Come Back To Earth — Music & Mental Health

J.D. Murgolo | Story House Studio
  • 5.0 (11)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Come Back to Earth is an interview podcast that goes beyond the stage to explore the internal lives of artists. Hosted by J.D. Murgolo, we sit down with musicians and songwriters to uncover the stories, wounds, and hopes hidden behind the songs. Through honest conversations about the creative process and mental health, we explore what it means for an artist to return to themselves. This is a space for human-centered storytelling where the music is the doorway, but the soul is the destination. Join us for a new season of conversations at the intersection of music, memory, and recovery.

  1. Lavender Fire: Songwriting as a Path to Self-Acceptance and LGBTQ+ Identity

    MAY 15

    Lavender Fire: Songwriting as a Path to Self-Acceptance and LGBTQ+ Identity

    Some songs are written to be heard. Others are written to be seen. I’m joined by singer-songwriter Lavender Fire to discuss her debut album, From Shadows to Light. Her work is a four-year journey of reclaiming parts of herself and stepping fully into her identity. Built primarily around piano and voice, the album traces a profound arc from self-realization to radical self-acceptance. Connect with Lavender Fire HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- From the Studio This episode is part of Come Back To Earth, produced by Story House. We believe story is a tool for meaning-making, not just performance. Leave a voice message or reflection The Letterbox I read every letter. If something in this episode landed for you, or raised something you're still sitting with, I'd love to hear it. Story House 370 Mallard Loop Dr.Clayton, NC 27527 Find the House Long-form writing and studio notes: https://story-house.beehiiv.com/Support this work: http://storyhousestudio.org/community Presence over persuasion. Consistency over frequency. http://storyhousestudio.org

    36 min
  2. Alex Loeb: The Courage of Direct Expression

    MAY 1

    Alex Loeb: The Courage of Direct Expression

    Growth isn’t always about finding a voice; often, it’s about the decision to stop softening the one you already have. Today, we sit with Germany-based artist Alex Loeb to explore the shift from genre-controlled narratives to the raw clarity of direct expression. Connect with Alex Loeb HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish

    38 min
  3. Charlie Void: The Alchemy of Musical Reinvention and Autonomy (Encore)

    APR 17

    Charlie Void: The Alchemy of Musical Reinvention and Autonomy (Encore)

    What happens when the song you’re singing no longer fits the person you’ve become? Growth isn’t always a loud breakthrough; sometimes it is the quiet act of stepping out of the center to see the entire picture. Today, we sit with returning guest Charlie Void to explore the messy, honest alchemy of reinvention. We follow the thread from being dropped by a label to finding a new rhythm with Golden Factory Records in Florence. This is a meditation on the shift from being a "pop artist" to becoming a producer, and the autonomy found in a 15-track album that finally feels like home. Whether you are navigating a career transition or seeking artistic autonomy, this conversation is an invitation to trust your own timeline. The Thread of This Conversation: The "Threshold" of leaving the center to find your perspectiveShaping EDM and Pop sensibilities into an honest body of workThe Mental Health of the independent artist: Moving beyond marketabilityWhat it means to create music that simply "needs to exist"Stewardship of your own art after a major industry shiftConnect with Charlie Void HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    32 min
  4. Anthony Church: Instrumental Music as Creative Resilience

    APR 3

    Anthony Church: Instrumental Music as Creative Resilience

    In this episode of Come Back to Earth, J.D. reflects on how a familiar melody can suddenly sound different when something within us shifts. He sits down with artist and producer Anthony Church to explore his creative evolution from a background beat-maker to a front-facing artist releasing instrumental music. In This Episode: Finding your voice through the discipline of daily practice.Shifting from producer to artist: The journey of creative autonomy.Melody-first composition and creating an emotional atmosphere.Creativity as resilience and nervous system regulation.Why certain songs meet us differently as we move through different seasons of life.Connect with Anthony Church and his music HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    35 min
  5. Eric Harrison: The Joy of Making Music and Building Community

    MAR 20

    Eric Harrison: The Joy of Making Music and Building Community

    What if music wasn't an escape, but a way to stay present? We explore the joy of making music and how songs build a music community when we need it most. Not every song is written to last forever. Some are written simply because they feel good in the moment—because they sound like a crowded room when you’re alone, or because they make the silence feel a little less heavy. In this episode, J.D. reflects on the first time music felt like true company: not as a performance to be judged or an escape to another world, but as a grounding presence. We are joined by New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Eric Harrison to discuss his latest album, Bittersweet. Eric shares the story behind his anthem “Sal’s Place,” a tribute to the sweaty basements and wobbly decks where the joy of music is found in its purest form. Together, they explore the rare honesty that comes from creating art simply because you love it, and how a shared melody can foster a deep sense of music community. This conversation is an invitation to value nostalgia without bitterness and to rediscover the joy of making music for the sake of the craft itself. Join us as we discuss why some songs don't need to change your life, they just need to keep you company. Connect with Eric Harrison and his music HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments I listen to every note personally during my Friday stewardship hours. No pressure to be polished, just be human.

    35 min
  6. Michael Gilas: The Inheritance of Song and Story

    MAR 6

    Michael Gilas: The Inheritance of Song and Story

    In this season premiere of Come Back to Earth, host J.D. Murgolo reflects on the early Saturday mornings of his youth, music drifting down a hallway, a house quietly breathing, and the inheritance we don’t recognize until it’s already part of us.  J.D. sits down with Michael Gilas to explore the songwriting inspiration that moves beyond the spotlight and into the lived experience of the listener.  In This Episode: The Living Inheritance: How the music of our childhood shapes our internal landscape.Beyond the Spotlight: Finding the quiet honesty in Michael Gilas’s creative journey.Music as Legacy: Why some songs have the power to outlive their creators.Presence in Sound: An unscripted music conversation about the art of listening.Connect with Michael Gilas and his music HEREGo backstage HERETheme music by: Lincoln Parish --- If this episode sparked a memory, a question about the craft, or a story you’d rather speak than type, come sit at our table. You can leave a voice note for the studio or explore our resources for creators at: https://www.speakpipe.com/FragileMoments

    26 min
  7. Come Back to Earth — Season 3

    SEASON 3 TRAILER

    Come Back to Earth — Season 3

    A new season is arriving. Come Back to Earth returns this March with a new season of conversations at the intersection of music, memory, and mental health. Season 3 sits with artists as they reflect on the songs that steadied them, the moments that broke them open, and the music that helped them find their way back to themselves. These are quiet, honest conversations about creativity as survival and sound as something that holds us when words fall short. Produced by Not Today Media. New episodes begin this March.

    1 min
  8. S2E68 - D.K. Lyons

    10/10/2025

    S2E68 - D.K. Lyons

    In our Season 2 finale, we sit with D.K. Lyons, a singer-songwriter whose artistic journey has been shaped by personal tragedy, unwavering advocacy, and a fierce commitment to using music as a tool for both healing and social change. Born in Massachusetts, D.K. began writing songs as a way to process profound loss, discovering that music could hold what ordinary language couldn't carry. But his artistry has evolved far beyond personal expression into something that actively engages with the world's injustices and possibilities. His upcoming EP Darling Kiss Louder represents an ambitious fusion of influences — drawing inspiration from classical literature while critiquing contemporary digital culture, centering women's voices while tackling systemic issues, creating art that's both deeply personal and broadly political. This conversation explores how tragedy can become a catalyst for advocacy, how artistry and activism intersect, and what it means to create with both vulnerability and purpose. It's a fitting close to our second season and a powerful reminder that healing work is never just individual — it's always connected to the larger project of creating a more just and beautiful world. What We Talk About: Balancing artistic vision with authentic emotional experienceThe responsibility that comes with having a platformUsing creativity as a tool for both personal and social transformationThe ongoing choice to remain engaged with life's full emotional spectrumResources: Connect with D.K. Lyons and his music HERESupport the show: Not Today MediaTheme music by: Lincoln ParishA Note from JD: D.K.'s conversation felt like the perfect way to close our second season because it embodies everything this show aspires to be: deeply personal yet broadly relevant, artistically ambitious yet emotionally honest, individual yet collective in its vision. His commitment to using his platform for advocacy reminds us that creativity isn't separate from consciousness, that healing isn't separate from justice, that the work of becoming fully human necessarily involves working for a world where others can do the same. If you're an artist wrestling with how to balance personal expression with social responsibility, or anyone trying to figure out how to stay engaged with the world's pain without being crushed by it, I hope D.K.'s story offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Come Back To Earth exists to explore these intersections between creativity, healing, and social change. Thank you for being part of this community, for supporting these conversations, and for doing your own work of creating meaning from difficulty. Season 3 will bring new voices, new stories, and new explorations of what it means to be human in complex times. Until then, keep creating, keep caring, keep coming back to whatever grounds you in hope. Your voice matters. Your story matters. The work continues.

    33 min
See All (80)

Trailers

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Come Back to Earth is an interview podcast that goes beyond the stage to explore the internal lives of artists. Hosted by J.D. Murgolo, we sit down with musicians and songwriters to uncover the stories, wounds, and hopes hidden behind the songs. Through honest conversations about the creative process and mental health, we explore what it means for an artist to return to themselves. This is a space for human-centered storytelling where the music is the doorway, but the soul is the destination. Join us for a new season of conversations at the intersection of music, memory, and recovery.

Information