Stream of Consciousness with Dan: Stories from the Midwest

Daniel Backes
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Society & Culture

Stream of Consciousness is a Midwest-rooted podcast where honest, inspiring conversations take center stage. Hosted by Dan in Omaha, Nebraska, each episode explores the stories, values, and voices that shape our communities - from athletes and creatives to local business owners who bring heart and hustle to the region. Whether it's legendary NFL nose tackle or the soul behind a beloved neighborhood kitchen, Stream of Consciousness invites guests to share their journeys, challenges, and reflections in a space built on authenticity and connection.  

  1. 4d ago

    Stream of Consciousness # 74 - Taylor Madison Damion - EMBERHONEY

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when a musician decides that self-discovery is just as important as songwriting? This week, I sit down with Taylor Madison Damion of EMBERHONEY for a conversation that starts with music and quickly expands into identity, creativity, personal growth, and the stories we tell ourselves. We discuss the experiences that shaped her, how her worldview influences her art, and why understanding yourself may be the most important creative process of all. Along the way, we explore songwriting, cultural influences, finding your voice, and what it means to create something honest in a world that constantly demands performance. This isn't a typical artist interview. It's a conversation about music, life, and the ongoing pursuit of becoming who we're meant to be. WEBSITE: https://emberhoney.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/emberhoney/ PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/cw/emberhoney Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  2. Oct 10

    Stream of Consciousness #73 - Benjamin Stewart - Slowly, Slowly

    Send us Fan Mail Benjamin Stewart joins me from Melbourne for a conversation about Slowly Slowly, his solo work, and the emotional engine behind his songwriting. We talk early days, creative evolution, the pressure and beauty of writing honestly, and the seasons that shaped albums like Race Car Blues, Blueprint, and Jellyfish. There’s vulnerability, humor, and a little US vs. Aussie food debate for good measure — the good, the strange, and the stuff that makes you question entire nations. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and full of the insight only Ben can give. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering his work for the first time, this is a deep dive into an artist who writes straight from the chest. Slowly Slowly Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  3. Oct 9

    Stream of Consciousness #72 - Mishkin Fitzgerald

    Send us Fan Mail Mishkin Fitzgerald joins Dan for a vivid, wide‑ranging conversation that moves through the heart of her creative world — from the dark theatrical pulse of Birdeatsbaby to the immersive, ritual‑rich soundscapes of her band Crimson Veil. Mishkin opens up about the emotional engines behind her songwriting, the discipline and vulnerability that shape her art, and the strange beauty that emerges when music becomes a place to transform and tell the truth. Along the way, she and Dan dive into the delightful chaos of British‑isms, compare UK and US food quirks, and share the kind of laughter that only happens when two artists genuinely connect. It’s an honest, textured, and unexpectedly joyful episode with one of the most compelling voices in modern alternative music.  Check out her music here! https://www.youtube.com/@crimsonveilband https://www.youtube.com/@mishkinfitzgeraldofficial https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xVC0EcMc0RQDw3u5Piyu5?si=alCmQdkQQSWahFb-gPnvGQ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0i5XBpK4mGqUbfmKKp3bXU?si=R1B6sr-YSFWoIeP76dnHvg https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PM21vTrqaUvtvZcUNZ1B2?si=Y5imkHjGRziZzfcbbeiSQg Buy some merch here! https://birdeatsbaby.bandcamp.com/ https://crimsonveil.bandcamp.com/ Listen to her podcast here! Rockstars Anonymous • Listen on Fountain https://open.spotify.com/show/2YOOb86eO4zCvL8MR7Qlvo?si=e17ba27d87ef467a Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  4. Sep 28

    Stream of Consciousness #71 - Johnny Manchild

    Send us Fan Mail Recorded at Edge of the Universe Café in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha — just hours before Johnny Manchild, frontman of Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards' show at Reverb Lounge — this conversation feels like two Midwestern artists sitting down and telling the truth. Dan and Johnny dive into the beautiful mess of creativity: the pressure, the burnout, the reinvention, the moments that nearly break you, and the ones that pull you back. It’s hip, emotional, raw, and honest in a way you can’t fake. And because it’s the Midwest, the conversation doesn’t stay in the lane of music — it drifts into BBQ, too. Oklahoma vs. Kansas. Brisket philosophy. Sauce loyalty. Smoke culture. It’s funny, revealing, and somehow says just as much about who they are as the music does. This episode captures two people comparing scars, laughing through the chaos, and finding connection in the most Midwest way possible — over stories, songs, and smoked meat, with the hum of Benson outside the window and a show waiting across the street. Johnny Manchild | Listen or Don't Johnny Manchild — creating Music | Patreon Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  5. Sep 14

    Stream of Consciousness Episode #70 - Jono Mata - Sly Withers

    Send us Fan Mail Dan sits down with Jono Mata of Sly Withers for a conversation that drifts from teenage busking in Perth to the band’s evolution into one of Australia’s most quietly fearless alt‑rock outfits. Along the way, they swap US/Australian slang, debate weird food combinations, and basically have a ton of fun. It’s a warm, funny, grounded chat with one of modern Australian rock's most thoughtful voices.  Sly Withers Official Website - Tour, Merch & more Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  6. Sep 8

    Stream of Consciousness #69 - Gail Graeve & Teresa Mardesen - Heartland Honors 9/11

    Send us Fan Mail In this special conversation, Dan sits down with Gail Graeve, VP of Social Impact at Mutual of Omaha, and Teresa Mardesen, Executive Director of SHARE Omaha, to talk about Heartland Honors 9/11 — an 11‑day initiative dedicated to service, remembrance, and honoring first responders on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Together, they explore how the project came to life, why service is the language chosen for remembrance, and what it means for the Heartland to show up with intention. Gail and Teresa share the stories, partnerships, and moments that shaped the initiative, along with their hopes for what the community carries forward long after the 11 days are over. A thoughtful, grounded conversation about memory, gratitude, and the power of collective action. 2026 Heartland Honors 9/11 | Honoring First Responders Support Local Nonprofits in Omaha Metro | SHARE Omaha Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  7. Aug 19

    Stream of Consciousness #68 - Tijana Tucic

    Send us Fan Mail  This conversation with Tijana Tučić is one of the most powerful episodes I’ve ever recorded. Born in Yugoslavia in 1977, Tijana grew up in a world that was breaking apart — war, scarcity, fear, and the kind of instability most people never experience. She became a single mother, worked factory shifts, fought through depression, and somehow found the strength to rebuild her life from the ground up. Today she’s a Quality Manager, Lean Consultant, and personal‑development coach writing her first autobiography. Her story is raw, honest, and full of the kind of resilience you don’t learn — you earn.  Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

  8. Aug 19

    Stream of Consciousness #67 - Kyle Knall

    Send us Fan Mail  Chef Kyle Knall joins the show to talk about a career shaped by Southern roots, New York precision, and a deliberate choice to build something meaningful in Milwaukee. From his early days cooking under Frank Stitt, to fourteen years at Gramercy Tavern, to opening Birch and earning James Beard nominations, Kyle’s story is one of craft, community, and quiet confidence. We get into the wood‑fired philosophy behind his food, the move that surprised everyone, and how he’s shaping the next chapter of Midwest dining.  Birch Restaurant CASSIS — French Bistro & Wine Bar in Milwaukee’s Third Ward Support the show Check out the discord here. Become a member to chat directly w/ Dan, submit guest requests and much more!

See All (93)

Trailers

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Stream of Consciousness is a Midwest-rooted podcast where honest, inspiring conversations take center stage. Hosted by Dan in Omaha, Nebraska, each episode explores the stories, values, and voices that shape our communities - from athletes and creatives to local business owners who bring heart and hustle to the region. Whether it's legendary NFL nose tackle or the soul behind a beloved neighborhood kitchen, Stream of Consciousness invites guests to share their journeys, challenges, and reflections in a space built on authenticity and connection.  

Information