilian life led him and his wife to the Tampa Bay Area, and together were introduced to the Veteran Civilian Arts Ensemble at the Straz Theater. Theo worked with Guitars for Vets in Nashville, and his introduction to music therapist Natalie Quintana opened the door to expressing himself through music. As a veteran Theo was seeing the world as a dangerous place, but working with the Ensemble and experiencing the joy of music helped him to recalibrate his feeling. "The world doesn't have to be a scary place," says Brianne, "and it is wonderful to hear him immersed in his music." Theo often provides the music for the Ensembles performances, and Brianne is still amazed that she is singing and dancing! Together they are sharing this opportunity to create something new.

VetArtSpan host Fred Johnson has a wonderful conversation with Air Force veteran and painter Bernadette Dunn. A few years ago "Bernie" began attending the Straz Center's Veteran Civilian Arts Ensemble, and she is now a key member of the group. Her connection began with the James Haley VA Hospital, where she participates in the whole-health "Drive to Thrive program." In this conversation we learn about how the Veteran Civilian Arts Ensemble expanded Bernadette's creativity to include dance, poetry, and further expanded her work as a visual artist. Working with the Ensemble, she experienced how to overcome that fear of diving into something new, like dancing in front of people. This joyful experience is helping her to make deep and meaningful connections between her blossoming creative expression and her peers in the veteran community.

VetArtSpan host Fred Johnson has an enlightening conversation with yoga instructor Annie Okerlin, founder of the Exalted Warrior Foundation, which facilitates adaptive yoga instruction programs for Veterans, active duty and military reserves, as well as spouses and caregivers in VA hospitals and in community studio spaces around the country. Annie explains how yoga applies to the warrior's view of their bodies, and helps veterans "be here now" through the use of breath. Many who serve in the military know how to turn on the warrior within themselves, but don't always know how to turn that off. Annie's work helps them to use their breath to pause rather than react as they go through the journey of reintegration into civilian society.

Guest host Cathy DeWitt invites Dr. Mark Staples into the Gainesville VetArtSpan studio for a conversation about his work at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Dr. Staples is a cardiac surgeon and intensive care doctor, and he was a member of NASA's medical team for over 50 shuttle launches. But he also serves veterans and their families though his music. He and Cathy discuss the reactions he gets when patients see and hear their doctor playing music for them in their room. You'll hear some of Mark's beautiful finger-picking, and Cathy joins in singing on a magical song.

Intrepid VetArtSpan host Fred Johnson meets with Army veteran Urban Light to discuss her evocative journey toward becoming a spoken word artist. She is active in the Courage and Grace Foundation, which provides resources and support to women veterans. Through arts mentorship and the sharing of stories, the work helps build confidence for these women veterans (and their families) as they reintegrate into civilian life. Her own journey as an artist began with creative writing and grew as she became a powerful spoken word performer of her own poetry. In this episode we are privileged to hear two of her wonderful performances.

Fred Johnson gets together with Army veteran and poet Samantha Sampson. Her family has deep roots in the military, and she shares some of the inspirations that drive her to create her deeply personal spoken word creations. She is a member of the Vet/Civilian Dance Company at the Straz Center, and her poems were used in a multi-dimensional performance celebrating the 2021 Juneteenth anniversary at the Straz. In this episode we get a chance to hear two of her transformative poems.