We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Kathleen Riley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Kathleen, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking to me means listening to my intuition and making choices that align with my passion and purpose, most times outside of the expected “box,” I pursued a PhD in piano performance at New York University, not with the intention of becoming a full time concert pianist, rather with the desire to explore my inquiry into ways to teach musicians how to listen more intently. My choices led to fruitful next steps, but not the ones many would see as the norm. I’ll expand more upon that later. I finished my doctorate 20 years ago, and January of 2001 began the most important trajectory in my life. My curiosity about why there were so many misuse/overuse injuries and debilitating performance anxiety and depression among performing artists led me into post-doctoral studies in mind/body and biofeedback. In 2003 my work at the Miller Institute in NYC led to an article in the New York Times and Scientific American. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The journey through my leaps of faith led me to Cleveland Ohio where I created and taught courses in Optimal Performance and ran a Biofeedback lab at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition, I served on staff at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine working with both musicians and non-musicians. Both positions were not to be lasting ones, rather in hindsight, they were stepping stones along the way. It was hard, frustrating often. While I had all of this “expertise” and was seen as a trailblazer, I didn’t fit into any of the “boxes” that were available – I had a degree in piano performance, but was not embarking on concert tours every year. Therefore, I didn’t fit the bill for a position in music education or pedagogy – I didn’t have the proper “credentials.” While at the Cleveland Clinic, I saw patients, but didn’t fit into their “box” of being licensed for patients to file for insurance. I had proven success stories, validated by biofeedback of musicians returning to the stage from injury, others winning competitions, but the majority beginning to thrive as coherent performers. My story is one of continuing surrender to our higher purpose. It’s hard, gut-wrenchingly hard, yet it’s worth every step of the way. For what emerges is your playground. The most important lesson for us all is to surrender the ego and listen to our hearts.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While not currently living in LA physically, although it was my intention before the onset of the pandemic, I am there on a daily basis virtually with so many musicians and artists. I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me up here in Northern California for a while longer. It is truly beautiful here in Redding, California. I live in a home on a bluff, overlooking the Sacramento River and Sundial Bridge, with a trailhead down to the Sacramento River Trail right beside my property. I would take them to visit Turtle Bay Park, the Sundial Bridge and Botanical Gardens, Lake Shasta Caverns National Natural Landmark, Mount Shasta and Burney Falls. My favorite place to eat here in Redding is Moonstone Bistro. My most favorite place to share with friends is my terrace, cooking on the grill, surrounded by nature, solitude and beautiful skies, and sipping a glass of California Chardonnay or Cabernet, sharing quality time.  

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are several dear mentors and colleagues who have inspired my journey along the way. My first shoutout goes to my mentor and dear friend, Ted Coons, neuroscientist and pianist who was on my Dissertation Committee and has continued to be a source of inspiration. My next shoutout goes to Amanda Masters co-Founder of the Awake TV Network for believing in my vision and giving me the platform to create opportunities for performing artists, both as guests on my show, Sounds of Coherence, and in my newly appointed role of Branch Director for Performance Arts where other performing artists are creating shows, workshops and Master Classes!

Website: drkathleenriley.com https://www.awaketvnetwork.live/dr-kathleen-riley-sounds-of-coherence
Instagram: drkatheenriley
Linkedin: Kathleen Riley
Twitter: @drkathleenriley
Facebook: Dr. Kathleen Riley
Youtube: Kathleen Riley
Other: Documentary Trailer, Blog and access to view the Documentary: https://www.heartmath.org/resources/videos/intention-power-of-the-heart/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.