Author: Jazz4peace

DELLARATTA performs Jazzman for Prestigious Podcast Guest

Click HERE to See the FULL Episode on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1wPWBySRt7HIaJ1kmVoI67
And APPLE! Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

S:2 E:19 Mark Mustian – Word from the South

Description: Season 2 Episode 19 brings us Mark Mustian, the internationally bestselling author of “The Gendarme” and “Boy With Wings”, who is also the president of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, now in its eleventh year of pairing authors and musicians in interesting ways. The special conversation between the two of them involving both literature and music inspired some equally special songs performed by Rick including Cole Porter’s Just One of Those Things, Louis Armstrong’s Sleepy Time Down South, and Carole King’s Jazzman! A must see for all lovers of Authors, Music and Literature!

Mark’s prior novel, The Gendarme, won the Florida Gold Book Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Saroyan International Award for Writing. It’s been published in ten languages. His new novel, Boy With Wings, is about a boy, well, with wings, who ends up in a freak show traveling the South in the 1930s. It deals with issues of race and religion, but more than anything with what it means to be different. He’s also the president of the Word of South Festival of Literature and Music in Tallahassee, Florida, now in its eleventh year of pairing authors and musicians in interesting ways.
Topics Discusses:
What being a Southern writer means to him, and why he founded the Word of South Literary Festival in Tallahassee.
How themes of ignorance, superstition and spirituality play into the novel.
How race and religion are portrayed in the novel.
How the 1930s setting for the novel reveals contemporary issues in society, both in the American South and beyond.
What “Southern gothic” means in 2025: its history and resurgence.
Why “weirdness” both fascinates and repulses people, and what our complicated reaction really says about us.

Learn more about Mark and his books & festival at: https://markmustian.com

AND ~ 
LET’S DO THIS:
HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED!  Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding all the way to 100% funding for World Peace by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at ⁠⁠https://jazzforpeace.org/⁠or directly at this link: ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace

Promo Shorts!
1. Summer Breeze!

2. US Author who grew up in Tehran talks Ellington/Strayhorn/DellaRatta music collaboration Isfahan.

SEE THE FULL INTERVIEW on Spotify and Apple!
Direct Link on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2JG9Mh29CplWqaOD7l3xqd

Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

Season 2 Episode 26 brings us Michael Isaac Shokrian, Editor in Chief of the literary magazine the Thieving Magpie and author of debut novel American Playground based on author’s experiences immigrating to Los Angeles from Tehran in the 1970s. Michael’s mission to deliver thought-provoking writing to readers everywhere inspired the inclusion of his recorded rendition of the Jazz Classic ISFAHAN featuring his own original lyrics plus a LIVE rendition of Seals & Crofts SUMMER BREEZE like you have never heard before nor will ever hear again. Learn more about Michael and buy his book at: ⁠https://www.mishokrian.com/⁠ and join his digital literary magazine at: ⁠https://thievingmagpie.org/⁠

Created by Michael Isaac Shokrian, the Thieving Magpie started in 2017 as a digital literary magazine dedicated to procuring and publishing good art: fiction, poetry, essays, art, photography. It seeks writers and artists who take their art and mischief seriously. New and emerging voices and visions will share these pages with experienced writers and artists who believe in their craft. We don’t seek perfection, just dedication to the process, craft and truth in art.

Here is Michaels American Playground Summary: It’s 1971, and 7-year-old Mishel Manoucherian’s family has packed up their life in Tehran and moved to Los Angeles, launching him headfirst into a disorienting new world of social and schoolyard expectations. At once a witty and warm exploration of the immigrant experience and coming of age tale, American Playground illuminates the Iranian American experience through a child’s unique perspective.

Calvin Schwartz – Calvin Schwartz-Reinvention Personified!! (novelist, journalist, lecturer, spiritualist) S:2 E:18

1. Rick performs Rick DellaRatta performs Timeless Peace Anthem for Podcast Guest Calvin Schwartz
2. This amazing interview inspired some extraordinary Music including this version by Rick of the Tears for Fears Classic, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, whose lyrics are “about the thirst for power and its consequences, with intimations of what was seen by many at the time as the imminent threat of global nuclear war.”

See the FULL Episode!
Link to JFP Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7EaDAJdVoCiGhZhzz58R7U

Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

S: 2 E: 18 features Calvin Schwartz, Founder & Host @ Conversations with Calvin. His recent novel, ‘There’s a Tortoise in My Hair; A Journey to Spirit’ was given the prestigious Kirkus Star for literary excellence. The writing has been compared to legendary writers, Philip Roth, John Irving (World According to Garp) and Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five).This amazing interview inspired some extraordinary Music including the Timeless Peace Anthem “We Can’t Make it Here Anymore” along with the Tears for Fears Classic, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, whose lyrics are “about the thirst for power and its consequences, with intimations of what was seen by many at the time as the imminent threat of global nuclear war.”

Calvin’s recent novel, ‘There’s a Tortoise in My Hair; A Journey to Spirit’ was given the prestigious Kirkus Star for literary excellence. The writing has been compared to legendary writers, Philip Roth, John Irving (World According to Garp) and Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five). Available on Amazon/Kindle: https://amzn.to/46CveE9

As the founder and host of Conversations with Calvin ; WE the SpecIES, Calvin produces and hosts specialized video interviews with accomplished and diverse people who do the living and dying in America. With over 3 1/2 years of experience in this role, he aims to create engaging and informative content that showcases the stories and perspectives of his guests, and to foster a dialogue and understanding among different specIEs. He has a BS and a BPh from Rutgers University, and has taught Career Explorations at the same institution in 2019.

He is also a self-employed writer, producer, and co-hosted NJ Discover TV; also a media production company that covers various topics and issues in New Jersey and beyond. With over 12 years of experience in this field, Calvin has developed skills in new media, editorial, video production, radio, journalism, television, and media production. He’s also written two novels and co-founded a global environmental think tank, Climate Optimists (Everything NOT Fine).

He serves on various advisory and steering committees related to women’s health, digital newspaper, and one health (human, animal, plant), and has reported on autism, women’s soccer, homelessness, hunger, comedy, music and film. He is passionate about using his communication and collaboration skills to make a positive impact in the world.
Find out more about Calvin, his Books and Podcast at ⁠https://calvinschwartz.com⁠

AND ~ LET’S DO SOMETHING GREAT TODAY:

HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED! Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding all the way to 100% funding for World Peace by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at ⁠https://jazzforpeace.org/ or directly at this link: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace

S:2 E:17 Gabe Toth ~ A Life In Music

See the FULL Episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qTyJx3NHKHdXGjMfX1S5R

And Apple! Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

Gabe Toth shows his true passion for music and music instruction for both Vocal and Instrumental training on all levels and across diverse genres and (along with his dog Zappa!) inspires a very special medley by Rick of classic songs by Leonard Cohen and The Beatles in one of our true season 2 highlight episodes that you don’t want to miss!

Gabe Toth brings 40 years of industry experience to his role as a sight-reading pianist and vocal coaching expert, having performed in diverse settings from churches to Broadway, touring companies, colleges, and cruise ships. His musical journey began early as a major soloist in a boys choir and a professional church organist at just 11 years old.

In addition to his classical training in voice, piano, and organ, Gabe is well-versed in jazz and rock music and proficient in guitar, bass, and drum kit. With 40 years of performance experience as a show band pianist, entertainer, vocalist, arranger, and orchestrator, Gabe has honed his skills in various musical genres and settings.

With 25 years of teaching experience, Gabe provides personalized weekly evaluations and tailored curriculums to help students of all ages and levels grow, advance, and see progress regularly. His passion for nurturing the love of music and the joy of creating it shines through in his teaching approach. As an alumnus of The Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts and Berklee College Of Music, Gabe Toth is dedicated to sharing his expertise and fostering a lifelong appreciation for music in his students.

Learn more about Gabe and sign up for his online lessons and courses at: www.gabetothmuzakinstruction.com

AND ~ 
LET’S DO THIS.
HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED! 
Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding all the way to 100% funding for World Peace by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at ⁠https://jazzforpeace.org/
or directly at this link: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace

S2:E16 – Dawn Westrum: How to Stay Healthy, Athletic & Forever Young (No, Really)

Episode Teaser – Rick performs Sara Smile & Sound of Silence for Special Guest Nutritionist Dawn Westrum

See the FULL Episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0TurUqagYOOQGmIwAZfFXR
And APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

In this high-energy episode, we sit down with Dawn Westrum—ultra-marathoner, paraglider, and unapologetic health rebel—who’s been cracking the nutrition code since 2004. Dawn shares the do’s, don’ts, and “what-were-you-thinking?” truths about staying fit, sharp, and biologically young. We dive into her upcoming book on the OligoScan (spoiler: your minerals are screaming for attention) and how she helps people fire their meds and feel amazing again.

Plus, Rick drops a one-of-a-kind musical mashup that blends Simon & Garfunkel nostalgia with a dash of Hall & Oates, all wrapped around a spontaneous, soulful jam that’ll leave you smiling.

A must-listen if you like your health advice bold, backed, and a little badass

Find out more about Dawn at: https://www.vigeohealth.net/

Dawn Westrum is a health enthusiast and has been studying nutrition since 2004. Incidentally that’s also the year she ran her first marathon, and came to realize just how important nutrients were to optimize performance. Those first 26 miles were completed on a dare, with only 3 days notice!

Dawn completed her Health Coaching Certificate in 2023, at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
She completed her Emotion Code and Body Code certifications in 2024 and the Belief Code Certification in 2025. Dawn is listed at https://discoverhealing.com/practitioners/ Dawn is also Square 1 System certified.

Dawn never stops learning, and is always looking to add knowledge to help clients with esoteric piece of their health puzzle. Expect VIGEO Health to grow and change as she learns more about all facets of health, including relationships, communication, exercise, fresh air and nature, faith, finances, and joy.
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Dawn has now run over one hundred ultramarathons, as well as 100-mile runs, 5-day adventure races, Spartan Obstacle course races, and Ironman Triathlons. She races her paraglider, too, and was the top woman over twelve days in the 2015 Red Bull X-Alps, completing 300 miles on foot and 500 in the air. Check out her book Racing to the Sky on Amazon.
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Dawn spent ten years in the United States Army, and worked in Satellite Communications. She was stationed in Washington D.C., Germany, and England. It was partly due to her military training that she learned to have confidence in her choices and decision making process. Dawn won Soldier of the Year several times, at multiple levels of the Army command structure. She also spent a year living in a small village in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, learning how the indigenous Mayan people live such simple yet apparently happy lives. In 2009, she spent a year traveling around the world, visiting all corners of the globe, and traveling to 43 countries. The perspective she gained from her travels abroad have given her additional feedback on how there are multiple ways to accomplish goals, but that hard work and focus are always part of success.

Dawn has optimized her nutrition for athletic competitions, and is now faster in her 40s than she was in her 20s. She credits this to knowing what and when to eat and how to supplement, both before and during her races. Just as importantly, she knows how to recover quickly afterward from soreness and injuries. In 2022, Dawn ran her fastest 100 miler, completing a coveted goal of finishing in less than 24 hours. Dawn is also the reigning Age Group Champion at the Spartan Ultra Worlds! In 24 hours, she completed 62 miles and 15,000 feet of elevation gain, while failing only one obstacle the entire race.
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Dawn and her husband Jim love to throw pool parties in their backyard, and hang out with their Cattle Dog named Spot. They have 15 friendly chickens and love eating eggs. If you don’t hear from Dawn much in October, it’s because she is back on her family farm in Iowa, driving the corn combine, getting back to her roots, and enjoying a change of scenery.

Independence Month Special Teaser for S: 2 E: 21 Sara Im: Surviving Cambodia

See the FULL Episode!
Link to ALL Episodes of JFP Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/21VE31bQOroh01T2uyOl4f

Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

Sara Im grew up in Cambodia where she survived four years of mass genocide that claimed two million lives. Through her faith and resilience, she escaped, fled to America, graduated college, and wrote an award-winning book called “How I Survived the Killing Fields.” …and now she speaks, coaches, and inspires others to have hope, courage, and a positive perspective in life.  Their talk was so positive it inspired a special selection of songs by Rick including Neil Diamond’s America, his own “Jazz for Peace Poem” and Sara Smile by Hall & Oates! Find Sara and invite her to speak at  www.saraim.com, and buy her book at  www.saraim.com/book

Sara has life lessons and gained wisdom that impacts others due to her experience of surviving the mass genocide of Cambodia. Her inspirational Award-Winning Book ” How I Survived The Killing Fields” was honored in 2015. As a Speaker, she shares how tenacity, perseverance , and faith are required values to conquer fear and reach success. Sara speaks to help listeners re-focus, build confidence and develop self-leadership at corporate events, conferences, churches, schools, TV, Podcasts, radios and more.
Sara operate a wellness business, Smart Healthy Living. She also co-hosts a weekly live show on Facebook, A Thriving Conversation.

AND ~
HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED!
LET’S DO THIS. Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding for World Peace all the way to 100% by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at https://jazzforpeace.org/
or directly at this link:  https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace

Jazz for Peace™ “Final Solution is LOVE!” Podcast Guest Human Consciousness Guide Kerie Logan rates Jazz performance LIVE on excerpt from Season 2 Episode 15
Watch the FULL episode at the Spotify & Apple links below!

For over 20 years, Kerie Logan has been a Human Consciousness Guide, supporting people with mental health concerns. She is also an author, certified clinical hypnotherapist, and NLP practitioner.She is trained in several modalities, such as metaphors, trauma-informed, grief support, PTSD, parts therapy, timeline therapy, Quantum Healing Hypnosis, past lives, and life between lives (Dolores Cannon and Michael Newton).
She works with people all over the globe, and it seems like our world is going back and forth. It is odd, and she would like it to continue progressing forward instead of backward.

This interview exploring the need to go from 3D Human Consciousness to 4D and 5D inspired a musical selection by Rick of the well known Evergreen “When You’re Smiling” which received a LIVE rating by Kerie on the show making this episode a must see! Find out more about Kerie and download her Free 3D, 4D & 5D charts at: https://mastertheupperrooms.com

Watch the Full Episode NOW on Spotify & Apple!
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5S7lAGFDQYjq7x8B2CrxIs
APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129
etc.

AND ~ 
LET’S DO SOMETHING GREAT TODAY: HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED! 
Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding all the way to 100% funding for World Peace by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at ⁠https://jazzforpeace.org/
or directly at this link: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace

See the FULL Episode on Spotify and Apple!
Link to ALL Episodes of JFP Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OFdFWUmp10kB03TMvRCUk

Link to all episodes on APPLE podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jazz-for-peace-podcast-featuring-rick-dellaratta/id1771220129

Season 2 Episode 14 welcomes our first guest from the state of Montana as Larry Plant provides not only a great book but a way of life that resonates with the mission of Jazz for Peace and “The Final Solution is LOVE!” inspiring Ricks performance of “Everybody’s Talkin at Me” from Midnight Cowboy and an additional Cameo of John Coltrane’s Lazy Bird featuring his original Lyrics! Find out more about Larry’s books and Physical Therapy Services, plus education, training, and overall inspiration at
https://www.birdfoodforlife.world

Quote of the Day Received May 2, 2025: “Dear Rick and Colleagues, Thanks for sharing your Passion for Peace with the world and beyond!! The Bird is a symbol for Peace, and Bird Food for Life is a collection of little stories aimed at the furtherance of Peace, through the 7 KEYS to LIFE!!” Thanks again for taking the time and the effort to do what it is that you do, and for including me and my message on your podcast. I love the opportunity to share a positive vision for the future and to shine the light on the good and redeeming side of Life. I am an imperfect person, for sure, but through story, music, song, art, and dance, we can all be set free like the birds of the air to live a more cooperative, harmonious, and productive Life!! Bird Food for Life is my initial contribution of little-stories, and there is so much more to come, including my good HUMOR book “The BaFFLe book of Good HUMOR.” ~ Larry Plant – Missoula, Montana

Bird Food for Life (BFFL) is a kind, generous, colorful and collated collection of little stories in book form aimed at: Health, Healing, Hope, Humor, Happy, Harmony, and Hallelujah. It is simply one man’s reflection on Life in Life, for a bigger, better, brighter, lighter and more bountiful future together forever.

Bird Food for Life (BFFL) began as a Dietary consideration that Larry Plant observed and engaged in the Life and times in and around Lake Havasu City, Arizona, some time ago. BFFL sets forth the notion that Life is full of choices; choices in what we do, who we talk to, what we watch on tv, the internet, movie theatres, and what and how much food and drinks we consume on a daily basis. The key is to eat only what we like from the smorgasbord of Life; pick and choose what we please and savor the flavor of each and every bite. Life is meant to be lived, so while we are alive let us live to our fullest; one bite at a time, one step at a time, and one relationship, at a time. BFFL has now grown into the little-stories that we tell each other; you could tell Larry a story to feed his Life, and he could tell you a story to feed your Life. Bird Food for Life is for everybody!!

Life is a gift that has been given to us freely and by no measure of our own; it is simpler than it seems to be and only requires air, food, water, shelter, and clothing: but is often complicated by the the environment, desires, and actions that are found within the grasp of our own hands. This is the source, the manner, and the means of the “BaFFLe,” that is shared-for and cared-for here in these little stories. BFFL exemplifies Life and how it can be engaged-in through a little, lighter, brighter, more beautiful perspective and participation in this present and precious little-Life of ours. A Life lived in a more-meaningful and more-neighborly way leads to a grander and more glorious participation and experience. This is the way of the BFFL.

Learning to love, to care and to share with those in our midst through the good times and the bad; to include the problems, pitfalls, and proclamations of this present-day world, provides the air that we breathe, the wind beneath our wings, the water in our streams and the gentle breeze alongside to blow all our problems away. This is the wonderful contribution of our guest Larry Plant as detailed in this episode!

Season 2 Episode 13 kicks off with the Joyful Sales Approach of Lynn Whitbeck, an Expert in B2B relationship first sales rapidly creating sustainable profitable sales growth while setting your clients up for success. Join us as Lynn shows us winning sales techniques that all of us can carry through life inspiring Rick to perform 2 different songs of the same name – All of Me! Learn more about Lynn’s amazing sales concepts at https://petite2queen.com/

Click HERE for the full interview on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s-2-e-13-lynn-whitbeck-the-joyful-sales-consultant/id1771220129?i=1000714629108

and Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OFdFWUmp10kB03TMvRCUk

Lynn Whitbeck is the Queen of Sales. Business Owners and Entrepreneurs hire Lynn to ignite winning sales teams, because most are chasing down clients, stuck in a chaotic sales cycle, and lacking client retention, conversions, and profits. So, she helps transform thinking to the client’s perspective, ending sales chaos with a robust strategic plan to harvest the hidden profits. Bottomline: Lynn will ignite your sales and unleash lasting profits.

Lynn’s core value is to be of service. It’s what drives her. Every morning she wakes up and says, “There are so many things I get to do today.” Lynn is the Founder and CEO of Petite2Queen, and you may have seen Lynn in USA Today, HuffPost, Chicago Tribune, and more! When she is not working with clients, Lynn loves visiting National Parks, cooking, and playing Pokémon Go. Enjoy this empowering episode and don’t forget to visit Lynn at https://petite2queen.com/

AND ~ 
LET’S DO THIS.
HELP us Take the World from ZERO to ONE HUNDRED! 
Help JAZZforPEACE in its efforts to take the world from 0% funding all the way to 100% funding for World Peace by clicking on the DONATE button at the very bottom of our homepage at ⁠https://jazzforpeace.org/
or directly at this link: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jazzforpeace