Life Changes Show, September 11, 2023
Life Changes Show with Filippo Voltaggio and cohost Mark Laisure, with Executive Producer Dorothy
Guests, Writer, Director Shaun Monson and, Songwriter, Guitarist Luis Oliart, Ep 754
Featuring Interview Guest, Writer, Director, and Producer of Documentary Films, including, EARTHLINGS, and UNITY, Shaun Monson; and Performance Guest, Songwriter, Producer, Guitarist, and Mesa Bluemoon Recordings Artist, Luis Oliart, on The LIFE CHANGES Show Episode 754
Interview Guest: SHAUN MONSON; and Performance Guest: LUIS OLIART
Guest, Shaun Monson
Shaun Monson is writer, director, and producer of documentary films.
His debut film, EARTHLINGS (2005), was narrated by Academy Award Nominee Joaquin Phoenix and is considered a milestone in documentary films for animal welfare organizations around the world. His follow-up film, UNITY (2015), which took 8 years to complete, features an astounding cast of 100 celebrity narrators.
In 2018 he co-produced the documentary DOMINION, narrated again by Joaquin Phoenix, along with Rooney Mara, Kat Von D, Sia, and Sadie Sink. The film is an updated look at modern-day factory farming.
During the pandemic in 2020, he released a series of short films beginning with GUARDIANS OF LIFE, about the wildfires in the Amazon and Australia. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Rosario Dawson, Oona Chaplain, Matthew Modine, Adria Arjona, Albert Hammond, and Q’orianka Kilcher.
He also directed the short film LIBERTY, again starring Joaquin Phoenix, which was filmed the day after winning the Academy Award for JOKER. The film is about the release of a mother and calf from a slaughterhouse.
Monson also produced and directed the film THERE WAS A KILLING, about the death of animal activist Regan Russell in Toronto.
In 2021, he produced and directed a follow-up to LIBERTY called INDIGO, released on Earth Day, where Phoenix visits the animals he rescued at a sanctuary one year later.
Monson, Phoenix, and Rooney collaborated again on a public service announcement called A CHECKERED PAST, which is about 42 primates at a sanctuary that closed, and they all needed to be re-homed.
In 2022 he began adapting Dr. Michael Greger’s New York Times best-selling book HOW NOT TO DIE into a documentary film, a project that is ongoing.
He also directed the short film THE HEART WHISPERER about activists who are unsung heroes.
In 2023 he produced and directed THE DEER OF CATALINA, a short film about the plight of mule deer on the island.
He is currently developing a new project on alternative proteins that will help eliminate climate change, world hunger, and factory farming, but are dismissed through misinformation campaigns funded by animal agriculture. The film is entitled MASTERS OF CREATION.
Guest, Luis Oliart
Luis Oliart, Southern California guitarist, singer/songwriter, has been described as, “simply magical … totally captivating … compelling.” His sound blends funk, rock, soul and blues to produce music with a fresh groove and full of soul.
Oliart has entertained audiences at venues throughout the world, including, BB KIng’s, CBGB, Hard Rock Cafe, House of Blues, Key Club, Knitting Factory, The Bitter End, Troubadour and, yes, Carnegie Hall. Plus a long list of performances in Vancouver, Toronto, Thailand, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Greece and Switzerland.
Although he’s a talented multi-instrumentalist, often identified with his electric, acoustic and Dobro guitar wizardry, Luis has gotten rave reviews for his vocal chops and songwriting skills. As Music Connection Magazine’s Bernard Baur raved,
“Oliart weaves extraordinary rhythms and guitar percussion that are simply magical.”
Along the way, Luis managed to make the Top 50 on NBC’s Star Tomorrow, which also earned him the high praise from Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Luis Oliart & The Hinges have just released their new single, “Hold On To Our Love,” which is a further of Oliart’s refinement of his unique “soul-funk-blues” songwriting and performances. The obvious appeal of Luis’ approach is seen weekly in Southern California venues where Luis Oliart & The Hinges have crowds up on their feet with sets that rely heavily on Oliart originals.
Luis Oliart said, “I wrote Hold On To Our Love so our band, The Hinges, would have a lively, happy song for our live shows. I am a fan of traditional African music and artists, so we’re striving to create a feeling that leans into that African sound of jubilation mixed it’s musical descendent, the American blues. It turned into a celebration in the studio when we were able to jam on this song with the same energy as in our live shows.”
Luis’ current band, Luis Oliart & The Hinge includes: Fishbone founders, Norwood Fisher & John Steward, Pharcyde keyboard legend, Chuck Boogie and guitarist Jay O’Keefe.
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.
