Gaelynn Lea on her Memoir "It Wasn't Meant to be Perfect", Music, Disability, and Connection
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
04/09/26
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I’m delighted to welcome back Gaelynn Lea, the disability rights advocate, author, singer-songwriter, and fiddler. If you missed my first conversation with her last year it’s linked in the show notes. I really enjoyed reading her memoir It Wasn’t Meant to be Perfect, and if you haven’t ordered it yet we hope you will after listening to this episode. Gaelynn goes into some of the themes in the book and you’ll be hearing great stories that didn’t make it into the final edits. In fact, you’ll hear about the editing process and about her new book project as well! We start with the documentary Crip Camp which focuses on Judy Heumann and disability rights. You’ll also hear about Denis Huna and inclusive music making, the importance of ASL and other sign languages. We got into the importance of improving communication with medical professionals with people living with disabilities and also why Gaelynn chose to write about love, sexuality and marriage in her memoir. We also did a deep dive into motivating and encouraging music students. We’re including clips from 3 of Gaelynn’s music videos and the full videos on her YouTube are linked in the show notes.
Complete Show Notes with ALL the links!
(00:00) Intro
(02:22) Memoir"It Wasn't Meant To Be Perfect”
(05:56) dealing with medical professionals
(08:23) stories from childhood, ASL and deaf culture
(21:09) Medicaid, about Gaelynn’s song “I Wait” with clip (video linked in show notes)
(26:09) Judy Heumann, film “Crip Camp”, disability rights
(32:06) inclusive music performances Denis Huna
(37:52) sexuality, “It Wasn’t Meant To Be Perfect”
(41:48) other linked episodes and ways to support this series
(42:41) husband Paul, with clip “The Long Way Around” (video linked in show notes), artist Lee Zimmerman
(48:13) problems with pressure and perfectionism in music education
(55:18) Gaelynn’s approach to teaching
(01:02:19) accessible book tour
(1:04:18) clip of “Lost in the Woods” (video linked in show notes)
(01:05:25)making the video, touring, accessibility, Ian Brennan
(01:11:47) love of dancing, childhood story
(01:13:27) next book, editing process for the memoir
Previous Episode
You may know Scott Nygaard from his career as a guitarist in the bluegrass and acoustic scene for more than 30 years, his work as former editor and writer with Acoustic Guitar Magazine, or as one of the co-founders of Peghead Nation. You may not know his novel Evergreen, based on his transformative first year at Evergreen College in 1973. I love a coming of age story, and this is very much a tale musical growth and about the loss of innocence during a time of societal changes . We also explore Scott’s most recent album, Flown South which was recorded after a serious accident, when Scott had to relearn to play guitar.
You’ll also be hearing music from his wonderful album Rosco with the Swedish guitarist Roger Tallroth, best known as a founding member of Väsen. Another collaboration you’ll be hearing about is Crow Molly, which features mandolinist Joe K. Walsh (a previous guest of this podcast). Scott shared his experiences recording with Chris Thile, touring with Joan Baez, and his move to Chile. I really enjoyed this opportunity to hear Scott’s wise observations on what really matters in a creative and connected life well-lived.
take you to the video, Scott Nygaard, other episodes you'll love, podcast newsletter sign up (where you'll get exclusive information about upcoming guests), podcast merchandise and how you can buy me a coffee to support this podcast - as well as the video link and transcript.
(00:00) Intro
(02:20) novel Evergreen, bluegrass, old-time music, racism
(12:35) old-time fiddling
(16:36) Crow Molly band and album with clip of track 5 “Too Hungry”
(18:21) album with Roger Tollroth Rosco with clip of track 6 The Surly Seven
(24:01) more about collaborating with Roger Tollroth, clip of track 9 True North album Rosco
(26:07) challenges of touring, Crow Molly with clip of track 9 Haapavesi album Crow Molly
(29:13) editing and writing for Acoustic Guitar magazine
(31:49) role of flat-picking guitarist in bluegrass and old-time music
(34:00) other episodes you’ll love and ways to support this series!
(34:50) music education and Peghead Nation, bands and community
(41:33) learning to play again after accident, album Flown South with clip of Itutu
(49:20) learning Spanish, wife Claudia losing hearing, sign language
(58:07) Flown South clip of improv “Understanding Makes the Brain Lazy”
(59:46) Evergreen, community of musicians, Peghead Nation, Scott’s books, guitars
(01:11:45) Chris Thiele, Joan Baez
(01:22:51) musical curiosity and advice, Lena Jonsson
Next Episode
Trombonist Jeff Albert joins me for a two-part conversation. The beginning of this episode explores the unique Guthman Musical Instrument Competition at Georgia Tech which celebrates musical inventors from around the world. You’ll be hearing some of these instruments from this year’s competition and you’ll find that information linked in the show notes. The second half of this episode is about Jeff’s life as a trombonist, improvisor, music technologist and professor. You’ll hear about his many years playing and recording in New Orleans across many styles and how digital media pairs with his interest in experimental music. All the music excerpts you’ll hear are linked in the show notes for you, from several of Jeff’s albums. Whether you play in a laptop orchestra or have only the vaguest idea what that means, you’ll enjoy Jeff’s great stories and insights.
I’ve been following the Guthman competition for a couple of years and I’ve also linked several previous episodes for you with musical instrument inventors in the show notes, as well as some of the other trombone players I’ve featured.
You can watch the video on my YouTube or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. It’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the complete show notes of this episode on my website, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast.
(00:00) Intro
(02:12) Guthman Musical Instrument Competition
(06:14) clip of USAWI, video linked
(06:56) College of Design at Georgia Tech
(10:20) clip of Masterpiece, accessible instruments
(13:09) Guthman competition, clip of Demon box, Letheliam Lateef Martin
(20:29) Fiddle Henge with clip
(22:45) Gajveena Debjit Mahalanobiswith clip, remembering Mark Deutsch’s Bazantar
(25:49) VERTO with clip Michael Doron, about Klimchak
(29:14) Krzysztof Cybulski post-digital Sax with clip
(31:53) Jeff Albert, trombonist, New Orleans career
(32:10) linked episodes, newsletter, podcast merch
(32:58) New Orleans scene, improvised music, New Normal album with clip of Sidereal Will
(35:24) Jeff’s blog, changes in the internet for musicians
(41:24) pandemic, album Alone Time with track Grocery Run
(43:47) life of a trombonist, album Unanimous Sources, with clip of Oregano with Intent
(48:05) New Orleans music scene, unexpected path to academic life
(54:37) laptop music, wife trumpeter Alexandria Smith, Atlanta Georgia Tech
photo: Dennis McDonough
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