Urban Achiever

Dusty Redmon (Beloved, Dead Poetic, The Almost) is a guy who has found contentment in his life through faith, music and family. After many years and most of his youth on the road he's settled into what he calls a "normal" life. Also, is Beloved getting back together or what?!

Ethan Luck (Kings Of Leon) returns on the 1 year anniversary of his appearance on the first first episode of Urban Achiever. We get into how Ethan became a Vegan, what we think about Starbucks cups and other fun. More importantly we go track by track on Ethan's new EP that comes out on Tuesday, December 8th!

Matt Carter (Emery, Bad Christian, Break It Down) has journeyed from a house on a dirt road with no house number to touring the world with his band Emery. He is somebody who should have the words "make it work" tattooed somewhere on his body. From re-wiring the rental storage unit his band used to practice in to converting buses and starting podcast networks - Matt is somebody who knows how to get things done.

Aaron Irizarry (Point Of Recognition) knows what it means to own his faith. He is a husband, father, graphic designer, author and all around legit brother. But his journey was not always filled with positivity. We'll get into some hard lessons he had to learn in his late teens and how he turned things around.

This week we're going to take a look at my new book, Bottle Breaker. Bottle Breaker is my tour journal from my former band Blenderhead's 1995, 7 week, national tour with labelmates MxPx. We'll listen to stories from that tour with previous guests Matt Johnson (Blenderhead), Joel Bell (Ghoti Hook) and Mike Herrera (MxPx) and I'll read an excerpt from the book.

My guest Ryan Rado (Colson, Ill Patriot, Worker) and I worked together in Nashville at a music merch company called Zambooie. Ryan struggles with conditions that very few of us understand (Tourette's and OCD) and he does it with an attitude that is inspiring. These days he's attempting to provide for his family by creating art and paintings which are beautiful.

Ray Harkins (Taken, 100 Words Or Less Podcast, PETA) turned 35 this week and he's my guest for episode 35. Coincidence? Providence? You decide! Either way, Ray is once of the nicest guys in hardcore. Harkins has spent time working for labels like Abacus, Century Media and No Sleep as well as fronting the band Taken. He is also the host of his own podcast, 100 Words Or Less as well as a Senior Partnerships Manager for animal rights organization PETA.

Joel Eastlick (Defeating Olympus, Eastlick Coffee) came up in the south Florida underground music scene. But, it was a two year mission to Spain that changed his life and faith forever, sending him down the road to the coffee industry and New York City.

Tess Wiley (Splendora, Phantasmic, Sixpence None The Richer, Velour 100) is a talented singer, songwriter, artist and music teacher. We'll get into her upbringing in Texas, musical influences and explore the meaning of words like sanguine, choleric, melancholic and certitude. We'll also dip into the serious sides of her divorce, faith and if she'll ever return to America.

A couple decades ago Johnny Thief (Seppuku Tattoo) was a zine publisher (Thieves & Prostitutes) and I was a guy playing in a band. Since that time Johnny dove head first into the art world eventually becoming a world renowned rock poster and tattoo artist. His story, as you will hear, is filled with more twists and turns than a Hollywood blockbuster. I'm amazed that Johnny has survived, let alone thrived and you will be too.