Episodes

I Spent $15K on a Studio That Got Destroyed in 2 Months | EF EP 107
July 10, 2025

I Spent $15K on a Studio That Got Destroyed in 2 Months | EF EP 107

My studio flooded on June 25th. Everything is damaged. However, I'm here to show you how to navigate setbacks in your career without losing your momentum. In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of losing my dream ...

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Why Your Ego Is the Biggest Threat to Your Music Career | EF EP 106
July 3, 2025

Why Your Ego Is the Biggest Threat to Your Music Career | EF EP 106

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY DEEP TROPICS. Deep Tropics is an immersive dance experience in the heart of Music City, Nashville, where party truly meets purpose. Known as the most sustainable festival in North America, Deep Tr...

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The Space Miami Formula: How to Handle Any Crowd | EF EP 105
June 26, 2025

The Space Miami Formula: How to Handle Any Crowd | EF EP 105

Want to know how to read and control any room, no matter how diverse the crowd? Ms. Mada's unique perspective as both booking operations manager and resident DJ at Space Miami offers insights that most artists never get acces...

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How to Take Your Music to New Cities with Jeff Sorkowitz | EF EP 104
June 19, 2025

How to Take Your Music to New Cities with Jeff Sorkowitz | EF EP 104

Want to expand your music career beyond your home market? Jeff's strategic approach to building Short Circuit across multiple cities offers a blueprint for sustainable geographic expansion. Jeff reveals how he identifies the ...

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From House Parties to Throwing Festivals: Josh Baker's Journey | EF EP 103
June 12, 2025

From House Parties to Throwing Festivals: Josh Baker's Journey | EF E…

Tired of waiting for someone to give you a chance? Josh Baker's story proves you don't need permission to start building something meaningful in music. Starting with literally nothing - a £20 generator and field parties where...

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Stop Waiting for Permission: How to Put Yourself On in Music | EF EP 102
June 5, 2025

Stop Waiting for Permission: How to Put Yourself On in Music | EF EP …

🎫 PRESALE ALERT: Chicago Music Nexus 2025 presale tickets are now live for 2 weeks only! Last year completely sold out, so don't sleep on this. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE Want to know what separates artists who complain about the ...

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Your Hometown Won't Make You Famous: How to Build Beyond Local Scenes with Hiroko | EF EP 101
May 29, 2025

Your Hometown Won't Make You Famous: How to Build Beyond Local Scenes…

Think your local scene holds the key to your DJ success? This conversation with Hiroko Yamamura will change that perspective entirely. Even in a major music city like Chicago, waiting for local validation can be a career-limi...

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The Overnight Success Story that Took 15 Years | EF Episode 100!
May 22, 2025

The Overnight Success Story that Took 15 Years | EF Episode 100!

For our milestone 100th episode, we're celebrating in our brand new Chicago studio with someone who's been part of this journey from day one - my brother, Proppa. His recent success with Warner Bros. offers the perfect case s...

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The Artist-to-Manager Journey: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table | EF EP 99
May 15, 2025

The Artist-to-Manager Journey: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table |…

Want to know what it takes to navigate the music industry from both sides of the table? This week's conversation with Mouna Dif offers a unique perspective from someone who's journeyed from singer-songwriter to respected mana...

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Your Release Marketing Strategy Is Outdated: Here's What Works Now | EF EP 98
May 8, 2025

Your Release Marketing Strategy Is Outdated: Here's What Works Now | …

Want to know why most dance music marketing fails? In this eye-opening conversation, former TikTok UK/EU music marketing lead Dan Roy Carter reveals the insider metrics, hidden paid strategies, and fundamental shifts that are...

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Building an Empire: Mark Knight's Toolroom Blueprint for Artists | EF EP 97
May 1, 2025

Building an Empire: Mark Knight's Toolroom Blueprint for Artists | EF…

Want to know how Mark Knight built Toolroom Records into one of dance music's most enduring empires? In this conversation with the legendary DJ, producer, and label founder, he breaks down the exact blueprint that's kept him ...

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The 10-Year Rule: Why Mary Droppinz Says You Can't Quit Before Then | EF EP 96
April 24, 2025

The 10-Year Rule: Why Mary Droppinz Says You Can't Quit Before Then |…

In an era obsessed with overnight success, Mary Droppinz offers a radical perspective: give yourself at least 10 years in this industry before you even consider throwing in the towel. This conversation is a wake-up call for a...

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James Hype & Tita Lau’s Content Strategy (That Most DJs Won't Try) | EF EP 95
April 17, 2025

James Hype & Tita Lau’s Content Strategy (That Most DJs Won't Try) | …

Want to know how one of dance music's biggest stars built a movement through vulnerability? In this special Miami Music Week episode, James Hype and Tita Lau reveal the counterintuitive strategies behind their massive online ...

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From $970M Twitch Exit to Burning Man's Massive Art Car | EF EP 94
April 10, 2025

From $970M Twitch Exit to Burning Man's Massive Art Car | EF EP 94

What happens when you sell your company to Amazon for nearly a billion dollars? For Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, it meant following an unexpected passion - building one of Burning Man's most impressive art installations and ...

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Miami's Most Notorious Venue: The E11even DJ Experience Revealed | EF EP 93
April 3, 2025

Miami's Most Notorious Venue: The E11even DJ Experience Revealed | EF…

Want to know how to read a room when multiple distractions compete for attention? This week's guest, Mister Gray, has mastered this skill during his 11-year residency at E11even, a unique venue that combines the energy of a n...

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Collect More Failures: The Counter-Intuitive Path to Success | EF EP 92
March 27, 2025

Collect More Failures: The Counter-Intuitive Path to Success | EF EP …

Want to know what it really takes to build something in dance music? When Jason Euler's emails to Relentless Beats went unanswered, he didn't just try again - he threw his own block party, betting everything he had. We're tal...

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Miami Music Week: The Insider's Guide You Can't Afford to Miss | EF EP 91
March 20, 2025

Miami Music Week: The Insider's Guide You Can't Afford to Miss | EF E…

Want to know why some artists leave Miami Music Week with game-changing opportunities while others just leave broke? This week's guest Paul Campbell isn't just another industry veteran - he's the ultimate Miami insider who's ...

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From Viral Hit to Identity Crisis: The Story Artists Need to Hear w/GUDFELLA | EF EP 90
March 13, 2025

From Viral Hit to Identity Crisis: The Story Artists Need to Hear w/G…

Want to know why some artists crumble under success while others turn it into sustainable careers? When GUDFELLA's remix of "Rule the World" exploded, getting picked up by major European soccer teams and even Tiësto, it marke...

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Industry Wake-Up Call: Your Health Can't Afford to Ignore This | EF EP 89
March 6, 2025

Industry Wake-Up Call: Your Health Can't Afford to Ignore This | EF E…

In an industry where burnout is normalized and careers end before they begin, most DJs don't realize they're one health crisis away from losing everything. This week's guest, Ethan Schiff, knows this reality all too well - af...

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DJs, Stop Getting Played: My Exact System for Getting Paid On Time | EF EP 88
Feb. 27, 2025

DJs, Stop Getting Played: My Exact System for Getting Paid On Time | …

Name another industry where it's normal to wait three months to get paid for work you've already done. In this episode, I'm sharing my exact system for getting paid on time - the same system that earned me the nickname "The C...

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Tired of Making No Money? Industry Experts Share Their Solution | EF EP 87
Feb. 20, 2025

Tired of Making No Money? Industry Experts Share Their Solution | EF …

Want to know why most DJs struggle to make a living while others build sustainable careers? In this special episode from Chicago Music Nexus, a powerhouse panel of industry experts breaks down the revenue streams you're proba...

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Your Music Isn't Enough: A Stylist's Guide to Getting Noticed | EF EP 86
Feb. 13, 2025

Your Music Isn't Enough: A Stylist's Guide to Getting Noticed | EF EP…

Want to know why some DJs instantly capture attention while others fade into the background? This week's guest, Wardrobe Consultant, Stylist, and My Friend Camille Ries reveals how developing your signature style can be the d...

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My TikTok Manager Said 'Keep Streaming' - DJ 2AR on Surviving the Ban Scare | EF EP 85
Feb. 6, 2025

My TikTok Manager Said 'Keep Streaming' - DJ 2AR on Surviving the Ban…

When TikTok vanished for 12 hours, most creators panicked. But Miami-based DJ and artist manager 2AR stayed calm - because he'd built something bigger than just a following. His twice-daily streams have evolved into a digital...

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From Outsider to Industry Connected: My Networking Playbook | EF EP 84
Jan. 30, 2025

From Outsider to Industry Connected: My Networking Playbook | EF EP 84

Want to know how I went from being an awkward outsider to building genuine industry relationships? In this episode, I break down my complete networking playbook - including the FBI agent strategy that changed everything. If y...

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