Compassionate Measures Podcast

Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti are SIRSY. This husband and wife duo play heartfelt and soulful electric folk rock in almost two hundred shows a year across the country. Their songs are compelling and relatable with lyrics that leave listeners feeling empowered and resilient. Critics say that Melanie has “one of the most powerful and flexible voices you’ll ever hear” while Rich masterfully plays a well-loved and road worn Rickenbacker and sounds like three guitarists all on his own. The Boston Globe calls Sirsy “The little band with the big sound.” Fans call them “the little band with a big heart”. During our conversation, Melanie and Rich share insights of optimism, generosity and gratitude. They discuss the impact on them by working alongside musicians and fans who are collectively making the world a better place. And they offer a few brilliant tips about remaining hopeful and grateful during difficult times. The sheer number of charities, benefits and causes that Sirsy has supported will amaze you. They specifically discuss their annual work with The Keys Program and their next event with the organization in December. We talk about songs that connect an audience; whether it’s an exquisitely performed song by another artist or Sirsy’s own stirring “Brave and Kind”. The couple describes their process of crafting songs – quite often from their personal experiences. Listen in to a little game of “How Well Do You Know Your Touring Partner” (where they both win). We learn about upcoming Sirsy projects – tour dates this fall and studio time during the winter months. We get an idea of ways that WE can support Sirsy: Go to a show. Watch a live stream. Join the mailing list on their website. Follow the band of Facebook and Instagram. Stream Sirsy songs wherever you listen to your music. Finally, we delve into Sirsy’s relationship with their amazing community and get to hear what that group means to Melanie and Rich. Check out Melanie and Rich’s website at sirsy.com. Learn more about The Keys Program at thekeysprogram.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their very important work. Steve Lont’s own Sirsy Fancast can be found on your streaming platforms. For more information, visit the podcast’s page at facebook.com/sirsyfancast Every Sirsy show is a celebration of life for this couple and their fans. Come join us in that celebration! 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 Melanie and Rich for being musicians who are changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair for a message of hope and truth from Crys Matthews. Her profound message might just enable us to hang in there, and continue the good fight. Crys describes her invitation and the experience of opening the Artists United for Our Freedoms Rally. She discusses the beginning of her songwriting career with one inspirational night and a well-deserved award in Boone, North Carolina. The first lyric she wrote – amazing! She goes on to offer a few awesome tourism suggestions for the city. Crys eloquently provides her definition of a social justice music maker and later, a community. She takes us through her catalogue from 2025’s Reclamation album to April’s release of two songs – Citizen and Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. We’re gifted with an intimate look at Crys’ intentionality and songwriting process. She offers insightful truths when asked about the importance of hope in today’s world. Crys shares, “When we hope for better, we fight for better” and reminds us that today’s social justice heroes were ordinary people who were concerned about what was happening in their communities. We all have the power to be ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And, you guys… as Crys’ mom teaches us, “all things work together for good”. Crys supports The Remix Way who is doing heroic work for Nashville residents' immigrant neighbors.    Visit Crys’ website at crysmatthews.com and check out her amazing Patreon offerings. Learn more about The Remix Way at theremixway.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their hard 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 Crys Matthews for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair for some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of Eric Hirshberg’s amazing music (and, perhaps, a few life lessons to consider). Our conversation with Eric begins as we learn about his service to nonprofits through his own organization, Will Work for Change. Later, we get to hear about his support for the XPRIZE Foundation and the impressive work that they are doing. Eric explains the interesting stories behind three of his incredible songs, It’s Hard to Be a Human Being, For Real, and More Is Not the Answer. That third song, More Is Not the Answer, came out the day after we spoke! The lyrics were inspired by the mere minutes that Eric and his family had to evacuate their home during last year’s fires in Los Angeles. Eric shares the story of meeting Aloe Blacc, developing their songwriting collaboration that brought us For Real, then performing it on Live with Kelly and Mark. Yes, Kelly Ripa did proclaim that their song “sounds like an anthem”! Eric describes how his family responded to the long days of Covid19 and recouped some power and a bit of positivity during the experience. There’s a lot of great information about shifting one’s mind throughout our talk. Eric mentions Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning. Finally, we get to hear just how good Activision’s former CEO is at Guitar Hero. Yea, it’s here! We end our conversation with a trip down Memory Lane to discuss Eric’s favorite adolescent albums. YOU remember… vinyl, album design and liner notes were the best!   Visit Eric’s website at erichirshbergmusic.com And learn more about the XPrize Foundation at xprize.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their world-changing 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 Eric Hirshberg for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair for an amazing story that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. A few short years ago, at the age of 34, Miist unearthed her own extraordinary musical gift. In a very short time, she became the first native Chinese artist to break into Billboard’s Top 25 Adult Contemporary chart. Her 2024 debut album, The Songs from the Living Room, was executive produced by legendary hitmaker Narada Michael Walden (who suggested that they work together)! Miist has also collaborated with Andrea Bocelli’s creative partner, Mauro Malavasi. Amazing, right? Miist’s anthem, “Could You Lend Me a Smile,” was recorded in 15 languages across five continents, featuring artists with a combined 60 Grammy wins and nominations—a feat that earned a world record for most languages used in individual music videos released simultaneously. Miist's global nonprofit, the World Smile Initiative, is built on the belief that music, storytelling, and community can help combat loneliness and disconnection. Founded to support her vision, its mission is simple: to bring smiles back into everyday life. In our conversation, Miist explains the genesis of the initiative and details its current project. We hear Miist describe her professional journey of the last three years in only one word. She discusses believing in oneself and the importance of being of service in our world. She helps us to understand how her musical career and her journey of self-discovery align. Miist not only raises important issues in her music but also offers solutions that each person can do. You’ve GOT to check out what she tells us about the mind blowing Compound Effect, and how each one of us can change the world in just over 33 days! Keep your eyes and ears open for Miist’s newest release, Love Will Show Us Our Way, on March 13th. We cannot wait to see what is next for this talented artist! You can visit Miist’s website at miistthesinger.com And learn more about the World Smile Initiative at worldsmileinitiative.org. Please consider making a small donation to support their incredible 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 Miist for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair for an exciting conversation with Marc Broussard on the day before he releases his fifth charity album! Marc explains the process of releasing SOS V– Songs of the 50s from its earliest beginnings to some pretty big changes mere days before its recording. He describes what he’s feeling at this moment of the project. He offers a wonderful explanation regarding how Love of People, the benefactor of this project, supports others. Marc goes on to detail how his collection of five charity albums came to exist. And he describes his own feelings of being blessed by the release of his charitable recordings. Marc gives us a glimpse into the differences between recording a record for charity and recording his original projects. Hear how his upcoming album of original material (currently due on April 18th) was created and the record number of songs that Marc wrote for it in three days! He enthusiastically tells us about his upcoming tour in Europe and the United States, and how the set list is developed. Marc speaks with great love about his parents, his wife and his community (and lets us in on a little fact about a local grocery store). He might just be the first Compassionate Measures guest to offer a hometown restaurant recommendation! Finally, Marc explains how that music-making legacy continues in the Broussard family. You can visit Marc’s website  at marcbroussard.com Spread the word about Mark’s 2026 projects (two records and the tour)! You can learn more about Save Our Soul Foundation at marcbroussard.com/charity-1. Please consider making a small donation to support their amazing 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 Marc Broussard for being a musician who is changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair for the handbook on guiding top-notch organizations that will change the world! The daughter of Noel "Paul" Stookey (of Peter, Paul & Mary), Liz Stookey Sunde is the CEO of the national nonprofit Music to Life, which she co-founded with her father. Music to Life empowers artists across genres and geographies to become sustainable social entrepreneurs. Through leadership and entrepreneurial training, Liz helps musicians strategically connect with communities facing persistent economic, environmental, or racial injustice. Alastair Moock co-founded The Opening Doors Project – an organization that amplifies voices of color and advances interracial conversations about race through the arts. Through live concerts, storytelling, and education programs, they bring communities together to explore race, identity, and history in a way that only music can. From classrooms to concert halls, their artists create spaces where tough conversations turn into meaningful connections. Alastair recounts the concert that changed his life as a young person and identifies the legendary folk musician who ultimately became his North Star. Liz describes a particularly memorable and humorous Peter, Paul and Mary concert from her own youth. Alastair informs us how bias and racism are perpetuated unknowingly without malice and why he respectfully declined his second Grammy nomination. His insights about examining bias and teaching it to youth of all ages is by far one of 2025’s greatest lessons. Following Alastair’s comments – and even before describing Music to Life’s incredible work – Liz reminds us that her organization carries out its mission to support world-changing artists like Alastair. Music to Life has a network of 400 artists in 42 states and 300 communities who cover 39 music genres. They come to Music to Life with a burning interest to facilitate change. The organization supports artists to recognize and own their worth in today's social change marketplace. Both Alastair and Liz consider The Opening Doors Project and Music to Life as their life’s work. You will be blown away by their shared wisdom, dedication, passion and heart! You can visit Music to Life at musictolife.org and sign up for their mailing list. Visit The Opening Doors Project at openingdoorsproject.org and please consider making a small donation to their groundbreaking efforts. 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 Liz Sunde and Alastair Moock for their transformational work and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair because Dr. Don Carleton is here to tell us how the Tom Campbell/ Guacamole Fund archives will forever have a home and serve as a part of our nation’s history. Tom Campbell (1939-2024) is considered by many to be the “grandfather of the benefit concert,” virtually inventing the idea of bringing together musicians and activists to create memorable and often historical events. For over 50 years, Tom and his team organized and produced over 1200 benefit concerts, rallies and receptions for a wide range of issues. Bonnie Raitt has proclaimed that “no one has done more to raise funds and awareness than Tom.” Dr. Carleton is the founding Executive Director of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas-Austin. The Briscoe Center recently acquired the Guacamole Fund’s archives (correspondence, photographs, press releases, benefit concert posters, t-shirts and items unique to Tom’s work) for the Tom Campbell and Guacamole Fund Collection. We learn how the immense collection was acquired, how the amazing display was created and how documents can be utilized by scholars at the Center. The public is invited to view the collection, with details available on the Center’s website (briscoecenter.org)! Dr. Carleton explains to us why the benefit concerts of the late 1970s through 90’s might be impossible to replicate today. He further describes other incredible items at the Dolph Briscoe Center. We’re talking about 18 linear miles of rare items in all! You might not have been a history buff before you pulled up a chair… but you’ll appreciate history by the time our conversation with Dr. Carleton is complete. Please consider a small donation to the Guacamole Fund (guacfund.org) to support Tom’s vision. They do such good and important 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 Dr. Don Carleton for preserving our history of music inspired activism, and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair to hear from Ellis Paul, a guitar-carrying reporter who covers the human condition and details the hopes, loves, and losses of those he observes, turning their stories into luminous pieces of music that get under your skin and into your bloodstream. He is the founder and co-host of the New England Songwriter’s Retreat which supports songwriters with all levels of experience through a variety of workshops, concerts and 1-on-1 coaching. We learn how the David Glaser Songwriting scholarships offer financial support to several of the students who apply. Ellis identifies the song for us that he is most proud of writing. Then, he does smashingly well during a lightning round of Traveling Songwriter Geography. Ellis mentions the book, Woody Guthrie, A Life (by Joe Klein) before recounting his own feelings about Woody and first visit to Okemah, OK through his relationships with the Guthrie family. He fills us in on all the amazing facets of the ninth annual New England Songwriters Retreat (newenglandsongwritersretreat.com) which offers instruction, inspiration and community. He provides strategies for singer-songwriters and, I promise you…, his advice for tackling performance nerves will further explain why Ellis Paul is a veteran artist held in such high regard. Ellis describes working with Caffe Lena’s TrueSongs program (https://spac.org/events/truesongs-2024-lyrics-of-life) and his experience this year partnering with veteran, Troy Huggard, who received support from Alliance 180 (alliance180.org). Finally, Ellis explains why he enjoys performing at benefit shows. Check out Ellis’ website (ellispaul.com) where you can find everything you need like his Patreon page, tour dates and recordings, Retreat information and the vacation trips that he leads. 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 Ellis Paul who’s out there changing the world and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

Pull up a chair to learn JUST what it takes to host a highly successful music festival! Kim Ansin (President) and Tom Donaruma (Vice President) of RallySound are here to discuss The Ramble in Ashburnham, MA and their amazing community of volunteers. We get to hear how music fans are working together to literally change the world during this day of music, fun, food, art, and information. Last year, Ramble 15 got 151 of our veteran heroes into safe and dignified housing when it raised $151 thousand for the New England Center and Home for Veterans! Kim and Tom fill us in about music bringing people to the festival while the feeling of community, empowerment and wanting to do a little good turns them into Ramble volunteers. How would it feel to hear that you’ve just raised $151 thousand with your community of music friends and are changing veterans’ lives? It’s all here in our incredibly inspiring conversation with Kim and Tom. Please consider a small donation to RallySound (rallysound.org) or the New England Center and Home for Veterans (nechv.org).   Get your Ramble ticket at getrambled.com The festival will be held this year on Saturday, August 23rd. It’s held every year on the weekend before Labor Day and I’ll smile your way when we’re both volunteers. 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 Kim Ansin and Tom Donaruma for their amazing work with RallySound and to Chris Downey for putting it all together.

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.