Episodes
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Ep. 158: 'Tis the Season of Weddings
Why does it seem like everyone is getting married this fall?? I was recently the best man in my friend's wedding, and I've got another wedding next week! (And my brother has attended three weddings already this year.) === The thumbnail from this episode is a photo of me with Tanya (one of the…
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Ep. 157: Budgeting
It can be fun to spend money on cool things like concerts and pop-up books. But how much is too much? ... In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on my own spending habits.
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Ep. 156: I composed a waltz for the first time ever!
What is a waltz? What does it take to create one? In this episode, I walk through my creative process making a waltz. I'm also giving some general life updates (and how my views on breadth-vs-depth have evolved over the years). Play "Bodies in the Bay" (a 10-minute game) for FREE on Itch.io!...
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Ep. 155: Transitions
Transitions are the space between events... like waiting to get on a train... How does the way we spend our time in transitions reflect who we are? Is it healthy to be bored sometimes?
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Ep. 154: Do I Feel Like an Adult Yet?
What does it mean to feel like an adult? What's the difference between being child-like and childish? In this episode, I recount a story from seeing The Chainsmokers perform at Lollapalloza in Chicago. Then, I talk about how I'm getting older both physically and mentally, however I'm still trying...
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Ep. 153: I'm Moving... I think??!
Moving is tough... especially when you don't know where you want to go.
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Ep. 152: My First Videogame Soundtrack!
Carrion Station is available to download and play for free on Itch.io: Game download (PC & Mac): https://adramalic.itch.io/carrion-station Soundtrack album: https://soundcloud.com/martin-chiesl/sets/carrion-station-official-game Toxic Yuri Visual Novel Game Jam 2:...
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Ep. 151 Composing for Film ft. Jack Wolfe
Jack Wolfe joins the podcast to talk about all things film scores! In addition to being a huge fan of film composers such as Hans Zimmer and Ludwig Göransson, Jack is an award-winning composer himself! Listen to Jack Wolfe's original compositions on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jacksonwolf3
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Ep. 150: Recent Developments in AI Music
So, Spotify is adding a feature where people can generate AI music directly within the app... Was that really necessary?! In this episode I'm discussing the recent Spotify news along with other headlines related to AI Music and giving my personal opinion coming from the perspective of someone who...
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Ep. 149: Times I've Been Lonely
Getting turned back from a ferris wheel ride because I was single? Attending a jazz concert by myself? Being the only sober person in a very dangerous car ride? These are some of my loneliest experiences... ==== The thumbnail photo for this episode doesn't really have anything to do with the…
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Ep. 148: 25 Life Updates in 25 Minutes
Can I get through 25 life updates in 25 minutes or less?!?!
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Ep. 147: Switching from iPhone to Android
After being an iPhone user for over a decade, I recently made the switch to a Google Pixel (Android) phone. Why did I switch?? How has it been so far adjusting to the new phone? Listen to find out!!
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Ep. 146: Witnessing a Fire
I was a witness to a fire in my apartment complex. Everyone made it out safely, but it was a pretty traumatic experience for me and everyone involved. ==== The thumbnail for this podcast episode is an actual picture I took of the fire starting. I honestly felt a bit guilty about taking this photo...
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Ep. 145: I spoke to college students about AI music
This was my first time giving a formal presentation in ... about seven years?!? How did it go, and how did the students react? I took the major points of my AI music podcast episodes with Bobby and converted them into a presentation which I gave to my dad's computer science class at Mercer...
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Ep. 144: Keeping Lists
Every time I finish reading a book, I add it to a list. That way, I can go back and see how many books I’ve read over time. It’s not just reading. I keep lists of my favorite movies, every record stores I’ve ever visited, documenting my CD and record collection, and more. As you can tell from...
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Ep. 143: Good times, tough times, and the in-between
Sometimes life is just an emotional rollercoaster! This episode was recorded in pieces from 11/4/2025 through 1/12/2026. Each individual audio clip is a 'stream of consciousness' based on what I was thinking or feeling at the time.
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Ep. 142: My Middle School Crush (Flashback Journal #2)
Middle school: The era of puberty, acne, and unrequited romantic interests! In this episode, I re-read one of my diary entries from middle school about the time I tried to ask out my crush. As a bonus, I'm also sharing one more diary entry from when I was a freshman in college. (Disclaimer: To...
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Ep. 141: I Joined an LGBTQIA+ Club
The belonging that you can find in a club of like-minded individuals is unlike anything else... In this episode, I share my experience of recently joining an LGBTQIA+ club and how I'm enjoying it so far.
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Ep. 140: Weird Body Abilities
Did you know that only about 30% of people can voluntarily flare their nostrils? In this episode, I'm going through a survey of weird body abilities and how common or uncommon they are. Take the survey at the link below! https://forms.gle/AU11VysqdifKrVNH9 ==== The thumbnail photo is a...
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Ep. 139: Creating a Videogame ft. Emma and John
What are the steps that go into creating an independent videogame? How do you build a team? How do you design the character art? How do you manage writing multiple branching story arcs? In this week's episode, Emma and John join the podcast to talk about Depth Chargers, a new videogame which is...
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Ep. 133: AI Music: Has it Gone Too Far? Ft. Bobby Rethwish (Part 1)
Could AI-generated music ever replace real musicians? What percentage of music on streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify is AI? In this episode, musician Bobby Rethwish joins the podcast to tackle some of these tough questions about how AI is affecting the future of music. ==== This...
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Ep. 138: Anatomy of a Haircut (Flashback Journal)
What kind of symbolism is there behind a haircut? In this episode, I revisit some of my old journal entries from middle school and high school. Turns out, I had some pretty wild ideas about my new haircut. ==== The thumbnail photo for today's episode is a photo of my haircut at the time--from my...
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Ep. 137: My First Time Staying at a Hostel
What is it like sleeping in a hostel with complete strangers? Do they snore? Are they friendly? Or unfriendly? === The thumbnail picture in this episode is a selfie I took in Pioneer Square in Seattle. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the hostel itself!
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What makes a song GOOD? (Replay of Episode #2)
[RE-ISSUE] What do we mean when we say that a song is "good"? In this episode, I propose my theory for determining whether a song is "good" or not. === This episode was originally released in January 2021. I’ve added new commentary to provide additional context for the episode.
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Ep. 136: Can AI ‘Remix’ Our Songs?
What happens when you upload a song to an AI music website and ask it to create a ‘remix’ of your song in a completely different genre? In this episode, I explore the capabilities, limitations and ethical implications of AI music remixes. === This episode also includes a deleted scene from…
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Ep. 135: How Smart is AI, Really?
I'm putting AI to the test to see if it can answer trick questions and solve problems like a human. Also, can AI guess that my favorite animal at the aquarium is a Jellyfish? Or the type of car I drive? === The thumbnail photo is a picture of a jellyfish that I took at the Coney Island aquarium…
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Ep. 134: How can you tell if a song is AI? Ft. Bobby Rethwish (Part 2)
How can you tell apart human-made music compared to AI generated music? In this episode, Bobby Rethwish is put to the test to see how well he can tell the difference. Martin and Bobby also discuss practical tips and tricks for identifying AI content, along with making predictions for the future…
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Ep. 132: I'm Playing the Sax Again
What is it like coming back to a musical instrument after not playing it for over two years? In this episode, Martin shares how he started playing the saxophone originally and why he's playing it again now.
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Ep. 131: Food Habits & Cooking
How can you break out of a food rut? In this episode, Martin covers the history of his personal relationship with food over the years, and shares some of his recent experiences cooking new foods in the new year. === The thumbnail for this episode is a picture of me with the tater tot casserole…
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Ep. 130: Clothes, Fashion & Identity
How does the way that you express yourself to the outside world reflect the way that you identify on the inside? In this episode, Martin talks about his challenge to find clothes that are unique to him -- trying to find a balance between "normie" clothing and "radical self-expression". ==== The...
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Ep. 129: New Year's Resolutions
Why is it so easy to give up on our New Year's Resolutions well before the end of the year? In this episode, Martin comes up with a creative solution to bridge the gap between making short-term and long-term goals. ... The thumbnail for this episode is a picture of my cat. ... Does my cat have...
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Ep. 128: Reflection on 2025
Moving across the country, starting a new job, hiking, concerts, and more .... 2025 brought lots of changes! In this episode, Martin reflects on some of the highlights of the past year. Listen to "And She Recycles" here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6dQdf86uM4jFbsQ1fnto81?si=6c482c6809fb439c…
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Ep. 127: Why I Don't Drink
Why is it so hard to explain why I don't drink? And why do people care so much? *** The photo in this thumbnail was taken on a vacation in 2024 in Cozumel, Mexico. The beverage in the photo is fruit juice!!
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Ep. 126: Coming Out at Work
How does one navigate the stigma around coming out as LGBTQIA+ at work? In this episode, Martin shares his own experience coming out as asexual in his first job, as well as discussing the potential pros and cons of coming out in his current job. Here is the Sounds Fake But Okay podcast episode...
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Ep. 125: Autechre: My Out-of-Body Experience at a Concert
What is it like attending an avant-garde electronic concert in the dark? Martin shares his completely sober experience of having an out-of-body experience while attending an Autechre concert. ... The thumbnail for this episode is a photo of the marquee at Concord Music Hall on the night I saw...
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Ep. 124: Creative Crossroads
Have you ever had to make a difficult decision about your priorities? In this episode, Martin discusses being at a creative crossroads -- that is, trying to decide which path to take next. The thumbnail photo for this episode is a picture I took at The Museum Campus in Chicago. This is a sign…
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Ep. 123: Recurring Dreams
What do repetitive, recurring dreams say about ourselves? What can they reveal about our real-life anxieties and traumas? In this episode, Martin shares some of his recurring dreams in the context of his own fears and insecurities. NOTE: The photo in the thumbnail of this episode is a real-life...
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Ep. 122: Creating my album "Piano Tribute to Billie Eilish" ft. My mom!
How do you translate a pop song into a solo piano version? In this episode, Martin and his mom discuss the process of arranging, recording, and promoting his new album, "Piano Tribute to Billie Eilish."
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Ep. 121: Bookstores Intimidate Me
What do you do when you love reading but are also insecure about it? What do you do when you want to find a new book but have no idea where to start? In this episode, Martin shares some of his personal experiences with reading, and compares shopping in bookstores to shopping in music stores.
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Ep. 120: Making Friends as an Adult
As kids, making friends is easy, but what can you do to make friends as an adult? Martin shares some of his thoughts on friendship and moving, sharing some of his personal experiences on the topic.
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Ep. 119: Overspending on Music
Collecting physical media such as books, CDs, and records can be a lot of fun... but when does it become TOO much??? In this episode, Martin shares some of his personal ideas about collecting and budgeting.
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Ep. 118: My Feelings about My Body
Martin gets vulnerable about his body image, weight, fitness, health, etc. Why is it so hard to just love yourself?
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Ep. 117: Asexual Attraction
Martin shares what it's like to feel attraction without any sexual or romantic desire attached to it.
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Ep. 116: It's The End! + FAQ's (NY Updates #10)
Martin recaps his experience living in NY for 2.5 months and answers some frequently asked questions! This is the final update!
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Ep. 115: It's Almost The End (NY Updates #9)
Martin shares some stories from his second-to-last weekend in New York!!
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Ep. 114: 'Tis the Season of Comparison (NY Updates #8)
How does Staten Island compare to Long Island or Randall's Island? How does the weather in Minnesota compare to the weather in NYC? How does my attitude towards creating music now compare to my attitude four years ago?
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Ep. 113: Creativity can be a fickle thing (NY Updates #7)
Martin talks about songwriting and producing while in NY and feeling general lack of creative inspiration lately. Also some updates about visiting Roosevelt Island and going on a road trip to a small town in upstate NY!
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Ep. 112: My First Time Crying in Public (NY Updates #6)
Martin reflects on his first time crying in public, back in February 2020. Also sharing some updates from the past week in New York, including getting sick and dealing with smoke from recent NY wildfires.
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Ep. 111: Record Collecting Adventures (NY Updates #5)
Sharing my progress visiting 30+ record stores in New York! Also I have a story about how I got two parking tickets...
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Ep. 110: Mystery of the Missing Mail (NY Updates #4)
Martin investigates the mysterious disappearance of mail being sent to him in New York. Also - an experience running alongside NYC Marathoners!
About this show
A podcast about obscure, misunderstood, and/or controversial topics related to music. Hosted by Martin Chiesl, a songwriter/producer/royalties-coordinator.
Hosted by
Martin Chiesl
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