#34 - Effortless Self-Mastery - Kenny Werner

Cofounder of The Lazuli Collective, Brandon Holman is an avid mental health and wellness advocate with a true passion for supporting artists, creatives, labels and executives in the music and entertainment industry. In this inspiring episode Richard and Brandon talk about the stresses of the music industry, Brandon's involvement on the cutting edge of music- related tech, how Brandon was fired from Snapchat which ultimately led him down the path of mindfulness, meditation and sobriety, how the Lazuli Collective has focused on diversity in the meditation and wellness communities, his wellness and mental awareness center at The Coachella Music Festival, his work with the BIPOC community and BIPOC wellness practitioners and much more.   Follow BrandonInstagram @b_clutchInstagram @lazulicollective_ Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune https://www.richardwolf.net/Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Kenny Werner is a world-renowned pianist, composer, teacher and author from New York. His first book, Effortless Mastery has sold over 150,000 copies. He is currently the artistic director of the Effortless Mastery Institute at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Werner is a Guggenheim Fellowship Award recipient for his seminal work, No Beginning, No End, and has performed with numerous jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Lovano, Chris Potter, Ron Carter, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette and Toots Thielemans. In this enlightening episode, Kenny shares his path to the concept of effortless self-mastery to lift musicians and artists to their highest level of performance. Richard and Kenny talk about Kenny’s time in rehab with a bonafide hitman, learning to stop questioning how you sound when playing your instrument, and how to let go of  your expectations along with much more. This is a packed episode with great mind and body concepts and insightful meditative practices to better performance and life. LINKS: Website :  https://kennywerner.com/ Stay in touch :  http://eepurl.com/hveRMf Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/effortlessmastery/Video: https://youtu.be/k-gpIIFUjYs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBnYgcmSJG8   Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune https://www.richardwolf.net/Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Elena Brower is a meditation and yoga teacher, artist, bestselling author and host of the popular Practice You Podcast. In this episode she talks about a Buddhist approach to yoga, how the blockchain can inaugurate greater independence and financial rewards for artists, how web3 can foster community, the relationship between creativity and mindfulness, and the three tenets of socially engaged Buddhism as practiced by the Zen Peacemakers. We also discuss how meditation can alleviate negativity and enliven positive emotions, the art of attention and our shared love for Thich Nhat Hahn and other meditation teachers. https://elenabrower.com Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune  https://www.richardwolf.net/ Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Dr. AZA Allsop is a Resident at the Yale Department of Psychiatry, multi-instrumentalist deeply rooted in the experience of music from the African Diaspora and first-generation American from Trinidad. He is currently researching the effects of music and mindfulness as tools that help enhance empathy, social justice, health equity, and wellness. In this episode, he shares some initial findings on his research from The Music + Mindfulness Study,what neuroscience tells us about these practices, his mission to bring these practices to underserved communities,  and his personal experiences with panic attacks. He and Wolf also explore the crossovers of science and spirituality, what we can learn about meditation from jazz music, mindfulness as a social justice tool, quantum physics and expressions of consciousness. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune  https://www.richardwolf.net/ Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

In our final episode of 2021, Richard Wolf gracefully guides us on a journey through music and mindfulness - exploring how the two practices are inextricably linked and support one another, why it’s the basis of this entire podcast, and why so many successful musicians are drawn to meditation. Richard shares the story of how he got into meditation, and eventually came up with the idea for his book In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness. He also shares a powerful comparison between legendary DJ Avicii and iconic electronic musician Moby, and how mindfulness can be the difference between life and death in the music industry - an industry plagued by The Four Horsemen of The Musical Apocalypse. The episode ends with a look into Richard’s upcoming musical project, Ambient Soul: The Pleasures of Peace, an album of Hip-Hop and R&B inspired meditation music designed to inspire you to listen to your own inner music. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune  https://www.richardwolf.net/ Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Valerie June is a singer-songwriter from Tennessee known for mixing the musical styles of folk, blues, gospel, soul, country, psychedelica and bluegrass. Her music has appeared on “The Best of The Year” lists from both The New York Times and Rolling Stone, and received public admiration from Bob Dylan. She is the author of a book of poetry and drawings, Maps of The Modern World, and an experienced practitioner of meditation and mindfulness. In this expansive episode Valerie shares the emotional experience of touring and the mindful practices she uses on (and off) the road. Her and Richard also discuss gratitude, mantras, the power of the breath, and dealing with the four horsemen of the musical apocalypse: depression, anxiety, suicidality and addiction. @thevaleriejunehttps://valeriejune.com/ Follow us on Instagram @wolfintunehttps://www.richardwolf.net/Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Orville Heyn is a professional singer, producer, composer, actor, teacher and mindfulness practitioner. He has worked as a vocal coach in film and television on programs like The Next Star, The List, and The Love Guru. Previous students of his include Mike Myers, Jessica Alba and Telma Hopkins. On this episode, Orville dives into his powerfully unique approach with vocalists: The Singer’s Body. He shares the story of creating the program after beginning his relationship with vipassana meditation, and how his practice is based in similar ideologies and perspectives. He and Richard also talk about finding equanimity in the face of fear and change, the importance of improvisation, and interpreting the messages our body’s communicate to be your own best teacher. Stay tuned for the end of the episode for a guided demo in Orville’s Vocal Resonance exercise. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune https://www.richardwolf.net/Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

In this episode the noted neuroscientist & and mindfulness researcher Dr. Rael Cahn compares and contrasts the impact of long term mindfulness meditation practice and the acute effects of the psychedelic drug psilocybin on perception, attention and brain activity. We also discuss awareness practices, transcendence, binaural beats, how meditation works in the treatment of depression and addiction, and the future of mindfulness and psychedelic research.Dr. Rael Cahn is an MD/Phd and assistant clinical professor with the USC Department of Psychiatry. He also has extensive personal experience as a meditation practitioner and mindfulness teacher. His research dives deep into the neuroscience of meditation and altered states of consciousness. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune https://www.richardwolf.net/Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

Dr. Chayim Newman holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has spent years of his life training in and practicing mindfulness and meditation. Dr. Newman co-founded the Tour Health Research Initiative (THRIV), the leading organization dedicated to conducting research on health and mental health in the touring music industry, and serves as the primary clinical advisor to Backline.Care. In this episode we talk about the reasons behind the music industry’s mental health crisis, the unique stressors of touring professionals and how meditation is a promising remedy. Dr. Newman introduces us to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and explains how it is used to deal with anxiety. We also talk about self-worth, finding self-worth in the everyday, existentialism, and Dr. Newman’s inspiring story of getting into mindfulness. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune  https://www.richardwolf.net/ Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com

In this episode we are delighted and honored to talk with musician, mystic, and laughter meditation teacher, Laraaji. He has been described as a pioneer, legend and icon of the New Age/Ambient music scene. His innovative approach to the zither, piano and vocals is considered ground-breaking in the field.We talk about the rising popularity of ambient music, selective awareness, the nonlinear and extra-dimensional nature of music, meditation and time; the therapeutic and spiritual qualities of laughter; and the blurred lines between music and mindfulness - how both practices deepen the other, and deepen our awareness. Laraaji also tells the story of his humble beginnings busking on the streets of New York, to being discovered by Brian Eno, and to now creating his own commercially successful music with the biggest names of The New Age. Follow us on Instagram @WolfInTune  https://www.richardwolf.net/ Read "In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness" https://tinyurl.com/tz67aqm  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wolfintune.substack.com