The Pivotal Stories Project

Alan Houghtaling
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Documentary
  • Weekly

A podcast about the stories and moments that shape, connect, and help make us who we are.

  1. 04/27/2022

    Matt Keating

    Matt Keating is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been playing music since he was a kid, and recording ever since his debut album Tell It to Yourself was released in 1993. As NPR music accurately put it, "Matt Keating has established himself as one of America’s great under-the-radar songwriters.” Raised in a family that was constantly moving around the country helped shape Matt, and songwriting became one of the ways he tried to untangle that. Matt lives in NYC and is also a father, husband, and teacher of music, along with being an avid student of Buddhism and Yoga, both of which we talk about today. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, so buckle up! And the music you will hear in this episode is Matt’s work, and the links will be available at the end and on our website.

  2. 04/13/2022

    Getting Out Of Our Own Way & Being Present

    In today's solo episode, Alan shares a little history of what led to launching this podcast, and also a story about his son that touches on being present, vulnerability, and how we are sometimes our own worst enemy.

  3. 04/06/2022

    Steve Michener

    Steve Michener is a husband, father, nurse, musician, and writer. If you’re of a certain age, and followed the music scene at all in the 80’s and 90’s, especially in Boston, then you have no doubt listened to, or at least heard of some of the bands that he has played bass in. These include the Volcano Suns, Dumptruck, and Big Dipper, whose music you heard in the intro, and will hear as we go out today as well. Recently, Steve also started to write about his album collection in a Facebook group called Steves Random Record Collection Countdown, where for one full year he is picking an album each day and writing about it. How he came to own it, where he was in his life at the time, and other memories that get jogged by that particular record.  It’s a fascinating endeavor and one that I am personally enjoying greatly. We’ll talk about that, and many other things in our conversation today.

  4. 03/23/2022

    Leah Houghtaling

    Like so many of us, Leah Houghtaling is a person who is hard to pin down or describe succinctly in a brief introduction. Maybe it’s because they’ve pursued so many professional and creative paths; including opening and running a bar, starting and being the lead cook at their own restaurant, pursuing their musical passion, and most recently funneling their creative energy into an amazing woodworking business. All of this being done while trying to navigate a world that wants to neatly put you into a category, while you don’t feel that any of the categories really fit or work for you. In today's conversation, Leah and talk about this journey, how their cancer diagnosis impacted and changed it, the role of creativity and loving partnership in their life, and how to deal with the sometimes overwhelming nature of the world. And if the last name sounds familiar, it’s because they’re my sister. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

  5. 03/16/2022

    Guy Macpherson, PhD

    Guy Macpherson is a father of two, a husband, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. During his career, his focus has largely been on the study of trauma and early psychosis. In 2014, Guy founded The Trauma Therapist Project with the goal of raising awareness around trauma and creating an educational, supportive and inspiring community for new trauma workers. At the time he had no idea where it would ultimately lead him or how it would evolve. His work now includes The Trauma Therapist Podcast, with over 600 episodes and thousands of loyal listeners in more than 160 countries around the world. He also offers online workshops and training for trauma therapists, along with podcasting workshops for mental health professionals.  Guy is not only a leader in the field of trauma, connection, and growth, he is also one of the most genuine, heartfelt, and thought-provoking people you could hope to meet. `

  6. 03/08/2022

    Pirates, Spongebob, and Art

    The Pivotal Stories Project

  7. 03/01/2022

    Rod Picott Part 2

    Rod Picott is a songwriter, a singer, a poet, and the author of numerous works of fiction . After spending some time with him, I would say he’s also a searcher, someone who is not afraid to look in the shadows, those of his own or others, to learn more about himself and the world he inhabits. In part 2 of our conversation, Rod talks about trying to break into the Nashville music business in his thirties, how creativity is a basic human need, Marlon Brando, and the power of trying to truly understand one another.

  8. 03/01/2022

    Rod Picott Part 1

    Rod Picott is a songwriter, a singer, a poet, and the author of numerous works of fiction. After spending some time with him, I would say he’s also a searcher, someone who is not afraid to look in the shadows, those of his own or others, to learn more about himself and the world he inhabits. Today, Rod and I talk about Springsteen, what makes someone extraordinary, what his creative process looks like, and the power of seeing the painting of the Girl With The Pearl Earring.

See All (15)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

A podcast about the stories and moments that shape, connect, and help make us who we are.

Information

  • Creator
    Alan Houghtaling
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2022
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Pivotal Stories Project
  • Show Website
    The Pivotal Stories Project