The Language of Creativity Podcast Steven Leavitt

Review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/mm/podcast/the-language-of-creativity-podcast/id1402964967
send a hello note podcast@stevenleavitt.com
https://designscience.studio/
#regenaissance
Julia Cameron – The Artists Way Daniel Pink – A Whole New Mind Rick Ruben – The Creative Act
Spaceship Earth Mission Log https://www.youtube.com/@spaceshipeearthmissionlog
Carl Welty, architect https://spaceshipearthmissionlog.substack.com/p/mission-log-6-carl-welty
Della Buford https://dellaburfordartist.ca/2023/07/21/steven-leavitt-interview-with-della-burford-painting-your-dreams-june-20th-2023/
#creativity #AI #consciousness #art #problemsolving #innerdialogue ⁠podcast #contentfactory #youtuberquitting #entrepenaurship #curiousity

Featured Music: E Ku'u Morning Dew (Words by Larry Kimura, music by Eddie Kamae)
 
Anthony Kauka StanleyKala Ukeleles – Artist HighlightYouTube ChannelInstagram @anthonykaukaCenter For World Music – Teaching Artist Spotlight
Full episode: https://languageofcreativity.podbean.com/e/thekindnesswarriors-anthonykaukastanley-kalaukulele/

The ukulele is often seen as a simple instrument, a toy or a novelty. Yet, in the hands of a master, it becomes a powerful tool of cultural expression and connection. This humble instrument, with its gentle and voicelike tones, carries within it the soul of the Hawaiian islands, transcending its small form to spread the spirit of Aloha across the world.
Anthony Kauka Stanley was born into a very unique family: being of Hawaiian, Mexican, Greek, Chinese, Irish, Spanish, German, and Cherokee descent, his mother was blessed by the Kumu Hula to start her own Polynesian dance company at the unusually young age of 12. Anthony grew up performing with and would eventually become the music director of his family’s dance company, one of the largest in Southern California. During his time at Occidental College in Glendale, CA, where President Obama once walked the halls, Anthony found a respite from the demanding performance schedule of his family's Polynesian dance company by immersing himself in not just one, but four sports—football, basketball, wrestling and volleyball. Instead of hurting his performance, Anthony found the diversity of activities actually helped him excel at multiple sports; his dancing helped his agility and he remained the captain of multiple teams.
In this conversation, Anthony shares a lot about the value of being completely present. We talk about how Steve met Anthony through his sponsorship with Kala Brand Ukuleles, Anthony shares about the importance of authenticity, community and leadership and how people will always need places they can feel safe, appreciated and inspired. Steve wonders how Anthony can keep up with so many commitments, and relates about how greater success seems to come from leaning harder into creativity. We also talk about the shadow side of performing, and how it’s easy to turn to drugs or alcohol when something used to be a healthy outlet (music) turns into a stressful job. Most notably, Steve askes Anthony about the healing spirit of Aloha and Anthony shares how the ukulele is like a 'Trojan Horse,' able to subtly open doors to deeper connections across diverse communities.
Anthony’s Hawaiian name Kaukaulua’ole means “Fearless Warrior,” and he is truly a warrior of peace and presence to all he meets.

 “To be truly fearless means to be loved.” – Anthony Kauka Stanley

Guest: Anthony Kauka StanleyKala Ukeleles – Artist HighlightYouTube ChannelInstagram @anthonykaukaCenter For World Music – Teaching Artist Spotlight
Featured Music: E Ku'u Morning Dew (Words by Larry Kimura, music by Eddie Kamae)
Intro Music: Disney Pixar's Up - "Married Life" composed by Michael Giacchino, arranged and performed by Anthony Kauka Stanley. (Video: YouTube)
Episode References:
Heali'i's Polynesian Revue – official websiteDebbie Evans – debbieevans.com (Steve's mom)
Carlsbad, California – tourism bureau
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: The Voice Of Hawaii – NPRKumu Hula – Honolulu MagazineHarry Belefante – WikipediaGuy Lombardo – Wikipedia
Occidental College Official WebsiteNAMM Show (Official Website)United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of AmericaCenter for World Music
The Surrender Experiment (book)
About the host
Language of Creativity’s host Steven Leavitt enjoys discussing the ins and outs of all aspects of creating, creativity, and life with his fellow creators: artists, inventors, designers, producers and more. Along the way he hopes to gain perspective and multiply our understanding of what we share in common while creating, living, and learning. www.stevenleavitt.com
Production Credits:
This podcast was produced by I Create SoundEdited by Sam LevineSpecial thanks to Michael Bernard
Please review this podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Spotify and Stitcher to help other creatives find their tribe!
Tags:
#connection, #SanDiego, #California, #Hawaii, #aloha, #triathlete, #football, #baseball, #basketball, #AP, #crosstraining, #nonprofit, #musicteachi

Meet a former A&R rep who was deeply entrenched in the heart of the music industry with giants like Sire Records and Warner and then chose to leave it all behind.

Jeff Serafine is a man of many facets. He navigated the ever-changing tides of the music industry and rubbed shoulders with icons. Jeff left the big labels to pursue artist management independently, but life took a series of unexpected turns. Realizing he wasn’t fulfilled in the fast-paced world of the music business, Jeff, who initially studied audio engineering and music therapy, ventured into assisting startups until he realized that fledgling businesses were a lot like bands. Jeff's story is a blueprint of daring change, a narrative that challenges the status quo and inspires the maverick in each of us.
In our talk, Jeff delves into his experiences in the music industry, sharing insights from his A&R days and reflecting on the industry's evolution. We explore the intersection of art and business, and Jeff opens up about life's unforeseen turns. He humorously discusses the ubiquity of his name and shares his half-serious dream of one day founding a conference exclusively for people named “Jeff.” Our conversation covers everything from the importance of networking – where a simple ride-share could lead to new opportunities – to his pragmatic shift to financial advising. Jeff's journey is a testament to embracing change and finding new paths when the familiar ones diverge. Finally, Jeff shares his love of stand-up comedy and jokes about possibly giving it a try if everything else falls apart.
Wrapping up our discussion with Jeff, it's clear that his story celebrates life's unpredictability. It’s a narrative that challenges us to find excitement in the unknown and to view each 'hard left' not as a detour but as a pathway to new and exhilarating destinations.
Guest:  Jeff Serafine
Instagram: @JeffLeopardSerafine
Episode References:
Victor Wooten, Music As Language (TED ED: YouTube)Episode 29 - Spiro Razatos (Action Director, Fast and Furious franchise)
Seymour Stein (Sire Records)
Sire Records (Discogs.com)Warner Records (Wikipedia)
Millie Vanilli (Independent.co.uk)Ashlee Simson SNL lip-sync incident (Yahoo Entertainment)Elizabeth Holmes Theranos scandal (CNN)
Morning Pages (a description by Chris Winfield)
Sleep Token (official website | Spotify)Story of the Year (official website | Spotify)
Berklee College of Music - https://www.berklee.edu/
Featured Music
Black Cats by Testing Tomorrow (Spotify)Water by Testing Tomorrow (Spotify)
Nothing Wrong by Lobate Scarp (BandCamp)
About the Host
Language of Creativity’s host Steven Leavitt enjoys discussing the ins and outs of all aspects of creating, creativity, and life with his fellow creators: artists, inventors, designers, producers and more. Along the way he hopes to gain perspective and multiply our understanding of what we share in common while creating, living, and learning.
Personal website and music portfolio - StevenLeavitt.comMusic and media production company, creative consulting - I Create Sound

Please review this podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Spotify and Stitcher to help other creatives find their tribe!
Tags:
#A&R #existentialrabbitholes #procrastination #creativity #film #musicindustry #influence #jazz #VictorWooten #musictheory #musiceducation #artistmanagement #SeymourStein #financialadvising #livemusic #TaylorSwift #socialmedia #musicpromotion #artist #entrepreneurship #art #StoryofTheYear #business #creativity #gigeconomy #bitcoin #NFT #AI #artificialIntelligence #authenticity #overnightsuccess #audienceengagement #RobinWilliams #jokes #standupcomedy #retirement #emotion #connection #positiveenergy #happiness #wingingit #TalyorSwift #LinkinPark #Jersey #NewYork #LosAngeles

Monstrous, a poem by Rebecca Boatwright.




Seething, toiling, snarling within;a black shadow curling around the edges forced away with society’s wishes.
Teeth bared, claws dug ina wolf of smoke and darknessstares out to anyone peeking within.
Wild, feral, horrible as Sin,the people step back in fear.The recoil of the beast is unwantedits spirit bound by broken trust,an unwanted thing grown into unruly lust.
But how we forget that wolf was once a pup curious, foraging and giddy with freedom. Wrong, hateful, worth shoving aside,he was bound by other’s damnation to abide.
A force so strong it cannot be tamed dances again with passion’s flame unbind it, unbind it!the howl within rasps,
our heart bleeding and empty without what’s been cursed as Monstrous.
https://www.darlingstarheathen.com/#NorseMyth #Fenrir #Tyr
Reference: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads)

Jack T. Leyton has been a lot of things in his life: an Air Force serviceman, a set-construction worker for motion pictures, a postal carrier, a delivery driver, he even attended multiple acting schools for a time. But none of these actually describe who Jack is at heart: a writer, wordsmith, poet and hopeless romantic.
 
This episode offers an intimate conversation with Jack T. Leyton, shedding light on his diverse creative life as a writer and poet. The discussion showcases Leyton's most beloved music and poetry, his time working at Burbank Studios, his musical aspirations, and the deep influence of his military service in the Vietnam War. Leyton shares profound insights on the role of art in society and his personal experiences, including the impact of heartbreak on his work, living in his car, and his travels across Europe. There is also a critical exploration of societal pressures, personal inhibitions, and the need for creativity in shaping his life and art. Moreover, Leyton voices concerns about society's trajectory, particularly through poems like 'The Last Generation on Earth'. The conversation wraps up on a poignant note, exploring themes of love, passion, regret, and the unique challenges of a writer's life.
 

We delve into a pivotal moment in Jack's artistic journey, marked by a daring decision in 2018 to transform a manageable fraction of his vast collection of lyrics and melodies into a tangible musical legacy. This endeavor, fueled by a yearning to bring his creative visions to life, almost faced a halt due to a life-threatening heart attack. Fortunately after he recovered, he and Steve were able to put together a remarkable assembly of talent in Burbank, California, where eight session musicians and five singers, amidst a flurry of cameras, breathed life into Leyton's compositions. The session culminated in 'The Clearlake Sessions,' an album that notably features the showstopping vocal group The Satin Dollz on 'Sparky’s Burgers' — a spirited homage to the 1940s-50s era, echoing the essence of The Andrews Sisters.



Jack and Steve note the difficulty inherent in bringing musical visions to life when one relies on others for expression — a reality Jack faces, being a lyricist without the ability to play an instrument, and Steve shares about how he only recently overcame his difficulty expressing himself through lyrics. On the importance of writing, Jack discovered a vital avenue for expression in poetry circles. Reflecting on the fundamental drive that propels their artistic pursuits, Jack encapsulates this shared sentiment with poignant clarity: “We do this because we can’t not write.”

Guest Jack T. Leyton
Website: http://www.jaxsongs.com/The Clearlake Sessions https://jaxsongs.bandcamp.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesoundtrackofmydreams
I Create Sound Artist Creative Serviceshttps://icreatesound.com/
Episode References


Burt Lancaster - Wikipedia link


Richard Widmark - Wikipedia link
Chris Elchico - episode 9 link, Boston Symphony members link
The Satin Dollz - Official websiteThe Andrews Sisters - Wikipedia linkAlan Kaplan trombonist - Official websiteBob’s Big Boy - history
The Draft and Vietnam - myretrospect.comBorders Books, Thousand Oaks - Conejo Valley Guide linkDavid Allen Foster poet - Official website
Mike Frankovich, producer - Wikipedia linkJohn Ford - IMDB linkWinning (racing movie with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Robert Wagner) - IMDB linkRunaway Production - Wikipedia link
“We Were Once” music video - YouTube link“Longings” music video - YouTube link
Budapest, Hungary - Wikipedia link
The Realms of Mindrin board game - Kickstarter linkDemotivational Posters (despair.com)
The “Gore” Point, impact barriers -  Wikipedia linkPBS | FRONTLINE: The Power Of Big Oil - pbs.orgJim Jeffrey - Official websiteGreenpeace - greenpeace.org/usaThe Last Generation on Earth music video - earthsongs.world
“Gateway of Heartache