Welcome to a new episode of the Mike Baltierra podcast. My guest on this episode is Mike Burt who is the drummer for the band Limberlost. 

This was originally recorded on April 10th. 

We had been talking for a few months about getting together and doing an interview. With the situation that's going on today, we did this interview over Skype. I don't know if I was having bandwidth issues or if Mike was having bandwidth issues, regardless of who had issues, the video was pretty pixelated so I am posting this as audio only. The audio isn't the greatest so I apologize in advance. 

I met Mike and the band about two years maybe two and a half years ago when I got called to come in and do a promotional photo session of the band since the photographer they had been using wasn't available at that time. So we discuss Mike's intro to music, to playing in bands for the last 30 years, as well as the formation of Limberlost, how the band came together; how the meet their current management and recording producers, how they were able to grow their online presence and social media following in a short amount of time, along with what is slated for the band this year which includes new music and hopefully a national tour. 

Hope you enjoy this interview with Mike Burt the Drummer for the band Limberlost 

Web - https://www.limberlostmusic.com/

I interviewed Jesse Bardizian, one of the co-owners and lead instructors at Defiance Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, back on Jan 5, 2020. 

After filming this video, I went and watched it and I wanted to redo the interview because facility that Defiance recently leased, was on the middle of construction and there was some back ground noise from the classes that were going on. But, we decided to wait until the current situation is over.

Another couple of reasons why I wanted to redo this interview was because Defiance their grand opening in early February. During the grand opening seminar, Jesse received his black belt from James '300' Foster. 

We discussed moving from a spot they sublet to their own facility, about Defiance's short term and long term goals for the gym and their students, and what Defiance has in store for the next year or two.

I plan to do another interview with Jesse, as well as the other co-owner and coach, Stuart. It would be great to get their insight as to how things have come along for Defiance in the two years they've been in business.

Web - https://www.defiancebjj.com

I had an awesome time speaking with my friend, YoutTuber, filmmaker, deejay, content creator and father Matthew Gregg.

We talked about how he got into the arts, doing Deejay duties for events, being a professional dancer and working for companies such as Nike, and what lead him to picking up a camera and creating content, how he was constantly creating content for his YouTube channel and Instagram account BudgetBRoll; what It was like to start landing clients on the Pacific Northwest, and what it was like getting contacted by Darren Doane who Matthew recently got to work with in California working on a music video for Jason Mraz.

We talk gear, family, fun times while creating content, some of each other’s favorite videos or photos and what to tell others who want to get into the creative space.

Where to find Matthew

Gear Used

I have an amazing show for you this week!!!

I met with my friend, fellow Brazilian Jiu Jtisu practitioner, science teacher, and author Elena Stowell. 

Like most others I have met here in the PNW, we met through Brazilian Jiu Jtisu. She is a teammate of mine over at Foster Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and she also happened to be my son Zach's Biology teacher!

We talk how Jiu Jitsu saved her from some of the darkest moments in her life, to becoming an internationally recogized author, to starting a foundation in memory of her late daughter Carly, to starting a non-profit organization to get new  or used Jiu Jitsu equipment to those in need, in countries such as Brazil and the Philippines.

We also discuss a young man by the name of Luciano who she met through her travel to the favelas of Brazilian and how she was able to help him fulfill his dream of not only coming to the United State, but also competing the IBJJF World Tournament in Long Beach, CA.

This was a great discussion with one of my favorite persons....

Where to find Elena

A few of the books she authored

The Carly Stowell Foundation

Jammin BJJ - Give the Gift of a Gi

I have a killer interview for you this week!

Jessica Gittings is making a name for herself as the bass player for Seattle rock band Lust Punch as well as doing vocal duties in the Elvis Presley tribue band Alive 85 - The Elvis Show that never was!

She is also managing some local talent and helping them with booking shows and since she is also a photographer, she is also helping those local bands with the promotional material.

We talk about how she got into both Lust Punch and Alive 85; what it's like not only being in a band that is playing original material, but also being in a tribute band; how cool it was for Lust Punch to play the 99.9 KISW Live Day;  what is like to self finance their own recordings, merchandise and tours; and how you don't need a massive budget and a studio in order to record and publish your own music.

I had a great time speaking with Jessica and I think we had a great conversation.

So I'll stop talking so you can enjoy this interview with Jessica Gittings of Lust Punch and Alive 85!

Support local musicians and artists!

Lust Punch

Alive 85

In what I hope will be a weekly or something we do every other week, I sat down and had a really cool and fun discussion with my son Zach. 

We kind of went all over the map on this, but we had a fun time recapping what has been a pretty awesome week. 

Zach is a two time stage four Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor. He just had the first of his post treatment CT and PET scans - which will be done annually; we talk about getting his scan results. 

He also talks about post treatment nerve damage, which is called neuropathy, and what it's like having to deat with it, how much it affects his every day activities and how happy he was to get prescribed a medication called Gabipentin which helps with the pain and discomfort. 

We discuss how much fun we had going to Portland, OR to check out WWE NXT Take Over at the Moda Center. 

We also discuss how Zach has been helping me with video shoots, such as weddings and vlogs and podcasts and how he's enjoying helping with the lighting, audio and recording.

Finally, we talk about both of us getting some new stripes on our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu belts.

Hope you enjoy this episode!

https://mikebaltierraphoto.com

Cindy is one of the female dirty dozen - the first twelve non-Brazilians to receive a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Cindy received the nickname Sleeper because she is best known to put her opponents  to sleep through a variety of choke holds. 

Cindy recently opened her own academy in Edmonds WA - Sleeper Jiu Jitsu. 

We talk about what lead her to jiu jitsu, leaving the 9-5 rat race to train jiu jitsu full time, her travels around the world wide thanks to Jiu Jitsu, fighting against some of the pioneers of women's MMA, and what keeps her motivated to not to only continue training Jiu Jitsu, to becoming one of if not the best children's instructor in the Pacific Northwest, to finally open her own school and sharing her love of Jiu Jitsu with others.

So here's my interview with my friend, and one of the female dirty dozen, Cindy 'Sleeper' Hales

https://sleeperjj.com/

In this episode I met with local musician Brandt Parke

Brandt and I first met about 5 years ago when I checked out his band Mister Master for the first time when they played at Louie Gs Pizza in Fife WA

Each time I have had the opportunity to catch Mister Master, they always put on a solid performance. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, it is highly recommended that you catch one of their shows....

With his ever evolving style of song writing and playing, Brandt has put out a six track solo release entitled A Walk Through the Park which was released in Jan 2019. He is currently involved in another project, the two man band known as Brake.

We got together to discuss music, influences, art, the Seattle Music scene, some of the best shows he attended when he was growing up, what is next for his bands Mister Master and Brake, as well as his own solo projects

It was great to spend time getting to know this incredible musician and equally awesome human. 

So, without further ado - here's my interview with musician, guitar player extraordinaire, and an all around incredible dude, Brandt Parke.....

https://www.facebook.com/ParkeBrandt/

In this episode I sit down and speak with family man, medicine man, judoka, jiu jitsu roller, drum kit basher and all around cool dude, Jestyn Cummings.

I thought my time was limited and my life is busy, but my goodness, Jestyn is busy as all get up. He needs to give a clinic on time management!

We talk about his career, his family, how he and his brother, Drew, formed the band, Watch Rome Burn. We also talk about martial arts, how he got started in karate, making his way to judo, and eventually to jiu jitsu.

check out Watch Rome Burn