Compassionate Measures Podcast

Sit Down with Martyn Joseph

Pull up a chair for a wisdom-filled conversation with Martyn Joseph! With a career spanning over 40 years, Martyn (sometimes referred to as The Welsh Springsteen) has 27 studio albums, over half a million record sales and has given thousands of concerts. Martyn takes us back to his earliest recollections of hearing protest songs - long before he started to craft excellent ones of his own. He chronicles a history of life-changing philanthropic experiences and charitable work before forming Let Yourself Trust, with his wife, Justine. Martyn describes Let Yourself Trust’s (letyourself.net) unique model and excellent mission – filled with heart and commitment - for funding small charities that are often underfunded. Martyn’s fans are very much involved in supporting the charities selected by Let Yourself Trust and even offer suggestions of other deserving organizations to Martyn as he tours. He details the power of his group volunteer trips and is filled with pride by the travelers’ determination to go back to offer additional support in their own ways. One of the biggest take-aways from this conversation is hearing Martyn’s insights about today’s world, his gratitude for a place in it and his appreciation for his audience. Martyn released his "masterful and career defining" (Fatea UK) album, This Is What I Want to Say, earlier this year. Visit Martyn’s website at martynjoseph.net to check out his music, videos, tour schedule and Patreon.
Please consider a small donation to Let Yourself Trust to support their 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 Martyn Joseph who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Jake Thistle

Pull up a chair for an enlightening conversation with Jake Thistle! Jake chronicles his musical career which indeed began with Tom Petty’s half time performance at Super Bowl 42 and continues with Jake supporting Mike Campbell’s animal rescue organization, The Tazzy Fund – Rock the Dogs (tazzyfund.org). Along the way, Mike has even gifted Jake a beautiful 1964 guitar! We hear Jake’s behind-the-scenes story about the hottest ticket in New Jersey, The American Music Honors. Jake discusses his other affiliations with the American Cancer Society (another long philanthropic history) and WhyHunger. He talks about his favorite songs of activism and social justice. Finally, we get the run down on two very interesting sounding courses at Rutgers University from this very busy college student. In 2023, Jake released The Half Left Out and keep your eyes open for his live album coming out this summer! Jake is hitting the east coast so be sure to check out his website (jakethistle.com) for all of the dates. Please consider making a small donation to The Tazzy Fund (tazzyfund.org) and WhyHunger (whyhunger.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 Jake Thistle who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Mark Erelli

Pull up a chair for a dynamic conversation with Mark Erelli! Mark supports the Foundation Fighting Blindness and explains the organization’s importance in relation to his own diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Then, Mark takes us through the creation of his incredible 2023 album, Lay Your Darkness Down. Mark received one of the best reviews we’ve read for his previous album, Blindsided (and it’s in his introduction). We’re fortunate to hear a full behind-the-scenes account about the writing, recording and gifting (to Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence) of Mark’s moving song, By Degrees. The song was nominated as Song of the Year at the 2019 Americana Honors and Awards. This host believes the song deserves new attention to make it into the universal anthem it's meant to be. Visit Mark’s website (markerelli.com) for music, tour dates and especially his amazing Patreon. Please consider making a small donation to Foundation Fighting Blindness (fightingblindness.org) or Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence (giffords.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 Mark Erelli who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Antje Duvekot

Pull up a chair for a heartfelt conversation with Antje Duvekot - one of the most honest and sincere first conversations I believe I’ve ever experienced. Through her beautifully detailed descriptions, Antje transports us to Guatemala and to the Project Somos Children’s Village. She shares what it’s like to volunteer with her there and how visitors experience rewards equal to (or greater than) those provided to the residents. Antje offers a vision of her life as an active singer-songwriter. And she shares her values... which align remarkably and perfectly with years of stellar reviews. If you’re lucky, you can see Antje on tour and do check out her Patreon (antjeduvekot.com). Please consider making a small donation to Project Somos Children’s Village (projectsomos.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 Antje Duvekot who is out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Eileen Chapman

Pull up a chair for a fascinating conversation with Eileen Chapman – Director of The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University (springsteenarchives.org). This episode will leave you ready to jump in the car and head for the Jersey shore. Eileen has a rich history in arts management, volunteerism and getting the job done. Eileen tells us how she got the Bruce Springsteen collection (now 15,000 pieces and includes Bruce’s personal papers) to Monmouth University. She shares Bruce’s philosophy that he is but one chapter in the story of American music and many more artists should be recognized through the Center for American Music (opening in Spring 2026). Eileen fills us in on an incredible exhibit that will be in Bruce’s portion of the Center – and you heard about it here!
Finally, we are given a detailed account of the 2024 American Music Honors from one of its organizers! On April 24th, the sold-out (in less than three minutes) ceremony honored John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples and Dion DiMucci for their careers, activism and promoting opportunities for change. Each honoree performed a song during their portion of the ceremony before everyone took the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime finale.
Please consider making a small donation to The Bruce Springsteen Archives and the Center for American Music’s building fund or day-to-day archive expenses. You will see the GIVE tab at the top of the website.
Hear more 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 Eileen Chapman for preserving and providing these musical treasures, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Chavonne Stewart

Pull up a chair for a truly inspiring conversation with vocal instrumentalist and philanthropist, Chavonne Stewart. Chavonne chronicles her journey from high school student to becoming a featured background singer on stages across the world to an amplifier of young girls’ dreams and aspirations. Listen in as she details all of the ways her nonprofit organization, Exposher, supports young women in underserved communities. Chavonne explains, with great passion, what she has learned from her own heroes and through her faith. With the voice of an angel, a heart of gold and the energy of a fireball Chavonne Stewart is going places… and you’re going to want to follow her!
Please consider making a small donation to Exposher (exposherinc.org).
 
Hear more 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 Chavonne Stewart who’s out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Antigone Rising

Pull up a chair for an insightful conversation with Antigone Rising (antigonerising.com). You will hear pauses as Nini, Cathy and Kristen determine who will respond to questions and their spot-on answers leave us so much better informed. They describe how their roles as US Cultural Ambassadors (with hints of Beatlemania) led to their own nonprofit, Girls Rising. (Girls Rising (Official Trailer) Antigone Rising Nonprofit Gender Equality (youtube.com)) We learn how Girls Rising is very present and intertwined with the direction of the band today. We receive an education about the harsh realities for female bands and the differences in promotion between them and male counterparts. Finally, I asked the members one question – perhaps, related to activism - and was gifted with three amazing life lessons. By the end of our conversation, you will be amazed by the impact Nini, Cathy and Kristen are making for girls, LGBTQ youth and all of us. Please consider making a small donation to Girls Rising (girlsrising.org).
Hear more 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 Antigone Rising who are out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Sit Down with Stephen Kellogg

Pull up a chair for an intimate conversation with singer-songwriter, Stephen Kellogg (www.stephenkellogg.com) as he discusses his regular support for pediatric cancer charities. Listen in as Stephen presents four ideas that encourage us to understand ourselves, to act for what is important and to maintain a hopeful outlook. Stephen mentions how he’s passing along the importance of charitable giving to his own family. Finally, we’ll hear what’s coming up next for this wordsmith, TedX speaker, family man and troubadour. Please consider making a small donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital (www.stjude.org). Hear more 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 the incredible Stephen Kellogg who’s out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Compassionate Measures Trailer

Welcome to The Compassionate Measures Podcast! Join us at the intersection of music and charitable giving for an intimate conversation with philanthropic singer-songwriters. We share a deeper look at the person behind the music, what moves them to take action, and opportunities for you to get involved too!
Hear all of our 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 all of our guests who are out there changing the world, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.