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Bass virtuoso, DJ, and producer Blu DeTiger joins Dr. Clara Latham, music scholar at The New School, for a conversation about groove, gender, and the work behind making music look effortless. Taking Blu's “SHOCK!” as a starting point, we explore her fluency in disco and funk, the coordination involved in DJing while playing bass, and the blurry line between music as work and music as play. Along the way, we consider why labor-saving technologies sometimes create more work, what makes a turntable an instrument rather than an appliance, and how women musicians challenge expectations about skill, sexuality, and who gets taken seriously.
This month, I met up with DJ, producer, and label boss Jen Cardini, for what has become an increasingly rare face to face interview, taking place at Soho House here in Berlin. A DJ for over 30 years, Jen is a master of connecting, moving dancefloors, and taking dancers on a journey, pulling from all kinds of genres and influences, never tied down by labels but always rooted in warmth and energy. For Jen, DJing and dance music in general is all about self-expression, something they discovered for the first time playing for queer parties like Le Pulp in Paris, as well as in Berlin…. This episode delves into generosity, community, and the trust built up from true self-expression. Music: "petit monstre" - Jen Cardini (2026) "August in Paris" - Shonky and Jen Cardini (2016 reissue) "The Dark, The Light" - Jen Cardini and Bozart (2023) FOLLOW AIR: Instagram: www.instagram.com/_airpodcast/ Substack: airpodcast.substack.com/ BUY BREAKTHROUGH: https://www.lespressesdureel.com/EN/ouvrage.php?id=13352&menu=0
Huge thanks to Blue for coming on!
Devin Short Talks MAFS 20: A Perfect Match Podcast Also available on YouTube. Devin Short joins hosts Aysha Welch and Jason Reed for a behind-the-scenes look at Married at First Sight season 20. SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: http://weknowdatingshows.com From being contacted unexpectedly for the show to navigating the unique challenges of marrying a stranger on television, Devin shares candid stories about what really happens when the cameras are rolling and when they’re not. As the group discusses Devin's dynamic with Caitlin, moments of confusion, frustration, and missed connections emerge, painting a vivid picture of how hopes for a perfect match can unravel. Devin describes the shock of the process, including his initial skepticism about even joining MAFS and the lack of prior reality TV experience. The discussion dives deep into the honeymoon phase, highlighting where tensions surfaced, from disagreements about gym routines to a communication breakdown at the water park. The noticeably different connection Caitlin formed with her friend Courteney, rather than with Devin, becomes a centerpiece for examining relationship boundaries and expectations. The hosts and Devin also chat about group sessions, being validated by the experts, and the impact of editing on public perception. Key moments and insights include: Devin's reaction to being paired with Caitlin and encountering her traditional-minded father at the wedding Disagreements during the honeymoon, from the infamous gym incident to awkward water park dynamics The persistent lack of time spent together off-camera, contrasted with Caitlin's closer bond with Courteney A tense group dinner blowup and the fallout from Courteney's strong personality Devin's reflections on criticism from viewers, the role of editing, and maintaining authentic self-image Updates on Devin's life post-MAFS, including starting a Tackle Academy, modeling, DJing, and his willingness to try more reality TV This conversation reveals the emotional and logistical hurdles behind the scenes of Married at First Sight, putting Devin's experience front and center. Will the experts' matchmaking process ever account for these hidden complexities? Dive in as the cast unpacks the quirks and questions that define reality TV relationships. Catch the full episode for more real talk, unfiltered stories, and fresh insights into the Married at First Sight experiment. 0:00 Devin Joins, MAFS Discovery 2:12 Why Devin Said Yes 5:50 Caitlin's Dad Interrupts Wedding 7:59 Honeymoon: Early Clashes Surface 14:24 Devin Questions His Own Approach 18:26 Off-Camera Distance Revealed 21:16 Group Session Validates Devin 24:53 Courteney Confrontation at Birthday 33:08 Retreat Drama: BelléJolie and Mecca 48:55 Rugby Retirement and What's Next
Love at First Sight RHAPups: Love Is Blind | Married at First Sight Recap Podcasts
Devin Short Talks MAFS 20: A Perfect Match Podcast Also available on YouTube. Devin Short joins hosts Aysha Welch and Jason Reed for a behind-the-scenes look at Married at First Sight season 20. SUBSCRIBE to the podcast: http://weknowdatingshows.com From being contacted unexpectedly for the show to navigating the unique challenges of marrying a stranger on television, Devin shares candid stories about what really happens when the cameras are rolling and when they're not. As the group discusses Devin's dynamic with Caitlin, moments of confusion, frustration, and missed connections emerge, painting a vivid picture of how hopes for a perfect match can unravel. Devin describes the shock of the process, including his initial skepticism about even joining MAFS and the lack of prior reality TV experience. The discussion dives deep into the honeymoon phase, highlighting where tensions surfaced, from disagreements about gym routines to a communication breakdown at the water park. The noticeably different connection Caitlin formed with her friend Courteney, rather than with Devin, becomes a centerpiece for examining relationship boundaries and expectations. The hosts and Devin also chat about group sessions, being validated by the experts, and the impact of editing on public perception. Key moments and insights include: Devin's reaction to being paired with Caitlin and encountering her traditional-minded father at the wedding Disagreements during the honeymoon, from the infamous gym incident to awkward water park dynamics The persistent lack of time spent together off-camera, contrasted with Caitlin's closer bond with Courteney A tense group dinner blowup and the fallout from Courteney's strong personality Devin's reflections on criticism from viewers, the role of editing, and maintaining authentic self-image Updates on Devin's life post-MAFS, including starting a Tackle Academy, modeling, DJing, and his willingness to try more reality TV This conversation reveals the emotional and logistical hurdles behind the scenes of Married at First Sight, putting Devin's experience front and center. Will the experts' matchmaking process ever account for these hidden complexities? Dive in as the cast unpacks the quirks and questions that define reality TV relationships. Catch the full episode for more real talk, unfiltered stories, and fresh insights into the Married at First Sight experiment. 0:00 Devin Joins, MAFS Discovery2:12 Why Devin Said Yes5:50 Caitlin's Dad Interrupts Wedding7:59 Honeymoon: Early Clashes Surface14:24 Devin Questions His Own Approach18:26 Off-Camera Distance Revealed21:16 Group Session Validates Devin24:53 Courteney Confrontation at Birthday33:08 Retreat Drama: BelléJolie and Mecca48:55 Rugby Retirement and What's Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does "killing it" actually look like behind the scenes? Because sometimes it's a huge stage and an incredible opportunity. And sometimes it's a soggy airport sandwich, a missed flight, or admitting that something just isn't working. In this episode, Erin sits down with speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken for a chat about the side of success we don't always talk about (or get to hear). They dig into why we're so quick to measure accomplishments but ignore how we actually feel, the power of being honest about failure, and why vulnerability matters more than maintaining the appearance that everything is fine. Rich also shares his "Theory of Why Not," the mindset that has led him to take some pretty wild chances throughout his career, and why meaningful progress usually comes from consistent effort rather than trying to knock it out of the park every single day. Here's what you'll hear: Why your feelings deserve as much attention as your metrics What the polished version of "killing it" leaves out How asking "Why not?" can lead to unexpected opportunities Why small, consistent effort is more powerful than perfection How vulnerability, curiosity, and genuine care make us better leaders Connect with Rich on LinkedIn Learn more at richbracken.com. Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Take our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ish Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule. Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "The feeling is data, too." "We all want to feel seen and heard and respected, so show that and you'll get it back." "If you put the other person first, everything else unfolds the way it should." "The best leaders I ever worked for or worked with were human beings. They were vulnerable, they were honest, and they cared." Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity and length while preserving the substance and conversational tone of the original discussion. Erin Hatzikostas sits down with speaker, author, coach, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken to talk about what success really looks like behind the scenes. They explore emotional intelligence, vulnerability, failure, leadership, consistent effort, Rich's "Theory of Why Not," and why some of the biggest opportunities in your career can start with simply being willing to take a chance. Success Is More Than a Metric Erin: I want to start by reading something from your book because this took my breath away. You wrote, "The most dangerous blind spot in change management isn't a missed metric. It's individual and group satisfaction. That's the left hook nobody sees coming. We get so obsessed with what we can measure that we stop paying attention to what we can't. The feeling is data, too." You talk about how we want everyone to believe everything is fine. We hit the number. It worked. We never heard no. Admitting that we came up short or something didn't work can feel like weakness, so we skip past it. We're much quicker to share our wins than our failures. And that instinct doesn't just apply to metrics. It applies to how we feel. We hide emotional shortcomings the same way we hide missed targets because vulnerability in either form feels like exposure. Rich: I think we need to chip away at this idea of perfection because, number one, it doesn't exist. Nobody is going to be perfect. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. The more people admit their failures, admit their shortcomings, or admit that something went wrong, the more honest we can be. I lost a contract the other day that was devastating to me. It was going to be huge for me. And the first thing I thought was, "I've got to talk to somebody about the failure." It's one thing to say everything is great and trucking along, but when those left hooks come, sometimes you need somebody to grab you and lift you off the ground. It's tough. Erin: I think this applies to people at every level of their careers. We get asked all these metric-driven questions. How many talks did you do? How much business did you bring in? What did you accomplish? My goal is two or three talks a month. That translates to around 30 talks a year, and I freaking love that. I don't necessarily want 100 talks a year. And when people ask how things are going, in general I'm like, "My life's fucking awesome." Not just because I'm hitting a number. My life in totality is great. We spend so much time talking about how many. Maybe we need to talk more about how it actually feels. What "Killing It" Really Looks Like Erin: Let's talk about "killing it," because when we met, we immediately started laughing about what people think success looks like versus what it actually looks like. What's an example of "killing it" for you? Rich: There are so many. If killing it looks like sorting through which airport sandwich is the least soggy because everything else is closed and I've missed three flights, then yes, I'm killing it. Does killing it look like sitting in front of my computer cursing because I can't find the last version of a presentation I worked on? Is killing it putting your PowerPoint into Google only to have your client download it and suddenly the font looks like Wingdings? That's the part people don't see. I love what I do. I wouldn't trade it for the world. But I think the closest comparison to a professional speaker's life is a touring musician. It's exhausting. You're traveling constantly. You're dealing with airports, weather, schedules, flights, hotels, and all of these things happening around the glamorous part people see. Erin: The facade is cool, though. Rich: Absolutely. And sometimes it really is cool. I'm about to speak in front of nearly 10,000 people. I have custom lighting. I have a walk-up video. There are going to be glow sticks, music, singing, dancing. It's going to look like I'm a rock star. But somebody asked me, "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?" I said, "I'm going back to my room, curling up in a ball, and not talking to anyone." That's what killing it looks like too. I know I'll walk off that stage on cloud nine, but I'll also be completely empty. I'll need to refuel. Erin: I have plenty of those stories too. Killing it was somebody reaching out to ask me to endorse a book, and then realizing they had confused me with the author of a completely different book. Killing it was getting what I thought was fan mail asking for my autograph six months after starting the podcast, then realizing somebody was probably trying to get my signature for fraud. Killing it was putting together footage for my speaker reel and discovering you could see my underwear when I turned around onstage. That's the behind-the-scenes version. Small Steps Can Change Your Entire Life Erin: One of the foundational stories in your life is losing more than 100 pounds. Tell us about that. Rich: I was a rail-thin kid and played sports year-round. Then I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. I'm my parents' only child, so my mom basically said, "Stay inside, eat whatever you want, and play video games." I went from being outside constantly to being inside constantly, and I started putting on weight. By middle school I was the heavier kid, and I got teased quite a bit. Football became a saving grace because being bigger suddenly gave me an identity. I was an offensive lineman. I was the protector. I opened opportunities for the running backs and helped keep my friends safe. I eventually played a year of college football. Then I quit, and that identity disappeared. The eating habits stayed, but the workout habits went away. I got up to about 260 pounds. I fell into this really low self-esteem mindset. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror. I was miserable. Erin: Was there a specific moment that made you decide to change? Rich: It sounds silly, but I got tired of pulling my shirt away from my body. I was constantly adjusting it because I was afraid of my body showing. I was exhausted. I didn't have energy. I was depressed. I didn't want to do anything. I wasn't social. I finally had my diet analyzed, and everything was off the charts. Cholesterol, calories, fat, everything. My health instructor gave me something incredibly simple. He told me to replace certain foods with better options, eliminate fast food and carbonated drinks, and walk one mile a day. That was it. I didn't need to change everything overnight. I didn't need three hours of cardio or two hours in the gym. I just needed to do something small and see progress. Eventually I went from a 40-inch waist to trying on a pair of 34-inch pants in an Old Navy dressing room and screaming because they actually fit. Those moments taught me that I could change something huge by consistently doing small things. It transformed my life because I started to believe I could take on other things too. The Theory of Why Not Erin: That leads really naturally into something you call your "Theory of Why Not." What is it? Rich: I tell people all the time that I have the most ridiculous life résumé of anybody I've ever met. The things I've done, the people I've met, the situations I've put myself in, all of those experiences come back to the theory of why not. Why not give it a shot? Why not me? Why not try it? The worst you're going to hear is no. I don't ever want to die with all these ideas that might have been great, but I never acted on them. So many people are afraid to try because the possibility of failure exists. They don't want to say, "I want to do this thing," because what if it doesn't work? The Theory of Why Not is about getting out of your own head and getting out of your own way. I've been on several game shows. I've also missed several other ones because I took a chance on them and didn't get picked. I've had speaking opportunities, business opportunities, media opportunities, and all kinds of experiences. The ones people see are great. What we don't talk about are the dozens that didn't happen. The dozens of no's. The dozens of, "You're nice, but..." Those are the things we're terrified of. But I can say I've lived a very full life. If I went away tomorrow, I went for it. If you continually talk yourself out of opportunities, dreams, lofty goals, or ridiculous ideas, you'll never know what could have happened. Sometimes you have to ask, "Why not? What's the worst that could happen?" Taking a Chance With a Mix CD Erin: What's an early example of you living this way? Rich: When I was in graduate school, I had the opportunity to study in England. I was also DJing, and one of the top radio stations in the country happened to be about two blocks from where I lived. For those of you under 40, brace yourself. I took my mix CD to the radio station. I basically said, "I've loved the English music scene for years. It's one of the reasons I'm a DJ. I just want to know what you think. Am I any good? How do I stack up?" I told them, "If you hate it and never want to talk to me again, that's fine. At least I took the shot." Three days later, the station's marketing manager called me. She said, "You told me you have half-day Fridays and a rail pass, right?" I said yes. She said, "Great. We've booked you for six opening slots at different clubs around the country, opening for some huge DJs." All because I walked in and handed somebody a CD. I wasn't expecting that. I just wanted feedback. If I had never raised my hand, I never would have known. Some of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do happened because I was willing to take that kind of chance. Opening for Avicii and Going on Game Shows Rich: Another great example was auditioning to open for Avicii when he was one of the biggest DJs in the world. I was competing against people who were DJing regularly. I had a corporate job and was DJing on the side for fun. But I believed in my style. I believed in my energy. I believed I could earn that spot. So I auditioned. I got picked. I ended up opening for Avicii in Kansas City in front of thousands of people. It was phenomenal. That same mindset has led me to game shows, television, speaking, and writing a book. I was on $100,000 Pyramid. My partner was Von Miller, who had just won the Super Bowl and was the Super Bowl MVP. Usher was also there. He was a terrible game show teammate. Erin: Was he? Rich: Terrible. I was also on a reality show on ESPN, and I competed to host another television show. I made it to the final four and didn't get the job. But it was still an incredible experience. My ridiculous dream job is to host The Price Is Right someday. And the funny part is, because of one of the shows I was on, I'm now one degree of separation from that job. That alone is the Theory of Why Not. Erin: You're making me think I need to go on a game show. Rich: Why not? The Biggest Lesson Rich Learned From Being a DJ Erin: You DJed for a long time. Now you speak and coach executives, speakers, and professional athletes. What did being a DJ teach you that translates into what you do now? Rich: Two things. The first is self-awareness and self-confidence. People think DJing is just standing there pushing buttons and playing music, but there's an art to it. You're exposing yourself creatively. And if something goes wrong with the music, sound, or song choice, you can't hide. You're the person standing there controlling everything. Confidence, self-awareness, and believing in what you're creating matter. The second lesson is that it's not about you. One of my favorite pieces of advice is, "You're not more important than coffee." If an event has to choose between having coffee or having a keynote speaker, you're probably gone. They're picking coffee. Erin: They're definitely picking coffee. Rich: But the bigger point is this: whether you're a speaker, leader, salesperson, attorney, professional service provider, or anyone else, if you put the other person first, everything else unfolds the way it should. I've seen speakers go onstage and make the entire thing about themselves, their show, and their ego. It bombs. When somebody gets up there to truly engage the audience, help them, and serve them, people feel it. The same thing happens with DJs. And the same thing happens if you're pitching a client or running a team meeting. That's an audience too. If you show up with confidence in what you're doing, but your number-one priority is helping the people in front of you, that energy speaks for itself. You'll build better relationships and connect with people differently. Every Meeting Is a Stage Erin: That translates directly to people in traditional corporate roles too. You can walk into a board meeting, staff meeting, presentation, or one-on-one and feel that same stage fright. You start believing perfection is the game. But even if you're the person leading the meeting or walking everyone through the PowerPoint, it's not about you. How do you make the other people feel? How do you make sure they're engaged? Rich: Exactly. And it's hard to fake. People need to spend time off the stage thinking about what they do, why they do it, and how they help people. Your "stage" could be a boardroom. It could be a speaker stage. It could be a DJ booth. It could be whatever auditorium your profession puts you in. When you're serving people and helping people, you make them feel good, but you also feel better because there's meaning behind what you're doing. Behind the Successful Face Erin: You've coached CEOs, speakers, professional athletes, and even celebrities. What trips people up behind closed doors that might surprise us? Rich: Deep down, we're all a little insecure. We all second-guess ourselves. We all deal with some level of, "I don't know. I'm not sure. Why me? Can I do this?" People put their successful face on for the world, and we forget they're human. People get hurt. They fail. They get scared. I'll coach somebody who looks incredibly successful from the outside, and then behind the scenes they'll say, "I don't know," or, "I tried this and it didn't work, and it really hurt." I think one of the reasons I connect with people is that I treat everybody like a human being I care about. When you do that, you connect differently. When a relationship is transactional and you're clearly after something, people can smell it like a shark smells blood in the water. Serve people first. Reach out genuinely. Ask questions that show you actually give a damn about who they are as people. We all want to feel seen and heard and respected, so show that and you'll get it back. Consistency Beats Trying to Knock It Out of the Park Erin: You've kept the weight off for 27 years, so obviously consistency has been a huge part of your life. What do people misunderstand about consistent effort? Rich: We have this idea that every time we do something it has to be some knock-it-out-of-the-park experience. That's not accurate. Let's say you want to get back into working out. If you go stretch for three minutes, that's something. If you do a one-minute plank, that's something. If you walk for five minutes, that's success. That is consistency of effort. There are days I feel great. I'm working out, I'm listening to music, and everything clicks. There are other days when the last effing thing I want to do is lift a weight. If I do 10 minutes on one of those days, I can call it a success. At my level of energy and care in that moment, doing something is a win. I don't slay every workout. Sometimes I get up intending to work out and realize I'm not going to do it well. So instead of beating myself up, I shift my mindset and say, "Today I'm going to deal with whatever garbage is holding me back, and tomorrow I'm going to show up better." Erin: I think the other part of consistency is choosing the thing you're actually likely to do. People ask, "Should I ride a bike? Should I run? Should I walk? Should I lift weights?" Pick the thing you're most likely to keep doing. I was just talking to my son, who is trying to grow his speaking platform. He said he needed to figure out the marketing stuff. I gave him a bunch of options and then told him, "You have to pick the thing that actually excites you." All of these things can work, and all of them can fail. Pick the thing you're most likely to consistently do. The same applies to leadership. Leadership can feel like you're supposed to read 72 books and do 80 things every day. What if you picked one thing you were going to consistently do instead? The Best Leaders Are Still Human Rich: As people move up in organizations and take on more responsibility, they often become more visible, more guarded, and more concerned about the impact of their decisions. At the same time, there are so many corporate experts and thought leaders telling people how they're supposed to lead that we start thinking we need to show up like Simon Sinek, Mel Robbins, or somebody else every day. The best leaders I ever worked for or worked with were human beings. They were vulnerable. They were honest. And they cared. I've worked for great bosses, and I've worked for dumpster-fire bosses. The stark difference is that the great ones cared and stayed human. Read the books. Listen to the podcasts. Go to the seminars. But don't lose track of why you're doing what you're doing or what makes it meaningful and fun for you. Erin: I've joked that from a traditional Leadership 101 perspective, I'm probably a B-minus. I'm not a great planner. I might walk into a meeting without an agenda. I don't always package feedback perfectly. But I always felt like authenticity was this trump card. It didn't wipe away every mistake, but if you can set aside your ego, be honest, show humility, and genuinely care about people, that covers a lot. Being Good at the Job Does Not Automatically Make You a Good Leader Rich: One mistake organizations make is assuming, "This person is really good at the thing, so we should make them the leader of the thing." You're a great salesperson, so we make you a regional sales director. You're a great marketer, so we make you the chief marketing officer. That doesn't automatically mean you're going to be a great leader. Sometimes people don't even want the leadership job, but they feel guilty saying no because it comes with more money, credibility, or status. Organizations need to become better at identifying who actually wants to lead and who has the potential to do it well. And once you become a leader, the job changes. If you're a regional director of sales, you aren't primarily selling anymore. You're guiding and coaching other people to become better salespeople. It's literally a people job, not a thing job. I coached somebody once who kept saying, "I don't understand why they don't do this. I don't understand why they complain about that." And I said, "Ask them." Ask them why they're not motivated. Ask them what they need. You're their coach. The coach of a football team isn't running onto the field and playing with the seventh graders. The coach prepares them to play. That's what leaders do. It's about serving your people. And you have to remember that what worked for you may not work for everybody. Different people require different communication, different motivation, and different support. As a leader, you need to ask questions, become more socially aware, develop trust, and understand the nuance of each person on your team. When "Why Not?" Means Trusting Your Judgment Erin: We ask every guest about their "Buck That" moment. What's a time when you went against what was expected, felt a little uncomfortable doing it, but good things happened because of it? Rich: I was working at a law firm doing business development, and one of the attorneys and I identified a huge business opportunity. It was going to require some extra work and a little thinking outside the box, but we mapped out a path to make it happen. I went to my CMO and explained the idea. She said, "Absolutely not." She didn't ask a single question. Not, "Tell me more." Not, "What could we gain?" Not, "What would this take?" Just no. I was pissed because I felt like the idea had been dismissed without any curiosity. Now, I'll do crazy things and take chances, but I'm also calculated about it. I'm not reckless. I had really thought through this opportunity, and I believed it would work. So I did it anyway. I recruited a few people who were willing to help me after hours. We got the project finished ahead of the deadline and launched it. Eventually my CMO appeared in my doorway holding a printed copy of the email announcing the initiative I had been told not to do. She said, "What is this?" On the outside I was very apologetic. On the inside, I was thinking, "Ha." She was absolutely livid. But two things happened. The attorney I partnered with ended up getting national recognition in The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg and became a recognized expert on the subject. Later, after I had left the firm, he called me. He had just signed the biggest deal in the firm's history. He told me, "I just want to thank you for sticking your neck out. You believed in me and you believed in this project." I'll never forget that. I'm not advocating complete rebellion. But sometimes you have to trust yourself enough to recognize that you've thought something through and you know what the right move is. Sometimes you need to do what's right for the business, but do it your way. Make Work Suck Less by Finding a Way to Have Fun Erin: Last question. What's one thing people can do to make work suck less? Rich: Find a way to have fun. Even if you're sitting there thinking, "I'm an accountant. How?" One of the things I do with audiences is build playlists together. Everybody scans a QR code and submits a song that makes them happy. The playlists are hilarious and amazing. Then I send the playlist back to the company and tell everybody to keep the link. When you need five minutes of happiness, five minutes of energy, or five minutes to shift your mood, go to the playlist and pick a song. It may not even be your song, but somebody you work with chose it because it makes them happy. Try something new. Take five minutes. Have the ridiculous singing and dancing party in your office or cubicle if that's what makes the day better. There is always a way to have more fun. You just have to figure out what that looks like for you. Erin: Why not? Rich: Exactly. Why not?
What if the people who change your life are the ones who put you somewhere you have not earned yet? In this episode, Ethan Giffin, founder and CEO of the B2B eCommerce Agency, shares how losing every penny on a failed nightclub in his early twenties led to a chance encounter at a bar that relocated him, employed him, and changed his career trajectory entirely. Ethan now helps mid-market manufacturers and distributors build private buyer portals and open digital revenue channels that did not exist before. This conversation covers why customers quietly quit rather than slam the door, why he reports back to everyone who gives him advice, and what happened when he realized he had let himself get stuck. [00:05:54] What He Does and Who He Serves Founder and CEO of the B2B eCommerce Agency Helps manufacturers and distributors build private buyer portals Clients arrive either not knowing where to start or frustrated their portal underperforms Moves organizations off spreadsheets, Post-it notes, phone calls, and text message orders [00:08:01] You Cannot Be Amazon, But You Must Think Like Them Amazon has more innovation in an hour than a $100 million manufacturer may have in a decade The average 23-year-old graduate was five years old when the iPhone launched Soon that person becomes the director of purchasing Roughly 80% of B2B buyers want a direct-to-consumer style buying experience [00:09:30] What Inspires Him Started as a DJ in the 80s and 90s and learned desktop publishing to make flyers That led to building websites and eventually falling in love with ecommerce Loved being able to buy a penny ad, drive the click, and watch the transaction fire The mix of technology, psychology, and direct response is what hooked him [00:10:27] The Pivot into Manufacturing Existing direct-to-consumer clients kept asking for wholesale ordering systems Those projects blend CRM, technology, psychology, and sales The agency was already well set up to deliver them Pivoted significantly into that focus over the last 18 months [00:11:29] The Backstory His father brought home an Apple computer when he was in fourth or fifth grade Fell in love with computers, graphic design, and marketing An uncle in the Sears executive training program flew around the country in suits Ran yard sales for his grandmother and learned to negotiate over 25 cent items [00:13:30] Client Impact: Opening a Revenue Channel That Did Not Exist Pushes organizations to run 10 to 15% of top line revenue through the digital channel A call center order can cost $50 to $70 once every manual touch is counted An ecommerce order might cost around five dollars Some clients hit five or six million dollars in orders very quickly [00:15:00] Why Activation Matters More Than Building Has heard horror stories of million dollar builds that sold only $150,000 to $200,000 Pilots the system with a small set of customers first Then activates the entire customer base to place first orders The target is 10% of revenue flowing through within 18 months of launch [00:15:53] Quiet Quitting by Customers Longtime clients rarely slam the door; they drift Friction builds slowly until buying elsewhere becomes easier Ethan has watched it happen inside his own business with vendors Buyers now expect transparency on stock, warehouse location, and shipping [00:17:02] The Five Cent Bag Story A Baltimore grocery store carries the specific pepperoni he wants for homemade pizza Their self-checkout cannot process the five cent bag surcharge without staff intervention An employee has to scan a card and unlock a cabinet just to hand over a bag A joyful purchase became something he now dreads [00:20:08] The Relationship That Changed Everything: Neil Grew up in a small town about 70 miles outside Baltimore Opened a nightclub in his early twenties, lost every penny when it closed Ran into an old friend at a bar the night before Thanksgiving Neil got him hired, moved him to Baltimore, and put him up in corporate apartments [00:21:17] Ron Germack and the Rooms He Should Not Have Been In Ron was Neil's boss and a VP at Aerotek, a multibillion dollar company He was the fifth employee hired there many years earlier Took Ethan on trips during the early internet heyday Brought him into conversations at 24 and 25 that he had no business being in [00:22:28] Why He Always Reports Back He is not needy when he asks for someone's time He wants a sounding board and an answer to what he might be missing He always circles back to tell them how the advice played out People appreciate knowing the impact their time actually had [00:23:00] Gary Salzman and the First $100 Steak Dinner Met Gary at a random DJ convention as a young man Gary was one of the top agents in music production and DJing at the time He invited Ethan into a cab to keep the conversation going That led to a steak dinner and a room he never expected to be in [00:25:16] Client Impact: The Hard Conversation Recently met an entrepreneur stuck for three or four years Told him directly he did not have a viable business as it stood Either move it forward or move on to something else Gave him specific gaps to fix and a book to read before coming back [00:26:23] Admitting He Got Stuck Transitioning from an in-person office to fully remote left him isolated post-COVID He stopped talking to people and meeting people Joined Entrepreneurs' Organization about 18 months ago Realized he had let himself get stuck in a room [00:27:20] Traveling for the Company Versus Traveling for Yourself Attended industry events as a thought leader or in a sales capacity Those trips were for the company, not for him COVID ended many of the events he used to recharge with annually Joined EO specifically because it exists for the entrepreneur, not the business [00:28:30] Building the Room He Wanted Runs a flagship event each spring called the B2B eCommerce Summit Invite only, 30 people, for heads of marketing and IT at manufacturers and distributors Built it because trust is eroding in an all online, all AI world You have to create spaces for learning and for trust [00:30:08] Where AI Helps and Where It Does Not As an entrepreneur with ADHD, AI helps him organize thoughts and communicate clearly It acted as a sounding board for the themes in his book The agency uses it to analyze data and enrich online catalogs But you should not be writing your wedding vows with ChatGPT [00:32:04] Where to Find Him His book is Closing the Digital Revenue Gap It covers 10 revenue blind spots costing companies more than they think Free copies available at b2becommerceagency.com Also active on LinkedIn under Ethan Giffin KEY QUOTES "Quiet quitting basically is the concept. There wasn't some big slamming of the door. Over time we just slowly started buying from other people where it was easier." - Ethan Giffin "When somebody gives me time of theirs, I like to report back. Let me tell you how this advice you've given me has helped me to evolve and grow." - Ethan Giffin "People are generous with those that are generous with them." - Ethan Giffin CONNECT WITH ETHAN GIFFIN Website: https://www.b2becommerceagency.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethangiffin Email: ethan@groovecommerce.com Thanks for tuning in! If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe! Find me on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Stitcher
Bad Speakers TV Episode 257 | HOODRICH is a deep dive into the life, career, and Atlanta hip-hop legacy of legendary DJ DJ Scream. In this episode, DJ Scream takes us back to his Atlanta roots and tells the story of how he went from growing up in the city to becoming one of the most respected DJs and mixtape personalities in Southern hip-hop. If you want to understand Atlanta rap culture, the mixtape era, and how some of the biggest artists in the South built their sound and their movements, this conversation is a history lesson disguised as a good-ass time. DJ Scream breaks down how he first got into DJing, how he began making noise in Atlanta's competitive DJ scene, and what it took to go from being another DJ with a dream to becoming a name artists wanted attached to their projects. He talks about working on Shawty Lo's legendary "I'm Da Man" mixtapes, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at an era when mixtapes weren't just promotional material — they were damn near albums, street newspapers, and passports to fame all rolled into one. The conversation goes even deeper into Scream's work with some of Atlanta's biggest stars, including T.I., Gucci Mane, Future, Young Scooter, and Jeezy. He talks about working with Future on the Astronaut Status mixtape and collaborating with Young Scooter on Street Lottery, two projects that became important pieces of Atlanta's mixtape culture. Scream also reflects on Jeezy's incredible run and why Jeezy had arguably one of the biggest movements in Atlanta during his prime. If you remember when Atlanta mixtapes were moving through the streets faster than a rumor at the barbershop, you're going to appreciate this part of the conversation. DJ Scream also explains how streaming changed — and in many ways disrupted — the mixtape game. Before streaming platforms completely changed how people consumed music, DJs could break an artist, introduce new records, create exclusive freestyles, and build anticipation through mixtapes. Scream explains what was special about that era and what was lost when the internet and streaming platforms changed the economics and culture surrounding mixtapes. The conversation gives you a fascinating look at the evolution of hip-hop from physical mixtapes and street promotion to today's streaming-driven industry. And because this is Atlanta, there is absolutely no way we're having this conversation without talking about the city's legends. DJ Scream gives Young Dro his flowers and explains why he believes Dro deserves more recognition for his contribution to Atlanta hip-hop. He also talks about Ludacris and why he feels Luda has been underrated and overlooked when people discuss Atlanta's greatest hip-hop artists. That's a conversation guaranteed to start an argument in the comments — and we're perfectly fine with that. Scream also gets real about Young Dolph, including what it was like working with Dolph and how his tragic passing affected him personally. Beyond the music, DJ Scream talks about the importance of hard work, consistency, relationships, and putting in the reps, explaining why talent alone isn't enough to build a lasting career in entertainment. The game will give you opportunities, but it apparently expects you to clock in for work too. The conversation eventually brings us to another major chapter in DJ Scream's career: Big Facts. Scream explains how he and Big Bank built their friendship and eventually created the Big Facts Podcast, which grew into one of the most recognizable hip-hop interview platforms in the culture. He also talks about getting Big Facts signed to REVOLT TV and what that transition meant for the podcast and their growing influence in hip-hop media. From Atlanta's mixtape era to the rise of streaming, from Shawty Lo and Jeezy to T.I., Gucci Mane, Future, Young Scooter, Ludacris, Young Dolph, Big Bank and Big Facts, DJ Scream takes us through multiple generations of Atlanta hip-hop. This episode is packed with stories, industry knowledge, Atlanta history, behind-the-scenes moments, and the perspective of somebody who has actually been in the room while the culture was being built. If you're a fan of DJ Scream, Atlanta hip-hop, Southern rap, mixtapes, Shawty Lo, T.I., Gucci Mane, Future, Young Scooter, Jeezy, Young Dro, Ludacris, Young Dolph, Big Facts, Big Bank, REVOLT, or the history of Atlanta rap, Bad Speakers TV Episode 257 | HOODRICH is a must-watch. This is Bad Speakers TV, where YA BOI SHAD & G. DOWNS bring you the conversations that give you the stories behind the stories. Make sure you LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to Bad Speakers TV, and let us know your favorite DJ Scream mixtape or Atlanta hip-hop moment. FOLLOW US⬇️ Ya Boi Shad - https://www.instagram.com/itsyaboishad/ G. Downs - https://www.instagram.com/gdowns1486/
What does "killing it" actually look like behind the scenes? Because sometimes it's a huge stage and an incredible opportunity. And sometimes it's a soggy airport sandwich, a missed flight, or admitting that something just isn't working. In this episode, Erin sits down with speaker, author, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken for a chat about the side of success we don't always talk about (or get to hear). They dig into why we're so quick to measure accomplishments but ignore how we actually feel, the power of being honest about failure, and why vulnerability matters more than maintaining the appearance that everything is fine. Rich also shares his "Theory of Why Not," the mindset that has led him to take some pretty wild chances throughout his career, and why meaningful progress usually comes from consistent effort rather than trying to knock it out of the park every single day. Here's what you'll hear: Why your feelings deserve as much attention as your metrics What the polished version of "killing it" leaves out How asking "Why not?" can lead to unexpected opportunities Why small, consistent effort is more powerful than perfection How vulnerability, curiosity, and genuine care make us better leaders Connect with Rich on LinkedIn Learn more at richbracken.com. Book Erin to speak Ready to modernize your culture, liberate your leadership, and differentiate your business without sounding like every other company on LinkedIn? Bring Erin Hatzikostas in to show your team how authenticity can become an actual strategic advantage, not just another corporate buzzword. Book Erin to Speak If you'd like quick tangible tips and practical corporate career advice to level up your authentic leadership, download the 10 simple "plays" to stop selling out and start standing out at https://bauthenticinc.mykajabi.com/freebie If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Follow Erin on LinkedIn or Instagram Take our simple, fun and insightful "What's your workplace superhero name?" quiz Unleash your Authentic Superpower with Erin's book, You Do You-ish Throw out half the playbook and start competing in a league of your own. Check out Erin's book, The 50% Rule. Work with Us Or just buy some fun, authentic, kick-ars merch here To connect with Erin and/or Nicole, email: hello@bauthenticinc.com DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences. Tweetable Comments "The feeling is data, too." "We all want to feel seen and heard and respected, so show that and you'll get it back." "If you put the other person first, everything else unfolds the way it should." "The best leaders I ever worked for or worked with were human beings. They were vulnerable, they were honest, and they cared." Editor's note: This transcript has been edited for clarity and length while preserving the substance and conversational tone of the original discussion. Erin Hatzikostas sits down with speaker, author, coach, and emotional intelligence expert Rich Bracken to talk about what success really looks like behind the scenes. They explore emotional intelligence, vulnerability, failure, leadership, consistent effort, Rich's "Theory of Why Not," and why some of the biggest opportunities in your career can start with simply being willing to take a chance. Success Is More Than a Metric Erin: I want to start by reading something from your book because this took my breath away. You wrote, "The most dangerous blind spot in change management isn't a missed metric. It's individual and group satisfaction. That's the left hook nobody sees coming. We get so obsessed with what we can measure that we stop paying attention to what we can't. The feeling is data, too." You talk about how we want everyone to believe everything is fine. We hit the number. It worked. We never heard no. Admitting that we came up short or something didn't work can feel like weakness, so we skip past it. We're much quicker to share our wins than our failures. And that instinct doesn't just apply to metrics. It applies to how we feel. We hide emotional shortcomings the same way we hide missed targets because vulnerability in either form feels like exposure. Rich: I think we need to chip away at this idea of perfection because, number one, it doesn't exist. Nobody is going to be perfect. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. The more people admit their failures, admit their shortcomings, or admit that something went wrong, the more honest we can be. I lost a contract the other day that was devastating to me. It was going to be huge for me. And the first thing I thought was, "I've got to talk to somebody about the failure." It's one thing to say everything is great and trucking along, but when those left hooks come, sometimes you need somebody to grab you and lift you off the ground. It's tough. Erin: I think this applies to people at every level of their careers. We get asked all these metric-driven questions. How many talks did you do? How much business did you bring in? What did you accomplish? My goal is two or three talks a month. That translates to around 30 talks a year, and I freaking love that. I don't necessarily want 100 talks a year. And when people ask how things are going, in general I'm like, "My life's fucking awesome." Not just because I'm hitting a number. My life in totality is great. We spend so much time talking about how many. Maybe we need to talk more about how it actually feels. What "Killing It" Really Looks Like Erin: Let's talk about "killing it," because when we met, we immediately started laughing about what people think success looks like versus what it actually looks like. What's an example of "killing it" for you? Rich: There are so many. If killing it looks like sorting through which airport sandwich is the least soggy because everything else is closed and I've missed three flights, then yes, I'm killing it. Does killing it look like sitting in front of my computer cursing because I can't find the last version of a presentation I worked on? Is killing it putting your PowerPoint into Google only to have your client download it and suddenly the font looks like Wingdings? That's the part people don't see. I love what I do. I wouldn't trade it for the world. But I think the closest comparison to a professional speaker's life is a touring musician. It's exhausting. You're traveling constantly. You're dealing with airports, weather, schedules, flights, hotels, and all of these things happening around the glamorous part people see. Erin: The facade is cool, though. Rich: Absolutely. And sometimes it really is cool. I'm about to speak in front of nearly 10,000 people. I have custom lighting. I have a walk-up video. There are going to be glow sticks, music, singing, dancing. It's going to look like I'm a rock star. But somebody asked me, "What are you going to do for the rest of the day?" I said, "I'm going back to my room, curling up in a ball, and not talking to anyone." That's what killing it looks like too. I know I'll walk off that stage on cloud nine, but I'll also be completely empty. I'll need to refuel. Erin: I have plenty of those stories too. Killing it was somebody reaching out to ask me to endorse a book, and then realizing they had confused me with the author of a completely different book. Killing it was getting what I thought was fan mail asking for my autograph six months after starting the podcast, then realizing somebody was probably trying to get my signature for fraud. Killing it was putting together footage for my speaker reel and discovering you could see my underwear when I turned around onstage. That's the behind-the-scenes version. Small Steps Can Change Your Entire Life Erin: One of the foundational stories in your life is losing more than 100 pounds. Tell us about that. Rich: I was a rail-thin kid and played sports year-round. Then I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. I'm my parents' only child, so my mom basically said, "Stay inside, eat whatever you want, and play video games." I went from being outside constantly to being inside constantly, and I started putting on weight. By middle school I was the heavier kid, and I got teased quite a bit. Football became a saving grace because being bigger suddenly gave me an identity. I was an offensive lineman. I was the protector. I opened opportunities for the running backs and helped keep my friends safe. I eventually played a year of college football. Then I quit, and that identity disappeared. The eating habits stayed, but the workout habits went away. I got up to about 260 pounds. I fell into this really low self-esteem mindset. I didn't like what I saw in the mirror. I was miserable. Erin: Was there a specific moment that made you decide to change? Rich: It sounds silly, but I got tired of pulling my shirt away from my body. I was constantly adjusting it because I was afraid of my body showing. I was exhausted. I didn't have energy. I was depressed. I didn't want to do anything. I wasn't social. I finally had my diet analyzed, and everything was off the charts. Cholesterol, calories, fat, everything. My health instructor gave me something incredibly simple. He told me to replace certain foods with better options, eliminate fast food and carbonated drinks, and walk one mile a day. That was it. I didn't need to change everything overnight. I didn't need three hours of cardio or two hours in the gym. I just needed to do something small and see progress. Eventually I went from a 40-inch waist to trying on a pair of 34-inch pants in an Old Navy dressing room and screaming because they actually fit. Those moments taught me that I could change something huge by consistently doing small things. It transformed my life because I started to believe I could take on other things too. The Theory of Why Not Erin: That leads really naturally into something you call your "Theory of Why Not." What is it? Rich: I tell people all the time that I have the most ridiculous life résumé of anybody I've ever met. The things I've done, the people I've met, the situations I've put myself in, all of those experiences come back to the theory of why not. Why not give it a shot? Why not me? Why not try it? The worst you're going to hear is no. I don't ever want to die with all these ideas that might have been great, but I never acted on them. So many people are afraid to try because the possibility of failure exists. They don't want to say, "I want to do this thing," because what if it doesn't work? The Theory of Why Not is about getting out of your own head and getting out of your own way. I've been on several game shows. I've also missed several other ones because I took a chance on them and didn't get picked. I've had speaking opportunities, business opportunities, media opportunities, and all kinds of experiences. The ones people see are great. What we don't talk about are the dozens that didn't happen. The dozens of no's. The dozens of, "You're nice, but..." Those are the things we're terrified of. But I can say I've lived a very full life. If I went away tomorrow, I went for it. If you continually talk yourself out of opportunities, dreams, lofty goals, or ridiculous ideas, you'll never know what could have happened. Sometimes you have to ask, "Why not? What's the worst that could happen?" Taking a Chance With a Mix CD Erin: What's an early example of you living this way? Rich: When I was in graduate school, I had the opportunity to study in England. I was also DJing, and one of the top radio stations in the country happened to be about two blocks from where I lived. For those of you under 40, brace yourself. I took my mix CD to the radio station. I basically said, "I've loved the English music scene for years. It's one of the reasons I'm a DJ. I just want to know what you think. Am I any good? How do I stack up?" I told them, "If you hate it and never want to talk to me again, that's fine. At least I took the shot." Three days later, the station's marketing manager called me. She said, "You told me you have half-day Fridays and a rail pass, right?" I said yes. She said, "Great. We've booked you for six opening slots at different clubs around the country, opening for some huge DJs." All because I walked in and handed somebody a CD. I wasn't expecting that. I just wanted feedback. If I had never raised my hand, I never would have known. Some of the coolest things I've ever gotten to do happened because I was willing to take that kind of chance. Opening for Avicii and Going on Game Shows Rich: Another great example was auditioning to open for Avicii when he was one of the biggest DJs in the world. I was competing against people who were DJing regularly. I had a corporate job and was DJing on the side for fun. But I believed in my style. I believed in my energy. I believed I could earn that spot. So I auditioned. I got picked. I ended up opening for Avicii in Kansas City in front of thousands of people. It was phenomenal. That same mindset has led me to game shows, television, speaking, and writing a book. I was on $100,000 Pyramid. My partner was Von Miller, who had just won the Super Bowl and was the Super Bowl MVP. Usher was also there. He was a terrible game show teammate. Erin: Was he? Rich: Terrible. I was also on a reality show on ESPN, and I competed to host another television show. I made it to the final four and didn't get the job. But it was still an incredible experience. My ridiculous dream job is to host The Price Is Right someday. And the funny part is, because of one of the shows I was on, I'm now one degree of separation from that job. That alone is the Theory of Why Not. Erin: You're making me think I need to go on a game show. Rich: Why not? The Biggest Lesson Rich Learned From Being a DJ Erin: You DJed for a long time. Now you speak and coach executives, speakers, and professional athletes. What did being a DJ teach you that translates into what you do now? Rich: Two things. The first is self-awareness and self-confidence. People think DJing is just standing there pushing buttons and playing music, but there's an art to it. You're exposing yourself creatively. And if something goes wrong with the music, sound, or song choice, you can't hide. You're the person standing there controlling everything. Confidence, self-awareness, and believing in what you're creating matter. The second lesson is that it's not about you. One of my favorite pieces of advice is, "You're not more important than coffee." If an event has to choose between having coffee or having a keynote speaker, you're probably gone. They're picking coffee. Erin: They're definitely picking coffee. Rich: But the bigger point is this: whether you're a speaker, leader, salesperson, attorney, professional service provider, or anyone else, if you put the other person first, everything else unfolds the way it should. I've seen speakers go onstage and make the entire thing about themselves, their show, and their ego. It bombs. When somebody gets up there to truly engage the audience, help them, and serve them, people feel it. The same thing happens with DJs. And the same thing happens if you're pitching a client or running a team meeting. That's an audience too. If you show up with confidence in what you're doing, but your number-one priority is helping the people in front of you, that energy speaks for itself. You'll build better relationships and connect with people differently. Every Meeting Is a Stage Erin: That translates directly to people in traditional corporate roles too. You can walk into a board meeting, staff meeting, presentation, or one-on-one and feel that same stage fright. You start believing perfection is the game. But even if you're the person leading the meeting or walking everyone through the PowerPoint, it's not about you. How do you make the other people feel? How do you make sure they're engaged? Rich: Exactly. And it's hard to fake. People need to spend time off the stage thinking about what they do, why they do it, and how they help people. Your "stage" could be a boardroom. It could be a speaker stage. It could be a DJ booth. It could be whatever auditorium your profession puts you in. When you're serving people and helping people, you make them feel good, but you also feel better because there's meaning behind what you're doing. Behind the Successful Face Erin: You've coached CEOs, speakers, professional athletes, and even celebrities. What trips people up behind closed doors that might surprise us? Rich: Deep down, we're all a little insecure. We all second-guess ourselves. We all deal with some level of, "I don't know. I'm not sure. Why me? Can I do this?" People put their successful face on for the world, and we forget they're human. People get hurt. They fail. They get scared. I'll coach somebody who looks incredibly successful from the outside, and then behind the scenes they'll say, "I don't know," or, "I tried this and it didn't work, and it really hurt." I think one of the reasons I connect with people is that I treat everybody like a human being I care about. When you do that, you connect differently. When a relationship is transactional and you're clearly after something, people can smell it like a shark smells blood in the water. Serve people first. Reach out genuinely. Ask questions that show you actually give a damn about who they are as people. We all want to feel seen and heard and respected, so show that and you'll get it back. Consistency Beats Trying to Knock It Out of the Park Erin: You've kept the weight off for 27 years, so obviously consistency has been a huge part of your life. What do people misunderstand about consistent effort? Rich: We have this idea that every time we do something it has to be some knock-it-out-of-the-park experience. That's not accurate. Let's say you want to get back into working out. If you go stretch for three minutes, that's something. If you do a one-minute plank, that's something. If you walk for five minutes, that's success. That is consistency of effort. There are days I feel great. I'm working out, I'm listening to music, and everything clicks. There are other days when the last effing thing I want to do is lift a weight. If I do 10 minutes on one of those days, I can call it a success. At my level of energy and care in that moment, doing something is a win. I don't slay every workout. Sometimes I get up intending to work out and realize I'm not going to do it well. So instead of beating myself up, I shift my mindset and say, "Today I'm going to deal with whatever garbage is holding me back, and tomorrow I'm going to show up better." Erin: I think the other part of consistency is choosing the thing you're actually likely to do. People ask, "Should I ride a bike? Should I run? Should I walk? Should I lift weights?" Pick the thing you're most likely to keep doing. I was just talking to my son, who is trying to grow his speaking platform. He said he needed to figure out the marketing stuff. I gave him a bunch of options and then told him, "You have to pick the thing that actually excites you." All of these things can work, and all of them can fail. Pick the thing you're most likely to consistently do. The same applies to leadership. Leadership can feel like you're supposed to read 72 books and do 80 things every day. What if you picked one thing you were going to consistently do instead? The Best Leaders Are Still Human Rich: As people move up in organizations and take on more responsibility, they often become more visible, more guarded, and more concerned about the impact of their decisions. At the same time, there are so many corporate experts and thought leaders telling people how they're supposed to lead that we start thinking we need to show up like Simon Sinek, Mel Robbins, or somebody else every day. The best leaders I ever worked for or worked with were human beings. They were vulnerable. They were honest. And they cared. I've worked for great bosses, and I've worked for dumpster-fire bosses. The stark difference is that the great ones cared and stayed human. Read the books. Listen to the podcasts. Go to the seminars. But don't lose track of why you're doing what you're doing or what makes it meaningful and fun for you. Erin: I've joked that from a traditional Leadership 101 perspective, I'm probably a B-minus. I'm not a great planner. I might walk into a meeting without an agenda. I don't always package feedback perfectly. But I always felt like authenticity was this trump card. It didn't wipe away every mistake, but if you can set aside your ego, be honest, show humility, and genuinely care about people, that covers a lot. Being Good at the Job Does Not Automatically Make You a Good Leader Rich: One mistake organizations make is assuming, "This person is really good at the thing, so we should make them the leader of the thing." You're a great salesperson, so we make you a regional sales director. You're a great marketer, so we make you the chief marketing officer. That doesn't automatically mean you're going to be a great leader. Sometimes people don't even want the leadership job, but they feel guilty saying no because it comes with more money, credibility, or status. Organizations need to become better at identifying who actually wants to lead and who has the potential to do it well. And once you become a leader, the job changes. If you're a regional director of sales, you aren't primarily selling anymore. You're guiding and coaching other people to become better salespeople. It's literally a people job, not a thing job. I coached somebody once who kept saying, "I don't understand why they don't do this. I don't understand why they complain about that." And I said, "Ask them." Ask them why they're not motivated. Ask them what they need. You're their coach. The coach of a football team isn't running onto the field and playing with the seventh graders. The coach prepares them to play. That's what leaders do. It's about serving your people. And you have to remember that what worked for you may not work for everybody. Different people require different communication, different motivation, and different support. As a leader, you need to ask questions, become more socially aware, develop trust, and understand the nuance of each person on your team. When "Why Not?" Means Trusting Your Judgment Erin: We ask every guest about their "Buck That" moment. What's a time when you went against what was expected, felt a little uncomfortable doing it, but good things happened because of it? Rich: I was working at a law firm doing business development, and one of the attorneys and I identified a huge business opportunity. It was going to require some extra work and a little thinking outside the box, but we mapped out a path to make it happen. I went to my CMO and explained the idea. She said, "Absolutely not." She didn't ask a single question. Not, "Tell me more." Not, "What could we gain?" Not, "What would this take?" Just no. I was pissed because I felt like the idea had been dismissed without any curiosity. Now, I'll do crazy things and take chances, but I'm also calculated about it. I'm not reckless. I had really thought through this opportunity, and I believed it would work. So I did it anyway. I recruited a few people who were willing to help me after hours. We got the project finished ahead of the deadline and launched it. Eventually my CMO appeared in my doorway holding a printed copy of the email announcing the initiative I had been told not to do. She said, "What is this?" On the outside I was very apologetic. On the inside, I was thinking, "Ha." She was absolutely livid. But two things happened. The attorney I partnered with ended up getting national recognition in The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg and became a recognized expert on the subject. Later, after I had left the firm, he called me. He had just signed the biggest deal in the firm's history. He told me, "I just want to thank you for sticking your neck out. You believed in me and you believed in this project." I'll never forget that. I'm not advocating complete rebellion. But sometimes you have to trust yourself enough to recognize that you've thought something through and you know what the right move is. Sometimes you need to do what's right for the business, but do it your way. Make Work Suck Less by Finding a Way to Have Fun Erin: Last question. What's one thing people can do to make work suck less? Rich: Find a way to have fun. Even if you're sitting there thinking, "I'm an accountant. How?" One of the things I do with audiences is build playlists together. Everybody scans a QR code and submits a song that makes them happy. The playlists are hilarious and amazing. Then I send the playlist back to the company and tell everybody to keep the link. When you need five minutes of happiness, five minutes of energy, or five minutes to shift your mood, go to the playlist and pick a song. It may not even be your song, but somebody you work with chose it because it makes them happy. Try something new. Take five minutes. Have the ridiculous singing and dancing party in your office or cubicle if that's what makes the day better. There is always a way to have more fun. You just have to figure out what that looks like for you. Erin: Why not? Rich: Exactly. Why not?
Mixed live Duration: 1:23:00
Show notes:In this episode, I'm chatting to Lianne Cole, a female wedding DJ, live vocalist and entertainer who is right at the beginning of her journey in the wedding industry.Lianne's route into weddings hasn't exactly been a straightforward one. With a Master's in opera performance behind her, she's worked across a whole mix of different industries and businesses before finding her way into DJing and entertainment. She now brings together her love of performing and her passion for music through LMC, combining live vocals with high-energy DJ sets.We talk about what it's actually like trying to establish yourself when you're new to the wedding industry, particularly as a female DJ in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated space.Lianne shares some of the challenges she's come up against, from seeing the same male DJs repeatedly recommended in local wedding groups to feeling like female DJs can sometimes be brought in simply to tick a box. We also talk about why visibility matters, the importance of having more women represented in the industry and how venues and suppliers could help create more opportunities for people who are newer to the wedding world.Lianne's TikTokTime stamps:01:37 - Leanne's Background & Opera Journey13:57 - Gender and the DJ Industry: Women in Opera, Weddings, and Beyond19:41 - Confronting Sexual Harassment in the Industry27:34 - Unearthing the Gender Gap: Getting On Venue Supplier Lists35:16 - Marketing on a Shoestring: Visibility Strategies for New DJs
Three big DJ topics, recorded in front of our live student audience straight off the back of a few days talking shop with industry people in Munich.First, how a £300 plastic box became the default DJ controller for pretty much everyone who isn't a working pro. We go back through the gear that conquered the world before it - Technics 1210s, the CDJ-1000, the Vestax VCI-100, the Numark Mixtrack Pro, the DDJ-1000 - and give five reasons the DDJ-FLX4 now sits where they used to.Then, why bigger isn't always better. The Hercules T10 launches today with 10" platters, and it's got us talking about the DJ obsession with jog wheel size, full-size gear, and what actually matters when you have to carry, store and live with the thing.And finally, three things AI can never replace in DJing - the unteachables - with plenty of input from the students watching live.Timestamps:06:29 - How the DDJ-FLX4 conquered the world26:53 - Why bigger is not always better37:55 - Three things AI can never replace in DJing Want to get your question answered on an episode of this podcast? Digital DJ Tips course owners get to ask questions in their student-only group. Your first step to getting involved is to buy a DJ course, so come and join our community at https://www.digitaldjtips.com.
Welcome to Infinite & Brick, the podcast where the culture comes to life. In this episode, we break down the four core elements of Hip Hop—and really dig in.From the roots to the impact, Infinite and Brick explore what each element means, how it shows up in everyday life, and why it still matters today. While we go deep on the details of each element, we also challenge each other with real questions—so you'll hear our honest thoughts, the debates, and the respect that makes Hip Hop more than just music.Join us as we talk about the craft, the community, and the mindset behind the culture—one element at a time. Whether you're a lifelong head or new to the journey, there's something in here for everyone.We would LOVE to hear what you think. Please drop a line.Support the show
A mini mix of some of my produced tunes! Tracklist: 1) MIZEYESIS - Restless Dub (Forthcoming) 2) MIZEYESIS - Days Over (Hangry Records) 3) MIZEYESIS - Warmth (Yeska) 4) MIZEYESIS - Sultry (JustBe) 5) MIZEYESIS - Ease Up Junglist, Feel Nice! (DNB GIRLS, XII - Amina) 6) MIZEYESIS - Fresh Start (Forthcoming) 7) AWAKE FM & MIZEYESIS - Memories of a Distant Planet (Omni Music) 8) MIZEYESIS - Return to New (DNB GIRLS, XII - Amina) 9) MIZEYESIS - Spring Hope (Unreleased) I was invited by Jerome.FM to do a 30 min guest dj mix and I thought to myself, DJ some of your tunes?! Because of this I'm inspired to make this a mini series to showcase the different subgenres, moods, compositions and tracks I make. It's about that time. Enjoi. Miz Links: https://linktr.ee/mizeyesis
The Platform Mix 628 features Icon from Houston, Texas. He's been DJing the club circuit for over ten years and lately he's been making tons of noise with the music he''s been releasing! “Whatever Happens” climbed Beatport's MainStage charts and was played by artists all over the world while “Same Man” landed on Hood Politics label and was a Beatport staff pick with support by artists like OwnBoss. His track “Run Hot” got support from Laidback Luke on Tomorrowland's One World Radio and he's got tons of new music coming out soon that he's dropping in this week's mix! He's got upcoming shows in Chicago at Good Night John Boy this Saturday, as well as shows in Houston on Halloween, my buddy Tyler's amazing venue, Two Dimes in Tuscaloosa in November and Green Light Social in Dallas in December! Be sure to follow Icon on his socials to see where he'll be playing next! If you want the full track list, my top tracks of the week, and a behind-the-scenes look at what I'm playing in my sets, check out my Patreon link in the description. Now turn those speakers all the way up for Icon's latest right here on The Platform and have a great day!Icon: https://www.instagram.com/thedjicon/Podcast: www.youtube.com/@theplatformmixPatreon: www.patreon.com/djdexmkeArtwork by Michael Byers-Dent: www.instagram.com/byersdent/TRACKLIST:00:00:00 DJ Icon - Hypnotized (Unreleased)00:04:11 Jus Ron, DJ Icon - Whatever Happens [DND Recs]00:07:04 Cassian & AR/CO - Come To Life (GENOVA Remix)00:10:06 ROSALIA, Bjork, Yves Tumor - Berghain (Mosimann Remix)00:12:17 Fuerza Regida - NEL (DJ Icon Remix)00:15:03 ROZ ft. Natt Calma - La Vuelta (DJ Icon & ZAY Unreleased Remix)00:16:32 Maesic - Technologic00:17:44 Prospa, Cloonee - Free Your Mind (MORGANJ Remix)00:21:29 DJ Icon, Console - Need It (Unreleased)00:24:12 Dansyn, Voltech - Step To The Floor00:27:31 Gabss, Talon - No Phone Party00:30:35 SIDEPIECE & G-Pol - Control00:33:10 Zay, DJ Icon - Bad Lil Thing (Unreleased)00:35:36 Ty Dolla $ign ft. Disco Lines - Don't Kill The Party (DJ Icon Remix)00:38:23 DJ Icon - These Days00:40:58 Drake - Janice STFU (DJ Icon Remix)00:43:29 DJ Icon - Run Hot (Unreleased)00:45:46 DJ Icon - Same Man [Hood Politics Records]00:49:20 Meduza - Don't Wanna Go Home (Jus Ron, DJ Icon Remix)00:52:47 Afrojack & Martin Garrix - Turn Up The Speakers (Julian Jordan Remix)00:55:04 FENIK - In My Mind (ft. Lexi Scatena)00:56:59 Fred Again.., LATIN MAFIA - Te Estoy Correteando (Luch Rework)
Here we are. Revisiting the same ongoing theory I use when speaking about my, and others, positions in my career: The Creator vs. Admin Theory. This go 'round, I'm applying things to my situation. Simple thought: should I be free and be a more professional creator, or go down the road that'll have me in leadership positions? Should I push my emceeing, DJing, radio personality, and professor roles to higher spots...or be a director, chair, or even a president at an university?Decisions...or I can do both (that's my thinking, but again...we're here). Why not (again) share my many thoughts about progressing with the music and media? *shrugs*...enjoy the episode. I'll keep you all posted on the work moves, per usual. Thank you for tapping in. #TOTHETOP ******************Follow all socials and subscribe to Mr. Al Pete's website: https://mralpete.com and subscribe to The MPN Network website: https://mpn-llc.com. Instagram: @mralpete Threads: @mralpeteMPN YouTube: https://youtube.com/@alpete Substack: https://substack.com/@mralpete Discord: https://discord.gg/HVZCDEPY Powered by The MPN Network*************************Follow The MPN Network socials and site below:Website: https://mpn-llc.comInstagram: @mpnmanagement Threads: @mpnmanagementFacebook: The MPN Network YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mpnmanagementDiscord: https://discord.gg/HVZCDEPY#mpnnetwork #blackpodcastnetwork #medianetwork
Manchester-based tech house DJ, Lily C-D discusses the journey that has led her to carve out her own lane, from spending hours digging for tracks people haven't heard to developing a distinctly niche taste. She reflects on the importance of finding your own path rather than simply following what's big, the role TikTok can play in helping emerging DJs build an audience, the gear that has shaped her DJing, her biggest career moments, and where she wants to take things next.
It's Sunday, and we're slowly approaching the last night of Monument 2026. Before the closing set, one of the more distinctive voices coming out of Japan's underground techno scene enters Varden. OCCA has spent more than twenty years building his sound and community in Sapporo and Tokyo. That sound is now travelling all over the world, and this night it will journey through the forest in Veggli. «I didn't plan my set in advance. Instead, I put a large selection of tracks I had in mind into a playlist. Once I arrived at the festival, I gradually shaped the set; enjoying the music, connecting with people, and taking in the nature and weather around me. I wanted to bring an energy that would feel powerful and danceable under the sunlight, while also incorporating something that would make people reflect on the time they had spent at the festival – as we moved towards the closing. I was unsure whether to play a track from a live recording featuring Suzanne Ciani performing with the Metropole Orkest, conducted by Simon Dobson. But when I saw how much the audience was yearning for the music, I felt confident enough to play it. I also can't forget the scene when the low end of Pearson Sound's “XLB (Allen Mock x Herbalistek Remix)” ran through the crowd like a tidal wave. When I left the booth, I was filled with joy and gratitude. Passing the baton from Feral, a longtime friend and an artist I deeply respect, to Efdemin, whom I have been a huge fan of since I first started DJing. I had dreamed of playing at Monument for a long time, so finally being able to stand there and play was a very special moment for me.» – OCCA (@oooccaaa) Listen to OCCA, Sunday night at Monument festival, out now on our SoundCloud. Photo: Jacopo Severitano Text: Alexander Lund
VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase - Channel 4 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind - Channel 2 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind
VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase - Channel 4 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone - Channel 1 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio ClubZone
VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind - Channel 2 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind
VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind - Channel 2 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio TheGrind
What does it really take to build a podcast, take it worldwide, attract sponsors, and keep going for more than a decade? Rich Bennett steps behind the microphone alone to answer questions submitted directly by his listeners.In this candid episode of Conversations with Rich Bennett, Rich shares how a failed video recording helped launch his podcast, why Kristy Breslin encouraged him to think beyond Harford County, and how PodMatch helped connect him with guests around the world. He also explains why he prefers genuine conversations over traditional interviews and why meaningful listener responses matter more than download totals.You will hear: How Rich moved from radio and DJing into podcasting Practical equipment and hosting advice for new podcasters How he selects co-hosts and recognizes the right chemistry Why local businesses can be ideal podcast sponsors How trust influences every sponsorship he accepts The episodes and listener stories that define success for him The advice he would give his 15-year-old self Visit Conversations with Rich Bennett to listen, explore previous episodes, or leave Rich a voicemail with your own question.Subscribe, share this episode, leave a comment, and join the conversation.Send us Fan MailRide For Life Healing Arts & Music FestivalSupport the showRate & Review on Apple Podcasts Follow the Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast on Social Media:Facebook – Conversations with Rich Bennett Facebook Group (Join the conversation) – Conversations with Rich Bennett podcast group | FacebookTwitter – Conversations with Rich Bennett Instagram – @conversationswithrichbennettTikTok – CWRB (@conversationsrichbennett) | TikTokSponsors, Affiliates, and ways we pay the bills:Hosted on BuzzsproutSquadCastSubscribe by Email
For years, Kev's life revolved around drinking, DJing and nightlife. Behind the parties and packed clubs, his relationship with alcohol was becoming harder to control, and the anxiety, shame and mental health struggles that followed were getting harder to ignore.In this episode of One for the Road, Kev shares how drinking became wrapped up in his identity, why he repeatedly questioned whether he had a problem with alcohol, and what happened when he tried to moderate or take breaks from drinking.He opens up about the night he broke down crying in the bath and realized, “I can't keep living like this,” his repeated attempts at sobriety, and the frightening moment in Lisbon that became another wake-up call.Kev eventually realized he didn't have an off switch. He shares what finally helped him quit drinking, why this attempt at sobriety was different, and how life without alcohol has changed his mental health, relationships, confidence and sense of self.Information on Coaching with Dave: https://www.soberdave.co.uk/Connect with Kev: https://www.instagram.com/shiftwithswindells/Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soberdaveonefortheroadMore information about Sober Dave's 1:1 Coaching: https://www.soberdave.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase - Channel 4 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase
The Story of John Gardner: DJ an Owner of Orlando's Barbarella, Faith In Physics, Beach Club & MoreIn this episode, we talk with longtime Orlando DJ and nightclub owner John Gardner about nearly five decades of involvement in Central Florida music and nightlife. John talks about growing up in Orlando, discovering music through his older brother's record collection, buying records, attending concerts, and visiting early record stores including Southern Music, Peaches, and East West Records. He recalls seeing bands such as Queen, KISS, America, and the Rolling Stones at the Lakeland Civic Center.John discusses getting into DJing after seeing a wedding DJ and realizing he could turn his love of records into a business. He talks about doing school dances, becoming involved with the Hague Lounge, and eventually opening Faith in Physics in 1985. He recalls working with promoter Jim Faherty and several of the touring ad local bands that performed at Faith in Physics, including Suicidal Tendencies, Circle Jerks, 10,000 Maniacs, Damage, Love Gods and Leisure Suits, Rose Shadows, and Craven A.John talks about opening Beach Club in downtown Orlando at the end of 1987, the emergence of Club Space Fish nights, and the role the venues played in Orlando's alternative music scene. He recalls performances by Smashing Pumpkins, Butthole Surfers, and the B-52s.The conversation also covers the transition from Beach Club to Barbarella and later Independent Bar, one of his favorite 1980s local bands It's All Over (IAO), changes in downtown Orlando nightlife scene, and more. He also talks about getting into pickleball and his plans to keep DJing as he approaches 50 years of DJing.
VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase - Channel 4 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase
VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase - Channel 4 - Recorded Live Sets Podcast
Live Recorded Set from VirtualDJ Radio PowerBase
The trance DJ on clickbait journalism, commercial success and making a name in the viral age. Marlon Hoffstadt started DJing at 17. By 18, he got his first taste of moderate success, and at 20, it had all disappeared. What followed was several years in the trenches: demos ignored, labels uninterested and a career that seemed to be ending before it even took off. Hoffstadt went back to study journalism and PR, became a dad and continued to make music no one wanted to release. Then, somewhere at the intersection of the post-pandemic landscape and the rise of the TikTok influencer, he re-emerged as DJ Daddy Trance, a hands-in-the-air commercial DJ headlining festivals around the world. This uncanny shift has made him the subject of sharp criticism from some figures in the underground scene where it all started for Hoffstadt. In this RA Exchange, the Berlin native directly addresses his detractors. He also talks about how he's channeled Berlin's underground sensibility into the world of expensive tickets and stadium-scale production; what changed between his throwing no-phone parties in 2019 and dominating a scene that profits from video reels; and his reaction to some of Resident Advisor's recent posts and articles—and what he, as a former PR professional, would have done differently. His new album, Das ist Daddy, is out now on Capitol Records. Listen to the episode in full.
The Platform Mix 627 features Ekow from Dallas, Texas! Ekow is a repeat guest on the show who kills it every time he comes on and he's got an hour of hits with new music from Mau P, Hugel, Drake, Chris Lorenzo and more! He's a resident for us here in Nashville at Barstool and has played all over the US in cities like Boston, Tampa, Austin, Tempe, Scottsdale and of course at home in Dallas at venues like Greenlight Social, CTRL Room and Coba. He played the fan fest for the FIFA World Cup in Dallas and also frequently DJs for the Dallas Mavericks. On top of everything he's been doing DJing, he also just celebrated his birthday yesterday…but I won't tell you guys how old he is! Be sure to follow Ekow on his socials to see where he'll be playing next! If you want the full track list, my top tracks of the week, and a behind-the-scenes look at what I'm playing in my sets, check out my Patreon link in the description. Now turn those speakers all the way up for Ekow's latest right here on The Platform and have a great day!Ekow: https://www.instagram.com/_djekow/Podcast: www.youtube.com/@theplatformmixPatreon: www.patreon.com/djdexmkeArtwork by Michael Byers-Dent: www.instagram.com/byersdent/TRACKLIST:Hugel, Imael Angel & Ultranatè Vs Robert Miles Vs Camelphat & Volkoder - Movin' To The Sun Vs Children Vs Unique Moment (Djs From Mars Club Bootleg)Empire Of The Sun x Cassian - Alive (Ango Show Edit)Drake - Road Trips (BARTS Remix) Chris Lorenzo & Kah-Lo - In This Bih (CRG x YDG Remixes - Cazes Transition Edit) 132-66Disclosure feat. Eliza Doolittle vs. CHRYSTAL - You & Me (MEDUN 'The Days' Edit)Offset, JID & Drowning Pool - Bodies (BNYX Mix)Drake - BBWA$AP Ferg x Masters At Work - Work (Lai On Da Track Baile Edit)Rihanna vs. Nina Sky, SIDEQUEST - Pour It Up (B-renn 'Move Ya Body' Edit)Roscoe Dash feat. Soulja Boy vs. NOTION & Willow Kayne - All The Way Turnt Up (Impact 'WAITING' Edit)Prospa & Cloonee - Free Your Mind (Lai On Da Track & DCR MILDA Edit)Technotronic x Destiny's Child - Pump Up The Jam x Lose My Breath (Mentol's Version)Jerri - The JAWN (CRG Remix)Mau P x Benny Benassi x David Guetta - Just A Little Bit More (Arkania Edit)Anotr & 54 Ultra Vs Eric Prydz Vs Cirez D - Talk To You Vs Pjanoo Vs On Off (Djs From Mars Bootleg)Fenix Flexin and Purps On The Beat - RUBBERZ (BeatBreaker VIP Remix)Lil Yachty & Future x Tujamo x BARTS - Flex Up (Arkania Edit)Junkie Kid x SAYMYNAME x POISAN x Alice Deejay x The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down x Better Off Alone (DJ Arman Aveiru 'WHAT S UP FOO' Tone Play Segue)The Chainsmokers - Don't Let Me Down (DJ SCOOTER REMIX)Rihanna - Rude Boy (B00ST & Deny Remix)Hugel & Solto Vs DJ Bountyhunter - Jamaican Bam Bam Vs Woops (DJs From Mars Club Bootleg)Kendrick Lamar vs IAN VII & JAVIIER - Bad Bitch (Ango Edit) Nirvana vs. DJ Icon - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Cazes 'Same Man' Edit)MEDUZA x Becky Hill x Goodboys - Lose Control (LOOZBONE Edit)The Wanted x D.O.D - Glad You Came (Arkania Edit)Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child - Dunisco RemixD.O.D & Hayley May vs Tujamo - Closure (BeatBreaker 'Permission' Edit)Ty Dolla Sign Ft. Disco Lines - DON'T KILL THE PARTY (DJ ICON REMIX)Fred again.. x Kendrick Lamar x Showtek - Victory Lap x HUMBLE. x Booyah (Rudeejay & Da Brozz x CIBUS Bootleg)Fred again.., Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax - Victory LapBig Sean, Pusha T vs. Fred again.. - Mercy (McFERREN 'Victory Lap' Edit)John Summit feat. Hayla vs. Crankdat - Go Back x HYFR (NOVA x Ekow 'Nothing Matters' Bootleg)
The trance DJ on clickbait journalism, commercial success and making a name in the viral age.Marlon Hoffstadt started DJing at 17. By 18, he got his first taste of moderate success, and at 20, it had all disappeared. What followed was several years in the trenches: demos ignored, labels uninterested and a career that seemed to be ending before it even took off. Hoffstadt went back to study journalism and PR, became a dad and continued to make music no one wanted to release. Then, somewhere at the intersection of the post-pandemic landscape and the rise of the TikTok influencer, he re-emerged as DJ Daddy Trance, a hands-in-the-air commercial DJ headlining festivals around the world.This uncanny shift has made him the subject of sharp criticism from some figures in the underground scene where it all started for Hoffstadt. In this RA Exchange, the Berlin native directly addresses his detractors. He also talks about how he's channeled Berlin's underground sensibility into the world of expensive tickets and stadium-scale production; what changed between his throwing no-phone parties in 2019 and dominating a scene that profits from video reels; and his reaction to some of Resident Advisor's recent posts and articles—and what he, as a former PR professional, would have done differently. His new album, Das ist Daddy, is out now on Capitol Records. Listen to the episode in full. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
I'm playing all night long at Venue MOT in London on 14 Nov. Grab a ticket here: https://ra.co/events/2527068Sign up for free to join our community.--Gavilán Rayna Russom is a producer, DJ, and interdisciplinary artist based in New York. A former member of LCD Soundsystem, she has a new album under her Black Meteoric Star alias entitled Wet. We discuss her time working at DFA and eventually joining and then leaving LCD Soundsystem, her previous time as an analog synth engineer, as well as the new album and the Black Meteoric Star alias more generally. We also get into the political situation in the US and the way it affects her work, and also her long term journey as a DJ from playing the high school prom all the way to Berghain. This is a good one, get involved! --MERCH: Support the podcast with a purchase from our new line of awesome merch. Tees, hoodies, water bottles... etc! Cheap worldwide shipping!Visit the store here: hotflushrecordings.com/shop--Listen to the Not A Diving Club radio show: https://soundcloud.com/scubaofficial/sets/not-a-diving-clubYou can now discuss the show on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MusicNotDiving/If you're into what we're doing here on the pod then you can support the show on Patreon! There are two tiers - "Solidarity" for $4 a month, which features the show without ads, regular bonus podcasts, and extra content. And "Musicality" which for a mere $10 a month gets you all the music we release on Hotflush and affiliate labels AND other music too, some of which never comes out anywhere else.You can also make a one-off donation to the podcast using a card, with Paypal, or your Ethereum wallet! Head over to scubaofficial.io/support.Plus there's also a private area for Patreon supporters in the Hotflush Discord Server... but anyone can join the conversation in the public channels.Listen to the music discussed on the show via the Music Not Diving Podcast Spotify playlist00:00 Intro04:00 LCD Soundsystem21:00 Music and current politics34:00 Recording methods and the new album51:00 How to be a DJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hey everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Cultural Hall! I'm really excited about this one because we are finally solving a mystery. A couple of months ago, I told you all a story about DJing a wedding at a house that had some very unique door handles—exact replicas of the ones on the Salt Lake Temple. Well, the secret is out! It was the home of Brad and Marjorie Lowder (Marjorie is the youngest daughter of President Russell M. Nelson). I’ve been providing DJ services to the Daybreak community generally for ten years now, along with countless other spots across the state, but DJing that wedding at the Lowders’ house was an unforgettable highlight. Today, Brad and his twin brother Carris join me to talk about a brand new project they've started. After surviving a minor heart attack at 58 and losing his own dad at 67, Brad hit his 68th birthday and had a huge wake-up call. He did the math and realized he needed to make some serious lifestyle changes if he wants to be around to dance at his three-year-old granddaughter's wedding. To keep himself accountable, he and Carris launched a new podcast called Live Longer, Live Stronger. In this episode, we dive into: The Wake-Up Call: Brad's realization that he needed to overhaul his daily habits to make it to 93. Healthspan vs. Lifespan: Why it’s not just about adding years to your life, but making sure you have the mobility and health to actually enjoy them. Lessons from a Centenarian: The incredible example of longevity and purposeful living set by President Nelson, from his habit of always taking the stairs to his focus on daily movement. The Power of Purpose: Why simple things like serving others, staying connected with family, and having a reason to get out of bed are the true secrets to aging well. No Snake Oil: Why their new show isn’t about selling supplements or being preachy—it’s just a couple of guys sharing what they are learning along the way. This conversation is a fantastic reminder that we only get one body, and it's up to us to be good stewards of it. Take a listen, and let me know what you think! The post Live Longer Live Stronger – 1068 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.
Magnus Ferrell joins Scott Lipps for a new episode of SPIN's Lipps Service to talk about growing up as the son of Will Ferrell, finding his own identity as a musician, and what it's like pursuing a career when people already know your last name. Magnus opens up about his musical upbringing, his parents' support, the advice that shaped him, working with Gabe Yaron and developing his “groove therapy” sound. He also talks about the “nepo baby” conversation, signing his record deal, imposter syndrome and the breakout success of “Asleep Talking.” Plus, Magnus shares some incredible Will Ferrell stories — from his dad DJing at USC to showing up to prom in a medieval outfit — and reveals his Top 5 artists of all time and Top 5 Will Ferrell movies. Subscribe to Lipps Service for more conversations with the biggest names in music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices