Follow Your Dream - Music And Much More!

Hi everybody. This is your host, Robert Miller, with another of my Reflections.

I’m always thinking about ways to make the podcast more interesting and engaging. So about a year ago, in May 2025, I came up with the idea of creating a guest testimonial page on the podcast website — a place where guests could share a few thoughts about their experience on the show.

From the very beginning of the podcast, guests have been extraordinarily kind and complimentary about their interviews, how they were treated, and the overall experience. But until then, those comments were...

Jamie McLean is a guitarist and bandleader. He blends New Orleans soul, Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger into his music. He’s played alongside Derek Trucks, Gregg Allman, Aaron Neville and Dr. John at major venues like Madison Square Garden and Japan’s Fuji Rock. His Jamie McLean Band has shared the stage with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Trombone Shorty, Los Lobos, Blues Traveler and others.

My featured song is “Bourbon Street” from the album Summer Of Love 2020. Spotify link.

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Anthony J. Resta is a Canadian composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He’s worked on the film soundtracks for Twilight, Scream 2 and 3, and Varsity Blues. And he’s worked with artists like Duran Duran, Blondie, Elton John and Collective Soul. Now he’s going out front as a solo performer with his version of Bread’s classic, “The Guitar Man”.

My featured song is my reimagined version of “The ‘In’ Crowd” from the album PGS 7 by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Cristobal MarYan is a Mexican composer of an eclectic variety of music. From contemporary classical to music for film, TV, and theatre. He has been composer-in-residence for the Orchestra of the Americas. His works have been performed in New York, Moscow, Finland, Canada, Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, and Panama. His music has been played by Yo-Yo Ma and by the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He scored "Son of Monarchs," a Sundance Film Festival prize winner, “Two Lakes” by Amazon Prime, and TV Ads for Chevrolet and Nissan among others. 

My featured song is “The Gift”. Spotify l...

Simon Phillips is a Grammy award nominated drummer, producer and songwriter He is one of the most acclaimed drummers of the modern era. He’s a rock and fusion guy who has performed with a Who’s Who in music including Toto for 22 years, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Gary Moore, Judas Priest, Pete Townshend and The Who. His new album is called Protocol 6. 

My featured song is the live version of my reimagined version of The Who’s “I Can’t Explain”, from the album It’s Alive by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Bob Malone is a singer, songwriter, pianist. He played keyboards with John Fogerty, the genius behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, for 13 years. He’s also done sessions and tour dates with Ringo Starr, Avril Lavigne, Rickie Lee Jones and Mindi Abair. His songs and piano playing have been heard on shows like NCIS New Orleans, Entertainment Tonight, Lucifer, and The Hallmark Channel. And he performed live twice on The Price Is Right.

My featured song is “Metro Shuffle”, from the album The PGS Experience by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Blues Saraceno is a rock guitarist, composer, and producer. At 17 he played in a band with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, formerly of Cream. And later on he played with the band Poison. He’s also performed with Ziggy Marley and Melissa Ethridge. He’s one of the “go-to” guys for many of LA's top record producers and engineers. He’s also produced  artists like Lindsay Price who was in the hit NBC series Lipstick Jungle. And he’s had great success getting his works placed in television and film.

My featured song is “Ode To Jerry”, from the album Pl...

Declan Ryan is an Irish poet based in London. His first poetry collection, published in 2023, is called “Crisis Actor”. One reviewer said that the poems are preoccupied with, and driven by, the weight and difficulty of expectation — of ourselves and of others. His poems, reviews and essays have appeared in numerous journals including the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Guardian, The Observer, The Irish Times and New Statesman.

My featured song is “Like Never Before”, my recent single. Spotify. link

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Levi Taylor is a Kennedy Center Artist and an Emmy-nominated composer. He’s a graduate of Interlochen. He’s composed for opera, symphonies, film and TV. Recent highlights include an operetta, a fellowship at a Castle in Italy, commissions from the Sphinx Virtuosi and Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, music for “Shark Week”, Peacock’s “Vampire Academy,” the Discovery Channel’s “Sewer Divers”, and the documentary “Three Black Men”. 

My featured song is “The Rich Ones All Stars”, my recent single. Spotify link.

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This Special Collections episode is called Broadway - The Performers. 

Each episode of Special Collections focuses on a particular common thread that ties together some of my guests.

In this episode, that common thread is Broadway. Each of the guests featured here is an accomplished and acclaimed performer in one or more Broadway productions.

Broadway is one of the great storytelling traditions in the world — where music, lyrics, story, choreography, and performance come together to create powerful emotional experiences.

What connects each of the artists in this collection is not only the...

Peter Kramer is a German born, retired university professor who taught in England, in the area of film studies. His work includes a focus on Stanley Kubrick and also Hollywood’s biggest box office hits. His books include three volumes in the BFI Film Classics series on “Dr. Strangelove”, “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “The General”. His most recent book is “American Graffiti: George Lucas, the New Hollywood and the Baby Boom Generation”. He is interested in movies that prominently feature songs. And other interests include Oskar Schindler and representations of the Holocaust in movies.

My featured song is “Hollywood”, fr...

Shane Alexander is a Los Angeles based indie folk and acoustic rock solo artist. He’s toured the U.S., Europe and Canada. He’s opened for artists like Seal, Jewel, Suzanne Vega and others. He’s performed at venues like Red Rocks, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and The Greek Theatre in LA. His music has appeared in dozens of television shows, commercials  and films. And he’s also a producer for other artists.

My featured song is “My Love”, from the album Bobby M and the Paisley Parade. Spotify link.

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Noa Wildschut is a spectacular 24 year old Dutch violinist. She is an amazing virtuoso. She made her concert debut when she was 7. Since then she’s played festivals, recitals and solo performances with dozens of orchestras all over the world including the Royal Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic to name just a few.

My featured song is “Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, my recent release. Spotify link.

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Marc Bruni is one of the world’s greatest musical stage directors - on Broadway, London’s West End, South Korea, Australia and everywhere else. Here’s all you need to know. He directed the Tony, Grammy, Drama League and Olivier Award-winning show Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, about the life and career of the extraordinary Carole King. He’s also the director of the current Broadway hit - The Great Gatsby. And he’s got a slew of other credits too including Billie Jean, Bull Durham, Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, The Music Man and many more. 

My fe...

Katie Skene is a Roots, Jam Band and Americana singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her music is a combination of southern rock and California rock. They call it Cosmic Swamp Americana. She has shared the stage with artists like Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers and Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon.

My featured song is “Aches And Pains”, from the album Summer Of Love 2020. Spotify link.

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Allen Hinds is a guitarist who started out playing blues and R&B and then segued into jazz and fusion. He’s released six solo recordings. His music has been featured on television programs like Sons of Guns, Pawn Stars, and various National Geographic specials. He has performed and/or recorded with Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack, Joan Baez and Boney James among others. His newest release is a terrific cover of “Ode To Billy Joe”.

My featured song is “Sostice”, my recent single. Spotify link.

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Taylor Eigsti is a remarkable 2x Grammy Award winning and multiple Grammy nominated pianist and composer. He’s released 9 albums as a bandleader and he’s appeared on over 80 albums as a sideman. He won a Downbeat Magazine Critic’s Poll for “Pianist of the Year”. He’s played with a Who’s Who in music including Dave Brubeck, Sting, Chick Corea, Snarky Puppy, Esperanza Spalding, John Mayer, Christian McBride and Joe Lovano. He’s performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks and Lincoln Center as both a soloist and with a bunch of symphony orchestras.

Rich Pagano is a terrific drummer, singer, songwriter and producer. He’s a solo artist and a member of The Fab Faux, the world’s best tribute band. He’s worked with just about everyone including Robbie Robertson, Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, Peter Frampton, and he’s even done the soundtrack album for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. And he also does a lot of benefit work, including in honor of his late son Nic.

My featured song is my reimagined version of The Beatles’ “I Wanna Be Your Girl” from the album East Side Sessions by my band Project G...

This REFLECTIONS episode is called A Really Interesting Trip. 

One of the things I’ve come to appreciate over time is how this platform has expanded in ways that I never could have predicted. When I started the podcast, my focus was very clear. I’m a musician, and I wanted to have conversations with other musicians—people who had devoted their lives to their craft, who had stories to tell, and music to share.

And that’s how it began. But something really interesting happened along the way.

My guests began introducing me to oth...

Nicholas King is a wealth advisor. However, he also founded “After Arts”, a community of professionals who share a passion for and background in music. He also founded the “Art of Giving Back”, a non-profit dedicated to supporting young musicians and giving back to the community. And he started out as a concert pianist who performed in various major venues. He serves on the Board of Governors of The Mannes School of Music, the Board of Directors of the National Opera Company and “Project Music Heals Us”, and the Advisory Board of The New York Public Library for the Performing A...

Gareth Valentine is a legend in London’s West End theater community. He’s a Welsh born composer, arranger, dance arranger, conductor, musical director and musical supervisor. He’s been involved in dozens of London's biggest musical productions. His latest are Sinatra The Musical opening this summer and The Producers. His credits also include Sweet Charity, City Of Angels, Guys And Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, Chicago, Cabaret and too many others to mention. And in his spare time he also conducts orchestras worldwide including the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra. 

My featured song is “It...

Larry Koonse is a multiple Grammy nominated guitarist for his work with Billy Childs and Luciana Souza. He’s played on over 400 albums with artists including Al Hirt, Mel Torme, Linda Ronstadt and Natalie Cole. And he’s toured with Natalie Cole, Tierney Sutton and Peter Erskine among others. As a leader Larry has made nine recordings.

My featured song is “Mi Cachimber All Stars”, my recent single. YouTube link.

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Dizzy SenZe is a Bronx, NY native and a world class freestyle rapper, emcee, songwriter and multimedia artist. She’s part of the cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award winning Broadway show, Freestyle Love Supreme. She has won several NY freestyle competitions and she’s known as a lyrical assassin. She won the Snipes’ Battle Champs MC Championship and the Freestyle Emcee World Championship. She has engineered for companies like Nickelodeon and Interscope Records. She’s photographed artists and companies like Sesame Street. She has shared the stage with Kendrick Lamar. And she provides custom raps. She does a “live” f...

Wulf Muller is a German born European jazz impresario. He was Polygram’s International Director for Jazz and Classical Marketing. He was responsible for the global marketing campaigns for superstars like Luciano Pavarotti, Cecilia Bartoli, Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall. He also signed a number of major artists including Sonny Rollins, Roy Hargrove, John Scofield, Branford Marsalis, Bill Frisell and John Medeski. And he’s written a memoir entitled ‘My Life In Music’.

My featured song is “Python” from the album PGS 7 by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Itai Kriss is a Grammy nominated jazz flutist and composer. He has an eclectic style that combines Jazz, Latin and Middle Eastern music to create a unique mix of rhythms and textures. It’s been said that his music covers the desert to the tropics to the big city.

My featured song is “Out Of Tahini”, from the album Play by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Alex Fiterstein is a virtuoso clarinetist. He was born in Belarus and raised in Israel. He’s performed in recital, with orchestras, and with chamber music ensembles all over the world. As soloist he has appeared with a bunch of orchestras including the Czech, Israel and Vienna Chamber Orchestras, Belgrade Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic, and the China National Symphony. He’s performed at the Kennedy Center, the Louvre and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and with artists like Daniel Barenboim, Emanuel Ax and Pinchas Zukerman And he is a founder of the Zimro Project, which is dedicated to incorporating Jewish art music...

Christine Andreas is a multiple award winning singer, actress and 2x Tony Award nominee. On Broadway she played Eliza Doolittle in the 20th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady for which she received the Theatre World Award. She received a Tony Award nomination for Oklahoma. Other shows include The Scarlet Pimpernel, La Cage Au Folles and The Light in The Piazza. As a singer she has performed at Cafe Carlyle and 54 Below and with major symphonies around the world. Her latest CD is a tribute to Edith Piaf. And on television her credits include Law & Order SVU, The Cosby...

Introducing Special Collections, a new Follow Your Dream series. 

After more than 725 episodes, I’ve observed that many of my remarkable guests are connected by common threads — including country, background, culture, style, experience, genre, and craft.

Each episode of Special Collections will focus on one of these common threads.

The first Special Collections episode is called The Cuban Masters. In this episode, I’ve highlighted seven of my musician guests who were born and raised in Cuba and began their musical careers there. Each came of age musically under similar circumstances - in a count...

Espen Berg is a Norwegian pianist and composer and a modern day impressionist. He has toured around the world and has released 15 albums as a leader. His trio is a hit in Asia and they have sold out concert halls in Tokyo, Kyoto, Guangzhou, Mumbai and Athens, in addition to clubs like Ronnie Scott’s in London. Espen has written works for the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and for leading Norwegian jazz festivals.

My featured song is “March Of The Diplomats” from the album Trippin’ by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Kate Kortum is a terrific 24-year-old jazz vocalist from Houston, Texas. She blends together bebop, blues, the Great American Songbook, and musical theatre. She’s got a fresh, contemporary take on jazz vocals. She’s performed at major venues including the Newport Jazz Festival, Birdland, the Blue Note, Dizzy’s, SXSW, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. She haș toured internationally and collaborated with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She’s also a member of The Sunhouse Singers, a New York-based vocal trio. They’ve been featured in projects by Charlie Rosen, Christian Wiggs, and Benny Benack III...

Sam Harris is a superstar of Broadway, film and television. On Broadway, he received Tony, Outer Critic’s Circle and Drama Desk nominations for his work in Cy Coleman’s “The Life”. He received a Drama League Award and Drama Desk nomination for his role in “Tommy Tune’s Grease”. And he appeared in “The Producers”, “Jesus Christ Superstar” and too many others to mention. As a singer he’s a multi-platinum recording artist with 9 CDs. Rolling Stone Magazine listed him as one of the “Top 100 Greatest Vocalists of all Time.” He’s toured extensively and performed at Carnegie Hall, with the Boston Pops, an...

Spiderhorse are World Champion Beatbox Duo Chris Celez and Gene Shinozaki. They have been creating music for ten years together, expanding the capabilities of the human voice. They have been invited to perform all around the world. You gotta hear these guys!

My featured song is “It’s The Beat” from the album The Queen’s Carnival by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

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Natasha Paremski is a spectacular, highly acclaimed, concert pianist. She was born in Russia but moved to the U.S. and now lives in New York City. She has been praised for her musical sensibility and powerful, flawless technique. She’s won a whole bunch of prizes, she’s played all over the world, and with many different symphonies. 

Natasha is also the Artistic Director of The New York Piano Society, which has a Special Concert on April 11, 2026 at Carnegie Hall.

My featured song is “Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, my recent release. Spotify link.

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Jeff Silbar is an acclaimed songwriter. He’s best known for co-writing “Wind Beneath My Wings” for which he won a Grammy Award. The song became a mega-hit for Bette Midler. He’s been voted Nashville Songwriter of the Year. He’s also had hits with dozens of other artists including Kenny Rogers, John Cougar, Ringo, Dolly Parton and many others.

My featured song is “My Love”, from the album Bobby M and the Paisley Parade. Spotify link.

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Summer Camargo is a spectacular, award winning, 24 year old trumpeter, composer and bandleader. She’s the youngest member of the Saturday Night Live house band, and she also plays in the Charles Mingus Big Band and Broadway’s Just in Time. Downbeat Magazine, the jazz bible, has dubbed her a rising star. She’s toured with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, and collaborated with artists such as Jon Batiste and Wynton Marsalis. And she released her debut album in 2024.

My featured song is “Child’s Play”, from the album Miles Behind. Spot...

Richard Maltby, Jr. is a Tony Award winning, and multiple Tony Award nominated, director and lyricist. He directed “Ain’t Misbehavin” in 1978 and “Fosse” in 1999. They are the only musical revues to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. His longtime professional partner is composer David Shire, and they still work together. Among his other credits he was co-lyricist for “Miss Saigon”, director and lyricist for “Baby”, and lyricist for “Big”. He’s even gotten several Grammy nominations including for “Starting Here, Starting Now”. His newest production with David Shire is called “About Time”, for which he’s the director and lyricist. 

My...

Sir George Martin was the Beatles’ extraordinary producer and the most acclaimed and celebrated music producer of the rock era. No one comes close to Sir George for the innovation and sheer perfection of his body of work.

It’s almost an accident that he worked with the Beatles. Before meeting them he was in charge of EMI’s Parlophone label where he produced comedy and novelty acts like Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. His introduction to the Beatles only came about after they were rejected by 17 other record labels. When he brought them in for an auditi...

Bruce Miller is a celebrated composer and arranger for television and major recording artists. And he’s written music for politicians too. He wrote some of the best known TV theme songs including for “Frazier”, “Wings” and “Designing Women”. He’s worked with stars like Gladys Knight, Rod Stewart and Smokey Robinson. He created music for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns and for Hilary Clinton’s NY Senate race. And he’s written music for the G8 Summit.

My featured song is “You Can’t Tell The Truth”, from the album Summer Of Love. Spotify link.

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Michael Whalen is a 2x Emmy Award winning and 8x Emmy nominated pianist, composer, music supervisor, recording artist and producer. He’s widely recognized for his work in New Age, contemporary instrumental and television music. His songs have been streamed 1.5 billion times since 2015. He’s created music for commercials, TV and films and he’s released 46 albums. He’s collaborated with artists including Stephen Sondheim, Brian Wilson, Carole King and David Foster.

My featured song is “Euphoria”, from my 1996 album Prisoners Of Love. Spotify link.

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Tamir Hendelman is an Israeli-American pianist and composer.  He has toured with drummer Jeff Hamilton. He’s recorded with superstars like Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole and Paul McCartney. And he’s worked with Tierney Sutton and with Jackie Ryan, both of whom have been guests on this podcast.

My featured song is “Sea Journey”, from my debut album Miles Behind. Spotify link.

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