It has been an exciting time for Stan Bicknell since our last chat and it was great to catch up and see what he had to say for the 99th episode! He talks about the time leading up to, during, and after filming lessons at Drumeo. He talks about imposter syndrome that he experienced before committing to Drumeo, the effects of constant positivity, and what comes next? Will one opportunity just breed another one? He is still just on a sabbatical.

Rob 'Beatdown' Brown lays a beatdown of knowledge in this episode. Just bitchslapping the bullshit right outta you! If you ever thought about endorsements and what they are about, how to land more opportunities, why we need to use social media for self-promotion and what it can do, but also what it can (and often does) take away from us. I could keep going, but I'll stop to say this quick.....this episode is basically a guide to get a fuller schedule on your gig calendar. Just awesome stuff.

Lou is making a comeback after being absent for nearly seven years in order to graduate medical school. A winner of the Modern Drummer Undiscovered Drum Contest back in 2003, Lou's professional drumming career has had its highs and its lows and Lou shares pretty well all of it in this episode. Some of the opinions and thoughts that Lou shares on this episode may indeed be some of the most controversial stuff ever said on the podcast.

I know, I know...the title is kinda cheesy but hear me out. It translates to "Livin' the Conga Life" and I would say that rings true for Paulo Stagnaro, who is the percussionist for Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin. You see now how clever that shit is? Anyways, this is a wicked episode. We cover everything from Paulo's membership site Conga Chops, to his time at Berklee and his stay in Cuba that followed, how he keeps motivated, and the role of a percussionist. Get out the pen and paper....for real!

Paul Hermann and I talk about this fiery debate amongst drummers. Electric or Acoustic drums? What's it gonna be? Is there one that is better than the other? Or are they different instruments altogether? We break down our thoughts on this and also explore Paul's background with music and drumming and how his experience in the industry makes him a great source of information on this subject.

What's this, a two-part interview episode you say!? Yes, I have brought together two incredible builders for a two-part episode for your listening pleasure. John from Cherry Hill Custom Drums and David from CaseBass Drum Co. Be on the lookout for these two incredible companies because they are blowing up! Listen to this in-depth look at these two gentlemen and hear their stories in this fantastic episode.

Dylan Elise is the drummer for Blood, Sweat, & Tears. He is originally from New Zealand and currently resides in Los Angeles. Most popularly known for his street busking videos on YouTube, Dylan was approached by the co-founder of BS&T Bobby Colomby to come to the United States to do a meet and greet, and again to audition. Long story short he got the gig due to the drummer at the time sustaining a back injury. Dylan talks about NZ culture, his busking days, and how he feels about his own playing.

John Huff, Nicholas Elie, and Archie Gamble are three good friends of mine that I called up to do a roundtable style interview at The Scot's Corner bar in London, ON. Archie was the first guest I ever interviewed for DrumGAB and we did that first interview in this same bar at the same table. Listen to our discussions about the industry, the scene, self-doubt, what our future looks like, and what drives us to continue to do what we do.

Rich Stitzel is a drummer from Chicago who is constantly working. He is also staring uncertainty in the face on a regular basis as well, tackling time-consuming/scary projects, performing music at a high level with top-level players. So with this one, we fall into several rabbit holes about what the process is like for him, uncertainty, vulnerability, control, and the history and level of depth simple playing can provide once it has been mastered. I recommend that you listen to this one.

Jeremy "Walrus" Schulz is a drum instructor, teaching coach, and professional drummer. He has worked and toured with bands such as Barbie Car and Mother Crone. Jeremy's philosophies on life are rooted in positivity, encouragement, purpose, and passion. He is a very real dude who has an innocence to him that is inspiring and something I gravitate towards when people exhibit this in their personality. This episode is highly inspirational and you won't believe what drums have done for him. Incredible story.