Life Changes Show, October 21, 2019
Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio and cohost Mark Laisure, with Executive Producer Dorothy Lee Donahue
The Near Death Experience That Inspired a Movement, with Guest, Head Minister of “Happy Science,” and Vice President and Producer of the film, “Immortal Hero,” Yoichi Utebi; and Musical Guest, Singer / Songwriter / Song Stylist, Raspin Stuwart on The LIFE CHANGES Show #551
Guest: YOICHI UTEBI and Musical Guest: RASPIN STUWART
Guest, Yoichi Utebi
YOICHI UTEBI
Yoichi Utebi, Happy Science Head Minister, Producer and Vice President of HS Productions
Born in Japan in 1968, Yoichi Utebi grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and New York City. Raised in a rare Japanese Christian family, he was deeply touched by Muslim culture and the beauty of Lebanon during his formative years in Beirut. However, the Middle East also exposed Utebi to the horrors of war, as he and his family dodged bullets and bombings before fleeing to New York, leaving everything behind in a sudden evacuation. The next 10 years in New York exposed Utebi to friends from multiple cultures and ethnicities. His rock band produced a popular album and gained quite a following in the city before Utebi decided to forego his musical pursuits and return to Japan.
After 12 years of experience in marketing and senior management at various American IT companies in Japan, Utebi joined Happy Science in 2010, where he quickly rose to Director of International Communications. In 2015, he was appointed Head Minister of Hawaii, and in 2018 he led the temples in Okinawa. Utebi is currently leading Happy Science’s International Media Division and is the Vice President of HS Productions and producer of “Immortal Hero.”
ABOUT IMMORTAL HERO
Makoto Mioya, a highly successful Japanese author and publisher, has a life-threatening, near-death experience. Powerful spiritual beings with whom he has communicated most of his adult life visit Makoto to remind him he has the power within to heal himself. Reborn, Makoto commits his life to sharing the almighty wisdom he receives from the spiritual realm. As doubters, including some of his own family, challenge and question his new-found ardor, Makoto must find a way to connect with his family and the ‘family of man’ to inspire a better world.
Guest, Raspin Stuwart
RASPIN STUWART
Singer/songwriter/song stylist Raspin Stuwart’s life and career can best be described as a Tale of Two Cities – Chicago and Los Angeles, that is! However, these two cities are just starting points for a performer with truly universal appeal..
A singer who sings to your soul…
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Raspin was surrounded by the influences of the blues and jazz music greats of the era, as well as the popularity of the singer-songwriter music genre of the 1970s that begat one-of-a-kind talents such as Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen and Cat Stevens. His music is equally informed by the entirety of his adult life in Los Angeles, measured by his professional successes over the decades since arriving in the City of Angels to seek his fame and fortune at the tender age of 17. Like the music heroes who today remain relevant, serious music lovers of all ages relate to Raspin’s performances, his complex and intriguing lyrics, and inspired covers of classics.
Raspin’s emotional vocals, striking lyrics impact brightly on the listener, a stark contrast to his hypnotic melodic background. As evidenced on his new CD, NY2LA , his eclectic mix of theatrical, captivating and soulful music provides the perfect follow-up to his critically acclaimed, Starbucks-endorsed CD, We Do What We Do. Tracks on his NY2LA include a reggae version of “Smoke the Hookah,” the jazzish “New York 2 L.A.,” “Love Along the Way” (a unique pop hybrid rooted in the 1960s), the soulful, down-home warmth blues of “Mama’s Got the Blues,”.
Keeping Raspin in demand after long ago establishing himself in the music world is the fact that he remains the newest and freshest “veteran” musician, singer, songwriter and song stylist working today. His appearances at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) in recent years, as well as his inclusion in the stellar lineup for Southern California’s Make Music Pasadena concert at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena, underscore his continued relevance in these unpredictable times, are the latest high points
Raspin’s unique style allows him to be right at home anywhere, from the smallest, intimate theater to an energetic blues club. Raspin was the opening musical performance for author Marianne Williamson, and has been described as “a music guru… who makes us think,” by the Life Changes Network BBS. His fans are mesmerized when they attend his live shows and absorb his soulful music into their hearts and minds.
“A tremendously soulful singer and songwriter” who has been described in recent reviews as a force ‘of nature’ who is ‘in the business of show stopping,”-Paul Zollo songtalk/blueline
Life Changes Show
Come and join the conversation about what's going on and what we can do together about it, with it, and for it. We have the choice, we have the power. We can do magic if we just believe!
A show about the changes going on in us, to us, around us, and because of us. Therefore, it's technically a show about "Everything," only with a how to make it better, see it better, be better.
In the show, there is talk about, and with, people who have either been through major changes, are helping others with major changes, or people who are changing the world for the better in a major way.
The show is a one-hour talk show format with a monologue by the host, a 30 minute interview with a guest of note, capped by a "Producer's Wrap" segment, in which Filippo and Co-Host Mark Laisure, and sometimes surprise guests, bring it all home for the listeners in a sometimes humorous and sometimes touching, but always entertaining conversation.
