A Biomedical Engineer Explained Why Anyone Can Make It in...

What this episode covers

Danny McDermott has a master's in biomedical engineering and a day job as an engineer. He just explained why that is the exact reason his music career is going to work, and why anyone listening can do the same thing.In this episode, David Shaft sits down with Danny McDermott, a singer songwriter from the Chicago area who is building a music career using the same discipline, systems thinking, and long-term vision that got him through an engineering program.What you will learn:Why balance is not standing still. It is walking a tightrope. And how to communicate that to yourself when life feels unstable.The 4-thing framework Danny uses to build a music career that anyone can replicate: music, legal, branding, marketing.How having a day job gives you the power to say no, and why that is a communication superpower.The Michael Jackson rule about inspiration, and why Prince was the threat that kept him writing.Why Harrison Ford was a carpenter before Han Solo, and what that means for your creative timeline.How to define your dream concretely and communicate what success actually looks like.The Harrison Ford carpenter story and why sticking around long enough is the strategy nobody talks about.The Rick Rubin insight on starters vs finishers and how it changes the way you approach any creative work.Try This Tomorrow: Two steps. First, define your dream concretely. What specifically is it? Second, define what success looks like for that dream. What does it entail, what does the math look like? Write it down.Free Communication Playbook: https://ctcpodcast.media/free-playbookFollow Conversations That Count on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 AM EST.Website: https://ctcpodcast.media LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davidshaft

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How long is this episode of Conversations That Count?

This episode is 1 hour and 3 minutes long.

When was this Conversations That Count episode published?

This episode was published on April 28, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Danny McDermott has a master's in biomedical engineering and a day job as an engineer. He just explained why that is the exact reason his music career is going to work, and why anyone listening can do the same thing.In this episode, David Shaft sits...

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Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

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