Best Nigel Pollock Podcasts (2026)

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Episode #65 - NIN w/ Paul "Arlo" Guthrie & Jamie Pollock 1:43:34

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2M ago1:43:34

1:43:34

Send us a text In this episode, we explore the current Nine Inch Nails “Peel it Back” tour. We have with us longtime lighting designer Paul “Arlo” Guthrie and longtime front of house sound mixer Jamie Pollock. Together we take an in-depth look at the creative and technical aspects of the show design from the conception of the idea through each segm…

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Episode #64 with Greg Price 1:24:29

5M ago1:24:29

1:24:29

Send us a text Greg Price knows how to push air. He has made his reputation by mixing the most powerful bands our industry has ever produced. Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine, Tool and now Metallica amongst many, many more. Greg shares stories, philosophies, and techniques that have defined his career. It was great catching up with my …

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Episode #63 - Ozzy and the "Back To The Beginning" concert 1:26:55

5M ago1:26:55

1:26:55

Send us a text Radio Check recognizes the farewell performance of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath with a special episode celebrating the “Back to the Beginning” concert that took place at Villa Park in Birmingham. We welcome back Jake Berry, the show’s production director, and welcome for the first time Patrick Woodroffe, creative director and Greg…

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Episode #62 with Dallas Schoo 1:57:44

6M ago1:57:44

1:57:44

Send us a text Dallas Schoo is one of the last bastions of original guitar techs who paved the way for how things are done today. He launched his career by chance while at college in Boulder Colorado in 1971. He tells us how he got started and guides us along his incredible journey that led him to working with U2’s Edge for the past 38 years. Dalla…

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Episode #61 with Nigel Buchan 1:25:32

10M ago1:25:32

1:25:32

Send us a text Nigel Buchan has been the head of production in the Southwest for over 30 years producing shows for Evening Star and then Live Nation. Before moving to Phoenix in the early 90’s, Nigel who hails from England was a successful touring sound engineer mixing seminal bands like the original Motorhead, Judas Priest during their British Ste…

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Episode #60 with Sooner Routhier 1:16:57

1y ago1:16:57

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Send us a text Sooner Routhier is one of the most versatile creative designers in our industry having the unique ability to cross over into any musical genre producing visually striking shows at the highest level. From working as a lighting tech regionally in New England, to programming shows for other LDs, all the way to designing tours for some o…

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Episode #59 with Andy Fairweather Low 2:08:35

1+ y ago2:08:35

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Send us a text Sideman is the title multi-instrumentalist Andy Fairweather Low prefers. Eric Clapton, Roger Waters and George Harrison have all called him their right-hand sideman. AFL, who has an incredible memory for detail, generously walks Matt and I thru his illustrious career playing with several legends of the last 50 years. He even humorous…

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Episode #58 with Eric "Ski" Piontkowski 1:34:53

1+ y ago1:34:53

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Send us a text Eric Piontkowski is on the leading end of the next generation of great production managers. “Ski” as he prefers to be called, is a strong example of how hard work and determination lead to amazing things. He tells us his story of travelling in vans playing with club bands, attending Full Sail University and eventually getting on the …

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Episode #57 with Tim "Gooch" Lougee 1:41:45

1+ y ago1:41:45

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Send us a text Tim Lougee, aka “Gooch” has been tour managing at the highest level for 35 years. His learned, effective outlook and approach to his work is refreshing and makes for great story telling. We visit tales over his entire career from his early days doing security at the Metro in Chicago, meeting and growing up with the Smashing Pumpkins,…

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Episode #56 with Mark "Springo" Spring 1:38:32

1+ y ago1:38:32

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Send us a text Mark Spring pulls no punches. He says what’s on his mind unapologetically. Springo, a Parnelli Lifetime Achievement recipient, shares sensational stories with Matt and I spanning his 40 plus year career. From his early days working for Show Lights touring huge productions with the likes of Def Leppard all the way through his 22 years…

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Friendly Fire 13:57

2y ago13:57

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In my experience the hardest things in leadership are dealing with opposition and managing internal frustration and disappointment. In both cases the strength of emotion that accompanies the narrative makes it hard to chart a steady course. The people are in need, insecure and in debt. They are in despair and impotent.. This threat is from within..…

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Leadership facing attack and under pressure 14:49

2y ago14:49

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Opposition can feel like an indication that we are doing something wrong, but it can often indicative that we are moving in the right direction. One of the things to consider facing opposition is what is the truth of this accusation. Problem is that we resonate with the elements of truth in the accusation rather than considering the truth in the wi…

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Building Together 13:51

2y ago13:51

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Everything is broken down, the state of disrepair is exhaustive, but it is addressed by a comprehensive endeavour where each person and group plays their part. Each of us has a part to play. The different individuals and groups have a common vision and a shared purpose. Their diversity enriches the task force as they bring different backgrounds, st…

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Secret Service 12:24

2y ago12:24

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Nehemiah Episode 4 It is very informative to watch how Nehemiah goes about things in this new season. He catches his breath. He does not do anything for three days. Rest and reset are important. The whole idea of recreation is being recreated in the image of God. God has ordained rhythms of rest and work, night and day, sleep and activity. He explo…

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The right place at the right time. 13:25

2y ago13:25

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Nehemiah: Episode 3 Timing is everything. One of my recurrent prayers is that I would be in the right place at the right time with the right heart, with the right words for the right people. Nehemiah decides that this day in the month of Nisan will be when he takes the risk of talking to the king. He is a servant and although he has access to the k…

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The in between times. 13:04

2y ago13:04

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Nehemiah: Episode 2 How does Nehemiah cope in the in between time of a growing sense of what the future may hold and continuing to carry out his responsibilities in the present. How do we cope in our own in between times, facing the opportunities of tomorrow and the challenges of today? I often find conflict in processing experiences and reflecting…

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A Curious Conversation 12:03

2y ago12:03

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Nehemiah has a huge amount to teach us about leadership but not necessarily the things that we might expect. The first thing to note is the context that the story takes place in, understanding the times and discerning what God is doing in our moment is crucial if we are to follow God’s leading and allow that to shape our plans, rather than asking h…

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Episode #55 with Bryan Grant 1:40:18

2y ago1:40:18

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Send us a text Britannia Row came into being as a rental house for Pink Floyd to hire out their touring equipment as a way to support their crew between tours. Bryan Grant joined Britannia Row in 1979 eventually going on to purchase the company from Pink Floyd in 1984. For the last 45 years Brit Row have been at the vanguard of touring audio system…

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Episode #54 with Chris Adamson 1:55:37

2+ y ago1:55:37

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Send us a text Chris Adamson is one of the true legends we have in our industry. He started his career in the late 60’s carting band equipment around Britain for several London bands eventually hooking up with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac. Chris went on to work with several prominent bands like Emerson Lake & Palmer, Roxy Music and Steely Dan but is…

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Episode #53 - Chris & Matt catching up after 8 months 1:15:35

2+ y ago1:15:35

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Send us a text Matt and I return after an 8 month break to catch up on things. We discuss the state of the industry, touch on tour safety, sustainability and mental health. We also get into our continued love of music and the dangers of going down You Tube rabbit holes. It is good to be back at it again.…

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Episode #52 with Chris Chaney 1:41:25

3y ago1:41:25

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Send us a text Chris Chaney has been in more bands and has played bass guitar on more records and soundtracks than he can remember. He tells Matt and I great stories from both the road and studio. Chris also gets into how exciting and touching it was to play at his best friend Taylor Hawkins tribute shows in London and Los Angeles. He shares some t…

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Episode #51 with Danny Carey 1:27:07

3+ y ago1:27:07

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Send us a text Danny Carey and I have spent countless hours talking about music while on the road together. In this episode we welcome the Tool drummer to continue the conversation. We explore our favorite drummers, our deep love of prog rock and our genuine passion for all things music. We also talk about the song writing process and how beat and …

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Episode #50 with Jake Berry 1:52:44

3+ y ago1:52:44

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Send us a text To celebrate Radio Check’s 50th episode, we welcome none other than Mr. Show Biz himself, Jake Berry. We discuss his early days in Devon driving feed trucks where his chance meeting with Rick Wakeman gave him his first opportunity in the music business all the way thru his touring days with AC/DC, Metallica, the Rolling Stones, U2 an…

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Episode #49 with Joe Paul Slaby 1:33:41

3+ y ago1:33:41

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Send us a text Matt and I reconvene after a 3-month hiatus with drum tech and all-around great guy Joe Paul Slaby. We get into our long touring history together as well as some of the great drummers he has worked with over the years like Danny Carey, Josh Freeze and Stephen Perkins. What an incredible trip down memory lane. This is a can’t miss epi…

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Episode #48 with Jerry Harvey 1:25:41

4y ago1:25:41

1:25:41

Send us a text In this episode we chat with monitor mixer, inventor, and entrepreneur Jerry Harvey. Listen as he shares stories of finding his way into the concert touring industry, and how he developed the dual driver in ear monitor out of necessity while working for Van Halen. Jerry goes on to explain how his first company “Ultimate Ears” started…

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Episode #47 with Kurt Wagner 1:32:49

4y ago1:32:49

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Send us a text In this episode we “check-it” with Kurt “Slap Daddy” Wagner. Those of you who are familiar with Kurt know him as the stage manager to mega acts like the Rolling Stones, Guns n Roses, Cher, Prince, Billy Joel, Roger Waters and so many others. We chat about how he got his start at the Royal Oak Theater in Detroit and how the comedian G…

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Groundhog Day 14:56

4y ago14:56

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“What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same and nothing that you did, mattered?” “That about sums it up for me." Covid 19 has seen many of us feeling trapped in our own version of Groundhog Day. The calendar does tick over for us but the rhythm of our lives has been disrupted. The weeks lose their distinctiv…

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Curiouser and curiouser 12:40

4y ago12:40

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Poetry can give us an epiphany. A different perspective or sudden appreciation of understanding something in a new or clear way. Historical narrative can also give insight, sometimes through recorded observation, sometimes through myth and legend of how unexpected events or experiences brought an epiphany. Archimedes in his bath, Issac Newton headi…

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100* 10:59

4y ago10:59

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Projecting strength and preserving image can too easily become a fashion in leadership as well as design. If we be obsess over our own perfection we will project unrealistic expectations on others and have no way to process failure or deal with trauma. This vulnerability and honesty is one of the things I appreciate about the Psalms. The Psalms hav…

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Ninety Nine 10:29

4y ago10:29

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Most of us get to a place where we can begin to coast, we have put in the hard yards to get up the hill and now we can free wheel the final stretch. We can hold onto what we’ve got and think it doesn’t matter if we make it or not, especially if we feel we are well over half way there. I am yet more thankful how the number 99 reminds me that there i…

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The Barnabas Files - Part 2 8:20

4y ago8:20

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Ministry is not a career. It is not better to be the pastor a large church in a city or a small rural parish, it is not more significant to be the President of an organisation or the junior administrator. The key thing is to serve and to use whatever platform you have to advance others and encourage their growth.…

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The Barnabas Files - Part 1 9:25

4y ago9:25

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The relationship between the little guy and the son of encouragement is a fascinating example of leadership development and helpfully identifies some key issues around encouragement. I am struck by five of these lessons from The Barnabas Files. I will share three of these today and save two for tomorrow.…

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Soundtrack for the Future 7:52

4y ago7:52

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The soundtrack of my life has a playlist pressed through memories and reflects my loyalties, passions and choices. My songbook is full of my greatest hits, the archeology of my tastes reveals many clues to my identity. What is different about this new song is that is sung to the Lord and it is for everybody. It is to be sung in the present but it’s…

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Freedom and Fairness 9:18

4y ago9:18

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Paul and Silas endured all this. They could have asserted their rights as Roman Citizenship when they were being accused of being Jewish agitators subverting Roman law and order. But instead they gave up their rights and freedoms and endured suffering. What happened to them was unfair but their response is shaped by their citizenship of heaven rath…

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When Plan A doesn’t work and neither does Plan B 9:33

4y ago9:33

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What do you do in leadership when things do not pan out as you expected they might or you hoped they would? It is easier if there is someone to blame but harder when people are looking to you and wondering what is going on. We can have an easy out if “circumstances beyond our control” provide a ready excuse. New beginnings are frequently fraught an…

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Patience x3 7:40

4y ago7:40

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I do not remember as a child asking on car journeys if we were nearly there yet. But pretty much every hill I have ever climbed I get excited that the next ridge is going to be the top or at the very least will allow a peek of the peak and I become piqued when it is not. Discouragement only turns to defeat when we give up on the climb. A pause does…

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A Little Bit Minty 11:12

4y ago11:12

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The love and faithfulness of the Lord are to be proclaimed and celebrated from when we wake at dawn to when we sleep at night. Our worship responds to the Lord’s greatness, impressive work and superior knowledge. The thing I find helpful about this is that it expresses truths about God. The joy is not conjured from within but is rooted in the perso…

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Every Child Matters 10:02

4y ago10:02

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Today marks Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is long overdue. The date was picked to coincide with Orange Shirt Day an indigenous grass roots initiative honouring the lost children and the survivors of Canada’s Residential Schools system. Recent discoveries of unmarked children’s graves in the grounds of a number of form…

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Stand Firm 8:27

4y ago8:27

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“Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.” Like soldiers we often cannot see how the battle is progressing, our immediate experience in the conflict can be encouraging or depressing, frightening or exhilarating. The call is to keep going, to join in suffering and endure. We do not have the luxury of …

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Most Valuable Player 7:57

4y ago7:57

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We do not spend time and give to people because of their potential. We do not engage in student ministry primarily because we are working with the leaders of tomorrow but because we care about the youth of today. In the economy of God many of these young men and women will have a growing influence but we can never predict what the future holds. Our…

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Feast and Famine 8:43

4y ago8:43

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I do not expect to see either my children or my parents all the time but I do not enjoy not seeing being able to see them at all. The problem with having family scattered around the globe is that it tends to be a famine or a feast. Paul writing to the Philippians tells them that he has learned the secret of being content in every situation. He is c…

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Little Canada 9:58

4y ago9:58

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Little Canada was founded by Jean-Louis Brenninkmeijer an immigrant who had a vision to build a model world inspired by a visit to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. He reached out to model railway clubs to try to find people with the skills to develop the idea. He met Dave MacLean a civil engineer who had a life long passion for model railways. I am …

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Feeling overwhelmed 11:19

4y ago11:19

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One of the things which I have remarked on during this long and difficult pandemic is that we are all in the same storm but we are not all in the same boat. The impact of covid 19 has varied enormously through geographic, ethnicity, personal circumstance and life stage. We are particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact of the past two…

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I am Unqualified 10:49

4y ago10:49

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From our earliest experience of teams being picked in the playground at school we learn that being big, fast, strong, skilful, funny or popular are the qualities that get you chosen. God’s selection process does not follow the same pattern. Today I am thankful for the grace of God. I am grateful that God’s choice is not based on my qualifications b…

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Do not lose heart 11:36

4y ago11:36

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I have very mixed feelings as we come to the start of another year. 2021 has not been an easy year for many of us. There have been highlights and celebrations of course and we give thanks for these. But for me the year has been overshadowed by disruption, disappointment, deception, division and despair. I pray that as we enter 2022 we will know the…

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The View from the Falls. 9:40

4y ago9:40

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The Niagara Falls are breathtaking but white water can also be scary I have spent a little bit of time on the Amazon. It is a lot wider than the Niagara River and 20% of the fresh water in the world flows through it. As the Amazon meanders it continually adjusts it’s course so that charts are out of date almost as soon as they are published. On fla…

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When you feel you don’t fit in 9:07

4y ago9:07

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I have lost the ability to feel instinctively at home anywhere. The flip side of my own sense of misplacement is that I do feel a little at home everywhere. This is also the nature of heavenly citizenship, we have authority given to us to go everywhere from the one who has had all authority given to Him. We become all things to all people to live o…

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A short letter to a friend 10:49

4y ago10:49

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Philemon is a short, personal letter that Paul and Timothy wrote to a friend and fellow worker. It is interesting that Paul does not mention his being an apostle in this epistle but rather greets Philemon as their dear friend. I strongly believe that friendship is the basic building block of effective and fruitful teamwork and meaningful community.…

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Honey in the Rock 10:57

4y ago10:57

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Yesterday my friend Arlen was helpfully commenting that having physical or geographical limitations does not mean that we are not able to have a significant impact. The key thing is not what constraints are placed on us but in how we respond to them. There is always the potential to find opportunity and to encourage the good no matter how daunting …

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Episode #46 - Health and Wellness on the Road 1:26:59

4y ago1:26:59

1:26:59

Send us a text In this episode, Matt and I discuss the importance of health & wellness while on the road. Matt’s experience as a registered dietitian, health coach and former touring carpenter gives him a unique perspective on the challenges we face on tour. We discuss the importance of restorative sleep, good eating habits and a path forward to he…