Best Envision RISE Podcasts (2025)

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How Trolls Accidentally Boost Your Music Career (and Why You Should Thank Them) 6:39

Play Pause

11d ago6:39

6:39

This episode explains how online hate can actually help new musicians grow. Algorithms don’t understand emotion; they only track data such as clicks, comments, shares, and watch time. When trolls attack your music, they still create engagement. That activity can make platforms test and promote your content to more people. Trolls often share links t…

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Turning Obsession and Envy into Fuel for Greatness 10:46

13d ago10:46

10:46

Welcome back to Marketing for New Musicians. Today, we are going to discuss a challenging but important topic: dealing with people who obsess over your work, criticize you relentlessly, or even try to undermine your presence online. Whether it’s social media attacks, harsh reviews, or constant comparison, many musicians encounter this in their crea…

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S6 E137: CAZWELL 1:24:42

13d ago1:24:42

1:24:42

Happy Days! The Icon himself CAZWELL drops by the podcast to talk about his new double CD "Hits All Over Your Face: The Peace Biscuit Collection". We also dive into the deep end to talk his 20+ year career in music, the state of queer representation, what's coming next, and we check out a couple of new tracks from the album. PLUS! It's more new mus…

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MU199: Tom Matzen & Christie Ruffino | One Message. One Offer. One Million-Dollar Business 25:50

21d ago25:50

25:50

On this lively and insightful episode, Christie Ruffino sits down with her business partner, Tom Matzen, to unpack one of the biggest traps entrepreneurs fall into — trying to help everyone. Together, they explore how a lack of clarity keeps coaches, authors, and experts stuck in confusion, burnout, and low profits. Christie and Tom share candid st…

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S6 E136: Canadian Music Legend Carole Pope 1:14:58

22d ago1:14:58

1:14:58

We’re honoured to have Canadian Rock Royalty, Legend, andIcon Carole Pope with us to chat all about her upcoming Atlantic Canadian tour, her music, the industry, and the many projects she has going on. PLUS! We have loads of new music from the global LGBTQ musiccommunity including new releases from: BE LIKE MILO, Dan Jarman, David Houle, Dimitris N…

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Real Talk: Online Hate Will Land You In Jail 8:26

23d ago8:26

8:26

I record everything and report everything. Your online hate will land you in Jail if you continue. A gentle reminder to get your coffee somewhere else.By Alexander Paul Burton

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S6 E135: Sexuality Post Stroke with William Kokay 1:24:32

25d ago1:24:32

1:24:32

This episode we're talking wellness and specifically about the details, recovery, and all the things to consider for queer partners post stroke with Australian PHD candidate William Kokay. William brings finding from his recent paper "How do LGBTQI+ stroke survivors and their partners experience sex and sexuality after stroke?" to what is a very im…

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SPOTIFY'S AI CRACKDOWN: Why Your Authenticity is Now Your Best Marketing Tool 10:54

28d ago10:54

10:54

Welcome back to Marketing For New Musicians. Today, we're dissecting a huge piece of industry news that fundamentally changes how you should be thinking about content creation. We’re talking about Spotify’s new AI protections.By Alexander Paul Burton

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The Seven Deadly Sins - Envy 34:28

30d ago34:28

34:28

This Sunday at HCC, we continue our Seven Deadly Sins series by looking at Envy — the Green-Eyed Monster. Envy begins with comparison, grows through insecurity, and ends by stealing our joy, but gratitude breaks its grip. Join us as we learn how to recognize envy in our hearts, find contentment in Christ, and celebrate the blessings God has already…

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The Seven Deadly Sins - Anger 36:50

1M ago36:50

36:50

This Sunday, we begin our new series on The Seven Deadly Sins by focusing on anger—a God-given emotion that often turns destructive when fueled by pride, selfishness, or misplaced love. Scripture reminds us that while righteous anger seeks restoration, sinful anger stems from over-loving the wrong things—our comfort, control, or reputation—more tha…

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Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero - The Death of a Hero 29:46

1M ago29:46

29:46

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When Your Gifts Are Turned Against You — Rising Above the Noise 6:48

2M ago6:48

6:48

In a world where creativity meets constant scrutiny, even the most well-intentioned artists and musicians can find their work misinterpreted or maligned. In this episode, Alexander Paul Burton explores the challenges of sharing your art in the face of online hate, offline bias, and false narratives.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Time Management for Musicians 🚀 | Stay Organized & Market Your Music Like 3i/ATLAS 6:28

2M ago6:28

6:28

Your music career is a space mission. 🚀 In Episode 1 of the Seasonality series on Marketing for New Musicians, I share how I use time management, rest, and data-driven marketing to stay organized and adaptable—just like 3i/ATLAS navigating the unknownBy Alexander Paul Burton

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Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero - The Fall of a Hero (Gena Anderson) 30:51

2M ago30:51

30:51

Samson had God-given strength, but his downfall came when he treated sin like a game and forgot the Source of his power. How often do we do the same—pushing boundaries, thinking we’re invincible, only to find ourselves trapped? Samson’s story reminds us that pride leads to a fall, but God’s grace can bring restoration. If you are feeling stuck, exp…

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Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero - The Paradox of a Hero (Steven Harris) 25:27

2M ago25:27

25:27

Samson’s life is a striking paradox—strong before men, yet weak before temptation; anointed by God, yet often compromised by sin. His story mirrors our own, reminding us that gifts without holiness lead to ruin but also pointing us to Jesus, who was victorious in weakness and holy in every way. As we learn from Samson’s failures, we are called to l…

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MU198: Ginny Delaitre | How Brands Stay Human in An AI-Driven World 29:15

2M ago29:15

29:15

On this episode of the Mastery Unleashed Podcast, host Christie Ruffino dives deep into the evolving world of AI-powered marketing with UX design expert and digital strategist Ginny Delaitre. Ginny shares her journey from architecture student to mobile app developer and now founder of VDS Digital Agency, where she helps entrepreneurs blend human-ce…

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S6 E134: Scottish Sensation Aidan Jones 1:23:45

2M ago1:23:45

1:23:45

We sit down with rising pop sensation Aidan Jones for a vibrant conversation about his music and artistry. With standout tracks like “Boyfriend”, “Isn’t He Pretty”, and “Kiss”, Aidan is redefining what male pop can look and sound like for a new queer generation. His songs blend heartfelt storytelling with polished production, capturing the same war…

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Experiment Loudly - Authenticity as Your Superpower 3:09

2M ago3:09

3:09

Authenticity isn’t just about “being yourself” in a vague sense. It’s about showing your creative process, your experiments, your successes—and yes, even your failures. Fans these days crave transparency. They want to see behind the scenes—whether that’s messy practice sessions, writing demos that don’t quite work, or exploring completely new art f…

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MU197: Steve Feld | Your Message Is Money, Want More Money? 25:13

2M ago25:13

25:13

On this episode of the Mastery Unleashed Podcast, host Christie Ruffino welcomes business strategist and author Steve Feld. Steve shares his entrepreneurial journey—from hustling as a kid to owning seven businesses and turning around four struggling ones. He opens up about the highs (including a million-dollar business sale) and the lows (like the …

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S6 E133: Rising Country Star Ry Rivers 1:24:53

2M ago1:24:53

1:24:53

YeeHaw! We gone country! Yes indeedy, the Boot Scootin' Boogie came a knockin' and we answered. We're thrilled to have rising country star Ry Rivers in our guest seat, and we get into all the details on his recent releases "Kiss A Cowboy" and "Neon Moon", his cover of the Brooks & Dunn classic. And we chat being queer in country music and what's ar…

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Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero - The Stuff of a Hero 31:01

2M ago31:01

31:01

Samson appeared to be a hero, but his story reveals a man marked by weakness, pride, and failure. Yet God still worked through him to accomplish His purposes. The reminder for us is clear: God does not require perfection to use us—He works through imperfect people by the power of His Spirit. Jesus is the true Hero, and our role is to trust and foll…

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The Tipping Point – A Quantum Choice 9:37

2M ago9:37

9:37

We are at the edge of something extraordinary. Every choice, every word, every act of creation ripples across the universe. In this slow, meditative talk set to cosmic piano, we explore the power of choosing beauty over hatred, love over indifference, and creation over destruction.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero - The Birth of a Hero 28:08

2M ago28:08

28:08

This Sunday we launch our new series, Samson: The Rise and Fall of a Hero. Samson’s story reminds us that even when God’s people drift, He is still at work—raising up leaders, working in unexpected ways, and showing that He alone is the true hero. As we begin looking at the life of Samson, our prayer is that the Spirit of God would stir in us to li…

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The Chilling Effect: Dealing With Online Harassment and Working With The Police and Representatives To Fight It 9:37

2M ago9:37

9:37

The chilling effect is a legal and psychological term, but in the context of being a creator, it’s that feeling of holding back. It’s when you have a great idea for a social media post, a new song, or a bold lyric, but you stop yourself because you’re worried about the backlash. It’s the fear of trolls, malicious reporting, or false accusations tha…

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MU196: Wendy Vaughan | Six-Figure Success Without Selling Out or Burning Out 24:09

3M ago24:09

24:09

On this inspiring Mastery Unleashed episode, host Christie Ruffino interviews Wendy Vaughan, sales strategist and business mentor, about the hidden gifts within adversity and how it shapes six- and seven-figure entrepreneurs. Wendy shares her personal evolution—from aspiring symphony trumpeter to building a million-dollar business by age 30—reveali…

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Stop Setting Fire to Your Ad Budget 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

In this two-minute crash course, Alexander cuts through the noise and tells new musicians why throwing money at ads, playlists, and shady promoters won’t grow a career.By Alexander Paul Burton

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It's Fine (but not really) - When I am angry... 21:48

3M ago21:48

21:48

Anger itself isn’t sinful—it’s what we do with it that makes the difference. Jesus got angry, but His anger was righteous—it cleared the way for healing, worship, and restoration. The question for us is: will we let Him flip the tables in our hearts so our anger points people back to God instead of pushing them away? Our regular service is at 10am …

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S6 E132: Jake Smith 1:27:07

3M ago1:27:07

1:27:07

It's season 6! Yes we've closed a season out only to open another. And to kick off what will surely be the best season yet, we have Beauty Influencer and Entrepreneur Jake Smith with us to chat all about his journey and evolution from small rural town to Big City Icon! We're talking makeup on men, fashion, creating business networks and much, much …

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S5 E131: Dawn Web 1:14:59

3M ago1:14:59

1:14:59

This episode we chat with Nova Scotian multidisciplinary artist Dawn Web who will be telling us all about their upcoming Halifax Fringe Festival show RED CORNER from their book of the same name. And we’ll also be getting a special vivekreading by Dawn of one of their pieces from RED CORNER. PLUS! This episode we also have new music from Austin Warr…

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It's Fine (but not really) - When I am down... 36:14

3M ago36:14

36:14

Life can knock the wind out of you, and mental health struggles are more common than we think. In Luke 7, we see Jesus notice a grieving widow, feel deep compassion, and step right into her pain, even crossing social and religious boundaries to bring hope. The same Jesus who saw her sees you today—right in your anxiety, sadness, or struggles—and He…

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It's Fine (but not really) - When I am anxious... 37:00

3M ago37:00

37:00

We all deal with worry and anxiety at some level—sometimes it’s about money, work, family, or even big projects. The truth is, most of what we stress about never actually happens, yet it still weighs us down. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6 not to let worry steal our peace but to trust that our Heavenly Father already knows what we need. Instead of b…

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How to Become More Prolific (Without Burning Out) - How to Create More, Share More, And Be More Authentic 9:37

3M ago9:37

9:37

Today’s episode is for the artists, musicians, and creative souls who feel stuck. Maybe you’ve been sitting on a half-finished EP, a folder of voice notes, or an idea for a single that never quite leaves your head.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Accusing Everyone Of AI Is Intellectually Devoid and Harmful: The Rise Of Online Hate, Fueled By False Claims and Ad Hominen Attacks 15:02

3M ago15:02

15:02

We should all be using AI to make society better. We should be using it, sparingly, to help us be better at what we do. But we should not abandon reason for baseless, personal attacks.By Alexander Paul Burton

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MU195: Russ Ruffino | Secrets to 100M in High Ticket Coaching Sales (or some variation of that) 33:06

3M ago33:06

33:06

On this powerful episode of the Mastery Unleashed Podcast, Christie Ruffino interviews high-ticket sales expert Russ Ruffino, founder of Clients on Demand. Russ shares his journey from struggling bartender and aspiring actor to building a $100M+ coaching empire by flipping the traditional low-ticket ascension model on its head. He dives deep into t…

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How I Overcame Online Harassment as an LGBT Creator: A 3-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Power 3:19

3M ago3:19

3:19

Today, I want to talk about a powerful tool in a new musician’s marketing arsenal: authenticity. When you’re just starting out, it can be tempting to project an image of perfection, to hide the struggle and only show the success. But in a world of polished content, vulnerability is what truly connects you to your audience.…

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S5 E130: PRIDE with Jay Holt Part 2 1:18:46

3M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Part 2 of our conversation with Queer Therapist Jay Holt as we continue to celebrate Pride. Our in-depth conversation concludes as we chat about the affects the world have on us as a community and Pride as a whole. We're taking the convo to lots of places but always bringing it back to a place of positivity and hope. PLUS! This episode we also have…

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Poor Kids Don’t Get Pianos: On Music, Class, and Gatekeeping 3:07

3M ago3:07

3:07

Let’s be honest: creativity doesn’t cost anything. It starts with a rhythm in your chest, a thought while walking, a lyric you whisper into your sleeve before you forget. It’s free. Natural. But in the music world, creativity alone is never enough. It’s not serious unless you paid for it.By Alexander Paul Burton

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For the Artists Who Are Always Misjudged & Feel The Need To Market Themselves 24/7 3:07

3M ago3:07

3:07

This is for the misjudged, the watched, the doubted. In a world obsessed with labels and suspicion, what happens when you’ve done it all—created, performed, built, endured—and it’s still not enough for them?By Alexander Paul Burton

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2025 Back to School Sunday 35:35

3M ago35:35

35:35

As a new school year begins, we're marking Back to School Sunday by turning our focus to what matters most. In 1 Timothy 1:5, the Apostle Paul reminds us that the aim of our charge is love—rooted in a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Whether you're a student, educator, administrator, parent, or simply entering a new season of lif…

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What I’ve Learned from Doing Livestreams as an Independent Musician 7:11

3M ago7:11

7:11

When I started livestreaming my neoclassical piano improvisations under The Hollow Vale, I was honestly shocked by how few people saw them. Sometimes I’d have zero impressions, or only a handful of views on a beautiful 18-minute piece. It felt like shouting into the void.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Baroque & Basslines: Using Soundfonts to Build Your Signature Sound 7:11

3M ago7:11

7:11

In this bite-sized episode, Alexander Paul Burton dives into the creative power of soundfonts for emerging musicians. From classical harpsichord suites to deep house remixes, here's how soundfonts can transform your workflow—without breaking the bank.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Jude - Persevere in the Faith 30:59

3M ago30:59

30:59

Our culture doesn’t do hard things very well. Whether it’s relationships, careers, school, or even church—we’re trained to chase comfort and quit when things get tough. But following Jesus was never meant to be easy—it’s meant to be worth it. In Jude, we’re reminded: expect opposition, stay connected to Jesus, show mercy, and give all the glory to …

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MU194: Tony Babcock | How to Become the Go-To by leveraging Spotlight Moments 41:43

3M ago41:43

41:43

On this episode of the Mastery Unleashed Podcast, host Christie Ruffino interviews Tony Babcock—actor, speaker, mindset coach, and creator of the On the SPOT Framework. With a background in acting and psychology, Tony empowers entrepreneurs to overcome stage fright, spotlight anxiety, and imposter syndrome by building authentic confidence. He expla…

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S5 E129: PRIDE with Jay Holt Part 1 1:30:33

4M ago1:30:33

1:30:33

Queer Therapist Jay Holt returns to celebrate Pride with us. This is part 1 of a special in-depth conversation tackling how we can use the arts as a coping mechanism. The 2SLGBTQIA+ community is being impacted by global politics and anxiety and stress because of it continues to rise. We get into some strategies to combat that anxiety, trade some ti…

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Jude - Contend for the Faith 27:37

4M ago27:37

27:37

"Truth isn’t changing—people are just getting louder about twisting it. Jude reminds us to know who we are (loved, called, and kept by Jesus), recognize false teaching when it creeps in, and stay anchored in the gospel. This 'woke' culture wants grace without surrender, but Jesus calls us to something deeper: truth, holiness, and purpose." Our regu…

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Jude - Be on Guard 28:10

4M ago28:10

28:10

God is both gracious and holy, and while He calls us His own, He also calls us to live in a way that reflects Him. There are voices out there twisting the truth and pushing a self-centered gospel—don’t be fooled. Jesus is coming back, not just as Savior, but as Judge and King. Our regular service is at 10am on Sundays. We are located at 304 E. Aust…

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Standing Out as a Musician in Today’s Online Landscape – Lessons From Marketing 3:09

4M ago3:09

3:09

I am not a new musician, but I have been drawing on my background in marketing to rethink how I present my work. The online space is crowded and algorithms change constantly, so standing out requires more than talent. It requires strategy and authenticity in equal measure.By Alexander Paul Burton

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Tips for Pianists to Spark New Ideas & Increase Viewer/Fan Engagement 5:12

4M ago5:12

5:12

If you are looking for ways to generate fresh music, try approaching your instrument with a simple framework and an open mindset. You do not need a perfect studio or years of training to begin creating something personal.By Alexander Paul Burton

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MU193: Krista Inochovsky Neeley | This is What Winning Looks Like 34:52

4M ago34:52

34:52

On this inspiring episode of the Mastery Unleashed Podcast, host Christie Ruffino welcomes Krista Inochovsky Neeley to explore how entrepreneurs can align their personal and professional lives to experience true success and fulfillment. Krista shares her journey from professional dancer to purpose-driven coach, highlighting how misalignment in busi…

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False Reports Aren’t Harmless. They’re a Crime. 3:24

4M ago3:24

3:24

This is just a quiet reminder really. False reports are not anonymous forever. They leave a trail. And the law does eventually catch up with people who abuse it. So if someone’s out there making up lies or mass reporting to cause trouble, they might want to consider who’s actually breaking the rules.…