Summer can be a tricky time for working moms. Our school-aged kids are out of school, everyone’s schedules are out of wack, and life as we know it goes a little haywire.
In this episode, Jaime and I talk about our plans for this summer and how we tackle this time of year in order to stay productive, keep everyone happy, and have fun (a tall order, we know).
In case you haven’t listened to my most recent episodes of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast, here’s my big news: I have a new co-host!
Jaime Lawrence, a fellow music therapist and mama of 3 from Jackson, Michigan, has officially joined me on the podcast, and I’m so excited to introduce her to you.
When I came up with the idea for the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast (in the shower, where all my good ideas manifest) back in December 2014, I couldn’t wait to make it happen. No matter that I was 5 months pregnant and already running 2 businesses — I had a goal.
The podcast launched just a few weeks later in January 2015, and I was off to the races. For that first year, I faithfully released a new episode every single Friday…including the week my daughter was born. I kept up this pace until I couldn’t anymore, and started making changes in my life for my own mental and emotional health.
Unfortunately, it was Guitars & Granola Bars that took a backseat to my other work priorities, though I always intended to come back to the podcast when I was ready. There were a couple times when I tried to make another go of it, but it wasn’t meant to be. Until now.
It’s hard to believe almost an entire year has gone by since launching this podcast. I have loved getting the opportunity to interview 48 amazing guests and learning so much about parenthood and music therapy along the way.
But in accordance with my motto for 2016, I’m taking some time off from the podcast before launching season 2. Knowing this would be the last episode for a while, I reached out to someone who I greatly admire as a clinician, business owner, and person in general. I was thrilled when Jamie George agreed to be my final guest of season 1, and as expected, this is one of my favorite interviews yet.
Jamie talks candidly about the premature birth of her son and how it affected her, providing music therapy to him in the NICU, and life as a business owner after becoming a mom in Episode 48 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Jamie, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode. And so that I can better plan Season 2 of the podcast, please take just a minute to answer 4 quick questions.
I met Gretchen Chardos Benner a couple years ago when we sat down for coffee at the AMTA national conference in Jacksonville, Florida. We talked about private practice, having kids, and life in general — we had a lot in common!
Gretchen gave me great advice back then, as she was a few years into the parenting game already and I was brand new to it. She shares some of that advice and much more in this week’s podcast episode.
Gretchen talks about following in her sister’s footsteps to become the second music therapist in her family, pursuing her masters degree while working full-time, and how she makes music with her family at home in Episode 47 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Gretchen, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This week’s podcast guest didn’t start out as a music therapy major — or even a music major — in college. She actually began her undergraduate career as an engineering student, but eventually made the switch once she discovered music therapy.
Her math, science and engineering courses would later come in very handy, as you’ll hear in the episode. Ginny Driscoll has one of the coolest jobs of all the music therapists I know.
Ginny talks about her work as a music therapy researcher, pursuing her PhD while raising two girls, and how she includes her daughters in her self-care practices in Episode 46 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Ginny, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This is the book + course that will help you shape your music therapy career in order to make more money and live your ideal lifestyle. Details here.
