The Holy Ghost Notes Podcast

On episode one hundred and seventy five of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt tells a story about his missing wallet and Tim gears up for the end of the school year. Inspired by a recent lesson student inquiry, Matt and Tim talk about teaching drums and how it can benefit both the student and the teacher. Then Tim reads a short perspective on the common Christian phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" and gives his take on being quick to judgement.

On episode one hundred and seventy four of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt talks about the newly released 10th August Burns Red record, Season of Surrender. He shares a little bit about his experience writing and recording drums for the album and his excitement around the release. The guys also talk about playing songs that you know and have enjoyed playing in the past. Next they talk about the song Be Thou My Vision and how impactful the lyrics are. Tim stumbles upon a fascinating breakdown of the song and discovers its 6th century origin leading to some sobering sentiments. Finally, Matt and Tim chat about the beginnings of the podcast and why it means so much to both of them.

On episode one hundred and seventy three of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt adjusts to life back home after returning from tour, and Tim struggles with some back issues. The guys talk about their drumming goals/plans for the summer and Matt shares a few exciting projects in the works. Matt then talks about the juxtaposition of being vocal about your faith versus keeping it personal. This spurs on a conversation about "deconstruction" and the importance of knowing what you believe and why.

On episode one hundred and seventy two of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt tunes in, once again, from the back room of the tour bus en route to ABR's next destination. Tim channels his recent wrist pain into a conversation around taking the gift of drumming for granted, and the guys attempt to cut through the noise and talk about the simplicity of the gospel and how it relates to daily life.

On episode one hundred and seventy one of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt records while on a moving tour bus and Tim races the clocks. The guys talk about the importance of character and how who you are and how you treat people matters more as a drummer than the skill of drumming itself. They also discuss people pleasing and the distinction of being "nice" versus being "kind" and the boldness behind saying what needs to be said sometimes.

On episode one hundred and seventy of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt’s gearing up to leave for tour after a long stretch at home and Tim’s adjusting to his new career arrangement. Matt thinks out loud about the tremendous difficulty many musicians face nowadays in pursuit of success. Then the guys discuss how pushing yourself to take on challenges plays a major role in your tenacity and discipline with improving as a drummer. They also talk about how if you don’t know who you are, the world will tell you who you are, and why it’s so important to stay grounded in what the Bible actually says.

On episode one hundred and sixty nine of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim kick it "old-school" after three consecutive guest episodes. Tim shares an excerpt from Atomic Habits by James Clear to tee up their drum topic about how identifying factors that you claim in your life can make or break your ability to improve in certain areas of drumming. Matt argues an alternative, parallel approach that has been working for him. Finally, in attempt to avoid being too controversial, Tim struggles through the discomfort of touching on political subjects to illustrate a concern around the weaponized usage of vague scripture in this day in age. Matt disagrees slightly, but shares a strong point of view.

On episode one hundred sixty eight of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim welcome their friend, Will Davidson. Will talks about what ignited his love for music production that led to his internship at Atrium Audio, studying at Berklee school of music, and a ton of experience producing his own music. The guys immediately get into AI music and how it's effecting the music industry and the future of music. Will also drops some golden nuggets for aspiring musicians and producers making music at home.

On episode one hundred and sixty seven of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim are joined by drummer, Ben Pruitt of Sleep Theory. Ben shares the origin story of his band, his pre-show warmup, his sobriety, and the all-around whirlwind that life has been over the past few years. This episode is special and we hope you get as much out of it as we did.

On episode one hundred and sixty six of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim bring on Jeremy Boxerman; a fellow drummer, OG inner circle member, and long time friend. Jeremy talks about staying positive even throughout difficult circumstances. The guys talk about the power of music, and Matt and Jeremy talk a little bit about friendship, their time spent together over the long weekend, practicing drums, and even hitting the gym.

On episode one hundred and sixty five of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim catch up about each other’s major life changes that have transpired since the last episode. Then the guys talk about where they aspire to be as drummers, the blueprint and the goal. The guys wrap it up with the topic of finding peace.

On episode one hundred and sixty three of the Holy Ghost Notes podcast, Matt and Tim are joined by old pal and familiar guest, Adam Gray. Adam bears all; sharing everything from the story behind his stick tricks, his thoughts on the new unreleased August Burns Red album, prepping for filling in for Matt on tour, overcoming expectations of “living up to his own name”, dealing with grief, as well as writing a book in memory of his late wife, Tegan. We sincerely hope this brings you joy, peace, and a whole lotta laughs. Merry Christmas from Holy Ghost Notes.

On episode one hundred and sixty two of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim meet again. Matt talks about prepping for Christmas Burns Red and the busyness surrounding the season and Tim remembers he never gave Matt his birthday card. The guys quickly jump into their topic, "Making Music in 2025" and discuss the major advancements they've seen in music tech over the past year, and how to approach this new wave of capabilities. Opportunity or cheating?

On episode one hundred and sixty one of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim casually discuss their love of cheese and Tim's "cultured" way about him. The guys shift gears and walk through their list of "Dos and Don'ts" as drummers - to both summarize and simplify many of the key points they've discussed in-depth over the past 160 episodes. Then, inspired by Tony Robbins, Tim does an exercise with Matt to tee up the topic of Perception vs. Reality, which takes a rather deep turn.

On episode one hundred and sixty of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt talks about attending pap's 100th birthday, and Tim gives some shotty marriage advice after celebrating 11 years of marriage with his wife. They proceed to talk about the importance of reinforcement when it comes to drumming (or just about anything in life). Matt shares some recent testimonials from his Double Bass Masterclass and encourages everyone to make it habit to encourage others. Then the guys switch gears and talk about selfishness vs. selflessness. Matt uses the example of equal time spent with family, and Tim adds his take on the freedom that accompanies selflessness and importance of having perspective.

On episode one hundred and fifty nine of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt questions whether or not Tim is AI generated and talks about his new Double Bass Masterclass (something he's never talked about before). Tim tangents about his espresso ritual, then Matt talks about how relaxing when sitting at the drum kit can actually improve performance and Tim relates it to stage fright and taking control. Then the guys talk about relaxing in life, not simply their "wind-down routines", but rather what can lead to true relaxation in life.

On episode one hundred and fifty seven of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim catch up and talk about the divisive nature of social media as of late. In light of the recent fragile landscape, the guys discuss how to have mature and civil conversations about difficult topics and the importance of respect and love above all. Taking shape as more of an after thought than topics, Matt and Tim share their weaknesses in drumming. Then they pivot into the topic of ‘weakness in life’ and how weakness can, in fact, be a positive thing.

On episode one hundred and fifty five of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt has recently returned home from touring in Europe and is running on both fumes and the excitement of being reunited with his family. Matt shares a little about his time  on tour and segways into the topic of “showing up”. He describes what it means, in his opinion, to continue showing up as it relates to his drumming. The guys transition into the topic of “living differently” in which Tim tees up using career/ambition, faith/evangelism, and family/parenthood as the focus points.

On episode one hundred and fifty four of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt records from the outskirts of London and Tim records while vacationing at the DE beach. Due to some major technical setbacks, the guys are pressed for time, but manage to squeeze in one of their favorite episodes to date. They cover both their drum and faith topics with an overarching topic of "motivation vs. discipline." The guys discuss how each has its own appropriate place and time to aid in the success of both drumming and other aspects of life.

On episode one hundred fifty three of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt talks about a festival he played last week on the same stage as Slipknot that led to an impactful encounter with Eloy Casagrande. The guys follow the natural conversational progression into their topic of humility and how believing the best in people might be an important piece. To cap it off, Matt and Tim hit on the topic of generosity (a topic they haven’t touched on since episode 7). Tim broadens the idea beyond financial generosity and encourages us not to miss out.

On episode one hundred and fifty two of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim spend a majority of the episode catching up and talking about Tim’s new song and the idea of identity before briefly hitting on their episode “fly-by” topics. In their drum topic- they talk about prioritizing drumming, or rather, prioritizing the right things with the time that is available to you. In their faith topic- the talk about the concept of treating others the way you want to be treated.

On episode one hundred and fifty of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim realize they’ve hit a milestone episode number and reflect on how the podcast has impacted them over the years. Tim tees up the topic of writer’s block — a timely and relevant to both of them. Tim shares about his recent motivation and steps he’s taken to make music a regular part of his life again. The guys then discuss the topic of “earning love” serving as a good reminder to everyone that God’s love isn’t something you earn.

On episode one hundred and forty seven of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt gives a quick tour update and the guys describe and explore how it feels to perform live. Then, in a topic recommended by Adam Gray, Matt and Tim talk about the importance of drumming dynamics and what goes into progressing in that ability. Finally, they discuss the power of forgiveness and Matt shares a recent interaction that offended him.

On episode one hundred and forty six of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim take a deep introspective look at their podcasting careers and comment on some aspects they’ve improved upon over the years. The guys talk about having discipline when it comes to practicing drums and Matt proposes a unique hypothetical that inspires Tim to share about placing more importance on his drumming. Matt divulges an embarrassing realization he made while watching a video of a performance and Tim emphasizes the role weakness and failure have to play in being human.

On episode one hundred and forty five of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim settle a 7-year debate while talking about Matt’s recent visit over Tim’s house and Tim’s tendency to “nerd-out”. The guys decide to kick things off with their faith topic of Investment and how investing into your relationships is essential. They shift slightly to their drum topic, “Go Hard”, which dives into focusing on the difficult drum techniques, patterns, or otherwise, in order to reap the rewards.

On episode one hundred and forty four of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim talk about taking on challenges then transition directly into the episode topics without hesitation. Tim confuses Matt while attempting to describe the 80/20 rule in drumming, but they manage to pull it together. Similarly, Tim presents the idea of the 80/20 rule as it pertains to various aspects of life, and the guys hone in on a few valuable points. Matt challenges Tim with a riddle and is taken aback by Tim’s answer.

On episode one hundred and forty three of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim chat about the changing of seasons and the rewarding feeling of accomplishment before getting into their topics. The first, they share the “hardest” things they’ve had to experience and/or overcome in their drumming careers. Second, Matt tells a story about a friend who’s trying to turn his life around and suggests that he needs to start by deciding to do the next right thing- to which, Tim sums up with a Disney song.

On episode one hundred and forty two of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt shares about an unexpected set-back during the filming of his double bass course and Tim talks about modeling healthy behavior when it comes to reacting to set-backs and things in life that seem "unfair". The guys shift focus and talk about embracing the game-changing drumming practice of patterns and sticking, and utilizing it to take drumming to the next level. Finally, Tim tees up a timely topic based on the posture of your heart, which both Matt and Tim find very relevant.

On episode one hundred and forty one of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim have way more energy than normal and channel that energy into a productive rant about how you can’t take advice from just anyone. They find a natural segway into their drum topic, revisiting double bass in light of Matt’s recent course. From there, the guys shift into the topic of health, where they weigh the balance of mind, body, and soul.

On episode one hundred and forty of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt talks about the double bass course he’s been working on then talks a little about the recently re-recorded Thrill Seeker album while busting Tim’s chops. The guys chat about the ever-relevant topic of “Just Do It” encouraging everyone (especially themselves) to stop putting off the thing you want to do. Similarly, they approach the topic of procrastination as it pertains to “squeezing your faith in” when its convenient. Tim brings up the Eisenhower Matrix and encourages everyone to organize what’s most important in order to better prioritize and succeed.

Yule tide greetings! On episode one hundred and thirty nine of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim have their friend, Adam Gray on the podcast to cap off the year yet again. The trio talk about big noses, deviated septa, and SlipKnot’s new drummer. Adam opens up about the passing of his wife, Teagan and the struggles that have come alongside that loss. Though they share many a laugh, this episode is not your typical Christmas episode. It’s real conversation about real life, and it’s not necessarily wrapped up nicely with a bow.

On episode one hundred and thirty eight of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt has the stomach bug but the duo still manage to maintain their episode release streak. Matt jumps right into the drum topic- teeing up the upcoming Christmas Burns Red show in Lancaster. He talks about the humble beginnings of the annual Christmas event, the prep work that goes into it, and ultimately, the teamwork required to pull it off. Tim lobs a timely question into the air around “preparing your heart” and the what meaning that phrase may take amid the hustle and bustle of the season. The two discover the importance of re-centering the mind and making space for what’s most important.

On episode one hundred and thirty seven of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim catch up after a busy month and turn their tangent into a topic; talking about the importance of being present and how some simple adjustments can make all the difference. Further pivoting from the norm, they visit their drum topic second and talk about their goals for the fast approaching new year.

On episode one hundred and thirty six of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim squeeze in an episode around midnight after Matt's show in Destin, Florida. Matt and Tim fulfill the obligatory "small talk" with an unexpected guest cameo, then head into their topic where they reminisce about their early days of drumming and comment on some surprising similarities as they have in the past. Next, they talk about the importance and benefits of trusting God in any circumstance.

On episode one hundred thirty five of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim kick it off by talking about how the podcast has evolved over the years and their passion for keeping it going. Tim jumps into the drum topic of learning other people’s drum parts and Matt shares his two cents while bringing in some alternative perspectives. They also talk about how to measure success. Then the guys talk about being guilty about mistakes and how to approach feeling of guilt and shame.

On episode one hundred and thirty four of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim update each other on some recent "highlights", then head into their drum topic discussing the qualities they look up to in their drumming role models. Without missing a beat (no pun intended), Matt poses the question, "Can people change?" and brings up the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar, sparking a conversation around various examples of change.

On episode one hundred and thirty three of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim inadvertently switch gears last minute and step directly into the topic of time management and prioritizing things that may not appear as important at surface level. They follow it up by answering some of the “most asked” drumming questions according to Google.

On episode one hundred and thirty two of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim talk about how practicing drums or spending time doing something that is life-giving to you creates purpose in your life and effects your mentality. In a similar, yet separate topic, the guys attempt to uncover their inner-most motivations that inspire them to wake up each morning and take hold of the day. Things get a little quirky, but ultimately ends on a powerfully important tangent about living out your purpose.

On episode one hundred and thirty one of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt talks about the busyness of the season and shares about his recent experience seeing Creed. Tim kicks off a conversation about the power of music and how that power can be displayed. Then the guys round out the episode with a deep conversation around acknowledging God’s hand at work in the mundane periods and Tim opens up about some struggles in his life.

On episode one hundred and thirty of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim skip the chit chat and dive directly into their drum topic where they each share what they believe to be their personal drumming weaknesses and strengths. This leads to a discussion about vulnerability and the benefits of recognizing where you have room for improvement. They continue into their faith topic centered around the impact of physical well-being. Matt shares a personal anecdote about a recent doctor's visit that highlighted the effects of drumming on his body as well as the importance of caring for yourself.

On episode one hundred and twenty nine of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt mentions the assassination attempt on former president Trump which and Tim talks about how it’s important not to let the political landscape dictate your mood and to be respectful. Then the guys work through what happens when you step away from playing drums for an extended period of time and how it can affect both your playing and your mentality. Finally, the guys round it out with the topic of selflessness and how important and beneficial it can be to you and those around you.

On episode one hundred and twenty eight of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim talk about the beauty (and the trials) of fatherhood and nearly derail their topics while getting into a conversation about couples/relationships. They head into their drum topic about taking the appropriate steps to hit goals- a topic inspired by Tim’s career as a strategist in marketing. Matt shares a story of a recent interaction and sheds light on some crucial points. Then, Matt reads a passage from 1 Timothy that talks about the love of money. This spirals into a truly eye opening and thought provoking conversation about the approach to work/life balance and the pursuit of wealth.

On episode one hundred and twenty seven of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim catch up briefly and then quickly pivot their drum topic last minute to talk about how the environment you play (or practice) drums in, can make a difference in the way that you play. The guys also list some ways to inspire unmotivated players to sit down and play. Matt proceeds to read definitions of love given by children. This inspires a conversation around innocent love and the simplicity, but also the complexity of love itself.

On episode one hundred and twenty six of Holy Ghost Notes, Matt and Tim host their first guest in 2024, Timothy Molloy, drummer of Our Last Night. They chat about the recent covers only tour that Matt attended and how it differed from their other tours in many ways, as well as Timothy's start with Our Last Night and how the band has challenged him as a drummer. Timothy speaks into the importance of who you surround yourself with, the band's workflow, and the difference between playing their originals vs. covers.