“I love songs that will give me the emotional reality of something I want to live into, so that I can feel it present tense and anchor that experience…and hold that experience as irrefutable proof of: ‘it’s possible to be there. It’s possible to get there.’” -David Wilcox

Join us for the very first episode of The Lesson is Love as I speak with David Wilcox, a transformative folk singer-songwriter and lifelong learner. In this episode we explore the power songwriting and music-making has in teaching us to access presence and creating space for possibility to flourish. As always, we also talk about dogs. Topics ranged from reactivity (“barking” in both dogs and humans) to the richness of our dog-human relationships. So much magic is created when people come together who love music, love dogs and love love. I hope this conversation resonates and gives you practical ways to live into your best case scenario.

Show Notes:

About the Host, Grisha Stewart:

Grisha Stewart is an author, international speaker, dog trainer, and online dog school facilitator based in Oregon, USA, who specializes in dog reactivity and canine empowerment. She’s been training dogs since 2003. Her two most recent books are Behavior Adjustment Training 2.0: New Practical Techniques for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs and The Official Ahimsa Dog Training Manual: A Practical, Force-Free Guide to Problem Solving and Manners. In 2022, she revealed the update to BAT 3.0 (BAT 2.0 is still the best book on the subject). She presents dog training and behavior seminars around the world and lessons online. There are over 100 different courses in her innovative online dog training school, with more coming every few weeks from a variety of instructors, including Grisha. In addition to her professional pursuits and projects, Grisha is an avid conversationalist and enjoys exploring topics of connection, love, communication, and interspecies community.

About the Guest, David Wilcox:

More than three decades into his career, singer/songwriter David Wilcox continues to push himself, just as he always has. Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well. In the 30 years and more than 20 records since — whether with a major label, an indie company, or his own imprint — Wilcox has continued to hone his craft, pairing thoughtful insights with his warm baritone, open tunings, and deft technique. He's also kept up a brisk and thorough tour itinerary, performing 80 to 100 shows a year throughout the U.S., and regularly deploying his talents by improvising a “Musical Medicine” song for an audience member in need.

Links:

Grisha Stewart’s website

David Wilcox’s website

The Grisha Stewart Academy

The Lesson is Love Podcast Webpage

From the Episode:

David’s Song “We Make the Way by Walking”:

Official Video on Youtube

On Spotify

David’s Most Recent Album, The View From the Edge (Spotify)

David’s Musical Medicine offerings

Talk With Me, a course offered through the Grisha Stewart Academy on learning to interpret your dog’s behavior to cultivate empathy and understanding

Social Media:

David’s Instagram

Grisha’s Instagram Grisha’s Facebook