The Sound Mind

Welcome to The Sound Mind, a podcast by James Berkeley that provides real time perspectives and insights on traversing a creative career - without compromising your mental health.

The Sound Mind is a music podcast hosted by James Berkeley, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

James Berkeley hosts The Sound Mind, a music show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  The Sound Mind

  #30 Manufactured Realness & The Death of Curiosity

  Nov 16, 202514 minS0

  <p>In this episode, I dig into a simple but uncomfortable question: how much of yourself are you willing to change just to be successful? Inspired by Dijon’s conversation with Zane Lowe, I explore the tension between authenticity and validation — how easy it is to shape-shift for the tribe, and how rare it is to build a life that bends around who you actually are. From the pitfalls of creating for approval to the hollowness of “manufactured realness,” I break down why the truest work is messy, personal, and permissionless. With thoughts from Brian Eno and a look at the curr...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Sound Mind

  #29 Stop Overthinking, Start Creating (Kindly)

  Oct 31, 202522 minS0

  <p>In this episode, I talk about being stuck in a rough writing patch — why it happens, and how we gently work through it. From dodging our emotions, comparing ourselves to others, and numbing with our phones, to learning to trust our ideas again. It’s about giving ourselves permission to make “bad” work, creating space for intuition, and remembering that clarity comes from making, not overthinking. Soft effort, kind discipline, and letting creativity speak when we finally get quiet enough to hear it.</p><p>Drop us an email with any thoughts or topics you'd like us to discuss. Give us...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Sound Mind

  #28 Redefining Success as a Creative

  Feb 16, 202525 minS0

  <p>In this episode, I dive into redefining success as a creative and why external markers like getting up early or being constantly busy aren’t the key to growth. I talk about the disconnect between time spent and output, the importance of getting out of the “busy mindset,” and how to focus on what actually moves the needle. I also share my approach to backing vocals, advice for getting into production, tips on time management, and thoughts on finding the right management, label, or agent. Plus, how being more intentional with your creativity can lead to deeper, more fulfilling work.<...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Sound Mind

  #27 Growth, Overwhelm & Staying Grounded

  Feb 2, 202541 minS0

  <p>In this episode, I dive into the wild ride of my recent social media growth - how it’s created opportunities, the pressure that comes with it, and how I’m learning to navigate the highs and lows. I share some go-to phrases that help when things feel overwhelming, plus why doing less (but with more focus) can actually get you further. We also get into your questions on working with producers for the first time, finding artists to collaborate with, and whether social media is really a must for new artists.</p><p>Drop us an email with any...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Sound Mind

  #26 Jed Bevington - String Arranging and Creating Connections Through Collaboration

  Nov 10, 20241h 6mS0

  <p>Today, we welcome Jed Bevington to the podcast. Jed is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, string arranger, and violinist who has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Eloise, Cavetown, Nix Northwest, Enny, Fat Dog, and  my old band, Yakul. Releasing his own music under the name Jed Holland, he brings a unique perspective to both string arranging and songwriting.</p><p>In our chat, we dive into Jed’s approach to writing and arranging, how he works with artists from different genres, and the importance of saying “yes” when you’re starting out. Jed also shares insights on building a network...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Sound Mind. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.