Compassionate Measures Podcast

Sit Down with Cathy Worthington and Emma Kragen

Pull up a chair for a warm remembrance of the legendary Ken Kragen with the two women who were closest to him. Ken’s wife, Cathy Worthington, shares how she met Ken and that they were married for 43 years. She describes her firsthand memories of the We Are the World recording session, attending the American Music Awards earlier that evening, and standing in Battery Park at the beginning of the line for Ken’s other charitable project, Hands Across America. The women generously recount Ken’s several passions other than his family, charitable projects and the entertainment industry.
Ken’s daughter, Emma Kragen, describes lessons that she learned from her dad. Emma discusses how making a childhood behind-the-scenes documentary (of her book being made into a motion picture) began a natural progression to the producer and cinematographer that she is today! She helps us to understand how cinema might just change the world!  
Finally, Cathy and Emma explain how WhyHunger became an important part of the family’s life and how supporting its work today is a perfect fit for the Ken Kragen Memorial Foundation. Please consider a small donation to the organization honoring Ken Kragen’s immense contributions to the world as you are able (kenkragen.org/donate).   
Visit Emma’s website (zemma.co) and Cathy’s podcast website (Late Boomers podcast on your favorite platform). And, please read more about the achievements of Ken Kragen at kenkragen.org
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Cathy Worthington and Emma Kragen who made this such a special conversation and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Jim Sonefeld

Pull up a chair for an inspirational and redemptive conversation with Jim Sonefeld!
Jim tells us how, even in Hootie and the Blowfish’s early days, the band has always had a heart for giving. In 2000, the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation was established and 25 years later, the Monday After the Masters event is still going strong to raise money for charities. He spoke about the importance of giving back and being in a community of like-minded musicians.
Please visit the Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation and make a small donation if you feel led to do so (https://www.hootie.com/foundation).
We look back at the band’s immensely popular Cracked Rear View recording, Hold My Hand getting radio play, and being invited perform on David Letterman in front of 5 million viewers. Jim even fills us in on his favorite Hootie song.
He describes his 20-year history of sobriety – the wake-up message from his daughter, accepting that he needed help and attending his first 12-Step meeting. He discusses his favorite aspect of being part of a recovery community as well as the spiritual truths that he’s reached back to find and how they support him today. Jim currently shares his important inspirational message by speaking to recovery and corporate groups.
Check out Jim’s solo work on your favorite streaming platform and listen to his current favorite composition (the popular, Unafraid).
Jim and I sat down on February 13th and we get to hear about his plans for Valentine’s Day.
Visit Jim’s website (jimsonefeld.com) and BUY HIS BOOK, Swimming With the Blowfish: Hootie, Healing and One Hell of a Ride.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Jim Sonefeld who’s out there changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Amy Speace

Pull up a chair for an honest and open conversation with Amy Speace!
Amy is committed to helping people uncover their truth – those who cross her path in songwriting programs with veterans and their families, her students, and audience members who connect with Amy’s lyrics. She speaks boldly and with great experience about the healing power of writing one’s life story. We learn about some of the amazing and deserving people with whom she has worked.
Amy shares memories of crafting songs – line by line – during retreats with soldiers and how that practice has supported her own songwriting. She talks about how writing her album, Tucson, saved her life and her own therapeutic journey. Amy discusses her support to Planned Parenthood, how they once worked together and how we might see more to come in the future.
Amy lets us in on why two professors wouldn’t sign her application to graduate school. Finally, we talk about the world she dreams of for her young son.  
Amy supports Songwriting With Soldiers (songwritingwithsoldiers.org) and Planned Parenthood (plannedparenthood.org). Please visit both incredible organizations and make a small donation if you feel led to do so.
Visit Amy’s website (amyspeace.com) for more information, tour dates and her Patreon account (where you can find behind-the-scenes nuggets all the way back to 2016).
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Amy Speace who’s out there changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Caroline Aiken

Pull up a chair for a sweet and gracious conversation with Caroline Aiken – the “godmother of Atlanta’s folk scene.”
Caroline begins by describing the early days working in Atlanta clubs and her introductions to the Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins and other songwriters. She tells us about the amazing crowds that follow Bonnie Raitt, John Prine and the numerous other bands that she’s recorded with and for whom she has opened shows. Caroline started to make music at 14 and has earned her living as a musician in California, Georgia, New York, and Seattle. She shares great stories – along with some of her own unique family history.
Caroline explains the importance of the projects that she supports. She helped to found Guitars Not Guns (guitarsnotguns.org) in the Athens, Georgia area and has witnessed first-hand how the program positively impacts children. She is the proud mother of Page Dukes who, along with Luci Harrell, has founded the Atlanta Community Support Project (atlcommunitysupport.org) to empower individuals in incarceration and transitioning to lives outside of prison. Please visit both incredible organizations and make a small donation if you feel led to do so.
Caroline offers some excellent advice about the importance of relationships and having something to look forward to in the future. And, to close our conversation, she lists those people and experiences that make her most happy.
Visit Caroline’s website (carolineaiken.com) for more information and tour dates. She’s around Atlanta through March before taking her tour to the west coast!

Sit Down with Benj Gershman

Pull up a chair for an amazing conversation with Benj Gershman - founding member and bassist for the multi-platinum selling rock band, O.A.R.!
Benj begins by sharing what he believes are the underlying motivations behind O.A.R.’s long-standing commitment to charitable endeavors. He explains the birth of the band’s organization, Heard The World, and describes his own life-changing history with Operation Smile.
Benj’s podcast, What Could Be Bad launches its second season on October 10th, UN Mental Health Day! He speaks enthusiastically about Season 2, lets us in on a lesson he learned during his inaugural season, and even considers who might be a dream guest for a future episode.
Benj talks about his daily wellness practices on tour and lets us in on what’s coming up for O.A.R. (it involves new music and a big anniversary).
Finally, Benj describes how he’d like to change the world for his son and advice he might offer to him about helping others.
Visit Benj’s podcast page (What Could Be Bad) at whatcouldbebad.com and O.A.R.’s official website at liveoar.com.
Please visit Heard The World Fund (events.liveoar.com/heardtheworld) to learn more about their work, and to make a small donation. During our conversation, Benj mentioned Ryan Holiday’s book, The Obstacle Is On the Way, and podcast, The Daily Stoic.
To quote Benj -  “Be good to yourself. Be good to others.”
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Benj Gershman who’s out there changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Sean Kelly

Pull up a chair for a lively conversation with Sean Kelly! Sean is the author of White Noise & Lightning: The Continental Drifters Story which will be published THIS week by Cool Dog Sound. Sean speaks about his days as a young member of A Fragile Tomorrow and shares what he learned about activism while touring with Indigo Girls.
Sean describes the process of writing his authorized biography of the Continental Drifters beginning from Day One – garnering approval, the hours spent interviewing, the book's cover art by yet another acclaimed musician and several highlights from his work. He details similar thoughts about We Are All Drifters, the Continental Drifters tribute album he produced with David Jenkins for Cool Dog Sound (also releasing on September 27th). Sean recounts key memories about how artists selected their songs and assembled their submissions. He played on one track and we learn about that special time in the studio. Want to know the first musician who “called dibs” on their track for the tribute album? And the highly- respected recording artist / producer who suggested that Sean do what HE thought was best in the studio? It’s all here! Sean also talks about the new White Noise & Lightning: Best of the Continental Drifters album.
Finally, Sean perfectly summarizes the loving, respectful and in-awe way that many artists feel about the Wild Honey Foundation. Wild Honey will receive proceeds from the tribute album.
You can order Sean’s authorized biography and tribute album at continentaldriftersbook.com. There’s also a link there to order the Best of The Continental Drifters album. You can learn more about the Continental Drifters at continentaldrifters.com.
And, please visit Wild Honey Foundation (wildhoneyfoundation.com) to learn more about their work to benefit autism treatment and research, and to make a small donation.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Sean Kelly for a great conversation and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Adam Ezra

Pull up a chair for a captivating conversation with Adam Ezra!
Adam explains just how his activism took root and the critical role it plays in his music and career. He describes what he sees as the two most important missions of his hugely popular summer music festival, The Ramble (now in its’ 15th year). And what an AMAZING army of volunteers The Ramble has witnessed! Want to know Adam’s nickname for himself? And perhaps the career path he would have chosen if he hadn’t become an outstanding musician and community organizer? It’s here! We get to hear Adam describe the thoughts and emotions behind his latest song. He identifies his heroes (off the top of his head and in no particular order). Adam offers an update on the latest activities of The Adam Ezra Band (his “bandies”) and we get to hear his thoughts on fans streaming his music (DO IT!).  
Visit the Adam Ezra Band website at adamezra.com
And, please visit RallySound (rallysound.org) to learn more about their work to end veteran homelessness and to make a small donation.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Adam Ezra who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Peter Holsapple and Paul Rock

Pull up a chair for a high-energy visit with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Peter Holsapple, and Wild Honey Founder, Paul Rock. We can hear their shared passion for music and supporting autism treatment and research throughout the conversation. We get behind-the-scenes details about how the upcoming dBs shows (November 16-17, 2024) were coordinated and booked. Peter enthusiastically recounts his memories of previous Wild Honey events… as well as an early visit to Los Angeles when the streets were filled with ghosts and goblins. Peter also remembers other early dBs benefit shows. Paul fills us in on his most memorable Wild Honey tribute show – the time that Brian Wilson’s limousine pulled up to the venue (which inspired Alex Chilton to play, too). Paul shares the incredible story of his son, Jacob’s, symphony, Unforgettable Sunrise. Both men speak about their early, shared record store days and their roles today in trying to affect change for others. It’s a busy time for both of our guests and we loved spending time with them!
Visit the dBs website at dbs.com and Peter’s blog at halfpearblog.blogspot.com. And remember… Peter releases an album, The Face of 68, on January 17, 2025.
Please visit Wild Honey Foundation (wildhoneyfoundation.com) to learn more about their work and to make a donation.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Peter Holsapple and Paul Rock who are out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Seth Glier

Pull up a chair for a visit with singer-songwriter, producer and activist, Seth Glier. I’m willing to bet that you’ll at least consider some time outdoors by the end of our conversation – and that would be just fine with Seth. We learn about Seth’s nine-year-old experiences with activism and recognize very quickly that the stage was a natural transition point for the advocacy work he was already accomplishing in his youth. Seth tells us about a rare and fascinating exchange when a Mongolian vocalist became his teacher. We discuss some key environmental issues that Seth has learned which helped to inform his stellar 2024 album, Everything.  Today, through his music, daily practices, citizen science and regular explorations this talented multi-instrumentalist is uncovering new worlds and taking us along. He’s got an exciting late summer/fall and continues to approach these possibilities with gratitude, curiosity and empathy.
Visit Seth’s website at sethglier.com (check out his SOLUTIONS page and PATREON for excellent information).
Please visit Soul Fire Farm (soulfirefarm.org) to learn more about their work and to make a donation.
During our conversation, Seth mentioned the Sunrise Movement (sunrisemovement.org), Operation Respect (operationrespect.org), Trout Unlimited (tu.org) and the How to Save a Planet Podcast with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Seth Glier who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Jason Chapin

Pull up a chair for a rare look back at the professional and humanitarian life of Harry Chapin! His son, Jason, joins us for a fascinating examination of his father’s life and how it impacts our world today. Jason recounts his dad’s early career in making films, Harry’s career in music, his partnership with Bill Ayres, his role on the Presidential Committee on World Hunger and his history of philanthropy. Interspersed are Jason’s memories of playing sports with his dad. Jason identifies what might be the defining moment in Harry’s career – not only to propel his dad toward million-selling record sales but allowed him to focus on helping others. We discuss what recent anti-hunger development might have pleased Harry. Finally, Jason takes us from the beginnings of the Harry Chapin Foundation to its impact today in awarding over four hundred grants to small organizations around the country. Please visit the Harry Chapin Foundation at harrychapinfoundation.org to learn more, to listen to Harry Chapin Radio and to make a donation. Jason mentions how Diet for a Small Planet (Frances Moore Lappe) influenced Harry’s work.
Hear more rare conversations at Compassionate Measures dot org and invite another music friend to pull up a chair. Join our community on Facebook or Instagram. Thanks always to YOU for listening, to Jason Chapin whose family is still out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.