Hustle The Most

After the ABJ run came to an end, we started fresh with a new band called  The Famed with a new sound, new energy, new expectations. We recorded at Black Lodge Studios, played 100 shows, worked day jobs unloading trucks, and did everything “right.” But sometimes doing everything right still isn’t enough. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I talk about assumptions, studio pressure, chasing tract...

EP30 - What I Learned In The True Midwest After touring with Most Precious Blood, I landed behind the kit for Kansas City’s  Anything But Joey —a pop-rock band with big harmonies, campus shows, and an incredible fan base. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share what it was like joining three lifelong friends on the road, playing 50 shows across the Midwest, and the lessons I learned about pr...

Ep29 - Sometimes It's Ok To Be A Cog After a long break,  Hustle The Most  is back—and so am I, with stories about jumping headfirst into opportunities. In this episode, I share how a last-minute call from my friend Justin turned into a whirlwind tour with Most Precious Blood. From learning 14 songs in 30 hours to headlining fests in front of peers and heroes, I talk about the pressure, the pr...

Episode 28 – A Conversation With Greg Bennick (Part 4 of 4) Greg Bennick and I have been friends for over 25 years, and whenever we connect the conversation goes for hours. In this first part of our series, we dive into everything from playing in bands to the ways our parents shaped who we are today. Tune in for Part 1 of 4 of my conversation with Greg.

Episode 27 – A Conversation With Greg Bennick (Part 3 of 4) Greg Bennick and I have been friends for over 25 years, and whenever we connect the conversation goes for hours. In this first part of our series, we dive into everything from playing in bands to the ways our parents shaped who we are today. Tune in for Part 1 of 4 of my conversation with Greg.

Episode 26 – A Conversation with Greg Bennick (Part 2 of 4) Greg Bennick and I have been friends for over 25 years, and whenever we connect the conversation goes for hours. In this first part of our series, we dive into everything from playing in bands to the ways our parents shaped who we are today. Tune in for Part 1 of 4 of my conversation with Greg.

Episode 25 – A Conversation With Greg Bennick (Part 1 of 4) Greg Bennick and I have been friends for over 25 years, and whenever we connect the conversation goes for hours. In this first part of our series, we dive into everything from playing in bands to the ways our parents shaped who we are today. Tune in for Part 1 of 4 of my conversation with Greg.

Ep24 - Conversation With The Right Person; Changes The Game Sometimes one conversation can flip your entire perspective. Over vegan Thai food in Seattle, Greg Bennick (singer of TRIAL, speaker, juggler, and all-around legend) challenged me to stop chasing “jobs” and instead find people willing to pay me to do what I already loved—play drums. That spark pushed me to build my first website, land my...

Ep23 - Rolling With The Punches After leaving tour life behind, I headed back to Seattle with nothing but my car, my drums, and a plan to start fresh. What began as a one-day gig painting tables at Urban Outfitters turned into four years of design work, stability, and a new beginning. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share stories of cross-country drives, tattoo shop memories, and what I le...

Ep22 - Sometimes Things Just Don’t Work Out After moving to California to join  Throwdown , I hit the road for a whirlwind tour with Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, and Biohazard—only to realize the fit wasn’t right. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I talk about breakdowns (both cars and bands), the loneliness of life on tour, and what it really means to chase your dreams at any cost. Sometimes th...

Ep21 - It’s All About Constant Motion After moving to Florida to join  Until The End , I found myself juggling band life, beach life, and an unexpected career leap—from the produce aisle at Whole Foods to becoming a store graphic designer. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share stories of sleeping on floors, practicing in sweaty storage units, and why I walked away from stability to chase t...

Ep20 - Chasing your Passion to Palm Trees Chasing passion often means taking risks, making hard choices, and learning to manage expectations. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share the story of preparing to move for music—first to New Jersey, then Florida—navigating winter road trips, family struggles, and the surprising ways friends step up when you need it most. Along the way, I reflect o...

EP19 - Life Moving West After falling in love with Seattle and making the move to the Pacific Northwest, I learned some hard lessons about assumptions, fitting into new vibes, and how moving—both physically and personally—can break cycles and open new doors. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I reflect on leaving Michigan, chasing scenes, and how punk and hardcore gave me structure, perspective...

Episode 18 – Driving On Greener Grass What does it really mean to have drive? In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share how Earthmover’s breakup led to the formation of Walls of Jericho, the rush of our first shows, and the hard choices that came with balancing school, work, relationships, and life on the road. Along the way, I dig into what drive really is, how it shapes our decisions, and wh...

Episode 17 – Failing At College After community college and a European tour, I headed to Eastern Michigan University—only to find myself overwhelmed, anxious, and unprepared for the traditional college track. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I reflect on navigating school without guidance, the weight of assumptions, and the lessons I learned about asking questions, following nontraditional pa...

Episode 16 – Banding In Europe In 1998, I packed up my drums and hit the road with Earthmover for our first European tour. From Ieper Fest in Belgium to unexpected adventures in Italy, it was a crash course in traveling, playing shows, and surviving the emotional pressure cooker of life in a band. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share what I learned about saying yes to new experiences, nav...

Episode 15 –Season 1 Wrap Up Fifteen episodes in, I reflect on what podcasting has taught me so far—from telling stories that are decades old to learning how to get past the fear of how your voice sounds. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share insights on doing the work yourself, staying consistent, and why creating—whether it’s podcasts, products, or music—can inspire both you and others t...

Episode 14 – Side Hustle + Passion = Career with Phil Renato (Part 2) Phil and I dive into how student distractions have changed over the years, from early teaching days to today’s tech-driven world. We also swap stories about our first computers, odd piercings, and even a long-overdue apology for a broken high school bowl.

Episode 13 – Turning Passion into a Career with Phil Renato (Part 1) What if you could turn your side hustle into the job you do for the rest of your life? In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I sit down with my good friend Phil Renato to talk about how he transformed his passion into a career—and the lessons we can all learn from chasing what we love.

Episode 12 – Conversations That Change Everything Right after high school, a single conversation shifted my entire path—from college and day jobs to joining one of my favorite bands. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share stories about work, music, and moving out on my own—and the lessons I learned about chasing opportunities, saying yes before you’re ready, and figuring it all out along th...

Episode 11 – Putting In The Effort From frying chicken at KFC to cutting glass at Ace Hardware, my early jobs taught me lessons that stuck far beyond the paycheck. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share stories about awkward first days, greasy kitchens, and Mr. Chuck E. Cheese—and reflect on how culture, effort, and pushing past fear can shape the way we work and succeed.

Episode 10 – Q & A With Hustle The Most: What else do you do? For the 10th episode, I’m answering listener questions about why I started the podcast, learning to smile again, where my old bandmates are now, lessons from my brother, and what else I do outside the show.  Hustle The Most  is about moving forward, trying new things, and making the most of the tools you’ve got—and this Q&A is a...

Episode 9 –When You Are Motivated You Are Always Looking Up To The Next Big Thing. In the mid-90s, my band Spit went from selling tapes out of our backpacks to playing packed shows, releasing records, and even sharing the stage at Chicago’s Metro. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I reflect on the rush of being young in a rising band, how easy it is to let hype go to your head, and the lessons...

EP8 - How I Started Recording Records In My Garage And Became A Cassette Hocking Entrepreneur! Starting my first band at 14 felt a lot like the Marshmallow Challenge—messy, uncertain, and full of trial and error. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share how recording our first cassette, hustling tapes at school, and forming new bands taught me lessons about networking, showing up, and why som...

Ep7 - What I Learned From My Big Brother! Growing up with two brothers under the same roof taught me how different choices can lead to very different lives. In this episode of  Hustle The Most , I share stories about my brother Jason—his wild spirit, his struggles, and his heart—and reflect on what I learned about family, failure, and the tough calls parents sometimes have to make.