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

D. M. Needom
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Biweekly

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.

  1. Jonathan’s Journal, - Gerald Everett Jones

    19h ago

    Jonathan’s Journal, - Gerald Everett Jones

    Send us Fan Mail This week on the podcast Gerald Everette Jones stops by the show again to discuss his latest release Jonathan's Journal. We talk about how some choices made in WW1 still affect us today and more.  ***** Gerald Everett Jones lives in Santa Monica. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Women’s National Book Association, as well as a board member of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He is a Film Independent (FILM) Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the College of Letters, Wesleyan University, where he studied under novelists Peter Boynton (Stone Island), F.D. Reeve (The Red Machines), and Jerzy Kosinski (The Painted Bird, Being There).” More about Jonathan's Journal: When a solitary art historian stumbles across a cryptic World War I diary among his mother’s antiques, his life quietly implodes. In Jonathan’s Journal, award-winning author Gerald Everett Jones invites readers on a richly emotional and historical journey that spans continents and generations. Through dual narratives—one modern, one set during the forgotten campaigns of the Great War in the Near East and India—Jones offers a haunting meditation on identity, duty, and the echoes of conflict that shape who we become. At the center of this literary novel is Jonathan Worthington, a middle-aged professor on sabbatical, whose discovery of an anonymous soldier’s meticulously written journal ignites a quest for truth that blurs the line between past and present. The soldier, initially known only by the initials J.F.W., recounts experiences from the trenches of France to the deserts of Mesopotamia and India. As Jonathan deciphers the diary—with help from Elena, a mysterious librarian who abruptly left a position in the diplomatic corps—he suspects more than a historical connection; family secrets may lie hidden in Fred’s sparse but emotionally loaded prose. Jones’s fifteenth novel is both contemplative and adventurous, seamlessly blending historical research, literary fiction, and intimate personal reflection. Fans of Birdsong, The English Patient, and Possession will find themselves drawn into a world where archival mysteries illuminate inner truths. ***** 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.Needom Support the show Support the show

    47 min
  2. Marilyn Forever - Amy Gaskin

    4d ago

    Marilyn Forever - Amy Gaskin

    Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Better to Podcast, I sit down with Amy Gaskin. Back in 2020 an idea came to her about going to Marilyn Monroe's grave and even though we were supposed to be masking she found fresh lipstick kisses. This lead her on an incredible journey of how the idol had come to be something more personal than a Movie Icon.  When I was notified of the opportunity to do this interview I jumped at is as it was a way to celebrate Marilyn's 100th Birthday and did into someone that was near and dear to my heart when I was younger. I hope you enjoy it.  ****** Amy Stanford Gaskin is a photographer and journalist based in Los Angeles.  Extraordinary access is a hallmark of her images, which she earns by spending time with the people she photographs. She strives to capture intimacy and truth in her art. Her new book Marilyn Forever!  Marilyn Monroe—A Symbol of Hope documents and illustrates the personal reasons people are inspired by Marilyn Monroe for reasons far beyond her stardom.  During the early days of the pandemic, she happened upon Marilyn’s crypt, where she was surprised to find wet lipstick marks decorating her resting place while the majority of the world was standing six feet apart. She began to interview and photograph visitors at her grave. Many shared stories of how memories of Marilyn’s remarkable attributes and actions helped them through the toughest of times. Perhaps the most surprising discovery was that many identify with the trauma of her abuse, adoption and foster care, while others consider her a civil rights icon for the Black and LGBTQ+ communities. Marilyn’s memory lives on in surprising ways through countless people around the world who are connected and inspired by her enduring legacy.  National Geographic, The Washington Post, STERN Magazine, The Guardian, Associated Press, BloodHorse, CBS, ABC, Los Angeles Times, and others have featured her work.  ****** 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.Needom Support the show Support the show

    1h 28m
  3. Transformation - Jules Peters - The Alarm

    May 22

    Transformation - Jules Peters - The Alarm

    Send us Fan Mail On this episode, I sit down with Jules Peters, the wife of the front man of The Alarm, the late Mike Peters. We discuss their incredible love affair, his long battle with cancer, The Alarm’s new album, Transformation, and more. **** "Mike lived a life of beauty and never gave up right to the very end,” says Jules Peters, bandmate and wife of the late Mike Peters of THE ALARM who passed away on April 29, 2025. Following a fearlessly valiant 31-year battle with cancer, his monumental legacy continues with the release of TRANSFORMATION on May 29, 2026 on Twenty First Century Recordings/Virgin Music Group. Its latest single, “Live Today” premieres now via Consequence. Filmed just days before Mike underwent the innovative CAR-T treatment with hopes of eradicating Richter’s Syndrome, an aggressive form of lymphoma, “Live Today” is Mike’s final video. “As the sun rose, watching Mike perform this song with so much optimism and hope will live with me forever,” said Jules as she looks back. “It was a bittersweet day for me as we filmed this incredible joyous film on the beach in the North of England. After filming concluded, we climbed onto the tour bus and drove straight to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, U.K.. We were full of determination that the pioneering CAR-T would save Mike’s life but, at the same time, I was personally terrified as I couldn’t shake off a feeling that cancer had finally caught up with us both.” Diagnosed with lymphoma in 1995 and later with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Peters refused to let his illness silence him. Instead, he turned his fight into a mission to help others. Alongside his wife Jules, he co-founded Love Hope Strength, a music-driven cancer charity that revolutionized awareness and action around stem cell donation that continues beyond his passing. Through its innovative “Get On The List” campaigns—often hosted at rock concerts and even atop mountains—the charity has added over 400,000 people to the global stem cell registry and helped secure thousands of potential life-saving matches for patients worldwide. While this may seem like the final chapter for The Alarm, Transformation promises that the legacy of The Alarm will transform into something larger. While Mike has gone out in a blaze of glory, his love, hope and strength continues on. Echoing the title of the new single,   Jules concludes, “Mike and the spirit of The Alarm will ‘Live Today,’ forever more. I invite you all to blast Transformation out loud. Imagine Mike in the room with you. Transformation is his battle cry, his resilient love of life. Right to the very end, Mike believed that he was going to live, to be totally free. My last memory is driving him open top along the North Wales coast road, playing Transformation at maximum volume. He was so happy. So full of life. Playing his air drums, bass guitar, already imagining himself on his next world tour. So keep that positive spirit moving forwards. Imagine him as you all knew him best, striding out on to that stage, changing lives one concert at a time. This is an album of hope and a passionate celebration of a life well lived. Please do not be sad. Mike wouldn’t want that. He was so proud of this album and had the best time recording it during the last six months of his life. Blast it out loud like Mike did. Play along to the track list and most of all, be happy that we all had Mike in our lives and continue to do so. The music of Mike and The Alarm will always keep us strong”. **** 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.Needom Support the show

    1h 42m
  4. Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah - Margaret Gurevich

    May 8

    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 ©2026 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Needom   Support the show

    44 min
  5. Gas Me Up - Lightning Stills - Craig Fort

    Apr 24

    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.Needom Support the show

    33 min
  6. UK Tour and More - The Ritualists - Christian Dryden & David Andreana

    Apr 10

    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 Better To...Podcast with D. M.Needom Support the show

    1h 10m
  7. Moment in Time - Chris Eveland

    Mar 27

    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
  8. A Rush to the Starting Line - Bren Holmes

    Mar 13

    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
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About

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.

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