Episode 7

full
Published on:

14th Aug 2022

Dereck Higgins – S3E07

Legendary musician Dereck Higgins is my guest in this week’s show. He talks about his life at the vanguard of musical creativity, his origins in a musical family, music as a form of spiritual expression, and his personal journey with grief and with depression through the healing power of music.

Inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in 2019, Dereck Higgins is a self taught music creator and a multi-instrumentalist, primarily known as a bass player. His award winning experience ranges from classic rock to reggae to punk to jazz to electronic to improvisation, and more. In his craft, he is dedicated to the moment of music making, listening to allow the music to speak. Some bands, past and present, that Higgins has performed with include: David Nance Mowed Sound, Digital Sex, Son Ambulance, RAF, Hotlines, InDreama, Chemicals, Norman & The Rockwells, Icky Blossoms, and many others. Higgins’ creativity extends to visual art, which he exhibits, and a deep involvement in the vinyl community that finds expression on his YouTube channel. With over 28,000 subscribers and nearly 6 million video views, Higgins shares his appreciation for music and for vinyl records drawing on his 10,000 strong record collection.

This week’s program contains discussion of attempts at suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide help is available by connecting with the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline.

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About the Podcast

Lives Radio Show & Podcast with Stuart Chittenden
Every Sunday at 9am on KIOS 91.5FM, Omaha's NPR affiliate, Season Three of Lives will tackle the big questions: What is a good life? Why are we here? How might we feel more connected? These and other big questions about how we live will be explored each week. Through intimate conversations, fascinating guests will share their spiritual, philosophical, artistic, and cultural approaches to exploring the wonders of our human experience. Join me as we delve into the practical and profound possibilities of living well.

As well as listening to this Season Three of Lives being broadcast on KIOS, listen back to Seasons One and Two, featuring fresh voices and diverse perspectives on culture, community, business, and more. From the Midwest and beyond, inspiring guests share compelling stories spanning the fields of politics, business, media, community activism, arts and humanities, philanthropy, and more.

On air since January 2017, Lives Radio Show & Podcast initially broadcast on the community radio station Mind & Soul 101.3FM in north Omaha, housed at the Malcolm X Center, and more recently broadcast with 1st Sky Omaha.

About your host

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stuart chittenden

I believe that conversation enables us to live better and work well by building strong relationships as individuals, teams, and communities.

Driven by that belief, I founded Squishtalks to design and deliver conversation experiences and programs for small to Fortune 500 corporate clients and for a variety of non-profit organizations. I regularly speak and facilitate workshops on the principles of conversation and how their practice enlivens our potential. My belief in the profound power of conversation to awaken our humanity has led to me being selected to speak at three different TEDx events.

I am a British expatriate calling Omaha, Nebraska home since 2004. Before moving to America, I was a London-based lawyer working on major international transactions. In Omaha, as well as founding Squishtalks, I co-founded Gilbert+Chittenden with creativity expert Dan Gilbert, which is a creativity consultancy that helps individuals and organizations realize their best futures and apply design thinking processes to achieve innovative breakthroughs.

Among my community endeavors was the project: a couple of 830 mile long conversations. Inspired by John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, in an RV I adventured for four weeks along side roads and among small towns to talk with Nebraskans. Traveling through conversations, discovering the lives, cultures and stories of people I met, the project was a long hello to Nebraska.