The Jeremiah Show: Pop Culture, Music Icons Food Gods

This episode is dedicated in loving memory to Richard “Dixpop” Nichols

 

Singer, songwriter, and producer MERCE joins Jeremiah for an intimate conversation about music, love, loss, and finding the road back to feeling alive.

 

As a founding member of the Jazzyfatnastees, Mercedes “MERCE” Martinez helped shape the emerging neo-soul movement, contributing to Philadelphia’s fertile musical landscape and leaving an indelible mark on the city by founding Black Lily: A Women in Music Series. Initially conceived as a weekly live-music showcase in Philadelphia, the series became a pivotal launchpad and vibrant community space for a remarkable wave of neo-soul, neo-funk, and organic hip-hop artists. It provided early exposure to iconic figures such as Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Bilal, Floetry, and Jazmine Sullivan, paving the way for their future success.

 

Now, MERCE steps forward with her debut full-length solo album, Alive—a deeply personal project created in the wake of the loss of her husband, creative partner, and mentor, Richard “Dixpop” Nichols.

 

MERCE discusses growing up immersed in music, finding her own sound beyond genre, learning to trust emotion as her creative compass, and returning to the studio after a devastating loss. 

 

She also shares how songs such as “Overcome,” “In Time On Time,” “Come and Go,” and “Alive” trace a journey from questioning whether she could move forward to recognizing the gift of still being here.

 

With her new single “My Guy,” MERCE arrives at another realization: what is truly meant for us will never pass us by.

 

A conversation about light and shadow, the people we carry with us, and making the most of the time we have.

 

Today’s music soundtrack includes new music from MERCE, from her debut solo full-length album ALIVE, created with longtime collaborators Rick Friedrich (The Roots) and Kush Oxford (Estelle) - COMING SOON

 

Get Social with:

MERCE on Instagram.  | @mercesingersongwriter

 

Follow and Listen: 

MERCE Spotify | MERCE

MERCE on Apple Music | MERCE

 

Check out MERCE’S “My Guy” video on YouTube

MERCE YouTube | @merce-music

 

Photography by Liliana Salinas // Artwork by FMWJ

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and overview of Merce's journey
02:02 The story behind the album 'Alive'
03:52 Merce's relationship with Richard Dixpop Nichols
06:08 The influence of Richard on Merce's music and life
08:00 The impact of loss and the process of healing
09:55 Creating 'Alive' amidst challenges and setbacks
11:54 The significance of the album's title and themes
14:02 Visual elements and symbolism in the music video
16:01 Reflections on authenticity, courage, and artistic growth
17:55 Life's beauty and the importance of family and creativity
19:57 Merce's son's musical talent and future
21:57 Upcoming releases and Merce's social media presence
24:01 Final thoughts and dedication to Richard

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS - Listen More & Evolve

 

Catch Up With Past Shows and Your Favorite Guests - TJS MEDIA LIBRARY

 

Partner with The Jeremiah Show 

BRAND PARTNER DECK

 

The Jeremiah Show is brought to you by Evolve Entertainment Network

 www.thejeremiahshow.com

https://radio-evolve.rocks

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Engineer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

 

Cuzen Matcha Worldwide - Get $30 Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

Music Connection Magazine 

MusiCares 

Omad Records

Nicole Sofia Voracious Records

Greens First - Get 30% Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara on Radio Candy Media. We are broadcast in London on Belter Radio and in Paris on My Indie Radio.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

Jeremiah D. Higgins

 

Graham Palmer, Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? 

The Jeremiah Show Original Music Soundtracks  

 

The Jeremiah Show Theme Song “The Ocean and the Butterfly” by The Dave Matthews Band

 

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

Classic TJS Shows Drop Every Wednesday

Step behind the curtain into old Hollywood, where craft mattered, where legends walked the soundstages, and where a chance encounter could change a life's course.

 

Jeremiah welcomes longtime friends and collaborators Michael Orland and Jamie Wooten for a warm, funny, and deeply personal conversation about show business, friendship, music, and the remarkable turns that have shaped their lives.

 

Michael—legendary music director, pianist, arranger, and longtime American Idol vocal coach—shares memories of working with entertainment icons such as Ann Miller and Kay Ballard, and explains why talent alone is never enough without work ethic, preparation, and a little bit of luck. Jamie reflects on his years writing The Golden Girls, the unexpected accident that led him from performing to television writing, and how the lessons buried in that beloved sitcom eventually became lessons for his own life.

 

Michael and Jamie reveal the story behind their uplifting new song, “Love Is Why We’re Here,” featuring Sam Gravitte—and why, after decades in entertainment, its simple message may hold the greatest lesson of all.

 

Michael Orland INSTAGRAM

Michael Orland on YouTube

 

Jamie Wooten WEBSITE

 

Photo credit courtesy of Michael Orland and Jamie Wooten 

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Hollywood's Studio World
00:29 Guests Jamie Wooten and Michael Orland Introduced
01:23 Jamie Wooten's Career Highlights
02:26 TV Evolution: Network Sitcoms to Streaming
03:41 The Future of Sitcoms and Industry Trends
05:13 Michael Orland on Talent Mining and Show Business
06:09 The Changing Music Industry and Artist Development
08:41 Gains and Losses in Music and TV Industries
11:06 Inspirations from Classic Composers
12:37 Memories of Hollywood Stars and Career Reflections
14:56 The Impact of Industry Timing and Luck
18:44 Jamie Wooten's Success in Theater and Playwriting
22:26 Meeting Debbie Shapiro and Fateful Encounters
23:37 Belief in Fate and Life's Path
28:25 Reflections on Life, Love, and Learning
30:23 The Message of Love and Simplicity in the Song
33:22 Closing Remarks and Song Premiere

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS - Listen More & Evolve

 

Catch Up With Past Shows and Your Favorite Guests - TJS MEDIA LIBRARY

 

Partner with The Jeremiah Show 

BRAND PARTNER DECK

 

The Jeremiah Show is brought to you by Evolve Entertainment Network

 www.thejeremiahshow.com

https://radio-evolve.rocks

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Engineer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

 

Cuzen Matcha Worldwide - Get $30 Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

Music Connection Magazine 

MusiCares 

Omad Records

Nicole Sofia Voracious Records

Greens First - Get 30% Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara on Radio Candy Media. We are broadcast in London on Belter Radio and in Paris on My Indie Radio.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

Jeremiah D. Higgins

 

Graham Palmer, Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? 

The Jeremiah Show Original Music Soundtracks  

 

The Jeremiah Show Theme Song “The Ocean and the Butterfly” by The Dave Matthews Band

 

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

Classic TJS Shows Drop Every Wednesday

THE JEREMIAH SHOW Featuring Tristan Tritt

 

For Tristan Tritt, rock and roll has always been a voice of defiance—and he has no intention of playing it safe.

 

The son of country music icon Travis Tritt, Tristan grew up backstage and on tour buses, immersed in music before setting out to build a life entirely his own. He joins Jeremiah to discuss overcoming stage fright, building a community around his music, and making songs he hopes will still matter 30 years from now.

 

Tristan also opens up about his parents, Travis and Theresa, the lessons he learned growing up on the road, and why the smell of “cigarettes and diesel” instantly transports him back to childhood.

 

At the center is his new single, “Living the Dream,” a hard-hitting anthem born of a generation trying to make sense of a divided world.

 

“There was a rawness to rock and roll that caught my attention and never let go.”

 

Tristan Tritt carries that rock rawness forward.

 

TRISTAN TRITT WEBSITE

TRISTAN TRITT SPOTIFY

TRISTAN TRITT INSTAGRAM

 

 

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and episode overview
04:58 Nostalgia for community and patriotism in Idaho
16:11 Family influences and marriage of Tristan’s parents
18:05 Inspiration from his mother’s kindness and selflessness
19:25 Growing up on the road and childhood memories
21:12 Lessons from life on the road and routines
23:30 Future plans and raising a family on the road
25:01 Early memories of backstage and sensory experiences
26:47 Stage nerves and performance mindset
28:16 The influence of rock and roll on his soul
38:21 Principles to live by: integrity and honesty
40:20 Connecting with fans through genuine interaction
41:56 The evolving image of a rock star today
43:07 The modern rock star lifestyle and discipline
45:10 Rebellious childhood and attitude towards authority
45:54 Personal vices and self-discipline
47:16 Introducing his band members and their roles
49:22 The importance of storytelling in his music
50:30 Expressing frustration and hope in his lyrics
54:40 Future goals and the meaning of living the dream
56:21 Closing remarks and encouragement for aspiring artists

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS - Listen More & Evolve

 

Catch Up With Past Shows and Your Favorite Guests - TJS MEDIA LIBRARY

 

Partner with The Jeremiah Show 

BRAND PARTNER DECK

 

The Jeremiah Show is brought to you by Evolve Entertainment Network

 www.thejeremiahshow.com

https://radio-evolve.rocks

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Engineer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

 

Cuzen Matcha Worldwide - Get $30 Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

Music Connection Magazine 

MusiCares 

Omad Records

Nicole Sofia Voracious Records

Greens First - Get 30% Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara on Radio Candy Media. We are broadcast in London on Belter Radio and in Paris on My Indie Radio.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

Jeremiah D. Higgins

 

Graham Palmer, Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? 

The Jeremiah Show Original Music Soundtracks  

 

The Jeremiah Show Theme Song “The Ocean and the Butterfly” by The Dave Matthews Band

 

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

Classic TJS Shows Drop Every Wednesday

For Dipsea Flower, the road less traveled brought four musicians together—and turned them into a band.

 

Born at Berklee College of Music and forged on the road, Dipsea Flower comprises Ari Rosenberg, Trevor Hurvitz, Andy Baker, and Spencer Arjang—four musicians whose friendship is inseparable from the music they create.

 

The band joins Jeremiah to discuss the moments that first called each of them to music, how Dipsea Flower came together, and the summer spent crisscrossing the country in a Honda Pilot, a journey that transformed four musicians into a genuine band.

 

They also explore creativity, finding inspiration by actually living life and getting out of your own head, and by explaining why Dipsea Flower isn't interested in making music simply to create a product. As Ari puts it, “We’re human beings, and we make mistakes—and that’s part of why it works.”

 

It’s a conversation about friendship, instinct, life on the road, and four young artists taking the road less traveled together.

 

DIPSEA FLOWER ON INSTAGRAM

DIPSEA FLOWER ON APPLE MUSIC

DIPSEA FLOWER ON SPOTIFY

 

CHAPTERS

 

00:00 Introduction to Dipsea Flower and their journey

02:27 The origin of the band and the meaning of the name Dipsea Flower

04:11 The pivotal moment for Ari Rosenberg's musical calling

07:04 Trevor Hurvitz's early musical influences and first instruments

09:27 First musical experiences of the band members from the East Coast

12:15 Adjusting to life and music in Boston and California

14:55 Finding and expressing their unique musical voice

17:26 How the band members met and formed Dipsea Flower

20:02 Memorable moments of meeting and collaborating

23:28 The chemistry of the band and their live performance dynamic

30:42 The band’s vision for the future and their musical goals

34:47 The influence of California and East Coast sounds

40:57 The meaning of the song 'Song of the Blue Jay' and their creative process

 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS - Listen More & Evolve

 

Catch Up With Past Shows and Your Favorite Guests - TJS MEDIA LIBRARY

 

Partner with The Jeremiah Show 

BRAND PARTNER DECK

 

The Jeremiah Show is brought to you by Evolve Entertainment Network

 www.thejeremiahshow.com

https://radio-evolve.rocks

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Engineer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

 

Cuzen Matcha Worldwide - Get $30 Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

Music Connection Magazine 

MusiCares 

Omad Records

Nicole Sofia Voracious Records

Greens First - Get 30% Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara on Radio Candy Media. We are broadcast in London on Belter Radio and in Paris on My Indie Radio.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

Jeremiah D. Higgins

 

Graham Palmer, Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? 

The Jeremiah Show Original Music Soundtracks  

 

The Jeremiah Show Theme Song “The Ocean and the Butterfly” by The Dave Matthews Band

 

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

Classic TJS Shows Drop Every Wednesday

Blockbuster was once integral to people's lives, then disappeared, but “there was no funeral for it.” We all rented a movie from Blockbuster for the last time. The strange thing is, none of us knew it was the last time. 

 

Featuring Taylor Morden & Zeke Kamm

 

Classic Episode 359 - Originally aired June 13, 2023

 

Filmmakers Taylor Morden and Zeke Kamm, creators of the hit documentary The Last Blockbuster, join Jeremiah on a wonderfully nostalgic trip back to Friday-night movie rentals, late fees, VHS tapes, date nights—and that unmistakable Blockbuster smell.

 

Taylor and Zeke reveal how a simple idea about their local video store in Bend, Oregon, evolved into a film about the last Blockbuster on Earth, why manager Sandi Harding became the heart of the story, and what we lost when convenience replaced the ritual of wandering those video-store aisles together.

 

And then there's the ultimate irony: a documentary mourning Blockbuster's disappearance became a Netflix hit.

 

It’s funny, nostalgic, and surprisingly moving—a conversation about movies, memories, and the experiences we don't realize we'll miss until they're gone.

 

THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER INSTAGRAM

THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER BEND WEBSITE

 

CHAPTERS

 

00:00 — Welcome to The Last Blockbuster

03:41 — Meet Filmmakers Taylor Morden & Zeke Kamm

11:51 — How The Last Blockbuster Began

15:32 — Why Blockbuster Nostalgia Still Resonates

19:10 — Meeting Sandi Harding: The Heart of the Film

27:36 — How Blockbuster’s Business Model Really Worked

37:33 — The VHS Tape Scene That Brought Back the Memories

48:43 — What We Lost When Video Stores Disappeared

51:26 — Blockbuster Date Nights, Memories & That Famous Smell

01:04:49 — The Ultimate Irony: The Last Blockbuster Lands on Netflix

 

 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS - Listen More & Evolve

 

Catch Up With Past Shows and Your Favorite Guests - TJS MEDIA LIBRARY

 

Partner with The Jeremiah Show 

BRAND PARTNER DECK

 

The Jeremiah Show is brought to you by Evolve Entertainment Network

 www.thejeremiahshow.com

https://radio-evolve.rocks

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Engineer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

 

Cuzen Matcha Worldwide - Get $30 Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

Music Connection Magazine 

MusiCares 

Omad Records

Nicole Sofia Voracious Records

Greens First - Get 30% Off at Checkout “JEREMIAH30”

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Ontario, Canada, and Santa Barbara on Radio Candy Media. We are broadcast in London on Belter Radio and in Paris on My Indie Radio.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

 

Jeremiah D. Higgins

 

Graham Palmer, Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? 

The Jeremiah Show Original Music Soundtracks  

 

The Jeremiah Show Theme Song “The Ocean and the Butterfly” by The Dave Matthews Band

 

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

Classic TJS Shows Drop Every Wednesday