Is Breakfast Included?

This week Bernie sits down with Fred Kowalo, bass tech for Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx. Fred shares his journey from small-town musician to working alongside some of rock’s biggest legends, with stories spanning decades of music history. From epic parties with Zakk Wylde to the unique challenges of life on the road, Fred reflects on his experiences with both humor and heart. He

In this episode, Bernie catches up with singer, songwriter, and guitarist Nick Gibson. Nick shares his journey from Oklahoma to Nashville, discussing his grandfather’s influence on his career and how he overcame early stage fright. He talks about how authenticity drives his songwriting and performance style, while reflecting on the impact of his Native American heritage. Nick als

In this episode, we chat with Mark Damian, a drummer, producer, and audio engineer whose career spans live performance, recording, and even sound design for film trailers. Mark reflects on his early years in Michigan, his journey to Los Angeles, and the challenges of carving out a place in the competitive music industry. He also shares stories about his work on PBS’s Startup, tou

This week, we’re joined by Russell Graham, a talented multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and vocalist, best known for his work with Nile Rodgers and Chic. Russell shares his journey from performing at the Apollo Theater to going viral with his rendition of the Soul Glo theme on NPR’s Tiny Desk. He discusses what it’s like to balance life on the road, collaborate wit

This week, Bernie and Lisa sit down with Phillip W. Palmer, an Emmy-winning sound mixer celebrated for his work on hit shows like Glee and Better Call Saul. Phillip discusses the creative challenges of capturing high-quality sound on set, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his time working with iconic stars. He explains that sound mixing goes far beyond technical precision—it

In this episode, Bernie and Lisa chat with Craig Pfunder, musician, producer, and musical director for Jake Shears. Craig shares his journey, from being adopted and growing up in an interracial family in Georgia, to discovering his passion for music. He reflects on his early influences, the evolution of VHS or Beta, and some of the challenges he faced navigating the music industry.

This week we chat with Nick Rhodes, the legendary keyboardist and creative mastermind behind Duran Duran. In this episode, The Controller pulls back the curtain on some of the band’s most iconic performances, from breathtaking European venues to their upcoming Halloween spectacle at Madison Square Garden. We also explore his thoughts on the future of AI in music and why he’s ca

This week, we sit down with Adam Moyer and Kiara Williams of the musical duo Key to Adam. They share how they met during an open mic and instantly connected through music. Adam opens up about using music as therapy, while Kiara talks about her journey as a self-taught violinist and West Virginia Fiddle Champion. Together, they discuss their diverse musical style, blending everythin

In this episode, Bernie talks with Paige McKenna Grube and Stacy Stanton-Runge about GOLD: The Documentary. GOLD explores the lives of dancers at the Gold Nugget strip club in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. Paige discusses her background in filmmaking and the journey of creating a film that humanizes and uplifts women in the adult industry, while Stacy shares her personal experience as a

This week Bernie sits down with Jim Runge, a tour manager with over 35 years in the music industry. Jim talks about his early days in the Green Bay punk scene, playing in a band that once caught the attention of a young Dave Grohl. He shares his career transition into production and tour management, balancing his work with raising a family, and how his son has followed in his foots