Editor’s Note:

I spoke with Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers who has given so much time and energy to the nonprofit organization, Little Kids Rock that he was given an honorary award for his service at Facebook Headquarters on May 16, 2015. As a lobbyist and crusader for free and mandatory music education in public schools, Smith spoke about his early years being sculpted by the music classes in the public schools he attended right outside of Detroit, Michigan. Among other things, he also shared how the impact of those music classes inspired him to work to help children attain the same free music education he received when he was growing up.

Take a listen to our conversation on Publik / Private Podcast w/ Jordannah Elizabeth.