Ryan McNeil
Earlier this summer, I sat down to podcast. That might not sound like anything newsworthy after nearly ten years of “welcome to wherever you are”…but I assure you, this show was different.
There were no films to discuss, no plots to pick apart, no performances to laud or loathe. Instead, the topic of conversation was music…and, well…me.
My personal podcasting Yoda – Mister Jamie Dew – currently publishes a series of posts and podcasts surrounding mental health. A Show of Strength is home to his thoughts and expressions on all things surrounding mental wellness. If Dew’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the brains behind The Dew Over Podcast dedicated to revisiting past Oscar years (I did several guest spots on that show, if you recall).
Much as I love talking about film, and listening to film discussion – a Show of Strength has Dew podcasting on a much higher level; It’s more transcendent, and gives so much more back to the audience who care to stop by.
Where I entered into the fray is a sub-series Dew created titled “Songs of Strength“. For this set of discussions, guests sit down with the introspective host and discuss six-song-playlists that allow them respite from anxieties and depression.
I’d wager that nobody who frequents this site will be surprised to hear me talk about a love of music, but discussion of my own anxieties might seem like a whole other side of me…and, well…it is.
Most of the more personal bits are contained to the top of the show when Jamie Dew asks me to discuss my own inner workings, and if I sound nervous talking about that side of myself, that’s because I was.
Once that’s out of the way, we get to talk about music – about the songs that allow me catharsis, healing, strength, and grace in moments when such things seem hardest to find. There are stories about where I come from, and confessions about where I’d like to go. There’s memories and hopes. There’s two people helping each-other through.
The episode was recorded on a tough day at the beginning of the summer, meaning once again, something good was able to come from a moment where I felt lousy.
The episode can be heard here, I’m rather proud of it so I do hope you enjoy.
Edit 2021: With Mr Dew’s permission, I have embedded the original audio into the post below. My thanks to him for originally hosting these talks and for allowing me to share it with anyone who may be interested to hear it
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