We shouldn't let our fears for the future outweigh our ability to see and experience human kindness. I was presented with a comic by Atlanta based illustrator Corey Thomas today about the weirdness of being black after the current election ( Here is a link to the comic ) and it reminded me of the fear that is seeping into many Americans. In this po…

With the process of packing for an impending move I am forced to reckon with the physical and psychological weight of my possessions. I realize that this weight is with me all of the time, even when I'm away from the actual stuff. There has to be a way to reduce this weight to allow ourselves to be more agile and feel freer. Ownership and possessio…

What is the role of music in the political discussion? What defines a protest tune? What makes for an effective political song? These are the main points of discussion on this episode of MHP. M. Lockwood Porter joins me in the studio to talk about his new album and our influences in the world of political music. His new album "How to Dream Again" t…

Welcome Mental Hygienists! This episode came out of a question that I put to my friend Sean. What is Innovation and are we mislabeling it as a society? We start out talking about Technology and move into music and arts. We discuss what is and isn't innovative (in our opinions) and how mislabeling things as "innovative" or people as "genius" has det…

Leonard Cohen was and is a big influence of mine. His use of the english language and mixture of darkness with beauty helped to shape my world view and writing at a pretty young age. His recent passing came at a time when we need his music more than ever in this dark and beautiful world. I sat alone on election night drinking wine and his song "Eve…

Welcome to the Mental Hygiene Podcast. I intend to use this as a way to talk about things that are important to me. Art, music, songwriting, self improvement, and to just have some conversations with friends and colleagues. These podcasts will vary from one to the next, some will be on songwriting and music appreciation, some will be on creativity,…