Chris Gibson is this week's guest and this local minister, counselor and jill-of-all-trades is one of our most talkative guests with one of the longest Spotify playlists to date on Life is a Song! Listen to find out why the Jock James Album is one of the best albums ever made and Bruno Mars should go to therapy based on his song "Grenade."Key Moments: Chris talks about seeing Weird Al in concert years ago and when he sang the song "One More Minute" and sang the line, "I'd rather spend eternity eating shards of broken glass/Than spend one more minute with you," he personally gave her the boxers he was wearing on stage.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1KWXgIxeTWO5u7OdTMUFGu?si=692c9f8459094985&pt=264b54716f4ccf052cad385cd64170b0

Crystal Waldron is a librarian and free speech and equal rights advocate. She has a crush and love of Billy Idol, who appears on her list along with Jackson Browne, Tegan and Sara and Bruce Springsteen.Key Moments: These women in their 40s discuss how Miley Cyrus's "We Used to Be Young" hit them in their feels the first time they heard it.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wJxt14QwqgYYomLKday4l?si=823860bd5d664ef3&pt=59944bb1e2a71a6182a7eaa647e5827c

Terry Sauls is a vocalist and a college friend of Melissa and this week’s guest on Life is a Song. Terry’s list is influenced by choral numbers from his past along with Josh Groban, Disturbed and Tupac.Key Moments: Terry talks about his memories singing in college choir and how they shaped his life.Spotify playlist: https://spotify.link/KK995ZgYxXb

Our most requested guest is FINALLY on the podcast, Dr. Sue Robinson, aka my Mom! Dr. Sue tells about seeing Elvis, The Rolling Stones and Commodores in concert, along with her well documented love of Tupac Shakur. Tune into wherever you find podcasts to hear more!Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/541R4UNmNdFIURyr8OVTld?si=az6CFUjYR_2_OEG-ONO7qw&pt=5f1354ae3df7b0451d29c43a9d546986&pi=2P2n3XvwSU6db

After 1 year and over 50 episodes, Melissa looks back at the top songs and artists discussed on the podcast while looking forward to a new year of Life is a Song.

 We’re back with another episode of Liner Notes and in this episode, Melissa explores live music and concerts she’s seen and would like to see. There are a couple questions asked during our episodes about concerts, and we’re going to explore these questions through some of my answers and memories.Key moments: The inspiration for this episode is Radiohead’s new live drop of Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003-2009).Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6NYyPZydlvI8WLTRH22PW2?si=d3WAj97GQA26ERS41KHkfQ&pi=dtZQX1DuR5GuP

Kevin Miner is this week's guest on Life is a Song! On top of being an amazing vocalist himself, Kevin's list features a number of great vocalists including Ben Platt, Pentatonix and a number of Broadway standards and classics.Key moments: Kevin talks about how he relates to Olaf from Frozen and various songs from "Dear Evan Hansen" with some touching, personal anecdotes.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/61qtg9RnjwXLVjENDiMnXi?si=b8c756ba69494020&pt=cd5f715f17dcd2b51a0ef0c39d89a842

 Local music teacher Ashlee Schmiedekamp is this week’s guest on Life is a Song. She has a deep love of the musical RENT, classic pop hits from the 1980s and Harry Connick, Jr.Key moments: Ashlee and Melissa talk about the importance of the Broadway musical RENT in their lives including Ashlee’s tattoo quoting  a famous lyric from the show.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2yw80AN5rfT6AnRQZQztfY?si=PCbBB2IhTo-mvJI_gE7bqw&pi=9CIFcpplTeKaH&pt=5b38ebbb396853dd571227d73686a13b

Amanda Harman is a community service queen and this week’s guest on Life is a Song. She loves Death Cab for Cutie, Taylor Swift and Florence and the Machine. What else has made Amanda’s list? Tune in to find out wherever you find your podcasts.Key moments: Amanda’s fandom of Taylor Swift is connected to her relationship with her daughter. Listen to her story of listening and singing along to Swift’s Midnights album together.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1MVOZe3jhieqKYl5aOOL86?si=TxechixWQ_SrLE6OCh8LOg&pt=c4726bb57dff316d8490ceb3b13bf2fb&pi=1FEMrTpyTv6Pn

This week's guest is Victoria Brewer, a creative woman whose list features songs from Broadway musicals, television and film along with Fleet Foxes, Lou Rawls and Whitney Houston.Key moments: Victoria tells a story of how her aunt remembers her as a toddler in the backseat of her aunt's car belting "I'm Every Woman" along with Whitney Houston. Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/39eoUgAPaY5XiKBmxZksEV?si=QbqNjzeZScOX9S1Chb00yw&pi=0tRFuCjqSmyB5

It's a new season of Life is a Song and we're kicking it off with guest Lincoln Crowder! Lincoln's list is diverse featuring gay anthems, songs by Chopin, Bill Withers, Eminem and more! Listen to this new season now!Key moments: In a conversation that goes from Will Ferrell to Nick Cage, Lincoln and Melissa get off-topic and pitch two new podcasts for Rogue: City of Assholes and Equal Opportunity Haters and things get crazy.Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Vaw31JmEUIrmMByMWgRuO

This week’s guest is Emsley Yasko and finishes up our two-part episode. Emsley is our youngest guest on the pod and daughter of Kami. Her live has been shaped by music from the 2010s and YouTube. Wanna feel old? Listen to this take on music from a GenAlpha! Key moments: "What Was I Made For" by Billie Eilish from the Barbie movie hits no many times you've seen it. Watch it again. Haven't seen the Barbie movie? Why not?!?! WATCH IT NOW! Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BG7NAFYiW8k44QsBZsTpR?si=X9g3q_T7QOmtm3pDiIbF8g

This week’s guest is Kami Yasko and the first part of a two-part episode. Kami is actively involved in various arts institutions in Waco and has amazing memories with every song on her list. Tune in to listen to her stories and song choices now! Key moments: The Beatles have multiple songs with key memories to her life including a beautiful story holding her newborn daughter and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59NJg2mvzjJV4g87Err8Ji?si=7ASKzOhlRm6PuHXMQ73vlA

We’re back with another episode of Liner Notes and in this episode, Melissa is exploring songs that speak to her when life is affecting her mental health. These songs help her know she’s not alone and that she can get through whatever life throws at her. What are your songs that help your mental health? Share them with us! Key moments: It’s OK not to be OK and a song that makes Melissa’s list states that in the title (I promise). Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4onoMKwjZDaq7Pw5MbR0Xy?si=38bMELKMTFC4ywk4K7IdTg&pi=lmMjl73ORpalE

This week's guest is the executive director of Waco Civic Theatre, Kelly McGregor! Kelly's life is influenced by Canadian music, musical theatre and some surprises.  Key moments: Kelly talks about how her recent on stage experience, the musical John and Jen, connects to her experiences with motherhood. Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0SBDcptNxrXwQxVKu7FS50?si=vXtevVpNQzSTptRmflyJfg

This week’s guest is JG Heidenheimer! JG is retired Navy officer and has traveled the world, met various presidents and did theatre in college with our host, Melissa. He loves music from TV shows, movies and theatre. Which ones? Listen to find out! Key moments: JG is a fan of the song “Suicide is Painless,” known as the theme song from M*A*S*H. The song has meaning in his life from both youth and his career in the Navy as an adult.  Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/072Jt54K30siWR0UZQOLfT?si=hJCeokaETuOfRKQMhTwcCg&pi=0L_ncK9ITY6Il

We're going behind the scenes today with one of our editors and recording specialists from Rogue Media Network, Mason! He has a deep love of nu-metal and will not apologize for it and many of his favorite songs come from video games. He also gives extra answers of some of his musical favorites, because he knows this show almost as much as Melissa does! Key moments: Mason flips the mic and asks Melissa some questions and her thoughts on what albums she can listen to beginning to end. Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5HwJbwEiVVd7xa9uFiPgkG?si=GPwOLrldQj2bAXlJv5mX4w 

He's back, but this time it's musical! Melissa's BFF Spencer is back but this time they're talking about songs from musical theatre. Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber and his shared love of actor Anthony Rapp with Melissa. Listen for more show tunes and theatre stories in this week's episode. Key moments: The musical Chicago plays a huge part in Spencer and Melissa's friendship. Listen to learn the origins of their friendship. Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/002uwvTGAHLKMgiJ36U5Vg?si=OEf0ahlORu60rsuNTW9fiQ