Arturo Amplified Podcast
Arturo Amplified-It Was Never Just Music: Dr. Dorota Sobieski
In the first episode of Arturo Amplified, Ava sits down with her long-time music teacher, Dr. Dorota Sobieski, to explore the deeper meaning of music beyond performance. Through a personal and reflective conversation, they discuss how music shapes identity, builds resilience, and becomes something more than just something we play.
This episode traces the foundation of Arturo Healing Hearts not through the program itself, but through the relationship, discipline, and perspective that made it possible. It's a conversation about mentorship, growth, and the quiet ways music can reach people when words cannot.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/76UnuFm74TvAxefBA2QEJg?si=dnjg5PcSRkau0Ulgh8a9IQ
Arturo Amplified-Strings Beyond the Stage: Gagana Batchu
For Episode 2 of Arturo Amplified, Ava sits down with one of Arturo Healing Hearts’ earliest ambassadors, Gagana Batchu, a freshman from Edison, New Jersey, who brings a unique musical voice to the organization through electric and acoustic guitar.
Together, they explore what it means to use music not just as performance, but as connection, comfort, and presence within healthcare spaces.
The conversation reflects on Gagana’s personal relationship with music, the emotional experience of volunteering through Arturo Healing Hearts, and how young musicians can use their individual talents to impact others in meaningful ways.
This episode also dives into the power of empathy, personal growth through service, and the idea that healing through music does not belong to one instrument or one style. It belongs to authenticity, emotion, and human connection.
Thoughtful, reflective, and deeply human, this episode highlights how even the quietest forms of music can leave lasting impressions.
Music. Connection. Healing.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zkObjAqrMJLsvFgbegcYP?si=BmdlllArSkCiq2KZEudt2A
Arturo Amplified- Healing Beyond Medicine: Dr. Brenda Salvador-Goon
For Episode 3 of Arturo Amplified, Ava sits down with Dr. Brenda Salvador-Goon, a board-certified pediatrician with Hackensack Meridian Health, to explore a simple yet profound idea: healing extends far beyond medicine.
Drawing from years of caring for children and their families, Dr. Goon shares what inspired her to pursue pediatrics, the lessons her young patients have taught her about courage and resilience, and why trust, compassion, and human connection are just as important as clinical care.
Together, Ava and Dr. Goon discuss the role music can play within healthcare settings, how small moments of comfort can transform a patient's experience, and why creating spaces where people feel seen, safe, and understood is an essential part of healing.
The conversation also explores the mission of Arturo Healing Hearts, the importance of empowering young musicians to serve others, and the lasting impact that kindness, empathy, and presence can have during life's most vulnerable moments.
Thoughtful, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring, this episode reminds us that while medicine treats illness, healing often begins with human connection.
Medicine. Compassion. Healing.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ek6LhyGarKfEXlksFsv3A?si=a672EA78QjG2JGWHPmzUig
Arturo Amplified - The Human Side of Healthcare: Michael Rafter
For Episode 4 of Arturo Amplified, Ava sits down with Michael Rafter, a certified social worker and the Manager of Volunteer Services and Switchboard Operations at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, part of Hackensack Meridian Health.
Drawing on nearly four decades of experience at Jersey Shore—including many years as a mental-health specialist—Michael shares how his understanding of patients’ emotional needs has shaped his approach to volunteer leadership and compassionate service.
Together, Ava and Michael explore the essential role volunteers play within a hospital, the qualities that distinguish truly meaningful service, and the importance of teaching young volunteers to approach patients and families with sensitivity, humility and emotional awareness.
Their conversation also examines Michael’s involvement in research studying the effects of therapy-dog interactions on healthcare workers’ stress, mood and feelings of burnout. They discuss the importance of caring for caregivers and the ways therapy dogs, live music and other human-centered programs can create moments of calm, comfort and connection within a clinical environment.
Michael also reflects on what made him believe in Arturo Healing Hearts, what must happen behind the scenes to introduce live student-performed music into a hospital responsibly, and how Arturo can grow without losing the personal connection at the heart of its mission.
Thoughtful, insightful, and deeply grounded in decades of service, this episode reminds us that the human side of healthcare is not separate from the healthcare experience—it is an essential part of it.
Music. Service. Compassion. Connection.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RsMRCIOSr8gVXyRS6QGWA?si=6xjB5VLARPyEL9pqES-xvw