Lifelong musician, artist, activist and community builder Michael Franti shares his playful, heartfelt journey from growing up in a big family to starting the Beatnigs and Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and breaking into the major label scene opening for U2 and developing Spearhead into an enduring musical group just celebrating their 14th album release in May 2025, “Welcome to the Family” with the birth of Sara and Michael’s daughter Lua.  Zach and Michael explore the origins of play and expression through family experiences, growing as an artist and supporting others as an activist. I am so happy to share this pod today June 6th, 2025, and say Happy Birthday to my dad Ricardo Reznichek! He recently shared in our family's text chain that Michael's "The Sound of Sunshine" is his new favorite song. I was delighted to share with him that I was releasing my interview with Michael in a few weeks. When I talked to him he was stunned with the biggest smile on his face, calling it, "an unbelievable coincidence!" Well here it is dad and to all of you. Enjoy! This is the first of 2 episodes. Part 2 will come out on Father's Day :)) Book your getaway at Michael Franti's Soulshine Bali:https://www.soulshinebali.com/ Rock out with Michael Franti and Spearhead on their Welcome to the Family Tour:https://michaelfranti.com/ Video version of the interview shot by Joe Klymkiw available at Teacher-Gamer Substack for founding members. Click here to sign up Get in touch to learn more and join Teacher-Gamer training: https://teachergamer.com/ Special thanks to: -Joe Klymkiw for the great photos and shooting the video.-Sevan Reznichek for the intro music.-YOU (band) for the “Little Man” song - with the duel saxophones - in the intro, check their album “Freedom from the Known”.-John Schroeder for the “Switchfoot Slide” song - in the intro and outro, check his album “Surf the Solar Winds”. ----- We hope you enjoy the Teacher-Gamer Podcast. Text and production copyright 2021-2025 by Wild Mind Training for Teacher-Gamer Revolution. All rights reserved. The Teacher-Gamer Revolution is on! It's happening on TABLETOPS and in online meetups everywhere! Subscribe to the Newsletter:https://zacharyreznichek.substack.com/welcome Buy the Teacher-Gamer Handbook Read papers at Academia:https://concordia.academia.edu/ZacharyReznichek Teacher-Gamer Revolution YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuefgI1D0nybe1Vn3Tm1MCg Teacher-Gamers FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/587361488726775/ Like on FB: http://fb.me/TeacherGamerHandbook Tweet it: https://twitter.com/TeacherGamerZ InstaGram follow: https://www.instagram.com/teachergamerhandbook/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-distinct-self Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/TheTeacherGamer Clap about it on Medium: https://medium.com/teachergamer Hundred: https://hundred.org/en/innovations/teacher-gamer-revolution-using-role-playing-games-rpgs-and-world-building-in-education