Selma Zollman – Music Therapy & Healing Through Song
Art Heals All Wounds
05/14/25
•29m
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Featured In
Selma Zollman shares how music therapy in hospitals helps with grief, emotional healing, and creative well-being.
In this episode, I’m joined by Selma Zollman, a music therapist and member of Brazilian Voices—a nonprofit female vocal group based in South Florida. For over 22 years, Brazilian Voices has been bringing the tranquil sounds of Bossa Nova into hospitals, medical facilities, and schools, uplifting patients, families, and healthcare workers through music.
What You'll Hear:
- Pam’s personal journey with grief and how art and music can provide solace in times of loss.
- Selma Zollman’s story of following her passion for music therapy and joining Brazilian Voices.
- The transformative power of harmony—how Brazilian Voices uses soft, multi-part singing to create a gentle ambiance in hospitals, allowing patients, families, and staff to simply “be.”
- Why the group’s presence is about illumination, not cure, and how performing with “no expectations” brings peace for both singers and listeners.
- Heartfelt anecdotes about the response from patients (including those at end-of-life), their families, and healthcare workers touched by the music.
- Selma’s thoughts on the importance of expanding similar music programs to more hospitals and healthcare settings, despite the challenges around privacy and logistics.
- Ways to follow and learn more about Brazilian Voices, including their Instagram, Facebook, and website.
Learn More:
Find out more about Brazilian Voices:
Connect with the Show:
Host Pam Uzzell welcomes your feedback and stories. Reach out via arthealsallwoundspodcast.com.
Credits:
- Music in this episode: Ketsa, Lobo Loco, and Brazilian Voices
- Editing by Iva Hristova
Previous Episode
Amanda Bush – Yoga & Mindfulness in Schools | Art Heals All Wounds
April 29, 2025
•31m
Episode Summary:
Explore yoga and mindfulness programs for teens that reduce stress and promote creative healing in education.
In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Amanda Bush, a yoga practitioner in residence with Arts in Medicine at Shands UF Health in Gainesville, Florida. Together, we explore Amanda’s vision of bringing yoga and mindfulness practices into middle schools to help students better cope with stress and challenging situations. Drawing on her extensive experience as a middle school educator, Amanda discusses the emotional landscape of adolescence, the potential benefits of integrating yoga and mindfulness into school curriculums, and the obstacles educators face due to underfunding and overburdened staff. The conversation is deeply personal, with both of us sharing our experiences as parents and educators, and it highlights the transformative power of art and movement in healing and supporting young people.
Topics Discussed:
- Amanda’s background in yoga, community outreach, and education
- The unique challenges faced by middle schoolers and the lack of coping resources
- How yoga and mindfulness can provide critical tools for emotional regulation
- Amanda’s experiences implementing yoga and movement workshops for youth
- Barriers to integrating programs like this into schools, including funding and teacher burnout
- The potential for empowering teachers with mindfulness strategies
- Personal stories of transformation through yoga and meditation
- Amanda’s next steps in making her vision a reality
Key Takeaways:
- Middle schoolers are often in emotional limbo, facing adult-level stress without the necessary tools
- Mindfulness and movement can help students manage anxiety, increase self-awareness, and improve resilience
- Making these practices part of the school day (not just after school) would increase accessibility and long-term impact
- Teachers are overwhelmed and underfunded, but can be a powerful ally in supporting student well-being if given the right resources
- Amanda’s work is ongoing, and she aims to expand access and education in this vital area
About the Guest:
Amanda Bush is a yoga practitioner, educator, and community outreach facilitator. She is passionate about integrating yoga and mindfulness into education to support the holistic well-being of young people.
Find Amanda:
- Website: elevatedyogaandwellness.com
- Instagram: @elevatedyogaandwellness and @amanda.elevated.yoga
About the Host:
Pam Uzzell is the creator and host of Art Heals All Wounds, a podcast spotlighting artists whose work brings healing, understanding, and transformation to individuals and communities.
Resources Mentioned:
- Shands UF Health, Gainesville, Florida
- Girls Place (summer camp)
- Breathe for Change (yoga teacher training program focused on educators)
How to Support the Show:
- Follow Art Heals All Wounds on your favorite podcast app
- Leave a five-star rating or review
- Reach out via arthealsallwoundspodcast.com
Credits:
- Music by Ketsa and Lobo Loco
- Podcast editing by Iva Hristova
Thank you for listening! Be sure to connect with Amanda Bush for updates on her journey and the evolution of mindfulness in education.
Next Episode
Larissa Trinder – Arts in Medicine & Healing
May 28, 2025
•35m
Discover how arts in medicine transform hospitals to support healing, well-being, and community engagement.
In this episode of Art Heals All Wounds, I sit down with Larissa Trinder, the Assistant Vice President for Arts in Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals. Larissa shares the transformative power of art within healthcare, discussing how intentional art initiatives and community engagement can improve hospital environments, support staff, and promote wellness for patients—including those in marginalized communities.
Key Topics Covered
· Larissa’s Path to Arts in Medicine:
Larissa shares her personal journey, starting with her son’s experience with dyslexia and the role of art in boosting his self-esteem, ultimately leading to his career as an animator.
· History of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Art Collection:
The hospital system holds over 7,500 works of art, one of the largest public art collections in NYC, originating from the 1930s Works Progress Administration. The collection includes iconic works like Abram Champanier’s Alice in Wonderland panels and a Keith Haring mural raising AIDS awareness.
· Art as a Tool for Engagement and Healing:
Larissa explains how art programs serve not just to beautify spaces, but to foster community, support staff well-being, and highlight critical social issues like gun violence and support for asylum seekers.
· Highlighted Projects:
o Art programs in correctional health services at Rikers Island, including a mural at the reentry center co-created by incarcerated individuals and artist Dindga McCannon.
o Guns Down, Life Up—an arts initiative embedded in hospital violence prevention programs.
Upcoming Events & Announcements
· Documentary Premiere:
Hidden Art Healing Walls will air on WNET’s Treasures of New York and all PBS stations in early 2026, showcasing the Art in Medicine program.
· Major Exhibition:
An exhibition of the Abram Champanier murals opens at the Museum of the City of New York, June–September 2026—the museum’s largest show of the year.
· New Exhibitions:
o We Belong Here (opens June 4, 2026): An exhibition highlighting immigrant support through NYC Care, with works by three immigrant artists displayed citywide.
o Housing for Health/Street Health Outreach: In collaboration with NYU’s Healing Arts Week (fall 2026), featuring art created by patients experiencing homelessness.
How to Learn More
· Bloomberg Connects App:
Search for NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine to view a digital collection and learn more about their programming.
· Official Website:
NYC Health + Hospitals – Arts in Medicine
(Note: The site is being updated but contains extensive information.)
· Book:
Healing Walls – Features photos and stories of the community mural program.
Connect with Art Heals All Wounds
Website: arthealsallwoundspodcast.com
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