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🌙 AFTER DARK EPISODE 2 IS HERE! And NO ONE prepared us for THIS! 🎙️

Biting incidents, questionable career decisions, unexpected bodily functions, and lessons we DEFINITELY didn't learn in music therapy school!

Rachael and Ericha are back with another Sparkles & Sunshine: After Dark episode, spilling the tea on “Things We Wish We Had Known Earlier in Our Careers!”

🎶 Real stories.
😂 Unfiltered chaos.
💛 Hard-earned wisdom.
🔥 And a few moments that probably deserve a WARNING LABEL!

Because sometimes the best professional development comes from surviving the experience! 🤣

🎧 LISTEN NOW — AFTER DARK EPISODE 2!

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favorite podcast platforms!

📺 Catch the unedited chaos on YouTube!

💬 YOUR TURN: What's one thing you wish someone had warned you about before starting your career? 👇

✨ Keep sparkling, keep shining, and remember… ALWAYS watch your back! ☀️

#SparklesAndSunshine #AfterDark #MusicTherapyPodcast #MusicTherapy #MTBC #ThingsWeWishWeKnew #PodcastHumor #MusicTherapistLife

If you'd like to be on our next episode or would like to share some of your answers to our questions. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or email us at hello@sparklesandsunshine.net!

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☀️✨ EPISODE 10 IS HERE! Big Personality, Fun-Sized Package, and a Whole Lot of SPARKLE! 🎙️💖

What do music therapy, DEI, professional burnout, Animal Crossing, a former homecoming queen, and garlic Parmesan pretzels have in common?

CHELSEA! 👑✨

This week on Sparkles & Sunshine: A Music Therapy Podcast, Rachael and Ericha welcome Chelsea Mabes—music therapist, educator, clinical supervisor, doctoral candidate, and self-proclaimed fun-sized human with a SIX-FOOT personality!

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:

💛 Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Creating space for meaningful conversations and growth within our profession.

🎶 Music therapy careers: Finding your path, embracing change, and balancing all the pieces of your professional "pie."

🌈 Burnout, boundaries, and self-care: Learning when to say YES, when to say NO, and how to protect your joy.

👑 Homecoming royalty: Because apparently we're interviewing actual queens now!

🎮 Animal Crossing, crunchy snacks, and questionable life choices: Because would it really be Sparkles & Sunshine without a little chaos?

And Chelsea leaves us with an important reminder:

"Don't yuck someone else's yum!" 💖

Whether you're a music therapist, student, educator, or someone figuring out your next chapter, this episode is packed with laughter, perspective, and a whole lot of heart!

🎧 LISTEN NOW — EPISODE 10!

Find Sparkles & Sunshine: A Music Therapy Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favorite podcast platforms!

📺 Catch our unedited shenanigans on YouTube!

💬 YOUR TURN! What's something that brings you joy that other people just don't understand? Tell us below—and remember, this is a YUCK-FREE ZONE! 😂

✨ Keep sparkling, keep shining, and protect your joy! ☀️

If you'd like to be on our next episode or would like to share some of your answers to our questions. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or email us at hello@sparklesandsunshine.net!

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☀️✨ EPISODE 9 IS HERE! Grab the tissues… and prepare to meet Mr. Toad! 🐸💛🎙️

What do dementia, 49 years of marriage, a man nicknamed "Toad," questionable smartphone skills, The Temptations, and a whole lot of love have in common?

JIM! 💛

This week on Sparkles & Sunshine: A Music Therapy Podcast, Rachael and Ericha welcome Jim, affectionately known as Mr. Toad, for a conversation that had us laughing one minute and fighting back tears the next.

After spending 17 years as a caregiver for his beloved wife, Kathleen, Jim has turned his personal experiences into a powerful mission: helping create communities where individuals living with dementia and their caregivers feel welcomed, supported, and valued.

And let us tell you… this man has STORIES! 🐸

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:

💛 Love, marriage, and dementia: What it truly means to love and support someone through the progression of dementia.

🧠 Caregiving and community: Why caregivers need support, connection, and understanding just as much as the people they care for.

🎶 The power of music: How one unforgettable moment with The Temptations' "My Girl" reminds us that music can create meaningful connections, even near the end of life.

🌈 Dementia-friendly communities: How Jim is helping change the conversation around dementia and encouraging others to lead with compassion.

🐸 The legend of Mr. Toad: Because apparently being compared to a cute little toad is a perfectly acceptable expression of true love.

📱 Technology versus Jim: Let's just say his smartphone might have a mind of its own… and possibly a smarter backside. 😂

But underneath the laughter, the stories, and our usual Sparkles & Sunshine shenanigans is a message we hope EVERYONE hears.

"We can't yet cure Alzheimer's or any of the other dementia diseases… But until we get a cure, we can offer community." — Jim 💛

And THAT is what this episode is all about.

Whether you're a music therapist, caregiver, family member, healthcare professional, or simply someone who believes in the power of kindness and connection, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

⚠️ Fair warning: This episode may result in unexpected tears, uncontrollable laughter, and an overwhelming desire to hug someone you love.

🎧 LISTEN NOW — EPISODE 9!

Find Sparkles & Sunshine: A Music Therapy Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favorite podcast platforms!

📺 Want to see the facial expressions that go along with our emotional roller coaster? Check out our unedited conversation on YouTube!

💬 We want to hear from YOU! What's a song that instantly reminds you of someone you love? Drop it in the comments! 🎶💛

✨ Keep sparkling, keep shining, and remember… sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is simply showing up. ☀️

#SparklesAndSunshine #MusicTherapyPodcast #Episode9 #MrToad #DementiaAwareness #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #MusicTherapy #MTBC #DementiaFriendlyCommunities #ThePowerOfMusic #MyGirl #Caregiving #LoveAndConnection #MusicAndMemory

If you'd like to be on our next episode or would like to share some of your answers to our questions. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, or email us at hello@sparklesandsunshine.net!