Jo Joly
Hi, I’m Jo! I’m a song leader and nature connection facilitator currently living in San Antonio, Texas. I work at the intersection of land, song, and self-discovery, deeply committed to holding spaces that cultivate belonging. I’m a practitioner of wonder, a lifelong student of awe, and a firm believer that ceremony does not have to be solemn, bringing play and joy into as much of life as I can. If I can help make the sacred more approachable and the silly more meaningful, I feel like I’ve done my job. I’m a forest therapy guide and naturalist with a robust practice of frolicking in streams and catching bugs. My academic roots lie deep in anthrozoology, studying the human relationship to the more than human world. This is where Kindred comes from. Most of us were never taught that we belong to the Earth. We were taught to visit it, to use it, to appreciate it from a distance. That separation lives in the body. It lives in the throat. And it is inherited, passed down through generations who forgot, or were forced to forget, that they were made of soil and salt and mycelium and rain. You and your voice are part of the living world and always have been.
I’ve been a singer/songwriter for 15 years, recently diving into community song leading for the past 2 years. I am a graduate of Heather Houston’s Sisters in Harmony Song Leader Certification program and a song leader in my mentor Sarah Sires Bentley’s song circle, Sisters in Harmony Austin. Kindred Community Singing weaves together my two deepest passions: nature connection and community singing.
My circles bring a blend of mindful movement, approachable breathwork, vocal warm-ups & meditations, easy-to-learn original songs, songs by fellow treasured song leaders, community building, reflection, and giggling, with the goal of you entering the space exactly as you are and feeling a little bit lighter and a little more connected when you leave.
I love bringing song to any and every kind of space, from birthday parties and community festivals to wellness retreats and grief rituals. Community singing has a special place for any occasion or season of life.
My work is rooted in a simple belief. Our disconnection from the Earth and our disconnection from our own voices are the same wound, and that they can heal together.
Song Village 2026
Kindred Community Singing
Kindred Community Singing was born out of the profound effects of gathering together and connecting through song, especially when that time is also in nature.
We sing in the oral tradition of call and response, with no sheet music or practice ahead of time. There is no musical experience required. All you need is a willingness to show up exactly how you are. We sing, not for perfection, but for connection, expression, regulation, play, and liberation. Singing is one of the oldest technologies, connecting us to ourselves, the land, and community. We sing to remember, not to perform.
Why the toad?
If you’ve made it this far, here is some naturalist nerding out for you.
I chose Oli, the Western Narrow-Mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) to be Kindred Community Singing’s logo and mascot for many reasons.
Firstly, amphibians are incredible animals. They are a bridge between two worlds, water & land. They go through a mind-blowing process called metamorphosis, where they slowly shapeshift from water lain eggs to wiggly, swimming tadpoles, eventually to land dwelling (much of the time) creatures that use spring loaded hops and withstand extraordinary environmental pressures. Amphibians are indicator species, meaning their health is directly connected to the health of their ecosystem. If the amphibians are suffering, the entire ecosystem is off-kilter. Both community and song are important indicators of the health of the human ecosystem. A human ecosystem filled with music, singing, and connection often indicates a healthy environment.
Secondly, frogs and toads are known for their singing! Call & response style, if you will. The Hill Country sunset often reverberates with the back-and-forth of frog song. Frog song is a beautiful example of community singing in the natural world.
Thirdly, the Western Narrow-mouthed Toad specifically shows us an impressive display of symbiosis by sharing communal burrows with tarantulas, sharing duties to keep the burrow clean, while gaining protection. This level of cooperation from two critters historically vilified by humans, feels like an important relationship to highlight. By using Oli as my mascot, I hope to help garner a little more love and curiosity for our important kin that many people have grown to fear.