A Mixed Tape- The Playback, My Songs and the P3 Anthology

The P3 Playback

When Stephen Hurley, the producer and inventive mind behind Voiced Radio, scheduled what was originally going to be the P3 Playoffs, June 28th seemed like any other date months away. After the big announcement at the end of my MADPD presentation, I was excited to begin looking for contestants for what I had envisioned to be like a Name That Tune year-in-review of the songs selected and shared by the guests on The Personal Playlist Podcast. So many of my former guests generously offered their books or their time as prizes. As contestants came forward, so did former guests who felt that their lives and the intimate things they shared were not really the material for a gameshow. I felt awful. I would never knowingly reduce people's lives and stories to a game, so Stephen and I met to reimagine the anniversary show.

Stephen has always championed me. He does that for people, and I feel like one of the lucky recipients of his time and thoughts. When we met to discuss how to alter the plan for the celebration of a year of P3's, he asked if I could trust him to take it from there. I, of course, did implicitly, but, being me, I had to name this review of a very special year in my life. The P3 Playback was the only part of the show I had a hand in until the day before the live recording. Stephen asked me for my playlist, and I really had to think. I sent it to him song-by-song over the next 12 hours.

As Stephen began the show, we were both amazed by his discovery. Looking back in his calendar to June 28th of last year, he found the time and meeting place of our first face to face encounter- 11:30 am at the Union Social Eatery in Mississauga, a halfway point between our homes. June 28th - one year ago to the day of the anniversary recording that Stephen had randomly selected. The P3 has always felt like magic, and it has been full of enchanted moments. Several of those moments came from the voices of my guests because of the beautiful words they shared about their experience on the show. By the end of the P3 Playback recording, I was speechless. I am grateful to Stephen and everyone else' vibes that have formed this tribe, and I am grateful to still feel connected to almost everyone who had been on the show. Stephen played this song to end the recording, filling the space when I had no words to speak (which is extremely rare), so I will just say, "Thank you for the music, for giving it to me."

My P3

My nostalgic song comes from the first film that really rocked my world. When I was a child, I would greet guests wearing a black leotard, pulling out my best Olivia Newton John imitation over dessert. I was only 7 when I saw it in the theatre, but the soundtrack continued to be an important staple over the years. When we showed the movie as part of our eldest's 10th birthday sleepover, I realized for the first time that I had missed many layers of the film in a sort of amnesiac nostalgia, and I was grateful that the kids didn't over- focus on the inappropriate parts. The girls all loved it, and I'm so glad to share the enjoyment of this and others gongs from the movie with my daughters. Here is You're the One That I Want, from that climactic scene in the musical movie, Grease:

My identity song says a lot about me. Although I get choked up hearing This is Me, the Keala Settle song from The Greatest Showman, this song couldn't be more more reflective of the me that I am most of the time. While this song picks me up, it also connects to my nature and what I try to model for learners in my care. Knowing who you are and being true to that, even celebrating it, is an essential grounding point on the journey of life and learning. I have always been building outside of the blocks, so it helps to be okay with those things that are different or unique in yourself. This joyful song is one that I taught my entire former school during the You Are Awesome Campaign for Self Esteem that our Respectful School Ambassadors were leading. I spent hours recording and editing every class singing it for a school video that I was producing, so I have heard it hundreds of times. It just never gets old. The lyrics feels autobiographical and sounds like advice I have given. It's full of energy and positivity, and I love the lyrics. " There's only one me, I am it, have a dream, I'll follow it; It's up to me to try..." Here is What I Am by Will.i.am and the Sesame Street characters:

My pick me up song became the theme song for my podcast, and I light up every time I hear it. The lyrics in this song speak so much to the power of music and alludes to how it can bridge global and cultural divides. It remind us that our stories, when shared, can speak to others and connect with people in deep an important ways. The music gives us a starting point, and we can tell our stories through it. It's a conduit to sharing who people are, what they love, where they came from, what inspires them, and more. About the guests, Stephen said, " [The P3] changed the way they think about some of the things that have happened in their life and the power of music." I am so glad that this project that I created for my Grade 7's was equally impactful when it was repurposed for educators through this show. This song has always infused me with its beat. Now it launches and closes The Personal Playlist Podcast, telling people's stories through their 3 songs. Here is the artist who Slate magazine says has had "The greatest creative run in the history of pop music". This is Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder:

I can't write a closing paragraph, even though this is the end of the part about my P3, because the show is just getting started. I have lots of guests lined up, and I'm excited to continue to use this framework for the amazing conversations to come. I am so grateful to the people who have made time to be on the show and all that they have brought to the experience. So many genres, artists and different songs have been shared over the last year. Here are the 40 guests so far and their lists of P3 songs:

The P3 Anthology From the Past Year

You can read the blog posts that complement each of the guest's appearances on the show, with the audio links embedded. You can also check out any of the shows through VoicEd Radio or on the Building Outside the Blocks podcast page. Each one is a special snapshot of an educator's story, and each show is a chance to celebrate someone who makes a difference in education.