John Burton goes Home From Here

Edition Fifty-Three- Week Fifty-Three:

Written by: Mercedes Barreto // Photo Credit goes to: Ricardo Gutierrez  (ricardo@hyportrait.com)  /  M-X Cloud.

With his warm and inviting presence, sense of humor, and candor about tough subjects, host John Burton fosters an environment of openness and vulnerability, inviting guests from all walks of life to share their stories and expertise on his radio show/ podcast, Home From Here. Home From Here is consistently ranked globally in the top ten in #talk, #acoustic, and #intervew by Mix Cloud.

Through engaging interviews with renowned experts, authors, actors and everyday people, and performances from stadium musicians to local singer/songwriters, “Home From Here” uncovers the transformative potential of creativity and the resilience of the human spirit.

“I love doing the show so much.  It feels like I have found my life’s work, and trust me, I have looked around,” John jokes.  “I love examples of people who have overcome because I believe nothing teaches like an example.  We have been so fortunate to have guests who are courageous about sharing.  Three weeks ago we had a famous cellist on who shared his experience of childhood sexual abuse and how he has learned to overcome and forgive.  It is examples of that level of grace that I want to share.  I left that interview thinking that if he can let go of that, I can certainly let go of what I am holding on to.”

Home From Here is a great listen in a unique format that will make you laugh and cry in the same minute sometimes.   It begins with the journey of the host, John Burton.

John Burton

John Burton is the creator and host of Home From Here. His innate ability to infuse humor and light-heartedness combined with vulnerability and openness into his discussions creates a safe space where listeners can find solace, inspiration, and a renewed sense of hope.

John’s personal and dramatic journey through a mental health crisis serves as the backdrop for his conversations with politicians, musicians, therapists, and his family.

“About a decade ago I had a really significant mental health crisis and decided to kill myself.  The path I took to walk that back is unconventional, but the only thing I can tell you is that it worked.  It isn’t for everybody, in fact I think my path is a last resort” John said, “but what is important is that we are able to talk about all the options as openly as possible.  Mental health is, in my opinion, more art than science.  There is no one-size-fits-all and we need to be as open as possible about that.”

“I use words like crazy when I talk about myself and get some push back for that.  But my position, having been there, is that if you can say you are sick when you have the flu then you can say you were crazy when you had a dissociative disorder,” John continued.  “I try to make mental health a space that can hold laughter.  I do that because I am no longer afraid of my head.  I respect it.  I treat it every day through meditation and writing and exercise, but I am not afraid of it.  And I don’t want anybody who listens to the show to be afraid of their head either.”

John is also a professional musician.   “My one man show Home From Here is actually what inspired the radio show,” John said.  It’s a two hour song and story journey through how I got from hell to not hell.  I perform on the show once in a while too, a song here and there”.  

Burton’s music is a cross between James Taylor and Bruce Springsteen, and he is regarded as a master guitarist.

Previous Guests

Previous guests on Home From Here include stadium musician Marshall Crenshaw, NBC Reporter Chris Jose, exonerated after serving 25 years for rape and murder Andrew Krivak, a Ukrainian Christmas special with globally renown musician Lesya Verba, The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department, and John’s family, Trish and Gramercy.

RadioFreeRhinecliff

Home From Here is produced at the studios of Radio Free Rhinecliff.   “It is an amazing project,” John said.  “The studio is one small room in the back of a store, but the reach is global. That’s what happens when a very good idea is placed in the hands of competent people.”

From the station: 

“Radio Free Rhinecliff has a straightforward mission, and we want to have fun doing it! 

Our goal is to strengthen the ties that bind our community, both locally and globally, and to foster collaboration by providing a platform for informative, entertaining, and inspiring content from the remarkable talent that thrives in our hamlet, combined with additional talent from parts unknown.

A ‘freeform’ station allows its hosts to create their programming while abiding by a code of conduct that encourages civil discourse and provides fact-based information.”

Matty Rosenberg/Station Manager

Jennifer Hammoud/Dir. Community Rels.

Conclusion

The ratings are no coincidence.  John is a rare mix of a musical talent who is equally adept and storytelling and interviewing.    People respond to the show because they find humor, tears, great music, compassion, and inspiring examples of people just like them who have overcome tremendous obstacles like depression, cancer, poverty, abuse, and have found their way home. 

“The reception is gratifying because it feels like blooming, like if you just make an hour in a room with a guest who is brave, things open and you see such beauty where before there was only sadness,”  John concludes.  “I am so grateful to have the space to try and shine a little bit of light, a good song, a laugh, and something to think about.”

Home From Here can be found at HomeFromHereShow.com, RadioFreeRhinecliff.org and on MixCloud.   You can learn more about John Burton’s music at JnBurton.com.  

John is appearing November 3rd from 7 – 9 pm at the Rhinecellar in Rhinebeck NY.  For more information go to JnBurton.com.