Yesterday I wrote about knowing when to leave the band. Today I want to riff on the joy of being in the same room with a bandmate. For our seventh episode of Real Riffs, Donya Ball and I got to record together at my home in North Carolina. Spending that time with a valued friend and thought partner was as much a joy as making the episode itself.
There’s a rhythm to sharing the same space. You can see when a thought lands, give a pause a little room, and hear a story take a turn you couldn’t have planned. We took a cue from folks who had encouraged us to “just go.” That’s the spirit of Real Riffs for me. We get to talk about real things in real time and see where the conversation leads.
One of those turns took me back to my first principalship. I remembered realizing that the team could carry the work forward without me. That changed how I thought about leaving a role and how I learned to cheer for talented people when they were ready for a bigger opportunity. We riffed on Wham! and the partnership between George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, which gave us another way to talk about how much a band can matter even after its members go their separate ways.
Donya’s riff on “checking yourself” has stayed with me. Her point was about staying close to the people, habits, and values that keep you grounded when the job gets loud or the attention starts to feed your ego. I value a bandmate who can go from talking about music to asking what it takes to stay present for the people we love. Those are the conversations I wish we had more often.
Donya and I feel like this is a special episode, and we’d love for you to spend some time with it. Watch or listen using the links below, subscribe to Real Riffs, and leave us a comment. We’d love to know which part of the conversation stayed with you.
Watch or listen
- Apple Podcasts
https://bit.ly/4iK5lZC - YouTube
https://youtu.be/klNBYuUYAj8 - Spotify
https://bit.ly/48abNUX
Sponsor Real Riffs
Donya and I would love to make this a monthly studio session, and we’re looking for a sponsor to help us cover studio time. If you or your organization would like to sponsor Real Riffs and help us get back in the same room each month, email me at sgaillard84@gmail.com.
