Wim Tapley is turning strangers into fans night after night, and I still remember when he was sketching out the first pieces of his dream. Now based in Athens, GA, he’s playing packed clubs across the country. I got to dance (and cry a little) watching his band electrify a New York City crowd last year!

Here, we talk about life on the road, the creative community that raised him, and the friendships that fuel his band. As always, our conversation drifts into big, unfiltered questions about AI, digital tools, and the unstoppable human drive to make art.

Enjoy this honest, soulful conversation with my beloved former student, exploring what it really means to make music in a noisy world.

Multi-Grammy-winning producer Mike Mangini (The Jonas Brothers, AJR, Joss Stone, The Shrek Soundtrack, Andy Grammer, Run-DMC, Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, The Beastie Boys, Jackie Evancho, and many, many more) joins me to revisit the coffee meeting that launched my career as a music industry vocal coach! We reveal some untold tales about that first ten-hour day, what winning Grammys really feels like, and the future Mike predicts for today's emerging artists.

American Idol set Ajii on a ride-or-die path with his best friend Tanvir Haider, whose leap from finance to music is reshaping what a music career can look like in 2025. In this episode, I sit down with both of them to explore how their friendship became the foundation for a bold new approach to navigating the music industry today. We'll also dive into what I have witnessed as Ajii’s vocal coach: the trust, self-belief, and reinvention that make their partnership unlike anything I have seen before.

JUNO the Artist is has toured the world on stages with artists like Camila Cabello, Fifth Harmony, Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Hailey Knox (how we met!) Keith Urban and so many more... But make no mistake about it. JUNO is a powerful songwriter, recording artist, film maker and entrepreneurial pioneer. She speaks her truth and inspires musicians and artists all over the world to do the same. She is one of my favorite people to call when I need a burst of positive energy, and she's also an inspirational reminder for me to walk the walk. Get ready to be motivated to work on your craft after hearing this episode!

A few months ago I sat down with my vocal client and friend Jake LeMond of Michigander to record this heartfelt and honest interview about his influences, his solo project, and yes, his time with the illustrious indie band Michigander. He shares some stories about touring, songwriting, and finding your own voice in the current music industry, and we geek out about meeting at a Crowded House concert at Pier 17 in New York City, (where Michigander opened with a duo set)!

This is Part 2 of two of the most beautiful, honest, hilarious conversations I’ve had on chartless. Each one features several parents (and in some cases, the artists themselves) talking about what it really feels like to nurture a music maker. Not the press-release version. The real one.

Students (and their families) seeking careers in music production, performance, songwriting, music business, and composition/scoring. Share your goals and questions with me here!

This is Part 1 of two of the most beautiful, honest, hilarious conversations I’ve had on chartless. Each one features several parents (and in some cases, the artists themselves) talking about what it really feels like to nurture a music maker. Not the press-release version. The real one.

Students (and their families) seeking careers in music production, performance, songwriting, music business, and composition/scoring. Share your goals and questions with me here!

Grab a warm beverage and settle in! This conversation is a blanket for your musical soul. After knowing (and admiring) Steve for the better part of 25 years, I asked him the questions I've always wanted to ask, including whether or not he is able to feel the love of his community around him.

I also was dying to know how he stays dedicated to his own songwriting while producing other artists and being so focused on both family and community. What we uncovered together, I think, is Steve's unique ability to find peace and inspiration both inside and outside of his Tiny Bunker Studio in Connecticut.

Where he goes to find some of that peace might surprise you!

Listen: Stephen Peter Rodgers

Watch the new video: Winter is Coming

Meet Dr. Alaina Johnson: Renowned therapist, parent of three creative kids, and the author of Parenting Talent (a must read for parents and artists of all ages - even the grown ups). Today, we're discussing how to be your best self as a creative, while avoiding the overwhelm that comes from doing ALL THE THINGS (production, social media, songwriting, booking shows, making a living, networking... it seems never-ending and all too much at times). We also wound up diving into perfectionism masked as "laziness" or procrastination, how to stay motivated and inspired, and the various ways we can build more self-compassion and productivity.

Contact Dr. Alaina: https://parentingtalent.com/

Contact Melissa Mulligan: https://www.mastermindroad.com/

Eliza Pryor is insightful! At 18, she is grateful for her experience in front of the camera (NBC's The Voice, Netflix's Team Kaylie, AGT, the Kelly Clarkson show, and more). She has some very sage advice for anyone getting caught up in competition and comparison, too! And now, she's telling her stories through a uniquely jazzy, alt-pop musical style of her own making. I had the pleasure of coaching Eliza in my Music Career Mastermind program a few years ago, and we captured our reunion live in this interview for you. Enjoy! 
Love, 
Melissa Mulligan