John Mlynczak, President and CEO of NAMM, shares his path from trumpet player and music educator to roles at PreSonus, Hal Leonard, and ultimately landing at NAMM. We discuss the importance of music education, how technology is changing the music products industry, and how the NAMM Show is evolving for brands, artists, creators, and the larger music community.

Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work, discusses how creators and industry leaders can balance empathy with accountability, build healthier teams, and create environments where people feel supported enough to contribute and grow. 

We also talk about her background in psychology and brand strategy, changing workplace expectations, responsible AI adoption, and mental health.

In this interactive workshop we pick a random topic from the audience and build a complete content creator blueprint live, breaking down brand positioning, platform choice, content structure, and growth strategy in real time. Featuring artist and content creator Daphne Greene.

Creatives Prevail celebrates six years and more than 280 episodes! We look back at the podcast’s move into video, what’s performing best across YouTube and social media, how AI supports the production process, and what’s coming next for the show.

Music manager and founder of Vitalize Projects and Vitalize Records, Steff Agathis, talks about managing artists beginning at 11 years old, building an artist-first company, and why persistence matters when creating opportunities. We also discuss trust, artist development and TikTok’s influence on the music industry.

Musician, self-taught coder, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Zoe Wrenn shares how she went from touring and creating the viral song “Hailey” to founding Tamber, a suite of music technology tools designed to support the creative process. We also discuss handling rejection, raising funding, and building technology that keeps human creativity at the center.

Andrew McCluskey, founder of musicto, shares how he left a successful career to become a musician and eventually build a global community around collaboration. We discuss why creativity requires time, how values guide difficult pivots, and how music can help strangers form real human connections.

Monique Sar, founder of marketing agency De Vitesse, shares how she moved from becoming one of her firm’s top female financial advisors to helping creators, speakers, and brands communicate their value. We discuss why creators should charge more and how clear positioning can matter more than follower count.

Music executive and Not Dead Yet Media founder Russ Rieger has worked with artists including The Replacements, Cyndi Lauper, Prong, Modern English, and The Prodigy. We discuss building diehard local fan bases, finding creative ways to break through, and creating sustainable careers without chasing short-term attention.

Kenny Feinstein from the punk rock bluegrass band Water Tower shares how busking, livestreams, and a unique creative identity helped him rebuild his band into a movement. We also talk about learning every part of the music business, building a recognizable brand, and his latest book, More Than Talent: 7 Steps To Attain the Brand, Acquire The Gigs, and Amass Lifetime Fans.

Larry Cummings of Off The Map Games joins the show to talk about system design, small teams, Dungeons & Dragons, and why games can teach us so much about collaboration, creativity, and how people work together.

Joey Vesely of post hardcore band Trace Remains talks about growing up in the Pittsburgh DIY scene and the challenge of getting people’s attention without losing what makes the band authentic. We also discuss their new single and music video “Breathing Air”.

Post-hardcore artist MADiSON ViOLETT discusses how she was able to drop seven singles in a year without burning out. We also talk about her latest release, “Bleed for Me,” and how she landed Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens as a featured artist.

Rivkah Reyes, known for playing Katie in the film School of Rock, shares how she’s built her own creative identity across music, acting, writing, and filmmaking. We also discuss her award-winning short film "Gianna” and her latest single and music video “Miss Congeniality”.

Eric Colville of The Low Stakes Band talks about writing songs that feel true instead of chasing what sounds commercial. We also discuss their single “Upon the Wall”, revisiting old ideas, and building a regional following.

Musician and artist Jaclyn Dima talks about growing up in a musical family, finding her way through open mics and teaching, and returning to music with her latest single “I Won’t Dance For You.” We also get into genre hopping, perfectionism, and why she refuses to pick just one lane.

Dallas Jackson, Founder of TipSee Music and The Hondo Rodeo Fest, shares how he went from finance to building music tech and event startups. We talk about making song requests and tipping easier for musicians, learning by doing, using AI to stay lean, and why integrity matters when you’re building something from scratch.

Publicist and artist Dani Felt shares her journey from a successful music blog to building her own company, writing a book, and navigating both sides of the industry with a heavy focus on relationships, risk, and self-belief.

Founder of GigSalad, Mark Steiner, shares how he went from being a talent agent to building one of the first online marketplaces for entertainers long before Uber and Airbnb existed. We also talk about being the top platform for mariachi bands and Santa Claus bookings as well as an honest chat about burnout, creativity, and what keeps him inspired.

Ian and Danielle of Orphan Prodigy dive into building a band from the ground up, from overcoming burnout and mental health struggles to creating a full scale project through production, live streaming, and touring.