Their Own Drum

I had the honor of sitting down with music producer Sean O'Keefe. The first place I ever saw Sean's name was written next to the words "produced by" on my favorite album of all time, Fall Out Boy's 2003 debut record, Take This to Your Grave. Sean played a vital role in not only that record, but an incredible amount of music that changed people's lives, including my own. It was surreal getting to have this conversation. Sean is a brilliant creative mind and one of the kindest souls you'll ever meet. I can't wait for you all to hear this one.

I had the honor and privilege of sitting down with the beautiful and brilliant David Koechner. We talked about growing up in the small town of Tipton, Missouri, the years he spent getting his comedy and acting reps right here in Chicago, how a combination of his upbringing and early political aspirations shaped a lifelong, deeply socially conscious worldview,  and so much more. I am so excited for you all to hear this one. David is performing at the Den Theatre in Chicago May 22nd & 23rd. Get your tickets TODAY! Tickets → dentheater.com Tour info → david-koechner.com/tour Also — David’s is making music you need to hear. Find him → instagram.com/sargento_official

Dr. Robin Gurwitch was a young psychologist in Oklahoma City on April 19th, 1995. Less than a mile from the Murrah Federal Building, she felt the blast, and within hours was on the ground helping families navigate something nobody had a playbook for. That day set the course for the next thirty years of her career. A Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Duke University, Dr. Gurwitch has spent three decades responding to mass violence, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism around the world, and has become one of the leading voices in disaster mental health and trauma care for children. In this conversation she talks about what we've learned since Oklahoma City, how children process collective trauma differently than adults, why talking to your kids about scary events is always better than silence, and the free community training  she's bringing to cities across the country. It's a heavy topic delivered with remarkable warmth. 

On Episode 9 of Their Own Drum, I sat down with Kyle Cubr, the Senior Operations Director at The Music Box Theatre.  Kyle Cubr has worked at Chicago's beloved Music Box Theatre for over a decade, climbing from front of house to Senior Operations Manager. But before any of that, he was a kid from Brighton, Michigan who saw Jurassic Park at age three and never forgot it.  In this episode, Kyle talks about choosing his neighborhood based on proximity to a movie theater, the wildly unexpected detour touring Europe with Rodriguez, and what it felt like to finally program the Godzilla festival he'd been pitching for six years. Plus: the state of independent cinema, the Music Box's exciting expansion, and why Gen-Z might just save the moviegoing experience.

Pat Healy is one of my guys. If you've been listening to this show, you probably already know what I mean by that.  Pat grew up in the Chicago suburbs, ended up at Illinois State University, stumbled into a Steppenwolf internship, and just never stopped working. Over the course of three decades he's shared the screen with DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep, and worked with Scorsese, Spielberg, PTA, and Werner Herzog. But the stuff that first made me fall in love with his work? Cheap Thrills, Compliance, The Innkeepers- smaller, independent films where he got to do what I think he does best: play a real, fully complicated human being. We talk about the craft, the grind, therapy, the Chicago work ethic, and what it felt like to be on set with Martin Scorsese. Pat is as thoughtful and genuine as they come. I think you'll feel that by the end of it.

What do indie record stores, early Netflix, and a century’s worth of sandwiches have in common? On Episode 7 of Their Own Drum, Sam sits down with Barry Enderwick, former Netflix marketing leader and the creator of Sandwiches of History, for a conversation about curiosity and craft. Barry takes us back to the San Diego record store where he learned by hanging around, saying yes, and designing posters late at night on a borrowed computer, then forward to Netflix, back when it was still a scrappy DVD-by-mail idea. Along the way, he breaks down the kind of research-driven thinking that shaped Netflix’s “act like a first-place brand” approach.  And then we get into the internet years: the daily posting routine, the accidental magic of becoming “appointment viewing” for people during the pandemic, and the difference between being positive and being unrealistically upbeat. Barry talks about why his whole thing, sandwiches, chips, ice cream, all of it, works best when it’s just… fun.  Follow Barry: Instagram (Sandwiches of History) https://www.instagram.com/sandwichesofhistory/ • TikTok (Sandwiches of History) https://www.tiktok.com/@sandwichesofhistory • Instagram (In The Chips with Barry) https://www.instagram.com/inthechipswithbarry/ • TikTok (In The Chips with Barry) https://www.tiktok.com/@inthechipswithbarry

This episode is a special one for me. I’m joined by my friend Jimmy Morris, someone I’ve known for years, and we sit down for an honest conversation about his journey through gambling addiction and recovery. Jimmy shares what it was like growing up in a tight-knit Chicago neighborhood, how gambling slowly became part of his life, and how it eventually spiraled into consequences that impacted his family, his freedom, and his sense of self. He talks openly about jail, isolation, the breaking point with his family, and what it actually took to start doing things differently. What I appreciate most about Jimmy is his willingness to tell the whole story, not just the redemption arc, but the pain, the denial, the ego, the relapses, and the slow rebuilding of trust. We also talk about his podcast, Gambling Recovery: Taking Back Your Life, and how helping others has become such an important part of his recovery. If you or someone you love has struggled with gambling, or any addiction, I hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not alone, and that change is possible. Listen to Jimmy’s podcast here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gambling-recovery-taking-back-your-life/id1799060388 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7gJxD08VBZCnzV7rDnIkhT?si=8e81fdeb5cfd4852

On episode 5 of Their Own Drum, Sam sits down with professor, writer, and American Football drummer Steve Lamos to explore his concept of resonant literacy, tracing the intersections of music, writing, identity, and habit, and unpacking how rhythms of creative and everyday life shape who we become over time. Steve on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stevelamos/

On Episode 4 of Their Own Drum, Sam sits down with filmmaker and photographer Harvey Pullings II to trace his path from film appreciation and set photography to his acclaimed short Thank You for the Ride, Aileen, exploring influences, on‑set stories, casting choices, and how Chicago becomes a character in his work. Harvey on IG: https://www.instagram.com/the79thstreetkid/ https://www.the79thstreetkid.com/  

This is Episode Three of Their Own Drum. On the third episode of Their Own Drum, Sam speaks to Keith Frazier, one of the founding members of The Rebirth Brass Band, the legendary, Grammy award winning brass band from New Orleans.  Keith talks about New Orleans’ musical culture, adapting traditions with hip-hop and R&B influences, the impact of Hurricane Katrina on musicians and venues, and the band’s connection with audiences, including an upcoming show at Evanston Space on January 16, 2026. Rebirth Brass Band at Evanston Space: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/rebirth-brass-band-space-tickets/14643723   Rebirth Brass Band: https://rebirthbrassband.com/  

This is Episode Two of Their Own Drum. Dr. Adam Lankford is a leading criminologist who studies mass and targeted violence. He discusses what the research actually shows about the roles of firearms, mental health, motives, warning signs, and the media’s impact on copycat attacks. Dr. Lankford explains why access to guns matters more than mere ownership, how ideological and personal motives can overlap, and why early reporting of concerning behavior can help prevent attacks. The episode emphasizes evidence-based approaches and practical steps listeners can take to recognize and report warning signs. Check out Adam's research and work at  https://www.adamlankford.com/  

This is Episode One of Their Own Drum. Scott Lewis is the founder of The Barber's Chair Network, a digital media company covering sports, entertainment & culture.  We talk about Scott's continued rise and navigation through the media landscape, how he copes with Chicago sports fandom ,what goes into running a media company, and so much more.  Check out Scott and The Barber's Chair Network's work at https://www.thebcnet.com/ and find Scott at: https://linktr.ee/BarbChairScott