SNS 165: Saturday Night Special – Interview with April Ebeling founder of Singalong Switch

[00:00:00] Scott Maderer: Welcome to tonight's Saturday Night special episode 165.

[00:00:04] April Ebeling: Hi, I'm April Ebeling. I challenge you to invest in yourself, invest in others, develop your influence and impact the world by using your time, your talent, and your treasures to live out your calling. Having the ability to find a connection with mindfulness.

[00:00:23] Faith and peace is key. And one way to be inspired to do that is to listen to this, the Inspired Stewardship Podcast with my friend

[00:00:33] Scott

[00:00:34] Maderer.

[00:00:35] It all starts with noticing where we already are, like the patterns that we've already establi. And I find more and more in my own life as I am promoting peace and positivity, I start to notice the ways that I'm not already doing that. You know, the, the ways that I might be harsh with talking to myself or talking to others.

[00:00:58] Scott Maderer: Welcome and thank you for [00:01:00] joining us on the Inspired Stewardship Podcast. If you truly desire to become the person who God wants you to be, then you must learn to use your time, your talent, and your treasures for your true calling. In the Inspired Stewardship Podcast, who will learn to invest in yourself, invest in others, and develop your influence so that you.

[00:01:21] Can impact the world.

[00:01:24] And tonight's Saturday night special I interview April Ebeling. I ask April to share how her faith journey is linked to her musical meditations. I also ask April to share how singing can be a spiritual practice and why that's important. And April shares with you some of her keys to doing these kinds of activities and fitting it in with our busy lives.

[00:01:47] You know, one area that a lot of folks need some help with is around the area of productivity. Getting not just more things done, but actually getting the [00:02:00] right things done can be really, really, I've got a course called Productivity for Your Passion that's designed to help you do this and then to hold you accountable and walk with you so that you can tailor productivity, not just to be getting more done, but actually getting the right things done.

[00:02:22] What's more, we take the approach of looking at your personality and how you actually look at things in the world and tailor the productivity system to your person. Because the truth is, a lot of the systems that are out there are written really well for somebody with a particular personality type. But if you have a different approach to things, they just don't work.

[00:02:44] But there's tools and techniques and approaches that you can take that will work for anyone, and we help you do that and productivity for your passion. Check it out over@inspiredstewardship.com slash launch. April [00:03:00] Eing is an adoptive mom, award-winning musician and military veteran who is passionate about creating musical experiences that make a difference in our daily life.

[00:03:10] She created Sing Along Switch to Rescue her mindfulness practice as a new mom, and has now helped thousands of people around the world in 23 countries and counting have fun, fulfilling, and most importantly fast acting. Ideas. This technique is a wonderful addition to anything you have in your mental health toolbox.

[00:03:32] Welcome to the show, April. Hi. It's good to be here. Absolutely. So you've got a little bit of an interesting take on some of the work that you do and I'm, I'm excited to explore that with you today. But, As we're kind of going there, would you first talk a little bit about your faith journey and how that's intersected with now the work that you're doing?

[00:03:56] April Ebeling: Around April sings a lot. Sure, Sure. Thank [00:04:00] you. So I grew up in church and I, we were what, I guess we would call now a church hopper. I didn't know it at the time but we as a family would go to a church for a few years and then something would go wrong, and then we would go to a different church.

[00:04:18] Scott Maderer: And so I was exposed to a lot of different denominations, which actually, you know, turned into a good thing later. I know all the hymns from all the churches, , but but at the time like that, that was our norm was just like, go somewhere until it wasn't perfect and then go somewhere else. And then when I went to college was when I like, I realized that distinction between religion and relationship.

[00:04:47] April Ebeling: Mm-hmm. , and it opened up a whole new world for me in my faith journey. And I remember distinctly like that moment that I realized that Jesus loves me, like [00:05:00] just loves me. And it wasn't about whether I did all the right things or. Went to all the right places or, or things like that. And it was, it was such a wonderful transformation for me personally.

[00:05:11] And then unfortunately, because my family was not in that place, it, it led to a, a split between me and my family of origin. So they were just real. Married to the rules part of religion and not able to accept that, you know, that love and grace and relationship piece that I was so excited to embrace.

[00:05:37] And so I was actually, during college, I was. Adopted into a new family and it, it's been a real blessing, but I also call it sort of like the best of times and the worst of times because while it was a wonderful blessing to be embraced by a family who did love me and unconditionally, it was still, it is still a [00:06:00] really hard thing to be not a part of the family.

[00:06:03] You were born into and that you were raised by so mm-hmm. , that's a little bit of my you know, like the, the quick and dirty of the mm-hmm. of the religion piece or my, my faith journey. But through it all, the constant has been music, and it has, it has always stood by me and, and provided such a comfort during really tough.

[00:06:27] Scott Maderer: So talk a little bit about that. You know, when, when explain, let's let people in on the secret. I mean, you know, talk a little bit about what you do and what you promote and, and how, you know, music has, has played that out in your life, and then you know, how you're seeing it play out in others.

[00:06:45] April Ebeling: Okay. So I've always been a singer since before I could talk that was like, I was just always singing and so as a natural, like.

[00:06:56] Pouring from that. I majored in vocal performance in [00:07:00] college, and so then graduated college and was like, Oh, what do I like? I wanna sing. How do I, how do I make that into a job? . And I joined the Navy as a singer. So I, I did singing as a job with the Navy, and then I got out and then I did singing as a job with our church.

[00:07:19] And then I just had a moment, another like realization moment where I thought, I love how music is affecting people in the church, but I know there are a lot of people who are never going to come into a church who could really benefit from the power of music. And so that started me on a path of creating these music meditations that I share.

[00:07:44] In a meditation app, but then also on my website and, and in other places. So I've combined the power of singing with a technique called emotional freedom technique or tapping, where you tap on different ACU pressure points on your [00:08:00] body. And it just really helps to calm that fight or flight response that we have.

[00:08:04] And it really helps to move any stuck energy that we have in our bodies. And so it, it does get a little like woo woo. I. But it does, I find is very effective and something that really promotes peace, which is something that we're all in, you know, in need of more, more of in our lives. Seems like more and more right now.

[00:08:27] Absolutely, yes. Well, and as part of that, I think too, you know, mindfulness in general I think always comes across as somewhat woo woo, and yet, you know, if you look at the neurobiologic science behind it, There's real effects that are shown. You know, so it's not, Yeah, it, it feels like it's magic and yet, It actually is shown to work scientifically.

[00:08:50] Scott Maderer: If, if that, you know, is something that helps you too. Yes. So why do you feel like these sorts of practices are important for, [00:09:00] Well, let's start with for people of faith that maybe mm-hmm. , you know, they go to church regularly. They, they participate in a faith journey. Why is this sort of practice maybe outside of church?

[00:09:10] April Ebeling: Because most church services involve music, but you know, Absolutely. Why do you feel like that's important for people to develop? It goes back to that religion versus relationship piece. I think that really has been the, the through line of, of my story. It it's because fostering that language that you personally are going to use to connect with God, connect with yourself, like that.

[00:09:42] Your voice is so important for you to hear, and so often we use our voices to tell ourselves we're doing a bad job, , or tell ourselves like, Oh man, you should have done this. You should have done that. And to turn that around and start to use positive language to not only [00:10:00] speak to yourself, but to speak to God and and foster that personal relationship is, is huge.

[00:10:07] It really. Something that can actually affect your daily life. Whereas, you know, church services are wonderful, like pick me ups and it's a great place to have community, but if you're not having that personal relationship, then you're missing a big piece of it. So is this something that people would do like, as, you know, part of their daily prayer practice?

[00:10:30] Is it, you know, how, how does it play out in their. I use it in for myself in the mornings as part of my my quiet time. I know of people that use it like before they see clients or before like a big meeting or things like that. So it's, it's. I don't want it to be prescriptive about it. Like, Oh no, this is like at 6:00 AM every day.

[00:10:51] Here's the three, here's the three ways you could use it. Yeah, . Exactly. So I don't wanna be prescriptive about it. I will say I developed it myself as a new [00:11:00] mom. Like we have a four year old son and. Prior to being a mom, I had a lot of time and did a lot of journaling and reading and meditating and like all the things.

[00:11:12] And then I became a mom and I had zero time and needed mental health practices more than ever. And so this was something I developed. To sort of create a shortcut to that calm that I needed, and so I recommend it as something that, you know, anytime that you're feeling like, Okay, I'm about to just lose it.

[00:11:34] Scott Maderer: as my wife said to me one day when our son was very young, I never understood how someone could hurt a child. Now I do . Oh yes. Not that she ever did, but it's like I now have, I now grasp it. I now understand how that could happen. . Correct? Yes. There are definitely times when you just need to walk away and have a moment.

[00:11:53] April Ebeling: So that, that is what I find this practice to be so valuable for in my own life. And then as I've shared it [00:12:00] more and more, I find other others are benefiting as well. Mm-hmm. . So why music? Why do you think music has such a hook to be able to help us? Tap into that, that that calm. Well, you know, let's go back to the kid piece.

[00:12:16] The child piece. Like when you're trying to get a baby to go to sleep, a lot of times you're humming, you're like patting them on the back. You're using those like the musical piece and the physical touch piece to calm them down. And then as kids are learning in their early years, we teach them things through song, right?

[00:12:35] We've all learned the ABCs. Really catchy tune, right? And so there's, there's that piece of music that sticks with us whether we like it or not. You know, we've all had a song stuck in our heads that we don't want there. And so this is sort of harnessing that power for good and and allowing those truths to stick with you and and hopefully allow you to have peace throughout your.[00:13:00]

[00:13:00] Scott Maderer: And you mentioned, you know, this is something that can be done throughout the day. How, how do, how do people develop this sort of ability or practice or habit to do these things? Because, you know, one of the big pushbacks people have about mindfulness and meditation and journaling and all of these sorts of practices is they take too much.

[00:13:21] I don't have time for that. And yet you just mentioned you did it while you were, you know, raising a kiddo, , you know that, that which is the definition of having no time. So how, how, how can these practices work for those folks that are right now thinking, Oh, that's lovely, but I don't have time for that.

[00:13:38] April Ebeling: I got, I, I totally get it. We've all been there. I think when you see the value in it, you find the time for it. Like, like I said, I, I, as a new mom was like, Listen, I'm not gonna be the mom that I wanna be unless I find a way to get a little bit of meditation or poor, like mindfulness in. And so I would slip out onto the back porch [00:14:00] for five minutes in the morning before my husband left for work, and that was it.

[00:14:03] So. I mean, I hate to say just you make time for what's a priority, but I think that's the the answer here. It's okay. They've heard that. They've heard that on the show before. Right? Of course, , it also helps to tie it to something, you know, like in the evenings. A lot of times I will. Like as I'm brushing my teeth, that is something that I can, like, I can tap and hum like at the same time.

[00:14:25] So you know, if it's something that's important to you that you want to make a part of your day, then tie it to something that you're already gonna do. Like make coffee. Maybe this is something you can do while your coffee is brewing in the morning. That kind of thing. Well, I mean, actually that's probably there.

[00:14:41] Scott Maderer: Here's another example. That's a weird one, but it, it applies. I think a lot of us heard, you know, during the pandemic about washing our hands and singing while we did it. There you go. To know that we washed our hands long enough, you know, so it's the same thing. There you go. Act. Yeah, that's a great example.

[00:14:57] April Ebeling: Great example. So [00:15:00] can let, let's say somebody's hearing this and they're like, Okay, this is interesting to me, , you know mm-hmm. . Mm-hmm. . Is there, what would be a baby step or a first practice or kind of a, a beginning advice that somebody should do to maybe begin to explore this a little bit?

[00:15:16] There are some really simple short ones that you can do, and it would sort of depend on what the priority is in the moment, like mm-hmm. , I have one that is just the phrase. Even in the chaos, I can find the calm, and so that's something that like you just seeing that phrase, even in the chaos, I can find the calm as you're tapping and.

[00:15:42] I find is very helpful to acknowledge the chaos. Like let's not pretend that everything's fine. No, it's chaos right now. But I also know that I can find the calm and that that is possible. And so as you're like acknowledging what's happening, but then also searching for [00:16:00] the peace and the calm, that is a really powerful way to just remind yourself that you have the power to react in a new way.

[00:16:08] Scott Maderer: So I, I have a few questions that I like to ask all of my guests, but before I, I go there, is there anything else about this practice that you feel that it's really important for folks to understand or the, the work that you do that you'd like to add? I would just like to say, It, it all starts with noticing where we already are, like the patterns that we've already established, and I find more and more in my own life as I am promoting peace and positivity, I start to notice the ways that I'm not already doing that.

[00:16:43] April Ebeling: You know, the, the ways that I'm might be harsh with talking to myself or talking to others, and so just even that just starts to notice. The words that you're saying and, and see if you can change them into, into a more positive positive tone. So [00:17:00] my brand, of course, has inspired stewardship. Yes. And I run things through that lens of stewardship, but I've also discovered that that's one of those words that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, so, Right.

[00:17:11] Scott Maderer: What is the word stewardship mean to you and, and what has the impact of that understanding been on. Well, I will say when I first saw this question at my knee jerk reaction, first thing I thought was passing the plate in, in a, in a church service, which I'm sure you've heard before as well. So we've all been, My joke, my joke is stewardship is Christian code for we're starting a building campaign.

[00:17:34] April Ebeling: Grab your wallet. Yes, yes. Everybody get out your checkbooks. . Right. So like, you know, that's sort of what I grew up thinking. Stewardship was. You know, giving a portion of your allowance in, into the plate on Sunday mornings. And now as an adult, I'm more and more realizing it is being responsible with the gifts and talents that you have and sharing them in a way that [00:18:00] benefits as many people as possible and, That's a big responsibility and it's, it's something to really take seriously.

[00:18:08] So I'm, I'm thankful for a podcast like yours that highlight the, the importance of that. So how has that understanding, as it's changed throughout your life, how has it affected your life? It has challenged me to be less shy, about sharing things like I, I mean, I mentioned to this practice as something I.

[00:18:28] As a new mom, it was something that was helping me and that was enough and I didn't like tapping is a little bit like I mentioned a little bit woo, maybe. And I, I was reluctant to share it openly because I thought, well, this is helping me, but it, it's not for any, for everybody. And more and more I got convicted about that.

[00:18:51] If it's helping you, then it, it's something that could also help others. And and it was a real. Massive step of faith [00:19:00] to one year ago start sharing publicly about this practice. And it has now helped thousands of people in 20 plus countries. And so I'm, I'm reminded every day that, you know, the, the practices and the things that we have learned, we are responsible to share and No matter how silly you may think it is, if it's something that you're feeling prompted to speak out about, that's it's important to act on that.

[00:19:31] Scott Maderer: This is my favorite question. Okay. If, if I invented yeah, I will say that some of my guests say, it's not their favorite question, but it's my favorite question. If I invented this magic machine and I was able to, to pluck you from the chair where you set to this morning and transport you into the far future, maybe 150 to 200 years, and through the power of this machine, you were able to look back on your entire life and see all of the ripples and all of the connections and all of the relationships that [00:20:00] you've left behind, what impact do you hope you've left on the.

[00:20:02] April Ebeling: I hope that people are finding their own personal piece, whether that be through singing and tapping, or through other practices. I, I just hope that I've inspired people to find a way to find that piece in themselves. What's next on the roadmap? What's coming up for April as you continue on this? Well, I, I work with clients one on one with this singing and tapping practice.

[00:20:32] I also have group experiences that I do at the end of the month. It's a great way to sort of wrap up the month if, if you want that. But honestly, I mean, who knows what's next, right? I'm enjoying the, the process of parenting a four year old and every day is the new day. It was interestingly, your tone sort of changed why you said that.

[00:20:55] It's like, No, I'm enjoying it. Really, I am, I promise, [00:21:00] gritting my teeth. It's fun. Depending on, depending on the moment, right? Right. Well, and, and I will tell you, having an 18 year old boy now that that that this too shall pass the, the fours change. And before you know it, you're looking at a six five young man who's driving and you know, has a job and doing all those things going, Oh my goodness.

[00:21:23] Scott Maderer: When did that happen? Right.

[00:21:25] So you can find out more about April over on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube is April Sings a lot or find out more on her website. Also at April sings a lot. Dot com. That's where there's more about her coaching and the group work that she does. April, is there anything else you'd like to share with the listener?

[00:21:46] April Ebeling: I actually am creating a page specifically for listeners of this podcast. So if they go to april sings lot.com/inspired I'll have a free video there for the, that meditation that I [00:22:00] mentioned. Even in the chaos, I can find the calm if they just wanna give a little taster. That's a thank you for that.

[00:22:07] Scott Maderer: That's a wonderful gift. And of course I'll link that up in the show notes as well. If anyone's driving and can't, didn't quite catch that, you can always go back and and look at the show notes for this episode and we'll get that up as well. Awesome. Thanks for being here. Thank you more.

[00:22:23] Thanks so much for listening to the Inspired Stewardship podcast. As a subscriber and listener, we challenge you to not just sit back and passively listen, but act on what you've heard and find a way to live your calling. If you enjoyed this episode, please, please do us a favor. Go over to inspired stewardship.com/itunes.

[00:22:50] Rate all one. iTunes rate. It'll take you through how to leave a rating and review, and how to make sure [00:23:00] you're subscribed to the podcast so that you can get every episode as it comes out in your feed. Until next time, invest your time, your talent, and your treasures. Develop your influence and impact the world.