Ramin Beheshti, CEO and Co-Founder of Caliber, shares his journey from leading technology at Dow Jones to building a media company focused on reaching younger audiences. We discuss credibility, the growing influence of content creators, brand partnerships, and how Caliber is rethinking the way people consume news.

Indie Dark Pop artist Grace Otto shares how theater, songwriting, fashion, and activism all come together in her creative identity. We also talk about learning through open mics, navigating social media and music marketing, and her latest single “Bad Man”.

Indie Folk artist Emory Duncan joins us fresh off the release of Semicircles and Half Written Songs, an EP recorded inside his log cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We talk about treating creativity like a daily practice, wearing all the hats as an independent artist, leaving room for mistakes in the studio, and learning to trust yourself.

Hip hop artist Kyle Knight talks about growing up around music, learning the business side of a creative career, and how branding, networking, and the right team helped shape his career. We also get into his fourth EP, Kyle Knight Rises, and why staying authentic matters when you’re trying to reach a wider audience.

Tony Mazzocchi, President and CEO of the Kaufman Music Center, shares how a career that started with trombone and freelance performance unexpectedly led to teaching, higher education, and arts leadership. We talk about building purpose, why music should be part of every student’s education, and why human creativity and connection may matter even more in the age of AI.

DJ and music curator Lyris Greene shares how getting fired after 14 and a half years working in the government pushed her to go all in on a creative career in music. We talk about building visibility through livestreaming, creating WLAG Timeless Radio, learning when to pivot, and why she feels she’s in the “experience” business.

Tamsen Webster, author, speaker, and message designer, shares how a career spanning the arts, marketing, fundraising, and advertising led to her obsession with how people understand and adopt new ideas. We discuss over-communication, separating passion from profession, sense-giving versus persuasion and why the how behind an idea can matter just as much as the why.

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.