#43 Pete Griffin | When Music Heals: Inside Musicians On Call

In this episode, we sit down with Pete Griffin, President & CEO of Musicians On Call (MOC) — the nonprofit bringing live music to patients, caregivers, and veterans across all 50 states. From children’s hospitals to VA units and hospice rooms, MOC delivers five-minute moments that feel like fresh air: you’re not a “patient” anymore — you’re just a person, a family, a fan.

When Music Heals in Real Time

Pete shares a powerful story from the week after the Route 91 festival shooting, when artists visited survivors and the ER team at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. The change in the room was visceral — anxiety giving way to smiles, caregivers finally exhaling. Sometimes it's a simple distraction; sometimes it’s a spiritual reset. Either way, the result is the same: music restores humanity when it’s needed most.

How Musicians On Call Works

MOC sends a musician + guide duo room-to-room for intimate bedside performances across adult, pediatric, VA, and hospice facilities. Setlists lean on familiar covers to deepen connection (“play my song”), and yes — big-name artists jump in alongside local pros. Can’t walk into a hospital? MOC also runs virtual visits, so touring pros (and anyone with 30 spare minutes) can volunteer from a laptop between shows.

Why It Matters (for Crew, Too)

There’s science behind the magic — lower stress, reduced pain, better mood — but Pete highlights something just as important: the human gesture. A stranger offering a song says, “You’re not alone.” Bonus for our community: volunteering is a genuine way to build relationships that lead to opportunities while doing work that actually matters.

Leadership & Purpose

Pete’s path ran through MTV campaigns, White House/UN work, and national nonprofits before MOC. The throughline? People first. Culture and team health drive outcomes. And in both for-profit and nonprofit worlds, the bar is the same: build great products (or programs), measure impact, and keep evolving.

Listen to the full episode: YouTube • Apple • Spotify

Want to get involved with Musicians On Call? Visit their website to learn more.