Best Babysteps Podcasts (2025)

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The Impact of BabySteps: Real Families Share Their Stories 23:42

2d ago23:42

23:42

Host Jonathan Hughes talks to five parents who benefited from BabySteps, a program that provides every child born or adopted in Massachusetts $50 for college. They discuss the process of opening a U.Fund 529 college savings account, receiving the free $50 deposit from the Commonwealth, and how they plan to continue saving for college.…

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60. Can I be a Mom and a Musician? Here’s a Roadmap for your New Season 27:57

1d ago27:57

27:57

Do you feel stuck and disappointed that you're not able to perform now that you've become a mom? Are you worried that you're wasting your gift and throwing away countless hours invested in your life as a musician? Do you wish there was a way you could feel a sense of balance in your life with kids, and feel peace about how to how to spend your time…

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59. No Time to Practice? 6 Habits to Support Your Singing Voice as a Busy Mom 18:20

9d ago18:20

18:20

If you're in a season where finding time to sing feels impossible, you're not alone. Whether you’re caring for little ones, rebuilding after a break, or simply juggling a lot, this episode is packed with practical, low-effort ways to improve your voice—even when formal practice isn’t an option. I’m sharing 6 habits that gently strengthen your voice…

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58. Get Curious About How to Breathe for Better Singing 19:19

16d ago19:19

19:19

If your goal is to get back into singing and strengthen your voice, breathing is the place to start. While breathing is something all humans instinctively know how to do, breath for singing can be highly individualized. In this episode, I’ll show you three ways to get curious about how breath works in *your* body. Whether you're already working wit…

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Current College Admissions Trends 44:28

17d ago44:28

44:28

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with Mark Stucker, host and producer of the podcast Your College-Bound Kid, about recent key trends in college admissions. They discuss AI, student diversity, direct admissions, college fit, how students can prepare for the admissions process, and more.By MEFA

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57. Should I Open My Mouth More for a High Note? Yes…and No 24:28

23d ago24:28

24:28

If you’re looking for easy high notes, and optimal space for your voice, we need to have a conversation about opening your mouth. But do we up it up even more for a high note? The answer is yes, but also, let’s nuance that conversation a bit more. We’re going to talk about when to open, how to open, and what to do with your jaw. You’ll leave knowin…

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56. Three Solutions to Increase Your Vocal Range 20:10

1M ago20:10

20:10

Feel like you're hitting a ceiling with your voice? You're not alone. Many women returning to singing struggle with their vocal range. In this episode, I unpack the most common cause I see and share three practical solutions to help you extend your range. What you’ll learn: Why your voice might feel stuck at the top The importance of balancing ches…

1
Planning for College, Career Dreams, and the Internship Experience 25:57

1M ago25:57

25:57

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with MEFA’s high school intern from Cristo Rey Boston High School, Fatima Koumbassa, as well as her school supervisor, Jessina Baker. First Fatima shares her college admissions and financial aid journey, what she is interested in studying in college, and her duties and experience as a MEFA intern. Then Jonathan talks with…

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55. No Motivation to Sing? 3 Babysteps to Vocal Rehab 21:27

1M ago21:27

21:27

55. No Motivation to Sing? 3 Babysteps to Vocal Rehab Even with years of training, there may be seasons where you don’t feel like singing—and you’re not even sure *why*. Here’s 3 areas to address that might help move from a place of vocal silence to singing freely again: 1. Vocal and Physical Challenges – “My voice is not like what it used to be.” …

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54. Heart Flow = Singing Flow: Come Unstuck in the Name of Jesus! (LENT SERIES) 20:50

1M ago20:50

20:50

54. Heart Flow = Singing Flow: Come Unstuck in the Name of Jesus! Have you ever felt like your voice is stuck—and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to have ease in singing anymore? What if the issue isn’t just vocal... but is at the heart-level as well? In this episode, we explore the connection between your heart and your voice. When…

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Public Libraries: They Offer More Than You Think 25:42

2M ago25:42

25:42

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with librarian Angela Costello of the East Bridgewater Public Library. They discuss how the library can be a resource for all members of the community, the education needed to become a librarian, and why the library is such an important asset for people.By MEFA

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53. Finding it Hard to Connect with God? Turn a Simple Drive into a Worship Time (LENT SERIES) 18:55

2M ago18:55

18:55

Are you finding it challenging to regularly connect with God in this season? Maybe its time to make a sacrifice. And what better than a sacrifice of praise! In this episode, I’ll show you a simple but powerful way to do just that—right from your car. Whether you’re in a dry season spiritually or just feeling distracted, this episode will help you r…

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52. The 7 Things I Did to Accomplish My Weekly Goal for a Whole Year 16:51

2M ago16:51

16:51

The 7 Things I Did to Accomplish My Weekly Goal for a Whole Year Have you ever been afraid to start something because you weren’t sure you’d follow through? I get it. That was my biggest fear when I launched this podcast exactly a year ago. But here I am—52 episodes later, ranked in the top 10% of podcasts globally, with listeners in 29 countries! …

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How One College is Encouraging Manufacturing and Innovation 24:34

2M ago24:34

24:34

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with the Executive Director of Westfield State's Resource Innovation Design and Entrepreneurial (RIDE) Center, Dr. Lamis Jarvinen, about how the center empowers manufacturing and innovation in Massachusetts, along with encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit in students. Learn about the RIDE Center’s mission, how it was cre…

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51. Is Your Calling on Pause? 5 Journal Prompts to Find Clarity and Move Forward as a Classically-Trained Singer (LENT SERIES) 20:24

2M ago20:24

20:24

Is Your Calling on Pause? 5 Journal Prompts to Find Clarity and Move Forward as a Classically-Trained Singer Have you stepped away from singing, unsure if your calling in the Performing Arts still stands? Maybe you once felt God’s direction clearly, but now you’re in an in-between season, wondering what’s next. If that sounds familiar, this episode…

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50. You Already Know How to Sing Spontaneously - Here’s How to Tap Into It (LENT SERIES) 22:10

2M ago22:10

22:10

You Already Know How to Sing Spontaneously - Here’s How to Tap Into It If you’re a trained classical singer, you might think improvisation isn’t for you—but I’m here to tell you that you already have the tools to do it. Whether you’ve sat at a piano singing worship songs, tucked a child in with a lullaby, or interpreted an art song, you’ve been pre…

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A Discussion on College Students and Anxiety 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with licensed mental health counselor Kelly Hulyk about anxiety related to the college admissions process, as well as attending college and living away from home. They discuss why this topic is important, how students can seek help, and where to find other resources.By MEFA

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49. Scared to Sing? 3 Simple Steps to Revive Your Voice and Reignite Your Calling (LENT SERIES) 23:59

3M ago23:59

23:59

🌟 BRAND NEW FACEBOOK GROUP! 🌟 Join here: www.facebook.com/groups/theheartofasinger Scared to Sing? 3 Simple Steps to Revive Your Voice and Reignite Your Calling Have you found yourself hesitant or even afraid to sing, despite all your training and experience? If opening your mouth to sing feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. But it is possible to …

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The return of babysteps 31:36

3M ago31:36

31:36

Hi everyone I'm back and have alot to talk about

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48. Feeling Stuck in Your Singing? Reactivate Your Voice in a Surprising Way (LENT SERIES) 22:14

3M ago22:14

22:14

Have you lost motivation to sing or feel stuck vocally? I’ve noticed a trend—those with the most training and experience in singing are often the ones who struggle most with self-doubt and burnout. With Easter just around the corner, a time when musicians are frequently called upon to use their gifts, you might find yourself feeling weighed down ra…

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How Educational Divide Reform Helps Students Prepare for College and Explore Careers 35:58

3M ago35:58

35:58

Host Jonathan Hughes explores Educational Divide Reform, a non-profit organization that seeks to promote global citizenship, social inclusion, and community development through youth education. Jonathan talks with Educational Divide Reform’s Alice Cho about the organization’s college and career readiness program, and with middle school teacher Ana …

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47. Singing the Psalms to Reignite Your Heart and Voice 20:21

3M ago20:21

20:21

47. Singing the Psalms to Reignite Your Heart and Voice Have you ever felt like your singing has lost its spark? In this episode, we explore a powerful way to reconnect with your voice and your heart—singing the Psalms. This ancient yet deeply personal practice can help you experience greater vocal freedom, spontaneous expression, and a renewed sen…

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46. Ready For More Vocal Freedom? How Singing in the Spirit Can Turn Things Around 22:29

3M ago22:29

22:29

Are you a singer who is craving more vocal freedom and spontaneity? To be able to imagine something and be able to sing it? The key for finding this for me didn’t involved complicated exercises or more warmups. I found breakthrough when I started singing in the spirit. Stay tuned and I’ll tell you how. "...be filled continually with the Holy Spirit…

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How to Become a Pilot 29:09

3M ago29:09

29:09

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with two pilots, Cliff Lanyi and Jack Trendell, about their different journeys to becoming a pilot. They discuss schooling, acquiring their license, the number of hours they need to be certified, and much more. Plus, Jonathan explains how to use MEFA Pathway to explore information on becoming a pilot as well as other care…

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45. Is It Possible to See God’s Kingdom Come in the Opera Space? 16:09

4M ago16:09

16:09

I want to share with you some vision for the opera space, and what God might be inviting you into as a Christian who is a classically trained opera singer. Blessings, Sarah 🌟 // RELATED EPISODES: 9. A Vision for the Performing Arts When Partnered with God 35. It’s Time to Activate Your Creative God Dream Within the Performing Arts 36. Singers Are C…

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BabySteps Turns 5: Checking In on the College Savings Incentive Program 31:38

4M ago31:38

31:38

Host Jonathan Hughes first talks with Julie Shields-Rutyna to answer a mailbag question about rolling over unused U.Fund 529 savings into a Roth IRA. Then Jonathan talks with Deputy Director of the Massachusetts State Treasury’s Office of Economic Empowerment Samantha Perry. They discuss the BabySteps college savings incentive program, how it start…

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44. Every Opera Singer Should Learn to Improvise 11:48

4M ago11:48

11:48

Why would I ever want to improvise as a Classical Singer? Does that sound scary and like a crazy thing to learn to do? I see three amazing reasons that Improvisation is Important for Opera Singers: 1. Improvising helps us better understand composed material 2. Improvisation helps us listen and connect with other musicians 3. Improvisation is a Hear…

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43. Steal Two of These To Create an Original Piece as an Opera Singer 17:44

4M ago17:44

17:44

Have you ever wanted to create an original piece? Here are the only 3 Elements you need to create your very own classical piece of music! And the twist? You can steal atleast 2 of them!!! I’ll show you how. Here are the Three Elements: 1. Text/Story 2. Music 3. Audience Blessings, Sarah 🌟 // Contact: [email protected]…

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42. Ready to Make Original Music? Process Your Week by Creating a Quick Song Mashup 21:24

4M ago21:24

21:24

Are you ready to get started creating original material to perform? Creating a Song Mashup is a great place to start! This is perfect for Opera Singers who don’t have experience composing or arranging, and you don’t even need piano skills! In this episode, I give you the step-by-step process to creating a Song Mashup in less than an hour. Seriously…

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How One Grandparent Is Saving for College 24:40

4M ago24:40

24:40

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with grandparent and retired lawyer Louis Rizoli. Mr. Rizoli has saved for all of his grandchildren in the MEFA U.Fund 529 college savings plan. Jonathan and Mr. Rizoli discuss how he found the U.Fund, what he appreciates about the plan, why he saves for his grandchildren, and more.…

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41. Four Objections Opera Singers Have to Creating New Music 16:30

5M ago16:30

16:30

Do you feel like you want to create an original piece of music, but find that something keeps holding you back? In this podcast episode, we briefly look at four objections that I've seen trained opera singers have to creating their own new music. And we'll look at a "remedy" for each of these! Hint: You have PERMISSION to break all of the rules!! G…

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What is Early College? 31:21

5M ago31:21

31:21

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with Director of College Access at Bristol Community College, Christine Scafidi, about Early College, the school’s program that allows high school students to earn college credits. They discuss the program, how high school students interact with the colleges, what sort of students they tend to serve, and where students ca…

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40. Three Reasons to Create an Original Piece as a Christian Opera Singer 14:14

5M ago14:14

14:14

Do you feel like God is placing something on your heart to share musically? Do you have a creative idea as an opera singer, but you’re not quite sure where to start? Why not creative an original piece! Here is 3 reasons why I think ALL Christian Opera Singers should create original pieces: 1. It's Therapeutic 2. It's Vocally Freeing 3. It Can be Gl…

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39. Can the Performing Arts Look Like God? New Vision for a New Year 21:36

5M ago21:36

21:36

What could the Performing Arts look like when partnered with God? What if people could get healed while seeing an opera? What if God’s presence was tangibly felt in theaters? What if new works were written, inspired by Holy Spirit? Could God be calling you to listen in to what is on His heart for the Arts? As we enter a new year, lets unpack togeth…

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38. “Be Not Afraid!” God Empowers the Creative Idea He Puts Inside of You 26:17

5M ago26:17

26:17

You’re in for a treat today, because I felt an urging to revisit today one of my favorite episodes from this year. Do you have something burning inside of you that you feel like the Lord has given you to do? Does it feel completely terrifying, yet also like something you can’t ignore? You’re in good company with Mary, who carried in her God’s promi…

1
20 and 1 Questions About the FAFSA 26:02

5M ago26:02

26:02

Host Jonathan Hughes and co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna talk with MEFA’s Director of College Relations and FAFSA expert, Shawn Morrissey. Shawn answers 21 questions that MEFA has heard from families about completing the FAFSA.By MEFA

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37. Move from Loneliness into Fruitfulness for Christian Opera Singers 22:41

5M ago22:41

22:41

Do you struggle sometimes with a sense of loneliness or not quite fitting in? Perhaps you're a Christian in a secular art form and you feel like you might be a bit of the odd one out at times or you might be living in a different country and culture. Maybe you have longings from God about something that he wants to birth in you and through you. And…

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36. Singers Are Creators: Reimagine What You Can Do as a Classically-Trained Singer 10:43

6M ago10:43

10:43

I want to highlight something that I believe is naturally in us from birth that we may have forgotten as musicians. And that is: SINGERS ARE CREATORS We are born with ideas, curiosity, and the ability to think of a melody and speak it forth - to sing it forth. I believe we were created, yes, for singing beautiful music composed by others, but even …

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35. It’s Time to Activate Your Creative God Dream Within the Performing Arts 7:15

6M ago7:15

7:15

In today's episode, I want to share with you more about the vision that I feel like the Lord has given me over many years for the performing arts when partnered with Him. Especially for opera and for singing. Vision for opera companies and singers when surrendered and led by Holy Spirit Vision for a coming Renaissance on the earth - a renewal of th…

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The Gift of College 20:55

6M ago20:55

20:55

Host Jonathan Hughes talks with founder and CEO of Gift of College, Wayne Weber. They discuss how Weber started Gift of College, the benefits of saving for college, the ease of using a gift card to help someone save, and how you can use Gift of College Cards to save in MEFA U.Fund, U.Plan, and Attainable accounts, as well as make a payment toward a…

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34. Three Clues You Are Pregnant with a God-Sized Creative Dream 14:15

6M ago14:15

14:15

How do you know if God has given you a creative dream for within the Performing Arts? 1. It feels impossible - bigger than you! 2. You feel overwhelmed, but you can’t stop thinking about it and writing about. 3. You start to feel pregnant with a promise and you need to get it out! SCRIPTURES QUOTED Luke 1:30 “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found …

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33. Starting Singing Again as a Busy Mom - Say YES to What God Has Placed Inside of You 21:55

6M ago21:55

21:55

Are you a busy mom who has no time to sing, and you feel like you struggle to find time to connect with God? But maybe you feel a tug deep down inside of you to start singing again and to worship the Lord with your voice. I invite you on a journey of saying YES to the Lord, even if it feels scary and inconvenient! He is waiting to spark something a…

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Our 100th Episode: Highlighting MEFA’s Past, Present, and Future 30:37

6M ago30:37

30:37

It’s the 100th episode of the MEFA Podcast! Host Jonathan Hughes sits down with MEFA’s Executive Director Tom Graf who discusses the podcast, MEFA’s accomplishments, and where MEFA is headed. Jonathan is then joined by co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna to discuss the previous 99 episodes of the MEFA Podcast and how MEFA helps listeners plan, save, and p…

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32. Stewarding a Prophetic Word for Spiritual Breakthrough 25:32

7M ago25:32

25:32

I love the moment when God speaks to us, and deposits a promise into our lives. This might be a promise directly from the Bible, or through a prophetic word spoken from another believer who is listening in to the heart of God. Do we have any responsibility to help see this promise come to fruition? Mary’s response in Luke, Chapter 1 teaches us abou…

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31. "I'll Sing On!" 3 Steps to Peace When Your Circumstances Feel Out of Your Control 18:04

7M ago18:04

18:04

Do you feel like there’s something in your life that feels out of your hands? Do you feel like your circumstances are not what you would wish, but you know you can’t do anything to change it? I have felt that way too recently, in several areas of my life. And the Lord has showed me time and again the road to His peace. In today’s episode, we will u…

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30. Dance Out Your Overwhelm - Come Unstuck By Moving Your Feet First! 26:59

7M ago26:59

26:59

Are you feeling stuck, and can’t see clarity because of feeling overwhelmed? Being in this position can often leave a mark on the body, affect our relationships, and our productivity. Where to start? Dance it out! I’ll show you how dancing helps you mentally let go, physically release the tension you were holding, and spiritually hand it over to Go…

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29. Should I Sing Out? Celebrate With Singing and Dancing! Really - Do It!! 25:54

7M ago25:54

25:54

Celebrate with me! We’ve just passed 1000 downloads, and at the same time, The Heart of a Singer turned 6 months old! Thank you for engaging as a listener of the podcast. Here are 3 Celebration situations where you can choose to sing or not to sing. I encourage you to sing out! 1. Happy Birthday - 3 ways you could join in Happy Birthday as a traine…

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28. Are You Accidentally Holding Your Breath? Change This One Thing for a More Powerful Singing Voice 18:54

8M ago18:54

18:54

Do you find that you are accidentally holding your breath throughout the day? Do you find yourself loosing your singing or speaking voice sometimes, or have less power than you used to? Your unintentional shallow breathing might be causing the diaphragm’s path to be shortened, and your pressure system and support system not working as it should. I …

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2025-26 FAFSA Updates 26:55

8M ago26:55

26:55

Host Jonathan Hughes first talks with co-host Julie Shields-Rutyna about the FSA ID. They then answer a question from the MEFA Mailbag. Finally, they speak with MEFA’s Director of College Relations, Shawn Morrissey, on the 2025-26 FAFSA.By MEFA

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27. Victory Through Redefinition: Solve Your Problem by Changing the Question 22:24

8M ago22:24

22:24

Do you have a problem or circumstance that seems like its at an impasse? Solve your problem by changing the question! I call this "Victory Through Redefinition." I'll teach you how to examine both the question and the potential answer to challenge the "should be's" or the way things usually are. As an example, let's take a look at the challenge you…

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