Creatives Prevail

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. Follow Emory Duncan: Spotify Instagram   Website Follow...

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. Follow Kyle Knight: Instagram   Facebook Website Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTo...

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. Follow Tony Mazzocchi and Kau...

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. Follow Lyris Greene: Instagram   Twitch Website Follow Creatives Prev...

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. Follow Tamsen Webster: Website L...

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. Follow John Mlynczak: Website (NAMM)...

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, a...

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. Follow Daphne Greene: Instagram Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Attention fellow creators! Check out th...

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. Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Attention fellow creators! Check out the Creatives Prevail Resources page for guides, tools, and addit...

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. Follow Steff Agathis: Website Instagram Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTo...

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. Follow Zoe Wrenn: Website (Tamber) Instagram...

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. Follow Andrew: Website Instagram   Spotify Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Attentio...

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.  Follow Monique: Instagram Website Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Atten...

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. Follow Russ Rieger: Instagram (Not Dead Yet Media) Website (Not Dead Yet Media)...

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. Key Takeaways Creators sh...

Larry Cummings of Off The Map Games joins the show to talk about system design, small teams, RPGs, and why games can teach us so much about collaboration, creativity, and how people work together. Key Takeaways Small teams work because people need shared context, trust, and different perspectives to create something meaningful. Constraints do not kill creativity. They often give creators the bound...

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”. Key Takeaways Authentic content is hard because there is no perfect formula. The best approach is often to keep testing ideas while making su...

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. Follow MADiSON ViOLETT: Spotify TikTok Instagram Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Trying to stay consistent with your own creative...

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”. Follow Rivkah Reyes: Instagram   TikTok Spotify Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Want more stories about t...

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. Key Takeaways: Writing something honest is usually stronger than trying to guess what people want. The songs that feel too personal or revealing can often be the ones that conn...

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. Key Takeaways: You never really stop being a student, especially if you’re building a creative life. Sometimes the...

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. Key Takeaways Big ideas become manageable when you break them into steps and...

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. Key Takeaways: Relationships are everything in both business and creativity Getting fired or rejected can redirect you toward the right opportunity Taking risks is often nece...

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. Follow GigSalad: Website Follow Creatives Prevail...

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.  Follow Orphan Prodigy: Instagram   Spotify Website Follow Creatives Prevail: Instagram TikTok Website Sign up for our newsletter The Monthly Scramble for featured episodes, reviews and...