Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds

Roger Payne & Jonathan Gottschall - What Is Most Needed Now - Finale | Lightning Bugs w/ Ben Folds

2.9K views · 4y ago · 59:17

Today’s guests are biologist and environmentalist, Dr. Roger Payne, and literary scholar and author, Jonathan Gottschall! This is our exciting final episode before we go on a hiatus to reflect on and pursue all the wonderful insights and ideas we’ve gained from a year of lightning bugs. This show's central topic has been creativity, and this episode is meant to highlight how art is what is most needed right now.

Roger Payne - Creativity Is The Only Way To Save Humanity | Lightning Bugs w/ Ben Folds

2.4K views · 4y ago · 1:05:03

Guest: Roger Payne

Today’s guest is biologist and environmentalist, Dr. Roger Payne. In 1970 Dr Payne recorded “Songs of the Humpback Whale” which stands as the best-selling environmental album in history. This album and it’s popularity crafted the “Save the Whales” movement which then led to the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment ten-year global moratorium on commercial whaling, which was observed by all but a few nations.

Elena Kats-Chernin - Do The Instruments We Use Influence The Songs We Create?

2.8K views · 4y ago · 52:44

Guest: Elena Kats-Chernin

Today’s guest is pianist and composer Elena Kats-Chernin! Best known for her opera, Wild Swans, Elena also creates orchestral works, solo pieces, as well as music for various mediums from dance to film. You’ll recognize works such as Clocks, Book of Rags, and Orpheus/Odysseus/Poppea. On this episode we talk about focusing on what you will do today instead of what you did yesterday, snippets of old pieces becoming part of something new, and improvising live.

Michael López-Alegría - How Seeing Earth From Space Changes Your Perspective | Lightning Bugs

769 views · 4y ago · 41:32

Guest: Michael López-Alegría

Today’s guest is astronaut and test pilot, Michael López-Alegría. Michael has completed three Space Shuttle missions and an International Space Station mission. He holds the record for highest number of spacewalks (also known as EVAs), as well as longest total duration of time in EVA. On this episode, we talk about the ways traveling to space changes your view of life, working with purpose, and the difference between a week-long mission and staying in space for half a year.

Keb’ Mo’ - How Technology Influences Music and How Perfectionism Isn’t Perfect | Lightning Bugs

3.5K views · 4y ago · 44:14

Guest: Keb’ Mo

Today’s guest is musician, songwriter, and five-time Grammy winner, Keb’ Mo’. He’s a blues musician, having released songs such as Am I Wrong, Good To Be, and Will The Circle Be Unbroken. On this episode, we talk about making music during the pandemic, the different approaches when recording on tape, and how mistakes in music can feel more authentic.

Governor Roy Cooper - Prioritizing Art and Art Communities | Lightning Bugs w Ben Folds

2.2K views · 4y ago · 53:56

Guest: Governor Roy Cooper

Today’s guest is Roy Cooper, the Governor of Ben’s home state of North Carolina. In office, Governor Cooper has placed focus on the arts and preserving art communities during the pandemic. In this episode they talk about the logistics of arts funding, how the arts grow small towns, and public versus private. Ben gives tribute to region that helped shape him, and asks how we can continue to support, preserve, and grow creative pursuits in all forms.

Nicholas Barasch - Embracing the Dynamics of Performance | Lightning Bugs w Ben Folds

1.7K views · 4y ago · 48:22

Guest: Nicholas Barasch

Today’s guest is actor and singer, Nicholas Barasch. He's starred in the Broadway productions of She Loves Me and West Side Story. Nicholas is currently starring in the Broadway National Tour of Hadestown. On this episode, we talk about becoming a child actor, how to work through puberty and voice changes, and how rejections are the biggest part of an actor’s job.

Nolen Bivens - How Local Artists Impact Governments | Lightning Bugs w Ben Folds

598 views · 4y ago · 52:21

Guest: Nolen Bivens

Today’s guest is former U.S. Army General, and CEO and President of Americans for the Arts, Nolen Bivens. His work pushes for arts and arts education in the public and private sectors and emphasizes the importance that creativity has in every aspect in life. On this episode, we dive into talking about military artists, how the United States has always had a relationship with art, and how battles are like orchestras.

Cassadee Pope - Healthy Competition and Collaboration | Lightning Bugs w Ben Folds

807 views · 4y ago · 48:22

Guest: Cassadee Pope

Today’s guest is singer, songwriter, and musician, Cassadee Pope. Cassadee was the lead singer of Hey Monday, and has had a successful solo career. After winning NBC’s “The Voice” in 2012, she’s continued to create hit songs and express her creativity. On this episode we talk about what makes good collaboration, how competition can be a healthy driving factor, and how experiences some may view as selling out can actively be the most creatively challenging.

Gregory Scott - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants | Lightning Bugs w Ben Folds

4.9K views · 4y ago · 46:25

Guest: Gregory Scott

Today’s guest is the founder of Kush Audio and Sly-Fi Digital, Gregory Scott. He’s worked to create countless plug-ins and interfaces to help creatives working in audio. He’s also the host of “Kush After Hours,” a program dedicated to teach mixing, mastering, and audio work in inventive and creative ways, giving deep insights to everyone that listens.

Margaret Cho - Every Comedian Has One Truth

1.2K views · 4y ago · 40:10

Guest: Margaret Cho

Today’s guest is stand-up comedian, actress, musician, activist, and author, Margaret Cho. You’ll recognize her from the sitcom she created and starred in, All-American Girl, as well as various roles in media, being featured in ventures like, Face/Off, Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock, and many, many more.

Andrea Wheatley - The Magic of a Live Performance.

2.5K views · 4y ago · 57:27

Guest: Andrea Wheatley

You can submit your questions to Ben here

Jacob Collier - The Methods of Making Music

100K views · 4y ago · 57:51

Guest: Jacob Collier

Today’s guest is Multi-Instrumentalist and Vocalist, Jacob Collier! You’ll recognize him from tracks such as “All I Need,” “The Sun In Your Eyes,” and “In Too Deep.” His music spans across several styles and genres as Jacob looks for new and interesting ways to create.

Rainn Wilson - Transforming Words into a Breathing Character

1.2K views · 4y ago · 1:00:41

Guest: Rainn Wilson

Today’s guest is actor, producer, writer, and podcaster, Rainn Wilson. You’ll recognize him as Dwight Schrute from NBC’s The Office, the digital media company he co-founded, SoulPancake, the Lidè Foundation with it’s goal to empower at-risk women and girls through the arts in rural Haiti, or from his podcast, Metaphysical Milkshake. On this episode we talk about improv vs.

Peter Frampton - Approaching Each Song with Curiosity

1.4K views · 4y ago · 1:02:24

Guest: Peter Frampton

Today’s guest is musician, actor, and producer, Peter Frampton. You’ll recognize his work from music groups like: Humble Pie, The Herd, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. You’ll also see him in movies like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Almost Famous. In this episode we talk about being a fan for someone else’s work and how an artist can be respectful when someone tells them they appreciate their work.