Podcast
Artistry with Heart: A Musician’s Wellness Podcast
Hosted by Stephanie Lynne Bernards · EN
Artistry with Heart is a show that goes beyond the curtain and into the musician's mind.
Through the stories of musicians, performers, and educators, Artistry with Heart navigates the complex themes of finding the courage to be vulnerable, and understanding what it means to create with compassion and authenticity, while creating resources that aims to inspire all creatives and make music accessible to all.
The show is hosted by Stephanie Bernards, and is produced and edited by Vic Billones.
Available on all platforms with new episodes every first Thursday of the month
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We are building a support community for creatives. Putting yourself out there takes courage, and this podcast was created to help support you! If you have any questions or stories you’d like to share, email artistrywithheart1@gmail.com.
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11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Healing and Overcoming ft. Allison Sky
4w ago00:38:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Allison Sky, singer‑songwriter, chronic Lyme survivor, and mother, to listen to her remarkable story about illness, recovery, and reclaiming creativity. After decades of unexplained symptoms she was diagnosed with chronic Lyme Disease at 23 and found life-changing results with a treatment called LymeStop. Allison’s upcoming EP Behind This Smile turns postpartum struggle, brain fog, and long seasons of doubt into songs of resilience and hope. Key themes: Chronic Lyme disease: Diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and the limits of standard testing LymeStop recovery – an alternative treatment that helped clear co‑infections Mental health & postpartum depression: Navigating motherhood while healing, brain fog, anxiety, depression, and their physical roots Music as medicine: Songwriting, performance, and using art to process trauma Performance anxiety & the inner critic: Practical mindset shifts for artists “Move out of your own way”: Overcoming victim thinking and taking small, brave actions Resilience & purpose: Turning hardship into creative momentum and community Tune in for an honest, hopeful conversation that reminds us hard times can change us for the better — and that taking the next small step matters. Find Allison at allisonskymusic.com or as Allison Sky Music on all social platforms. ------------------------------ To schedule a free Body Mapping consultation, click here ------------------------------- Artistry with Heart is a small, independent show hosted by Stephanie Bernards and produced by Vic Billones. Each episode is made with love – and tons of heart. This podcast was created for you: the dreamer, the artist, the one still figuring it out. If it's added something to your day, we'd love your support. ☕ Buy us a coffee
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Guided by Dreams with Mallory Cooke
Apr 200:42:29Tap to summarizeOn this episode, I sat down with my sister, Mallory Cooke – a soulful Seattle musician. We dug into what it actually takes to use your voice — literally and emotionally. We talked about play, dreams, and the awkward bravery of sharing something raw. Her song “Guides” closes the episode and landed like a punch to the heart. Key themes: • Stepping into your voice: singing is literal embodiment — Mallory shares how getting in her body helped her stop hiding. • Play first, judge later: trying new instruments and dream-journaling opens surprising ideas without pressure. • Honesty over comfort: she strips a song down to just her voice on purpose — it’s risky, awkward, and necessary. Listen to “Guides” on Bandcamp https://dwarfstarmotel.bandcamp.com/track/guides-demo Follow Mal on Instagram - @dwarfstarmotel For more resources, visit https://www.patreon.com/ArtistrywithHeart1 and stephaniebernards.org/artistrywithheart/wellnesshub ——— Artistry with Heart is hosted by Stephanie Bernards, and is produced and edited by Vic Billones. We are building a community for creatives. Putting yourself out there takes courage, and this podcast was created to help support you! Support the show: • http://buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart
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Honoring Our Legacy with Kyshona Armstrong
Mar 500:50:29Tap to summarizeKyshona is a Nashville-based musician, music therapist, and activist whose powerful work bridges music, healing, and social impact. This episode is deep-dive into her 2024 album, Legacy, which explores ancestry, generational trauma, and the work of healing through song. Kyshona talks bout therapeutic songwriting—turning participants’ journal entries into songs—and shares powerful stories about music as empowerment for incarcerated people, elders in memory care, and communities in recovery. She dives into the inspiration behind the track “Carolina,” the role of genealogy in reclaiming family stories, and offers practical advice for artists to align with a mission-driven practice and use their gifts in ways that are trauma-informed and community-centered. Learn more at kyshona.com and yoursong.org ------------- Artistry with Heart is hosted by Stephanie Bernards, and is produced and edited by Vic Billones. We are building a community for creatives. Putting yourself out there takes courage, and this podcast was created to help support you! Support the show: patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart
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Roses from the Vault ft. Gale Bird
Feb 500:44:21Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Artistry with Heart, I sit down with Charleston-based trio Gale Bird. Josh, Melissa, and Sean share how their songwriting is shaped by marriage, long-term friendship, parenthood, creative doubt, and the constant work of choosing authenticity over performance—both in art and in life. Their original song featured at the end of the episode, Roses, was written from a place of deep heart and honesty—a reminder that tomorrow is never guaranteed, and that love is meant to be expressed while we still have the chance. Throughout our conversation, we explore: Balancing family, friendship, and music without sacrificing what matters most How songwriting can become a grounding force during anxiety, conflict, and uncertainty Why vulnerability is what truly connects us to each other Learn more about Gale Bird Support Artistry with Heart: patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart More resources at stephaniebernards.org
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Holiday Special: Music as Belonging ft. Voices Unlimited
Dec 400:20:32Tap to summarizeIn this special holiday episode, Artistry with Heart celebrates Voices Unlimited, a Portland-based choir, serving adults with special needs while also creating opportunities to socialize and form friendships in a safe, positive environment. You’ll hear from founder Ben Landsverk and from the students themselves as they share what music means to them—joy, purpose, friendship, and having a place to truly belong. This conversation shines a light on the importance of arts access, inclusive music communities, and the healing power of singing together. If you’re looking to support a meaningful nonprofit this season, Voices Unlimited is doing beautiful, life-changing work through the arts. Donate to Voices Unlimited: voicesunlimited.net ------------------------------------------------- Support Artistry with Heart: patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart
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Sharing Our Inner World Through Music with Rachel Taylor Brown
Nov 600:43:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Artistry with Heart: A Musician’s Wellness Podcast, Portland-based singer-songwriter Rachel Taylor Brown shares her journey from classically trained soprano to DIY indie artist known for her darkly poetic, genre-bending sound—what critics once called “creep rock.” Rachel reflects on her early years balancing ear training and sight-reading, overcoming imposter syndrome in acclaimed vocal ensembles like Capella Romana, and ultimately carving out her voice as a songwriter and self-produced artist. She opens up about how music became both therapy and truth-telling, with albums that document emotional and societal change—from grief and burnout to Portland’s cultural evolution. This candid conversation explores the intersection of creativity, exhaustion, and gratitude, offering insights for any musician navigating burnout or creative recovery. Rachel shares how focusing on serving the song helps her quiet performance anxiety and reconnect with purpose. The episode closes with her hauntingly beautiful track “Anemone”—a meditation on love’s sting and surrender—featuring Ben Landsverk on viola and backing vocals. racheltaylorbrown.bandcamp.com/ Support Artistry with Heart: patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart
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Laying Burdens Down with Miko Marks
Oct 200:51:44Tap to summarizeCountry-soul artist Miko Marks has lived many lives—child of gospel, Carnegie Hall soloist, mother, and trailblazer in country music. After a 14-year hiatus, she returned with a renewed sense of purpose, channeling her ancestors, her struggles, and her joy into music that heals and liberates. In this conversation, Miko opens up about resilience, faith, and becoming a vessel for spirit and song. mikomarks.com stephaniebernards.org Support Artistry with Heart: patreon.com/aristrywithheart1 buymeacoffee.com/artistrywithheart
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Shaping Musicians' Wellness with Dr. Spencer Hartman
Sep 300:50:09Tap to summarizeWhat if music education put wellness first? Dr. Spencer Hartman shares how authenticity, wellness, and joy can reshape music education. In this episode of Artistry with Heart, host Stephanie Lynne Bernards sits down with Dr. Spencer Hartman — flutist, educator, pianist, and passionate advocate for musicians’ wellness. Spencer shares his late start on the flute, his journey from a small state school in Pennsylvania to earning a DMA at Texas Tech (where he now serves as Assistant Professor of Flute), and his mission to support the next generation of musicians. Together, they explore: 🎶 Spencer’s unconventional path to the flute and academia 🌱 Why musician wellness must be prioritized alongside artistry 🧘 How body mapping, yoga, and movement practices shape his teaching 💡 Challenging outdated academic norms with authenticity and joy 🌍 His vision as president of the Association of Body Mapping Education Spencer’s story is a reminder that music education can be rigorous and human — creating a sustainable, supportive path for artists to thrive.
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Unmasking the Artist with Katie Jacobson
Aug 600:51:23Tap to summarizeVocalist and interdisciplinary artist Katie Jacobson shares a powerful journey of creativity, chronic pain, and late-in-life autism diagnosis. From early jazz training to stepping away from music school and eventually returning on her own terms, Katie reflects on how injury, burnout, and masking shaped—and ultimately deepened—her relationship with music. Her honesty and insight offer a moving reminder that healing and artistry are deeply intertwined.
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Dream Country Disco: A Genre of Her Own with Megan Diana
Jul 900:51:52Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you let go of the rules and make music that feels like you? In this episode, Megan Diana opens up about her journey from classical training to pioneering her own genre: Dream Country Disco. From playing in hotel lobbies to founding her non-profit, Piano Push Play, and writing an album while isolated in a cabin, Megan shares what it means to create with heart, curiosity, and courage. Whether you're an artist, a dreamer, or someone who’s ever felt stuck between genres or expectations, Megan’s story will remind you that magic happens when you give yourself permission to explore. -------------------------------------- Megan Diana is a singer, songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, pioneering a new music genre: Dream Country Disco. She is also the founder of Piano Push Play, a Portland-based organization that since 2013, has been working with local piano companies to rescue old pianos and transform them into works of art for the world to enjoy. Her debut album, Woman in My Head, was released in 2018, but it was her sophomore album, Cabin Fever, that gave birth to the genre she is pioneering today. Megan Diana is currently on tour all over the US. https://www.megandiana.com/
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