This episode of Just Press Record brings together Tyrone Ross and Neils Ribeiro-Yemofio explore how early experiences, belief, and community shape who we become. What begins with comic books, video games, and childhood stories unfolds into a powerful conversation about identity, hope, economic mobility, and the systems that determine who gets access to opportunity. From superheroes and supervillains to first-generation college journeys, financial education, and breaking cycles of poverty, this is a deeply human conversation about what it means to see someone, invest in them, and change the trajectory of a life.
Topics covered
• The shared origins of superheroes and supervillains and how adversity shapes identity
• How the labels adults give children can define their futures
• The role of teachers, mentors, and small acts of belief in changing life paths
• First-generation college experiences and navigating systems not built for you
• Athletic talent, opportunity arriving too early, and unprepared success
• Hunger, hope, and discipline as lifelong motivators
• Financial education versus financial literacy and why language matters
• Economic mobility, community investment, and breaking cycles of poverty
• Why access, proximity, and support matter more than motivation alone
• The moral and practical case for building systems where everyone can eat
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and why these two needed to meet
01:00 Superheroes, supervillains, and shared origin stories
03:00 Childhood identity and being told who you are
06:00 Comic books, video games, and learning how the world works
12:00 Growing up, moving often, and discovering education
18:00 First-generation college journeys and culture shock
23:00 Athletics as opportunity and arriving unprepared
28:00 Teachers who change lives with belief
34:00 Hunger, survival, and early lessons in humanity
41:00 Discipline, responsibility, and turning pain into purpose
48:00 Economic mobility, financial education, and community investment
56:00 Systems, access, and why poverty is not a personal failure
01:03:00 Hope, responsibility, and why everyone can eat
In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt sits down again with Eric Pachman to explore the idea of serendipity, the role of accident in shaping a life, and what it really takes for opportunity to become meaningful. Using a clip from a prior conversation with Eric Markowitz and Elie Jacobs as the jumping-off point, this conversation turns into a deep examination of privilege, poverty, the three Cs needed for upward mobility, why so many people never reach the threshold where serendipity can help them, and how Eric is channeling his skills into Data for the People to push society toward a better path.
Topics covered:
• The difference between serendipity and pure accident
• How random events shape an entire life trajectory
• Privilege, perspective, and why some people never get access to opportunity
• The three Cs needed for meaningful upward mobility
• Why data can expose the true state of poverty and public programs
• Eric’s new project, Data for the People
• The emotional cost of working on large societal problems
• The dangers of aspirational culture and financial nihilism
• What it means to find enough in a world built on more
• How to contribute to raising the threshold so serendipity can help more people
• Why helping even one person changes everything
Timestamps:
00:00 Opening and setup
00:37 Eric on accidents and the fragility of life paths
02:18 Why random circumstances determine opportunity
03:35 Eric returns to the show and discusses major life changes
05:00 Introducing Data for the People and the SNAP deep dive
07:00 The emotional weight of analyzing poverty data
09:03 Setting up the clip from Eric Markowitz and Elie Jacobs
10:28 The serendipity clip
12:43 Eric’s first reflections on serendipity
13:54 The role of privilege in who benefits from randomness
15:00 Life as a series of accidents
17:00 Who actually gets access to positive serendipity
18:00 The three Cs that enable upward mobility
20:00 Why connection and consistency matter for kids in struggling communities
22:00 Raising the threshold for crappiness
24:00 How accidents land differently depending on where you start
25:00 The motorcycle accident story that made Eric possible
27:00 How understanding accident changes self-importance
28:00 Helping more people reach the serendipity threshold
30:00 How data can shift voting and policy behavior
31:17 What most people really want: stability, not wealth
32:40 The dangers of aspirational culture
33:53 Breaking out of the matrix of materialism
35:00 Why awareness is the only thing we can control
37:00 The real teachers in society
38:00 Supervillain logic and endless accumulation
39:11 Life on the balance beam of enough
41:00 The impossibility of perfect balance
43:00 What individuals can actually do to push the ball forward
45:00 Setting goals you won’t achieve in a single lifetime
46:12 Why Matt chose this clip for Eric
47:51 Raising opportunity as a societal responsibility
49:00 Why Eric’s current path is not a mad chance but the only rational one
50:27 Where to find Eric and follow Data for the People
52:29 Closing and sign-off
In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler brings together motivational comedian and storytelling coach Chris Grimes and structural scalability expert Brad Fisher for a spontaneous, free-flowing conversation about story, leadership, presence, improvisation, personal growth, and the bridges between creativity and organizational transformation. What begins as a playful meeting between two strangers quickly evolves into a deep exploration of how stories shape who we are, how we lead, and how we help others make meaningful transitions in business and in life.
Topics Covered
• Why asking tell me your story creates instant connection and trust
• How deep listening unlocks meaningful conversations
• The role of presence and improvisation in leadership and communication
• Chris Grimes on The Good Listening To Show and his story framework
• Brad Fisher on structural scalability, the second leap, and transforming businesses
• How to find your island B and define what you really want next
• The power of letting go, delegation, and moving from how to who
• Legacy, purpose, creativity, and finding your flow state
• Storytelling as a tool for coaching, leadership, and personal transformation
• Balancing business growth with authenticity and well-being
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:56 Why Tell Me Your Story Works
01:33 Deep Listening and The Good Listening To Show
02:00 Purpose, Flow, and Alchemy
02:47 Story as the Golden Thread
03:21 Introducing Chris Grimes and Brad Fisher
06:10 The Art of Skip Diving
08:00 Dog Psychology and Early Notes
09:55 First Impressions: Guessing Each Other’s Work
12:09 What Is a Motivational Comedian
14:01 How Improv Changes Communication
16:29 Eyes on Springs and Presence
18:00 Teaching Spontaneity and the Clock of Now
20:00 Tell Me Your Story as a Leadership Tool
22:23 Legacy Life Reflections and Capturing Stories
24:09 StoryCorps and Shared Human Stories
26:34 How the Legacy Framework Works
28:00 Brand Stories, Founder Stories, Leadership Stories
30:24 Story Structures and 5 4 3 2 1
33:00 Alchemy, Gold, and the Cake
34:09 How Brad Builds Stories With Clients
37:01 Brad’s Framework and the Second Leap
39:00 Stage One Companies vs Stage Two Companies
41:00 The Six Scalability
42:53 Second Curves and Reinventing Yourself
44:56 Courage, Change, and Revealing What’s Already There
46:12 Leading With Presence and Letting the Team Step Up
48:00 Island A vs Island B
50:17 Who Not How and Shifting Your Mindset
51:00 Chris’s Podcast Growth and Distribution
53:00 Becoming a Digital Nomad Broadcaster
55:00 What to Stop Doing: Busyness vs Flow
57:00 Building Support Around the Creative Work
59:00 Self-Compassion and Reducing Pressure
01:01:00 Following the Soul Chime
01:02:00 Building vs Extracting Stories
01:03:00 Creativity in the Known and Unknown
In this episode, we showcase some of the most powerful clips from The Intentional Investor. These conversations explore how strategic thinkers, founders, investors, and creatives navigate risk, build vision, overcome adversity, and retain their humanity along the way. This highlight reel offers a taste of the depth, honesty, and storytelling that define the series.
Main topics covered
• How goals differ from visions and why committing to a vision changes everything
• Why entrepreneurs are actually risk mitigators, not risk takers
• The power of mentorship and the people who fill the gaps in our lives
• What freedom means in global markets and why incentives matter
• Family stories, grit, and how small acts of kindness shape entire lives
• What true creativity is and why inventors matter more than we realize
• How to stop caring about external approval and shed status games
• How humility guides both earnestness and cynicism
• Why saying yes expands your world and how impact becomes central later in life
• The lifelong bond of sports, tradition, and shared experiences
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:30 Justin Castelli on goals vs visions
03:00 Jason Buck on entrepreneurship as risk mitigation
04:00 Jenny Rozelle on Susan Hunter and mentorship
07:00 Perth Tolle on freedom and incentives
08:00 Tyrone Ross on grit, family, and gap fillers
10:00 Pablos Holman on inventors vs craft
12:10 Kris Abdelmessih on not caring what others think
14:02 Rusty Guinn on earnestness, cynicism, and humility
16:41 Jared Dillian on saying yes and creative impact
17:43 Grant Williams on family, football, and legacy
20:00 Closing reflections
On this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler sits down with music critic Kevin Alexander of On Repeat Records ( https://thekevinalexander.substack.com/ ) for a conversation about creativity, measuring success, and the craft of writing with authenticity. The two explore what it means to build something meaningful in an age driven by metrics, using a clip from musician Ned Russin (Glitterer, Title Fight - @glitterererer ) as a jumping-off point. Together, they unpack how artists can find fulfillment in smaller, more intentional audiences, how to recognize when a piece of art “completes itself,” and why genuine connection beats scale every time.
Main topics covered:
Reviewing Ned Russin’s new Glitterer track “Stainless Steel”
How to measure success as a creator without chasing metrics
The balance between audience growth and artistic integrity
The skill of eliciting deep responses from readers and listeners
Why great art doesn’t scale—it spreads
Writing when inspiration strikes versus grinding through edits
The importance of authenticity over polish in creative work
How to know when to stop editing and ship your work
Building community through shared taste and genuine engagement
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and show setup
03:00 The Scranton game and Kevin Malone parallels
04:45 Reviewing Glitterer’s “Stainless Steel”
08:25 Drawing influence lines from Weezer to post-hardcore
12:00 Audience growth and how artists measure success
15:00 Picking the right ruler to measure creative progress
17:00 How Kevin thinks about engagement and reader connection
21:00 When creativity flows versus when it takes work
23:00 Collaboration, feedback, and knowing when a piece is done
27:00 The role of authenticity in modern criticism
32:00 Why great art doesn’t scale—it spreads
33:30 Closing reflections and where to find Kevin’s work
A venture investor and an audio storyteller explore curiosity, community, and unconventional careers. Danielle Strachman (1517 Fund, Teal Fellowship) and Kevin Leahy (Podcast Point Man, NPR alum) join Matt to dig into education outside the system, how local projects build connection and opportunity, and why following your instincts matters more than following a script. This episode is about taking risks, creating your own lanes, and building things that last.
Main topics covered
Danielle’s journey from Craigslist tutor to running the Teal Fellowship and 1517 Fund
Early lessons building a tutoring business and charter school from scratch
Why college isn’t the only path and how alternative education unlocks talent
Kevin’s path from NPR journalism to podcast building and business strategy
The power of curiosity, naivete, and learning by doing
Why local podcasts and grassroots community building matter
ROI vs the long tail of serendipity and relationships
Creativity, risk taking, and finding meaning through work and people
YouTube timestamps
00:00 Introductions
04:00 Danielle’s path: tutoring, homeschooling, charter school
09:30 Teal Fellowship and backing young founders
13:00 Skills based hiring and education reform
18:00 Kevin’s path: reporting, NPR, learning media
24:00 Curiosity, creativity, and making your own path
28:00 Local podcasts, community, and connection
33:00 ROI vs serendipity in community building
37:00 Alternative education and real world learning
47:00 Following instincts, shipping work, taking risks
58:00 Closing thoughts and lessons
In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler welcomes back Dave Nadig for a conversation about music discovery, community, and the art of curation. The two explore how radio, mixtapes, blogs, and the internet have shaped the way we find and share music across generations. From college radio stations to TikTok, from Dr. Demento to The Cramps revival, they discuss how music connects people, defines eras of life, and captures fleeting cultural moments. This episode is a nostalgic yet forward-looking exploration of how community forms around sound, and how documenting what we love keeps the signal alive.
Main topics covered:
Radio as a community builder and discovery engine
The evolution of music discovery from cassettes to streaming
College radio, mixtapes, and the importance of shared curation
Nostalgia, generational shifts, and the persistence of new music
Music blogging, Substack, and finding filters in a world of abundance
Temporary communities formed around concerts and festivals
The art of documenting musical eras through playlists
Why music remains one of the strongest cultural anchors in the age of AI
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and setup
04:58 Dave’s return to ETF.com and community building
06:47 The Laurie Kaye and Kevin Alexander radio clip
09:46 Dave’s early radio memories and Dr. Demento nostalgia
13:05 Cassette trading, hot takes, and early musical opinions
15:00 College radio and discovering community through sound
17:44 From radio to live shows and finding local scenes
20:00 Early internet and the dawn of digital music discovery
22:00 Record store culture and physical community
24:00 Music as a personal act versus a shared experience
27:00 Curiosity for new music and why discovery never ends
29:00 TikTok, subcultures, and modern discovery engines
31:00 Communities, fandoms, and cultural tentpoles
34:00 Playlists as time capsules and memory markers
37:00 Pandemic music and anchoring moments in time
39:00 Temporary communities and the concert experience
43:00 Finding meaning through curation and connection
46:00 Closing thoughts, shoutouts, and where to find Dave
Rachel Goldfarb and Eric Pachman meet for the first time on Just Press Record in an extraordinary conversation about grief, awareness, and reclaiming soulfulness. Matt Zeigler brings these two together—each transformed by loss and purpose—to explore how we find meaning, reconnect with our humanity, and turn pain into growth. From policy and data to parenting and purpose, this episode is a raw, thoughtful journey through how awareness heals and connection grounds us.
Topics covered:
• Eric’s path from drug pricing reform to data visualization and awareness
• Rachel’s journey through public service, motherhood, and redefining the Chief of Staff role
• How grief and loss became catalysts for both guests’ personal and professional transformation
• Reclaiming “soulfulness” in an increasingly divided and digital world
• The connection between awareness, empathy, and leadership
• Why we need to hold our beliefs lightly and focus on human connection
• Finding hope, meaning, and purpose through service and presence
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and setup
00:30 Guilt, gratitude, and loss
01:30 Defining soulfulness and awareness
03:00 Matt’s introductions: Eric Pachman and Rachel Goldfarb
07:00 Eric’s background in data visualization and healthcare reform
11:00 Rachel’s background in policy, the White House, and the CFPB
15:00 The 46Brooklyn story and connecting data to change
20:00 Rachel’s experiences at the Gates Foundation and loss of her mother
25:00 Shared stories of grief and transformation
35:00 Awareness, choice, and meaning after loss
43:00 Reclaiming soulfulness and the impact of technology on empathy
50:00 The role of nuance, awareness, and understanding in leadership
58:00 Balancing awareness with mental health and media overload
01:06:00 Channeling energy into positive impact and community
01:12:00 Final reflections on meaning, awareness, and connection
Dennis Moseley-Williams joins Matt Zeigler for a conversation on creativity, preparation, and authenticity in the experience economy. They explore what it means to truly “show up” — balancing the control of preparation with the freedom of flow. From keynotes gone sideways to customer secrets and the power of belonging, Dennis shares personal stories and insights on how businesses — and people — can create genuine connections by being real, weird, and specific.
Topics covered:
• Knowing your stuff vs. controlling the chaos
• The difference between keynotes and workshops
• What it means to “show up” as your full self
• Why over-preparation kills creativity (and how ChatGPT plays into it)
• The Elvis Costello opening — starting with energy and authenticity
• Authenticity in the experience economy
• The role of customer secrets in creating magic
• When businesses become communities — “niche, niche, weird”
• How structure and ritual create freedom and flow
• Lessons from a keynote gone wrong — and how to recover
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and setup
05:00 The power of customer secrets
08:00 Why preparation matters (and when it goes too far)
11:00 Knowing your stuff vs. controlling the chaos
15:00 Preparing vs. performing — finding your flow
17:00 The Elvis Costello opening
21:00 Authenticity and chemistry with audiences
27:00 The rise of individuality and belonging
29:00 Niche, niche, weird — when businesses become communities
33:00 The keynote nightmare story
37:00 Lessons learned from failure
39:00 Launching a new show and embracing flow
42:00 The importance of sweating the small stuff
43:00 Structure creates freedom
44:00 Where to find Dennis online
NEPA Horror Fest is happening at Circle Drive in on 10/22/2025! $15 at 5pm, all ages welcome. More info and tickets here: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/nepa-horror/nepa-horror-13-short-films-night-market?fbclid=IwVERDUAMk5uhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHoN7Ac74lOm-7IMweZDjTRWb1N41GHD0SRmSjFEGAQZC-1RkDShNvPnwMxS__aem_FNWIe1phkCqfjHgyp8J7Dg
Join us for a conversation with Bobby K, the founder of NEPA Horror Fest. We talk about the origins of the festival, the challenges of running community events, and why creating a space for indie films, music, and art matters so much. From Murphy’s Law stories to what it takes to bring Hollywood-quality experiences to local communities, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at passion, perseverance, and horror on the big screen.
Topics covered:
The history and evolution of NEPA Horror Fest
Why Bobby K started the festival and how it’s grown since 2015
The challenges of running local community events
The importance of showcasing independent films and local talent
Why drive-ins and nostalgic venues matter for culture and connection
Balancing financial struggles with the reward of community impact
What’s new at the 11th annual festival, including the night market and live music
How to support and attend this year’s event
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Murphy’s Law stories
03:00 Local music and festival memories
06:20 Why start a horror film festival in NEPA
07:30 Growth of the festival and major guests
09:00 Bringing Monster Mania–style events to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
10:00 Why indie films need a platform
12:00 Nostalgia and the drive-in experience
13:20 Film submission process and global reach
15:00 Defining success beyond the numbers
17:40 Event details: October 11th at Circle Drive-In
19:40 Night market, live music, and family-friendly atmosphere
21:50 Why supporting local culture matters
In this episode, Nate Bagley and Bree Groff unpack how to design work that feels human, energizing, and worth your days. We dig into the real drivers of performance (recognition, meaning, and momentum), why so many teams misread burnout, and a practical “magic ratio” you can use this week to change culture. If you’ve ever caught yourself wishing away weekdays, this conversation offers concrete ways to redesign your day, your team habits, and your leadership playbook.
Topics covered
Why “work should be fun” is a serious performance principle
The unseen work trap: wishing away days and treating people as resources
Recognition as a love language and the behaviors that make it land
The 20:1 magic ratio and why praise-to-corrective balance matters
Psychological safety vs. aliveness and how to cultivate both
How leaders can give better feedback and model the right habits
Meeting hygiene, daily design, and micro-changes that compound
Rethinking burnout: what most teams get wrong and how to fix it
Metrics that matter: from output obsession to sustainable performance
Practical scripts and experiments to try with your team this week
Timestamps
00:00 Intro and why work should be fun
02:10 The unseen work trap and wishing away your days
06:25 Recognition as a love language
10:40 The 20:1 magic ratio explained
15:05 Psychological safety vs aliveness
19:30 Feedback that motivates without fear
24:15 Meeting hygiene and daily design
29:00 Burnout, misdiagnosed
33:20 Metrics that actually move performance
38:10 Leader scripts and experiments to try now
42:45 Audience takeaways and next steps
In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt brings together journalist and friendship expert Anna Goldfarb and psychologist/behavioral finance analyst Naomi Win for a deep and wide-ranging conversation on friendship, uncertainty, and the ways we build and sustain human connection.
The discussion moves from personal stories and research insights to cultural commentary, exploring how we navigate modern relationships in a world full of competing demands, distractions, and constant change.
Topics Covered
Why uncertainty shapes both friendships and personal growth
Anna’s framework for understanding friendship hierarchies (bathtub, jacuzzi, swimming pool, etc.)
The difference between agentic friendships and communal friendships
How adulthood, family, and time scarcity reshape our social circles
Cultural and societal impacts on modern friendship and loneliness
The psychology of self-trust, repair, and vulnerability in relationships
Trauma bonding vs. healthy friendship bonding
Anna’s personal story of her father, uncertainty, and the importance of reaching out
Why certainty, communication, and generosity matter in sustaining friendships
In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler sits down with Steve Willison—HR executive and author of Players, Payoffs and People—to explore how game theory applies to work, leadership, and life.
The conversation weaves together stories of creativity, burnout, and identity with lessons on incentives, teamwork, and personal growth. From bands on tour to boardrooms, Steve shares how seeing the world as a series of "games" can provide clarity and direction in navigating relationships, careers, and organizations.
Topics Covered:
In this episode of *Just Press Record*, Matt Zeigler brings together Dr. Preston Cherry, author of *Wealth in the Key of Life*, and Jenny Wood, former Google exec and author of *Wild Courage*. They dive into the power of rejection, the value of “weird,” the courage to stand out, and why nobody likes to be “should on.” This conversation blends psychology, storytelling, and practical lessons on living boldly and authentically.
### Topics Covered
* Why rejection is often just the first step toward success
* Jenny’s “wild courage” story of meeting her husband on the subway
* The role of fear—failure, judgment, and uncertainty—in holding us back
* How to embrace “weird” as a strength in work and life
* Reframing “manipulative” into the courage to influence for good
* The balance between seeking permission and trusting yourself
* The importance of stage of life, self-audits, and giving yourself grace
* Session work, entrepreneurship myths, and the underrated power of enthusiasm
* Practical frameworks like Preston’s “6 As” and Jenny’s “WINN” and “FLIP” tools
In this second conversation with Morgan Ranstrom, we dive deeper into the power of creating in public, the discomfort of vulnerability, and the surprising compounding benefits of sharing ideas openly. From creativity and wealth management to music, poetry, and AI, this episode explores how learning out loud can change careers, relationships, and the way we engage with the world.
Special shoutout to my prior conversation with Chris Mayer and Anne-Laure Le Cunff (@neuranne) — we've got a great clip from their introduction to inspire this conversation!
👉 https://youtu.be/pgdhXiVh2zE?si=39uUxqOOARfITUE8
What We Cover:
Why creating in public is so powerful
The tension between being “late” vs. just starting anyway
Compounding benefits of small creative risks
Vulnerability vs. comfort in an AI-driven world
Lessons from music, writing, and wealth management
The role of the muse and the creative flywheel
Finding balance between private long-term projects and public iteration
How human connection transforms creativity
What happens when a hip-hop pioneer and a philosopher-turned-artist sit down to explore the tension between external validation and internal mastery?
In this episode of Just Press Record, Bill Stephney—former Def Jam executive and cultural force behind launching acts like Public Enemy—and Lawrence Yeo—author of More To That (@moretothat) and creator of deeply reflective visual essays—discuss the creative journey from two unique angles.
It's a conversation about art, ambition, history, and the challenge of staying true to yourself when everyone else is watching.
• The early days of hip-hop and Bill's pivotal role in launching Public Enemy
• Lawrence's discovery of beatmaking and how it shifted his creative worldview
• The tradeoff between external recognition, financial success, and creative freedom
• Why many creators move away from their first passion—and what replaces it
• The LA beat scene, SoundCloud era, and how distribution has changed everything
• Gatekeepers vs democratization: is quality being lost or redefined?
• How the pursuit of mastery differs from the pursuit of fame
• What motivates great artists—and how that changes over time
• Bill's work on documentaries like Philly on Fire and Kaepernick in America
• The importance of curiosity, creative tension, and following your "inner compass"
00:00 - Intro: Def Jam, Rick Rubin, and why these two guests had to meet
02:00 - Lawrence on learning about sampling and the genius of collage
08:00 - Bill's path from college DJ to discovering Chuck D and forming Public Enemy
13:10 - The syncopated roots of hip-hop and its cultural explosion
18:25 - Lawrence on the LA beat scene, Flying Lotus, and SoundCloud's golden age
24:00 - Why he left music: chasing validation vs. creative fulfillment
26:40 - Bill on managing art, fame, and commerce at Def Jam
31:10 - From music exec to film producer: the Tony Braxton origin story
39:00 - Democratization vs. quality: the creative tension of modern distribution
44:30 - What counts as "good" in a world without gatekeepers?
50:15 - Cultural movements that weren't planned—but changed everything
53:00 - Mastery, the inner compass, and why artists leave a mark
58:00 - The danger of overstimulation and protecting curiosity
1:03:20 - Saying yes, instinct, and the path to meaningful work
1:07:00 - A Grand Wizard Theodore story and the beauty of creative accidents
In this deeply reflective episode of *Just Press Record*, Matt Zeigler sits down with Morgan Ranstrom for a conversation that moves beyond money and into the heart of what truly compounds in life. Prompted by a powerful clip from John Candeto, Morgan and Matt explore how time serves as the ultimate filter — for ideas, relationships, art, and legacy. Together they unpack the meaning of right living, the responsibility of generational impact, and how we can each live with intention today to shape the world of tomorrow.
This episode isn’t about financial markets — it’s about the compounding power of decisions, creativity, and care. It’s about being an active participant in building something that outlasts you.
**Topics Covered:** *
* Why time is the ultimate filter for truth, art, and wisdom
* The delayed rewards of living intentionally
* Compounding in health, creativity, relationships, andparenting
* The challenge (and reward) of thinking in decades, notdays
* Legacy-building as an active, not passive, responsibility
* Using music, writing, and presence to show our kids who weare
* The epigenetics of love, trauma, and personal change
* Why the Grateful Dead might be the perfect metaphor forenduring culture
* What it *really* means to be a good ancestor
What happens when a legendary radio insider meets a modern-day playlist curator? In this episode of Just Press Record, host Matt Zeigler brings together Laurie Kaye, the last person to interview John Lennon, and Kevin Alexander, the music-obsessed mind behind the On Repeat Records Substack. Together, they explore the emotional power of music discovery—from transistor radios under the covers to Substack playlists in your inbox. With stories that span from David Bowie and Mick Jagger to record store revelations and underground concerts, this episode is a love letter to curation, connection, and the soundtracks of our lives.
🎧 What We Cover
• Laurie’s unforgettable interview with John Lennon hours before his death
• Kevin’s mission to recreate the magic of musical discovery in the streaming age
• The power of DJs and how radio shaped identity and culture
• Why playlists are passports—and why curation still matters
• Laurie’s chance encounters with Bowie, Jagger, the Ramones, and more
• Kevin’s record store job and the thrill of hidden A&R gems
• The joy (and danger) of having only one tape to play
• Why some artists grow on us—and why others never click
• How both guests try to spark that “lightning in a bottle” moment for others
• The emotional gravity of being a tastemaker and passing music forward
• Local music shout-outs, mixtape rituals, and the timeless role of live shows
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Why Laurie Kaye and Kevin Alexander Needed to Meet
01:00 – Laurie's Early Love of Radio and Discovery Through Headphones
02:15 – The Day Laurie Interviewed John Lennon
05:00 – Radio Contests, Winning Stones Tickets, and DJ Magic
08:30 – Kevin on Portland Radio and the Magic of Community Airwaves
10:00 – The Role of DJs in Shaping Identity
14:30 – Laurie’s First Radio Job and Her Beatles Special
18:00 – The Art of Curating Playlists: Then and Now
22:00 – Kevin’s Weekly Substack and the Joy of Editing for Others
25:00 – Local Band Love: Molly Hammer and the Midnight Tokers
27:30 – From Dive Bars to CBGB: How Discovery Happens
31:00 – The Grateful Dead Debate: From Hate to Love (or Not)
38:00 – Getting Stuck With One Tape: Musical Imprinting
44:00 – Kevin’s Record Store Stories and Promo Bin Finds
46:00 – Surprise Phone Calls: Mick Jagger and David Bowie
49:00 – Talking Heads, Dick Clark, and Behind-the-Scenes Memories
53:00 – Ramones Memories and Their Love of The Beatles
57:00 – Little Richard, Wedding Offers, and Musical Mentors
1:00:00 – Joe Angel: The Mentor Who Changed Laurie’s Life
1:04:00 – What It Means to Curate for One Person
1:07:00 – Double Fantasy, John & Yoko’s Love, and Missed Dinners
1:10:00 – Final Music Recommendations and Emotional Reflections
]🎙 Lindsey Bell on Career Pivots, Purpose, and the Future of Work
In this special “O Snap” episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler sits down with Lindsey Bell to explore the messy, magical in-between of career pivots and how the future of work is being shaped by a new wave of entrepreneurs. Using a powerful clip from Hal Hershfield and Julia Carrion as a jumping-off point, they dive into the importance of adaptability, the test-and-learn mindset, and why mission and work are becoming inseparable in today’s labor market.
🔑 Topics Covered:
The real drivers of career change: desperation vs. discontent
Why career pivots are messy but transformative
How testing and learning builds adaptability and resilience
The explosion of entrepreneurialism among skilled workers
Why the W-2 job may be fading in relevance
How identity and purpose shape the future of work
The economic implications of a more fragmented, resilient workforce
The growing importance of community in a decentralized work world
Why the “1,000 true fans” model resonates in 2025
Lessons from Lindsey’s TED Talk on career ownership
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Matt had to show Lindsey the Hal & Julia clip
01:00 – The messy truth behind pivots and personal transformation
04:11 – What Lindsey’s been up to since her last appearance
05:10 – The Hal Hershfield & Julia Carrion clip
07:14 – First reactions: the beauty and pain of career pivots
09:00 – Why real change is triggered by pressure or exhaustion
11:00 – Test and learn: the new model of career development
12:00 – A seismic shift toward entrepreneurialism
14:50 – The rise of skilled, mid-career entrepreneurs
16:08 – Why traditional jobs are becoming less reliable
18:34 – It's never been easier to build something new
20:00 – Are we chasing "enough" instead of "more"?
21:03 – Fragmentation as a defining economic force
23:21 – Finding purpose and identity in the brands and communities we choose
24:38 – The future of work is deeply personal and communal
26:15 – Where to find Lindsey Bell and her TED Talk
📌 Watch Lindsey’s TED Talk: "How to Take Ownership of Your Career"
📬 Connect with Lindsey on LinkedIn: [Insert Link]
🔔 Subscribe to Cultish Creative for more deep dives into creativity, purpose, and the future of work.
Let me know if you’d like to customize the intro tone or simplify the bullet points.