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“If you are taught as an infant that every emotion you have is okay, then you’re going to grow, not feeling ashamed of anything you feel”

 

Musician. Thinker. Artist. Brave Man. South African. Teacher. Microbiologist. Typesetter. Band Member. Courageous Human. Convalescent.

 

We like to talk about important topics which need to be discussed, depression is one of those. While our intent is to spread a positive message, it is also to highlight the realities of life and get people talking about things. Depression is something which can grip and squeeze the life out of you.

 

Musicians and other creative people, often use their skills and talents as a way of releasing the pain and anguish they experience. Our guest this week, Simon Van Gend, is a South African musician who shares his story with us. We go deep and raw, he exposes himself and makes himself vulnerable, which we are grateful for.

 

Simon grew up in East London, South Africa, with his folks and older brother. He has memories of feeling very abandoned as a youngster. In order to survive and get the love he needed, he had to completely bury his anger. What eventuates when that happens, is you get a depressed adult. Playing music, ended up being one of his saving graces.

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There was a particular serendipitous moment, which had a profound impact on his life. He met an Italian lady in South Africa, who he taught English to. She happened to be a psychoanalyst and someone who ended up mentoring and helping him through his tough times. He went to Italy for a few months, started his healing and restoration and began playing more music. It was also when he recorded his first album.

 

We discuss very important topics in this conversation; evolution, religion, science, serendipity, anger and depression, our formative years, catharsis through music, vulnerability, polyamory and most importantly, the light at the end of the tunnel.

 

Simon is a very brave man. He has a story which is more common than we may think. A musician finding his way in life, trying to crack the music industry. Simon, thanks for laying yourself bare and putting everything on the table. Your message is going to touch many more than you will ever imagine.

 

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

 

Let’s find out what it means for Simon Van Gend, to be Ridiculously Human.

 

Your fellow beings,

Craig and Gareth

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SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

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Connect with Simon Van Gend:

Website

YouTube

Instagram

FaceBook

Twitter

Reverb Nation

Band Camp

 

Simon’s Albums:

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Other relevant points discussed and mentioned:

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Cape Town Water Shortages – Day Zero

Desalination plants

Logic Audio Recording

Typesetting

Microbiology

Cosmos Series – Original

Cosmos Series – New

Radiolab Podcast

University of Cape Town

Creationism

Christopher Ryan’s podcast – Tangentially Speaking

Christopher Ryan’s Book – Sex at Dawn

Polyamorous

Simon & Garfunkel in Central Park

Google Song

Bruce Springsteen – The River

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People Discussed:

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Patricia de Lille

Carl Sagan

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Christopher Ryan

Simon & Garfunkel

Depeche Mode

Spandau Ballet

The Thompson Twins

The Police

Neil Young

Bob Dylan

Bruce Springsteen

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Place Mentioned:

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Cape Town, South Africa

Camps Bay, Cape Town

Table Mountain, Cape Town

Rosebank, Johannesburg

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Music By

The Bambuseae Rhythm Section – Check them out here

Simon Van Gend Band – Check them out here

 

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Ready to Explore?

Each Friday, I craft an exclusive email featuring my most fascinating discoveries for that week, along with insights into my fortnightly podcast episodes.