The Stupid Gap

Seth Glass spent 6 years telling himself he'd started too late, wasn't interesting enough, and would never get booked. Then he became a working DJ in Austin — playing shows he never thought possible.In this clip from The Stupid Gap, Seth breaks down the exact mental gaps that almost stopped his career before it started: the all-or-nothing thinking, the comparison trap, the fear of embarrassing yourself on the decks. And the one thing that finally broke through it all. If you're sitting on something you're afraid to start, this one's for you.🎧 Full episode → HERE🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about becoming someone better.#djlife #DJtips #fearoffailure #thestupidgap #SethGlass #austinmusic #mindset #creativity

This is the moment Seth Glass realized he didn't just want to survive — he wanted to actually live.In this clip from The Stupid Gap, Austin DJ and producer Seth Glass breaks down his full rock bottom: being held hostage over money he owed, going to treatment in LA, relapsing, moving cities, and finally — two months into Austin during South by Southwest weekend — hitting a wall that changed everything.🎧 Full episode → HERE🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations about becoming someone better.#sobriety #rockbottom #addiction #recoveryjourney #soberstory #austintx #thestupidgap

In this episode, I sit down with Seth Glass — DJ IGotAGuy (formerly DJ FatherGlass) — a Bay Area transplant making waves in Austin's music scene through residencies like Frontier Squatch Fitness. But this conversation isn't really about DJing.Seth gets brutally honest about the six-year stint in the stupid gap that kept him from pursuing music until he was 29, the rock bottom that led him to dump 100 beers down his drain in March 2025, and the counterintuitive truth he discovered after getting sober: he started getting booked more. We dig into the green room peer pressure to keep using, why he fired himself from his own ego, the five-pillar coaching system he built around fitness, relationships, and recovery, and the concept of the "boardroom" — the small circle of people you trust with the unfiltered truth.If you've ever told yourself you started too late, that you're not interesting enough, or that you need a vice to belong in the room — this one's for you.Chapters00:00 — Meeting at Frontier Squatch Fitness & the move from SF to Austin03:30 — The 6-year "stupid gap" before going all-in on DJing06:00 — The wake-up moment: "Is that all you wanted?"08:00 — The fears every new DJ faces (and the unrealistic expectations behind them)10:00 — Why online DJ communities are a waste of time13:00 — How to break into a city's scene from scratch16:30 — Ego, gatekeeping, and being a high-value individual19:00 — Catching yourself being fake — the awareness shift22:00 — Core values: honesty, service, love, compassion24:30 — First sobriety attempt at 23 and the white-knuckle years26:00 — Rock bottom #1: held hostage in Austin, treatment in LA27:30 — Rock bottom #2: SXSW bender, dumping 100 beers, March 17, 202529:00 — The five-pillar coaching system Seth built around himself31:00 — Building self-accountability with compassionate coaches36:00 — When the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change38:00 — Surrendering to the fact that alcohol won40:00 — DJing while using vs. DJing sober42:00 — The green room peer pressure trap44:00 — Knowing when ambition turns toxic45:30 — Losing 39 pounds in 6 months — the parallel transformation47:30 — Getting out of "the hole" on hard days50:00 — Being coachable: the trait Seth had to learn last52:00 — Setting real goals (Kingdom, The One, by end of 2026)54:00 — Flexible structure: the only kind that survives56:00 — The "Boardroom": building your inner circle of trust59:00 — How to develop self-awareness without hitting rock bottom1:02:00 — Spirituality, "religious curious," and praying to not be a dick1:08:00 — Identifying YOUR stupid gap as the first moveKeywordsSeth Glass, DJ Father Glass, Austin DJ scene, sober DJ, sobriety, alcoholism recovery, Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, Frontier Squatch Fitness, Austin nightlife, EDM Austin, ego death, self-awareness, fitness transformation, weight loss journey, coaching, accountability, the boardroom, personal development, mental health, addiction recovery, overcoming fear, building community, the stupid gap, Ryan Gray, podcast

Most people wait for the perfect moment to make a big change. Alexandra Schoenborn didn't. At 21, she packed up and moved to Italy alone — no plan, barely any Italian, and no guarantee it would work out. What followed was three and a half years of immersion, self-discovery, and eventually, a path into Zen Buddhism that would reshape the way she understands her own mind.In this episode of The Stupid Gap, Alexandra walks us through the moments that changed her — from sobbing over pizza in a Roman hostel on night one, to sitting in silence for a week at a Buddhist monastery, to a simple but powerful shift in language that transformed how she relates to her emotions.We get into solo travel and how it forces presence, the difference between expectations and intentions, why meditation isn't a quick fix, the role of ritual in building a mindfulness practice, and how to reframe your experience so that it creates space between you and your emotions.If you've ever felt stuck, anxious, or like you're waiting for permission to go do the thing — this one's for you.📖 Book recommendation from Alexandra: The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat HanhChapters00:00 Intro: Alexandra's Journey & What Brought Her Here01:43 Moving to Italy at 21: Renaissance Studies & Finding a Purpose04:40 Solo Traveling for the First Time: Taking the Leap07:28 The Rush of a New Idea: Excitement, Anxiety & Wanting Change11:56 Mentors, Planning & Overcoming Pre-Trip Doubt15:38 Crying in Rome: The Reality of Solo Travel vs. The Dream18:14 How to Survive the Overwhelm of Solo Travel20:44 Failing Forward: Why the First Rep Is Always the Hardest24:02 How to Stop Yourself From Backing Out of Hard Things28:37 Finding Community & Why Accountability Doesn't Have to Be Loud30:31 What Is Zen Buddhism? A Beginner's Overview35:10 How Alexandra Found Buddhism: Breakups, Books & a Silent Retreat39:28 Life Before & After Meditation: Anxiety, Therapy & Real Change44:07 Why Meditation Isn't a Quick Fix (And What It Actually Is)46:00 Expectations vs. Reality: How to Hold Them Loosely48:37 Intentions Over Expectations: Controlling the Controllables54:16 The Power of Ritual: Using Your Senses to Get Present57:56 Training for Hard Moments in Easy Ones01:01:12 Recognizing Emotions Before They Become Reactions01:05:03 "I Am" vs. "I Feel": The Language Shift That Changes Everything01:07:10 Witnessing Your Emotions Without Becoming Them01:10:54 Closing: Life as an Experiment & Book RecommendationKeywordsmeditation, mindfulness, mental health, intentional living, zen, zen buddhism, buddhism, solo travel, female solo travel

Protection and dominance aren't the same thing — but they're not unrelated either. In this clip, Ryan Gray breaks down how a man can be a protector without becoming controlling, and why building a space where someone can fully be themselves might be the most mature expression of masculinity there is.

What does healthy masculinity actually look like? It starts with being willing to go first — opening the door so others feel safe enough to walk through it. This clip from The Stupid Gap gets into the real cost of men not talking, and what it means to be a genuine safe space for the people around you.

In this episode of the Stupid Gap Podcast, we explore themes of personal growth, self-awareness, and the importance of connection among men. We discuss the challenges of small talk, overcoming fear of rejection, and the significance of compliments in fostering positive relationships. Our conversation delves into the dynamics of masculinity, vulnerability, and the role of brotherhood in men's lives. We also touch on the journey of self-acceptance, the balance of masculine and feminine energy, and the importance of intentions versus expectations in life. Ultimately, we unpack the need for support, mentorship, and the power of positive reinforcement in personal development.TakeawaysStarting a podcast can be a fulfilling creative outlet.Personal growth often comes from self-awareness and curiosity about others.Small talk can lead to meaningful connections if approached positively.Overcoming fear of rejection is essential for personal growth.Compliments among men can foster a supportive environment.Uninformed optimism can lead to personal and professional growth.Navigating entrepreneurship involves managing self-doubt and expectations.Brotherhood and mentorship are crucial for men's mental health.Positive reinforcement can significantly impact morale and motivation.Balancing masculine and feminine energy is key to healthy relationships.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Stupid Gap Podcast02:49 Personal Growth and Self-Awareness06:06 The Art of Small Talk and Connection09:08 Overcoming Fear of Rejection12:07 The Importance of Compliments Among Men14:51 Uninformed Optimism and Informed Pessimism17:48 Navigating Entrepreneurship and Self-Doubt20:48 The Role of Brotherhood in Men's Lives24:00 Mentorship and Support in the Fire Service27:12 The Impact of Positive Reinforcement29:49 Navigating Masculinity and Vulnerability33:01 The Balance of Masculine and Feminine Energy35:49 The Importance of Self-Discovery39:08 Expectations vs. Intentions in Life41:58 The Protector vs. Predator Dynamic45:06 Building Healthy Relationships48:06 The Journey of Self-Acceptance51:05 Champion Mindset and Self-Confidence53:49 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsKeywordspodcast, personal growth, self-awareness, small talk, fear of rejection, compliments, brotherhood, masculinity, vulnerability, self-acceptance