The Heather Petero Show

What do you do when life changes in a second? In this episode, Heather sits down with Carter Viss — marine biologist, founder of the Carter Viss Foundation, co-author of Found in the Wake, and one-handed pianist — for a conversation about survival, recovery, advocacy, music, and meaning. They talk about the accident that changed his life, the people who helped save him, the work he’s doing to make waters safer, and the creativity a...

What happens when people choose to show up in places most of the world would rather avoid?

In this episode, Heather talks with Walter Straham and Rosa Fossett-Gilbert of Kairos Prison Ministry about prison ministry, Kairos Outside, and the quiet weight carried by families and loved ones on the outside. This conversation goes beyond labels and assumptions into something much more human: dignity, compassion, second chances, and the po...

In this rich and personal conversation, Heather sits down with award-winning artist, songwriter, author, speaker, and mentor Babbie Mason to talk about calling, staying power, and the songs that live far beyond the moment they were written.

From her early years as a preacher’s kid and teacher, to writing songs the church still sings, Babbie shares what it means to stay rooted while the world keeps changing the packaging. Heather and...

Born into one of America’s most recognizable legacy families, Lisa Popeil went on to build an extraordinary career all her own — as a singer, performer, researcher, author, and highly respected celebrity vocal coach.

This week on The Heather Petero Show, Heather welcomes Lisa Popeil, creator of the Voiceworks Method, for a rich conversation about voice, artistry, legacy, and impact. They explore Lisa’s unique family background, her ...

What happens when people stop skimming, stop reacting, and actually listen?

My guest is Bunni Pounds, and we’re talking about America Reads the Bible—a major public event in Washington, D.C. happening April 18–25, 2026, with an opening celebration on April 18 and a full week of public Bible reading at the Museum of the Bible from April 19 through 25. The event’s official materials describe nearly 500 readers and more than 475 leader...

This week on The Heather Petero Show, Heather sits down with her dear friend Cathy Semeria for a conversation that is honest, strong, and deeply encouraging—especially for parents who have lost a child.

Cathy shares the story of her daughter, Christina “Tini” Semeria, who died in a tragic auto accident in 2016—an event that became national news at the time. But this episode isn’t about headlines. It’s about a daughter’s life, a fami...

In this episode of The Heather Petero Show, Heather sits down with Hall of Fame, multi-platinum Nashville Row songwriter Bernie Nelson for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on the songs we love—and the lives, moments, and unexpected turns that shaped them.

They talk about what it really takes to write something that lasts, why so many people misunderstand who actually writes the songs, and how originality survives in a worl...

What happens when you mix twenty years of friendship, two decades of marriage, music that feels like a Georgia backroad? You get Matt + Abi.

In this episode, I sit down with the duo to talk about the messy middle—the real-life space where faith, family, and the artist hustle collide. We peel back the curtain on what it takes to build something honest together, keep showing up for the people you love, and make music that feels like a...

This week on The Heather Petero Show, Heather is joined by Shaunee Brannan — author, singer, and founder of The SB Fashion Brand.

In this honest and engaging conversation, they talk about the intersection of faith and fashion, the journey of building confidence, and what it really means to stop shrinking and start showing up fully as yourself.

With humor, real-life perspective, and a refreshing take on identity, Shaunee shares how em...

This week, Heather sits down with Dr. Adam Klein of the Emory Voice Center — the physician who has taken care of celebrity singers and the one she trusts with her own students when something doesn’t sound right.

They dive into the truth behind common vocal myths (whispering, dairy, hydration, screaming at football games… yes, all of it), what’s actually happening inside the voice when things go wrong, and why diagnoses like nodules ...

Heather sits down with her friend of nearly 40 years, Mark Ware — signed country artist and singer-songwriter, retired Fire Chief, and veteran firefighter/EMT whose music is rooted in real life. From High School memories to the hard chapters, Mark shares the kind of story you don’t forget.

Together, they talk about grief, faith, recovery, and what it looks like to keep going after the unthinkable — including the loss of a child — an...

This week on The Heather Petero Show, Heather sits down with Michael Johnson—business consultant, founder of Johnson & Associates, leadership strategist, doctoral candidate, and yes… a man who plays 17 instruments.

They talk about what strategy actually means in real life, why so many business owners stay stuck in “busy,” how implementation is where the real magic happens, and what it takes to lead well without doing absolutely ...

From the Georgia Band Room to the Coast of Ecuador: A Musical Journey with David Henry

What does it look like to retire after 34 years of shaping young musicians, only to start a whole new chapter as a songwriter and producer in a different country?

Today, I’m sitting down with David Henry, a man whose résumé reads like a roadmap of the music industry. From three decades as a legendary instrumental music director in Georgia to his wo...

In this episode of The Heather Petero Show, we talk about what it really looks like to pursue a dream with intention—while holding down a full career, staying grounded, and doing the actual work of the craft. John shares his Alabama roots, his journey into independent country music, the value of staying teachable, and why growth doesn’t stop just because life gets busy.

We also dig into:

• Balancing leadership and creativity

• Why tra...

What if education didn’t feel like pressure, panic, or performance?

In this episode of The Heather Petero Show, Heather sits down with Lisa Renea Shaw—educator, author, language-lover, and founder of My Other Tongue—for a grounded, honest conversation about raising whole humans in a very loud world.

Lisa brings calm, clarity, and conviction to topics many parents feel overwhelmed by: bilingual education, confidence, faith, and the “s...

In this episode of The Heather Petero Show, Heather hands the mic to someone she’s known since literally day one — her son, filmmaker and creative mind behind Petero Productions, Seth Petero.

Seth is proving you don’t need a massive Hollywood budget to tell a meaningful story. From film and digital storytelling to songwriting, vintage tech, and a deep love of the creative process, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how a yo...

In this episode, Heather talks with voice expert and Berklee professor Linda Balliro about the neuroscience behind singing. They break down how the brain learns pitch, coordination, and expression—and why so many singers get stuck chasing sensations instead of building reliable skill.

Smart, practical, and refreshingly clear, this conversation is for singers, teachers, and curious creatives who want real understanding—not vocal myth...