Pioneers Podcast

Focus, for me, is a daily fight.  I have so many irons in the fire that each day I have to be very intentional about which ones to prioritize.  This episode gives some principles, tips, and experiences which have helped me focus better.  Lots of meat here that can apply to any work/career environment.  Subscribe to Pioneers Podcast on Patreon and get access to up to 65 hours of bonus content! Phone call to say thanks!

Adam Stephenson is an actor, screenwriter, producer, and acting coach.  He is best known for his roles in Mr. Mercedes, The Purge, Thirteen Reasons Why, Geostorm, Evan’s Crime, and Huevos Rancheros (For which he received a Best Actor Nomination at the Windy City Film Festival).  I am so stoked on this episode, as he shares so many insights about the film world that I did not know previously.  GET ACCESS TO THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS EPISODE by subscribing to Pioneers Podcast on Patreon and get access to over 65 hours of bonus content, plus a personal phone call to say thanks!

YOU can flip the script on a bad memory or haunted place by confronting your fear and revisiting it.  This is a major thing creatives deal with and a topic I have been obsessed with for some time….how do you take a mistake, crisis, or failure and flip the script on it?  More importantly how can you use the past to your advantage?  This is a huge theme in my world in recent history!

Steve Cobucci is a great dude.  He and I share a ton of laughs and insights as fellow frontmen and members of touring bands.  The thing I love about this conversation is that 58 episodes in we are still forging new paths.   Love it…hope you enjoy! Subscribe to Pioneers Podcast on Patreon and get access to over 65 hours of great bonus content. I have structured this thing so the higher your tier, the more juicy (and applicable) the content. Give it a shot and I will give you a personal call to say thanks!

Josh Horton is the founder of Creative Works conference in Memphis, Tennessee.  Started in 2014, he has watched his event grow like crazy from year-to-year.  But like so many others, his entire career has been turned upside-down by the current global situation.  This is an episode about finding hope amidst uncertainty, and is filled with so much wisdom.  I am very excited for you to hear it!

The fact is, there are many reasons why the need arises to move in a new direction. If you are human, the chances are almost 100% that you will need to reassess your direction at some point. For many of us, this need arises to to changing life circumstance. For others, this need arises because of BURNOUT…which I will discuss in detail in this episode.  Some people aren’t even aware of the need for a life pivot…but are dimly aware that they are unsatisfied, trapped, or even depressed.  Life can paint us into a corner at times.  Reinvention requires refocusing your energy, taking inventory, assessing your value…and a great deal of motivation.  In this first segment we are going to address and assess the need to reinvent.  This process may not be easy, but I give you plenty of examples from my own experience to demonstrate it is more than possible! Over 65 hours of bonus content for subscribers. Visit Pioneers Podcast on Patreon to subscribe, and I’ll give you a personal call to say thanks!

In the latest Patron-chosen content episode, I take a look at all the Star Wars films in the Skywalker Saga from a creative perspective. More specifically, I try to step into the shoes of the writers and directors. Each of the trilogies are covered separately, as well as the individual films.

Danny plays bass in a band called Paper tongues.  He also is a songwriter and producer, as well as co-owner of the clothing company MADI Apparel.  Oh yeah, he also toured with P86 for a brief stint.  We share laughs, talk major label life, his appearance on Jimmy Fallon, his clothing company and much more.  

From a content standpoint, I have purposely avoided the culture wars swirling around us. This is particularly because I want Pioneers to function as a breather from all the intensely difficult issues we seem to be constantly bombarded with from every angle in recent history. With the election upon us, I felt like it was important to address the cultural goings-on from the standpoint of someone who is essentially moderate, and who tries to remain objective. In my opinion, there is a way to engage in the polarizing religious and political landscape without further fanning the flames of division. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in a time of war? I attempt to explain my perspective in this episode.

Andy Lara is a podcast producer, video director, and creative director.  He has worked on a number of very successful podcasts, and is a great example of someone who has used his experience in numerous different fields to create his own business using his many talents. We discuss his journey, and I ask many questions spread across the three segments of this episode about how to think outside the box and develop new streams of income even in uncertain times.  Visit Andy Lara on the web here. To subscribe to Pioneers on Patreon and become a part of our growing community, visit here.

A look at dystopian influences on lyrics and a comparison to the current global landscape.

Is the world ending? Why is this all happening? Should I stop reading books about pandemics? Are we living in The Stand?

Darren King is a super talented dude. He’s an amazing guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. Oh yeah, and he’s been in the P86 fold for seven years now. He’s also a super nerd when it comes to all sorts of gear. In this episode we talk everything from headphones to turntables to software-from both a recording artist perspective and from a consumer stand point. Nerds unite!

Abandoned songs! Tattoos! Mayhem!

I talk about the 100 records I am collecting on vinyl. These are the records that changed my life. This is probably the most important episode I will ever record.