Everyday Creation
Everyday Creation is about purpose, awe and good vibrations. The show's title refers to three types of creation: The ways we express ourselves (for example, with art, music and so many other pursuits fueled by purpose and passion); the parts of life that fill us with awe (birth, death, love, the big picture); and our personal power to create our best possible lives while also making the world a better place. Here, you’ll encounter interviews, essays and some episodes created simply for information and fun. I'm your host Kate Jones, welcoming you to Everyday Creation.
Episodes
94 episodes
Hall of Fame Songwriter Mark James was Hooked on Creating Hits for Other Performers
After serving in the Vietnam War, Mark James moved to Memphis and soon his songwriting career took off. In just two years — 1968 and '69 — he wrote "Eyes of a New York Woman," "Hooked on a Feeling" and "It's Only Love" for B.J. Thomas.
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Season 2
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Episode 93
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2:21
The Sherman Brothers Wrote an Oscar-Winning Score for Disney but Weren't Always a Harmonious Pair
Richard Sherman and his brother Robert wrote two hit songs — "Tall Paul" and "You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful (And You're Mine)" — before Walt Disney hired them to write exclusively for him. In 1965, they won an Oscar for Best Ori...
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Season 2
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Episode 92
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2:37
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was an Accidental Hit for Doug Ingle and Iron Butterfly
Vocalist and keyboardist Doug Ingle is known for writing Iron Butterfly's iconic rock song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," originally over 17 minutes long. The song, which had only 30 words, turned out to be a happy accident for the band. It reached 30 o...
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Season 2
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Episode 91
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2:21
Virtuoso Saxophonist David Sanborn Did a Bang-Up Job Throughout His Stellar Career
David Sanborn learned to play the alto sax at age 11; by his early teens, he was playing in blues clubs. As a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, he performed at Woodstock; in the '70s and '80s, he collaborated with such major arti...
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Season 2
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Episode 90
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2:18
Guitarist Duane "Rebel Rouser" Eddy Influenced Hendrix, Springsteen and Many Others
Guitarist Duane Eddy, whose signature sound was known as twang, began playing guitar at age five and later became an early rock music influencer. John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival referred to him as "the first rock and ro...
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Season 2
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Episode 89
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2:18
Moody Blues Co-Founder Mike Pinder wasn't Describing Himself When He Wrote "Melancholy Man"
Singer, songwriter and musician Mike Pinder co-founded the Moody Blues in 1964. The British band initially played R&B and covers before shifting direction toward original songs. Pinder wrote 27 songs for the band, including "Mel...
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Season 2
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Episode 88
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2:29
Allman Brothers Guitarist Dickey Betts Thought of Himself as a "Ramblin' Man"
Dickey Betts, who played lead guitar for the Allman Brothers Band along with Duane Allman, was crucial in the development of Southern rock. After Duane's death in 1971, Betts became the band's leader. Betts also wrote the lyrics to their bigges...
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Season 2
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Episode 87
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2:20
Clarence Henry, who opened for the Beatles, Scored a Hit Singing Like a Frog on "Ain't Got No Home"
Clarence "Frogman" Henry opened for the Beatles 18 times during their 1964 U.S. tour. He was known for his hit song "Ain't Got No Home," which he created extemporaneously while playing at a New Orleans club in 1956. The song reached number thre...
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Season 2
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Episode 86
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2:48
C.J. Snare of Firehouse Hadn't Found His "Love of a Lifetime" When He Wrote that Song
C.J. Snare, frontman and main songwriter for Firehouse, wrote the hit "Love of a Lifetime" before joining the band. The song was Firehouse's most successful single, reaching number five on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1991.To watch Snare perfo...
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Season 2
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Episode 85
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2:44
Singer, Songwriter and Raspberries Founder Eric Carmen Had Hits All by Himself
Eric Carmen, whose aunt was a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, had a natural talent for music even as a kid. In 1970, he founded the Raspberries, known for their hit single "Go All The Way," which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 84
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2:41
Singer Steve Lawrence of "Steve & Evie" Fame Had His Own Top-10 Hits Including "Go Away Little Girl"
Steve Lawrence had a successful solo career with four top 10 hits in the early 1960s: "Pretty Blue Eyes," "Portrait of My Love," "Party Doll," and "Go Away Little Girl." The latter reached number one in 1962. Lawrence, who died in M...
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Season 2
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Episode 83
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2:47
Randy Sparks Formed the New Christy Minstrels and Wrote Their Hit Song, "Today"
Randy Sparks, who died in February 2024, began his career during the folk music craze of the late 1950s and early '60s. In 1961, the singer-songwriter merged his group with two others to form the New Christy Minstrels. Sparks wrote "Tod...
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Season 2
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Episode 82
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3:11
Musician and Funny Man Mojo Nixon was Best Known for "Elvis is Everywhere"
Mojo Nixon died while hosting the Outlaw Country Cruise in February 2024. His family said he left this earth "after a blazing show, a raging night, closing the bar, taking no prisoners ..." He was 66, enjoying himself until the end.
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Season 2
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Episode 81
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2:58
Superstar Toby Keith Didn't Need to be a Cowboy to Score His First #1 Hit
Toby Keith was a superstar in country music and outside of that genre. A singer-songwriter whose music often reflected personal experiences, he had 65 singles on the country charts, including 20 #1 hits. "Should've Been a Cowbo...
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Season 2
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Episode 80
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3:01
Wayne Kramer and Dennis Thompson of the Controversial Band MC5 Knew How to "Kick Out the Jams"
The MC5 (Motor City 5) probably was known best for the controversies it created and for the influence it had on other musicians. The band put out three albums, "Kick Out the Jams" (live 1969), "Back in the USA" (1970) and "High Time" (1971), an...
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Season 2
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Episode 79
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3:19
Tony Award-Winner Chita Rivera's Decades-Long Career on Broadway Included a Rousing "All That Jazz"
Chita Rivera, Broadway's "first triple threat," became a star in 1957 with her role as Anita in "West Side Story." She won a Tony Award for her role in "The Ring" in 1986 and a second Tony in 1993 for "Kiss of the Spider Woman."Sheldon ...
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Season 2
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Episode 78
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3:03
Melanie, a Soloist at Woodstock, Had a #1 Hit with "Brand New Key"
Melanie was 22 and relatively unknown in the U.S. when she was invited to perform at Woodstock. Her set, which began at 1:30 a.m. in front of a throng of people holding lit candles in the rain, inspired her to write "Lay Down (Candles in the Ra...
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Season 2
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Episode 77
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3:05
Shangri-Las' Lead Singer Mary Weiss Led the Way on "Leader of the Pack"
Mary Weiss, the lead singer of the Shangri-Las, achieved fame at 15 with the hit song "Leader of the Pack." Her personal life wasn't easy, though, and she put a lot of her own emotions into the song.The Shangri-Las had their very first ...
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Season 2
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Episode 76
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3:08
"Starsky & Hutch" Actor David Soul Didn't Give Up on His First Love, which was Singing
David Soul was known for his role as Hutch in the TV series "Starsky & Hutch," although his first love was singing. He had his first hit song, "Don't Give Up on Us," at the peak of his acting fame. It was a Billboard number 1 hit in the U.S...
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Season 2
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Episode 75
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2:52
The Lord's Prayer with a Twist
For 2025, I'm offering a version of The Lord's Prayer that I learned a long time ago and also wishing you a wonderful new year.
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Season 1
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Episode 74
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0:57
The 23rd Psalm for the Holidays
This holiday season, I'm offering a simple recitation of the 23rd Psalm. As I mention in the introduction, this psalm is a good reminder that we're not out here alone in the "jungles of time and space," as New York Times bestselling author Mike...
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Season 1
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Episode 73
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1:19
What's Up with "What if"?
In this episode, I do my best to explain my "What if" series which, so far, includes three essays on themes related to spirituality: divine connection (#1), our grand adventure (#68), and fairness (#71).Apart from the series, I've also ...
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Season 1
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Episode 72
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4:22
What if ... it's all fair?
This short essay about fairness is the third in a series. If it intrigues you in any way, please check out the first two "What ifs," which are Episode 1 and Episode 68. I explain the long gap between the two in the description for #68.
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Season 1
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Episode 71
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1:38
Appreciating the Herd on a Day of Giving Thanks
A food and wine extravaganza in Michigan becomes so much more when every friend matters, and everyone's story counts. Learn more in this short episode inspired by Jackie Stevenson's
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Season 1
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Episode 70
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3:01
Lessen Stress, Increase Happiness: An Afterthought
This is a follow-up to Episode 30, titled "Less Stress, More Happiness." In that episode, I talk about a simple daily practice that I learned from a friend. To do it, all you need is to take a moment to breathe in and out, and then say or think...
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Season 1
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Episode 69
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2:28
