Mori's Rock Boutique The New Album From Chicago's Refestramus

According to OK! Magazine, “If music were a rom-com, Ashley Paul would be the dazzling lead with a killer soundtrack, high heels, and a microphone made of stardust. From heartbreak anthems to glittering disco-pop bangers, Ashley is that rare combination of power, poise, and pure pop magic.”Ashley was discovered in a Hollywood mall at six years old, toured the disco circuit at 8, and broke out as a teen with her top 20 Billboard charting hit “When Boys Cry.” Fast forward to today and Ashley Paul is building an international fan base for her dance floor gems. Her recent hit “Bingo Baby” generated well over a million streams and her newest releases – including her latest single “Finding Rhythm” – are DJ favorites with regular airplay on Sirius-XM’s BPM and Utopia. Ashley also received praise for her stand-out live performances including last year’s Chicago PrideFest and Glasgow Pride.Recently named a top artist to watch by both NY Weekly and LA Weekly magazines, Ashley has also gained attention for her hit collaborations. Her single “Dance U Gotta” -- co-written and produced by Lucas Marx who has written for Carrie Underwood and Katy Perry -- is a blend of upbeat rhythms and emotional undertones. “Body Language” -- produced by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum record producer Joel Diamond -- is a sizzling, sexy, high-energy anthem.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Right now, Americans are feeling the strain as health care costs climb and coverage becomes harder to secure. With enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies now expired, many are seeing higher monthly premiums, greater out-of-pocket responsibility, and stricter eligibility requirements.Business Insider reports that enrollment has dropped in multiple states, forcing many families to change or even drop their coverage. In addition, the Kaiser Family Foundation warns that these shifts are putting added financial pressure on households.With higher costs and fewer insurance options, many people are rethinking how they manage their health this spring and summer. These seasons are traditionally focused on preventive care, allergy management, immune health, travel wellness, heat-related risks, and back-to-school preparation. This year, routine visits are being delayed or skipped, leaving many to turn to self-care and natural health options, often without clear guidance on what is safe and effective.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

I’m CT…  When I’m not busy being Arroe the podcaster, I live in the real world.  Everybody has to have a job.  Mine is C.S.  Customer Service.  Solutions, relationships while keeping my team motivated to keep a constant connection with each guest who’s chosen to stop their day to visit our location.  Episode 218 Fuggly Christmas sweaters, Western Union con jobs and the art of eating bad food.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Does the average person remember more of their bad times then good?  Plus…how can we retrain our brains to take note of having a good time?   I’m Arroe…  I am a daily writer.  A silent wolf.  I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate.  I call it The Daily Mess.  A chronological walk through an everyday world.  Yes, it’s my morning writing.  As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later.  When a subject arrives, I dig in.  It’s still keeping a journal!  By doing the research the picture becomes clearer.  This is the Daily Mess…  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Trailblazing country music artist Ty Herndon is opening his heart like never before with the release of his memoir, What Mattered Most (On Sale: March 31, 2026; Dey Street Books). In this candid and inspiring book, Herndon pulls back the curtain on his unprecedented career-one marked by triumphs in the spotlight and battles behind the scenes. With unflinching honesty, he shares his struggles with addiction and mental health, the groundbreaking decision to become the first openly gay male country superstar, and the resilience it took to endure more than three decades in the music industry. Woven throughout are moments of his trademark humor, warmth, and hard-earned wisdom, offering readers a story not just about survival, but about choosing hope, authenticity, and love against all odds. "Writing What Mattered Most has been one of the most vulnerable and rewarding experiences of my life," said Herndon. "This book is my truth-the highs, the heartbreaks, the lessons, and the love that have shaped me as a man, an artist, and a survivor. My hope is that in telling my story, others will find the courage to embrace theirs, no matter how messy or beautiful it may be."Herndon's career began at the Opryland theme park as a member of The Tennessee River Boys, the group that would later evolve into hitmakers Diamond Rio. After signing with Epic Records, Herndon skyrocketed to solo fame in 1995 with the chart-topping single "What Mattered Most," the first of his seventeen Billboard charting hits. Yet behind the scenes, his life was no fairy tale. Confronting addiction, mental health struggles, and the weight of hiding his true self in a traditionally conservative industry, Herndon s journey was anything but easy. His path wound through an arrest, marriages, lawsuits, secret relationships, and a devastating relapse in 2020. The breaking point came on New Year s Day 2021, when he nearly ended his life-a moment that led to intensive rehab and, at last, the chance to confront and release the traumas that had haunted him for decades. Out of those darkest hours emerged a renewed sense of purpose, first expressed in his most personal song, God or the Gun," and now revealed with uncompromising honesty and depth in his memoir. In these pages, Herndon offers not only a window into his private battles, but also a story of resilience, redemption, and the hard-won healing that comes from choosing to live-and to live authentically."For thirty years, I've told pieces of my story through my music and my words - but this book has given me the chance to tell the whole truth," said Herndon. "This book isn't just about the music; it's about the journey, the struggles, the faith, and the people who shaped my life. I hope readers walk away knowing that no matter where you've been, you can still write a new chapter - and that's what matters most." More than a memoir, What Mattered Most is a testament to survival and transformation. Herndon lays bare the trials that shaped his life and the strength he discovered in moving through them. By sharing his path with openness, he offers readers a story meant to connect, encourage, and light the way for anyone seeking renewal in their own lives. "This book is my heart on the page. This book is about the boy I was, the man I became, and the grace that carried me through it all. I hope my story reminds someone out there that they're never alone - and that there's always a way forward. Life has a way of knocking you down, but it also gives you a million reasons to get back up," said Herndon. "What Mattered Most is my story of falling, rising, and finding purpose in the journey. If this book inspires even one person to keep going, then I've done my job."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Refestramus return this week with their third studio album, “Morri’s Rock Boutique,” a nine-track release scheduled to be on all streaming media this March 20, 2026, via Melodic Revolution Records.Prog UK calls “Morri’s Rock Boutique” “enjoyably vibrant and hooky.”Echoes and Dust praises the album’s “cinematic landscape with its surrealistic wonders, ghost-town amusement parks, and the haunting ghost that spooks the location”!Powerplay writes the album features “Grown up prog full of Great musicianship and songwriting.”The order link for the album on digital and CD is refestramus.bandcamp.com/album/morri-s-rock-boutique “Morri’s Rock Boutique” charts a path through collapse and illusion toward clarity—where the joke turns serious: right and wrong still exist, and you still answer to them.A concept album about surviving the absurd—emotionally, spiritually, and politically— “Morri’s Rock Boutique” moves through storms of loss, collapse, and memory toward moments of humor, tenderness, and human connection. Blending folklore, mental health, myth, and modern life into an eclectic progressive-rock soundscape, the record explores the fragile beauty of becoming: not perfection, but refinement.Across the album, each song presents its own vignette. “Storms” frames a human life like a thunderstorm—powerful, beautiful, and temporary. “The Lucky Ones” nods to the Sermon on the Mount’s upside-down blessings and features Crack the Sky guitarist Rick Witkowski. “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” (feat. Lynx of Old Blood) plays like a David Lynch noir—dreamlike, unstable, and haunted by the question of what’s real and what’s remembered—until the only way out is forgiveness.“The Cossack’s Dream,” featuring Kansas electric violinist Joe Deninzon, is Refestramus’ English-language adaptation of a traditional Slavic song. “Lakeview Samurai” is a surreal character sketch set in Chicago—part satire, part fever dream. “Hell or NYC?” features Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist David Jackson, leaning into the album’s vertigo and dark comedy.The record’s culminating epic, “Deathless,” draws on Slavic folklore’s Kashchey the Deathless—a figure who feeds on conflict and feels at home in the smoke of war—unfolding as a three-part suite: “Above Volokov’s Mill,” “Goodbye, America!,” and “And He Always Will.”“Morri’s Rock Boutique” is produced by Ian Beabout, mostly in Dan Bozek’s studio at Aardvark Productions in Steubenville, Ohio. The group Refestramus is a Chicago-based progressive rock project blending literate songwriting, political reflection, and classic prog influences. Led by Derek Ferguson (songwriter, drums), Refestramus features Jan Christiana (vocals/keys/guitars/bass) and Dyanne Potter Voegtlin (keys/vocals) of Octarine Sky, with Mitch Lawrence (saxophones, clarinet). (The CD edition includes two bonus tracks not available on streaming or vinyl.) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

When it’s extremely difficult to make up your mind.  Having the power of choice can actually weaken someone.  On this episode we’re going to explore our choice to stay full time at work or go the way of contract employee.  What are the pluses and minuses of both choices? I’m Arroe.  Life is a series of choices.  Who decides when you’re not making it the right choice?  Is it the fear of going wrong?  The greatest lessons in life are often lost inside hidden away attempts and concepts.  It’s time to reopen your heart. Having a choice is a daily gift.  On this highway we learn to trust mirages… What is the choice?  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Seasons speed past us beyond how light is measured. How would you best explore this thing called spring? Is it the birth of or the rebirth of?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

All it takes is one school raising its hand. When a school identifies the need, the Max Rhymes Foundation activates its network to secure funding for books and classroom supplies — whether for a single K–2 classroom or an entire district. The Max Rhymes Foundation currently has funding to adopt additional schools…especially under-resourced schools in large metro areas, allowing entire communities to be reached at once. Teachers can sign up directly at www.MaxRhymesEducators.org to access and download resources immediately. More information is available at www.MaxRhymesFoundation.org.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

The cut of your jib? How are you putting on display your sails? What's guiding you? How is the cut of your jib?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.