 Tanya Simpson is a best-selling author and dynamic speaker whose expertise is preparing and empowering high-potential professionals to become impactful leaders at the next level. Her debut book, Up from the Water, is already receiving praise from reviewers around the world. Tanya is an attorney, a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), and a Certified Professional Life Coach. In her twenty-five years of leadership in the legal and financial services industries, she has developed and implemented organizational change management strategies to lead teams through restructuring and merger and acquisition activity while successfully maintaining employee engagement and retaining top talent. Tanya holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a JD from Florida State University. She also holds Product Strategy and Strategic Change Management certificates from Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) and a Mergers and Acquisitions certificate from Columbia Business School. Tanya lives in the small mountain town of Twain Harte, California, with her Belgian Malinois dog, Sequoia, and tuxedo cat, Zoe. Up from the Water explores themes of resilience and personal transformation. What inspired you to write this story? The inspiration for writing Up from the Water is not unique to me. So many of us wake up one day and look around our careers and our lives, or something happens to upset the applecart, and suddenly we get this unshakable feeling that we are not doing what we’re called to do. We might not even know exactly what that is, but we know for certain that this isn’t it. What’s worse is that we have no idea how to get from over here to over there without going all the way back to the beginning to start over, and at this point in life, that’s a long way back! Up from the Water is the story of my journey. My hope is that each person who reads it will find something in the book that touches them and inspires them along their own unique journey into and up from the water. The title of your book is evocative and symbolic. What does "Up from the Water" represent to you? Most of us tend to live our lives on the surface level, especially in a modern, Western culture that is dominated by social media. While we project a public façade of having it all together, most of us privately sojourn through life feeling hopelessly lost. Through weathering life’s storms, we’ve been dismasted, our sails have been shredded, our rudders have been broken, we’re taking on water, and we find ourselves adrift, tossed about at the mercy of wherever the currents and prevailing winds take us. It is only when we are willing and brave enough to cut the tether to our broken boats, jump overboard, and dive fully beneath the surface, leaving behind all of the lies that we’ve been told and the lies that we’ve told ourselves about ourselves, that we can emerge above the water and rise into the identity of who each of us is uniquely called to be. The narrative delves into overcoming adversity. What is your advice to others when trying to face past demons and personal traumas? If you want to rise up from the water, it is imperative that you first dive into the water and deal with all of the deep things that are hidden in the water below. You might be down there a while, and that’s okay. Take as long as you need to wash away everything that is no longer serving you and leave those things in the water. it is only then that you can break free from a life lived on the surface and truly rise up from the water. What message or feeling do you hope readers take away after finishing Up from the Water? Up from the Water was really written to be a gift. My purpose for writing Up from the Water is that there will be something in here that speaks hope to each person who reads it – and that’s likely going to be something different for everyone. If there’s someone out there who’s feeling a little adrift or a little lost or who just needs a hand to grab hold of, my prayer is that Up from the Water can serve as a lifeline for that person to reach out and to know that there’s someone who’s been there who can help them to rise up and step into the fullness of their own unique calling journey. Writing a book often brings its own challenges. What was the most rewarding or surprising part of your journey in writing this memoir? Writing Up from the Water has been an unexpected privilege along an unlikely journey. Of course it brought a great sense of accomplishment, but it was also quite humbling, and suddenly very real. You see, Up from the Water is a memoir – it’s my story and it’s a very personal story – and once your story is published, it’s pretty much out there for all the world to read! Tanya, what's next? I’m doing a lot of keynote speaking these days, as well as coaching and consulting. As a keynote speaker, I share strategies that empower and equip leaders and professionals to embrace and leverage change with grace and integrity to maximize both their own potential and the potential of their teams. As an executive coach and career transition consultant, I guide seasoned leaders and high-potential professionals to step into the fullness of their God-given power to successfully navigate pivotal career moments and achieve next-level success. Whether they’re stepping into a new leadership challenge, navigating an unexpected career event, or pivoting to an entirely new path, I offer individual coaching, group programs, and immersive VIP experiences to help my clients identify their calling, capitalize on their superpowers, and accelerate their transition into an impactful career role. Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/46oD2vc
0 Comments
 Melissa Pharr is a professional spiritual medium, mom, wife, and businesswoman. She didn’t pop out seeing dead people as a kid (at least not that she can remember) and never imagined running a business as a spiritual practitioner. She now sells out mediumship development circles, mediumship readings, and courses of all kinds, bringing peace and closure to those who sit with her and a down-to-earth and straightforward approach to mediumship for aspiring mediums. Mel has studied residentially at the Arthur Findlay College in Essex, UK, and continues her studies via tutors, mediumship development circles, and trainings with the Arthur Findlay College and the Journey Within Spiritualist Church. You talk about being able to communicate with Spirit “whenever you choose.” What does that level of connection look like for a developing medium? I think of it as expanding your level of awareness of the Spirit World. I believe we're constantly guided and surrounded by the Spirit World in different ways. For a developing medium it's about learning to become attuned to the language of Spirit via the clair senses that we all have. When spirits speak to us it's via thoughts that don't feel of us. They come in subtle whispers and seem fleeting often, which is one of the reasons we don't always recognize that Spirit is speaking to us. Whenever we choose, we can focus our mind on the subtle impressions or messages that the Spirit World might be sending by clearing our mind and paying attention to any gentle inklings. When I was in my first mediumship class and said "I don't know what I'm getting from the Spirit World" my first mentor responded with, "If you did know, what would you say?" I started sharing all kinds of details about a woman who had passed from diaphragmatic cancer and the information was all accurate. It's wild how passive and overwhelmingly subtle spirit communication is. Your Mediumship Development Framework focuses on five key aspects of mediumship mechanics—can you walk us through what those are and how they accelerate growth? The five aspects of my Mediumship Development Framework are: Becoming a Clear Channel, Spirit Communication and the Clairs, Confidence, Community, and Command of Craft. Becoming a Clear Channel is all about preparing ourselves to be as clear and accurate as possible with our spirit communication. Things like meditation, an exercise called Sitting in the Power, and even what we eat, drink, our emotional and mental health, and the energy in our physical space all can affect how unbiased we are when we read as mediums. Mediumship has a large element of interpretation, so I tell my students that the more baggage they have in any of these categories, the more biased they may be in their readings. Communication and the Clairs is about learning the language of Spirit. I teach my students exercises galore to practice developing their clear seeing, clear hearing, clear knowing, clear feeling, clear tasting, and clear smelling. These are all ways that Spirit can send us a thought via these senses. Confidence is so very important in many aspects of life and in mediumship it's a must. A medium must have confidence in themselves and in Spirit, especially due to the subtle nature of spirit communication. I give my students exercises that force them to become more confident by ignoring distractions and learning to focus more intently on their connection and awareness of a passed spirit they are linking with. Community is important because many mediums don't have people to talk to about their work who understand. Even if they feel supported by friends and family, it's important to learn and grow with other mediums and with high quality mentorship. Watching how unique each medium is gives other mediums a sense of liberation in terms of developing in their own unique way. Having people to practice with and learn from is essential. Command of Craft is about being strategic in terms of how you develop. I tell my students that part A of Command of Craft is about regular weekly practice giving a reading or many. Experience truly is one of the best teachers. Part B of Command of Craft is about identifying one or two aspects of your mediumship and designing specific practices to improve that aspect over a 90 day period. Many mediums wander into development circles practicing a little of this and that here and there but don't hone in on specific aspects and therefore get stuck in the same ways each time they work. Focusing on each of these five Cs has been very powerful for my own development and for my students' development. Many mediums fear the dreaded “nothing’s coming through” moment. How do you coach people through those challenging sessions without letting it derail their confidence? During classes I'll watch and "link in" when needed. This means that I'll connect to the same spirit that they are communicating with. I coach them to "lean into the impression" from the spirit by holding the thought in their mind and then allowing it time to unfold. This can happen when their clairs begin to work in conjunction to sense more things about the thought that a spirit has sent. Additionally, the more relaxed we are the clearer our mind and when we hold a thought in our mind, the next impression from a spirit often follows and helps to put more of the pieces together. If they are still stuck it's usually due to nerves. I'll coach them to relax with some kind of physical cue. Then I'll begin receiving impressions and sharing them to help my student sense the communication once again and get back into it. You share a lot of mediumship ‘hacks’ in your book—what’s one of your favorite go-to techniques that really shifts the energy in a reading? I absolutely love cycling through the clairs. There may be a time when you receive a spiritual impression and the meaning puzzles you. I teach my students to ask themselves, "What do I see?" "What do I hear?" "What do I feel?" "What do I know?" "What do I smell?" "What do I taste?" This helps them to understand more information about the thought and expand their awareness and ability to allow their clairs to work in conjunction to derive the proper meaning. Your book emphasizes FUN—why is playfulness so important in what can be a deeply emotional or even intimidating practice? Joy is one of the highest vibrations and to connect with a spirit, you must raise your vibration. We often think of spirits as only peaceful and even solemn, but spirits are fun and funny too. I bring through jokes and humor often during readings. The moment we let fear or anxiety take the wheel as mediums the more difficult it is to connect with a spirit. You mention how to manage “multiple spirits” in a reading—what does that look like in practice, and how can a medium avoid becoming overwhelmed? It is difficult for some mediums to sense or know that multiple spirits might be present. I was unaware of this when I began, but as you attune to Spirit, it gets easier. Now I am aware from the beginning of a reading if I have multiple spirits and I can often sense how many and who they are, but not always. When you have brought through a recognizable spirit and the sitter understands who is present, but then they suddenly stop recognizing the information you're bringing through, that is often a sign that you've got multiple spirits and may be attributing the details of one spirit to another. At that point I coach my students to set a one at a time boundary and to pay attention to the spirit they sense stepping forward. What are some signs that a medium has hit a development plateau, and how do your teachings help break through it? The number one sign is that you're bringing through the same kind of evidence in the same old ways. I had a student once who when I gave them an exercise to try said, "That's not how I do it. I don't use that clair much." The second we get stuck believing there is only one way to work for us, we often limit ourselves. You’ve created a reputation for being incredibly generous and transparent with your methods. Why was it important for you to include so much detail in this book? I'm a teacher. My job is to help others succeed and it's about that simple. Why wouldn't I want to give all I can to make this practice easier for others? The best teachers and leaders aren't threatened by the success of other people because they know that when everyone grows we all win. Mediumship is such a beautiful thing that does so much good and we could all use more of that I think. For someone brand new to mediumship, what’s the very first step they should take to build confidence and connect accurately with Spirit? Start a regular practice of sitting in the power and notate what comes to you during your time. Find a development circle with a supportive and encouraging culture to help you grow. What has been the most unexpected or powerful piece of feedback you’ve received from a student using your framework? They've told me that understanding how mediumship works and breaking down specific moments of a reading in class has helped them develop their understanding of spirit communication and the clairs and increased their confidence so much. In addition, students love the communities that I create. Visit Melissa on her website:
https://www.mediumshipwithmel.com/ Join Melissa on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/melissapharr6figures Follow Melissa on Instagram: @mediumshipwithmel Subscribe to Melissa's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@mediumshipwithmel LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/When-Spirits-Speak-Melissa-Pharr/dp/B0F63TLZPP/  Christina Nylese is a Holistic Health and Recovery Coach who empowers others through her personal journey of transformation. After facing challenges such as homelessness, alcoholism, disordered eating, and codependency, Christina discovered a holistic path to healing—one that helped her reclaim her life, find purpose, and live with abundance. With raw honesty and deep insight, Christina shares how the mind and body hold the innate power to heal when given the chance. Her work is a compassionate guide for anyone ready to overcome personal struggles and embrace a life of balance, empowerment, and true well-being. You share so vulnerably about your own battles with addiction, perfectionism, and codependency—what gave you the courage to turn your personal journey into a book? I’ve always been open and transparent about my alcoholism, but not so much about my other addictions with food, relationships and perfectionism. Until I was writing the book I didn’t even realize these were parts I hadn’t healed yet. Once it started to flow out of me, I never gave a second thought as to whether or not to share about it, because I have always felt that keeping my secrets doesn’t serve me or those who are suffering in silence. You describe your book as both a memoir and a guide. How did you strike the balance between telling your story and offering actionable tools for healing? It was actually pretty easy and came very naturally. I think I’ve always had a “natural healer” part to myself, and that became obvious when writing. I have been practicing mindfulness my whole life and wasn’t even aware of it. It’s like it found me, not the other way around. Once I became a coach focusing on mindfulness practices, it all came to me very easily, so naturally weaving the mindfulness tools into the storytelling was seamless. Also, you can’t tell a story that you want people to relate to and then leave them hanging. If you’re going to talk about a problem, you also need to offer the solution. One of the central themes in your book is mindfulness. How did developing a mindfulness practice change the way you related to your struggles? Mindfulness allowed for me to spend more time in gratitude than in feeling sorry for myself, shifting me into a growth mindset. I was creating a space within myself that felt safe, where I could focus on something other than my fears and anxieties. What role did self-talk play in your healing journey, and how can readers begin shifting from inner criticism to self-compassion? I was a self-defeatist for most of my life, but I didn’t know what to do about it. I always saw the glass as half empty and everything was a drama. I now teach what I have learned, which is that if we want to change a behavior, we must revisit our thoughts. Our thoughts are what create a feeling, which is what inspires an action, which becomes our way of being. It’s how we form habits. If we practice mindfulness, we will notice our thoughts and the feelings and self-talk it is invoking. It’s at that point of awareness that we can choose another thought and a more compassionate way to speak to ourselves. When we practice this over and over, we rewire our brains to think, act and speak to ourselves differently. The default is not longer self-criticism but love and grace. You talk about nourishing the body through rest, movement, and food. Can you share a few simple practices that helped you reconnect with your physical well-being? When I talk about nourishing ourselves through rest, movement and food, I am talking about from the inside out, meaning, it’s about more than nourishing the physical aspects of ourselves. My approach helps people to change their perspective on how they use rest, movement and food to connect the mind with the body and nourish on a more holistic level. I always start with 10-minute mindfulness practices because it’s a manageable amount of time and can be easily incorporated into your day. New habits take time and can feel overwhelming, so the ten-minute practice delivers a quick win. Rest: I use essential oil therapy for sleep, so this is a practice that will not only prepare your mind and body for rest, but will involve all of your senses, connecting the mind and body in a “winding” down state. The kind of oils used is extremely important too, since they work on a cellular level to ease stress, promote relaxation and enhance emotional well-being. You can start by rubbing an oil like Lavender on the bottom of your feet before getting into bed, or diffusing by your bedside. You’re not only getting the sleep benefits but all the other benefits the oil offers as it works at the cellular level. Movement: It’s as important to look at movement as a way to nourish the mind, not just the body, and to practice movement to open up your intuitive mind. Again, when we make that mind body connection through movement, all parts of us benefit - the physical, emotional and spiritual. My favorite way to do this is to just walk outside without a device. Walking without the distractions is a great way to practice mindfulness, ground in nature and cultivate awareness of what is happening in the physical body as well as the mind. Practicing curiosity and non-judgement keeps our minds free to notice what is happening. It also gives us a break from the constant running on autopilot and creates space for creative downloads to come in. It can even help with decision making. Food: A simple practice I love that nurtures my relationship with food is sensory eating, where you take the time to examine your food using all of your senses. It forces us to slow down, acknowledge our food choices, appreciate the food we are eating and recognize whether or not we are even aligned with the food we’re eating. The key here is slowing down so that we can make the mind body connection. Of course when we slow down when eating, we are more likely to stop when we’ve had enough, even before we’re full, digest more easily, move energetically instead of sluggishly and feel a sense of gratitude. The idea of “Self-Healing Invitations” is unique. What inspired this approach, and how do you suggest readers engage with them? This idea of Self-Healing Invitations was inspired by the approach we take in the rooms of recovery, which is “there are no rules, only suggestions.” An invitation is just a suggestion. The reader can engage or not engage, but if they are “working” through the book, and not just reading it, they’ll want to explore the invitations. These exercises are there to help them move through the healing pathway using self examination. They are also in the book because they help the reader better understand the concepts I am teaching or walking them through if they can put something into practice themselves. They are an opportunity for the reader to get into action right away. Information doesn’t equate to transformation. Action is necessary. So I couldn’t write this book and not offer the reader these invitations. All the Self-Healing Invitations can be found in the book portal and printed out. The book portal also has meditations recorded by me that they can use. So many people feel stuck in cycles they can’t seem to break. What would you say to someone who’s feeling hopeless or overwhelmed right now? It’s not so much about what I’d say, but how I would hold space for them. It’s kind of like when someone passes away, you often don’t know what to say, but what the person really needs is an energy exchange like a hug or smile or just human touch. If I am somewhere where I can offer a non-verbal response like that, I will, because what the person who is stuck or in a dark place needs is to feel heard, seen and safe. So saying the right thing is not my first move. It’s making them feel safe. Also, in many cases, these people are used to others telling them what they think they should DO, but in this state of mind, feeling safe and heard will grow trust. Your story highlights the importance of connection. How did community or support systems play a role in your recovery and growth? Just like with the hopeless and overwhelmed person, community gave me a feeling of safety. I spent so many years not feeling heard and being told what to do or not do, it was a relief to find people who “got me” and that felt safe to me. People want safety more than anything. Community also gave me a lot of confidence. Even though connecting with other people felt foreign and unnatural without the booze, once I started doing it, I really opened up. I started liking that version of me better. It was a relief to come out of isolation. You write about turning time into an asset. Can you share what that shift looked like for you, and how others can begin to reclaim their time and energy? I stopped saying “I don’t have time for that,” a long time ago. When I felt my purpose, to help others get unstuck and heal like I did, I put my focus on creating the space to do that. I had a full time job at the time, was caregiving for my mom, and managing a side hustle as a health coach. Once I got certified and got really clear on my vision, how I thought about my time changed. It wasn’t about needing more time, it was about creating space for my dreams with the time I had. I learned a process then tweaked it over the years so it worked for me, and have since added many time management hacks and solutions for those who need it. We always have to start with mindset before jumping into my time management system. This means understanding our relationship with time, surrendering and accepting that we need.a new set of behaviors when it comes to time, and letting go of what is not serving us or moving the needle on our to-do lists and calendars. These initial steps are a lot like the first few steps in a recovery program. It’s been proven over and over again that we can apply the 12-Steps from recovery programs to get unstuck in our lives. I have a specific exercise for these initial steps that I offer in a Sabotage Detox session. A quick win for anyone would be to write down your top 3 priorities, then do a brain dump of all the to-dos you can think of. Just set a timer and dump it all on paper. Then take that list and your top three priorities, and cross off anything on the dump list that doesn’t directly align with one of the three priorities. You should end up with a pretty clean to-do list. That’s something that takes maybe 15 minutes and can simply create some space on the calendar and help you breathe. What do you hope readers feel or realize after finishing your book—and what’s the first small step you want them to take? I want every reader to feel hopeful and more confident after reading this book. I also want them to understand that this is a resource to be used over and over again. I am going through it again in my coachable book clubs and it’s like reading it for the first time. I keep getting something different out of it and I wrote it! I hope they leave the book with a fresh perspective on how our mind and body can heal us, if we just give it half a chance. We have all the power inside of us. We just need to tap into it. If they have learned how to love themselves and offer themselves compassion through this process, then a small step they could take is to pass the book to someone else who needs it, contributing to the ripple effect of self-love and self-healing around the world. Visit Christina on her website:
https://selfhealingessentials.kit.com Join Christina on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/cnylese/ Follow Christina on Instagram: @christinanylese Connect with Christina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinanylese LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Self-Love-Self-Healing-Unstuck-Wounds-Abundantly/dp/B0F4CXKZMW/  Adriana Vaccaro is the founder and CEO of Culture Redesigned, a data-driven culture and change management consulting company. With a deep expertise in people analytics, organizational behavior, and leadership development, Adriana helps businesses build high-performance cultures that drive engagement, innovation, and sustainable growth. She was born in Colombia and currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three sons. What inspired you to write Culture-Minded, and how did your background in Human Resources and behavioral psychology shape its core message? I wrote Culture-Minded because I believe the workplace is one of the most powerful spaces for transforming human potential—and too often, it’s where people feel the most unseen, undervalued, or stuck. My background in HR and behavioral psychology taught me that belonging, fear, and motivation aren’t abstract feelings—they’re biological realities. The book is built on the idea that culture isn’t just about perks or mission statements. It’s about how people experience themselves through the behaviors of those around them. When leaders understand the human brain, they can design environments where people don’t just survive—but thrive. You emphasize a data-driven approach to workplace culture—how can leaders balance data with empathy when managing teams? Empathy and data are not opposites—they’re allies. Data helps us listen at scale. It can reveal where trust is low, where values aren’t aligned, or where burnout is quietly building. However, data without empathy becomes surveillance. And empathy without data can become wishful thinking. The most effective leaders use data (not drama) to guide conversations, not replace them. It’s about saying, “Here’s what we’re seeing—how does this match your lived experience?” What is one of the biggest misconceptions leaders have about company culture today? That culture is something you have instead of something you cultivate and practice. Many leaders think culture is fixed once you write values on a wall or host a retreat. But culture is happening every day in the micro-behaviors, decisions, and unspoken norms. It’s not a static asset—it’s a living system. If you’re not actively shaping it, it’s shaping you. You’ve worked in culture transformation for nearly two decades—can you share a pivotal moment or case study that deeply influenced your framework? One moment that stands out was working with a health services agency struggling with burnout and turnover. During a focus group with front-line employees the common denominator was the fact that they felt both invisible and replaceable. That stuck with me. We helped leadership understand that they were signaling the wrong message. Every decision—how feedback is given, how promotions happen—signals what the culture values. That experience helped crystallize one of my core principles: culture change isn’t about telling people what matters, it’s about showing them through consistent, visible behavior. How do the principles of Six Sigma intersect with human behavior and emotional intelligence in your model? Six Sigma is all about sustainability. It is a rigorous methodology to build systems that put the customer at the center of the equation while also reducing waste and variation. That’s just as relevant to people as it is to processes. In Culture-Minded, I merge this with emotional intelligence to ask: What’s causing disengagement? Where’s the breakdown in trust? What behaviors need redesigning? We use data to diagnose, and emotional intelligence to implement. It’s process improvement with a human heart. In the book, you mention that culture should be a “lasting competitive advantage.” What does that look like in practice? It looks like people staying because they feel connected, not just compensated. It looks like innovation thriving because psychological safety is present. A culture that retains, engages, and empowers people creates momentum that strategy alone can’t. When you operationalize values, trust, and learning into how the organization runs, you stop reacting to turnover or disengagement—and start leading with purpose. That’s a competitive advantage no competitor can copy. Many companies talk about “culture” but treat it as a buzzword. What’s the first step a leader can take to become truly culture-minded? Start with one question: What experience are people having because of me? Culture-minded leadership begins with self-awareness. From there, define what culture success looks like—how you want people to feel, behave, and perform—and measure whether your current systems support that. Culture isn’t about big gestures. It’s about taking responsibility for how your leadership impacts human experience. How can HR leaders use the tools in your book to create measurable and lasting change in their organizations? The book includes diagnostic tools, behavioral frameworks, and strategy maps that help HR leaders go beyond theory. They can use the Organizational Maturity Model to assess where they are, the Culture Capabilities Framework to set direction, and the Culture Audit to identify alignment gaps. These tools make culture work tangible, trackable, and actionable—so leaders can move from intention to impact. What advice would you give to emerging leaders who want to shape a positive culture but feel constrained by legacy systems or upper management? You don’t need a title to have a positive impact on organizational culture—you need clarity and courage. Start small: model the values, create a psychologically safe team, gather feedback, and share stories of what’s working. Culture doesn’t just cascade down—it ripples outward. When others see what’s possible in your sphere of influence, you gain credibility and momentum. Systemic change starts with relational credibility and seeing leadership a personal practice. You align your message with thinkers like Simon Sinek and Brené Brown. What do you think your book adds to the conversation they started? Simon Sinek taught us to lead with “why.” Brené Brown taught us that vulnerability builds trust. Culture-Minded builds on both and asks: How do we design organizations where the “why” is lived out, and where trust becomes operationalized? My book brings systems thinking and process improvement into the conversation, offering a bridge between heartfelt leadership and scalable execution. It’s the “how” behind the “why.” Visit Adriana on her website:
https://www.cultureredesigned.com/ Join Adriana on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/cultureredesigned/ Follow Adriana on Instagram: @cultureredesigned LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.sg/Culture-Minded-Adriana-Vaccaro/dp/B0F77WP9TL  Iowan native, Grammy winning drummer John JR Robinson, celebrates 50 years of music making. John JR’s world-renowned versatility and groove have made him one of the most prolific and sought-after drummers in the industry whose musicianship has helped define the pop, R&B, and jazz era for the last half century. No one will forget JR’s landmark fill which introduces the iconic smash hit, “Rock With You,” from Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall (an essential piece of pop music history) or his acrobatic, finessed touch that launches Steve Winwood’s No. 1 hit, “Higher Love” from Back in the High Life. With 30 No.1 all-time hit records, 10,000 recording sessions for albums, movie and TV soundtracks, JR has joined the exclusive ranks as the most recorded drummer in history. His signature ‘groove’ played a part in over 60 Grammy winning records, over 200 Billboard Hot 100 songs as well as more than ½ billion units sold, earning him a permanent spot in Rolling Stone Magazine’s “The Top 100 Drummers of All Time” list. John JR Robinson's illustrious career was built by working with some of the greatest minds and artists in music history including; the quintessential producer Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Ray Charles, Lady Gaga, Peter Frampton, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Daft Punk, Madonna, Lionel Richie, The Pointer Sisters, Stevie Nicks, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, David Foster, Steve Winwood, John Fogerty, David Lee Roth, Herbie Hancock, Toby Keith, Clint Black, Eric Clapton, Brothers Johnson, Marvin Hamlisch and Barbra Streisand, plus a dictionary-sized list of other legendary musicians and music leaders, all of whom specifically requested JR to add his ‘signature groove’ to their genius. You write about knowing at five years old that you’d be playing with legends—how did that early sense of destiny shape your choices growing up? I had an inner feeling that I was to reflect what my parents were projecting in me. The first time I heard my dad playing the piano and violin implanted the musical tones in me. I thought it just was normal to possess music. When the drum God appeared, I grabbed on and never let go. I found a certain superpower with drumming. It gave me great pleasure to see people smile and dance. Your drum fill on Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” is iconic—can you walk us through how that moment came together in the studio? One of the great rhythm sections, David “Hawk” Wolinski [piano], Bobby Watson [bass], David Williams [guitar] and myself were in Westlake B studio recording for Michael Jackson’s soon to be released album, “Off The Wall”. The song of that day was Rod Temperton’s, “Rock With You”. This was my band Rufus in which legend Quincy Jones cast and produced. After many takes the magic hadn’t entered the room yet. We were a bit stuck in the mud. Quincy and Rod both came out of the control room and flanked me. Q said, “JR, can you come up with and intro drum fill that the whole world will forever identify with this song?” I said “sure!” I didn’t…. however when take four started I just looked up and let the rest happen naturally. With over 200 Billboard Hot 100 songs under your belt, how do you approach each session to keep your groove fresh and authentic? I empty out my head with any [and all] noise. Then, I absorb the new music at that moment. Each song is its own living entity. It may take me moments or hours, but I allow the music to take me over and I trust in myself to create the musical drumming that best complements the song. It’s ALL about the song. Quincy Jones wrote the foreword to King of the Groove—what do you remember about your first meeting with him, and how did that relationship evolve? I was first introduced to Quincy in 1978 by Mark Hartley who gave me a seat right next to him for The Orchestra at The Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. It was set up via our common denominator, Berklee College of Music. Q was preparing to produce Rufus and Chaka Khan and our college became the focal point. After our record, “Masterjam” he asked me to stay on and start recording for the new Michael Jackson album which was to be, “Off The Wall”. I recorded about 8 straight albums in a row without a break. This relationship was built by love and trust. You’ve played on more than 50 Grammy-winning songs—was there ever a moment in your career where you felt the most creatively fulfilled? The first time I played live at The Grammy’s was in 1982 on February 24th. I was with Quincy Jones and James Ingram was singing “Just Once”. Little did we know but “The Dude” took home several Grammy’s. My son was almost born right the at The Shrine Auditorium and the next day Q named my son John, “Grammy”. Another is when I won a Grammy with Rufus and Chaka in 1983 for “Ain’t Nobody”. One of the greatest moments was when Steve Winwood won the Grammy for “Higher Love” from the album “Back in the Highlife” Producer Russ Titelman gave me a huge thank you to the world. Your story with Barbra Streisand was described as heartbreaking—without spoiling the book, what did that experience teach you about resilience or the music industry? With all artists, there are huge triumphs and huge failures. It can never be just linear. This would be monotonous. The key is to have a conscious balance in your psyche with total control not allowing your ship to rock to far one way or the other. Our human reflex sometimes dominates the reaction abruptly as to cause conflict. Barbra Streisand demonstrated the absolute highest level of compassion in my moment of extreme crisis. I can’t thank her enough. You’ve worked with such a wide range of artists—from Peter Frampton to Daft Punk—how do you adapt your style without losing your own musical identity? In “King of the Groove”, I speak about looking in the mirror. This is your true test daily. I plug myself in to musical styles and allow them to stimulate me. I trust in my instincts to have a solution that’s fits best for that song in that moment. I also have learned from all the other musicians I have adjoined with is to listen. Sometimes playing nothing is stronger than a flurry of meaningless notes. What was the energy like during the recording of “We Are the World”? Did you have any idea it would become such a cultural touchstone? When Quincy called me for “We Are The World” I immediately said yes. I was overwhelmed at the magnitude of the production. Even when we were recording the rhythm section first at Lion Share Recording Studios, there were so many members of the press trying to fit into our music. I had to give them the ‘ole boot to get our tracks on tape. When our industry can give back, you must make that your priority. Sure, our music is a bit self-serving, but nothing feels better than making people smile. You mention belief in yourself as a key lesson—how did you hold onto that belief during moments of struggle in your career? Struggling is human. We all do it daily and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. If it wasn’t a struggle, then you will never find success. I am still learning piano. It’s the hardest musical instrument. Some might say that drums are the hardest but it’s piano. I have goals within my brain, but I do not allow them to rule my momentum. You have one life and make the best of it-don’t waste it. My dad accomplished so many things in his life which I looked up to and honored. My main goal is to try and be like my dad. Looking back at your journey, what advice would you give to young musicians hoping to carve out a legacy like yours? To all the young and aspiring musicians, remember to trust in yourself. Remember, there is no hurry in life. Life is how you become an adult. You are totally in control of your own story. Live it… believe it… and fall in love with it. Visit John on her website:
https://www.johnjrrobinson.com/ Join John on Faceboook: www.facebook.com/JohnJRRobinsonNews Follow John on Instagram: www.instagram.com/johnjrrobinson1/ Subscribe to John YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@officialjrrobinson Check out John's latest content on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@kingofthegroove Engage with John on X: https://x.com/johnjrrobinson LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/King-Groove-John-JR-Robinson/dp/B0DDQX7LPJ  Dr. Dawn Filos has always had a passion for animals, and with a lot of hard work and perseverance, she’s turned that passion into a career. Here, with emotional honesty, Dr. Dawn shares her colorful, memorable journey, from nervous novice to seasoned, self-assured doctor. This modern-day James Herriot, ultimately finds her niche as a house-call vet, where she creates a way to practice on her own terms with the privilege of unique, intimate. Access into the homes and lives of her beloved patients and their human families. Sometimes heartwarming, sometimes sad, and often hilarious, Tales of a Pet Vet will resonate deeply with pet lovers everywhere. What made you decide to start a house call practice, and in particular, do in home euthanasias? I had been practicing for 20 years, in clinics, and did relief work for most of that second decade. I missed having long term relationships with patients and clients. Relief work was limited in that capacity. Also, at that time, I performed my first in home euthanasia. It was a professional game changer for me. I decided I needed to do more of them, having seen first hand what a beautiful, loving gift it was to provide an animal with a dignified goodbye within the comfort of their own home. That, combined with my need to connect more, not less, with clients, was the impetus to start my practice. I like to say that I found my professional “home” in the homes of my patients and their families. For those about to read the book, describe how and why it was structured the way it is. I consider my book similar to 3 books readers might be familiar with. It is one part, modern-day James Herriot of All Creatures Great and Small. It is also one part a behind the scenes expose of life as a veterinarian, in the vein of Anthony Bourdain books. Lastly, it has a lot of humor, as well as the humility and sometimes chaos, seen in Marley and Me. I have hosted a blog for nearly 20 years, and many of the topics I discussed, such as the benefits of the human-animal bond, pet trusts, and humorous, personal, or heart-warming stories, generated the most feedback. These topics became the heading of chapters, with many stories to explore those topics. The book is story driven, with enough veterinary information to support the stories as needed. What is your favorite chapter, or part of the book and why? I have read every veterinary memoir there is, and each is different. Other than what I said in the last question, I have found that my career puts me in the position of experiencing a lot of very funny, outrageous, and crazy situations, and my book has far more of these stories than other memoirs I have read. It is intended to be a book that pet lovers will read and resonate with, over and over again, seeing themselves in the antics, joys, and sometimes sorrows that all of us who have loved and lived with pets have experienced. That includes me, as not just a veterinarian, but a pet parent as well, and at times, an unhinged, emotional one at that. My favorite chapter is the exotics one. It talks about many of the pets I saw and treated that were not dogs and cats… and all the learning I often did on the job, sometimes bluffing my way through. I hope readers will enjoy it as much as I did living it. Are there main messages you want to impress to readers in the book? My passion is focusing on the many benefits of the human animal bond: psychological, emotional, physical, companionship. I have been amazed, humbled, and entertained to watch the pet-parent relationship evolve into what it is today, which at times is one of pets having lives as good, if not better, than their human children counterparts. I point out in a humorous, yet revealing way, how we have evolved as pet guardians, in my lifetime and the span of my career. People will read it and see that they are not alone in seeing their pets a family. Also, I think it is important for pet parents to see that veterinarians like me love their careers and patients. And yet, we have unique obstacles to overcome in this modern day and age of extreme pet parenting, rising veterinary pricing and corporate ownership, and technology, as we set boundaries with clients to protect our emotional and psychological health so that we can continue to do our best. Visit Dr. Dawn on her website:
https://drdawnthepetvet.com/ Join Dr. Dawn on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/drdawnthepetvet/ Follow Dr. Dawn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.dawn_petvet/ Subscribe to Dr. Dawn's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.Dawn_petvetFilos Explore Dr. Dawn's boards on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/drdawnthepetvet/ LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Pet-Vet-Stories-Clinic/dp/1647427584 |
AuthorJane Ubell-Meyer founded Bedside Reading in 2017. Prior to that she was a TV and Film producer. She has spent the last five years promoting, marketing and talking to authors and others who are experts in the field. Archives
November 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed
Contact
Bedside Reading, LLC , 700 Canal Street, Stamford CT 06902
For more information contact: [email protected] 917 848 3353
Media
Privacy Policy
Terms & Refund Policy
Accessibility
Bedside Reading® is a Registered Trademark
Bedside Reading, LLC , 700 Canal Street, Stamford CT 06902
For more information contact: [email protected] 917 848 3353
Media
Privacy Policy
Terms & Refund Policy
Accessibility
Bedside Reading® is a Registered Trademark
