Best Christopher Freeman Podcasts (2025)

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Why nature is good for your brain, with Marc Berman, PhD 41:08

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3m ago41:08

41:08

In an age of increasing distractions, researchers have found that spending time in nature can be an antidote that helps us restore our focus and attention. Marc Berman, PhD, talks about why natural environments are “softly fascinating” and why that’s beneficial for the brain; why even cold, rainy walks can be good for you; whether bringing nature i…

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Ed Freeman: From American Pie to Underwater Dreams and AI Visions 1:11:16

5h ago1:11:16

1:11:16

In this episode, I sit down with the remarkable Ed Freeman — a musician, arranger, producer, photographer, ceramicist, and now AI artist whose creative journey spans more than five decades and some of the most iconic moments in American music and art. Ed shares how he went from studying violin as a child to arranging for Carly Simon and Gregg Allma…

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194. VÉRONIQUE SPOTURNO ~ The Great-Granddaughter of Modern Perfumery 43:43

1d ago43:43

43:43

Spoturno is an haute perfume house bridging and blurring the lines between legacy and modernity. And it makes sense. Founder Véronique Spoturno is the great-granddaughter of François Spoturno (dit Coty), who's widely credited as ‘the father of modern perfumery.’ Véronique drops by the Perfume Room to talk family legacy, the vision behind the brand,…

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How to raise grateful kids, with Andrea Hussong, PhD 26:40

8d ago26:40

26:40

Studies have shown that gratitude can help us cope with challenges and is good for our relationships and our health. But figuring out how to foster gratitude in kids isn't always easy or obvious. Andrea Hussong, PhD, talks about why gratitude matters; how to help kids feel thankful, recognize generosity and think about others; and how to respond pr…

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James Byous: Music, Sobriety, & Keeping Your Edge 1:11:03

17h ago1:11:03

1:11:03

In this powerful and unflinchingly honest conversation, musician and storyteller James Byous shares the full arc of his journey—through addiction, sobriety, bipolar disorder, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of meaning. James opens up about the terrifying manic episode that led to transient psychosis, the therapist who helped ground him durin…

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193. CHRISTOPHER SHELDRAKE ~ Your favorite perfumer's favorite perfumer. 1:03:49

5h ago1:03:49

1:03:49

Christopher Sheldrake is the nose behind numerous fragrances other perfumers only wish they had created: Feminité du Bois, Ambre Sultan, Chergui, etc. His style is at once deeply technical, classical, and avant-garde. Today, we chat about his prolific career, the creations he considers part of his personal canon, his unfiltered thoughts on the curr…

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A conversation with Martin McNally and film directors Eli Kooris and Joshua Shaffer 24:03

11d ago24:03

24:03

American Skyjacker (2025) is a true-crime action documentary that chronicles the story of Martin McNally, who in June 1972 hijacked an American Airlines Boeing 727, demanded $500,000 in ransom, and parachuted out of the back — modeling his crime after the infamous D.B. Cooper hijacking. McNally narrates the tale in his own words, with cinematic ree…

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When sounds are unbearable: Understanding misophonia, with Heather Hansen, PhD 36:35

15d ago36:35

36:35

For people with misophonia, certain sounds – like chewing, coughing or pen clicking – can trigger strong emotional reactions including anxiety, disgust and rage. Heather Hansen, PhD, director of the Misophonia Research Network, talks about scientists’ evolving understanding of misophonia; what’s happening in the brain when someone hears a trigger s…

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ChatGPT: An AI Speaks On The Future Of Art 34:33

3d ago34:33

34:33

Artificial intelligence has become one of the most defining—and divisive—topics of our time. For artists, it sits at the crossroads of excitement and anxiety: a powerful new tool full of possibility, but also a force that raises profound questions about authorship, originality, and the future of human creativity. In this episode of At The Vanguard,…

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A conversation with Randy Garnder, brother of executed prisoner Ronnie Gardner: Live Feed 1:10:19

7d ago1:10:19

1:10:19

Please note that the live was done on a cell phone, due to Randy being unable to access a laptop/tablet. Ronnie Lee Gardner was a convicted murderer from Utah whose violent criminal history and dramatic courtroom escape attempt made him one of the state’s most infamous prisoners. Born in 1961, Gardner endured a troubled childhood marked by abuse, n…

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Navigating the mental health impact of GLP-1s, with Rachel Goldman, PhD 37:21

22d ago37:21

37:21

Over the past several years, the rise of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy has changed the conversation around weight and obesity in the U.S. Rachel Goldman, PhD, talks about how GLP-1s work; the effects they can have on mental health; what questions to ask if you’re considering trying these medications; how weight loss can shift people's rela…

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Danscend: Solving The Dance World’s Mental Health Crisis 54:21

18d ago54:21

54:21

In this episode of At The Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Michelle Loucadoux and Kristin Deiss, founders of Danscend — a groundbreaking organization bringing mental wellness education to the dance world. Together, they unpack the myths and realities of mental health in the arts, exploring why toughness and compassion…

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Jailhouse interview with convicted double murderer Jeffrey Franklin 56:46

18d ago56:46

56:46

In March 1998, Jeffrey Franklin, a 17-year-old high school student from Huntsville, Alabama, brutally attacked his family in their home in the Camelot subdivision. Armed with a hatchet, sledgehammer, and knife, Franklin killed his mother, Cynthia, and father, Gerald, and severely injured three of his younger siblings. Two other siblings managed to …

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Why humblebragging is never a good idea, with Övül Sezer, PhD 43:03

23d ago43:03

43:03

We all want to be liked and respected. But sometimes, our intuitions about how to make a good impression lead us astray. Övül Sezer, PhD, talks about common mistakes, including humblebragging and hiding our accomplishments; whether the rules of making a good impression are different on social media; and how to “brag wisely” by sharing your journey …

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192. CAMMYREVIEWS ~ MUD!!! (and other perfume white whales) 1:03:42

30d ago1:03:42

1:03:42

Cammy (of @cammyreviews) is a PerfumeTok darling with impeccable taste and niche recommendations to scratch your every fragrant itch. But her curation doesn't stop there. She’s as devoted to perfume as she is to gummy candy — equally discerning in both. So today, naturally, we smell perfume and eat candy!! WATCH FULL VID EP THIS FRIDAY ON SUBSTACK!…

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Oliver Postgate 27:39

24d ago27:39

27:39

"Postgate's work is deep inside me and I think that's true for so many of my generation...His work represents nothing less than a touchstone for our national imagination and in that sense it's profoundly important" Andrew Davenport, writer, composer, and creator of Teletubbies and In the Night Garden, nominates Oliver Postgate, who, along with his …

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Tomasina Abate: Owning The Stage, Owning Yourself 1:07:03

28d ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Tomasina Abate is a powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and creative visionary whose career has spanned Disney’s Tomorrowland stages, arena crowds, and independent artistry. In this conversation, she opens up about the courage it takes to stand alone, the cost of excellence, and why real artistry begins the moment you stop asking for permission. We ta…

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The Vanguard Vision 7:02

1M ago7:02

7:02

Welcome to At The Vanguard, a podcast about elevating the arts and empowering the artist in each of us. In this inaugural episode, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala shares the story and philosophy behind The Vanguard Institute for the Arts — a bold movement dedicated to creativity, mindfulness, and artistic excellence. Through reflection and h…

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Sarah Tubert: Lead With Light, Play With Heart 48:52

1M ago48:52

48:52

Deaf actor, motivational speaker, and athlete Sarah Tubert joins host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala on At The Vanguard for a deeply inspiring conversation about art, identity, and resilience. From voicing Lucita in Disney’s Primos to captaining Team USA at the Deaf Olympics, Sarah shares how creativity has been her bridge between worlds — and h…

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A conversation with 'the selfie killer' Amanda Taylor (2022) 36:17

8d ago36:17

36:17

In April 2015, Amanda Taylor, a 24-year-old woman from Virginia, committed a shocking and highly publicized murder that would earn her the nickname “The Selfie Killer.” Still grieving the suicide of her husband, Rex Taylor, Amanda blamed his father, Charles Taylor, for his death. On April 4, she and her friend Sean Ball went to Charles’s home in Mo…

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Understanding trichotillomania (hair-pulling) and other body-focused repetitive behaviors, with Clare Mackay, PhD, and Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD 36:49

1M ago36:49

36:49

Body-focused repetitive behaviors such as hair pulling (trichotillomania) and skin picking are relatively common but remain stigmatized and misunderstood. Suzanne Mouton-Odum, PhD, and Clare Mackay, PhD, talk about why these behaviors occur and how they relate to grooming and emotion regulation; how living with BFRBs affects people’s lives and ment…

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191. AMÉLIE HUYNH [D'ORSAY] ~ reviving a 200-year-old perfume brand 53:52

1M ago53:52

53:52

Amélie Huynh does it all: she’s a jewelry designer, art collector, historian, mother, and the visionary who revived the 200-year-old fragrance brand, D’ORSAY. Guided by a mission to honor its romantic and scandal-tinged legacy through a modern lens, Amélie’s era of D’ORSAY balances its storied past with modern perfumery. Today, we discuss why she c…

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Sylvia Plath 27:06

1M ago27:06

27:06

Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence, chooses the writer Sylvia Plath. Sylvia Plath was a precocious, prize-winning child,. Her mother had high expectations for her. Her father had died when she was 8 (but could have been saved if only he'd gone to see a doctor). When she was well, Plath was energetic, fun, bright, attractive, funny and incredibly sma…

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At The Vanguard: Trailer 1:26

1M ago1:26

1:26

Welcome to At The Vanguard — a show about elevating the arts and empowering the artist in each of us. Hosted by musician and educator Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala, this podcast explores the creative spirit through conversations with artists, thinkers, and innovators who are redefining what it means to lead with vision and create with purpose. …

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190. MANUEL MATHIEU ~ What Lingers: Haiti, Memory, and Home 1:00:13

1M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

Manuel Mathieu is a Haitian multidisciplinary artist known worldwide for his emotionally-charged, indefinite-form paintings, drawings, ceramics, and installations. His work is held in major collections, and just last year, he was named a Companion of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres du Québec. Three years ago, during a residency in Paris, Mathieu …

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Why we love to travel, with Andrew Stevenson, PhD 37:23

1M ago37:23

37:23

Are you dreaming of your next vacation? Many people see travel as a chance to escape their routines, explore new places and maybe even ‘find themselves.’ Andrew Stevenson, PhD, author of “The Psychologyof Travel,” talks about whether travel makes us happier, how technology and social media are changing the experience of travel, why we get post-vaca…

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Elizabeth Day on Hatshepsut 27:40

1M ago27:40

27:40

"One of the things that she claimed was that her mother had been impregnated by the sun god Amon-Ra."Elizabeth Day's interest in the female pharaoh Hatshepsut was sparked by a trip to Egypt less than a year ago. What intrigued her was how this woman survived and thrived as ruler in a traditionally male role. Joining her in discussion is Professor J…

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Courage is taking a worthwhile risk, with Cynthia Pury, PhD 37:40

2M ago37:40

37:40

When we think of courage, we often picture dramatic, high-stakes moments, but courage comes into play not only in extraordinary situations but also in everyday life. Cynthia Pury, PhD, talks about physical, moral and psychological courage; whether courage necessarily involves overcoming fear; how our cultural and social viewpoints shape what we see…

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189. GARY MCNATTON ~ THE CREATOR OF 90s GAP PERFUMES! 1:11:01

2M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

Wait wait, Gap Dream was inspired by what? The initial concept for the collection began as... soaps? All this, and so many more amazing insider stories on the making of THE ICONIC 90s GAP SCENTS (Dream, Heaven, Om & Grass), with the visionary behind it all: Creative Exec and Entrepreneur, Gary McNatton! FRAGS MENTIONED: Diptyque Lazulio (SOTD), Jor…

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Comedian Stewart Lee on Derek Bailey 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

"The area I mostly work in is generally known as free - the free music area. And free is one of those four letter words, like rock or jazz or punk maybe. It started out meaning something." Derek Bailey Born in 1930 in Sheffield, Bailey worked as a session musician in dance bands and orchestras before turning his back on that world. Free improvisati…

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S8E5: Gaming with Keung Yoon Bae, Osvaldo Cleger, and Michael Rübsamen 1:47:55

1M ago1:47:55

1:47:55

Gaming is one of the most consumed forms of media globally making it an omportant space from to explore human-animal relations. In this episode, media scholars Michael Rübsamen, Osvaldo Cleger, and Keung Yoon Bae discuss the interconnections of gaming, representation, and identity and what the significance of this might be for considerations of ani…

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S8E4: Popular Media and Pests with Lu Liu, Debra Merskin, and Emily Major 1:40:35

2M ago1:40:35

1:40:35

In this episode we animals, power, and popular media. Emily Major, Debra Merskin, and Lu Liu help to think through how animals are manufactured as “pests” and “icons” in media and how those labels shape empathy, policy, and everyday cruelty towards animals. Date Recorded: 15 January 2025 Featured: Animals and Media Mass Media and Society edited by …

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Dyslexia myths, misconceptions and facts, with Tim Odegard, PhD 39:05

2M ago39:05

39:05

By American Psychological Association

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188. JOY MILNE ~ The Nose That Can Smell Parkinson's 55:25

2M ago55:25

55:25

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Jailhouse interview with convicted murderer Keith Griffith 29:49

2M ago29:49

29:49

By Unforbidden Truth

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Jock Stein, first British football manager to win the European Cup 27:41

2M ago27:41

27:41

Jock Stein, first British football manager to win the European Cup, picked by composer Sir James MacMillan and aided by Jock Stein’s biographer, Archie MacPherson. Jock Stein was manager of Celtic FC when they won the European Cup in Lisbon in 1967. He later died while managing Scotland in a world cup qualifier against Wales – the date, September 1…

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Elite Cloning – Freeman Fly 2:07:35

2M ago2:07:35

2:07:35

Get all of Freeman's work that has been removed from the Internet on the FreemanTV Flash Drive in the ShopEpic interview with Freeman. Discussing Time Travel, Pharaohs reborn via cloning, now in positions of power, Corporate Symbolism, Magick in Media, Aleister Crowley, Thule Society, Luciferianism, Satanism, The Mark of the Beast, 666, ET's, LAM a…

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Lefties, righties and mixed-handers: The psychology of brain asymmetry, with Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD 36:46

2M ago36:46

36:46

Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic and environmental factors that influence handedness; whether there’s any truth to the stereotype that lefties are more creative; why “pawedness” is common in cats, dogs, and other no…