Podcast appearances and mentions of Judge Judy

Rich makes the case that he's technically a 9/11 survivor. Tracie has the gruesome realizes she's been on Raya for 10 years. We investigate the origins of "monkey bars," have a delayed Euphoria conversation, discuss how Kars4Kids raises money for jewish birthright trips to Israel, and examine Trump's deeply unsettling pronunciation of the word "vegan." We also review the dash cam footage from Britney Spears' DUI arrest and ask the important questions, like why we're all still here.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering Michael Jackson: The Trial—check out our Patreon.Tracie's SubstackInstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rich shares some clips from Tara Reid's new movie Dr. Quarantine, which leads us to a mini investigation of her collaborative partner, director White Cross. Then we revisit the Naomi and Wynonna Judd TV movie after Tracie erroneously thought Wynonna was dead.You can read Tracie's investigation into Michael Jackson's relationship with boys on her Substack.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.InstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week, we descend into the toxic delusion orbiting Michael Jackson's most devoted defenders, unpack the slow cultural death spiral of the Met Gala at the hands of Jeff and Lauren Bezos, and discover that Rich is somehow fully on board for The Devil Wears Prada 2. We also revisit an absolutely unhinged vintage clip of Liza Minnelli serenading a deaf lover using what appears to be entirely self-invented sign language, culminating in a jaw-dropping interpretation of the word “Chinese."To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.Tracie's SubstackInstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rich loved Michael, which is how we ended up in the moral labyrinth that is Michael Jackson's legacy. We revisit Living with Michael Jackson, ask what it means to separate art from artist (and whether that's even possible), and sit with the discomfort.Elsewhere: Madonna is back in her chaos era, making a pilgrimage to The Abbey as part of her press tour. Tracie speed-reads Lena Dunham's memoir Famesick and comes to some…conclusions.And finally, a cursed visual you now have to live with too: turtle erections.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.Tracie's SubstackInstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's 420 season! This episode is an experiment in tangentiality. Baby Jessica got arrested. Rich explains his two phobias: pegboard hooks and not being seated on the end of an aisle. Plus, Liza Minnelli's EDM single, Sean Penn's Oscar speech when he won for Harvey Milk, and other gay stuff.Read Tracie's Gawker Stalker compilation of Natasha Lyonne here.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.InstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Clavicular and Woah Vicky had a meeting of the minds. Rich appreciates how realistic Bryon Noem made his fake boobs look. Tracie shares what she learned in sexual harassment training. Keke Palmer gets ambushed.You can subscribe to Tracie's substack here.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.InstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Judge Greg Mathis steps Behind The Rope. One of the longest running TV judges of all time is here to mention it all. Judge Mathis talks the highs and lows of his twenty four season run on TV, the strangest cases, setting young lives straight just like he did his own and so much more. Judge Mathis talks Judge Judy, starring on his own reality show with family - “Mathis Family Matters”, the current state of “Court” TV and last, but not least, his recent stint as 14 Karat Carrot on Fox's The Masked Singer. @judgegregmathis @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef BONUS & AD FREE EPISODES Available at - www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope  BROUGHT TO YOU BY: QUINCE - quince.com/velvetrope (Get Free Shipping and 365 Day Returns to As You Indulge In Affordable Luxury)  NOOM - noom.com (The Noom GLP-1 Microdose Program Starts At $99 and Is Delivered To Your Door In Seven Days) PEACE CORPS - peacecorps.gov/serve (The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES - Please contact David@advertising-execs.com MERCH Available at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We learned a lot of weird things this week. First, male cheerleaders are called "yell leaders." This fact presented itself to us after Jeff Webb—a cheerleading pioneer and Charlie Kirk's mentor—died in a mysterious pickleball accident. Also, did you know they make guns for people without fingers? Plus, Jude Law has like seven kids now, one of whom has a mother who was a contestant on The Voice UK—which is all tied back to Chappell Roan. To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.InstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Red Dress and Reply All. The Laguna Beach Reunion must have gone well because Lauren Conrad and Kristin Cavallari seem like besties. Reunion is on something called Roku Channel on April 10th. Brittany with a wild story from the HBO Show Neighbors that ended up on Judge Judy. Costco really does have EVERYTHING! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Studies suggest GLP-1's may slow or reverse biological aging, potentially extending both healthspan and lifespan. Tracie encounters a one-legged woman. Rich never has any cash to give to go-go dancers or drag queens. Further Reading:Should you take GLP-1 drugs for longevity?Tracie's SternTao shirt.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering the newest season of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.InstagramTikTok ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Honestly, just more of the same—we talk about Anna Nicole and Courtney Love and Joan Collins. We also play this word game, which might be boring. I don't know.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.You can get the Women Supporting Women sweatshirt here.You can get the Like My Body towel here.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show.

Israel continued its strikes on top Iranian leaders overnight as the war against Iran presses on. With Iran's leadership severely depleted, the Trump Administration suggests the conflict may have approximately two more weeks to run. Is Cuba next in line for a regime change? The island nation is currently experiencing widespread blackouts, with rioters taking to the streets in large numbers. Also on the domestic front: Should ICE agents wear masks while on duty? Border Czar Tom Homan is pushing to create a database to identify and dox the most destructive protesters, particularly as demonstrations have turned increasingly dangerous in certain areas. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews legendary DJ Scott Shannon. Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show.

Israel continued its strikes on top Iranian leaders overnight as the war against Iran presses on. With Iran's leadership severely depleted, the Trump Administration suggests the conflict may have approximately two more weeks to run. Is Cuba next in line for a regime change? The island nation is currently experiencing widespread blackouts, with rioters taking to the streets in large numbers. Also on the domestic front: Should ICE agents wear masks while on duty? Border Czar Tom Homan is pushing to create a database to identify and dox the most destructive protesters, particularly as demonstrations have turned increasingly dangerous in certain areas. Mark interviews legendary DJ Scott Shannon. Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show. This year's Oscars were notably less political than in recent years, and the ratings reflect a renewed audience interest, pulling in 15 million viewers. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel's contract is reportedly up in six months, raising questions about his future on late-night TV duties. MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle expressed outrage over the number of people found to have had Jeffrey Epstein's phone number. On Capitol Hill, Democrats in Congress are polling at their lowest approval ratings on record. Mark interviews streaming host Bill O' Reilly. Bill is in Washington, D.C., for today's St. Patrick's Day festivities. O'Reilly notes that without access to the same intelligence reports as President Trump, assessing the timeline of the Iran conflict remains difficult. He also weighs in on the geopolitical implications of a potential Cuba takeover, suggesting it could cost Trump a shot at the Nobel Peace Prize. He also hints at a possible high-profile interview related to Iran that could be in the works. Finally, he predicts that if the Cuban regime falls, there is a strong likelihood that many Cuban exiles, particularly those settled in Florida, will return to the island.

Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel continued its strikes on top Iranian leaders overnight as the war against Iran presses on. With Iran's leadership severely depleted, the Trump Administration suggests the conflict may have approximately two more weeks to run. Is Cuba next in line for a regime change? The island nation is currently experiencing widespread blackouts, with rioters taking to the streets in large numbers. Also on the domestic front: Should ICE agents wear masks while on duty? Border Czar Tom Homan is pushing to create a database to identify and dox the most destructive protesters, particularly as demonstrations have turned increasingly dangerous in certain areas. Mark takes your calls! Mark interviews legendary DJ Scott Shannon. Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel continued its strikes on top Iranian leaders overnight as the war against Iran presses on. With Iran's leadership severely depleted, the Trump Administration suggests the conflict may have approximately two more weeks to run. Is Cuba next in line for a regime change? The island nation is currently experiencing widespread blackouts, with rioters taking to the streets in large numbers. Also on the domestic front: Should ICE agents wear masks while on duty? Border Czar Tom Homan is pushing to create a database to identify and dox the most destructive protesters, particularly as demonstrations have turned increasingly dangerous in certain areas. Mark interviews legendary DJ Scott Shannon. Scott shares his take on this year's Oscars and reflects with Mark on the life and legacy of beloved broadcaster Ernie Anastos, who passed away last week. They also touch on a relatable challenge for morning show hosts: what do you lead with when not everyone has caught the same thing on TV? And in entertainment news, Judge Judy has announced her retirement, with her son set to take over the show. This year's Oscars were notably less political than in recent years, and the ratings reflect a renewed audience interest, pulling in 15 million viewers. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel's contract is reportedly up in six months, raising questions about his future on late-night TV duties. MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle expressed outrage over the number of people found to have had Jeffrey Epstein's phone number. On Capitol Hill, Democrats in Congress are polling at their lowest approval ratings on record. Mark interviews streaming host Bill O' Reilly. Bill is in Washington, D.C., for today's St. Patrick's Day festivities. O'Reilly notes that without access to the same intelligence reports as President Trump, assessing the timeline of the Iran conflict remains difficult. He also weighs in on the geopolitical implications of a potential Cuba takeover, suggesting it could cost Trump a shot at the Nobel Peace Prize. He also hints at a possible high-profile interview related to Iran that could be in the works. Finally, he predicts that if the Cuban regime falls, there is a strong likelihood that many Cuban exiles, particularly those settled in Florida, will return to the island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daily Dad Jokes (15 Mar 2026) Christmas Joke Button - 101 eye rolling dad jokes for the festive season! Amazon. The perfect gift for Kris Kringle, Secret Santa and of course for dad! Click here here to view! The official Daily Dad Jokes Podcast electronic button now available on Amazon. The perfect gift for dad! Click here here to view! Email Newsletter: Looking for more dad joke humor to share? Then subscribe to our new weekly email newsletter. It's our weekly round-up of the best dad jokes, memes, and humor for you to enjoy. Spread the laughs, and groans, and sign up today! Click here to subscribe! Listen to the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ or search "Daily Dad Jokes" in your podcast app. Jokes sourced and curated from reddit.com/r/dadjokes. Joke credits: lnc_gomes, MDFR8, spunundulant, L_Dubb85, devnodegree, Lucky_Middle_5525, Majestic_Repair_7887, Consistantly0101, MaineDood, Not_a_Bot67, Alarming-Safety3200, Dismal_Ebb_3899, Healthy_Ladder_6198, , alanmitch34, moszippy, Vaquero-SASS, Joel_Boyens, MedicTillar Subscribe to this podcast via: iHeartMedia Spotify iTunes Google Podcasts YouTube Channel Social media: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok Discord Interested in advertising or sponsoring our show? Contact us at mediasales@klassicstudios.com Produced by Klassic Studios using AutoGen Podcast technology (http://klassicstudios.com/autogen-podcasts/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Dad Jokes (15 Mar 2026) Christmas Joke Button - 101 eye rolling dad jokes for the festive season! Amazon. The perfect gift for Kris Kringle, Secret Santa and of course for dad! Click here here to view! The official Daily Dad Jokes Podcast electronic button now available on Amazon. The perfect gift for dad! Click here here to view! Email Newsletter: Looking for more dad joke humor to share? Then subscribe to our new weekly email newsletter. It's our weekly round-up of the best dad jokes, memes, and humor for you to enjoy. Spread the laughs, and groans, and sign up today! Click here to subscribe! Listen to the Daily Dad Jokes podcast here: https://dailydadjokespodcast.com/ or search "Daily Dad Jokes" in your podcast app. Jokes sourced and curated from reddit.com/r/dadjokes. Joke credits: lnc_gomes, MDFR8, spunundulant, L_Dubb85, devnodegree, Lucky_Middle_5525, Majestic_Repair_7887, Consistantly0101, MaineDood, Not_a_Bot67, Alarming-Safety3200, Dismal_Ebb_3899, Healthy_Ladder_6198, , alanmitch34, moszippy, Vaquero-SASS, Joel_Boyens, MedicTillar Subscribe to this podcast via: iHeartMedia Spotify iTunes Google Podcasts YouTube Channel Social media: Instagram Facebook Twitter TikTok Discord Interested in advertising or sponsoring our show? Contact us at mediasales@klassicstudios.com Produced by Klassic Studios using AutoGen Podcast technology (http://klassicstudios.com/autogen-podcasts/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For 25 years, millions of people watched Judge Judy settle disputes in a televised courtroom. There's something fascinating about watching a judge weigh the evidence and decide who is right and who is wrong. In John 18:28–40, we encounter a different kind of courtroom scene. Jesus stands before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as accusations are made and questions are asked. It appears that Jesus is the one being judged. But as the scene unfolds, the roles begin to shift. What looks like a trial becomes something deeper—an invitation to reflect on how we judge others and how we recognize God's presence in our midst. Join us this Sunday as we explore this powerful moment in the Gospel of John.

We got a little too high this time, so it's an extra short episode today. A note from Rich: I really wanted to use this episode as a mini-retelling of my recent long-read at The Guardian, “A Hollywood ‘heir' made horrific abuse claims against four industry titans. How did he end up in prison?” But my intentions were at odds with my medium: Explaining a twisty story about an aspiring writer who sued powerful men in Hollywood for raping and blacklisting him and then, years later, was convicted for lying in front of the court in said lawsuit was a difficult thing to do coherently on this podcast, which finds us getting high and being unserious. The result was an extremely unfocused retelling of this story that Tracie had to salvage in editing. I think my spoken words do my written ones a disservice nonetheless in this week's episode, so please trust that the story in print is way wilder, more layered, and I think more consequential to the realities of MeToo's ideals than what is presented in this week's episode. If it sounds interesting to you at all in this form, I guarantee you that you will get way more out of the written piece. So please read it.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Juliet, Scooby Dru and Sire Rebecca continue to delve into the themes of Surprise, one of the trio's favorite episodes. Listen for never heard behind-the-scenes stories, poignant moments and fascinating facts from the set of Surprise. Of course, Scooby Dru also supplies plenty of mischief and serenades!  Submissions are open for “The Battle of The Uber Buffy Fans 2” - the ultimate trivia contest! The “Missing Scene That Could Have Been in “Surprise” showcases Drusilla and none other than Judge Judy! (Rewatch: Surprise S2 Ep 13 Part 2)Editor: Patrick Sheffield Composer: Tim Steemson or as Dru calls him, “Little Lamb Timmy.” Artwork: GirlpirePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/ReVampedwithJulietLandau Send a textYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@revampedpod Twitter/X - @julietlandauInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/juliet_landau Facebook - Juliet Landau Official (Page) https://www.facebook.com/julietlandauofficialFacebook - Fans of Juliet Landau (Group) https://www.facebook.com/groups/julietlandau/Email: revampedpod@gmail.com Juliet Landau's directorial feature debut, A Place Among The Dead Trailer: https://vimeo.com/791299045/5b5d98726a A Place Among The Dead Blu-Ray with nearly 5 hours of bonus extras: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJJY4MB9/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_4?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Tracie is still sifting through the Epstein files, and she found a scary pop culture artifact (an ass ugly Spitting Image puppet) was used to molest girls. Plus, the girls (and Jay Manuel) are weighing in on the Netflix doc Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Closing piano music courtesy of Harpeth Presbyterian Church. Be Still My Soul. “You can't learn anything from a podcast,”  says Bill O'Reilly! Yes, you can, you just have to find the right host, but the podcast genre is so broad that the listener has to be selective! The most popular with audiences are those interview shows like Joe Rogan. His interviews are what I call “long form,” or greater than 45 minutes.  Unlike Larry King, Joe Rogan knows enough to let his guest be the star of the show. PS The only time I ever watched Larry King was when his guest was Judge Judy, she was terrific.My take is the opposite. I limit my interviews to a maximum of 45 minutes. Leave your listeners “wanting more”.  That's what next week is for. Of course, like everything else on the internet, we have blurred the distinction between audio/MP/3 and video/MP/4.  The audience doesn't care, but producers must. Video is much harder to edit for clarity; some professionals like Grammar Girl are able to find articulate and knowledgeable guests, which makes all the difference.Many of my interviews are with people just like you and me, and we make little stumbles and glitches with an occasional malapropism. I didn't mean to make a podcast tutorial, but there it is anyway.

You're going to have to refer to our last episode ("Chappel Roan's Nipples") to understand what the hell we're talking about in the first half of this episode because we were too high and heated to be as coherent as we would've liked.Basically, after Tracie said an Instagram creator was being stupid (she was), that creator somehow figured out we talked about her (we never named her) and made a post about us, which riled up her base of Pizzagate conspiracy theorists. They're accusing us of being Zionists (like, what?) and pedos, proving the original point that Tracie made last week of how people are being illogical about public figures who were named in the Epstein files for innocuous reasons.Please read: Sasha Riley and the Long Hangover of the Satanic PanicTo access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hear me out...

The latest tranche of Epstein files contain photos of Stephen Hawking, confirming what Tracie has always (vocally) suspected about him. Many more celebrities are mentioned by name, innocuously, in the Epstein files, fueling baseless conspiracy theories. We discuss Chappell Roan's Mugler nipple dress from the Grammys, but for us, it was really Pink Pantheress who shined.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

⚖️ How to Avoid Court in Divorce | Los Angeles Divorce ⚖️ Want to avoid going to court during your divorce? Good news—you absolutely can, as long as you and your spouse stay amicable and agree on the terms. Court is where people go when they can't agree… not where you have to go just because you're divorcing. In this video, I'll explain exactly how to skip the courtroom entirely and complete your divorce through paperwork only.

With the American government embarrassing its citizens on the world stage and shooting them dead in the streets, we're not going to work, to school, or shopping today. Rich is wondering whether or not the general strike will prevent him from living his daily life.Jameela Jamil is now involved in the It Ends with Us drama, after court documents reveal that she was texting with Justin Baldoni's crisis publicist about boosting anti-Blake Lively TikToks. After the documents went public, Jameela posted a TikTok herself, centering herself in the drama. She also blocked Tracie and Pot Psychology on TikTok this week.Huge news: an ANTM docuseries is about to hit Netflix, and some former contestants are sour about it.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

“Drum circles were created to build inclusivity, equity, and diversity.” In this episode, Nick speaks with Andrew Ecker to explore the cultural significance of drumming, particularly within indigenous communities, and highlights the historical context of drum circles as a means of fostering inclusivity and diversity and healing from trauma and addiction. What to listen for: Drumming and sound healing, overall, can positively impact our mental well-being The historical context of drumming reflects a blend of various cultural influences Drumming fosters community and shared experiences Addiction is based in shame and can often be spurred on by our early experiences Embracing our calling heals ourselves and others “All of us are connected to the earth. All of us are indigenous. All of us have the air, the water, the fire, and the earth flowing through us.” Identity goes deeper than culture or job titles; it's rooted in our relationship to the earth and life itself Separation from nature often fuels disconnection, anxiety, and burnout The elements are a reminder that we're not isolated individuals; we're part of a living system Reclaiming earth-based identity can be deeply grounding and healing “Do something for people — and you'll discover the truest truth of who you are.” Service often reveals purpose more clearly than self-reflection alone Helping others pulls us out of isolation and into meaningful connection You don't need to be “healed” or perfect to make a difference Showing up for others strengthens self-trust and self-worth About Andrew Ecker Andrew is a speaker, author, and creator of the Drumming Sounds Protocol, an evidence-based wellness intervention that blends ancient rhythm traditions with modern neuroscience to improve mental health, recovery, and community connection. With over 25 years of experience facilitating more than 5,000 drumming and sound-based programs, Andrew has worked with hospitals, treatment centers, universities, and tribal nations across the country. His book, The Sacred 7, explores identity, ancestry, and the transformative power of ceremony—a topic that resonates deeply with audiences seeking meaning, resilience, and personal empowerment. As a former youth outreach leader and recovery coach with over two decades in sobriety, Andrew brings a powerful, real-world perspective to conversations about trauma, healing, and spirituality. His ability to blend science, story, and spirit makes him a compelling guest for podcasts focused on wellness, recovery, leadership, and conscious living. https://www.drummingsounds.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-ecker-sacred7/ https://www.facebook.com/andrew.ecker1/ For our audience, please enjoy a free copy of Andrew's book, “The Sacred 7” — it's available for download at http://thesacredseven.com/ Resources: Interested in starting your own podcast or need help with one you already have? https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/podcasting-services/ Thank you for listening! Please subscribe on iTunes and give us a 5-Star review! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-and-self-mastery-show/id1604262089 Listen to other episodes here: https://themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com/ Watch Clips and highlights: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1tCM7KTe3hrq_-UAa6GHA Guest Inquiries right here: podcasts@themindsetandselfmasteryshow.com Your Friends at “The Mindset & Self-Mastery Show” Click Here To View The Episode Transcript Nick McGowan (00:02.959)Hello and welcome to the Mindset Self Mastery Show. I’m your host, Nick McGowan. Today on the show, we have Andrew Ecker. Andrew, what’s going on? Andrew Ecker (00:13.602)How’s it going, Nick? Nick McGowan (00:15.649)It’s good. I’m glad that you’re here. I’m excited for us to talk about music and drum circles and sound healing and all the things that relate to all of that. And we were gonna have a call maybe like a year and a half ago or so. And there’ve been some people that have like backed out of the show and I’ve been like, that’s fine. You can do whatever you want to do. But you were one of the people I was like, I hope he comes back. So I’m glad that you’re here. I’m glad that people are gonna be able to hear this conversation. And why don’t you get us started? Tell us what you do for a living and what’s one thing most people don’t know about you that’s maybe a little odd or bizarre. Andrew Ecker (00:48.769)Awesome. So before we do that, I’d like to just take a moment and honor myself in the space by introducing myself formally in traditional language of my ancestors. This is a language called Nde Baza, which basically means the people’s tongue. So Dago Tse, Tse Nde, Andirector Yenise, Adon Dae Nshinigye, Nde Nshe, Irish Pashachin, Nde Dasha Tshe, German Dasha Nali, Kote Goe Itshliye, Portland, Oregon, Enishe. Shama’e, Kathy Lindsay Woye, Shaza’e Del Eccorale. So my name is Andrew Eccor, my mother Kathy Lindsay, my father Del Eccor, my mother’s mother Elva Gallegos, Apache woman from New Mexico. She grew up in a little town called Capitan right outside the Mescalero reservation. Although my ancestral lines go back to the Madera Valley of Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico. The Apaches from this area are called La Pond Band Apache. My father’s mother Evelyn Beatty, an Irish woman from Pennsylvania. She actually was very proud that our ancestor William Beatty fought in the Revolutionary War to establish this country. So I do consider myself a son of the revolution on that side of my family. My mother’s father Leroy Lindsay, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, and my father’s father Wayne Ecker, a World War II veteran. I have a daughter Bailey, son Peyton, a beloved fiancee named Monica. I was born in the ancestral land of the Multnomah Clackamas of Malamit in Portland, Oregon. although I currently reside in the ancestral land of the Akmal, Atom, the Peaposh and the Hohokam in Phoenix, Arizona. And very grateful to be here with you. So the thing that I do primarily is I work in healthcare and I’m a drum circle facilitator and sound medicine practitioner and also a peer support specialist, recovery coach. Most of the work that I do is in variety of different healthcare settings. So everything from psychiatric lockdowns to memory care, skilled nursing, prisons, jails, drug and alcohol treatment facilities, I facilitated about 5,000 wellness-based events with a protocol I’ve developed called Drumming Sounds. So Drumming Sounds is a step-by-step process of creating outcomes that are wellness-based. So reducing stress, increasing immunity, lowering blood pressure, Andrew Ecker (03:13.865)helping people connect through music and really creating a safe, sacred space for people to come into group drumming. So group drumming is a really powerful wellness intervention and so it’s a small group of studies done on it and it’s pretty amazing what the science community has found. So yeah, so that’s what I do and also do some coaching stuff, of course, help people out. Something unique about me, that a lot of people don’t know. You know, I grew up in a home where both my parents were addicted to drugs and my mom died of a cocaine overdose and my father died of cirrhosis of liver caused by hepatitis C. So growing up in that environment, I was around a lot of really intense experiences. And I think something that a lot of people don’t know about me is that because of that, My relationship with PTSD as a child was something really intense and my first suicide attempt I was seven years old. I remember attempting to hang myself at seven and thankfully, you know, I didn’t succeed. But from the time of that first attempt till really probably my late 20s, I was dealing with suicidal ideation and a severe relationship to other mental health concerns, including situational schizophrenia, depression, anxiety. These are all things I live in relationship with today. Nick McGowan (05:01.261)So, where do I go from here? know, way to drop everything on us. I first off want to thank you and appreciate how you started this and being able to show back to your ancestors and being able to talk from your original language. I think we can sometimes forget about where we come from. Our genetics do not. our generational trauma does not. There’s so many things that, like you dealt with so much with your parents. I’m sure we could just tackle through all of that, but what your parents dealt with, that then they transferred along to you and what their parents dealt with, et cetera, et cetera, and how all of that was tossed to us. Most people I don’t think really think about that because they just think, well, my parents are assholes, so I’m trying to do better or whatever. It’s like, well, let’s actually take steps back generations before that. and before that, before that. And I think we can sometimes also forget about where you actually came from. Like you rattled off a lot of family members. And as I was thinking about it, I was like, I’m making me, I maybe go like two layers deep. People beyond that, I don’t really know. And I don’t really know if they’re still around or what the hell’s going on or whatever, because of the way that I was raised. And it’s interesting to think about how we should. actually get back to more community-based things, but there’s a lot of unlearning to do with all of that. And I’ve read through the stuff you’ve sent. I’ve seen the different things you’ve done. I’ve known about you for a little bit, but I wouldn’t have even been able to know about the things that you’ve just rattled off. And really, mean, shit, where do you want to start with this? and thinking about from a mental health and a mindset and overall transformation, self mastery. I’m not trying to just throw out buzzwords, but like there are categorical things we can talk about here, you know? Andrew Ecker (06:59.456)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (07:03.264)Yeah, for sure. And that’s really why I’d like to share that traditional introduction because it does give us an opportunity to understand what healthy communities have looked at as self-identity, really the foundation of creating a healthy person. We’re talking about tens of thousands of years of this idea that we are our parents, we are our grandparents, we are from someplace and we live someplace. You know, these principles of self-identity. And just like you were sharing, know, remembering that is very important because we live in a time where our earth-based identity has been systematically erased from our mindset. And this is done through systematic organization of space, you know, ideas like the patriarchy, manoralism and feudalism. You know, these really predominant institutions systematically created a separation from us being our family and being from the earth. Yet all of us are connected to the earth. All of us are indigenous. All of us have the air, the water, the fire, the earth flowing through us. And the more that we can remember that, the more that we can validate that we are valuable just as a person. The contemporary culture has created this idea that we’re a job. And that’s our identity, that’s our value. And that idea was really created around feudalism and manalism historically because these were the only… Well, everyone in those systems was a job-based identity other than the landlords. And the landlords were the ones who were able to have an earth-based identity. If you weren’t have land and land title, You were a smith, a parson, a knight, a sewer, all of these behavioral based ideas of identity. And as we begin to really look at these constructs, you can see that the devaluing of the human condition is a purposeful and an intentional plot to really create what we’re faced with today. And what we’re faced with today is a lot of people Andrew Ecker (09:26.423)wandering around feeling valueless, hopeless, and really in a condition that promotes the use of destructive behaviors such as substances. know, myself, growing up in an environment where I remember the D.A.R.E. program coming into my school, and you know, during D.A.R.E., a lot of people don’t remember, but the D.A.R.E. police were getting children to turn in their parents for using cannabis. and for using substances. And I remember my mom was really scared that this was going to happen. So she kind of cornered me one day and said to me, you know, if they come into your school, you can’t tell them that we use this. And it was really weird to me, because like those were the best times I remember. You know, my job as a little boy was to clean the stems and the seeds out of the cannabis. You know, back when cannabis had stems and seeds. You know, and people rolled a joint. It wasn’t a free roll. You know, but my family used to sit around and smoke and that was when they were social. You know, nobody was drunk fighting. Nobody was in the bathroom or in the bedroom with the door shut. You know, doing intravenous drugs, they were social. And I just couldn’t understand that as a kid. But yet I remember them coming into my school and they had flags and Nick McGowan (10:24.073)You Andrew Ecker (10:51.996)guns and these were great big intimidating police officers. And I remember my heart racing and my palms getting sweaty. And thankfully they didn’t interrogate me. But what they did was they said to this group of children, if you have one drug addict parent, you’re 50 % more likely to become a drug addict. Now I’m not saying that they did this intentionally to give children this idea that they’re genetically flawed. They were trying to impart to these kids. that, you know, don’t use drugs. That’s what, you know, is the big thing. You know, just say no, all this stuff. But what it did for me is it told me, well, 50 and 50, that’s 100. That must be who I am. And this was the first time in my life that anyone told me I was genetically flawed. You know, and the extension of eugenics isn’t something that is merely a part of, you know, the Nazi regime. Nick McGowan (11:35.326)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (11:47.256)You know, eugenics enters into childhood ideas in these sorts of systematic ways. You know, now, you know, fast forward, we’ve come to a place of understanding that it’s not just eugenics, but it’s epigenetics and really looking at how we can create environments that create successful human beings. And that’s what I’m able to do with the drum circle. You know, the drum circle is really an environment that creates a healthy human being. as to where the destructive forces of incarceration, imprisonment and devaluing people because they have a mental health concern created those behaviors that were a part of my parents’ lives and unfortunately a part of my life. know, it wasn’t that moment that I became a drug addict when the Derikoff said that to me. But later on, as I would grow older, that seed started to take root. And when I was a teenager, I ended up in the spoon with my dad, meaning I was using heroin with my father. You know, my mom used to use me to shoplift. I was in and out of drug houses. I mean, it was, I was exposed to things as a little boy that only makes sense today in my path of service. You know, as I’ve learned to manage these things and as I’ve learned to show up and help people reconnect to who they are, it’s all made perfect sense to me. But as a little boy, man, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I just wanted the pain to end. know, and, you know, thankfully I found heroin because heroin helped me through my suicidal ideation. Because I don’t know if I would be alive today if it wasn’t for heroin. You know, things got real bad for me when I was, you know, 17, 18 years old. Nick McGowan (13:41.68)I gotta be honest, I never thought I would hear anybody else say that thankfully I had heroin because that changed things. I overdosed on heroin when I was 19. And the people that were there in the room, I’m thankful that they wanted to save their own lives and one person like beat the shit out of me so I threw everything up. But I remember walking home smoking a cigarette after that being like, what the fuck just happened? All right. And looking up being like, all right, I guess there’s some reason why I’m here. And I think back to that. But that wasn’t like that one moment, just like the moment that you were talking about or any of those other little moments were just a bag of moments in a sense. All these things, like even as a little kid, you don’t really know. Like, and I totally understand where you’re coming from with the parents hanging around, smoking joints, all of that. I was in parts of some of that. My mom and dad were never together and it was like totally separate ways of being and all of that. living in and out of bars, basically, like being the kid eating a maraschino cherries and all that shit, and everyone just smoking cigarettes like a pack at a time and out around your face. There are people that don’t understand those things. Even like the dare stuff. I’ve had conversations with people kind of recently, like within the past handful of months, where some people were like, dare scared the shit out of me. And I didn’t want to touch like caffeine or anything else. Other people were like, I learned there were drugs out there. So was like, great, can I have some? And then other people went through stuff like you where they’re like, well, you’re telling me this is how it is. I think it’s interesting how we can suspect that, let’s just say, dare wasn’t trying to brainwash. know, let’s just say that their thing was like, we want to help and we want to make sure that you have the statistics. But these are also adults that are like, well, 50 % of you become addicts. So why don’t we just tell the kids that you take it as one way. Some other kid takes it a different way. And there’s no repercussion to that at all to then like, that wasn’t a thing that you then brought up the next day in school. It like, know what? Yesterday, I learned this thing and now I feel like the rest of my life is gonna change. That just started to grow bit by bit by bit. And then you already had the genes of being addicted. Nick McGowan (16:02.023)I know I have to come back to some fucking question basically. And my question at all times with that sort of stuff is like, how do we stop that from happening? Because even with the DARE stuff, it’s like, yeah, cool, thanks. Now I know there are other drugs out there and also know what the end is and I’ll fall back to marijuana because like, why the fuck? It’s a fucking plan. But all things in moderation and like all those different aspects to it. But what do we do? You know, like you move to music. And as a musician and creative myself, I moved toward that too, but I often think of the times of smoking a joint and playing music and like those are happy moments. but to some people that might be destructive and all of that, but you moved closer into music. So I think music sometimes can be part of our addiction, you know, like I’m addicted to sound. but being able to turn that into a healing thing. So I don’t want to just jump past everything you went through. Andrew Ecker (16:57.041)Thank Nick McGowan (16:59.844)with your parents because that made you who you are. But being able to look back at some of those moments to go, now with the work that you do, the way that you were raised, what are some of those bridge points that you can look at and go, man, I was really looking for community. I was looking for ways to do this and do that. You know what I mean? Andrew Ecker (17:18.16)Yeah, exactly. I really believe that all addiction for me is based around relationship and filling the void of the absence of relationship with the substance. And I remember the first time that this really happened to me, me and my mom were out shoplifting all day. I was just a little guy. I was, you know, probably eight, nine, I don’t know, somewhere around there. I remember being all bundled up and maybe even younger. I was you know, elementary school age. And she takes me to the park and she left me there at the park with a bucket of chicken. And I remember her saying, I’ll be right back and her driving off and me eating that chicken to fill the void and the fear of my mom not coming back for me. Being left at the park and knowing in my childhood mind that she was going to a dope house and there could have been something that happened. It was just the anxiety of that entire situation I was feeling with the warmth of that chicken. And then later on, you know, as I started to grow in my own personal self mastery, I started to look back at the patterns of loneliness and grief and isolation and how every time that I found myself using, really, it was that idea. It was about creating camaraderie at first, community. finding a judgment free zone. You know, I grew up being bounced around family member to family member. So definitely had home insecurity and really wasn’t, you know, in a place where I felt like I had a home. So I didn’t feel that sense of security that maybe most people grow up with. So when I found the security of friends that would accept me, you know, just if I got high with them, that’s all I needed. It wasn’t like I needed to be smart, it wasn’t like I needed to be funny, it wasn’t like I needed to be athletic, you know, it wasn’t like I needed to be a great musician, any of those things. I just needed to show up and get high and you know and have money to get high or be able to hustle and that was really my first support system was the community of people that I was using with and what happens for most people that are in the struggle of substance use disorder Andrew Ecker (19:43.015)is that they focus on what not to do. And they never really understand what the drugs and alcohol gave to them. You know, asking myself, what was it that heroin gave to me? What was it that alcohol gave to me? And how can I effectively create a way of meeting that need? Because we all have human needs. Every single one of us is going through something. And you know, it’s a lot easier when we go through it together and building that foundation of community. is so important in me being able to have functional behaviors today. So I’m constantly evolving in the way that I’m able to show up in community. I have my drum circle community. I have the people that I serve in the institutions and healthcare and the schools. And then I also have other activities like doing poetry or playing pickleball, going to the gym. You know, these are ways that I definitely look at creating community where I’m at. There was a time when church was a really big part of my life. You know, now I go to sweat lodge and I have a spiritual community there. Uh, you know, I’m not opposed to going to meetings, but I, know, I don’t go to a lot now, but definitely going to 12 step meetings and all of these things are a great way that we can build a supportive community. And when you ask, you know, Like when we think about children that have been affected by the mental health crisis, you know, how do we help them navigate? How do we help the youth navigate? And I think it’s really about creating a fortified sense of community. And, you know, when we think about drumming, oftentimes we go to this idea that drumming is this exclusive experience for indigenous communities, that it’s something that really is ceremonial and ritualistic and yes there is definitely ritual and ceremony but drum circles began as creating a culture of inclusivity, equity and really diversity because the drum circle of North America originated in the 1700s in New Orleans and under French colonial occupation Native Americans, Africans, Europeans, people from all over the world Andrew Ecker (22:09.146)were able to gather with the common language of group drumming. And that group drumming created a foundation for jazz, blues, R &B, gospel, and eventually rock and roll. So when I go in and I facilitate a drum circle, it’s from the American experience of group drumming that has always been about creating a culture of diversity, has always been about creating a space of connection. through diverse groups. And when we have that sacred space, we can know that something good is gonna happen. And we as Americans, we don’t know that the only truly American instrument is the drum kit. The jazz drum kit is really the only truly American instrument. So we have this vast history of drumming together that is hundreds of years old, literally as old as the concept of of America, yet for some reason this sort of stuff isn’t taught in school. And it’s not taught to us about the richness of creating a culture of diversity, of inclusion, of equity, and what the brilliance of that looks like in an artistic sense. And I think today we’re threatened by a voice that is coming from a group of people that says that diversity, inclusion, and equity is something to fear. And I’m like people, that’s the very greatest gifts that we’ve given to the world has come from us coming together as a people. And it feels good. You know, it feels good to give yourself an opportunity to be around people in an activity that you normally wouldn’t be around. And I think that that’s the power of our journey and the wellness and the brilliance of our community. Nick McGowan (23:58.594)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (24:04.405)And when we can get back to teaching each other that, when we can get back to fortifying the space of that concept of what that America looks like, we’ll have the brilliance of being the shining city on the hillside that calls the weary, that calls the hurting, that calls the desperate. And you know, the struggle that my parents went through, the pain that they were going through, and the ostracization of being criminalized for having a mental health issue. You know, that’s what this country has done very effectively. You know, 90 % of people in our prison system have a mental health issue. And that is sad that we have done this to the most vulnerable people in our population. And we have more people in prison than any industrialized nation in the world. But if you counted the people that were in psychiatric lockdowns, memory care, skilled nursing, and other forms of institutionalization, that number would be astronomical. And these are the people that I have spent the past 20 years working with, helping, desperately giving to, because in that space, I feel fulfilled as a human being, but I also get to see some of the most brilliant experiences and miraculous experiences in my life, Nick. I mean, we’ll go into these memory care facilities where we have late stage Alzheimer’s patients that are nonverbal and we’ll set the drum down in front of them. The nurses sometimes will come over and say, they won’t play, don’t even bother. I mean, this is our healthcare workers and we’ll say, no, just keep it there. And next thing you know, you see them tapping their foot. And before you know it, they’re playing and they’re singing and You know, it’s just miraculous to know that the tens of thousands of years of evidence-based practice of utilizing group drumming has not been wasted and that it’s still relevant to the healthcare conversation and it still is meaningful and it still helps people. Nick McGowan (26:15.97)Why don’t see how it can’t not continue that way, you know? Like, I think everybody that will listen to this will have heard at least one time, music is the universal language. And for us to be able to actually feel music, there are people that don’t really understand music. They don’t feel it the same way musicians do, let’s say. Like there are sometimes I’ll share things with people and I’m like, listen to how this happens with this and my God. then it just does things to you. You feel that at different times. Other people don’t know that. That’s just not part of their being. Yet still, they can feel the frequencies. If we really break it down into quantum level, we are all waves and frequencies anyway. And all of this ties into everything. man, I’m sitting here like I got chills even as you’re talking about, because I’m visualizing that older person who the healthcare workers are basically like, we see them every day. They don’t do anything because we also don’t do anything different. Andrew Ecker (26:48.163)yes. Nick McGowan (27:15.083)And we’re kind of jaded and overworked and fuck, I could really use a vacation. Like they have their own problems. And then they’re just like, no, don’t worry about them. They’re not going to do it. But that frequency will still get in there. So I could imagine it’s got to be a, that’s probably one of those things like drum circles per se is one of those things that people probably won’t go to on the top list of 30 things that they’re going to do to work on themselves at first. You know, so even Like if somebody were to say, you’re having these problems, you have some addiction, you have anything and they go, well, go to a drum circle. I would imagine most people would look at somebody like a dog would like, what the fuck does that, what do you mean? so what would you say to those people that haven’t even thought of that? This is one of those things where like, wow, I’ve talked to somebody, I went to a doctor and I’m doing these and we’re doing blah, blah, blah. What advice do you give to those people that this has been one of those things that. was probably not even deep, deep in their mind, even as a musician, to think about how drum circles and drumming could help them. Andrew Ecker (28:19.943)Well, I definitely feel that a lot of that has been because of the cultural stereotypes about drumming and this idea of, you know, the witch doctor or voodoo or, you know, something along these lines. you know, it just is, it’s crazy to really unpack when you have communities that have thrived with a relationship to the earth, lived functionally for tens of thousands of years. And at the heart of those communities, is group drumming, dancing and singing. I mean, this is literally the oldest wellness based event that we have as human beings. And somehow, you know, through the lens of religion and not even really, I would say because I was a pastor for three and half years that I can tell you that there’s a lot of reference in the Bible even of sound medicine. I mean, David, you know, played the leader for Saul who had like mental health concerns. And it’s, mean, there’s references to the women of Israel coming out playing the drum. So it isn’t like an educated Judeo-Christian bias. It’s an uneducated Judeo-Christian bias that creates this narrative that, those brown and black people are the people, those savages, that drum. And it’s really unfortunate because even Nick McGowan (29:21.642)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (29:48.061)in the very progressive world of integrative medicine, there still is a void around drumming. I am a presenter at some of the most prestigious healthcare conferences in the United States. And I remember confronting a doctor that was talking about mindfulness and he had, he was a keynote and he had this tree of mindfulness and all of these branches led to different aspects of mindfulness. One of them, of course, went to yoga, Tai Chi, but there wasn’t a branch that went to drumming and dance. And I confronted him in front of the entire group of doctors, 500 doctors. And I said, why isn’t there a branch to drumming? And he was very apologetic. And he said, there needs to be a branch on that tree to drumming. And I said, yes, we’re working on making that happen. But it is overlooked. Nick McGowan (30:37.513)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (30:46.148)And you know, I can tell you that I am a part of a community of people that have the more that they drum, they may have come to a drum circle and been drinking and smoking. But by the time, you know, a couple of years go by and they get around people like myself that are completely abstinent from substance use and I’m drumming and having a great time and dancing, the more that they start to question, well, do I really need this? And then it’s just Nick McGowan (31:13.566)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (31:13.911)a matter of them just being in that environment. And I have friends come up to me and say, Hey, you know what? I didn’t tell anybody about this, but I haven’t drank in, you know, six months. And I’m like, right on, you know, and friends come up and say, I haven’t smoked in a year and I just kind of went away because drumming as well as you know, Nick, music gives us that feeling of community connection. I mean, there is no deeper connection. that you can experience, then when you hit a note or when you play a rhythm and everybody ends together and nobody said stop, or the thing just fades away into the brilliance of the experience and you’re just like, holy crap. This, mean, as a musician, and if you talk to musicians, they can tell you precisely when that happened in their life, because it’s one of those memories. Nick McGowan (31:51.954)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (32:09.966)that is embedded into you on a cellular level. It is literally like you’re touching God. I mean, it is so powerful. And every person, we have communities where that was literally the entire community experience. I was fortunate enough to go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and meet with the Havasupai. And I did three suicide prevention programs down there. This is the most remote Native American tribe in the continental United States. Nick McGowan (32:13.95)Mm-hmm. Nick McGowan (32:26.279)you Andrew Ecker (32:39.159)There’s no roads to their nation. There’s no airstrips. It’s only horseback helicopter or foot. That’s the only way you can get down there. And I met with an elder named Tiny Haunan. And Tiny was playing the drum and singing. And he said, when I was a little boy, we used to drum, dance and sing for a week straight. He said the people would fall asleep on the ground, wake up, start singing and dancing again. And they would drum literally for an entire week. Now the frequency of that, the cellular alliance, the reconfiguration of the energetic meridians in the body, like there is no place for depression in that environment. There’s no place for anxiety in that environment. I mean, you’re literally rewiring your nervous system and coming into our harmonic connection with the earth. And this is really what it means to be an earthling. You know, the music that we play, Nick McGowan (33:21.758)you Andrew Ecker (33:38.14)is something that we practice to play at the level that we can play at. But everybody knows that there’s a point where the instrument is playing you. And when you’re in that mystery, man, when you are in that mystery, like every single person deserves to experience that in their lives. Every single person deserves to be in the brilliance of that experience because it solves the issues, man. It solves it. Nick McGowan (33:50.055)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (34:06.196)And when you taste that, you’re hungry for it forever. And I’ll go to, you know, like I facilitate drum circles and that really doesn’t happen in a drum circle. But a taste of that does happen. Like a place of connection to the feeling of support and the intricacy of music and even the freedom that you can experience in that space, it will happen. And You know, it does take a level of mastery to experience the depths of that. And hopefully people will be able to go on their journey with music to that place. like that is, dude, I mean, there’s nothing better than that right there. I mean, if you could take and put that into a bottle, people would spend their lives wanting to… And that’s why musicians do what they do, They will… Nick McGowan (35:02.119)Mm-hmm. Andrew Ecker (35:02.624)They will literally sleep on the couch of their best friend to go experience that. They will literally not go to work to go experience that. They will do whatever they possibly can to experience that. you know, unfortunately, in a world that doesn’t value music like our ancestors did, you know, for tens of thousands of years, and even today, you know, you go to India, they have ceremonies that are a month. where it’s just people drumming, dancing and singing for a month straight. You you go to Hopi right here in the United States on the Hopi reservation. They’re doing that same idea because the practice of living in integration with the earth promotes the quality of the earthling condition. So where you’re not worried, you go sleep in a mud house rather than go try to make a billion dollars so that you have a big old fancy house. if you get that experience of community. You know, and that experience of community solves everything, man. And we got to get it in our schools. We got to get it in our our our health care facilities. We’re trying our best. We train 350 people now in the drumming sounds protocol. We’re out there doing it every day, you know, and just trying to live our best lives. So is it the solution? I think that we have, like I said, thousands, literally people, thousands of years. Nick McGowan (36:17.638)Hmm. Andrew Ecker (36:30.459)of evidence-based practice out there. Like, wake up, people, wake up. Like, yeah, we need drumming. You know? Nick McGowan (36:39.836)Yeah, I mean, even just the community level of that, but the music and the frequency level of all of it and everything that ties into it. I love the work that you’re doing. I really do. I think it’s crazy that the arts and music especially is being taken out of different schools and everything’s being really like commodified almost, even when you think of music. For the most part, pop music. It’s an ABA, CAB sort of situation. It’s the same thing. There was even a thing like 10, 15 years ago where somebody played a Nickelback song forward and layered over another Nickelback song backwards and it was the same. And it was like, that is crazy. But that’s what is being pushed to us instead of feeling through all of this and allowing yourself to actually get into it. I’m really glad that you got to the point where you were saying that the music is playing you. Because any musician that’s really been in, I don’t know, in any sort of jam session or in a live band or something, even if you’ve remotely tasted that little bit, you know that that’s a real thing. And that’s a whole different level. And you’re right, that is divine. Like you are literally in it. I’d played guitar in worship bands for the better part of a decade. And if it weren’t for music, I wouldn’t have been there. Andrew Ecker (37:54.712)Dude, it’s fast, yeah. Andrew Ecker (38:03.5)Yeah. Nick McGowan (38:03.961)I wouldn’t have ended up having a relationship with God. And I also now at this point, no, he’s not some bearded dude on a fucking chair somewhere. Like it’s much bigger than that. But being able to feel that, like there are things where you couldn’t manufacture this feeling. So I’m glad he pointed out, like if we could bottle it, that would be great. But at the same time, the rest of the world is trying to bottle fucking everything else. So I’m glad that we can’t because you need to experience that, you know? Andrew Ecker (38:12.974)Yeah Andrew Ecker (38:20.322)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (38:28.202)I know, I know. You do, Nick McGowan (38:33.743)What a cool thing, man. And I really love the work that you’re doing. I appreciate you being on with us today. For the people that are on their path towards self-mastery, what’s your advice to those people that are walking toward that? Andrew Ecker (38:45.772)You know, I think first just be gentle with yourself and just understand that, you know, loving yourself is the simplest thing. I was doing my best and you know, we man, life is rough, man. I mean, we, we lose people. go through all kinds of stuff and people used to tell me all the time, you know, Andrew, you need to love yourself, especially when I was little, you know, they would tell me this and I, I’d be like, you know, I felt like I was doing something wrong, you know, like What does that mean? And you know, it really is as simple as just saying, I was doing my best through everything, you know, through the alcoholism, through the drugs, but look at what’s going on in your life. And if it isn’t working for you, change, you know, like don’t be stuck in a pattern that is something destructive. You know, being in a place where you can manage your thoughts is a very important aspect to living your successful life. allowing for the thoughts that don’t serve you to simply fade away and sometimes to be confrontational with those thoughts. You know, I remember reading God is love and I thought if I just focus on love, maybe all these thoughts of suicide would would leave me. So every time any anxiety came into my life, I would just simply start screaming love in my mind and take control of my mind. You know, sometimes we just have to overpower those thoughts that aren’t serving us. And, you know, I think that for me, the greatest act of my own self mastery is the place of service. Being of service to others has brought me to a place where I feel the best, Andrew. And sometimes, you know, showing up isn’t easy. Sometimes it’s hard, but I think about the people that I drum with in the institutions and You know, just to give everybody a really brief story before we kind of close this up. For 10 years, I went to this skilled nursing hospital. And for 10 years, this man would come out and he was in a bed and his hands were atrophied. And I’d have to pry his fingers open and put a maraca in his hand. And he would shake the maraca and say, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. You know, and he had this great big smile on his face. Andrew Ecker (41:11.164)And this man’s name that I’m mentioning today is Vance Gribbins. And one day I came to the hospital and I said, Where’s my buddy Vance? And they told me he went home to heaven. I was like, good for him. You know, I said, How long did he live in this hospital? I’ve been coming here for 10 years. And they said he lived in that hospital for 28 years. And for 28 years, man, he lived in a body that that he couldn’t feed himself, you know, and 28 years he was in a hospital bed. But every single time he had an opportunity to show up for drum circle or sing along or balloon toss or bingo, he was there. And you know, today we have people that have everything in their lives. They have money, they have beautiful homes, cars, all this stuff. And to get them to go out to, you know, an art display or to go and show up at an open mic or a drum circle. You know, it’s like the end of the world. They would rather sit in front of their TV and watch Judge Judy need potato chips. And I’m just calling people on their bullshit. You know, if we want to have a good world, we got to get out of our house. We got to connect with our neighbors. We got to say hi to people. We can’t just look down at our phone every time we see a homeless person and try to escape eye contact. You know, we need to engage with people and be the brilliance that we are. You know, the medicine that you have inside of you is a medicine that we need as a community. And that’s what this world needs right now. We need love. We need togetherness. You know, I stopped giving money to people when they would ask me for money on the street. But I immediately will say to a person, hey, can I pray for you? You know, and sometimes people will say, you know, hell no, I don’t want that. And sometimes people will say, you know what? I appreciate that. Please pray for me. And I remember one time me and Monica were in my my fiancee. We were in Salt Lake. And this guy had chains, gold chains on and he just put out a joint. I could tell he smelled like cannabis and everything. He’s like, hey, man, you got any money? I was like, no, but I could say a prayer for you. And I’m saying a prayer for this guy. And he’s like, that’s the good shit. That’s what he was saying. And you just never know how you’re going to impact somebody’s life if you make yourself available. So Nick McGowan (43:34.615)Yeah. Andrew Ecker (43:35.493)You know, want to be in the place of self mastery, be available for community. You know, get out there and do something that is just to be available. Volunteer, you know, go show up at the homeless shelter. Develop a podcast that’s giving to the community. Do something for people. You know, do something for people. And you know, you’re to find the truest truth of the truth that you are. And you’re going to make a difference in the lives of people. Nick McGowan (44:02.656)It’s hard to not clap right now and like really fucking root, you know what I mean? So thank you, dude. I appreciate that. I’ve been refraining back from the like, fuck yeah, yeah. You know, so I really appreciate it. And how that was also one of those. and by the way, one more fucking thing. Here it is. Man, that’s awesome. I think there are small things that we can do. Andrew Ecker (44:13.013)Yeah! Andrew Ecker (44:23.581)Yeah. Nick McGowan (44:32.002)to really help us be able to start down that path? Because you’re talking about a lot of things and to some people, and I try to break stuff down to like, what could anybody be thinking about being super analytical or whatever of like, man, that’s a lot of shit. And there’s like a lot of things that are going on. I’m having really hard time with this one little thing in my life right now. So taking those smaller steps, like even saying get out and do community, do community in the way that feels right for you to do. Like there are people that will go to church on Sunday and that’s my community time. And as soon as they walk out, they’re yelling at their kids, they’re hating on everybody. it’s like, you’re not really doing community at that point. And community can look different to everybody. And sometimes it’s just showing up literally in the neighborhood. And like you’re saying, and dude, I think we all do it. There are people around, look down at your phone. I do that at times where I’m lost in my own head and I’m thinking about things. I’m just… going through my phone, because I’m like, don’t want to have an interaction with somebody else. And as soon as I’m aware of that, I’m like, fucking, I gotta put my phone away. Hi, you know, like, just taking that step to get out there a little bit. You obviously love what you’re doing. And this is part of your calling and a deep purpose of yours. And I think the big thing for all of us to be able to take away from that is whatever that looks like for us, just lean into it. Just get into it a little bit more and enjoy that. And I… I love that you were talking about the amount of music and the things that go into that, like the feelings that we can get from all of that and how that opens people that haven’t been open for years and years and sometimes decades. So, Andrew, I appreciate you being on here. It’s been a pleasure having you on, man. I really appreciate it. Before I let you go, where can people find you and where can they connect with you? Andrew Ecker (46:16.065)so yeah, drumming sounds is pretty much the easiest way there. you know, if you Google drumming sounds, it’ll pull me up, but I’d like to give everybody a free copy of my book based on the traditional introduction of my ancestors, but applicable to any sort of person. it’s just a system of self identity and you can get that at the sacred seven.com. It’ll also put you into my email list and you can find out events we’re doing music festivals, trainings, drum circles, all that stuff. Nick McGowan (46:51.511)Again, man, it’s been pleasure having you on. Thank you for your time. Andrew Ecker (46:54.273)Thank you, Nick.

Apparently, Jackée Harry knows. Certified Diamond Girl Farrah Abraham is running for mayor of Austin, but didn't realize the election is not actually this year. Plus, we find out what Puck from The Real World is up to now.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU—we're covering season one of The Comeback right now—check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Tren starts this episode off talking about a famous YouTube comment thread that went on for over a year which led into a conversation about internet opps. Had then follows up with his recent discovery involving body cam footage and shows like Judge Judy. Later, we discuss Oscar nominations, react to A$AP Rocky's music video for 'WHISKEY/BLACK DEMARCO' and much more!   Wicked Radio: Dame: Jordan Ward - CHAMPION SOUND Had: Nao - Bad Blood Tren: AntoneNow - RUN UP Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/becausewearepodcast , for access to bonus episodes, new exclusive segments from us and full videos of the podcast. Follow us @BecauseWeArePodcast on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok!

Tracie has monumentally huge personal news. Plus, she and Rich discuss the documentary Corey Feldman vs. The World, which Corey hates and says was made without his knowledge, despite the camera person and producer being in his literal bedroom and bathroom with him.It was later confirmed to us that Corey did, indeed, approve all of the text in this Vice article that he now hates. We suppose he didn't realize it was dripping in irony.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.The People Who Died in 2025 Christmas ornament is here! Collect them all!Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rich has had Nadya Suleman's sex tape on his mind. Tracie regrets getting bangs.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.There's a HUGE SALE at Pipe Dreams in which ALL smoking accessories are $10 or $20.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

“Who's making more money—Guy Fieri or Tom Brady?” That question kicks off a jaw-dropping and laugh-out-loud segment on The Ben and Skin Show, featuring Ben Rogers, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina Ray.The crew dives into the newly released list of the Top 20 Highest-Paid TV Hosts of 2025, and the names (and salaries) will blow your mind. From food icons like Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay raking in $33 million a year to Judge Judy pulling down $30 million, the gang debates who deserves their spot—and who's cashing checks for doing next to nothing.

It's that time of year again—the end of it, that is. What were our bests and favorites? Who will take home the top prize of Diamond Girl of the Year? You'll never know unless you listen.Or you could just watch it on our Patreon.There's a HUGE SALE at Pipe Dreams in which ALL smoking accessories are $10 or $20.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's our Christmas episode! We mostly talk about Taylor Swift and Bari Weiss.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.There's a HUGE SALE at Pipe Dreams in which ALL smoking accessories are $10 or $20.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

COPCK: The Steven Spielberg Edition!, Also, Carrie Underwood surprised a church with Christmas carols and Judge Judy's son is his own courtroom show.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode, the hosts divulge some of their guiltiest pleasures, from Judge Judy to Kenny G to the writings of a couple of bona-fide right-wing pundits. They also interrogate the immortal question: should you truly feel guilty about something that brings you pleasure? (Spoiler: Yes. Sometimes you should.) PLUS: the Warner Bros sale, public domain day, an a surprising new front in the right-wing culture war. Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

Rich finished Olivia Nuzzi's much-hyped, scarcely-sold book and reveals the most shocking revelation within its pages—she likes his voice. Milo Yiannopoulos is making the podcast roundsl, without his signature sunglasses and as it turns out, he's cross-eyed. There's updates on the Tara Reid "drugged" drink story. Plus, we discuss the Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.There's a HUGE SALE at Pipe Dreams in which ALL smoking accessories are $10 or $20.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sorry if the beginning of this episode doesn't make much sense. We sort of just started talking and we didn't really explain ourselves. If it's not clear we're talking about V fka Eve Ensler's pronouns. Kanye has been out and about being normal, while Tara Reid was completely obliterated in a hotel lobby on a random morning in Chicago. She later claimed her drink had been drugged. Plus, Rosie O'Donnell sings with Celine Dion, Patti LaBelle makes mac and cheese, and we unearth a clip of Cissy Houston catching strays from Aretha Franklin.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.There's a HUGE SALE at Pipe Dreams in which ALL smoking accessories are $10 or $20.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ye sat down with Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto to apologize for the past three years of prolific antisemitism. He sounded different, was wearing normal clothes, and acknowledged that his mental illness is his responsibility. And then there's Marjorie Taylor Greene, who's dangling hope in front of Rich's face that it's possible for shitty people to become less shitty. Megyn Kelly has taken the Pot Psychology stance on destigmatizing the word "pedophile." Speaking of which, Tracie saw some nudity in an art gallery that she found incredibly inappropriate and frankly, illegal. Rich gets a potential answer to the puzzle of buttwipes in the gym garbage can. And Sally Kirkland died!To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

More dead animals—Tracie's kid's rat died on Halloween. Mariah Carey's ammual "It's Time"—which marks the end of Halloween and the beginning of the Christmas season—was sponsored by Sephora this year. Jamie Lee Curtis posted an alarming amount of photos of Sydney Sweeney in her silver titty dress. We get the giggles talking about Cheesequake, which we previously thought was a town off the Garden State Parkway, but as it turns out, it's a state park. And we finally figure out the birth and death order of the Golden Girls.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

After attending an Autechre show Rich and discovered that their tour has been plagued with farting fans. Tracie has two incredibly disgusting stories to share, with pics to prove them. Plus she found a 9/11 fun fact in Kevin Federline's memoir You Thought You Knew.We are SO sorry for the constant construction background noise in this episode. There wasn't much we could do. We hope it's not too annoying. Happy Halloween!To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you want to see Zach star in his own Judge Judy style TV show, write to Channel Ten and tell them you want to see it. LINKS Follow Demi on Instagram @electrolemon Buy tickets to our DREM World Tour https://tour.auntydonna.com/ Follow @theauntydonnagallery on Instagram https://bit.ly/auntydonna-ig Become a Patreon supporter at http://auntydonnaclub.com/ Join The Aunty Donna Club: https://www.patreon.com/auntydonnaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich and Tracie have opposite opinions of Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another. Plus, Kamala Harris's new book, Natalia Grace got her hair did, and an update on the government shutdown from Woah Vicky. Plus, Rich wrote a new song!To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Tracie had a transformative experience at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights. Speaking of horror, Bari Weiss was named editor-in-chief of CBS news. Plus, an update on Jordan Peterson's health (he's sick). And you'll never guess what song Tonya Harding skated to at the Olympics.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Mariah allows her voice to be raw on her new album, Tracie saw Chappell Roan and the Kanye doc In Whose Name, and Ashley Judd has elevated to Diamond Girl™ status.To access video episodes, bonus episodes and our premium series WAWU check out our Patreon.Pot Psych merch is available at Pipe Dreams, where there is a big sale on smoking accessories.Check out potential drama and our Diamond Girls on our Instagram. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★