While it's important to track certain data in order to make informed decisions, certain number-watching is doing you more harm than good.

"Labels are no longer the gate-keepers, your fans are, and fans are more than numbers. Instead of thinking in Likes & Shares think in people & relationships."

Key Highlights

• What I get asked all the time [00:39]
• Common mistakes with our goals [02:03]
• What numbers can't tell you [03:37]
• Understanding your smart phone behavior [04:11]
• How to break free from social media rabbit holes [05:04]
• The importance of action steps [07:40]
• The danger of vanity metrics [09:09]
• Why you don't need a large following [10:20]
• Setting data boundaries [11:31]

Download my Metrics That Matter Worksheet here and avoid drowning in numbers & focus on the engagement that will move your music career forward!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

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See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Singer-songwriter Lesley Barth discusses how she made the leap from part-time musician to full-time music-preneur & how she plans on sustaining her progress.

"I think the reason I knew was because I realized I felt that I was no longer getting out of it more than I was putting in. I feel like I'm just at pivot point and I want to put all my weight behind it."

Key Highlights

• Our spotlights so far [00:38]
• Lesley Barth, our first female guest [01:04]
• Lesley's start in music [02:24]
• Her vision for being a musician [06:12]
• What pushed her to decide to leave her day-job [07:31]
• Beyonce-ing her first EP [10:11]
• 3 important lessons she keeps with her [12:20]
• Her approach to marketing [15:50]
• Living with another full-time musician [17:47]
• Importance of delineation with business & music [22:00]
• Making the leap to full-time music-preneur [24:15]
• What she'd do with 1 extra hour [28:25]
• Who she'd collaborate with [29:00]
• Her big ASK [29:59]
• Her actionable for YOU [30:45]

Take a listen to Lesley's latest music from her album, Green Hearts, OUT NOW!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here
• Sign up for her newsletter {one of my FAVES!} here
• Stay updated on her upcoming tour at letsgetrealtour.com
• Connect with her on Facebook here, Instagram here, and Twitter here
• Stream her music on Spotify here, YouTube here, and SoundCloud here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

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See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's almost impossible not to take criticism personally when what you're creating is so personal. By learning how to protect your heart without altering your art you'll be more motivated to take action in spite of the naysayers & reach your goals!

"In order to build that sustainable career you have to be able to maintain a positive mindset and that’s usually much easier said than done."

Key Highlights

• The difficulty of taking things personally [0:35]
• My lessons in taking on negativity [01:25]
• My time in retail [01:54]
• Park Avenue Pedigree at Crate & Barrel during the holidays [02:22]
• My inner frustration in retail & wrongful assumptions [04:33]
• Agreement #2 [05:14]
• Pillow Talk & Drugs at Crate & Barrel [07:07]
• Being the thing that goes right [11:32]

Breakdown a situation that you may have taken personally to see that it really wasn't about you by downloading my It's Not Me, It's You Workbook here.

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here
• The Four Agreements, by don Miguel Ruiz

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

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See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We often forget the power we have to control our own path. Stop letting the industry dictate what your career needs to look like for you to be happy. It's time to re-define the hustle!

"You don’t need a label to determine your qualified to be here. You don’t need a certain venue to deem you worthy to play."

Key Highlights

• My trip to Dubai [00:55]
• My unexpected week back home [02:26]
• That damn Fraud Talk [04:36]
• What the music industry tells us about Hustle [06:22]
• What your career is really about [08:00]
• You have more control than you think [09:19]
• The Oxygen Mask Principle [11:41]

Download my FREE My New Hu$tle Workbook here and re-define what your personal hustle will look like to create the career you've always wanted!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Feeling like everything is on your shoulders? Tired of trying to get everyone else in your band to care as much as you do? More often than not it comes down to clear communication and making sure you’re all working towards the same goals.

"This is what happens when assumptions are made that you’re all on the same page simply because you’re in the same band!"

Key Highlights

• What always happens when I go to music conferences [0:30]
• Reason #1 bands have trouble working together [02:58]
• Reason #2 bands have trouble working together [04:42]
• Reason #3 bands have trouble working together [05:41]
• Reason #4 bands have trouble working together [06:19]
• What to do before you speak to your band [08:17]
• What not to do when voicing your grievances [10:30]
• What to do when one member is the problem [11:38]
• What to do once you're on the same page [12:47]

Click here to download my Banding Together Workbook to get on the same page & start working together as a band towards the same goals!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join me as I sit down with NYC radio legend, Cipha Sounds, as he reveals the secrets that allowed him to build a career 20+ years strong and how he managed to leverage a career in radio to build his own successful path, merging hip-hop and comedy.

"You want to keep your storefront clean and washed, but the numbers are in the back. You know what I’m saying So, I think people only pay attention to the front... I think they need to put some of that business sense into their daily activities."

Key Highlights

• What's kept Cipha Sounds in the game for so long [4:04]
• Cipha's grand vision [7:10]
• Will Smith's advice to him [11:25]
• Building his own blueprint [12:38]
• His main goal in life [19:08]
• How he decides who he works with [20:11]
• What he would tell his younger self [22:28]
• Reading a room & being an empath [26:26]
• The Four Agreements [31:19]
• My 4 Speed-round Questions [31:54]

Cipha's getting ready for Season 2 of Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks, but in the meantime, check out Season 1 episodes here!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here
• Catch up on ALL episodes of Laff Mobb's Laff Tracks here
• Get tickets to the next Take It Personal: The Hip Hop Improv Show at UCB East in NYC here
• Subscribe to Tidal to access Cipha's No Small Talk Comedy Series here {free trial}
• Binge the Juan Epstein podcast here
• Follow Cipha on Instagram Twitter and Facebook

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shying away from selling your music, merch, tickets, and more? You don't have to feel guilty about making money OR sit scratching your head on how to do it. You just have to be YOU!

"You'll never see an advertisement for a new TV show or film that doesn't include, "From the producers who brought you..." or, "From the star of..." That's because marketing is about people."

Key Highlights

• One of the biggest frustrations facing musicians
• What marketing is and is not
• Why you are the brand
• Beyonce & Metallica & being on-brand
• How to begin to build your brand

Understand how to market yourself and sell your products/services without feeling like a sleaze-bucket!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Feeling pulled in 1000 different directions? Learn how to set boundaries on your time, relationships, and money in order to have more freedom to reach your goals!

"While you may think you're doing yourself and others a service by being a "yes" person, you're actually denying people the chance to get to know and respect you."

Key Highlights

• My struggles with boundaries [01:02]
• Mistakes musicians often make [04:29]
• The 3 areas boundaries are most important [05:00]
• Boundaries around your time [06:20]
• Boundaries around your relationships [07:11]
• Boundaries around your money mindset [09:12]
• How to create better boundaries [09:48] 

Set better boundaries in order to reach the goals you've set for yourself by downloading my FREE guide - My Contract of Non-Negotiables - here

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here
• My interview on CD Baby's DIY Musician Podcast
• The You Need a Budget App can be downloaded here
• Learn more about money mindset and budgeting from Brunch & Budget
• You Are a Badass & You Are a Badass At Making Money are great for empowering your decisions

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app:

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zach Golden, 1/2 of future-soul duo, Broken Luxury, sits with Suz to discuss relationship-building, patience in the industry, and being in it for the long haul.

"We don't want them to be as if we are taking this as a joke. We want to make sure that's it's represented in a way that shows what the music will be when you listen to it, which is consistently a learning process."

Key Highlights

• Zach's biggest influences [03:38]
• Broken Luxury's light show [04:48]
• Adding collaborators to the team [06:26]
• Choosing your artistic path [10:49]
• Getting prepared at Berklee College of Music [15:05]
• Dealing with day jobs [17:45]
• The beginnings of Broken Luxury [20:56]
• The DIY experience [24:30]
• Suz' rapid-fire questions [26:23]

Take a listen to Broken Luxury's new song, Moments, off their upcoming EP, Énouement, and follow them on Spotify!

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here
• Listen to Broken Luxury with collaborator, Jessi Lee, here
• Listen to Broken Luxury with collaborator, Pat McCusker, here 
• Learn more about Will Wells here
• And check out their feat. on Anthony Ramos' The Freedom EP here
• Check out Disclosure here
• Check out Anderson Paak and the Free Nationals here
• Zach's escape - CDNThe3rd on Twitch.tv
• Find Broken Luxury on Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | 

Feeling down about the lack of support from certain family members or close friends? Learn how to navigate their doubts & negative comments & politely tell them to STFU!

"You can’t live your life for someone else. At the end of the day you can't be doing it for anyone else but yourself."

I’ve left out the “Key Highlights” as this episode is intended to be listened to from beginning to end.

Handle those well-meaning naysayers so you are free to do you by downloading my FREE guide - 7 Ways to Politely Tell Loved Ones to STFU! - here

Links/Rocksources

• Theme music brought to you by DC-based Indie/Pop band Sub-Radio
• More podcast episodes can be found here
• You can download a copy of the episode's transcript here

Thanks for listening!

If you liked what you heard, help get this podcast in front of others by subscribing, rating, and leaving a review using your favorite podcast app ;)

Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | RSS Feed

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.