Podcast: The Courage to Become Your Authentic Self (with Jeni Voss, Lead Vocalist of That 80’s Band)

February 7, 2019 by Kent Sanders | Leave a Comment

We become artists for a variety of reasons. Many of us, perhaps even most of us, are drawn to the stage because we want to escape from ourselves. But what if becoming an artist was all about the journey to discover your authentic self? Today’s guest shares her fascinating story through music, recovery, faith, and the creative arts in the pursuit of discovering her true self.

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I’m thrilled to bring you this conversation with my good friend Jeni Voss, who is the lead singer of That 80’s Band, a fantastic group based here in St. Louis. Jeni has quite a story to share, and I have to say this was one of my favorite podcast interviews. As you hear Jeni’s story, you’ll be inspired by her pursuit of an authentic life through a variety of creative and community experiences.

Episode Highlights

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Jeni’s journey in music, and the background story of forming That 80’s Band.
How they choose songs for their set list, and Jeni’s favorite song the band performs.
Jeni’s involvement with Celebrate Recovery.
How becoming comfortable in her own skin changed the way Jeni interacted with people and her audience.
Why apologetics still excites Jeni, and how it connects with her work with That 80’s Band.
How to develop more compassion and empathy for others.
What Jeni learned from artists working in their fields, including improv, film, composing, and others.
The importance of getting your identity from Christ, not your vocation.
Why persistence is vital.

Key Takeaways

1. Lean into your community instead of running away from it.

One of the big themes of our conversation is how community plays such a key role in our development as artists … and as mature people in general. I’ve heard the phrase “This is what church should be like” when people have talked about Celebrate Recovery.

It’s easy to run away from community, especially when you’re an introvert, as I am. But I have discovered the wisdom of Jeni’s emphasis on community the last couple of years in my life. We must run toward relationships with others who can help us, not run away from them.

2. Appreciate and learn from the variety of experiences you’ve had in life.

It’s easy to devalue experiences, jobs, or situations that don’t seem directly related to our success. But Jeni talked about several situations that, although they weren’t necessarily successful in the traditional sense, still gave her the chance to meet key people who influenced her life.

I’m fascinated by the variety of experiences Jeni talked about—the institute at our church, Celebrate Recovery, That 80’s Band, being involved in improv and filmmaking, her interest in apologetics—and how all of those things have shaped her.

None of us is just ONE THING. We are complex individuals, and we can learn from the people and situations we have encountered even if they don’t seem directly related to our chosen field or creative work.

3. Don’t give up!

I was struck that Jeni immediately answered with the word “persistence” when I asked about a single habit that made the most impact on her. She mentioned a story about Harrison Ford not “getting on the train” and going back home with his friends when he was given the opportunity to quit pursuing his dream. And of course, the rest is history.

When things get tough, we are tempted to give up. People only see the end product of our art, not all the work we put in during early mornings or late nights. But that’s what it takes to be successful. Don’t give up! Keep going, keep learning, keep moving, keep refining your craft and making strides day by day.

Resources

I want to thank Jeni for taking the time out of her busy schedule to share this amazing conversation!