1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me. Welcome to Music Saved Me, the show 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:08,119 Speaker 1: where real people share the moment where music reached in 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 1: and changed everything. I'm Lynn Hoffman, and today's episode of 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: Music Saved Me is so special, not only to me, 5 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: but to my co creator, Buzz Night. We came up 6 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: with this idea to do a contest, and we asked 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: our listeners to tell us their stories, and we put 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: out the call for our very first Music Saved Me contest, 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: and the response was so extraordinary. Stories of grief and 10 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: recovery and loneliness and joy and transmission poured into our inboxes. 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: And when our team read through every single one, one 12 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: story stopped us cold in our tracks. Today. I even 13 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: have goosebumps while I'm reading this. I'm sitting down. We 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: are sitting down with the winner of the Music Saved 15 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: Me contest, Mary McManus. Next on Music Saved Me. Music 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 1: Saved Me, Mary McManus, Welcome to Music Save Me. I'm 17 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: going to bring in Buzz Knight, who created the show 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: with me and built it to what it is today, 19 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,960 Speaker 1: and we are so excited to have you here with us. 20 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: I know I speak for Buzz and saying that because 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: we both went through all the submissions. Buzz, it's Mary 22 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: in the flesh. 23 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: Mary McManus and Lynn Hoffman, two of my favorite people. 24 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 3: Hi oh hi Buzz and Lynn. It is so great 25 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 3: to be here. I got teary eyed when you read 26 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 3: the When you read the Indra doctrine with such passion, 27 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 3: I feel very blessed and very grateful. And I'm Buzz 28 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 3: and I did take in a walk. We did an 29 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 3: episode when he was just getting off the ground with 30 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 3: the podcast, so we have a little history together. But 31 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 3: this is just extraordinary. So thank you for having me. 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: Well, thank you for being had and for living the 33 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: life that you have lived and being willing to share 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: with everyone for the better of others which is just 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: such a special and selfless thing as well. Can you, 36 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: Marry take us back to the moment where music entered 37 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: your life sort of in a way that never had before. 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: Paint the picture for us. Where were you? What were 39 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: you going through at that time? 40 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 3: So when I was five and a half, I contracted 41 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 3: paralytic polio, one of the last polio epidemics, and then 42 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 3: I also endured abuse from parents who were drug addicted, alcoholic, 43 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 3: And when I'm getting goosebumps just remembering this. So I'm about, oh, maybe, 44 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 3: I don't know, seven eight years old and my cousin 45 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 3: Paul Blake comes to our house from the Bronx. Now 46 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 3: Paul Blake, as it turns out, is a producer on Broadway. 47 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 3: He was Tony nominated for Beautiful. But of course back then, 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 3: neither one of us knew how music would be in 49 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 3: both of our futures. But anyway, Paul came to the house. 50 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 3: We had a little, an upright piano, and Paul sat 51 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 3: down at the piano and we had sheet music four 52 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 3: different Broadway shows, and we had books and everything, Rogers 53 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 3: and Hammerstein, Rogers and hard and he sat down and 54 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 3: he started playing, and he said, come on, Mary, sing along. 55 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: Now I can't hold a tune in a bucket, but 56 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: that didn't matter. That was the moment that music changed 57 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 3: my life. Suddenly, all the pain I was going through, 58 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 3: everything that was happening around me, I was transformed into 59 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 3: this other world. And Paul, loving Broadway, told my parents 60 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 3: that they had to take me to see Broadway shows. 61 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: We lived in Westchester, so it was just the the 62 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: railway rail right away, and my first show was She 63 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: Loves me when I was probably about eleven, a few 64 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 3: years after that, and I sat in the theater and 65 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 3: when the lights dimmed, the curtain went up and those 66 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 3: first notes were played in the orchestra, I was gone. 67 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 3: I was transformed. I was transcended. I was probably I'd 68 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,559 Speaker 3: come out of my leg brace, but I was still 69 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 3: very much debilitated physically, and all of that went away. 70 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 3: It was like my body fell away and just my 71 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: heart and my soul just were so uplifted by these 72 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 3: performers in the experience. 73 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: Did you recognize it while it was happening, I mean, 74 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: or was it sort of after you thought you realized 75 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: this is what had happened. 76 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 2: You know. 77 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: I filled it in the moment, very much filled it 78 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 3: in the moment. It was magical. 79 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: It's almost like a religious experience, right. 80 00:04:55,240 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, absolutely buzzed. That's a good way to put it. 81 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 3: It just it was. And then we started going to 82 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 3: see other Broadway shows. And in addition to going to 83 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 3: the shows, I told my parents I wanted the vinyls, so. 84 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: You gotta have the vinyls. 85 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 3: Come on, you still have them, Linn and buzz. I 86 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 3: still have my collection of the original Broadway casts. 87 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: I have to ask you, though, did that moment not 88 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: only alter you in a positive way, but did it 89 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 2: change some of the difficult dynamic that was going on 90 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: at home. 91 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 3: At that moment, At that moment and throughout the day 92 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 3: when we'd go in to see a show, that's a 93 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: great question, buzz, But then because of the addiction, it 94 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 3: would just go back to the way it was. But yes, 95 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: at that moment and we'd go out for dinner in 96 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: New York. Yes, yeah, so it was a suspension of 97 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 3: those horrible, tormenting dynamics. 98 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: But it didn't solve that problem, but it clearly was 99 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 2: something that gave you some hope. 100 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: And escape too, probably, yeah, and a break. Yeah. Was 101 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: there a specific song Mary or an artist that became 102 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: sort of the turning point for you? Maybe that reached 103 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: you when nothing else could. 104 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 3: Well, I must say the songs from She Loves Me, 105 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 3: probably because it was my first Broadway show and it 106 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 3: left such a lasting impression, but also just the well, 107 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: the whole story. It's it's sort of like You've Got Mail. 108 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 3: It's it's a Broadway version if You've got Mail, if 109 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: you will, So it's it's penhals and whatnot, and and 110 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 3: it looks like they're never going to get together, but 111 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 3: then they do. So Also, the music is just so 112 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 3: uplifting and there's even a song about ice cream. It 113 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 3: was just, you know, it was just delightful and it 114 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 3: just reached in and just touched a part of me. 115 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 3: And I'm gonna say all of the Rogers and Hammerstein 116 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 3: songs getting to know You, oh gosh, what's the one? 117 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 3: Happy Talk is one that my cousin used to play 118 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 3: a lot, and so the traditional Broadway shows back then. 119 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 3: But yeah, she Loves Me just reached in and just 120 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 3: it's just so light and uplifting and happy, and it 121 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 3: has a happy ending. 122 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: So yeah, Mary, what do you think it is? We 123 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: asked this a lot on the show and we always 124 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: get slightly different answers, sometimes very different answers. But what 125 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: do you think the magic is in the music? Is 126 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,200 Speaker 1: it the lyrics? Is it the the melody? Is it 127 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: the whole package? What makes you go home with the 128 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: album from the show and just play it over and 129 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: over and over again. 130 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 3: It's something. It's like it resonates in my heart and soul. 131 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 3: And also it's a vibration, if you will, it's a 132 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 3: vibration that takes one to a higher state that you 133 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 3: don't have if you're if you're just here. So I 134 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 3: think it's it's feeling that vibration, it's being connected to 135 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 3: something greater than myself, knowing that somebody somewhere just pulled 136 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 3: this out of the universe and created this out of nothing. 137 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 3: I'm always in awe of how people create music. It 138 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 3: just it's it's amazing. And I think it was on 139 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 3: the is it Head and Heart Band Heart Yes, the 140 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 3: Head and the Heart at Heartband Yes, And when they 141 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 3: talked about how they just felt this connection when they 142 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,439 Speaker 3: created and when I was listening to that episode, I said. 143 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: Yes, that's it. 144 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 3: You know, it's we're connected to something greater than ourselves. 145 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 3: And also being in a show, being in a concert, 146 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 3: and I think they also spoke to this, is that 147 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 3: we become all connected, all divisions, all everything falls wet 148 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 3: and we're just there in the presence of this magical vibration. 149 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: That so resonates with me too. When you just said 150 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: vibration and you're in a large audience like that, that 151 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 1: has to be the thing that connects all of us. 152 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: It can be so polarizing, right, you know, someone likes something, 153 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,440 Speaker 1: but someone doesn't like that. But yet the sum of 154 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: all of it together is what connects us. 155 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 2: I often think about, how would we explain to someone 156 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: dropped in from Mars on this planet what music is about, 157 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 2: and why music is so important and special and how 158 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 2: it does so many great things for us. That's a 159 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: great way that you described it to describe to that 160 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 2: Martian what it's all about. 161 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: I know this is going to sound weird, Mary, but 162 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: it reminds me of trees. You know how they say 163 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 1: trees are all interconnected, and they're connected with us and 164 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: the roots underground. It's the stuff that you don't see 165 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: that's connected, sort of like music with all of. 166 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,119 Speaker 3: Us exactly exactly. No, I think that's a beautiful analogy. 167 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 3: It really is. 168 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: Thank you. Yeah, this is so fun because Buz and 169 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: I have never hosted a show together, and thank you 170 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 1: for bringing us together to do just that, because it's 171 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: really nice to have a co host. 172 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 3: It might be the start of something, I know, excuse me, 173 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 3: something really big. 174 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: Mary. How did things begin to change once music sort 175 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 1: of became part of how you were coping and healing 176 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: with all the things going on in your life, your 177 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: personal ailments and family, dynamic and all of that. 178 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,719 Speaker 3: Well. In addition to listening to music, I had an 179 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 3: incredible high school music teacher, mister Monroe ne Kit In mind. 180 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,440 Speaker 3: I'm seventy two, so I'm going way back, do you know. 181 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 3: I can still picture him to this day. And we 182 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 3: had music as part of our curriculum in the high school. 183 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 3: It was a very small high school, and I started 184 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 3: out with the cello, but it was too heavy for me, 185 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: and so he suggested I do the viola, and so 186 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 3: I started playing in the orchestra. And when you talk 187 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:38,959 Speaker 3: about connection now, I was bullied, very seriously bullied. There 188 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 3: was no disability awareness back then. So when I came 189 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 3: back after contracting paralytic polio, I was in a leg brace. 190 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 3: I looked different, and so I was bullied. Gym class 191 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 3: was horrible, but there was orchestra. And when I was 192 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 3: an orchestra, there's no bullying. There's no room for bulleting 193 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: when you're creating beautiful music. And so I'm playing music 194 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 3: with people who otherwise were not very kind to me. Suddenly, 195 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 3: when we were in this setting, it was just again 196 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 3: I know, I'm using the word magical a lot, but 197 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 3: it was. It was magical, and then mister Monroe encouraged 198 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 3: me to try out for all County in Westchester. What 199 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: would happen is you would audition and then if you 200 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 3: made the orchestra, you would spend a weekend with your 201 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 3: fellow musicians and you would learn music you'd played together 202 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 3: for the first time. These were people from all over 203 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 3: Westchester County. And then on Sunday we would perform, and 204 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 3: one of the songs we performed was the overture to Carousel, 205 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:56,959 Speaker 3: and again it was just like, oh my god, I'm 206 00:12:57,040 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: playing this music and I'm with my I'm with my 207 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 3: appears and again like to have been so trapped in 208 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 3: my body from trauma and polio. It was liberating, it 209 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 3: was transcendent, it was it was fun, it was a joy. 210 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 3: So that that experience. I played in the orchestre until 211 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 3: I graduated high school, and music just carried me through 212 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 3: the Broadway shows, singing with my cousin. He still would 213 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 3: come to the house as I was growing up. He 214 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 3: was also in a few plays in New York, so 215 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 3: I got to see him perform off Broadway. So just 216 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 3: the arts, but especially the music absolutely carried me through. 217 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 3: And Simon and Garfunkel was a big, big influence. I 218 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 3: had all of their vinyls, and my dad sadly took 219 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: his life when I was seventeen, and I had a 220 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 3: very dear friend who was also going through a hard 221 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 3: time and he loved Simon and Garfunkel. We would sit 222 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 3: and listen to the Simon and Garfunkel albums together, and 223 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 3: from Bridge Over Your Trouble Water to the fifty ninth 224 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 3: Street Song. We even went to see them in concert 225 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 3: and Central Park together. We also saw Seanona, so. 226 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: It was I wanted to marry Bowser. Really, I just 227 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: loved to slick By. It was like the fawns on 228 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: Happy Days. 229 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 4: Right. 230 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 3: Oh, sorry, that's okay. So things were all the outlets 231 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 3: that I had, and again feeling the vibration being in 232 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 3: this collective world with other people who had the same 233 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: love for the music. It really got me through. 234 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: And I'm guessing too, it brought back to your or 235 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: maybe gave it to you for the first time, that 236 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: obvious opportunity to mend fences with kids who may have 237 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: not known how to handle themselves around you, which is 238 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: why I came out in that sort of all of 239 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: a sudden you guys were actually a lot more like 240 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: than you were different. 241 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 3: Yes, yeah, yeah, I actually I'm still in touch with 242 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 3: who played first violin in my high school band on Facebook. Wow, 243 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 3: And I messaged her and told her how much I 244 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,960 Speaker 3: appreciated playing with her. 245 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: Well we kind of give her a shout out just 246 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: in case she's listening. 247 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 3: Yes, well, I told her I was going to be 248 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 3: on this, so I'll send her the link. But Sandy 249 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 3: Thompson is her name, and Sandy she Nello is in California, 250 00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 3: And yeah, she was. I just I have that image 251 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 3: of her in her presence and how she was such 252 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 3: a wonderful leader in the orchestra. So yes, in terms 253 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 3: of mending fences that you know, people who were You're right, 254 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 3: who didn't know how to handle themselves any differently, but 255 00:16:06,040 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 3: in that setting, suddenly there was nothing to bully. 256 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 5: I know. 257 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: You go ahead, butyes. I see you've got something burning. 258 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 2: You have a book called A Most Unlikely Runner, Inspiration 259 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 2: from the Heart of a Warrior. We want to shout 260 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 2: that out. Mary, and I wanted to ask you who 261 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 2: are the folks in your life that influenced you to 262 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 2: a point that now in this day that you continue 263 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 2: to try to help others with what you're doing and 264 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 2: what your story is and how you try to pay 265 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: that forward in your life. 266 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 3: Now there's one person in particular, Well, there was my 267 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 3: high school French teacher, Barbara Duprey, and she was wonderful. 268 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: We would meet. 269 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 3: Because her my my free period matched her free period. 270 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 3: Now she took her free period to talk with me 271 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 3: while I wasn't able to really talk about what was 272 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 3: going on in my household. She sensed there was something 273 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 3: and she was wonderful. But I got to tell you 274 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 3: there was one person. His name is Joe Stetz, and 275 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 3: he was my camp counselor when I was eleven years 276 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 3: old Badger Day Camp. Big shout out to them as well, 277 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 3: they're still in existence after all these years, and they're 278 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 3: they're really an all abilities camp. And he wanted me 279 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:38,200 Speaker 3: to compete in the end of Summer Olympics and I said, well, 280 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 3: I can't do that, and he said, I'll coach you. 281 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 3: He actually gave up being an Olympian to become a 282 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 3: physician and he went on to also serve in the military. 283 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 3: And anyway, so Joe said, there are only two other 284 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 3: kids who are willing to compete in the butterfly and 285 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 3: if you don't compete, we're not going to be able 286 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 3: to have the event. And I looked into his big 287 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:11,360 Speaker 3: brown eyes. He was like, I don't know twenty at 288 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 3: the time, and he was six feet and I said, okay, 289 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,920 Speaker 3: I'm going to I'll trust you on this. And I said, 290 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 3: but you know, he said, I don't want to hear 291 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 3: about it. And so he coached me one on one 292 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 3: and he said, now, in all likelihood, you'll be last, 293 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 3: but that doesn't matter. He said, you swim your own race. 294 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 3: I don't care how long it takes you to do 295 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 3: the two laps. You will get a metal a plaque 296 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 3: because you're coming in third and you have the courage 297 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 3: to do this. And I've carried him with me in 298 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 3: my heart all these years. Something that's just incredible synchronicity 299 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 3: is one day I was as a social worker at 300 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 3: the VA. We would read the obituaries because you'd want 301 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 3: to find out which veterans had passed. There was no 302 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 3: internet back then anyway. I saw his obituary and I'm like, 303 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:11,119 Speaker 3: in the Boston Globe, I was like, oh my goodness. 304 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 3: And as it turned out, I was a social worker 305 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 3: before I went to the VA at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital. 306 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 3: He was a cardiothoracic surgeon there. So I'm sure that 307 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 3: and we talk about goosebumps. I'm sure that our paths 308 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 3: had crossed in the cafeteria somewhere, but you know, it 309 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 3: wasn't on the radar. But anyway, that's a great question 310 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 3: about so he. I think when I was diagnosed with 311 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 3: post polio syndrome, I would have to say he was 312 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 3: the most influential person who reminded me that I had 313 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 3: the heart of a champion. He reminded me that I 314 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:55,679 Speaker 3: could overcome my physical challenges, and that was such a 315 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 3: pivotal experience. So after I was diagnosed with post polio syndrome, 316 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 3: at first, of course, I was devastated, depressed and anxious 317 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 3: and having been told to spend the rest of my 318 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 3: life in a wheelchair and expect to age quickly. And 319 00:20:11,400 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: then I got still and I asked for guidance, and 320 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:21,879 Speaker 3: I started writing poetry. And the first poem that I 321 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 3: wrote was called running the Race, And in my mind's eye, 322 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 3: I was winning a ten k race, and I think 323 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 3: the reason well, as it turned out, that foreshadowed my 324 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 3: two thousand and nine Boss to marathon run. But why 325 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 3: I had myself running and being free in my body, 326 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 3: I would have to trace that back to Jel and 327 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 3: being free in the water. And yeah, I finished third 328 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 3: and he was there. He took my hand, helped me 329 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 3: out of the pool and lock me over to the 330 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 3: metal ceremony. 331 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: It's incredible how things stick with us are so momentous 332 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: that you use it as a guiding light throughout your 333 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: entire life. Absolutely, and you especially, I mean the childhood 334 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: and the sickness that you suffered, and then also losing 335 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: your dad. I'm guessing there was probably plenty of unfinished 336 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: business there as well. So there's so many levels of 337 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:20,159 Speaker 1: things that you had to climb over to be as 338 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,520 Speaker 1: successful as you are, which is just such an inspiration. 339 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:26,120 Speaker 1: I mean, the more things you talk about, the more 340 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 1: you're just like what and you still have a smile, 341 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: And by the way, you look like an ex supermodel? 342 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: Am I wrong? Buss Like definitely saying to you that 343 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna age quickly? I mean that obviously didn't happen, 344 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 1: and it must have a combination effect of all the 345 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: things that you're putting in your mind choosing to live 346 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 1: your life like and music. 347 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: After the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, it was like, 348 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 3: cue the music, people, so strike up. 349 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: The band, baby, I'm back. 350 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 5: We'll be right back with more of the music Safanty podcast. 351 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 5: Welcome back to the Music Saved Me Podcast. 352 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,840 Speaker 1: Is there something that you understand about yourself now because 353 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 1: of music that you didn't understand before? 354 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 3: So really good question. I would have to say, how 355 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 3: connected I am to God, the divine source that music has, 356 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 3: music and poetry, lyrics, if you will, has been that 357 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 3: bridge and realizing that I am a very soulful person, 358 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 3: that I have a very deep connection to the divine intelligence. 359 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 3: And that's how music has really really saved me, because 360 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:59,239 Speaker 3: it's just it goes, It goes beyond the physical, it 361 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 3: goes beyond and even the mental. And something that that's 362 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 3: really fascinating to me is are you either of you 363 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 3: familiar with Oliver Sacks? 364 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I definitely know the name. 365 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:12,439 Speaker 1: Enlighten Me. 366 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 3: He's he's a he was a neurologist and he has 367 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 3: done extensive studies. He even wrote a book called music Ophilia, 368 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 3: and he's done extensive studies. He's done MRI studies, he's 369 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 3: done functional MRI studies. But what he wrote about in 370 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 3: Music Ophelia that I just think is fascinating is that 371 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:46,640 Speaker 3: the music from our childhood can actually heal neurological conditions 372 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 3: that we experience later in life. And when you listen 373 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:57,679 Speaker 3: to the music from your childhood, it can light up 374 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 3: that part of the brain and it can help you heal. 375 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: Jeez, no buzz that that does make a lot of 376 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,639 Speaker 1: sense to me. We had a guest on uh not 377 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: long ago who was working with stroke patients overcoming. 378 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: Brian Harris, right, yes, yeah, Brian Harris past episode who 379 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 2: has spent a career working at Spaulding. 380 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 4: They started. 381 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 3: That's right with David who encouraged him to pursue this, 382 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 3: and now he's it's med rhythm and he's actually got 383 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 3: a trademark or a pat and whatever it is, and 384 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 3: he's using it. It's amazing, isn't it something? I mean? Yes? 385 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 3: So yeah, So Oliver Sacks I was fascinated too. It 386 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,399 Speaker 3: was a PBS special and they hooked a person up 387 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 3: to the MRI machine and when they played music from 388 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,400 Speaker 3: their childhood, it just went like lit up. But when 389 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 3: they played music that they weren't familiar with, nothing happened. 390 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 3: So it's just amazing. And I have a turntable and 391 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 3: so I still put on my vin. 392 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:19,879 Speaker 1: I's got two turntables and a microphone. 393 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 3: And I've still got my forty five. That was another memory. 394 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,399 Speaker 3: I had a girlfriend and we used to during summer 395 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,800 Speaker 3: at thunderstorms. We would sit. Of course, it really wasn't 396 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 3: smart to sit under a metal awning during a thunderstorm, 397 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 3: but anyway, so we would bring out our little turntable 398 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 3: and we would play our forty five. So it's just 399 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 3: been such an integral part of my life. And then 400 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 3: last what two weeks ago now, we went to New 401 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: York and we saw Hamilton and oh my god, I 402 00:25:52,680 --> 00:25:57,160 Speaker 3: don't even have words to describe the experience. Again, there 403 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 3: was there's a piece called York to have. Have either 404 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 3: of you seen the show? 405 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: Yes? 406 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:03,959 Speaker 3: Oh okay I have not? 407 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 4: Yes? 408 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 1: Oh buzz it's powerful. Yeah, you have to see it. Yeah. 409 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 3: And when this son New York Town came on, I 410 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 3: was I mean, I'd heard it before, but when you 411 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 3: hear it live, I was so blown away. And again 412 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 3: it was another moment of oh my god, my life 413 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 3: will never be the same. And it goes on and 414 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 3: on and on and as I said, I'm seventy two, 415 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:31,200 Speaker 3: and I think, you know what else, I think one 416 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 3: of the things that really helped to prevent this accelerated 417 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 3: decline in functioning as I aged was the music I 418 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 3: was listening to. I was listening to Dancing through Life, 419 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 3: and I decided, if I did have to be in 420 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,919 Speaker 3: a wheelchair, I was going to dance through life. But 421 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 3: there was define gravity. I was listening to Avenue Q, 422 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:58,960 Speaker 3: and I knew I had to leave my social work career. Yeah, 423 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,919 Speaker 3: I knew I had to leave my social work career, 424 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 3: and I thought, what's my purpose going to be? And 425 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 3: there was the song purpose from Avenue Q. It's also hilarious. 426 00:27:12,359 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 3: I was just an amazing soundtrack to listen to. And 427 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 3: then of course when I started running, I you know, 428 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:25,160 Speaker 3: used all the hype music and that's how I trained, 429 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 3: Because really, if you look at it, when you're in 430 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,439 Speaker 3: a leg brace and you're told you're going to spend 431 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 3: the rest of your life in wheelchair, what are the 432 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,880 Speaker 3: odds you're going to run the buzz To Marathon. 433 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: It's incredible. I mean, you just glazed over that part 434 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 1: of your story, which is like the astounding part of 435 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: all of this too. Can you tell us a little 436 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: bit about how that happened? 437 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 3: Sure, So I'd gone through a Spaulding rehab, I went 438 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 3: through outpatient rehab, and I had the most phenomenal physical therapist, 439 00:27:56,119 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 3: speaking of you know influencers, her name's Alison Pool. The 440 00:28:00,760 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 3: shout out to Allison, who were still friends with twenty 441 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 3: years later. She did not believe I was destined to 442 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 3: spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. She 443 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 3: knew I was dissociated from my body because that's how 444 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 3: I survived, and she said, we're going to reconnect things. 445 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,680 Speaker 3: So I started out with her. She was absolutely amazing. 446 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 3: I worked with her from January till May until I 447 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 3: left the VA, and she was so supportive of me 448 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 3: taking this leap of faith into the unknown and starting 449 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 3: a poetry career of all things. 450 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: Not surprising Mary, but you're not surprising at all. 451 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:46,280 Speaker 3: Amazing, Yes, So I finished with Allison. Come October, the 452 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 3: universe introduced me to a personal trainer. Now, initially our 453 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 3: meeting was around being in this business networking International, where 454 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 3: I was going to promote my new world greeting cards 455 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 3: original poetry for every occasion, where people would tell me 456 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 3: about somebody and I'd write a poem in honor of 457 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 3: the person. So that was our initial meeting. But she 458 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: had an in home personal training business, and I sort 459 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 3: of tuned out anything about my business. And I said, hey, Jeanie, 460 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 3: do you think that you could help me get a 461 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 3: little stronger. Maybe we could change up the exercises I 462 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 3: got from Spalding and she us a Henry Ford quote 463 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:32,320 Speaker 3: of if you think you can or you think you can't, 464 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 3: you're right. So I started training with her, and that 465 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,760 Speaker 3: was in October of two thousand and seven. Come February 466 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 3: of two thousand and eight, she asked me what my 467 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 3: next goals were and I said, well, you know, maybe 468 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 3: i'd like to oh and I was in ballarena so 469 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 3: dancing before I contracted polio. That was another amazing, you know, 470 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 3: movement of music together. So I said, na, I'd like 471 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 3: to dance again. And I really missed feeling that movement 472 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 3: and being able to dance. So's writing everything down and 473 00:30:08,480 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 3: she said, okay, I'll see you next week. And I said, wait, 474 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 3: I have one more goal, and she said put her 475 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,719 Speaker 3: things down. Her hand was on the door, knob let 476 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 3: him buzz, and I said, I. 477 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 1: Have one more goal. 478 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 3: And she said, well, what's that? And it came from 479 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 3: my soul, out of my mouth, and I had no 480 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 3: thought process involved. I said, I want to run the 481 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 3: Boston Marathon next year for Spalding rehab. Now she could 482 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:44,680 Speaker 3: have said, Mary, look down on your foot. You're still 483 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 3: in your leg brace. I mean, you've made a lot 484 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:51,040 Speaker 3: of progress, but geez, you know, Boston Marathon. That's what 485 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:54,640 Speaker 3: she could have said. She didn't say that. She said, 486 00:30:55,880 --> 00:31:00,480 Speaker 3: you're going to need a pair of running shoes. So 487 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 3: I went from never having run a day in my 488 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 3: life coming out of the leg brais and took seven 489 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 3: hours and forty nine minutes but across the finish line 490 00:31:12,320 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 3: of the Boston Marathon. And I will say that music 491 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 3: fueled that journey. 492 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: What did you listen to? Did you listen to music 493 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:21,040 Speaker 1: while you were running? 494 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 3: Yeah? 495 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, what was it? What was the playlist? 496 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 3: Oh? Gosh, well of course Rocky, Oh yeah, of course 497 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:31,959 Speaker 3: of course Rocky. One moment in time, this is the 498 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 3: moment from Jacolin Hyde, define gravity, lots of Broadway music and. 499 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:44,760 Speaker 1: He wrote yourself a prescription to finish that race in 500 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:48,719 Speaker 1: your ears, Like that's crazy and amazing. 501 00:31:48,400 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 3: Isn't that something. 502 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, okay, But in case you had another question 503 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: for her, I wanted to really quickly ask what you 504 00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:58,280 Speaker 1: would say to someone who is in the middle of 505 00:31:58,360 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: their own hard chapter in life. I mean, just pick 506 00:32:01,760 --> 00:32:05,719 Speaker 1: one of the things that you've had to overcome. If 507 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:07,960 Speaker 1: they haven't found their song yet, what advice would you 508 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: give them. I the first thing I would say is 509 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:16,160 Speaker 1: listen to a variety of music. See is it classical music, 510 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:20,960 Speaker 1: is it rock? Is it punk? Is it country western? 511 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: Find something that is going to resonate to your heart 512 00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:30,959 Speaker 1: and soul, something you can connect to outside of yourself. 513 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 3: Find that song, that group, find that thing that is 514 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 3: really going to make a difference, and let it sing 515 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 3: to you, let it speak to you, let it open 516 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 3: your heart. And I would say, don't give up. Things 517 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:55,200 Speaker 3: do get better. It can take a while. You have 518 00:32:55,280 --> 00:33:00,040 Speaker 3: to be so patient with yourself and the process. I 519 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 3: really fall in love with the process, to fall in 520 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 3: love with yourself, to be so compassionate to yourself, and 521 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 3: to really know that this is going to be an 522 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 3: opportunity for you to discover yourself in a way that 523 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:17,200 Speaker 3: you never knew. 524 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:19,600 Speaker 1: Was there such. 525 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 2: Great and beautiful advice, brilliant I do have one final 526 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:28,800 Speaker 2: question from me, Mary, when you when you witnessed stories 527 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 2: of resilience such as the one that we all saw 528 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 2: recently with Lindsey Vaughn in the Olympics, in terms of, 529 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 2: you know, her competitive spirit and the way that she 530 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 2: carried herself and still is carrying herself through that, what 531 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 2: thoughts do you have. 532 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:58,000 Speaker 3: I admire her so much and I just think the 533 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,479 Speaker 3: world of her bravery and her courage, which I know 534 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 3: how many people were so critical of her for making 535 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:08,799 Speaker 3: the attempt, But you know, the thing too, is that 536 00:34:09,160 --> 00:34:12,600 Speaker 3: if you don't do what your heart and soul are 537 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 3: telling you to do, you'll never know. And I certainly 538 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:19,040 Speaker 3: don't see her fall as a failure. I see it 539 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:24,680 Speaker 3: as an amazing testament to her courage and her bravery. 540 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:30,440 Speaker 3: And the more people who are willing to share their stories, 541 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:35,879 Speaker 3: and she shared a lot of very private scenes when 542 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:41,440 Speaker 3: she was going through the surgery and on Instagram, her 543 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 3: stories are just amazing. And that's the thing too, Buzz 544 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,400 Speaker 3: and Lynn, is that we have to share our healing stories. 545 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 3: And why I'm so grateful, you know, to have all 546 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:56,040 Speaker 3: these different opportunities to share mine, to reach different people, 547 00:34:56,680 --> 00:35:01,279 Speaker 3: is that you see somebody going through that, and the 548 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:07,359 Speaker 3: comebacks are always stronger than the setbacks. And I know 549 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:11,239 Speaker 3: some people bristle at the word inspiration, but I love 550 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 3: that word, and I feel that we need, especially in 551 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 3: these times, to be inspiring one another, to be sharing 552 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:23,000 Speaker 3: our stories, to be taking risks to fail. I had 553 00:35:23,280 --> 00:35:28,120 Speaker 3: a DNF in did not finish in Bermude. I took 554 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:32,600 Speaker 3: on the Bermuda ten k and uh it was. I 555 00:35:32,600 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 3: had had COVID the month before, and I was debating 556 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 3: whether or not I should even, you know, give it 557 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:40,839 Speaker 3: a go, and I said I'm going to. And then 558 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 3: when I was at the halfway mark, my body literally 559 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,000 Speaker 3: gave out. I mean, I had nothing left in me. 560 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:52,120 Speaker 3: And then I finished the ten k distance a couple 561 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:56,080 Speaker 3: of months later on my own. But you got to try, 562 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 3: You got to You did it. 563 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:01,399 Speaker 1: You did it. Yeah, and still and so. 564 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,840 Speaker 3: You know, when we see people like Lindsay Vonn or 565 00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:06,880 Speaker 3: see somebody like not that I'm a Lindsay Vaughn, but 566 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,560 Speaker 3: you know, the spirit is the same and the courage 567 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,680 Speaker 3: and the resilience that you know, I could have easily said, oh, 568 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 3: I was sick last month, and I could have you know, 569 00:36:16,120 --> 00:36:20,480 Speaker 3: bracked up all these excuses and instead I said, no, 570 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:22,759 Speaker 3: I'm going to start this thing. Let's see what this 571 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,240 Speaker 3: body can do. And it could have turned out differently. 572 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:31,080 Speaker 3: But when we take the risk and we're willing to fail, 573 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:36,399 Speaker 3: it's so important. It really really is. Yes, So when 574 00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 3: I see somebody like Lindsay Vaughn and who's at Alice 575 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 3: in Felix. She's forty years old and she is going 576 00:36:44,520 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 3: to be going for the Olympics again, and I just 577 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:51,680 Speaker 3: think it's so amazing that there are so many people 578 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:56,279 Speaker 3: out there who are saying, well, let's let's keep doing this. 579 00:36:56,400 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: So well, Mary, you are amazing. You're right up there 580 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: with Lindsey Vaughn in my book, I think in Buzzes 581 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 1: as well. And I learned some new things from you 582 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,360 Speaker 1: just now that I wrote down while you were talking. 583 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: The Henry Ford quote. I have been saying that for 584 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:12,720 Speaker 1: my whole life, but I didn't know it was Henry 585 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:15,319 Speaker 1: Ford about if you think you can, you can, If 586 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 1: you think you can't, you can't. Yes, And that is 587 00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: super powerful stuff that just down to two sentences that 588 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: you don't really realize until you go through life a 589 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:28,160 Speaker 1: little bit. The music saved me community, and thank you 590 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 1: for that, by the way. And oh the other thing 591 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 1: was comeback stories are something about setbacks, you said just now. 592 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:39,360 Speaker 3: The comeback than the setback. 593 00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: Yes, that's big. I'm going to put that on a 594 00:37:42,200 --> 00:37:45,239 Speaker 1: T shirt. The Music Save Me community has heard a 595 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: lot of stories about thousands of stories about their lives 596 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:53,799 Speaker 1: and how music has affected them in ways that are 597 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:56,280 Speaker 1: beyond What does it mean to you that your story? 598 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,000 Speaker 1: There was quite a few people that got a chance 599 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 1: to see submissions, not just Buzz and I, but there 600 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 1: was like a whole committee and then a lot of 601 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 1: listeners got to hear about your story and helped to 602 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:12,560 Speaker 1: make it the winning story. So I'm just curious how 603 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:15,120 Speaker 1: it makes you feel. Yeah, yeah, goodness. 604 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 3: Well, first of all, I have goosebumps. 605 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: You've been giving them to me the whole show, so 606 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:20,960 Speaker 1: it's yours now. 607 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:24,200 Speaker 3: So we're even buzz. Do you have any goosebumps going on? No, 608 00:38:24,239 --> 00:38:29,400 Speaker 3: But I must say that I'm I'm so humble, I 609 00:38:29,440 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 3: really am. I'm so humble. I'm so grateful. And you know, 610 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 3: I life was never easy for me from when that's 611 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:46,360 Speaker 3: five and a half, right, But the grace, the beauty, 612 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:48,839 Speaker 3: the opportunity. 613 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:52,319 Speaker 4: To have a purpose and a passion now to let 614 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:59,040 Speaker 4: people know what's possible despite the most dire circumstances, really, 615 00:39:00,160 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 4: that I can be that light. 616 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 3: It just it blows me away, it really does. It 617 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:10,200 Speaker 3: makes me feel so good inside and it really makes 618 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 3: me feel like everything I lived through was work it 619 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:16,440 Speaker 3: to be at this moment in my life. 620 00:39:16,719 --> 00:39:19,399 Speaker 1: Well, we thank you so much for spending a moment 621 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:23,279 Speaker 1: with us and sharing so much about your life. That 622 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:26,000 Speaker 1: is so inspirational. And I don't care if people don't 623 00:39:26,080 --> 00:39:30,480 Speaker 1: like that word, because you are an inspiration and you continue. 624 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:34,399 Speaker 1: How can people find your book and you and what 625 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,759 Speaker 1: you're doing. Is there a website or any place that 626 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:37,399 Speaker 1: they can go to. 627 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,000 Speaker 3: I do with you. I must give a big shout 628 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:43,160 Speaker 3: out to my husband Tom, who readd my website, so 629 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:46,799 Speaker 3: it really showcases my journey. So it's very simple. It's 630 00:39:46,840 --> 00:39:51,000 Speaker 3: Mary mcmahus dot com. Also, I have seven books, so 631 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:54,200 Speaker 3: I have an Amazon author page. The links to everything 632 00:39:54,200 --> 00:39:58,200 Speaker 3: are there. I'm on Instagram, I'm on Facebook, I'm on LinkedIn. 633 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,279 Speaker 3: And you know, if anybody's going through a hard time 634 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:06,160 Speaker 3: right now and they need some words of encouragement, they 635 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 3: can feel free to reach out to me on the 636 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:13,480 Speaker 3: social media, and I have my email, and I'm always 637 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:18,160 Speaker 3: honored and grateful to support people. I was very, very 638 00:40:18,200 --> 00:40:21,800 Speaker 3: blessed to be featured in a Brookline tab series about 639 00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:25,560 Speaker 3: my journey on the road to Boston and polio survivors 640 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:30,280 Speaker 3: found me and they said, wait, you mean I don't 641 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,719 Speaker 3: have to just sit here and wait until I grow 642 00:40:32,719 --> 00:40:36,399 Speaker 3: old and die. And I said, that's right. And now 643 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:40,560 Speaker 3: science has done the research that it's not just my anecdote, 644 00:40:40,600 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 3: but there's a lot about the minemodic connections. So yes, 645 00:40:43,640 --> 00:40:47,200 Speaker 3: So I'm on the social media. I have a website. 646 00:40:47,239 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 3: I have a blog. There's a link to my blog 647 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:55,400 Speaker 3: from my website. And I'm actually writing my eighth book now, 648 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:59,879 Speaker 3: which is about a recent training cycle on the road 649 00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:03,840 Speaker 3: to the Hannas ten k So, and I've been posting 650 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,200 Speaker 3: my poetry for National Poetry Month. Today mark's the end 651 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 3: of the National Poetry Month, so that's how people can 652 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:15,680 Speaker 3: reach me. And I also I have my news and 653 00:41:15,719 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 3: events page. I'll post the link to this, of course, 654 00:41:18,760 --> 00:41:20,880 Speaker 3: but I go way back to when Buzz and I 655 00:41:20,960 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 3: took our walk around the reservoir and on Route nine, 656 00:41:25,280 --> 00:41:26,720 Speaker 3: So that's special. 657 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:32,920 Speaker 1: You wow, So you have nothing going on, apparently. Mary mcmahonnons, 658 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:34,880 Speaker 1: thank you so much for coming on Music Save Me, 659 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:38,000 Speaker 1: and congratulations for being our first winner of our first 660 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:40,879 Speaker 1: ever contest. Who knew that you could win something going 661 00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 1: through the life that you lived just the way you 662 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 1: lived it. But yeah, because of what you're turning it 663 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,640 Speaker 1: into and helping so many others, how could we not 664 00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:50,120 Speaker 1: celebrate you today? 665 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 3: Mary, Thank you, Thank you, buzz thank you, Lynn, thank you, 666 00:41:55,960 --> 00:41:59,080 Speaker 3: I'm Buz's Night, and thanks for listening to Lynn Hoffman 667 00:41:59,400 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 3: and the Muse. 668 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:05,200 Speaker 2: Save Me podcasts produced by Buzznight Media Productions. Please check 669 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,680 Speaker 2: out our other shows, Taken a Walk Nashville hosted by 670 00:42:08,719 --> 00:42:13,080 Speaker 2: Sarah Harrelson, Comedy Save Me hosted by Lynn Hoffman, and 671 00:42:13,239 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 2: Taken a Walk hosted by Yours Truly. All shows are 672 00:42:17,600 --> 00:42:21,480 Speaker 2: available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and are part of the 673 00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:23,240 Speaker 2: iHeart podcast network.