Interlude - Hop inside the mind of our resident music consumption connoisseur for this special edition intermission episode. In just 14 minutes, you'll get everything from Simon & Garfunkel to summer smash iSpy by Kyle and Lil Yachty... yes, seriously.

Side A | Track 3 – Answering the million-dollar question for aspiring artists…

AROUND THE COUCH:

How are we seeing, hearing, and living out the three pillars of the BCC (Brand, Creation, Consumption) in our daily lives? Will is on a house music kick, Ryan is going through it with Chelsea Cutler’s new EP & Jayson Tatum’s injury, and Carter has been getting down to computer talk?! Plus, a reflection on the concept of “genre” and more.

BEHIND THE GRIND :

The struggle is real. Will and Ryan have both entered the full-time workforce within the past year while actively trying to build a full-time career out of music. We share all the challenges we’ve experienced in this balancing act, from burnout to lack of time, financial pressures, and more. But, we also discuss the practical strategies, like scheduling your grind and remembering your why, that can keep you moving in the right direction. And, when it’s all said and done, we give our answers to the big question of the week… is doing both really possible?

Side A | Track 2 – The cast kicks it around the couch to hear about Ryan and Carter’s experience at The Backseat Lovers’ show in Omaha. Why did Carter love the band’s performance but hate the concert overall?

Then, we dive into this week’s big question, getting to the bottom of music stores in 2025. Are they still filled with wonder, or just stress, sticker shock, and stereotypes come true? In this debut of the “Gear Talk” segment, we walk through the music shop experience—the battle between big-box and local gems, how to get the most out of buying equipment, going for new vs. used, the holy grail items of our setups, and much more.

Plus, Will and Ryan’s favorite releases of the week + the upcoming drops we’re excited for.

Side A | Track 1 – The crew goes around the couch, sharing the recent soundtracks of their lives + exciting updates on Will & Ryan’s single releases. Then, a look back at the best of concerts the cast has experienced recently, including flipturn, Palace, and more. Plus, in a game of “Banger or Buzzkill?,” we discuss the dopest, strangest, and most annoying fan behaviors we encountered at the shows. We cap it off by sharing the mystery, alternate meaning of BCC and how it will shape this podcast.

Intro – Join Ryan, Will, and Carter as they introduce themselves and reminisce on their late nights on the Blue Couch