It's the end of Series 1 and it leaves us reflective about the profound impact of our journey. This intimate exploration of music's healing power has not only touched listeners but also transformed us.

Throughout the series, we welcomed artists and guests who bravely shared their personal stories of struggle and resilience. These conversations, often lasting hours, revealed the depth of human experience and the universal nature of our challenges.

Despite the technical difficulties, the series has already reached more listeners than anticipated. Even if we only reached a few hundred people, the project would have been worthwhile as the impact on both us and everyone involved has been immeasurable.

A striking revelation is the diverse ways we all cope with trauma and daily challenges. "Nobody needs fixing." Instead, our guests highlight the importance of creating safe spaces where we can express ourselves openly and honestly.

We hope the series also shines a light on the crucial work of charities like Nordoff and Robbins and Youth Music UK. These organizations provide vital support and opportunities for vulnerable individuals, using music as a powerful tool for healing and self-expression.

We’re considering the possibility of a second series and eager to hear from you about what worked well and what could be improved. The intimate, in-person format of the first series created a unique atmosphere, but we’re open to exploring new possibilities.

We’ve learned valuable lessons about vulnerability, the power of sharing stories, and the universal language of music. "Songs save people." This encapsulates the heart of the ‘Three Songs that Saved You?’ podcast.

Of course we want to thank everyone involved – from the guests who shared their stories to the listeners who tuned in. They've all created a body of work that will resonate and inspire long after the final episode.

This adventure serves as a testament to the healing power of music and the strength of the human spirit. It reminds us that we're not alone in our struggles and that through sharing our stories and connecting through music, we can find solace, understanding, and hope.

Spotify Playlists

The Songs that 'Saved' Them
Guest's Music

Contact

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism

Youth Music
Nordoff and Robbins

CI Circles - Online support groups for 18+

Urgent support?:

• Samaritans 116 123 for 24-hr conf emotional support
• CALM 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men in the UK.
• CASS 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) women conf/anon support.
• PAPYRUS 0800 068 4141 for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds 85258 for 24/7 support. Text YM to 85258....

We are delighted to introduce Dave Norgrove, a talented singer songwriter who also happens to have a long standing background working in mental health in a variety of settings. We spent precious time with him in this episode, exploring the profound impact of music on mental health. Dave shares his journey through music, from his early influences to the songs that have shaped his life, particularly during challenging times. The conversation delves into the emotional connections formed through music, highlighting how certain songs can provide solace and understanding during difficult moments. Dave reflects on the significance of artists like Bob Dylan, The Clash, and Nick Cave, illustrating how their music resonated with his experiences and emotions. In this conversation, Dave is good and kind enough to share personal experiences and insights as he discusses his admiration for Nick Cave, his own struggles with addiction and anxiety, and the therapeutic power of music in both personal and professional settings. He is quick to emphasize the importance of creativity, vulnerability, and the healing process and to highlight how music can foster connection and emotional expression. We are extremely grateful for his candor and authenticity and are super proud of this episode.

Music:

"Fool to Cry" by The Rolling Stones
"Stay Free" by The Clash
"Brompton Oratory" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Find Dave Norgrove:

Dave Norgrove on Spotify

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

Adam has to be the least assuming musical talent we know and perhaps have ever met. His humility is profound and his musical gifts have served many well known artists, enriching and fortifying their greatest songs. He is a uniquely attuned and brilliant guitar player and his own sublime body of work, the album ‘Let It Go’, has so far largely gone unnoticed by the mainstream. It’s the kind of music, like the man himself, that will soothe your system and we've no hesitation in saying that his songs are certainly classics, as yet uncovered.

Adam was generous enough to share, candidly, just how music has been a steady support for him personally, throughout his life and today. A very private man, he rarely gives interviews, so we were thrilled that he took the time to join us on this episode of the podcast.

Adam shares his early musical influences, the role music played for him during his emotional struggles and how songwriting is an outlet. The conversation also delves into the shared experiences of listeners and artists alike, emphasising the importance of music to promote emotional healing. He reflects on the specific songs that affect him deeply and was wide open to share important moments and experiences of music, evoking feelings of connection and understanding and how that helps, when life gets really hard.

Music:

"Weary Blues from Waiting" by Hank Williams
"Simple Twist of Fate" by Bob Dylan
"One Step Up" by Bruce Springsteen

Find Adam:

"Let it Go" (album) by Adam Phillips

Wikipedia

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

Elijah is a man of so many talents that he shares with us and all, in so many ways. First and foremost he is an immensely gifted songwriter and we are blessed to call him our friend. He's also the host of podcast 'Songwriting for Songwriters' and has met much critical acclaim with his band 'The Gravity Drive'. We got into deep conversation about his path and the profound impact music has had on his own creativity and emotional wellbeing. His self awareness and his courage to make himself vulnerable in this setting with us, gifted us a wonder-filled exploration of his earliest musical memories (some REALLY early!) and his journey into songwriting as well as the heart that he has for mentoring other songwriters.

Unafraid to delve into the emotional connections that music has fostered in him, the challenges of navigating creativity amidst mental health struggles, and the role of vulnerability in his artistic expression, Elijah offers up the phenomenal songs that have saved him and speaks to how these tracks continue to make him feel.

He brings home how important the therapeutic power of music is and the significance of finding safety and neutrality in the creative process.

Music:

"Number 9 Dream" by John Lennon
"Daydreaming" by Radiohead
"Star Sail" by The Verve


Find =ELIJAH=

The Gravity Drive
Songwriting for Songwriters
The Songwriters Handbook

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

At 23 years old, TUUDI is expressing and creating with an innate passion. She brings an ocean of vulnerability as fuel for her direction. Her music, simply put, is an immersion, a journey through all human emotions. We have deep appreciation and gratitude for her openness and undefended nature, which brings this episode home and speaks to some very real challenges felt by many young people, as well as us all... Those of loneliness, isolation, feeling different and music as escapism. It's been such a privilege to get a glimpse into her inner world and some of her reasons 'why?' A true artist, launching her first solo record, she has so much to share.

Beginning with her early memories of playing music and improvising on the piano, TUUDI talks about the influence of artists like New Order, David Bowie, and Bjork and how their songs have helped her express her emotions and escape from difficult times. Her debut solo album 'Villlain in Pearls' includes themes of fatalistic love stories, mental health, self-expression and escapism, creating a safe space through music and the power of vulnerability in her work for listeners to be able to connect with their own experiences.

Music has been important to TUUDI since her very early childhood and it became a way for her to express herself and escape from difficult times. Now, through her own music, she is challenging societal expectations and providing a voice for those who feel like outsiders.

Music:
"Elegia" by New Order
"Life on Mars" by David Bowie
"Undo" by Bjork

Find TUUDI:
On Spotify
On Instagram
On YouTube
On TikTok
On Facebook

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

My word, SO many brilliant bumper sticker quotes from this episode. Si has a way of speaking in metaphors, painting pictures in our minds. Listening to him talk, as well as perform, is to be hypnotised & transported. His profound life experience offers rare perspectives on situations that we all face, in our own unique ways, drawn from his own life lessons, bringing hope & possibility to the darkest corners. He is our dear friend & his music is unimaginably beautiful.

Si Connelly is a phenomenally gifted musician & songwriter. He shares his journey of emotional expression, the challenges of being an artist & the therapeutic nature of music. He views music as his own form of therapy, expressing & processing his emotions through writing & performing, acknowledging the impact of his challenging early years on his art. Si's own childhood traumas deeply influence his expression & he talks about the impact of trauma on creativity, as well as the struggle that many artists face; the challenge of balancing the demands of everyday life.

Si speaks candidly of his own experiences & insights into mental health, identity, his own creative process and how his music serves as a form of escapism, allowing him to confront & process difficult experiences.

He reflects on the power of stillness & the need to acknowledge & feel emotions, despite our fears, delving into the emotional & psychological aspects of being a 'creative', & the challenges of self-expression. Emphasising the importance of self-acceptance & purpose, beyond mainstream success, in the music industry & anywhere else... Confronting the big question that we all at times ask ourselves; "what's the point?"

Music:
"Music and Me" by Michael Jackson
"Ambient Two" by Brian Eno & Harold Budd
"I'd Like to Know" by Supergrass

Find Si Connelly:
On Spotify
On Instagram
On YouTube
On Patreon

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

We were all pretty nervous while preparing for our first real guest interview until we jumped in. Dan was so enthusiastic for this project. Such a talented man and wide open to share his experiences. He tells his stories with generosity and courageous vulnerability, while also talking about some of the deepest parts of the queer experience: open relationships, shame, promiscuity and HIV. His songs explore what it means to be so vulnerable in an uncertain world.

Casablanca's music matters, for all that it stands for. Anthemic songs, bold and extremely catchy. Hear them in the episode and check him out on Spotify and YouTube. What his intentional art delivers is worthy of everyone’s attention.

Music:

"Wonderwall by Oasis"
"Pure Morning by Placebo"
"Malamente by Rosalia"

Find Casablanca:

Casablanca on Instagram
Casablanca on YouTube
Casablanca on Spotify

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.

Hello! So happy you're here with us!

This is a bit of a sneak preview... We're putting this episode out ahead of all the others just to test the systems and not telling anyone. It gives us a couple of weeks for the remaining song licenses to come through and for the two of us to hide a little longer. If you've found this, please be kind... it get's better... really!

We've never before talked to each other while being recorded and, while having no idea how what we are doing will be received, actually wondering how we even got to this point of sharing it with you all. It's surreal!

Episode Zero is a little sample of what to expect coming up, although we will be showcasing our guest's music going forwards so that makes this 'Music & Trauma Lite' we might say, not even, actually.

Here's to a smooth launch and an enjoyable listening experience for whoever shows up. Thank you lovely human, just for being here!

Music Links

The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel

Somebody - Depeche Mode

Summary

The Music and Trauma podcast is hosted by us, Chris and Teri Potter, and we explore the intersection of music and mental health. We interview artists and guests in our back garden studio, about the three songs that saved them and talk about the power of music from an emotional standpoint. We are all about connection and shared experiences, and hoping to remind every one of us that we are not alone in our struggles. We're sharing stories all about the importance of music in expressing and processing emotions, and our amazing guests are going to be telling their own, personal stories about how it's been there for them, providing comfort and support, joy and uplift and all the other stuff in between.

Takeaways- totally AI :)

The Music and Trauma podcast explores the connection between music and mental health.

Artists and guests share the three songs that saved them and discuss the power of music in navigating trauma.

The podcast aims to create a sense of connection and remind listeners that they are not alone in their struggles.

Music can provide comfort, support, and a means of expressing and processing emotions.

Sound Bites

"Maybe it might help a few people."
"Music seems

Get In Touch

info@musicandtrauma.com
www.instagram.com/musicandtrauma
www.facebook.com/musicandtrauma

Altruism :) - if you like what you hear, please consider supporting these hard-working charities

Donate to Youth Music
Donate to Nordoff and Robbins

In crisis, or require urgent help or support? - there are people you can call:

• Samaritans on 116 123 for 24-hour confidential emotional support
• CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight) support men anywhere in the UK.
• CASS on 0808 800 8088 (Mon - Thu from 7pm-10pm) for women looking for confidential and anonymous self-injury support.
• PAPYRUS on 0800 068 4141 (Weekdays from 10am-10pm, Weekends from 2pm-10pm, Bank Holidays from 2pm-5pm) for confidential advice and support.
• Young Minds on 85258 for 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258.