The Shift with Mike & Joe

"I can't figure you out." That's what Joe's first counselor told him in treatment. She had clients who'd been born addicted, clients who'd watched a parent murdered, and then she had Joe — good childhood, both parents, both sets of grandparents, no reason anyone could point to. She couldn't work out how he'd ended up in the chair across from her. This is Part 2 of the two-part swap. Last episode Joe asked the questions. This week Mike turns it around, with help from ChatGPT, and gets a lot further than either of them expected. The first half is the long way round. Queen Anne Colony, the year and a half when his parents split and he lived across the bridge at Cape St. Clair, and coming back to Centreville in fifth grade as the new kid in the lowest grade in the school. Karate from middle school to seventeen. Hunting with his dad, then guiding for his uncle's outfitting business until fourteen-hour days in the cold burned it out of him. The guitar his dad bought off another kid his senior year, and the hours spent getting Blackbird wrong until it was right. Then the jobs, and there are a lot of them: scraping and waxing boat bottoms at Island Yacht Brokers at thirteen, alone in the yard hitting rocks with a piece of wood and calling the play-by-play. Painting houses. Landscaping in Juneau, Alaska, and a salmon and halibut charter. A seasonal naturalist gig at Tuckahoe State Park with owls and red-tailed hawks. Cutting greens at Queenstown. And thirty minutes at J.Crew before he told them he had to get something out of his car, drove away, and never went back. After the break it turns. Joe got clean at 31, when his son was two, and then spent about six years working inside addiction treatment — residential coordinator, admissions, and eventually a counselor. He's clear-eyed about what he saw: treatment is a good thing and treatment is a business, and the further up the chain you go the more the second one shows. He walks through two clients he had at the same time, one on private insurance and one on state, and why the one who needed him most got seen least. And then his own story, told plainly. Skoal as a cart boy at Prospect Bay. Beers left behind after tournaments. Being against weed until he wasn't, then a full-blown pothead inside two weeks. The first Percocet, which he names as the real turning point. The Oxycontin years. Why he never ended up shooting heroin — and the night before treatment when he asked his dealer to do it for him, and the dealer said no, because he knew Joe wouldn't go if he did. Two relapses after that, one at ninety days installing satellite dishes for DirecTV, and one nobody knew about for two years until it surfaced during step work with his sponsor. He changed his clean date and told his home group. He's just as matter-of-fact about a couple of drinks in the last six months. The hardest decision he's ever made wasn't getting clean. It was accepting he had to go all in — and it came down to reading a pamphlet in a common room between groups and not being able to answer no to a single question on it. The last half hour is lighter and better for it: how he found out he could sing by calling his own answering machine and singing into the voicemail, the only book he's ever read and the ten pages of it he skipped, and what success actually means when you're honest that it includes money. There's a baby due October 2nd, a twelve-year-old with two travel teams, a print-on-demand t-shirt idea he keeps not starting, and a barn studio he'd build tomorrow. Part 1 — where Joe asks the questions — is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJ31SxHqSk What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund 00:45 Welcome to Episode 41 01:12 Part 2 of the swap — Mike asks the questions 01:44 "What's your favorite thing about me?" 02:16 A weekend of gigs, and a voice that's shot 03:00 The guy who asked to sing at Betty's 05:47 "You don't cuss anymore" 06:29 "I wish you would just buy a new car" 07:18 Childhood, and a brother named Jake 08:55 His parents split — moving to Cape St. Clair 09:21 Back to Centreville in fifth grade 10:25 The new kid in the lowest grade in the school 11:40 Redneck row, and where Joe parked instead 12:18 Hunting with his dad 13:21 Guiding in his twenties, and burning out 13:52 "Have you ever killed a man?" 14:11 When music entered 14:57 Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam 15:33 The guitar his dad bought him senior year 16:05 Sitting down with Blackbird 17:59 Karate, middle school to 17 19:40 Mentors, and both grandfathers 22:13 Mr. Nicely and the wood carving class 24:12 A real fear of heights 24:41 Wishing he was a better guitar player 25:34 Maine, Alaska, Yellowstone — and never Europe 26:40 Every job he's ever had 27:06 Island Yacht Brokers at 13, and hitting rocks with a stick 29:30 Thirty minutes at J.Crew 29:55 Brett, and the move to Juneau 31:56 Tuckahoe State Park, owls and hawks 33:15 What's the actual goal when you cut grass? 34:09 Queenstown Golf Course grounds crew 36:54 Getting clean, and going to work in treatment 37:25 Serenity Acres, and what an RC actually does 38:46 Admissions, insurance, and a pay cut to go back 41:30 George, and the job at Evolve 42:34 Burning out, and picking up a camera 42:59 Sponsor — Wayfinders THF & Putts Fore! Nuts 44:31 What makes a treatment center good or bad 44:49 "It's a great thing. However, it is a business." 46:53 Why insurance decides who gets care 47:48 Private insurance vs. state insurance 50:50 Too much recovery, recovery, recovery 52:12 Skoal at Prospect Bay 53:33 Against weed, then full-blown in two weeks 54:27 Percocet, and the real turning point 56:39 The Oxycontin years 58:05 Why he never shot up 59:04 The night his dealer said no 59:41 Going to treatment at 31 1:01:05 DirecTV, and a thought out of nowhere 1:02:07 Back to treatment the second time 1:03:22 The Tylenol with codeine he hid for two years 1:04:33 Telling his home group, and changing his clean date 1:05:50 The hardest decision he's ever made 1:06:11 Going all in on a 12-step program 1:08:00 The NA pamphlet in the common room 1:08:51 Two weeks of "Hi, I'm Joe" 1:09:29 Why videography 1:11:36 Learning aperture off YouTube 1:14:10 Priorities — and a baby due October 2nd 1:16:13 Print-on-demand t-shirts 1:17:23 "Drunken Grown Ups" and other dumb shirts 1:18:47 If money weren't an issue 1:20:08 The studio he'd build 1:21:49 When he figured out he could sing 1:22:12 Singing into his own answering machine 1:24:18 Finding your voice, and being scared to belt it 1:27:37 Rapid fire 1:27:52 The only book he's ever read 1:29:38 Dog or cat 1:30:34 What does success actually mean? 1:31:04 "That definitely does include money" 1:31:38 Wanting to spend $5,000 without worrying 1:34:09 The dream house, and a big finished barn 1:36:07 What he hopes his grandkids say 1:37:31 When he feels most alive 1:38:31 What would surprise someone who knew him at 18 1:40:10 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY WAYFINDERS TESTICULAR HEALTH FUND Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Aware. Wayfinders THF is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to impacting the lives and health of young men by combating testicular cancer through awareness, education, fundraising, and community support — with a focus on men aged 14 to 35. A component fund of Chesapeake Charities. Website: https://www.wayfindersthf.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersthf Donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 PUTTS FORE! NUTS — 2nd Annual Charity Mini-Golf Tournament Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM Embers Island Mini-Golf, 2305 Philadelphia Ave Suite #4, Ocean City, MD 21842 Event info: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/putts-fore-nuts Register / donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2419 Sponsorships available at every level — team, tee box, prizes, t-shirts and more. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Dave Matthews Band · Nirvana · Soundgarden · Stone Temple Pilots · Pearl Jam · Toadies · Phish "Come As You Are" · "Blackbird" · "Yellow Ledbetter" · "Wild Horses" · "Folsom Prison Blues" · "Bad Moon Rising" · "Stir It Up" · 40oz. to Freedom Queen Anne Colony · Cape St. Clair · Centreville Middle School · Kent Narrows · Betty's · Pintail Point · Prospect Bay · Queenstown Golf Course · Tuckahoe State Park · Juneau, Alaska · Salisbury University · Mardela Springs · Fairlee Island Yacht Brokers · J.Crew · DirecTV · Serenity Acres · Evolve · Narcotics Anonymous Chesapeake by James Michener · Surviving the Game · Ultimate Guitar · ChatGPT SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebryanmusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (EPISODE 41) Cameras: Sony A7 IV, Sony A7 V, Sony FX3 Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 Audio Software: Reaper Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free and confidential: 1-800-662-4357. #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Annapolis #MarylandPodcast #Recovery #WayfindersTHF

"I felt like a hero, Joe." Mike Waskey owns 42 bags. He can recite the model names from memory. And by the end of this conversation he can tell you exactly why — it goes back to a pair of pants that split open on his second day working at Starbucks. This is Part 1 of a two-part swap: no guest, no format, just Mike and Joe interviewing each other. Joe takes the chair this week and asks Mike the questions. Next episode, Mike turns it around — with help from ChatGPT, since he's decided that's fair play. Joe did zero preparation, and it shows in the best way. The first hour wanders through beef tallow hair product, a pair of $400 Randolph sunglasses, Project Hail Mary, Silo, and a dad joke that probably shouldn't have survived the edit. Then it gets somewhere real. Mike's father grew up in the Plymouth Brethren — a religious group headquartered in Australia where children weren't allowed to listen to the radio, and where leaving meant your entire family stopped speaking to you. He got out by enlisting as a conscientious objector. Mike walks us through what he knows of it, why he thinks people are drawn to that kind of thing, and his own view that any organization worth joining should probably be a little bit cultish. We trace the stages of Michael Steven Waskey: the soccer-and-karate kid, the skateboarding guitar player with the 90s haircut, the kid who quit the soccer team after fighting three teammates who were picking on someone smaller, the high schooler recording an album with Statue Spread, the heavy phase with Clockwork, and the college student who found out he could sing in an ear training class. And the Heavy Fred years — which means the crab tater tots story. Joe walking off stage mid-song to eat by the handful, Mike hiding his keys, the band leaving without him, and the intervention that took another year and a half to work. Both of them tell it straight. After the break Joe asks what Mike's morals and values actually are, and Mike takes it seriously: family as the basis of society, four adopted children, faith, and the parts he doesn't live up to. He's unusually honest about it — the word games he plays with pricing to make more money, jealousy, and a resistance to authority that runs from claiming cash tips all the way down to wearing a seatbelt. Then the bags. Mike pulls one off camera and gives an unrequested tour, and it becomes the most revealing part of the episode: a wrench pulled out of a tire on vacation with paracord and a hitch, the ripped pants at Starbucks, and what it actually feels like to be the person who has what everyone needs. We also get into what's next — pivoting from bar gigs to weddings, funerals, and corporate events, playing fewer but better shows, and the fact that he needs to go buy a suit. What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund 00:45 Welcome to Episode 40 — no guest this time 01:41 The plan: we interview each other 02:11 "Did you do any research on me?" 02:47 First question: beef tallow hair product 03:53 $400 sunglasses and the Randolph rabbit hole 07:15 The $40 glasses with magnetic clip-ons 08:26 Project Hail Mary 10:06 Silo, and drip-feeding a story 12:32 The jeans, the air conditioner, and "give me your login" 13:12 A dad joke that shouldn't have made the edit 13:46 Michael Steven Waskey — born Easton, raised Kent Island 14:39 Mike's dad grew up in a cult 16:44 The Plymouth Brethren, and leaving through the military 17:52 What draws people to cults? 18:30 "Any organization worth joining should be a little bit cultish" 20:47 Why Mike's dad got out 22:18 The Amish, the Mennonites, and friction as a feature 23:49 Raw milk, herd shares, and a solar-powered bathroom 26:06 The stages of Michael Waskey: soccer and karate 27:38 Skateboarding, guitar, and the 90s haircut 28:24 Quitting the soccer team over a fight 29:10 First bands, John Gunther, and Statue Spread 32:17 Recording in high school, and going heavy with Clockwork 33:48 College, learning to sing, and going solo 34:36 Trading time for money vs. writing songs 36:08 Musical influences — and the Heavy Fred years 36:57 The crab tater tot story 37:42 The intervention that took another year and a half 38:28 Singers you can't get past 42:21 How a band survives 40 years and two heroin addictions 46:12 What Mike actually listens to now 50:04 The Charles Ponzi series 51:36 How the Ponzi scheme actually worked 57:04 Letting AI invest your money 58:57 Sponsor — Wayfinders THF & Putts Fore! Nuts 1:00:26 What are your morals and values? 1:00:59 Family, faith, and four adopted children 1:02:32 Where morals come from 1:04:59 Following the Bible, and why people interpret it differently 1:07:19 Do you live up to your own values? 1:08:54 Being honest with yourself 1:10:28 Pricing, word games, and the urge to be dishonest 1:12:49 Authority, seatbelts, and claiming cash tips 1:14:28 Laziness, oversleeping, and the chicken coop 1:17:34 The bag segment begins 1:18:19 The Vertx Urban Ghost sling 1:20:37 Hero clips, rapid access tabs, and CCW compartments 1:22:56 Why bags? The doomsday prepper phase 1:24:32 The wrench in the tire 1:27:40 The ripped pants at Starbucks 1:28:25 "I felt like a hero, Joe" 1:29:12 Joe needs a bag 1:31:32 Does a sling look manly? 1:33:04 The Vanquest Katara, and knowing all the names 1:33:49 What's next: pivoting to private events 1:35:23 Weddings, funerals, and what to charge 1:38:28 Foster care, and MSW upside down 1:39:14 Mike's crowd work 1:41:33 Taking a break vs. working the room 1:43:51 Why private gigs feel different 1:44:37 Rating Joe's interview skills 1:44:54 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY WAYFINDERS TESTICULAR HEALTH FUND Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Aware. Wayfinders THF is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to impacting the lives and health of young men by combating testicular cancer through awareness, education, fundraising, and community support — with a focus on men aged 14 to 35. A component fund of Chesapeake Charities. Website: https://www.wayfindersthf.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersthf Donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 PUTTS FORE! NUTS — 2nd Annual Charity Mini-Golf Tournament Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM Embers Island Mini-Golf, 2305 Philadelphia Ave Suite #4, Ocean City, MD 21842 Event info: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/putts-fore-nuts Register / donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2419 Sponsorships available at every level — team, tee box, prizes, t-shirts and more. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Randolph Engineering sunglasses · Zenni · Project Hail Mary · Silo · Plymouth Brethren Statue Spread · Clockwork · Heavy Fred · John Gunther Counting Crows · Third Eye Blind · Matchbox 20 · The Get Up Kids · Mineral · Bright Eyes · Deftones · Meshuggah · Radiohead · Red Hot Chili Peppers · Jason Isbell Dead Drop · Theo Von · Joe Rogan · Diary of a CEO · Sean Ryan Show · Lex Fridman · The Gigging Musician Podcast · Blurry Creatures · Haunted Cosmos · Alex O'Connor Vertx Urban Ghost sling · Vanquest Katara · HeroClip SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebryanmusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (EPISODE 40) Camera: Sony A7C II Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 Audio Software: Reaper Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Annapolis #MarylandPodcast #TesticularCancerAwareness #WayfindersTHF

"I wasn't the best. I was the most consistent out of any of my competition." Jason Morton has run roughly 800 Facebook ads in three years — one for every show, no matter how small — and he can now walk into a venue negotiation with the data to back up his rate. This is the most practical conversation we've had on this show. Jason Morton of Jason Morton & The Chesapeake Sons is back for his second appearance, 32 episodes after he sat in a plastic chair as one of our first guests ever. He's just off a plane from Nashville with four new songs, the masters back last week, and a rebrand in progress: the same country rock bones with poppier vocal melodies laid over the top. We start with how he got here — piano at four, guitar through middle school, a jock in high school who played alone in his room, then a biology degree at Salisbury he picked almost by accident and never used. He tells the story of driving home halfway through college to tell his dad he was quitting biology for music, and what his father said back. Then it turns into something closer to a masterclass. Jason walks through the promotion system he's built: a Facebook event page for every single show, a video embedded in it, a boosted ad geo-targeted to twenty-five miles, separate ads for engagement and for ticket sales, and the club owner added as a co-host so the venue has skin in the game too. He explains why you delete old event pages, why your Instagram grid matters more than any single post, and why one ad for one show is meaningless but a hundred and fifty of them is leverage. The other thread running through the whole episode is Atomic Habits, which Jason picked up because he kept reaching the end of a day and wondering where it had gone. Cue, craving, response, reward. Design the environment instead of relying on willpower. Say "I'm a musician," not "I play music." He's up at 5am now, gym first, ten to two for content — and he's honest that the reason he falls off is always that he let the environment slide, usually a cluttered garage. We also get into the hard conversation most local bands never have: live players versus studio players, and what it costs to tell the guitarist who's driven all those miles with you that his parts aren't going on the record. We also talk about why less polish outperforms more right now, the artist who cut 500 reels for a single song, taking the last record offline, changing your sound and losing fans, Wim Hof breathing, learning to regulate your nervous system, what a hospice nurse hears people regret at the end, and the mentor who beat Paul Reed Smith for Small Businessman of the Year. What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Sponsor — Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund 00:30 Cold open: first listen to "Fishin' in Tennessee" 01:15 Why Mike hates a fade-out 02:35 When a fade-out is actually the right call 03:00 Writing music you can see before you can hear it 04:18 Every YouTuber starts with the thumbnail 05:40 Jason Morton is back, 32 episodes later 06:30 The brown pants 07:30 Five Metallica shirts, Monday through Friday 08:45 Just back from Nashville with four new songs 09:30 The rebrand: poppy melodies on country rock bones 10:14 "Psychedelic myopic rock" and why venues pull old bios 12:00 The band that's been together ten years 13:30 How he ended up a biology major by accident 15:19 Piano at four, guitar in middle school, jock in high school 17:00 Telling his dad he was quitting biology for music 18:44 Does your degree actually matter? 20:25 The trades, HVAC, and the friends who did better 21:17 Construction, beers at 2pm, and getting stuck 23:00 Why rehab fails when you return to the same environment 23:50 Atomic Habits enters the conversation 25:00 A wife who's up at 6am with four horses 26:22 Why self-help books stop working after three months 27:14 Design the environment, not the willpower 28:05 The guitar on the stand instead of in the case 28:56 Cue, craving, response, reward 30:37 Cravings that arrive without a cue 31:27 "I'm a musician" beats "I play music" 32:17 The heaviest weight in the gym is the front door 33:08 The 400-pound guy who just had to walk in 34:49 Paralysis by analysis 35:40 Why less polish performs better now 37:24 From two videos a week to fifteen clips a day 38:15 Kels, and the 500 reels for one single 39:57 Instagram trial reels 40:49 The horse manure video his wife was right about 43:21 People want the personality, not the production 46:44 Posting every day changes you as a person 47:35 The stroller review that proved the point 49:17 When a person becomes a brand 50:11 The label that paid $10,000 for a brand guide 52:43 Make a Facebook event page for every single show 54:24 Embed the video, boost the ad, target 25 miles 56:06 The people who show up after seeing you for two years 56:57 150 shows, 150 ads, and the data to prove it 58:39 Using ad data to negotiate your rate 1:00:21 Make the club owner a co-host 1:02:02 "How many people are you bringing tonight?" 1:05:26 Separate ads for engagement and for tickets 1:07:59 What Joe has been doing differently 1:08:49 4:5 for the feed, 9:16 for stories 1:12:19 Delete your old event pages 1:14:04 What your Instagram grid says about you 1:15:46 Taking the last record offline 1:16:36 Will you lose fans by changing your sound? 1:17:27 Sturgill, Tyler Childers and the Black Crowes 1:19:10 Two producers, two completely different records 1:21:44 Live players versus studio players 1:22:35 Brian Wilson and the Wrecking Crew 1:23:26 Telling your guitarist his parts aren't on the record 1:25:08 Take your local band to Nashville 1:28:32 Recording outside cuts, and imposter syndrome 1:30:17 Back to Atomic Habits: what actually changed 1:31:10 The 5am alarm and the clothes on the nightstand 1:32:51 Ten to two is video content 1:34:32 Priming the garage 1:35:24 Self-awareness as the real skill 1:36:15 Learning to regulate your nervous system 1:39:41 Jefferson Fisher: no response is a response 1:40:31 Wim Hof breathing 1:41:22 Soft White Underbelly and the generational disconnect 1:43:23 Sponsor — Wayfinders THF & Putts Fore! Nuts 1:45:37 The chain reaction of one good habit 1:47:21 When "that's a trigger for me" becomes a cop-out 1:49:02 "Would a healthy person eat this?" 1:51:33 Why you fall off, and what to check first 1:55:00 Habit stacking 1:59:18 Zig Ziglar: action first, motivation follows 2:01:00 Wanting the result right now 2:02:42 Ten pages a day is a book a month 2:05:14 The book that admits you're going to fail 2:06:07 The morning after a conversation goes wrong 2:08:39 Larry Ray, Big Vanilla, and beating Paul Reed Smith 2:10:21 "I wasn't the best. I was the most consistent." 2:11:11 Why we don't get any of this at 24 2:13:44 Denzel Washington on the process 2:14:35 What hospice patients actually regret 2:16:20 The new music, and which song lands first CONNECT WITH JASON MORTON & THE CHESAPEAKE SONS Website: https://www.chesapeakesons.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjasonmorton/ Facebook (band): https://www.facebook.com/chesapeakesons/ Facebook (Jason): https://www.facebook.com/iamjasonmorton/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MFDWIQmH337VK1kDJLxkg SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamjasonmorton Tour dates: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15198364-jason-morton-and-the-chesapeake-sons Booking: [email protected] Jason was previously on Episode 7 of The Shift with Mike & Joe. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY WAYFINDERS TESTICULAR HEALTH FUND Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Aware. Wayfinders THF is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to impacting the lives and health of young men by combating testicular cancer through awareness, education, fundraising, and community support — with a focus on men aged 14 to 35. A component fund of Chesapeake Charities. Website: https://www.wayfindersthf.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersthf Donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 PUTTS FORE! NUTS — 2nd Annual Charity Mini-Golf Tournament Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM Embers Island Mini-Golf, 2305 Philadelphia Ave Suite #4, Ocean City, MD 21842 Event info: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/putts-fore-nuts Register / donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2419 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Atomic Habits (James Clear) · Zig Ziglar · Jefferson Fisher · Wim Hof · Soft White Underbelly · Diary of a CEO Kels · Tyler Childers · Sturgill Simpson · The Black Crowes · Whiskey Myers · Zach Top · Denzel Washington Tommy Hardin (Alabama) · Will Edwards · Jason Heizer · Rob · The Cheaters · The Wrecking Crew · Brian Wilson Shea Springer / Sweetfoot Studios · Chris Hahnemann · Larry Ray / Big Vanilla Athletic Club · Paul Reed Smith Salisbury University · Rams Head · The Avalon SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebryanmusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Annapolis #MarylandPodcast #AtomicHabits #CountryRock #MusicMarketing

In Episode 38 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with business and marketing coach Peggy Re James to talk about her unconventional upbringing, her path into entrepreneurship, and how she built a business designed to support her life instead of consuming it. Peggy opens up about growing up as one of eight sisters in a highly controlled religious environment connected to the organization featured in the documentary series Happy Shiny People. She shares how that experience shaped her childhood, how her family eventually recognized what they had been part of, and what it was like to begin questioning and deconstructing those beliefs. We also explore Peggy’s journey from stay-at-home mom and virtual assistant to six-figure business owner, coach, course creator, and host of the Six Figure Shift podcast. She explains how she surpassed her husband’s corporate salary within months, why specialization makes a business easier to scale, and how she helps established entrepreneurs make more money while working fewer hours. Peggy also shares why your business vision should support your life vision, how systems and boundaries create freedom, why marketing is about more than simply posting online, and how she is applying her own framework to launch a local cleaning company without becoming the person doing the cleaning. We also talk about personal branding, outsourcing, motherhood, jiu-jitsu, debt, investing, short-term rentals, perfectionism, decision-making, and the challenge of building a business without becoming trapped by it. Connect with Peggy Re James: Website: https://peggyrejames.com Podcast: https://peggyrejames.com/listen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peggyrejames/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@peggyrejames LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyrejames/ Learn more about The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350

In Episode 37 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Daniel Alvarez — musician, videographer, photographer, audio engineer, producer, and the creative force behind Spilling Pictures Studio.   Daniel shares his story of growing up in Colombia before moving to Maryland, discovering guitar as a teenager, playing in original bands, and eventually building a creative life around music, video, photography, and audio production. We talk about the name Spilling Pictures, his band Leo & Cygnus, the Annapolis music scene, and how his older brother helped introduce him to film and video work.   This conversation also gets into the real side of creative work: pricing yourself, raising your rates, dealing with imposter syndrome, working with musicians who may not have big budgets, learning by trial and error, and trying to balance passion with business.   Daniel also opens up about losing his DC studio in a house fire in 2024, the gear and creative space he lost, and the way the Annapolis creative community, AMFM, friends, family, and supporters helped him rebuild.   We also talk about AI in creative work, where it can be useful, where it starts to feel like “AI slop,” and why live performance, human taste, collaboration, and real creative connection still matter.   Huge thanks to our sponsor Cult Classic Brewing in Stevensville, Maryland — a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and live music venue on Kent Island.   In this episode, we talk about: • Daniel’s childhood in Colombia and moving to Maryland • Learning guitar and falling in love with music • The story behind Spilling Pictures Studio • Leo & Cygnus and the Annapolis music scene • Getting into video, photography, and audio production • Filming musicians, live sessions, and music videos • Shooting in the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower • Capturing real ambience in live performance videos • DaVinci Resolve, AI tools, and creative workflow • Pricing creative work and learning to value your time • Losing a studio in a fire and rebuilding through community • Recording artists and why having another person in the room matters • Building a creative life around music, cameras, and collaboration   Follow Daniel / Spilling Pictures Studio: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spillingpicturesstudio/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@spillingpicturesstudio   Follow Daniel personally: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniver92/   Follow Leo & Cygnus: https://leoandcygnus.com   Sponsor: Cult Classic Brewing https://cultclassicbrewing.com https://www.instagram.com/cultclassicbrewing/   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com   Connect with Mike & Joe: Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

In Episode 36 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with guitarist, teacher, bandleader, and Priddy Music Academy owner Lee Priddy to talk about building a life around music, teaching, family, and community.   Lee shares how he first got hooked on guitar after hearing Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio,” how players like Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, and Guthrie Govan shaped his playing, and how years of lessons, gigging, touring, and teaching eventually led him to build one of the area’s most performance-focused music schools.   We also talk about the growth of Priddy Music Academy, from private guitar lessons to a full music academy in Millersville with multiple teachers, student bands, adult bands, showcases, charity events, and real-world performance opportunities. Lee breaks down what students can’t learn from YouTube, why fundamentals still matter, how band programs build confidence and responsibility, and what it takes to manage 20-plus bands.   The conversation also covers Lee’s family band Honey Sol, PRS guitars, pedalboards, live tone, performance anxiety, music education, charity events, sound production, and the community that has grown around Priddy Music Academy.   Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life?   Connect with Lee Priddy / Priddy Music Academy: Priddy Music Academy: https://priddymusicacademy.com Lessons & Bands: https://priddymusicacademy.com/music-lessons Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priddymusicacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priddymusicacademy/   Honey Sol: Website: https://www.honey-sol.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeysolband/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeysolband/   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

John Haywood on Nashville Songwriting, Outlaw Country, Stage Fright + Chasing Something Real - EP 35 In Episode 35 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Maryland-born country artist and songwriter John Haywood to talk about his path from writing novels and short stories to chasing songs in Nashville. John shares how a trip through Music City sparked the idea for a book about Nashville’s songwriting scene, only for that project to eventually turn into a much bigger shift toward writing and performing music himself. We get into his early days playing open mics at places like Cult Classic, the confidence he found through learning guitar, his battle with stage fright, and what it was like moving to Nashville as a shy person trying to break into one of the most competitive songwriter communities in the country. John also breaks down the reality of Nashville writers rounds, bar gigs, networking, recording music on a budget, touring after losing his day job, and building a career around original songs without chasing the more polished, radio-friendly version of country music. We talk about his outlaw and gothic country influences, his Maryland roots, his time performing overseas in Scotland and England, his appearance as lead singer of Gamblers in the Neon on AXS TV’s Banded: The Musician Competition, and the mindset behind wanting to become one of the best writers of his time. It’s a conversation about music, confidence, discomfort, old-school country, creative ambition, and the strange but necessary process of becoming the person you always hoped you could be. Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life? In this episode, we talk about John’s Maryland roots, moving to Nashville, writers rounds, stage fright, outlaw country, recording music independently, touring overseas, appearing on Banded: The Musician Competition, and what it means to chase something real instead of settling. Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com Connect with John Haywood Website: https://johnhaywood.info Tour Dates: https://johnhaywood.info/tour EPK / One Sheet: https://johnhaywood.info/epk-onesheet Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Heyhaywood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyhaywood/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyhaywood/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg1gXUaZjNSBU_lL5sy2E9A Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yQUEBrCLsgRvH8ceG7TTM Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/john-haywood/1694806429 Connect with Mike & Joe Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media.

Jay Fleming on Documenting the Dying Waterman Industry + Preserving Chesapeake Bay Culture - EP 34 In Episode 34 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Maryland photographer Jay Fleming to talk about his career documenting the Chesapeake Bay, the seafood industry, and the people whose lives are tied to the water. Jay shares how growing up around photography through his father, former National Geographic photographer Kevin Fleming, shaped his eye from an early age. He also talks about early wildlife photography, fisheries work, Maryland seafood marketing, and how those experiences led him toward his first major book, Working the Water. What starts as a conversation about photography becomes a deeper look at the changing reality of the Chesapeake Bay’s watermen, the economics of local seafood, and why so much of this culture is disappearing so quickly. We also get into Jay’s self-published books, his sold-out Smith Island photography workshops, documenting Tangier and Smith Island for Island Life, boat bow photography, underwater images of blue crabs and rockfish, AI’s impact on photography, his next book Atlantic Harvest, and the realities of working inside small island communities. It’s a conversation about photography, preservation, local identity, and what it means to capture a way of life before it changes forever. Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life? In this episode, we talk about: • Jay Fleming growing up around photography • Kevin Fleming’s National Geographic work • Learning photography on film with an old Nikon • Winning an EPA photo contest as a teenager • Working with DNR, Yellowstone fisheries, and seafood marketing • How Jay connected to the waterman industry • Creating Working the Water • Self-publishing, printing overseas, and taking a $40,000 risk • Selling books directly and building a local business • Island Life and documenting Smith and Tangier Islands • Chesapeake Bay island communities changing fast • The decline of the waterman industry • Rising costs, regulations, imports, and younger generations leaving the work • Luke McFadden and the new model for modern watermen • Local seafood vs. imported seafood • Crab meat, restaurants, and what people may not realize they’re eating • Jay’s sold-out Smith Island workshops • Bringing business and positive attention to island communities • The Tangier Island boat vandalism story • Boat bow photography and Jay’s fine-art print business • Next book project, Atlantic Harvest • Photographing commercial fishing from Canada to Cuba • Offshore fishing boats, rough seas, and dangerous conditions • Underwater photography in the Chesapeake Bay • Drone photography with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro • Jay’s editing philosophy and keeping images authentic • Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, and Photoshop instead of Lightroom • AI, authenticity, and avoiding heavy manipulation • Email newsletters, open houses, and building a direct audience • Preserving local history before it disappears Connect with Jay Fleming: Website: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayflemingphotography/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayFlemingPhoto/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayPennFleming Workshops: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/workshops Shop / Books / Prints: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop Working the Water: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop/the-book-workingthewater Island Life: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop/islandlife Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com Connect with Mike & Joe: Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

From College TV Show to Global Cooking Classes + Why Chef Egg Still Wants to Be a Rock Star - EP 33 In Episode 33 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Eric Berlin, better known as Chef Egg, to talk about the unconventional career he built by teaching people how to cook. What starts as a conversation about culinary school and restaurant life quickly turns into a much bigger story about performance, education, and connection. Eric breaks down how he carved out a lane far outside the traditional kitchen: teaching hands-on cooking classes at colleges, working with health departments and veterans groups, appearing on Baltimore and DC television, traveling internationally with the military, and helping people overcome the fear that keeps them from cooking for themselves in the first place. We also get into the origin of the name “Chef Egg,” his early public-access cooking show, how relationships and follow-through created major opportunities in Baltimore, and why he still sees himself as a musician at heart. The conversation also touches on virtual cooking classes, Chef Egg soap, trying to turn creativity into income, and the 25-year journey of writing his first novel. This is an episode about making things, staying open to unexpected opportunities, and chasing the kind of work that makes you feel most alive. In this episode, we talk about: Reconnecting after college What Chef Egg actually does Why restaurant life wasn’t the right fit Cooking classes at colleges, schools, and community events Teaching knife skills, sautéing, and kitchen confidence Why people are scared to cook Food habits, health, and convenience culture Making healthier food without making it miserable The origin of the name “Chef Egg” The first Cooking with Egg show Public-access TV and building creative projects with no money Live TV cooking segments in Baltimore and DC Farmers markets, festivals, and word-of-mouth growth Music, performance, and the overlap between cooking and entertaining Traveling gigs with the military in Egypt, Germany, and beyond Hands-on classes and virtual cooking instruction Why passive-income ideas never fully clicked Chef Egg soap and unusual branding that actually worked Tallow, bone broth, and whole-animal cooking Time, priorities, and the real reason people say they don’t cook Creativity, discipline, and accepting you can’t force people to change Parenting, work ethic, and teaching kids responsibility Curiosity, opportunity, and learning from other people’s work Writing a novel 25 years in the making Current music projects and still wanting to be a rock star Performance mindset, preparation, and not fearing mistakes Connect with Chef Egg: Website: https://chefegg.com/ Book Chef Egg: https://chefegg.com/booking/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefegg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefEgg/ Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

Filming John Mayer & Santana at PRS + The Cancer Shift That Changed Everything | Andrew Dorbin (EP 32)   In Episode 32 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Andrew Dorbin, Senior Videographer at PRS Guitars in Stevensville, Maryland. Andrew takes us inside the PRS world—working around Paul Reed Smith, filming product demos where both lighting and audio have to be flawless, and capturing artists on the road. We talk PRS’s quality-first mindset (from SE to Private Stock), how custom builds work through dealers, and what changes when you’re filming legends like John Mayer and Carlos Santana.   Then the conversation goes deeper. Andrew shares how a testicular cancer diagnosis reshaped his priorities and led him to launch the Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund. He walks through early warning signs, how he discovered it, why early detection matters, and what’s next for the nonprofit— including Putts for Nuts and a potential comedy fundraiser. This is an episode about craft, pressure, meaning, and the kind of shift you don’t get to choose.   In this episode: What makes PRS different (Paul + quality-first culture) SE vs Private Stock + how custom builds work Filming guitars: lighting challenges + capturing great audio Artist shoots: the Santana lesson + working with John Mayer Cancer, perspective shifts, and building Wayfinders   Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/   Support / follow the show: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065   Produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

This week on The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Bobby Jackson — guitarist for MIGGS (M-I-G-G-S) — to talk about what it actually takes to build a band that works: chemistry, leadership inside the group, finding the right lineup, and keeping momentum without burning out.   Bobby breaks down his path from drummer → guitarist, how gospel + church music shaped his musicianship, and why modern country guitar has more overlap with the worship world than most people realize. We also get into the grind of building MIGGS from solo → duo → full band, how they finally landed the right players (yes… including the “is Tench his real name?” moment), and why the band is now focused on quality over quantity.   We also talk live-show reality: being the “glue” on stage, using talkback/MD-style cues, rehearsing transitions and show flow, handling crowd requests, and balancing family life with gigs and a day job in live events production.   And yes… Creed comes up. A lot.   Question for you: What matters more for a band’s success — talent, chemistry, or work ethic?   In this episode: Bobby’s role in MIGGS + being the “glue” live What an MD does (cues, saves, talkback mic, show flow) Drummer-to-guitarist journey + why he switched Gospel/church roots and how they translate to country Pedals, tone, and the modern country/worship overlap Florida vs Maryland music scene + the Nashville reality check MIGGS origin story: solo → duo grind → full band lineup Finding the right drummer/bassist + building a reliable team Why “quality over quantity” matters (and how to avoid burnout) Rehearsal strategy: parts, tones, transitions, and polish Marketing consistency without repeating the same post Recording in Nashville + using demos/AI for song ideas Links & Support (Podbean-friendly)   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com   Mike & Joe Image & Sound Media (Joe): https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike): https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com   MIGGS / Bobby Jackson MIGGS (band): follow for show updates + new releases (link as available)

In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Joey Malinsky of Across the Bridge Productions (ATB Productions) to talk about what it really looks like to build a video production career across multiple eras of the industry—big commercial sets, shifting budgets, and the current “content volume” economy.   Joey breaks down the meaning behind ATB (Across the Bridge), his early start in video, and what he learned working in high-end production environments. We get into the realities of running a lean team, scaling (and getting burned), and why comedy + original storytelling are still the north star—even when corporate/nonprofit work pays the bills.   We also go deep on AI in the production world: how Joey uses it across his workflow (from writing and planning to audio cleanup and AI-generated b-roll), what it means for creators, and the real backlash he faced when he was invited to teach an AI workshop—including how quickly the conversation can turn dark online.   You’ll hear about: The shift from “one piece of content has value” to a volume-first era Hiring and scaling challenges (especially finding great editors) Music licensing vs AI-generated music (Suno) and client revision chaos AI tools and workflows (prompts, transitions, b-roll generation, cleanup) Ethics, deepfakes, and why this conversation isn’t going away Balancing creativity, business, and family life while staying productive   🎧 Listen on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you stream. ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube.   If you got value from this one, please follow/subscribe, leave a rating + review, and drop a comment—it helps the show grow.

Episode 29 — Justin Taylor   In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Maryland-based artist and guitarist Justin Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts music nerd-out and real talk about the craft.   We talk about how Justin started gigging at 13, what those early years taught him, and how he built his career through relentless reps, touring, and staying obsessed with getting better. From there we dive deep into PRS guitars (including his Private Stock), tone-chasing, live rig choices, and why blending electric/piezo tones can make a three-piece band sound huge.   Justin also shares how songwriting in Nashville often starts as a simple conversation that turns into a finished song fast — and why he’s leaning into “Work Tapes,” voice notes, and imperfect recordings that feel more human than polished perfection. We wrap with a great discussion on live shows: winging it vs. choreography, the internet’s effect on performance, and why authenticity is having a moment again.   Guest: Justin Taylor Find Justin: Instagram @JustinTaylorMD | Website JustinTaylorBand.com | Music: Hindsight (available on Spotify/Apple Music) The Shift with Mike & Joe is produced by Image & Sound Media www.imagesoundmedia.com   🎧 Support The Shift with Mike & Joe • 🌐 Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com  • 💸 Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1  • ✉️ Email: [email protected]  • ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe • 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/  • 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350  • 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065  • 🎙 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com

Episode 28 is just Mike & Joe—no guest, no script, and a surprisingly useful behind-the-scenes breakdown of what we’re changing to actually grow The Shift.   We talk through what we’d do differently if we restarted the podcast from zero, the real reason clips are becoming our growth engine, and the “boring” stuff that matters more than people think: consistency, workflow, thumbnails, and division of labor. We also share the real-world time + cost of producing an episode, how the show has helped networking and business opportunities, and why we’re putting more intention into packaging (titles/thumbnails/clips) moving forward.   In this episode: If we restarted from zero: what we’d change immediately (schedule + consistency) Why clips are the fastest lever for growth (and what makes a clip work) Learning DaVinci Resolve + collaborative editing (project sharing + workflow) Thumbnail strategy: building the episode around “packaging” from the start Our current publishing cadence and why we’re tightening the process The real cost of an episode (time, editing, and what we outsource) Sponsorship reality: why we’re focused on views + subscribers right now Email list: why we still haven’t built it (and why we need to) A “podcast tour” idea + how bigger guests could change the trajectory Quick life/business updates: music gigs, lessons, video work, and what’s next   Question for you: What’s the biggest growth lever for a smaller podcast right now—clips, thumbnails, consistency, or guests? 🎧 Support / Follow The Shift with Mike & Joe   Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe 🎸 Connect with Mike & Joe   Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com YouTube: @imagesoundmedia   Joe Bryan Music Website: https://joebryanmusic.com   Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic   Michael Waskey Music Website: https://michaelwaskey.com 🎥 Production Gear (Episode 28)   Main camera: Sony A7V + Sigma 24–70mm f/2.8 Joe cam: Sony FX3 + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM Mike cam: Sony A7 IV + Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II   Lighting: Amaran 100x (rim), Amaran 200x (rim), Amaran F22x (key)   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

How do you build a 700K YouTube channel, turn a reaction format into a real community, and then build a physical product that expands what music lessons can be? The Shift with Mike & Joe — EP 27 (feat. Michael Palmisano / GuitarGate)   In Episode 27, we sit down with Michael Palmisano (GuitarGate / YouTube) to unpack the real behind-the-scenes path: starting early with a “perfect” build that almost nobody saw, learning distribution and traffic the hard way (Udemy → ads → owning your audience), discovering the breakthrough YouTube format that finally clicked, and then following customer demand into GuitarGate and the Teleport—a tool that’s turning guitar playing into something you can literally send to someone else.   We also get into product thinking (simplicity vs feature creep), community-led decision making, the reality of scaling a physical product (supply chain + lead times), and some unexpectedly deep life stuff that came up along the way.   In this episode: How Guitar Teacher Reacts became a growth engine (and why it finally worked) Why “build it perfect first” is usually the wrong move (and what to do instead) Udemy vs owning your platform (customers, control, long-term leverage) Turning audience feedback into a product roadmap (community-led execution) The Teleport: what it is, how people actually use it, and why it’s so powerful Content strategy: depth vs width (and why depth wins long-term) Creativity vs “business brain” (and how to structure partnerships that work) The friction that kills creativity (and how simplicity fixes it) Michael’s personal journey with quitting alcohol   Question for you: What part of Michael’s journey hit you hardest—YouTube growth, building GuitarGate, or the Teleport product story? Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… Podbean: joer7.podbean.com Connect with Michael Palmisano (GuitarGate) YouTube (GuitarGate / Guitar Teacher Reacts): https://www.youtube.com/@Guitargate GuitarGate (community + lessons): https://guitargate.com Teleport (product info): https://teleport.guitargate.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitargate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guitargate Link hub: https://linktr.ee/guitargate Connect with Mike & Joe   Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia TikTok: @imagesoundmedia YouTube: @imagesoundmedia   Joe Bryan Music Website: https://joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @joebryanmusic TikTok: @joebryanmusic   Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic Google Maps: KIAOM on Google   Michael Waskey Music Website: https://michaelwaskey.com Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic Podcast Production Gear (typical Shift setup) Cameras: Sony FX3, Sony A7 IV, Sony A7C II, Sony A7RV Lenses: Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II, Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art, Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM Mics: Shure SM7B (hosts), large-diaphragm condenser for guest Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 into 14” MacBook Pro Audio: Reaper Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran softboxes & tube lights   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com   #TheShiftPodcast #MichaelPalmisano #GuitarGate #GuitarTeacherReacts #Teleport #YouTubeGrowth #ContentCreator #CreatorEconomy #OnlineMusicLessons #MusicEducation #GuitarLessons #GuitarCommunity #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness

First Female Guests: Realtor & Loan Originator Talk Home Buying | The Shift with Mike & Joe — EP 26   Episode 26 starts with Mike and Joe rolling out the new intro song (and immediately arguing about who played what), then welcoming the show’s first female guests: Jeri Lynn Montgomery (Realtor, Long & Foster — Kent Island) and Maureen “Mo” Silvers (Loan Originator, My Community Mortgage). Before we get into real estate, we deal with the real emergency of the day: Joe’s “amazing” new mic stands… and Mike breaking one within minutes.   After that, we dive into the behind-the-scenes reality of buying and selling a home—what most people don’t see: How Jeri Lynn and Mo got into their careers (tests, pass rates, learning curves, and why mentorship matters) Why open houses are still a powerful lead engine Networking and relationship-building in real estate and lending Why “no credit” can be just as challenging as “bad credit” What changes for self-employed buyers (documentation, history, and expectations) Retail lenders vs. brokerages (shopping rates/fees, account execs, and how fast deals can close) The stress points that make deals complicated: contingencies, inspections, title searches, appraisals vs. market value What happens when a home doesn’t appraise (and how deals get saved or fall apart) A few side quests on marketing (billboards, photography/video), routines, and why the process is smoother with the right people guiding you Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… Podbean: joer7.podbean.com Connect with Mike & Joe   Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia TikTok: @imagesoundmedia YouTube: @imagesoundmedia   Joe Bryan Music Website: https://joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php? Instagram: @joebryanmusic TikTok: @joebryanmusic   Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic Google Maps: KIAOM on Google   Michael Waskey Music Website: https://michaelwaskey.com Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic Podcast Production Gear (typical Shift setup) Cameras: Sony FX3, Sony A7 IV, Sony A7C II, Sony A7RV Lenses: Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II, Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM, Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art, Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM Mics: Shure SM7B (hosts), large-diaphragm condenser for guest Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 into 14” MacBook Pro Audio: Reaper Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran softboxes & tube lights   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com   #TheShiftPodcast

🎙️ Justin Singleton: From Metal Riffs to Country Twang (and the Real Business of Gigging) | The Shift with Mike & Joe — EP 25   In Episode 25 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Justin Singleton — a Maryland-based country artist with roots in Kent County and a background that includes heavy rock/metal guitar, classic country influences, and years of learning the grind of gigging the hard way.   We get into what most people don’t see: the behind-the-scenes reality of working as a full-time working musician. Justin breaks down how he thinks about booking, pricing, responding fast to venues, tips vs. base pay, and why the “just show up and play” myth is exactly that — a myth. We also talk gear and workflow (yes, the humble cart gets the respect it deserves), plus how community, consistency, and staying positive play a bigger role than most people realize.   We also preview the upcoming classic country tribute show on February 21 and trade stories about tribute sets, artist picks, and why those shows are some of the most fun you can have as a local musician.   If you’re a musician, a creative, or anyone trying to turn a passion into a real business — this one’s for you.   ⸻   🔗 Connect with Justin Singleton • Website: justinsingletonmusic.com  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/22qJ35RI4cGwc6n6xtNIkC • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustinSingletonMusic • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justinsingletonmusic • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinsingletonmusic  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justinsingletonmusic    ⸻   🎧 Listen + Follow The Shift with Mike & Joe • Website: www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com  • YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe (full episode link in the comments on the post) • Podbean: joer7.podbean.com • Facebook: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe • Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe • TikTok: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe   ⸻   🎸 Connect with Mike & Joe Image & Sound Media (Joe) • Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com    Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) • Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic    ⸻   If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show and share it with a friend who loves live music, local artists, and real creative-business talk.

MIGGS: Country Music Artist | The Shift with Mike & Joe – EP 24   What part of MIGGS’s story hit you hardest? Let us know in the comments below! 👇   In Episode 24 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with MIGGS — a Texas-raised, Nashville-recording country artist now based in Maryland — to trace his journey from choir kid and church musician to full-band frontman packing venues like Twain’s and playing major events like PyroJam and Country Calling. He talks about growing up in Austin, joining the Air Force, playing across the world, then rebuilding his musical identity after moving to Maryland in 2020.   We dig into how he treats his live show like a true production: running clicks and in-ears, using stage prompters, crafting setlists and banter with intention, and balancing bar gigs, festivals, and higher-paying corporate shows without oversaturating his market or undercutting his own value.   From there the conversation goes deep into songwriting, loss, and building a life around music. MIGGS breaks down how he writes hook-driven songs like “Your Country Song,” “Party Ride,” “I Miss You Dad,” “Spend My Days,” “Promise You Forever,” and “Never Far Away,” and he debuts a new unreleased track, “One Sip Away,” live in the studio. He also shares the marketing and release strategy behind his upcoming EP: waterfall single releases, short-form video, YouTube and Meta ads, playlists, and college radio — along with some honest warnings about scammy playlist services.   In one of the most powerful parts of the episode, he opens up about the loss of his infant son, how he and his wife grieve differently but stay united, and how faith, gratitude, and community keep him moving forward.   If you’re an independent musician, a live-music fan, or just someone who loves real talk about marriage, business, and resilience, this episode is for you. If MIGGS’s journey gave you something to think about — the military, IT, music, growing up in Texas — drop a comment and subscribe for more episodes of The Shift!   ⸻ CONNECT WITH MIGGS   MIGGS | Official Website miggscountrymusic.com   MIGGS | YouTube www.youtube.com/@miggs.countrymusic   MIGGS | Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/2J9mDrDyEJzpzGRJScA5Yn?si=L44YAXNyR3yQ0PFSq5KAxw   MIGGS | Instagram instagram.com/miggs.countrymusic?igsh=OGFzcGY2bXEzNWhz&utm_source=qr   MIGGS | TikTok tiktok.com/@miggs.countrymusic?_t=8q3ihIdMbDm&_r=1   MIGGS | Facebook facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555729830009&mibextid=LQQJ4d   ⸻ SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE   Website: www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com   Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.co…   YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?…   Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe   TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…   Podbean: joer7.podbean.com   ⸻ CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE   Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?… Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia TikTok: @imagesoundmedia YouTube: @imagesoundmedia   Joe Bryan Music Website: https://joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?… Instagram: @joebryanmusic TikTok: @joebryanmusic   Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic Google Maps: KIAOM on Google   Michael Waskey Music Website: https://michaelwaskey.com Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic   ⸻ PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (TYPICAL SHIFT PODCAST SETUP)   Cameras: Sony FX3, Sony A7 IV, Sony A7C II, Sony A7RV   Lenses: Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM   Mics: Shure SM7B (hosts) Large-diaphragm condenser for guest   Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 into 14” MacBook Pro   Audio Software: Reaper   Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio   Lighting: Amaran softboxes & tube lights   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. www.imagesoundmedia.com   #TheShiftPodcast #MIGGS #CountryMusic #IndependentArtist #MarylandMusic

What part of Jeremy’s story hit you hardest—youth baseball, undercover police work, or juggling a dozen side hustles as a dad?   In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Furrow—coach of Bigbie’s Black Sox 12U and the mind behind MADE Baseball—to talk about building better youth baseball on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the winding road that got him here.   Jeremy shares how MADE Baseball started as a simple idea for local league play and grew into full-on tournaments, USSSA-sanctioned events, and creative weekends like “Bombs for Moms” and “Dingers for Dads.” He breaks down: Why he ditched gate fees and uses transparent pricing What actually goes into running a 40-team weekend (fields, bathrooms, umpires, first responders, food trucks, hotels, the whole local economy) How he turns tournaments into a true family business—with his wife and kids running the merch tent, helping with fields, and learning work ethic along the way   We also dig into Jeremy’s entrepreneurial path outside of baseball: Launching a security & survival training company for hospitals (full active-shooter simulations) Starting Kicking Grass Landscaping and realizing that “grass never stops growing” isn’t always a blessing Jumping into real estate, selling 50+ houses a year, and what he learned about branding, marketing, and why a “million-dollar idea on paper” still fails if nobody wants it   Then Jeremy opens up about 22 years in law enforcement—from patrol to narcotics to major offenders. He talks about doing undercover buys, building wiretap cases that tracked cocaine from cartels in other states to Maryland via car carriers, and how ego and sloppiness eventually catch up to even the most “professional” drug operations.   We close on coaching, culture, and mindset: captains, leadership at age 12, balancing push vs. burnout, and why he ultimately walked away from serious real estate money to pour into youth baseball, family, and the MADE ecosystem—including apparel lines like Reppin Maryland and Play Hard or Go Home.   If Jeremy’s journey gave you something to think about—business, parenting, coaching, or cops & criminals—follow the show, leave a rating, and share this episode with a friend.   Connect with Jeremy & MADE Baseball: • Website (leagues, tournaments & apparel): https://made-baseball-llc.odoo.com/   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: • Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com • Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe   Produced by Image & Sound Media – https://imagesoundmedia.com

🎙️ Justin Myers & Robert Knotts: Economy Roofing & Restoration | The Shift with Mike & Joe – EP 22 What was the most inspiring part of Justin & Rob's journey for you? Let us know in the comments below! 👇 Episode 22 brings our first two-guest sit-down with Justin Myers and Robert Knotts, co-owners of Economy Roofing & Restoration, on how they grew a Maryland/Delaware roofing operation from a truck and a small supply credit into a region-wide, integrity-driven company. We dig into meeting in recovery (and why integrity is their operating system), the 2018 nor’easter that jump-started year one, insurance-claim roofing vs. retail work, relationship-first door knocking, and building Full Circle Marketing—their in-house canvassing/training arm—to keep the pipeline full. They break down subs vs. in-house crews, standards, and why “vertical integration” (even buying a wrap shop to control fleet branding/costs) compounds growth. Culture and family stay central—from Christmas parties with kids to hiring people in recovery—and their advice is blunt: start before you’re “ready,” grind, delegate the 75% that eats your time, stay coachable, and let karma—not shortcuts—govern the business. Brought to you by Image & Sound Media. If you found Justin & Rob's story inspiring, please leave a comment and subscribe to our channel for more episodes of The Shift! 🔗 Connect with Economy Roofing & Restoration: • 🌐 Website: https://economyrestoration.com/ • 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EconomyRestorationMD • 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/economyroofing_restoration/ 🎧 Support The Shift with Mike & Joe • 🌐 Website: www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com • 💸 Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 • ▶️ YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe • 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 • 📸 Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe • 🎵 TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea • 🎵 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 • 🎙 Podbean: joer7.podbean.com 🎸 Connect with Mike & Joe Connect with Mike & Joe Image & Sound Media (Joe) • 🌐 Website: imagesoundmedia.com • 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 • 📸 Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia • 🎵 TikTok: @imagesoundmedia • ▶️ YouTube: @imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music • 🌐 Website: joebryanmusic.com • 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 • 📸 Instagram: @joebryanmusic • 🎵 TikTok: @joebryanmusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) • 📘 Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic • 📍 Google Map: KIAOM on Google Michael Waskey Music • 🌐 Website: michaelwaskey.com • 📘 Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic • 📸 Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic 🎥 Podcast Production Gear (Episode 22) • 🎥 Main Camera (Wide Shot): Nikon Zf + Voigtländer 40mm f/1.2 • 🎥 Joe (Close-Up): Sony FX3 + Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II • 🎥 Mike (Close-Up): Sony A7 IV + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM • 🎥 Guest (Close-Up): Sony A7C II + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art • 🎥 Guest 2 (CloseUp):  Sony A7RV + Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Art • 🎙 Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) • 🎙 Guest Audio: Neumann clone kit mic • 🎙Guest 2 Audio: Neumann TLM 102 • 🎚 Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 • 🎛 Audio Software: Reaper • 🎬 Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio • 💡 Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound media.

🎙️ Charlie Kavoosi: Musician, Videographer & Kavoosi Films (Annapolis) | The Shift with Mike & Joe - EP 21   What was the most inspiring part of Charlie’s journey for you? Let us know in the comments below! 👇   Musician–videographer Charlie Kavoosi (Kavoosi Films) joins The Shift with Mike & Joe to unpack the real workflow behind indie music videos, live-session production, and life on (and off) the road with the Joey Harkum Band. We cover how a pop-up show series sparked his film career, the camera-audio → mix crossfade trick, managing client expectations vs. budget, and staying sane with data (NAS, backups, file structure). Charlie also talks The Betas duo, the Annapolis scene’s community roots, merch that actually sells (hello, “blue guy”), and why redefining success beyond fame—and showing up consistently—keeps creatives moving. Bonus: this is our first sponsor-supported episode, produced by Image & Sound Media.   If you found Charlie’s story inspiring, please leave a comment and subscribe to our channel for more episodes of The Shift!   ⏱ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Cold open, sponsor bit, and the “Shift” jingle attempts 02:06 – Who is Charlie Kavoosi? Musician, videographer… into a monetized thing 05:30 – Pop-Up Shows: filming bands, Mark Peria, first “cinematic” shock 10:40 – Learning exposure triangle; Olympus E-M10 II; toilet-plumber banter 17:08 – Making live videos feel alive: start with camera audio, then crossfade 22:30 – Avoiding radio/TV “deadness”; live crowd energy vs studio vibes 27:22 – Cover gigs vs originals: “so important as a cover artist to know…” 33:50 – Lessons & consulting: guitar theory, DAWs, pedalboards, X Air basics 41:30 – Behringer X Air/Soundcraft: routers, aux sends, and fixes 54:00 – Annapolis scene: “Covers Each Other” at 49 West & the AMFM fund 1:02:20 – Touring with Joey Harkum: from bass to Bass VI to guitar 1:10:40 – Data wrangling & NAS workflow: backups, proxies, and sanity 1:16:56 – The Blue Guy logo story: doodle → brand → merch 1:22:40 – Rethinking success vs fame; marketing reality and thousand true fans 1:35:20 – Where to find Charlie; October shows; outro & thanks   🔗 Connect with Charlie Kavoosi & Kavoosi Films: • 🌐 Website: https://www.kavoossi.com/ • 📘 Facebook:   / kavoossi • 📸 Instagram:   / kavoossifilms   🎧 Support The Shift with Mike & Joe • 🌐 Website: www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com • 💸 Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.co… • ▶️ YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe • 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 • 📸 Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe • 🎵 TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea • 🎵 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast… • 🎙 Podbean: joer7.podbean.com 🎸 Connect with Mike & Joe   Connect with Mike & Joe   Image & Sound Media (Joe) • 🌐 Website: imagesoundmedia.com • 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?… • 📸 Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia • 🎵 TikTok: @imagesoundmedia • ▶️ YouTube: @imagesoundmedia   Joe Bryan Music • 🌐 Website: joebryanmusic.com • 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?… • 📸 Instagram: @joebryanmusic • 🎵 TikTok: @joebryanmusic   Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) • 📘 Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic • 📍 Google Map: KIAOM on Google   Michael Waskey Music • 🌐 Website: michaelwaskey.com • 📘 Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic • 📸 Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic   🎥 Podcast Production Gear (Episode 18) • 🎥 Main Camera (Wide Shot): Nikon Zf + Voigtländer 40mm f/1.2 • 🎥 Joe (Close-Up): Sony FX3 + Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II • 🎥 Mike (Close-Up): Sony A7 IV + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM • 🎥 Guest (Close-Up): Sony A7C II + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art • 🎙 Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) • 🎙 Guest Audio: Neumann clone kit mic • 🎚 Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 • 🎛 Audio Software: Reaper • 🎬 Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio • 💡 Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights

Want to move from background bar sets to premium, repeat bookings? Americana artist Steve Boucher breaks down how he built a calendar of corporate, wedding, and listening-room gigs—plus the guitar tone & setlist strategies that keep clients calling. What you’ll learn (fast, practical takeaways): • From bars to premium: using residencies and word-of-mouth to unlock higher-value shows (and say “no” more often). • Where the work is: PGA receptions, DC rooftops, Annapolis Boat Show, beach venues, house concerts—how each one books differently. • Repertoire that wins: why ~600 songs matters, pre-planning vs on-the-fly requests, and creating sing-along moments. • Listening rooms vs restaurants: designing shows for attention, not ambience—and how to become the night’s “anchor.” • Gear that sounds like you: K&K Pure Mini, simple DI/Bose chain, and when to add an all-in-one board (compression, verb, boost). • Guitar talk that clients notice: Adirondack spruce tops, torrified builds, and why this translates to feel + projection. • Service mindset: MC duties, using your PA for speeches, and setting the vibe that makes events run smoother. Enjoyed the episode? Follow the show on Podbean, and leave a rating/review on Apple Podcasts. Have a takeaway or question? Drop a Podbean comment or DM us on Instagram. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Connect with Steve Boucher & Boucher Guitars STEVE BOUCHER — OFFICIAL & SOCIAL Website: https://steveboucher.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevebouchermusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveBoucherMusic/ BOUCHER GUITARS — OFFICIAL & SOCIAL Website (EN): https://boucherguitars.com/ Website (FR): https://guitareboucher.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boucherguitars/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guitaresboucher/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDcr-KKfbOr43tez5CyBsOg Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 Instagram: @theshiftwithmikeandjoe TikTok: @theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: joer7.podbean.com Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: @imageandsoundmedia TikTok: @imagesoundmedia YouTube: @imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: @joebryanmusic TikTok: @joebryanmusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic Google Map: KIAOM on Google Michael Waskey Music Website: michaelwaskey.com Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Podcast Production Gear • Main Camera (Wide Shot): Nikon Zf + Voigtländer 40mm f/1.2 • Joe (Close-Up): Sony FX3 + Sony 70–200mm f/2.8 GM II • Mike (Close-Up): Sony A7 IV + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM • Guest (Close-Up): Sony A7C II + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art • Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) • Guest Audio: Neumann clone kit mic • Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 • Audio Software: Reaper • Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio • Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights

EPISODE 19 — Bobby Woolley (The Edge 360, Stevensville, MD) How do you build a gym that becomes a community engine? In this conversation, Bobby Woolley of The Edge breaks down the evolution of Edge Training Academy, Edge Arena, and the Giving the Edge Foundation—collectively “Edge 360”—from athlete development to after-school programs and county-wide field days. Bobby shares the playbook: hybrid training that blends skill and human performance, a “do good first” business model (no contracts), and why confidence is the most powerful byproduct of youth sports. WHAT WE COVER - What “Edge 360” means: Training Academy, Arena, and nonprofit working together - Opening the gym to the public; serving teams, leagues, events - The Baltimore Brigade story and scaling operations with the right hires - Hybrid coaching: sport skills + performance + mindset = real results - After-school programs, field days, and community impact recognized by the Ravens - Why lowering barriers (no contracts, flexible space) grows real loyalty TOPICS & TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to The Shift with Mike & Joe 01:12 - Meet Bobby Woolley + the running intro jingle bit 03:05 - What is The Edge? From training facility to public open gym 05:42 - The three legs explained: Training Academy, Edge Arena, Giving the Edge Foundation 08:56 - “Edge 360” branding and serving Stevensville, Maryland 12:18 - Arena use cases: youth focus, adult leagues, proms, church services, parties 15:40 - The Baltimore Brigade story: pro team practice → opening the public gym 19:33 - Scaling up: staffing, operations, and unlocking daytime anchors 22:47 - Why Bobby started The Edge: local athletes, recruitment, opportunity 26:10 - Degrees, early coaching, and building a training culture 29:28 - Financing curveball: turf purchase, conditional loan, hiring full-time staff 33:02 - A day in the life: 5am workouts, “creator time,” and flexible schedules 36:45 - Calendars vs. chaos: planning just enough to move fast 39:58 - Hybrid coaching model: skills + performance for real-world gains 43:22 - Personal training vs. at-home work: accountability and custom plans 46:05 - Mindset and confidence: the unexpected ROI for kids and families 49:31 - Supplements? Why The Edge stays people-first and avoids upsell traps 53:04 - Lowering barriers: no contracts, community-priced memberships 56:48 - Space as a service: rentals, photo/video shoots, events 1:00:12 - Taking over after-school programming: answering a county-wide need 1:04:36 - Field days, volunteers, and the Ravens recognition 1:08:55 - Quiet impact vs. loud marketing (and why that’s changing) 1:13:10 - Consolidating facilities: the vision for a single, expanded home 1:17:22 - Parenting, purpose, and what really helps kids thrive 1:21:48 - Nutrition, recovery, and staying in your lane as a coach 1:25:10 - Final takeaways + how to find The Edge 1:30:03 - Thanks for listening & wrap GUEST Bobby Woolley — The Edge 360 (Stevensville, MD) GUEST LINKS Website: https://www.theedge360.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theedgeKI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theedge_360/ FOLLOW THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 Instagram: https://instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea YouTube: @TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Donate/Support: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 CREATOR LINKS Image & Sound Media (Joe) - Website: https://imagesoundmedia.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 - Instagram: https://instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia - YouTube: @imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music - Website: https://joebryanmusic.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 - Instagram: https://instagram.com/joebryanmusic - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) - Facebook: @kentislandacademyofmusic - Google Map: KIAOM on Google Michael Waskey Music - Website: https://michaelwaskey.com - Facebook: @michaelwaskeymusic - Instagram: @michaelwaskeymusic PRODUCTION NOTES - Main camera (wide): Nikon Zf + Voigtländer 40mm f/1.2 - Joe (close): Sony FX3 + Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II - Mike (close): Sony A7 IV + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM - Guest (close): Sony A7C II + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art - Main audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike); Guest: Neumann clone kit mic - Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 - Audio software: Reaper - Video editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio - Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights

"When I was homeless or in prison, people that had what I wanted gave me hope." Keith Edmonds Jr. learned to tattoo in prison — mixing ink from the soot of a Vaseline candle and building machines out of CD player motors and guitar strings. Ten years later he walked a red carpet at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for a documentary about the shop he owns. In Episode 18 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, Keith is back at the table to tell the whole story. He's co-owner of Ink or Dye Studio in Centreville, Maryland, coming up on seven years in business, and this is the most candid conversation we've had on this show. Keith walks us through the addiction that led to homelessness, crime, and prison time — and the recovery house on the other side of it, where he met his now-wife Cheryl. He tells us how he talked a guy with 25 years of experience into teaching him everything he knew, how the prison tattoo economy actually worked, and what it was like to get out with nothing but a 400 credit score and the clothes on his back. Then the build: knocking on five shops before one said yes, a tattoo machine his brother bought him in exchange for a tattoo, and opening Ink or Dye on $17,000 — Cheryl's wedding money plus whatever was left on a credit card. It wasn't enough. What made it work was the recovery community: plumbers, electricians, drywall and flooring guys who either discounted the work or did it for free. As Keith puts it, this community built this shop. We also get into "Ink or Dye," the short documentary directed by Lane Michael Stanley, who came up through the same Baltimore recovery circles. It got into Dances With Films — one of the top ten festivals in the country — and Keith and Cheryl scrambled to get to LA on three weeks' notice. And yes, Joe worked on the film's audio, using a phone held inside a plastic dog cone. The back half turns into a genuinely useful business conversation: how the shop actually makes money, why more artists means a better shop rather than a bigger paycheck, commission structures and why deposits protect the artists more than the owner, and a long stretch on marketing — reading analytics, knowing your audience's age, why Ink or Dye leans on Facebook over Instagram, the Tuesday-morning posting window, and how a $500 geo-targeted Facebook ad pulled 48,000 views and 6,000 link clicks for their event. We also talk about recovery houses and how they fail, the ten trips through rehab it took before it stuck, losing his mom and what that did to his recovery, free cover-ups for gang and hate-related tattoos, tattoo removal, aftercare, whether tattoo culture has gotten watered down, and the ongoing struggle to be present at home while running a business. And we get the full rundown on Tattoos for a Cause — September 20 in Centreville, two streets shut down, five bands, ten artists, forty vendors, and the first Eastern Shore showing of the "Ink or Dye" documentary at 7 PM. The 2023 event raised $14,000 for the Recovery Awareness Foundation. Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome — and why we re-recorded this one 01:20 Housekeeping: moving to every other Wednesday 02:30 Who Keith is and what Ink or Dye Studio is 03:15 How a Hollywood director found a Centreville tattoo shop 05:55 Dances With Films, the Chinese Theatre, and the red carpet 07:53 The film itself — and Joe's phone-in-a-dog-cone audio rig 10:33 Why they picked Keith and Cheryl: recovery is the real story 11:52 "People that had what I wanted gave me hope" 13:03 Cereal boxes, graffiti, and wanting to be a vandal 15:46 The first tattoo, 1999 — and deciding not to chase it yet 17:08 Art school, relapse, and going back to prison 17:49 Learning to tattoo inside from a 25-year veteran 18:29 Out with nothing: a 400 credit score and a recovery house 19:52 Five shops before one said yes 21:53 The prison tattoo economy 23:13 Making ink from Vaseline soot 25:54 Building a machine from a CD player and a guitar string 28:41 What a tattoo actually cost in prison 30:43 Opening Ink or Dye with $17,000 of wedding money 33:23 How the recovery community built the shop 35:27 Inside the shop: artists, commission, and how it runs 37:27 The craziest tattoo Keith's ever done 39:28 What to expect if it's your first tattoo 45:31 Deposits, no-shows, and protecting your artists 46:53 Designing tattoos — and where AI fits in 51:36 Tattoos for a Cause: five bands, ten artists, forty vendors 53:38 The Recovery Awareness Foundation and where the money goes 56:25 "It took me 10 times before I actually got it" 59:48 How recovery houses work — and how they fail 1:02:32 Getting suicidal in prison, and deciding to change 1:03:54 90 meetings in 90 days 1:05:17 Grief, mental health, and staying in recovery 1:08:41 A day in Keith's life 1:10:45 Being present at home while running a business 1:13:28 What Keith knows about marketing 1:16:56 Reading analytics and knowing your audience 1:19:38 The best time to post on Facebook 1:21:00 A $500 Facebook ad, 48,000 views 1:23:42 What a shop actually nets on a tattoo 1:26:24 Why more artists means a better shop, not more money 1:28:25 Keith's first tattoo ever: a staple and pencil graphite 1:29:45 Has tattoo culture gotten watered down? 1:35:09 Tattoo removal and covering up old work 1:38:38 Aftercare and Recovery Derm 1:41:20 Keith's own most painful tattoo 1:42:44 Why tattoo therapy is a real thing 1:45:29 Getting Cheryl on the show next time 1:46:49 Tattoos for a Cause details and wrap-up CONNECT WITH KEITH EDMONDS JR. & INK OR DYE STUDIO Website: https://inkordyestudio.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inkordyestudio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkordyestudio/ "INK OR DYE" — THE DOCUMENTARY Written and directed by Lane Michael Stanley Director's page: https://lanemichaelstanley.com/ink-or-dye IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37702001/ TATTOOS FOR A CAUSE Saturday, September 20, 2025 · 11 AM – 8 PM Courthouse Square, Centreville, MD (across from Ink or Dye Studio) Free to attend · "Ink or Dye" documentary screening at 7 PM Event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/18WPif8CCT/ Benefiting the Recovery Awareness Foundation SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: [email protected] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebryanmusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (EPISODE 18) Main Camera (Wide Shot): Nikon Zf + Voigtländer 40mm f/1.2 Joe (Close-Up): Sony FX3 + Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II Mike (Close-Up): Sony A7 IV + Sony 135mm f/1.8 GM Guest (Close-Up): Sony A7C II + Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) Guest Audio: Neumann clone kit mic Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 Audio Software: Reaper Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Centreville #MarylandPodcast #TattooArtist #RecoveryStory #InkOrDye

“Whether you’re in charge of others or not, you’re always in charge of someone — and that someone is yourself.”   In this episode of The Shift, we sit down with Dale Walls, a former Marine turned entrepreneur, leadership consultant, and host of The Lion’s Guide Podcast. Dale opens up about the lessons that shaped his journey—from boot camp to building a leadership consultancy—and how embracing discipline, responsibility, and self-leadership transformed his life.   We talk about: • The difference between leading others and leading yourself • How Dale overcame the chaos of his early entrepreneurial years • Why leadership starts long before you’re “in charge” • Tactical frameworks he teaches business owners to scale with clarity and integrity   Dale’s mission is to equip people to live their best lives, lead with purpose, and leave a legacy—and this conversation is packed with mindset-shifting insight you’ll want to take notes on.   From bootcamp lessons to the boardroom, Dale breaks down how military principles shaped his leadership style, how to cultivate discipline without burnout, and how to unlock the high-performing version of yourself.   🎧 Full episode now available Listen, subscribe, and explore more at 👉 www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com   💸 Support the podcast Help us grow! Donate here: theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1   🎬 This podcast is produced by Image & Sound Media 🎥 www.imagesoundmedia.com

In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Ray, a local alt-country artist and Army veteran who’s diving into his music career after recently returning home from Kosovo. He shares stories from his military service, what inspired his songwriting, and how he’s building a creative life post-deployment.   We talk about growing up homeschooled, rediscovering identity through music, and the beauty of authentic storytelling in songwriting. There’s also plenty of laughter — Joe forgot to hit record (again), Mike roasts him, and we debut our ridiculous new podcast theme song… vocally.   We’re officially back on our biweekly schedule, and we’ve got awesome guests lined up soon: Dale Walls, Keith Edmonds, Steve Boucher, and more.   🎧 Available now on all major platforms.

EPISODE 15 – Shea Springer of Sweetfoot Studios: DIY Recording, Studio Life & the Art of Sound   In this episode, Mike & Joe sit down with local musician, producer, and self-taught engineer Shea Springer — owner of Sweetfoot Studios in Easton, Maryland. From building a control room in his basement to running cables through the living room, Shea shares how he transformed a split-level home into a fully functional recording studio.   We talk about room acoustics, mic techniques, tracking full bands in a house, and what it’s really like running a creative business from home. Shea also opens up about lessons learned, favorite sessions, and how his wife helps run the operation behind the scenes.   After a short hiatus, we’re back on track with our biweekly release schedule — and we’ve got more incredible guests on the way!

In this engaging episode of *The Shift with Mike and Joe*, the hosts welcome local musician Colby Sard for an in-depth conversation about his journey as a full-time musician, his experiences gigging around the Chesapeake Bay area, and his path to sobriety. The episode covers a wide range of topics, from the challenges and perks of performing live music to the realities of staying sober while working in the music scene. Key highlights include: - Colby shares humorous and candid stories about his gigs, including memorable tips and navigating tricky venues like the Chesapeake Bay Bridge commute. - The hosts discuss the unique pressures musicians face on stage, such as dealing with distracted audiences, live streaming performances, and the balancing act of playing popular covers versus original music. - Colby opens up about his six months of sobriety, the struggles of performing sober for the first time, and how sobriety has changed his perspective on music and life. - The conversation delves into the mental health aspects of addiction and recovery, emphasizing coping strategies, self-forgiveness, and the importance of taking sobriety one day at a time. - They also explore the behind-the-scenes work of booking gigs, working with agents, and the realities of making a living as a musician. - Mike and Joe share their own reflections on sobriety, the challenges of balancing creativity with personal well-being, and the evolving culture of sobriety in the music industry. - The episode includes lighthearted banter about music gear, favorite songs to play, and creative uses of AI tools like ChatGPT for designing flyers and managing projects. - The hosts discuss podcast production insights, distribution platforms, and the evolving landscape of video podcasts.

🎙 Episode 14 – Steven Dunn | Fishing, Gigging & Figuring It Out In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with local legend Steven Dunn—gigging musician, charter boat captain, and full-time hustler on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. From navigating the waters of the Chesapeake to playing shows across Delmarva, Steve shares what it’s like balancing two unorthodox careers, building a business with his dad, and learning the art of not burning out.   Also covered: 🎣 Life on the water 🎸 Gig life and self-employment 🧠 Mental health, sleep, and the occasional loop pedal 😂 Footwear debates, food rants, and a ChatGPT confession Whether you’re a creative, a fisherman, or just someone figuring it out—this one’s got something for you. Watch, laugh, relate. And maybe book a charter.

In this episode of The Shift, Mike and Joe sit down with Joey Mitchell, a seasoned upright and electric bass player deeply rooted in the Eastern Shore music scene. Joey shares his journey from touring in England to performing with bands like Swampcandy, Mixed Business, and the Joey Harkum Band. He discusses his unique perspective as a sideman who also excels in booking music venues, offering insights into the dynamics of the music industry from both the stage and behind the scenes. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of balancing performance with venue management, highlighting Joey’s multifaceted role in the music community. It’s a candid and insightful discussion that sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of a musician’s life.

In Episode 11 of The Shift, Mike and Joe sit down (again) with Austin Smale, owner of Tiger Lily in Easton, MD, for a second—and even better—round of conversation after technical issues spoiled their first recording. Austin shares his entrepreneurial journey from blending birthday cakes at a senior home to running one of Easton’s most creative restaurant concepts. They dig into the realities of restaurant ownership, from staffing struggles to noise ordinances, and explore everything from tip culture and hiring practices to business coaching and SEO. Austin also opens up about personal growth, the importance of routine (shoutout to the gym), and why the Tiger Lily patio is a game-changer. Oh, and yes—Joe’s infamous noise complaint story resurfaces. It’s an insightful, funny, and wide-ranging chat with one of the area’s most driven young business owners.

In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, singer-songwriter and local legend J. Coursey Willis joins us for a wide-ranging conversation filled with stories, laughs, and deep dives. We talk about his early musical influences (spoiler: La Bamba and a broom), his journey from NSA employee to full-time creative, and how he balances music, nonprofit work, and entrepreneurship. Josh shares insights into productivity, delegation, building an email list, and staying focused in the chaos of self-employment. We also get into the history of Kent Island, wild stories from the local music scene, and the fine art of saying no. Oh, and there’s some wine, cemetery tours, and talk of methylene blue… it’s a ride.

In this episode of The Shift with Mike & Joe, the guys welcome special guest Rory Flood—musician, event mastermind, and marketing genius behind Kent Island’s iconic brewery and music venue, Cult Classic. The conversation takes a hilarious and insightful journey through Rory’s background in music, event planning, and the origin story of Hot Tub Limo and his current band Equals B. They dig into Rory’s philosophy on business, the importance of trusting your instincts, and how creative ideas (like Wingo and custom beer collabs) come to life. Mike and Joe also get nostalgic about growing up on the Shore, share their undying love for Eve 6, and of course, debate Mike’s hair rating. There’s plenty of laughs, music talk, behind-the-scenes stories, and entrepreneurial nuggets. A must-listen for creatives, musicians, and anyone curious about building a community around art and business.

In episode 8 Mike & Joe go back to the basics, with no guest.  They chat about Mike's lobster shirt, the ratio of good looks to talent in terms of success, and Joe puts Mike to sleep talking about technical camera jargon.  

In episode 7 another good friend of ours, Jason Morton of the Chesapeake Sons, comes by to talk music, performing, the business side of music, how he got to where he is and what he's learned along the way, and we both congratulate Mike his professionalism during the podcast.

In Episode 6 Joe's good friend and photography/videography mentor, Carlos Gauteir of Avail Visuals sits down with the fellas for one of his first times being in front of the Camera.  Carlos has years of experience behind the camera, so this was somewhat uncharted territory for him.  They discuss his background, how he got to where he is now, and where he plans to go in the future.

In Episode 5 Mike and Joe's usual antics continue, they discuss Mike's music workshops, their plans for a new YouTube channel, Mike eats a popsicle while Joe rates his hair, they discuss their song choices for set lists, and they discuss Mike's practice of talking to his crowds during gigs.

In episode 4 the fellas are joined by local musician, Gage Rhodes.  Gage is an amazing songwriter, bluegrass picker, and entrepreneur.

This is episode 3 (part 2) because during the first attempt at filming this episode, Mike had his microphone turned around backwards.  When they finally got it together, Mike calls Joe a narcissist, Joe talks about recovery, and Mike fires questions at Joe relentlessly.  Joe also talks about his transition from full time counselor/part time musician and photographer/videographer, to being a full time entrepreneur.  

In this Episode Mike drinks egg nog, Joe schools Mike on the Rocky movies, Mike decides to quit adderal, and they discuss musical performance techniques, Mike's hair, business bank accounts, Mike's plan to build a chicken coupe, and much much more.

In Episode 1 Mike & Joe discuss their businesses, make fun of each other, and review their backgrounds working for the man.