Heartdea13r with Christopher Gonda

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 42 // Astrid Young (Canadian Musician, Artist, Author, & Sommelier) Summary In this heartfelt conversation, Astrid Young opens up about creativity, resilience and learning to trust the moment. She reflects on her lifelong journey through music, songwriting and the realities of the rock industry, sharing hard-earned wisdom about perseverance, perspective and perso...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 41 // James Rhodes (President & Co-Founder, FiXT Music) Summary In this episode of Heartdea13r, James Rhodes joins Christopher Gonda for a thoughtful conversation about artist management, productivity, mindset, and building a sustainable life in the music industry. James shares how systems, structure, and intentional boundaries helped him avoid burnout while bala...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 40 // Bif Naked (Queen of Punk, Musician, Artist, Writer, Public Speaker) Summary In this deeply personal episode of heartdea13r, Bif Naked joins Christopher Gonda for an honest conversation about survival, self-love, mental health and the healing power of music. Bif opens up about surviving cancer, undergoing heart surgery while awake, navigating trauma, and how hum...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 39 // Darby Mills, vocalist for Darby Mills Project Summary Rock icon Darby Mills joins Christopher Gonda to share the remarkable journey behind her rise with The Headpins, the highs and lows of the music industry, and the resilience that has carried her through decades of reinvention. From leaving home to chase her dreams, to navigating record deals, lawsuits, indus...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 38 // Tim Quirk (SVP, Product at ZEDGE & founding member of Too Much Joy) Summary In this episode of Heartdea13r, Tim Quirk joins host Christopher Gonda for a deep conversation about rock, creativity, entrepreneurship and the realities of today’s music business. From his years with Too Much Joy to leadership roles at companies like Zedge and Google, Tim shares ha...

Heartdea13r Podcast with Christopher Gonda // Episode 37 // Kentucky aka Jordan Holeman Summary In this deeply personal episode of heartdea13r, Christopher Gonda sits down with Kentucky (aka Jordan Holeman) to trace the extraordinary journey from a music-obsessed prairie kid to a signed artist, through addiction, collapse, and ultimately recovery. Kentucky opens up about the childhood experiences...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 36 // The Bloody Beetroots Summary In this episode of the heartdea13r podcast, host chr1stoph3r g0nda interviews Sir Bob Cornelius Riffo, known as The Bloody Beetroots. They discuss his journey from classical music to punk and electronic, the importance of fitness and nutrition in his life, and how he channels his emotions into his music. The conversation touches on...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 35 // Kay Macauley, Label Manager at Golden Robot Records Summary In this episode of heartdea13r, Christopher Gonda sits down with Kay Macauley, Label Manager at Golden Robot Records, to discuss her unconventional journey from pharmacy to the music industry, the realities of running an independent record label, and why authenticity matters more than fame or streaming...

Heartdea13r Podcast with Christopher Gonda // Episode 34 // Tommy Dorfman (Club Promoter / CEO & Founder of Juice Entertainment & RD Enterprises) Summary In this powerful episode of heartdea13r, Christopher Gonda sits down with Tommy Dorfman, a legendary New Jersey EDM promoter who rose from a traumatic brain injury and near blindness to build one of the East Coast’s most successful nightl...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 33 // Stacey Dee Summary Bad Cop Bad Cop guitarist and vocalist, Stacey Dee, shares her journey through punk rock music, addiction, and recovery. She discusses her family background in music, the struggles she faced with addiction, and how she found purpose through songwriting. Stacey emphasizes the importance of community support in her recovery and her mission to h...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 32 // Margarita Monet (Singer, Songwriter, Pianist, Visual Artist, Edge of Paradise) Summary In this Heartdea13r conversation, Margarita Monet opens up about her journey from classical piano and ballet training in Russia to becoming the fearless frontwoman of Edge of Paradise. She reflects on overcoming shyness, learning confidence through performance, and why failur...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 31 // Lauri Ylönen “If your passion is money, don't become a musician.” Summary In this engaging conversation, Lauri Ylönen, co-founder and frontman for the Finnish rock band The Rasmus, shares his journey back to Finland after years in the U.S., exploring the duality of his personality that fuels his creativity. He discusses the therapeutic nature of songwriting, th...

Heartdea13r Podcast with Christopher Gonda // Episode 30 // Ben Wright (Founder, Co-Vocalist, Banjo Player, Henhouse Prowlers & Founder of the Charity, Bluegrass Ambassadors) Summary In this heartdea13r conversation, Ben Wright reflects on an unlikely journey from dropping out of college and buying a $199 banjo on a whim to becoming a touring bluegrass musician, songwriter, and founder of Blue...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 29 // Randy Bradbury & Cameron Webb Summary In this engaging conversation, Randy Bradbury and Cameron Webb discuss their experiences in the music industry, focusing on the importance of genuine relationships, mental health, and creativity. They share insights on the punk rock community, the creative process behind their new project 84 Days, and the significance o...

Heartdea13r Podcast with Christopher Gonda // Episode 28 // Bruce Smith (drummer) Summary In this episode of Heartdea13r, Christopher Gonda sits down with legendary drummer Bruce Neil Smith to explore a lifetime of music, creativity, and personal growth. From his unconventional upbringing as the son of renowned artist Hassel Smith to his work with bands such as Public Image Ltd and the Pop Group,...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 27 // Frank Zummo “Anything’s possible if you’re fully dedicated and authentic about it.” Summary In this conversation, Zummo shares his journey as a musician, balancing family life with a demanding career. He discusses the importance of mental health, the impact of personal experiences, and the evolution of his wellness practices. Zummo reflects on the lessons learn...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 26 // Larissa Vale Hailing from NYC, Black Satellite, led by indomitable frontwoman Larissa Vale, is creating waves in the rock scene with a sound that’s dark, edgy, and distinctly their own. Fusing industrial and metal influences, their music transcends conventional boundaries solidifying their place in the genre. The band continues to break new ground through cease...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 25 // Randy Fusee Summary In this episode of Heartdea13r, Christopher Gonda sits down with Randy Fusee, entrepreneur, technology veteran, and CEO of Coda Music, to explore an unconventional journey from network engineering and cybersecurity to professional sports technology and music streaming. Randy shares the leadership lessons that shaped his career, why honesty a...

heartdea13r Podcast // Episode 24 // GG Magree GG Magree is the professional name of Georgia Magree, an Australian electronic music producer, DJ, and singer-songwriter. She is known for her unique blend of rock and bass music. Originally from Sydney, she is now based in Los Angeles. This woman does an excellent job of embodying honesty and transparency. Summary In this engaging conversation, Gigi...

Episode 23 // Shad Shad is a Canadian rapper and broadcaster from London, Ontario, but was born in Kenya to Rwandan parents. Also known for hosting the Netflix series Hip-Hop Evolution, Shad's music is infused with socially conscious, witty, and reflective lyrics. Summary In this engaging conversation, Shad and chr1stoph3r g0nda explore the nuances of communication, self-awareness, and personal gr...

Episode 22 // Daniel House Daniel House lives in San Diego but was a staple of the Seattle grunge scene. He co-founded Skin Yard and is the Owner and President of C/Z Records, is writing a book, recently launched The Creative Asylum Podcast, and somehow also finds time to sleep. Summary In this episode of the heartdea13r podcast, Daniel House shares his journey through the music industry, from his...

Episode 21 // Lee Jennings Lee Jennings is the powerful and sizeable frontman of the band The Funeal Portrait, and he opens up to chr1stoph3r g0nda, host of the heartdea13r Podcast, about his youth, being bullied, the music industry, failure and fighting forward. Summary In this engaging conversation, Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait shares insights about life on the road, the importance of a...

Episode 20 // Dawn Jones Dawn Jones is an Entrepreneur and Founder of Pressed PR, PressedFresh Collective, and FreshNoise Distro. She discusses family, community, and the entrepreneurial spirit, plus the challenges of balancing motherhood and work, and the significance of adaptability in overcoming obstacles. Summary In this episode of the heartdea13r Podcast, host chr1stopher g0nda speaks with Da...

Episode 019 // Taylor Vaughn Taylor Vaughn, Vice President at Big Feat PR, is a seasoned industry veteran with extensive Publicity and Major Label experience. She shares her journey through the music industry, tackling the nuances of publicity and marketing and the importance of relationship building. Keywords music industry, publicity, marketing, artist development, PR, media landscape, social me...

Episode 018 // Pat O’Connor President and CEO of POC Media, Inc., Pat O'Connor, joins the heartdea13r Podcast with chr1stoph3r g0nda. Keywords music, entrepreneurship, tenacity, mentorship, family, faith, sports industry, business challenges, relationships, personal growth Summary In this episode of the Heart Dealer podcast, Christopher Gonda interviews Pat O'Connor, a seasoned figure in the music...