Episodes

Pop and rock and rap and country music can be a fantastic tool to help meet the listener where they are in the gruelling storm of healing. I get it. It's cathartic. However, to call Linkin Park the best band for relieving stress is laughable. Listen, before you come at me... I love Linkin Park. Hybrid Theory was the first CD I played the sh*t out of on my Panasonic Shockwave discman. Here's what they're saying though... A study published by Tebra on how Americans use music to cope with mental h...

Today we get into it with the absolute pioneer of chronic pain solutions, Dr. Sean Pastuch the Founder + CEO of Active Life Consulting and Author of "Live More. Hurt Less." Chronic pain, and mental wellness in the music industry is a foreign topic for many of you and this episode delves into the impact of pain on artists, what makes Dr. Sean and his team at Active Life different, and the importance of addressing lifestyle factors in pain management. Dr. Sean highlights the need for a comprehensi...

Today, Mike explores the difference between a moment and a legacy, emphasizing the importance of building a sustainable creative career. It delves into the concept of a rest budget and the shift from content machine to athlete, highlighting the significance of strategic rest and infrastructure. Takeaways Building a sustainable creative legacy requires a shift from viral chasing to long-term planning. The quality of creative output is directly linked to the quality of recovery and rest. Chapt...

On today's show, Mike explores the impact of burnout, the importance of managing the nervous system, and how the WHOOP wearable can transform how artists can start to understand daily strain, measure recovery, and the role of sleep in creativity. We also study the shutdown ritual, and the relationship between strain, recovery, and creativity. Takeaways Strategic rest is essential for transforming the creative process into a high-performance career strategy. Measuring and managing daily strain...

In this episode, Mike challenges the traditional view of creativity and productivity, emphasizing the importance of recovery and treating artists as athletes. The discussion explores the role of the nervous system in creativity and the significance of sleep in skill consolidation. Takeaways Creativity requires intentional recovery and training, similar to that of an athlete. Sleep is a critical process for skill consolidation and should be treated as a non-negotiable pillar of training. Chap...

Today we drop in to a conversation that I seriously thought everyone was doing, until I recently had to explain why organic traffic is king, when it comes to IRL events. I cover five effective strategies for filling a room without spending on a dime on ads. I emphasize the importance of empowering your inner circle, personalized invitations and understanding the preferences of the invitees. Takeaways Room filling strategies Personalized invitations Chapters 00:00 The 50 01:50 The Room Befo...

Here's the thing... Breathwork works. So does meditation. And yoga. And even cold plunges. All these resets are great. When your system has enough juice to actually do them.... But what do you do when those things stop working? How do you navigate that to get yourself back online...? This Burnout masterclass address exactly that. You'll learn: The Burnout Equation The "Hand" of Stress Passive vs. Active down regulation The Growth Sailboat I've spent the past two decades helping artists s...

Do hard things you don't like! On today's solo-cast episode, Mike discusses the critical importance of resilience in the music industry. He explores the Burnout Equation, delves into the biology of resilience (AMCC), and talks about the significance of training resilience through hard work (and why doing shit you don't like is worth it). The episode concludes by highlighting the importance of resilience for artists and the role of the MFL, how we track resiliency and other character traits on ea...

The conversation delves into the journey of Able Heart, exploring themes of positivity, resilience, self-discovery, and the healing nature of music. Abelheart shares his experiences of overcoming adversity, finding purpose, and the balance between talent, hard work, and opportunity. The discussion also highlights the cathartic process of music and the journey of manifestation and self-expression. The conversation delves into the artist's journey of manifesting through music, overcoming self-doub...

Our conversation with Ian Morris delves into his passion for music, the birth of Listening to Smile, challenges in the music industry, and the concept of creative control. We explore the impact of sound healing, the creation of an immersive music experience, and the empowerment of artists through niche communities and micro connections. The discussion also highlights the significance of frequency-minded music, multimedia experiences, and the art of packaging music to engage and connect with au...

Today's conversation explores the shift from streaming to ownership as a means of deeper artist-fan connection and increased revenue. I sit down with david Chu and Benton Turner of the new physical distribution platform Tunegoody and we dive into the importance of physical format for artists. Tunegoody is on a mission to empower independent artists through reviving the analog physical merchandise. The discussion also covers the monetization of music and the vision for artist sustainability. The ...

The conversation explores the impact of language on life and creativity, emphasizing a practical approach to language use. It delves into the concept of the 'field manual' and creative sustainability, highlighting the importance of language in shaping beliefs and experiences. Takeaways Language shapes life Practical approach to language Want to go deeper? Apply for the Free 30-Day Creative Burnout Challenge and get an in-depth look at what it takes to build a sustainable creative life. www.m...

This episode delves into the decentralized nature of "The Underground" – an alternative music scene, the importance of small rooms and real connections, and the impact of language and frameworks on the music industry. Takeaways The Underground exists for artists who are sick of the BS of the traditional scene and the unsustainable lifestyle associated with "Crash Culture" Small rooms and real connections are the way forward Scenes don't scale, they spread Want to go deeper? Apply for the Fr...

Most artists aren’t burning out because they lack talent—they’re burning out because the system they’re in doesn’t support them. This episode breaks down why the Underground exists… and what we’re building instead. Want to go deeper? Apply for the Free 30-Day Creative Burnout Challenge and get an in-depth look at what it takes to build a sustainable creative life. www.musicfitrecords.com

Last week Kingston Ontario's Kasador rolled through town amidst their "Momma Might've Raised a Fool" so we sat down and talked some shop. Everything from life on the road, to blood blisters and Scottish Football to what artists could steal from athletes to make the tourlife a little more sustainable. The guys have found a way to power through and play almost every night, and despite their years of experience, they still find it challenging at times. Their UK leg later this spring will be a true...