Rockstars Anonymous
by Hana Piranha & Mishkin Fitzgerald
Has your music career become a problem? Are you nearly famous but also completely broke? Are your friends and family concerned about your life choices? Are you desperate to quit but just can’t get off the Rock n Roll Train? You’re not alone. Rockstars Anonymous is here to help. Being a musician is hard. Like a crazy rollercoaster of soaring highs and crippling self doubt, it can be impossible to find stability. We’re here to share the ugly truth about the music industry, offer some solutions, and have a laugh about it too. Consider us your music agony aunts. And cheaper than a therapist. So come inside, grab a coffee, and let’s talk about it. We can take it one gig at a time…
Episodes
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Every Rep You Take
Why was Hana’s cello improving faster than her harp when she barely practised it? We talk about making practice count, working on tiny sections, testing your memory and resisting “just one more go”. There’s a six-point plan and a reminder that rest does as much for your progress as the practice...
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Across the ValueVerse with Aaron of Essex
Could the future of independent music exist without Spotify or Meta? This week, we’re joined by Aaron of Essex, host of Into the Valueverse and the man behind the New Music Nudge Unit, for a crash course in the alternative music economy. We talk Fountain, RSS, Nostr, Bitcoin, sats and how…
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Sweet Extremes are Made of This
Musicians have a reputation for taking things too far. Mishkin and Hana would love to tell you they’re sensible exceptions. Unfortunately, this week’s meeting contains evidence to the contrary. Sweet Extremes Are Made of This explores the highs and lows of life in music, with a few torrid...
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Season 5 Teaser
We considered getting sensible jobs 💼. Instead, we made Season 5. Teaser episode where we share our rebrand and give a little insight into what you can expect for the following season. First episode coming next week 😱
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Episode 43 - Staying Afloat (2026 Edition)
Hana's getting married in two weeks and Mish lost her voice, so naturally we recorded a podcast. This week we're sharing our 10 tips for staying afloat when life and music are both coming at you full speed - covering everything from planning your wellness before you hit the road, to gamifying...
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Love The Metronome
The metronome has a bad reputation. It's rigid, it's annoying, and it's few people's idea of a good time. In this episode, Hana and Mishkin make the case for why that's a mistake, and why the benefits go well beyond just playing in time. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit...
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Episode 41 - Holding the Note
⚠️ This episode contains discussions of pregnancy loss, postpartum mental health, and rage. Please take care listening. This week Hana and Mishkin are joined by Georgia Train — singer-songwriter, vocal coach, and one half of Bitter Ruin — for a conversation about what it really costs to be a...
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Episode 40 - Zoom In, Zoom Out
Welcome to Season 4 of our podcast and a slight rebrand! After a packed start to the year involving tours, music videos, prison teaching stints, and at least one birthday meltdown in France, we've been thinking a lot about how musicians actually work. This episode is about the two seasons every...
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Episode 39 - Waterfalls, Rivers, and Lakes
Singles, EPs, albums - how do you know what to release, and when? In this episode, Hana and Mishkin break down the case for each format using the only framework that matters: TLC. They cover why a single can get you pigeonholed before you've shown anyone the full picture, when an EP is worth the...
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Episode 38 - The Starman with Jason Achilles (The King of LA)
This week Hana and Mishkin are joined by Jason Achilles - LA producer, session musician to the likes of Dizzy Reed and Jerry Cantrell, and the man behind the microphone NASA sent to Mars on the Perseverance rover. Jason talks about building a music career through sheer nerve and well-timed lies…
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Episode 37 - Rate & Hate Part 2: The Ten Worst Genres Of All Time
Hana and Mishkin are back with another Rate and Hate, this time tackling the musical genres they'd least like to encounter in this life or the next. Ten genres, no mercy, one accidental jazz improvisation. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you...
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Episode 36 - Famous in Five Steps
Ever wondered why some releases just work whilst others disappear into the void? It's not luck, it's having a system. In this episode, we break down our five-step campaign framework that you can use again and again: Song, Visuals, Promotion, Outreach, and Feedback. We talk about writing songs…
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Episode 35 - A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships
In this special episode, all four artists from the upcoming Heart of Darkness tour gather in the Cotswolds to talk about what they're building together. Hana and Mishkin are joined by Catherine Elms and Taylor from Emberhoney for a conversation about female friendship in music, the power of...
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Episode 34 - Rate & Hate Part 1: The 10 Worst Songs Of All Time
Two musicians who have been forced to play the worst songs ever written at countless weddings finally unleash their rage. From Coldplay to Bruno Mars, we're breaking down exactly why these songs are crimes against music - and confessing which terrible tunes we secretly love. If you didn't already...
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Episode 33 - Staying Afloat
Magnesium, manifestation, and getting violently shaken to sleep: 20 musician life hacks In this episode, Mish and Hana share the life hacks that have actually helped them survive the chaos of being working musicians - from making your bed for free dopamine hits to scheduling your entire fortnight...
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Episode 32 - Pause
Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever play to a crowd and yet sometimes feel like the loneliest person in the room? Do you lie awake at night questioning your life...
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Episode 31 - All On Black
In this episode Mishkin and Hana talk about the financial, time, and emotional gambles musicians take - plus the story of how the universe reimbursed £18 worth of pettiness. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow...
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Episode 30 - How to Build an Empire
⚡ Nobody talks about the decade it takes to build an empire ⚡ In this episode we breaking down the three pillars of building a music empire (collaboration, confidence, longevity). We're talking about knowing when to fire people, why your lack of Instagram engagement doesn't mean you're failing…
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Episode 29 - My Sister, My Lover
Hana and Mish get brutally honest about the complicated intimacy between bandmates—from electric on-stage connections to blurred boundaries, naked music video shoots, and that time they realised they were a bit in love with each other. It's messy, vulnerable, and proof that being in a band is way...
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Episode 28 - The Release Survival Guide
Release days used to savage us - the kind where you refresh social media like a maniac and feel like you've thrown months of work into a digital void. So here we have it: seven practical steps for keeping your sanity intact when you're most vulnerable. Do you have the best job in the world but…
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Episode 27 - The Shoestring
In this episode Mishkin and I get brutally honest about making music with no money. From catastrophic videoshoots to sleeping in car parks, we share hard-won advice on calling in favours, skill swapping, and building a music career when you're completely broke. Do you have the best job in the…
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Episode 26 - You Can't Please Everyone
"You can't please everyone" is a motto I live by (along with "you'll get what you're given" and "always leave them wanting more") 🤣🤣🤣. In this episode we discuss how to shut out the background noise, follow your intuition, and work out which feedback to take on board. Do you have the best job…
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Episode 25 - My Dream Job
In this episode we explore what happens when music shifts from a passion-filled dream to a career you have to maintain, grow, and protect. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins?…
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Episode 24 - Art Begets Art
TW: sexual assault, depression In response to our podcast episode The Dark Place, one of our fan/friends Pete sent us this beautiful audio poem called The Undertow… which in turn inspired this podcast. Tune in to hear more… Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once…
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Episode 23 - Accidental VIP
In this podcast episode we chat about some of our weirdest gig moments and talk about what it's like to always be the VIP at a party you'd really rather not attend 🥸 Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up...
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Episode 22 - The Dark Place
TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains references to mental health, suicide, abusive relationships and addiction. This is quite a heavy one so please listen at your own discretion. In this podcast episode we talk about the darkness or "poison well" that we as songwriters draw from to get...
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Episode 21 - No Room for Mystique
In this episode we talk about how to exist in sometimes uncomfortably close proximity with your audience both onstage and off, how this affects your ability to express yourself as an artist, and the magic that comes from shared vulnerability. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to...
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Episode 20 - Behind the Lens with Anna Mylee
In this episode we chat to our dear friend and bandmate Anna Mylee about the highs and lows of her music career so far. You can find Anna here: https://www.patreon.com/annamylee https://www.instagram.com/anna_mylee/ https://www.annamylee.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/annamylee Do you have the…
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Episode 19 - The Tour Survival Kit pt.1
Episode 19 is another one from the road so we unpack some of our top tips for surviving (and thriving) on tour Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever play to a crowd...
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Episode 18 - The Rhythm of Love
This episode is something a little different - we are about to go on tour for 7 weeks so we thought it was a good time to talk to Hana's partner Dara about the highs and lows of living with a musician! Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always...
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Episode 17 - Playing to No-One
Episode 17 in which we talk about how gutting it can be to play to an empty room and tips for overcoming those bad gigs that we all inevitably experience. What's the toughest gig you've ever played? Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on...
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Episode 16 - The Money Tree
Episode 16 in which we talk about various different ways to make money from music. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever play to a crowd and yet sometimes feel like...
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Episode 15 - The Magic Triangle
Struggling to decide whether to take on a gig? "The Magic Triangle" - money/career/joy is what we think of when we're choosing music work. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins?…
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Episode 14 - From Rock Bottom to Record Boss: In Conversation with Chris De Banks
Episode 14 in which we are joined by the head of Not Saints - Chris De Banks - to chat about his journey to sobriety and how he came to found the world's only record label for artists in recovery! This is a juicy one. You can find Not Saints here: https://www.notsaints.co.uk/ Instagram:...
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Episode 13 - Riffs, Reps and Routines
This week's podcast is all about our favourite subject: PRACTICE We discuss our best practice tips, how to keep practice consistent within a busy schedule, and practice in the context of habit theory. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always…
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Episode 12 - Money Money Money
Our second episode of the season is a particularly juicy one where we talk about the ways we you can money as musicians, the financial barriers musicians face and our personal journeys navigating the music industry. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day?...
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Episode 11 - A Restless Mind: In Conversation with Phil Johnstone
Welcome to Season 2! We are joined by our friend Phil Johnstone to talk about the highs and lows of writing and performing as a way of managing life. We talk music, madness, and danger gigs. You can find Phil through these links: https://theqwarks.bandcamp.com/…
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Episode 10 - Ten Things We Learned in 2024
Episode 10 - New Years Eve episode in which we reflect on our year and some of the big lessons we plan to carry across to 2025. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever...
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Episode 9 - From Imposter to Trickster: In Conversation with Catherine Elms
Episode 9 in which we are joined by another beautiful witch - dark alternative singer-songwriter Catherine Elms - to talk about the highs and lows of juggling a music career alongside a regular job. Cath talks very candidly about imposter syndrome, battling jealousy and insecurity, and the...
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Episode 8 - Spreadsheets, Bravery & Rock'n'roll: In Conversation with Simon Field
Episode 8 in which we are joined by our long-suffering manager Simon Field aka Bongos to talk about the highs and lows of managing an independent band. We talk gig booking, videoshoots and muscles. Links to videos mentioned in this episode: HVIRESS - No Exit...
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Episode 7 - Me and the Devil
Episode 7 in which Mishkin tells her story of how she broke away from her strongly religious upbringing. This is another quite heavy episode with TW of mental health disorder and sexual assault. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the...
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Episode 6 - Music School Dropout
Episode 6 in which Hana tells her story of how she transitioned from her dream of being a concert violinist to forging her own path as a singer songwriter. This is quite an emotional episode with TW of mental health disorder and references to suicide. Do you have the best job in the world but…
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Episode 5 - Overnight Success
Episode 5 in which we talk about how we got signed and why it takes many nights to become an "overnight success". Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever play to a…
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Episode 4 - Time and Punishment: In Conversation with Emberhoney
Episode 4 in which we are joined by our dear friend known as Emberhoney to talk about the highs and lows of wearing ALL the hats. We discuss her best organisational/self care hacks and she shares an inspiring perspective on what it takes to really survive as an artist… and why it's worth it! You...
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Episode 3 - Embracing Age as a Female Musician
Episode 3 in which we talk about the highs and lows of getting older as a woman in the music industry. Our identity as musicians has shifted as we get older and we discuss what it's like to reclaim our sexuality and battle against the societal messages we have been fed growing up. Do you have the...
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Episode 2 - Living Authentically as a Musician
Episode 2 in which we talk about the highs and lows of sustaining a musician's routine against the flow of what's "normal". Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever…
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Episode 1 - Introducing Mishkin Fitzgerald and Hana Piranha
Episode 1 in which we share a little introduction about ourselves and our relationship. Do you have the best job in the world but also want to quit at least once a day? Are you always on the VIP list but somehow end up eating dinner by the bins? Do you ever play to a crowd and yet sometimes feel...
About this show
Has your music career become a problem?
Are you nearly famous but also completely broke?
Are your friends and family concerned about your life choices?
Are you desperate to quit but just can’t get off the Rock n Roll Train?
You’re not alone. Rockstars Anonymous is here to help.
Being a musician is hard. Like a crazy rollercoaster of soaring highs and crippling self doubt, it can be impossible to find stability. We’re here to share the ugly truth about the music industry, offer some solutions, and have a laugh about it too. Consider us your music agony aunts. And cheaper than a therapist. So come inside, grab a coffee, and let’s talk about it.
We can take it one gig at a time…
Hosted by
Hana Piranha & Mishkin Fitzgerald
Categories