Out of the Blue - The Podcast: Finding the Way Forward

Out of the Blue-the Podcast features interviews with inspirational survivors of traumatic out of the blue events who have overcome unimaginable challenges, sharing their stories of resilience and triumph. By sharing these stories, "Out of the Blue" aims to create a community where others who have faced similar hardships can find solace and strength as together, we find the way forward.

Out of the Blue - The Podcast: Finding the Way Forward is a education podcast hosted by Vernon West, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Vernon West hosts Out of the Blue - The Podcast: Finding the Way Forward, a education show with 42 episodes published.

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  Episode #42

  In The Studio with First-Call Guitarist Tim Pierce

  Aug 19, 202648 minS2

  Tim Pierce is one of Los Angeles’s most respected session guitarists. You’ve probably heard his music and just didn't know it. Here he discusses the mechanics of a lasting music career: getting the call, delivering fast, and why success in the studio can outlive any tour. We start with the roots: Albuquerque, the magic of 1960's Top 40 radio, guitar heroes, and the moment Tim decides to pour everything into the instrument. He shares what touring taught him during years with Rick Springfield and why he ultimately chooses the studio “laboratory” instead. Tim explains the mindset of a first-call studio musician, including the hard choice to stay home and be available when the life-changing phone call comes. Then we talk about today’s music industry: streaming royalties, unfair record deals, and why ownership matters more than ever. Tim lays out the direct-to-fan path and what it really takes to build an audience that supports your work. He then tells the story of recording with Phil Collins and connects it all to discipline, sobriety, consistency, and delayed gratification. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

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  Episode #41

  The “Book Cover” of Addiction with Tony Shimkin

  Aug 5, 202647 minS2

  Composer and producer Tony Shimkin grew up surrounded by songwriting and record production, and built his own path through studio sessions and high-level creative work. But the part that almost took him out wasn’t a bad deal – it was addiction, secrecy, and the slow drift away from truth. We talk with Tony about the “book cover” problem: the outside looks successful, the inside is falling apart. He walks us through his early sobriety followed by the intense relapse later in life. The turning point hits hard – his son discovers what’s been hidden, and the family draws a line. Tony then goes into what surrender actually looks like day to day. Then the story widens into purpose. Tony becomes a certified recovery peer advocate, a responder to non-fatal overdoses with the NYC Department of Health, and even goes back to school for social work. We also dig into the neuroscience of addiction and why a simple mantra like “you are worthy of love and respect” can start rewiring a life. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

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  Episode #40

  Emotional Intelligence and Drive with Dr. Michelle Nemec

  Jul 23, 202645 minS2

  A casual suggestion can change everything if you’re willing to act on it. We sit down with Dr. Michelle Nemec, a keynote speaker, author, educator, and solicitor from Sydney, Australia, to to learn what she's learned from six degrees, multiple career reinventions, and a life built on courage and curiosity. Michelle breaks down emotional intelligence in plain terms: how we regulate emotions, read the room, build resilience, and protect our well-being. We talk about why teacher well-being matters as much as curriculum and why "positive education” works best when it’s lived from leadership all the way down. We also move into the courtroom side of her life, including her experience across multiple areas of law and what she’s seen in community legal work. That segues into conversation about justice systems, incarceration cycles, and the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in detention. Michelle also shares stories of endurance, which connects with Vernon’s experience as a leukemia survivor. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

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  Episode #39

  Music That Made Us Feel Alright: Remembering Dave Mason with Steve Thoma

  Jul 8, 202644 minS2

  Dave Mason’s songs didn’t just chart, they attached themselves to people’s lives. Musician and longtime collaborator Steve Thoma returns to the podcast for a heartfelt, sometimes hilarious, always honest remembrance of a classic icon whose fingerprints stretch from English rock band Traffic to generations of radio staples. Steve takes us into the real world behind the legend: stories of the walk from the stage to the tour bus where fans would share their admiration, and Dave’s surprisingly human struggle to answer that kind of love. We also get deep into the craft of music, from four piece bands and playing with dynamics and taste, to how a pair of New York City shows turned into “The 40,000 Headmen Tour: Live” album with zero studio polish. Then we discuss the music business. We talk independent labels, classic rock radio, and the kind of record deal that felt rare at the time until a major label changed the math. The result is a portrait of an artist full of charm, contradictions, and commitment. Steve Thoma misses playing with Dave more than anyone else. Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

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  Episode #38

  Sound Healing and A New Vision for Care with Dr. Janine Ambrose

  Jun 24, 202644 minS2

  Dr. Janine Ambrose grew up learning from nature’s rhythms, then found herself pulled into intuitive counseling shaped by experiences that blended faith, spirit, and a steady desire to help people heal. What unfolds is a grounded but expansive talk about how transformation can arrive without warning and how we respond when it does. We discuss sound healing and frequency therapy, including music designed to support chakra alignment and even sinus relief. We trade ideas about the future of holistic health and integrative medicine. Dr. Ambrose's method is care that treats the whole person through sound, light, breath, nature, and a spiritual component that helps reclaim meaning after illness or crisis. Dr. Ambrose also shares her yogi-led awakening and the kind of spirit encounter that can change your definition of “self” forever, plus vivid moments of manifestation, communication with animals, and even the slowing of time. We connect the dots between trauma healing and laughter, and why joy can be a real tool for resilience. Follow Dr. Janine Ambrose: @janinemealhow Support the show Out Of The Blue: Exclusive content: outoftheblue-thepodcast.org/blog

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