The Platform Podcast

The Platform Podcast

By DJ DexComedySportsMusicMusic Interviews
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The Platform Podcast episodes

  • The Platform 072: Blowing Up On Accident, Famous But Broke, Influencers Having A Head Start As DJs

    The Platform Podcast Episode seventy-two features Nashville-based DJ and influencer, Kaleb Winterburn.

     

    Kaleb shares his journey from growing up on a ranch in Montana to accidentally becoming an influencer, building a following with the Montana Boys, and now transitioning into the DJ world.

     

    We get into how one random video changed everything, the reality of blowing up on social media, and why being “famous” doesn’t always mean having money. Kaleb breaks down the pressure of going viral, the truth behind influencer culture, and why authenticity and long-form content are becoming the new wave.

     

    We also dive into his transition into DJing, what it felt like playing his first set in front of thousands of people with no experience, and the biggest differences between influencers and traditional DJs. We talk about why social media is now one of the most important tools for getting booked, the hate influencer DJs receive, and what actually separates those who succeed from those who don’t.

     

    Enjoy the episode and leave any comments for myself or the guest!

     

    Follow Kaleb Winterburn:  https://www.instagram.com/kcamp.5/

     

    Follow The Platform: https://www.instagram.com/ThePlatformMix  

     

    Follow Dex: https://www.instagram.com/TheDJDex  

     

    Watch or listen to The Platform Podcast every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

     

    Episode Chapters:

    0:00 Intro
    1:20 Growing Up On A Ranch In Montana
    5:15 Small Town Life & Freedom vs Big Cities
    9:00 The Reality Of Ranching & Work Ethic
    14:30 Football Career & Playing In College
    18:45 The First Viral Video & Becoming Influencers
    22:15 The Truth About Going Viral & Copying Trends
    25:20 “If We Weren’t Good Looking We Wouldn’t Be Here”
    30:25 Famous But Broke & Imposter Syndrome
    34:20 Turning Down Brand Deals & Avoiding Being A Sellout
    27:15 Building A Personal Brand Around Who You Actually Are
    28:50 Short Form vs Long Form Content & The Future Of Social Media
    48:40 First DJ Set Ever & Stage Nerves
    53:45 DJ Lifestyle vs Reality (Loneliness & Pressure)
    59:10 Influencer DJs vs Traditional DJs Debate
    1:01:20 Advice For DJs Trying To Get Booked
    1:06:10 Transitioning Into Long Form Content & Streaming
    1:12:10 “Hear Me Out” Tracks That Always Work
    1:15:45 Platform Playlist
    1:17:35 Put Someone On A Platform
    1:20:25 Upcoming Shows & What’s Next
    1:21:30 Outro

    1 hr 22 min
  • The Platform 071: Building Nashville’s Hottest Club, Night We Met, No Credit For Being Early!

    The Platform Podcast 71 features Nashville based DJ, venue owner, and talent buyer, Austin Knight, also known as Knyghts!

    Austin is the owner of Night We Met, one of the fastest growing dance music venues in Nashville, and breaks down what it actually takes to build a club, book talent, and grow a scene in a city dominated by free-entry nightlife. From starting as a college DJ in a frat basement to transitioning into marketing, promoting, and eventually opening his own venue, he shares the full journey of how he went from playing shows to running them.

    We get into how he took the risk of opening Night We Met, and why the first thing he invested in was the VOID sound system. We also talk about the early struggles and how he learned and adjusted to the market and clientele. Austin discussed how he decides which artists to book, and the real challenge of being “too early” on talent before they blow up.

    Austin breaks down the reality of Nashville nightlife, why the city’s free bar culture makes ticketed shows harder, and how he’s built a brand where people trust the experience even if they don’t know the headliner.

    Plus, he shares what it was like opening for Chris Lake, the pressure of playing in front of 5,000 people, and how that experience shifted his perspective as a DJ. 

    Enjoy the episode and leave any comments for myself or the guest! 

    Follow Austin Knight (Knyghts): https://www.instagram.com/knyghts_/ 

    Follow Night We Met: https://www.instagram.com/nwm.nashville/ 

    Follow The Platform: https://www.instagram.com/theplatformmix 

    Follow Dex:  @TheDJDex 

     

    Watch or listen to The Platform Podcast every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

     

    Episode Chapters:

    0:00 Intro

    1:31 Meeting Austin & Nashville Background
    2:10 Getting Into DJing in College
    5:01 Transitioning Into Marketing, Promoting & Booking
    6:32 Why Promoting in Other Venues Doesn’t Work
    7:11 Opening Night We Met & Taking the Risk
    10:38 Building the Venue Around Sound & Experience
    13:41 Starting Too Underground & Pivoting the Concept
    16:42 Building a Brand People Trust (Soft Ticket Strategy)
    19:15 Booking Strategy & Artist Selection
    22:03 Booking Artists Before They Blow Up (Risk vs Timing)
    25:35 Rebranding & Why You Can Start Over Anytime
    28:19 Nashville’s Free Bar Culture Problem
    33:54 Why You Have To Charge for Bigger Artists
    37:20 Selling Tickets in a Last-Minute City
    40:10 Losing Money on Shows & Playing the Long Game
    41:10 Booking Relationships, Agents & Industry Politics
    43:14 Opening for Chris Lake (5,000 People)
    46:16 Being Comfortable as a Local DJ
    49:48 How Owning a Venue Changes How You Judge DJs
    53:04 Expanding Night We Met & Future Plans
    57:51 Platform Playlist
    1:00:03 Put Someone On a Platform
    1:02:11 Outro

    1 hr
  • The Platform 070: 17 Lives, Starting Over & Re-Branding In Nashville, Networking Beats Talent

    The Platform Podcast Episode seventy features the Nashville based, Heidi Banks.

    Heidi Banks recently moved to Nashville from L.A. and breaks down the reality of re-building a DJ career from scratch and what it actually takes to get booked in today’s nightlife scene.

    From growing up in California to working behind the scenes with one of the biggest DJs in the world, to completely starting over in Nashville, she shares her journey of navigating “17 different lives” before fully committing to DJing.

    We get into why being a good DJ isn’t enough anymore, how networking actually works in nightlife, why you HAVE to be outside if you want opportunities, and what it really takes to build a brand that creates consistent bookings. We also talk about rebranding her identity, adapting to a new city, and the balance between staying comfortable vs pushing for more.

    Enjoy the episode and leave any comments for myself or the guest!

    Follow Heidi Banks: https://www.instagram.com/heidibanksmusic/

    Follow The Platform: https://www.instagram.com/theplatformmix/

    Follow Dex: https://www.instagram.com/thedjdex/

    Watch or listen to The Platform Podcast every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

     

    Episode Chapters:

    0:00 Intro

    1:31 Moving From LA to Nashville
    3:18 Getting Into DJing in High School
    4:47 Interning in Nightlife & Landing Her First DJ Gig
    6:34 17 Lives
    8:47 Leaving LA & Choosing Nashville
    12:19 High School Production Club & Learning Music
    15:12 Learning Ableton, Production & Finding Her Sound
    18:27 Rebranding to Heidi Banks
    22:15 Breaking Into Nashville Nightlife
    23:34 Why DJs Have To Be Outside to Get Booked
    28:37 Building Residencies at Jelly Roll’s & Pushing Daisies
    31:20 Working With DJ Vice & What She Learned
    37:58 Branding, Photoshoots, Websites & Looking Premium
    40:29 Comfort Zone vs Growth as a DJ
    45:00 Do Flyers Still Work in 2026?
    50:05 Reading the Room, Staff Energy & Building the Night
    55:33 Biggest DJ Pet Peeve
    57:36 “Hear Me Out” Tracks That Always Work
    1:04:05 Platform Playlist
    1:06:11 Put Someone On a Platform
    1:07:39 Azure Day Party Nashville Announcement
    1:11:27 Outro

    1 hr 12 min
  • The Platform 069: It's Giving Global, Going Viral vs Real Skills, You NEED To Flop
    The Platform Podcast Episode sixty-nine features the Nashville based DJ and event curator Dumb Groove to break down the reality of becoming a DJ in today’s world.
    From starting out carrying gear in Florida (just so he could sneak in the club) to building his brand in Nashville, Dumb Groove shares the unfiltered truth about what it actually takes to succeed in nightlife.
    We get into how DJing right now is one of the most accessible jobs/hobbies in the world and why that's a problem. How going viral doesn't lead to consistent bookings if you aren't actually getting better at the craft. Why DJs NEED to flop and of course, his party, It's Giving Global!
    Enjoy the episode and leave any comments for myself or the guest!
    Follow Dumb Groove: https://www.instagram.com/dumbgroove/
    Follow The Platform: Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: https://www.instagram.com/theplatformmix/
    Follow Dex: https://www.instagram.com/thedjdex/
    Watch or listen to The Platform Podcast every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
    Episode Chapters:
    0:00 Intro
    2:30 How He Got Into DJing
    5:15 Learning to DJ & Early Struggles
    8:30 Playing Music You Don’t Like
    11:00 Is It Easier to Become a DJ Today?
    13:05 The Internet Doesn’t Translate to Real Clubs
    13:25 Content vs Craft
    14:18 “People Need to Flop”
    15:15 Why Every Market Is Different
    15:55 The Problem With Yes-Man Friends
    17:00 DJs Who Can’t Set Up Equipment
    25:00 Building a Brand & Throwing Events
    30:00 Breaking Into Nashville After COVID
    36:00 Why Broadway Wasn’t the Right Fit
    58:00 Scaling “It’s Giving Global” & Touring
    1:17:00 Building a Team & Future Vision
    1:18:40 Outro & Final Thoughts
    1 hr 20 min
  • The Platform 068: LA to Nashville, Nashville DJs Don’t Scratch, Playing the Same Music Every Night

    00:00 — Intro

    00:45 — Meet Ax (Mexico → Cali → Nashville)

    03:00 — From Producer to DJ (Making the Switch)

    05:15 — First Gig → Instant Residency

    06:30 — Why DJing Isn’t “Just Press Play”

    07:15 — DJ Battles & Learning the Craft

    10:30 — Why Nashville DJs Don’t Scratch

    12:30 — Good vs Bad Scratching (What Actually Works)

    14:00 — Obsession, Practice & Getting Good Fast

    17:30 — Battle DJ vs Club DJ (Skill vs Crowd Control)

    19:30 — Moving From LA to Nashville

    21:00 — Why Nashville Has WAY More Opportunity

    22:30 — Playing the Same Music Every Night

    23:30 — Why One-Genre DJs Get Stuck

    24:30 — Taking the Risk to Move Cities

    25:30 — Nashville Nightlife Is Exploding

    26:30 — Celebrity Bars & Why They Work

    27:30 — Barstool vs Broadway (Marketing Difference)

    30:00 — Why Nashville Bars Don’t Promote

    33:00 — Copy-Paste Venues Problem

    36:00 — What Makes a Great Nightclub (Ax’s Vision)

    38:00 — How He’d Build a Successful Venue

    41:00 — Entitled Crowds & Bad Requests

    43:30 — DJ vs Crowd Control (Who’s Right?)

    46:00 — Where Ax Is DJing Now

    47:00 — The Problem with Booking Agencies

    49:30 — No Accountability in DJ Booking

    52:00 — Why DJs Get Undervalued

    55:00 — How Hard It Is to Get Booked in Nashville

    57:30 — DJs with Managers Too Early

    59:00 — Fake Followers & Industry Illusions

    1:07:00 — The Latin Scene in Nashville

    1:09:00 — Why Latin Parties Always Sell Out

    1:12:00 — Why Cultures Don’t Mix in Nightlife

    1:20:00 — Building a Touring Latin Party Brand

    1:23:00 — Nashville DJ Community vs Other Cities

    1:26:00 — “Hear Me Out” (Songs That Always Work)

    1:29:00 — Ax’s Current Music Picks

    1:35:00 — Put Someone On A Platform

    1:39:00 — Outro

    1 hr 40 min
  • The Platform 067: The Luau Party, New Music vs Nashville Crowds, Is SoundCloud Back?
    The Platform Podcast episode sixty-seven features a conversation with a Nashville based DJ, D-Wake, diving into the reality of modern DJing, nightlife culture, and how the best DJs actually separate themselves.
    In this episode, we break down the truth behind crowd expectations, why tourists and nightlife markets like Nashville lean heavily on familiar music, and how tools like SoundCloud have become the biggest advantage for DJs looking to find tracks no one else is playing. We also get into real stories from behind the booth, including dealing with unpredictable crowds, the pressure of requests, and the moment a set can completely turn. D-Wake shares insight into building community-driven experiences, including creating a unique island party concept that’s grown into something bigger than just a typical event.
    If you’re a DJ, producer, nightlife professional, or someone interested in the culture behind music and entertainment, this episode gives you a real, unfiltered look at what’s actually happening behind the decks in 2026.
    Follow D-Wake:
    Instagram: @d.wakedidit
    Follow The Platform:
    Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @theplatformmix
    Follow Dex:
    @TheDJDex
    Listen to The Platform every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
    00:00 Intro
    00:45 Meet D-Wake
    02:30 Open Format vs Artist DJ Sets
    03:00 Why DJs Play The Same Songs
    05:10 Building a DJ Project
    08:20 Rebuilding a Brand From Zero
    10:40 Why DJs Struggle With Content
    13:00 Managing Multiple DJ Identities
    16:30 Choosing the Right DJ Gigs
    19:50 Why Playing Multiple Genres Matters
    23:20 Nightlife Trends in Scottsdale
    24:00 Are Clubs Pricing People Out?
    26:10 Why Bars Are Winning
    29:30 The Problem With Copy-Paste Venues
    33:00 Why Some Venues Fail
    38:10 Should DJs Stay in One City?
    41:00 The Electronic Music Scene
    46:04 SoundCloud Secrets for DJs
    47:52 How to Find New Music
    49:07 What Separates Great DJs
    53:09 How TikTok Changed Music
    57:43 Why Venues Don’t Promote Properly
    01:03:40 Is Traveling as a DJ Worth It?
    01:05:30 Final Thoughts
    1 hr 24 min
  • The Platform 066: Building a New Project, DJs Play The Same Songs, Scottsdale Nightlife Is Declining
    The Platform Podcast episode sixty-six, I sit down in Scottsdale with DJ and producer Jonis to talk about building an artist project from the ground up, the difference between open-format DJing and artist-style sets, and why so many DJs end up playing the same songs.
    We get into the realities of rebranding, launching a new alias, creating content when you hate being on camera, and learning how to separate “taking gigs for experience” from protecting a long-term artist brand. We also dive into Scottsdale nightlife, why the market feels like it’s slowing down, whether venues are pricing people out, and why bars and more curated concepts seem to be winning over traditional nightclub formats.
    If you’re a DJ, producer, nightlife professional, or creative trying to grow a brand in 2026, this episode is packed with real conversation, industry insight, and relatable struggles from both sides of the booth.
    Follow Jonis / SumLite:
    Jonis: https://www.instagram.com/jonissounds
    SumLite: https://www.instagram.com/sumlite.dj
    Follow The Platform:
    Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @theplatformmix
    Follow Dex:
    @TheDJDex
    Listen to The Platform every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
    00:00 Intro & On The Road in Scottsdale
    00:45 Meet DJ & Producer Jonis
    02:30 Open Format vs Artist DJ Sets
    03:00 Why DJs Keep Playing The Same Songs
    05:10 Launching a Second DJ Project (SumLite)
    08:20 Rebuilding a Brand From Zero
    10:40 Why DJs Hate Creating Content
    13:00 The Advantage of Having Two DJ Aliases
    16:30 Not Every DJ Gig Is The Right Gig
    19:50 Why Playing Multiple Genres Makes You Better
    23:20 Is Scottsdale Nightlife Declining?
    24:00 Are Clubs Pricing People Out?
    26:10 Why Bars Are Winning Over Nightclubs
    29:30 The Problem With Copy-Paste Nightlife Venues
    33:00 Why Some Venues Fail Their Own Brand
    38:10 Should DJs Bet Their Career On One City?
    41:00 Scottsdale's Electronic Music Scene
    45:10 The Trap Of Social Media Numbers
    48:30 Focusing On Real Fans Instead Of Views
    49:50 Jonis' Goals For 2026
    51:20 The Platform Playlist
    52:40 Put Someone On A Platform
    53:30 Episode Wrap Up
    50 min
  • The Platform 065: Writing For Multiple Artists, Always Networking, Do Club Goers Want New Music?
    The Platform Podcast episode sixty-five, I sit down with Nashville-based DJ, producer, and songwriter Logan Garrett to talk about his journey in music, his growing list of collaborations, and the creative process behind some of his latest releases.
    Logan shares how he’s built a career by staying versatile across genres—from open-format DJ sets to producing records that blend house, hip-hop, country, and Latin influences. He breaks down the grind behind landing collaborations, the reality of working with artists across the world, and why sometimes the best opportunities come from simply sending the message or taking the shot.
    The conversation dives into Logan’s work behind the scenes as a songwriter, including contributing to a record connected to Marshmello, as well as upcoming releases and collaborations with artists across multiple genres. He also talks about his independent approach to releasing music and the marketing strategies he uses to grow a global audience.
    We also discuss the realities of DJing in today’s nightlife scene, the challenge of introducing new music to crowds that want familiar hits, and how DJs balance creativity with keeping the dance floor moving.
    The episode also touches on Logan’s newest role working as the in-stadium DJ for Nashville SC, what it’s like performing for a stadium crowd compared to a nightclub, and how Nashville’s growing music and entertainment scene continues to create new opportunities for DJs and producers.
    If you’re a DJ, producer, songwriter, or someone interested in the music business, this episode is packed with insight on collaboration, marketing, creativity, and building a career in music.
    Be sure to follow Logan:
    ⁨Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/logan_garrett/
    SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djlogangarrett
    Check out who Logan “Put On A Platform” during the episode.
    Canopy by Hilton Gulch: https://www.instagram.com/canopybyhilton
    As always, thank you for your continued support. Watch the latest episodes of The Platform Podcast here on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Don’t forget to subscribe to The Platform Mix for weekly hour-long DJ mixes, available every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud, and SoundCloud.
    For the best moments from the show, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ThePlatformMix
    Be sure to follow me, @TheDJDex across all social platforms.
    For exclusive downloads of my Top Tracks of the Week, subscribe to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/djdexmke
    57 min
  • The Platform 064: DJs Are All Sounding The Same, The Truth About DJ Charts, House Music Is Winning

    00:00 — Intro + Meet Boom

    00:02:10 — Boom’s Background & DJ Journey

    00:03:25 — Turning DJing from a Hobby into a Career

    00:04:27 — Moving to Nashville & Leveling Up

    00:05:00 — Quitting the 9–5 to Go All-In

    00:05:30 — Why Nashville Pushes DJs to Be Better

    00:07:07 — Working with Crate Hackers (Curation Explained)

    00:08:00 — Building Latin & International DJ Crates

    00:10:03 — Why Authentic Curation Matters

    00:13:16 — Do DJs Rely Too Much on Charts?

    00:14:22 — Why Clubs All Sound the Same

    00:15:42 — The Real Art of DJing (Breaking New Music)

    00:16:01 — Why DJs Are Afraid to Take Risks

    00:16:47 — “What’s This Song?” = Ultimate DJ Respect

    00:17:10 — Experimentation vs Playing It Safe

    00:18:12 — How Streaming Changed Music Discovery

    00:20:09 — Making Edits & Remixes for the Club

    00:21:20 — Finding New Artists Before They Blow Up

    00:23:00 — Building an Artist Identity vs Club DJing

    00:24:00 — “You’re Getting Lapped…” (Execution vs Overthinking)

    00:24:56 — Why 100 Listeners is a Big Deal

    00:27:34 — DJing vs Producing: Finding Balance

    00:31:09 — Artist Boom vs Nightlife Boom

    00:33:11 — The Rise of Curated Events

    00:34:08 — Adding Live Elements to DJ Sets

    00:35:21 — The Moment the Crowd Pulled Out Their Phones

    00:35:54 — Why Most People Only Go Out Once a Month

    00:36:16 — Making DJ Sets More Engaging

    00:39:30 — Are Live Elements the Future of DJing?

    00:40:40 — Why Some DJ Sets Feel “Boring” Online

    00:41:30 — Social Media vs Live Experience

    00:42:56 — Riot Ranch & Nashville’s Growing Scene

    00:47:35 — Why Nashville Needs More Than Open Format

    00:48:01 — Expanding into New Markets (Miami, LA, NYC)

    00:50:20 — How to Get Booked in New Cities

    00:52:03 — Networking & Building Relationships

    00:53:53 — Influencer DJs vs Real DJs

    00:55:03 — The Business Behind Booking Decisions

    00:56:39 — Why Dance Music is Winning Globally

    00:57:15 — How DJs Test Unreleased Music (IDs)

    00:58:22 — Why Other Genres Haven’t Caught Up

    1 hr 14 min
  • The Platform 063: From Pizza Boy to COO, Life Phases, Toxic Staff & The Horse Poop Guy
    On Episode 63 of The Platform Podcast, I sat down with one of my close friends, Ryan Cota. Ryan has worked his way up the nightlife industry ladder — starting in the kitchen at a local bar and rising to become the COO of Stanton & Bowery Hospitality, where he now oversees nine venues across the U.S., including Barstool locations in Nashville, Scottsdale, and Philadelphia.
    During this episode, we dive into what really happens behind the scenes — from building the right team at a venue and maintaining leadership boundaries while still being able to build genuine relationships, to staying ahead of the competition and, of course, keeping owners, staff, and guests happy.
    Enjoy the episode! Drop a comment below with any questions for Ryan or suggestions for future guests.
    Be sure to follow Ryan:
    Ryan Cota: https://www.instagram.com/cotabagel
    Check out who Ryan “Put On A Platform” during the episode.
    As always, thank you for your continued support. Watch the latest episodes of The Platform Podcast here on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
    Don’t forget to subscribe to The Platform Mix for weekly hour-long DJ mixes, available every Monday on Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud, and SoundCloud.
    For the best moments from the show, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ThePlatformMix.
    Be sure to follow me, @TheDJDex, across all social platforms.
    For exclusive downloads of my Top Tracks of the Week, subscribe to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/djdexmke
    1 hr 56 min

About The Platform Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Platform Podcast hosted by Dex features guests from all over the nightlife and sports industry. From DJs to producers, artists, venue owners, record label employees, athletes and more you'll get…