The Shift with Mike & Joe

The Shift with Mike & Joe

Welcome to ”The Shift with Mike and Joe,” the podcast that takes you on a journey into the world of entrepreneurship with your hosts, Mike and Joe! Mike is an 9-year veteran of the self-employment game and Joe is a recent entrepreneur who kicked off his journey about 3 years ago. Both hosts are not only business-savvy but also talented musicians, adding a unique twist to the entrepreneurial conversation. Mike runs the ”Kent Island Academy of Music,” a successful music school, while Joe operates ”Image & Sound Media,” a thriving photography and videography business. Beyond their entrepreneurial endeavors, these dynamic individuals are also solo musicians who occasionally team up in Joe’s band, ”Heavy Fred.” ”The Shift” strives for biweekly episodes filled with insights, advice, and real talk about breaking free from the traditional 9-5 job and making your own path in the business world. Mike and Joe will cover a variety of topics related to entrepreneurship, including the highs and lows of their own journeys, lessons learned, and tips for success. Beyond the world of business, the podcast will dive into various aspects of their lives, from hobbies and self-care to the adventures of fatherhood. Expect a mix of valuable insights and lighthearted banter as they share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, just starting out, or simply curious about the entrepreneurial lifestyle, ”The Shift with Mike and Joe” is your go-to podcast for inspiration and entertainment. Don’t miss out on the fun—subscribe now and join them every two weeks for a dose of wisdom, laughter, and the occasional dose of nonsense! #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    We Interview Each Other Pt 1 | Mike Waskey on Cults, 4 Adopted Kids + Why He Owns 42 Bags - EP 40

    "I felt like a hero, Joe." Mike Waskey owns 42 bags. He can recite the model names from memory. And by the end of this conversation he can tell you exactly why — it goes back to a pair of pants that split open on his second day working at Starbucks. This is Part 1 of a two-part swap: no guest, no format, just Mike and Joe interviewing each other. Joe takes the chair this week and asks Mike the questions. Next episode, Mike turns it around — with help from ChatGPT, since he's decided that's fair play. Joe did zero preparation, and it shows in the best way. The first hour wanders through beef tallow hair product, a pair of $400 Randolph sunglasses, Project Hail Mary, Silo, and a dad joke that probably shouldn't have survived the edit. Then it gets somewhere real. Mike's father grew up in the Plymouth Brethren — a religious group headquartered in Australia where children weren't allowed to listen to the radio, and where leaving meant your entire family stopped speaking to you. He got out by enlisting as a conscientious objector. Mike walks us through what he knows of it, why he thinks people are drawn to that kind of thing, and his own view that any organization worth joining should probably be a little bit cultish. We trace the stages of Michael Steven Waskey: the soccer-and-karate kid, the skateboarding guitar player with the 90s haircut, the kid who quit the soccer team after fighting three teammates who were picking on someone smaller, the high schooler recording an album with Statue Spread, the heavy phase with Clockwork, and the college student who found out he could sing in an ear training class. And the Heavy Fred years — which means the crab tater tots story. Joe walking off stage mid-song to eat by the handful, Mike hiding his keys, the band leaving without him, and the intervention that took another year and a half to work. Both of them tell it straight. After the break Joe asks what Mike's morals and values actually are, and Mike takes it seriously: family as the basis of society, four adopted children, faith, and the parts he doesn't live up to. He's unusually honest about it — the word games he plays with pricing to make more money, jealousy, and a resistance to authority that runs from claiming cash tips all the way down to wearing a seatbelt. Then the bags. Mike pulls one off camera and gives an unrequested tour, and it becomes the most revealing part of the episode: a wrench pulled out of a tire on vacation with paracord and a hitch, the ripped pants at Starbucks, and what it actually feels like to be the person who has what everyone needs. We also get into what's next — pivoting from bar gigs to weddings, funerals, and corporate events, playing fewer but better shows, and the fact that he needs to go buy a suit. What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund 00:45 Welcome to Episode 40 — no guest this time 01:41 The plan: we interview each other 02:11 "Did you do any research on me?" 02:47 First question: beef tallow hair product 03:53 $400 sunglasses and the Randolph rabbit hole 07:15 The $40 glasses with magnetic clip-ons 08:26 Project Hail Mary 10:06 Silo, and drip-feeding a story 12:32 The jeans, the air conditioner, and "give me your login" 13:12 A dad joke that shouldn't have made the edit 13:46 Michael Steven Waskey — born Easton, raised Kent Island 14:39 Mike's dad grew up in a cult 16:44 The Plymouth Brethren, and leaving through the military 17:52 What draws people to cults? 18:30 "Any organization worth joining should be a little bit cultish" 20:47 Why Mike's dad got out 22:18 The Amish, the Mennonites, and friction as a feature 23:49 Raw milk, herd shares, and a solar-powered bathroom 26:06 The stages of Michael Waskey: soccer and karate 27:38 Skateboarding, guitar, and the 90s haircut 28:24 Quitting the soccer team over a fight 29:10 First bands, John Gunther, and Statue Spread 32:17 Recording in high school, and going heavy with Clockwork 33:48 College, learning to sing, and going solo 34:36 Trading time for money vs. writing songs 36:08 Musical influences — and the Heavy Fred years 36:57 The crab tater tot story 37:42 The intervention that took another year and a half 38:28 Singers you can't get past 42:21 How a band survives 40 years and two heroin addictions 46:12 What Mike actually listens to now 50:04 The Charles Ponzi series 51:36 How the Ponzi scheme actually worked 57:04 Letting AI invest your money 58:57 Sponsor — Wayfinders THF & Putts Fore! Nuts 1:00:26 What are your morals and values? 1:00:59 Family, faith, and four adopted children 1:02:32 Where morals come from 1:04:59 Following the Bible, and why people interpret it differently 1:07:19 Do you live up to your own values? 1:08:54 Being honest with yourself 1:10:28 Pricing, word games, and the urge to be dishonest 1:12:49 Authority, seatbelts, and claiming cash tips 1:14:28 Laziness, oversleeping, and the chicken coop 1:17:34 The bag segment begins 1:18:19 The Vertx Urban Ghost sling 1:20:37 Hero clips, rapid access tabs, and CCW compartments 1:22:56 Why bags? The doomsday prepper phase 1:24:32 The wrench in the tire 1:27:40 The ripped pants at Starbucks 1:28:25 "I felt like a hero, Joe" 1:29:12 Joe needs a bag 1:31:32 Does a sling look manly? 1:33:04 The Vanquest Katara, and knowing all the names 1:33:49 What's next: pivoting to private events 1:35:23 Weddings, funerals, and what to charge 1:38:28 Foster care, and MSW upside down 1:39:14 Mike's crowd work 1:41:33 Taking a break vs. working the room 1:43:51 Why private gigs feel different 1:44:37 Rating Joe's interview skills 1:44:54 Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY WAYFINDERS TESTICULAR HEALTH FUND Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Aware. Wayfinders THF is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to impacting the lives and health of young men by combating testicular cancer through awareness, education, fundraising, and community support — with a focus on men aged 14 to 35. A component fund of Chesapeake Charities. Website: https://www.wayfindersthf.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersthf Donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 PUTTS FORE! NUTS — 2nd Annual Charity Mini-Golf Tournament Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM Embers Island Mini-Golf, 2305 Philadelphia Ave Suite #4, Ocean City, MD 21842 Event info: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/putts-fore-nuts Register / donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2419 Sponsorships available at every level — team, tee box, prizes, t-shirts and more. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Randolph Engineering sunglasses · Zenni · Project Hail Mary · Silo · Plymouth Brethren Statue Spread · Clockwork · Heavy Fred · John Gunther Counting Crows · Third Eye Blind · Matchbox 20 · The Get Up Kids · Mineral · Bright Eyes · Deftones · Meshuggah · Radiohead · Red Hot Chili Peppers · Jason Isbell Dead Drop · Theo Von · Joe Rogan · Diary of a CEO · Sean Ryan Show · Lex Fridman · The Gigging Musician Podcast · Blurry Creatures · Haunted Cosmos · Alex O'Connor Vertx Urban Ghost sling · Vanquest Katara · HeroClip SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: info@theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imagesoundmedia Joe Bryan Music Website: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550810556745 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebryanmusic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joebryanmusic PODCAST PRODUCTION GEAR (EPISODE 40) Camera: Sony A7C II Main Audio: Shure SM7B (Joe & Mike) Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 18i18 Audio Software: Reaper Video Editing: DaVinci Resolve Studio Lighting: Amaran 100x & 200x softboxes + Amaran tube lights The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow #KentIsland #EasternShore #Annapolis #MarylandPodcast #TesticularCancerAwareness #WayfindersTHF

  2. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Jason Morton on 800 Facebook Ads, Atomic Habits + Why Consistency Beats Talent - EP 39

    "I wasn't the best. I was the most consistent out of any of my competition." Jason Morton has run roughly 800 Facebook ads in three years — one for every show, no matter how small — and he can now walk into a venue negotiation with the data to back up his rate. This is the most practical conversation we've had on this show. Jason Morton of Jason Morton & The Chesapeake Sons is back for his second appearance, 32 episodes after he sat in a plastic chair as one of our first guests ever. He's just off a plane from Nashville with four new songs, the masters back last week, and a rebrand in progress: the same country rock bones with poppier vocal melodies laid over the top. We start with how he got here — piano at four, guitar through middle school, a jock in high school who played alone in his room, then a biology degree at Salisbury he picked almost by accident and never used. He tells the story of driving home halfway through college to tell his dad he was quitting biology for music, and what his father said back. Then it turns into something closer to a masterclass. Jason walks through the promotion system he's built: a Facebook event page for every single show, a video embedded in it, a boosted ad geo-targeted to twenty-five miles, separate ads for engagement and for ticket sales, and the club owner added as a co-host so the venue has skin in the game too. He explains why you delete old event pages, why your Instagram grid matters more than any single post, and why one ad for one show is meaningless but a hundred and fifty of them is leverage. The other thread running through the whole episode is Atomic Habits, which Jason picked up because he kept reaching the end of a day and wondering where it had gone. Cue, craving, response, reward. Design the environment instead of relying on willpower. Say "I'm a musician," not "I play music." He's up at 5am now, gym first, ten to two for content — and he's honest that the reason he falls off is always that he let the environment slide, usually a cluttered garage. We also get into the hard conversation most local bands never have: live players versus studio players, and what it costs to tell the guitarist who's driven all those miles with you that his parts aren't going on the record. We also talk about why less polish outperforms more right now, the artist who cut 500 reels for a single song, taking the last record offline, changing your sound and losing fans, Wim Hof breathing, learning to regulate your nervous system, what a hospice nurse hears people regret at the end, and the mentor who beat Paul Reed Smith for Small Businessman of the Year. What shift have you experienced in your life? CHAPTERS 00:00 Sponsor — Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund 00:30 Cold open: first listen to "Fishin' in Tennessee" 01:15 Why Mike hates a fade-out 02:35 When a fade-out is actually the right call 03:00 Writing music you can see before you can hear it 04:18 Every YouTuber starts with the thumbnail 05:40 Jason Morton is back, 32 episodes later 06:30 The brown pants 07:30 Five Metallica shirts, Monday through Friday 08:45 Just back from Nashville with four new songs 09:30 The rebrand: poppy melodies on country rock bones 10:14 "Psychedelic myopic rock" and why venues pull old bios 12:00 The band that's been together ten years 13:30 How he ended up a biology major by accident 15:19 Piano at four, guitar in middle school, jock in high school 17:00 Telling his dad he was quitting biology for music 18:44 Does your degree actually matter? 20:25 The trades, HVAC, and the friends who did better 21:17 Construction, beers at 2pm, and getting stuck 23:00 Why rehab fails when you return to the same environment 23:50 Atomic Habits enters the conversation 25:00 A wife who's up at 6am with four horses 26:22 Why self-help books stop working after three months 27:14 Design the environment, not the willpower 28:05 The guitar on the stand instead of in the case 28:56 Cue, craving, response, reward 30:37 Cravings that arrive without a cue 31:27 "I'm a musician" beats "I play music" 32:17 The heaviest weight in the gym is the front door 33:08 The 400-pound guy who just had to walk in 34:49 Paralysis by analysis 35:40 Why less polish performs better now 37:24 From two videos a week to fifteen clips a day 38:15 Kels, and the 500 reels for one single 39:57 Instagram trial reels 40:49 The horse manure video his wife was right about 43:21 People want the personality, not the production 46:44 Posting every day changes you as a person 47:35 The stroller review that proved the point 49:17 When a person becomes a brand 50:11 The label that paid $10,000 for a brand guide 52:43 Make a Facebook event page for every single show 54:24 Embed the video, boost the ad, target 25 miles 56:06 The people who show up after seeing you for two years 56:57 150 shows, 150 ads, and the data to prove it 58:39 Using ad data to negotiate your rate 1:00:21 Make the club owner a co-host 1:02:02 "How many people are you bringing tonight?" 1:05:26 Separate ads for engagement and for tickets 1:07:59 What Joe has been doing differently 1:08:49 4:5 for the feed, 9:16 for stories 1:12:19 Delete your old event pages 1:14:04 What your Instagram grid says about you 1:15:46 Taking the last record offline 1:16:36 Will you lose fans by changing your sound? 1:17:27 Sturgill, Tyler Childers and the Black Crowes 1:19:10 Two producers, two completely different records 1:21:44 Live players versus studio players 1:22:35 Brian Wilson and the Wrecking Crew 1:23:26 Telling your guitarist his parts aren't on the record 1:25:08 Take your local band to Nashville 1:28:32 Recording outside cuts, and imposter syndrome 1:30:17 Back to Atomic Habits: what actually changed 1:31:10 The 5am alarm and the clothes on the nightstand 1:32:51 Ten to two is video content 1:34:32 Priming the garage 1:35:24 Self-awareness as the real skill 1:36:15 Learning to regulate your nervous system 1:39:41 Jefferson Fisher: no response is a response 1:40:31 Wim Hof breathing 1:41:22 Soft White Underbelly and the generational disconnect 1:43:23 Sponsor — Wayfinders THF & Putts Fore! Nuts 1:45:37 The chain reaction of one good habit 1:47:21 When "that's a trigger for me" becomes a cop-out 1:49:02 "Would a healthy person eat this?" 1:51:33 Why you fall off, and what to check first 1:55:00 Habit stacking 1:59:18 Zig Ziglar: action first, motivation follows 2:01:00 Wanting the result right now 2:02:42 Ten pages a day is a book a month 2:05:14 The book that admits you're going to fail 2:06:07 The morning after a conversation goes wrong 2:08:39 Larry Ray, Big Vanilla, and beating Paul Reed Smith 2:10:21 "I wasn't the best. I was the most consistent." 2:11:11 Why we don't get any of this at 24 2:13:44 Denzel Washington on the process 2:14:35 What hospice patients actually regret 2:16:20 The new music, and which song lands first CONNECT WITH JASON MORTON & THE CHESAPEAKE SONS Website: https://www.chesapeakesons.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjasonmorton/ Facebook (band): https://www.facebook.com/chesapeakesons/ Facebook (Jason): https://www.facebook.com/iamjasonmorton/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MFDWIQmH337VK1kDJLxkg SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/iamjasonmorton Tour dates: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/15198364-jason-morton-and-the-chesapeake-sons Booking: chesapeakesons@gmail.com Jason was previously on Episode 7 of The Shift with Mike & Joe. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY WAYFINDERS TESTICULAR HEALTH FUND Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Aware. Wayfinders THF is a Maryland-based 501(c)(3) dedicated to impacting the lives and health of young men by combating testicular cancer through awareness, education, fundraising, and community support — with a focus on men aged 14 to 35. A component fund of Chesapeake Charities. Website: https://www.wayfindersthf.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayfindersthf Donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2419 PUTTS FORE! NUTS — 2nd Annual Charity Mini-Golf Tournament Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 11:30 AM – 6:00 PM Embers Island Mini-Golf, 2305 Philadelphia Ave Suite #4, Ocean City, MD 21842 Event info: https://www.wayfindersthf.org/putts-fore-nuts Register / donate: https://ccharities.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2419 MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Atomic Habits (James Clear) · Zig Ziglar · Jefferson Fisher · Wim Hof · Soft White Underbelly · Diary of a CEO Kels · Tyler Childers · Sturgill Simpson · The Black Crowes · Whiskey Myers · Zach Top · Denzel Washington Tommy Hardin (Alabama) · Will Edwards · Jason Heizer · Rob · The Cheaters · The Wrecking Crew · Brian Wilson Shea Springer / Sweetfoot Studios · Chris Hahnemann · Larry Ray / Big Vanilla Athletic Club · Paul Reed Smith Salisbury University · Rams Head · The Avalon SUPPORT THE SHIFT WITH MIKE & JOE Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: info@theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe-jf9ot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574975860350 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theshiftwithmikea Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com CONNECT WITH MIKE & JOE Michael Waskey Music Website: https://www.michaelwaskey.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelwaskeymusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelwaskeymusic Kent Island Academy of Music (Mike) Website: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentIslandAcademyOfMusic/ Image & Sound Media (Joe) Website: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094021747690 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imageandsoundmedia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imagesoundmedia You

  3. Jul 1 ·  Video

    Peggy Re James on Growing Up in a Cult, Building a Six-Figure Business, and Working Less - EP 38

    In Episode 38 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with business and marketing coach Peggy Re James to talk about her unconventional upbringing, her path into entrepreneurship, and how she built a business designed to support her life instead of consuming it. Peggy opens up about growing up as one of eight sisters in a highly controlled religious environment connected to the organization featured in the documentary series Happy Shiny People. She shares how that experience shaped her childhood, how her family eventually recognized what they had been part of, and what it was like to begin questioning and deconstructing those beliefs. We also explore Peggy’s journey from stay-at-home mom and virtual assistant to six-figure business owner, coach, course creator, and host of the Six Figure Shift podcast. She explains how she surpassed her husband’s corporate salary within months, why specialization makes a business easier to scale, and how she helps established entrepreneurs make more money while working fewer hours. Peggy also shares why your business vision should support your life vision, how systems and boundaries create freedom, why marketing is about more than simply posting online, and how she is applying her own framework to launch a local cleaning company without becoming the person doing the cleaning. We also talk about personal branding, outsourcing, motherhood, jiu-jitsu, debt, investing, short-term rentals, perfectionism, decision-making, and the challenge of building a business without becoming trapped by it. Connect with Peggy Re James: Website: https://peggyrejames.com Podcast: https://peggyrejames.com/listen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peggyrejames/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@peggyrejames LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyrejames/ Learn more about The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350

  4. Jun 17 ·  Video

    Daniel Alvarez on Spilling Pictures Studio, Music, Videography, Photography, AI + Building a Creative Life - EP 37 The Shift with Mike & Joe

    In Episode 37 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Daniel Alvarez — musician, videographer, photographer, audio engineer, producer, and the creative force behind Spilling Pictures Studio.   Daniel shares his story of growing up in Colombia before moving to Maryland, discovering guitar as a teenager, playing in original bands, and eventually building a creative life around music, video, photography, and audio production. We talk about the name Spilling Pictures, his band Leo & Cygnus, the Annapolis music scene, and how his older brother helped introduce him to film and video work.   This conversation also gets into the real side of creative work: pricing yourself, raising your rates, dealing with imposter syndrome, working with musicians who may not have big budgets, learning by trial and error, and trying to balance passion with business.   Daniel also opens up about losing his DC studio in a house fire in 2024, the gear and creative space he lost, and the way the Annapolis creative community, AMFM, friends, family, and supporters helped him rebuild.   We also talk about AI in creative work, where it can be useful, where it starts to feel like “AI slop,” and why live performance, human taste, collaboration, and real creative connection still matter.   Huge thanks to our sponsor Cult Classic Brewing in Stevensville, Maryland — a brewery, taproom, restaurant, and live music venue on Kent Island.   In this episode, we talk about: • Daniel’s childhood in Colombia and moving to Maryland • Learning guitar and falling in love with music • The story behind Spilling Pictures Studio • Leo & Cygnus and the Annapolis music scene • Getting into video, photography, and audio production • Filming musicians, live sessions, and music videos • Shooting in the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower • Capturing real ambience in live performance videos • DaVinci Resolve, AI tools, and creative workflow • Pricing creative work and learning to value your time • Losing a studio in a fire and rebuilding through community • Recording artists and why having another person in the room matters • Building a creative life around music, cameras, and collaboration   Follow Daniel / Spilling Pictures Studio: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spillingpicturesstudio/ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@spillingpicturesstudio   Follow Daniel personally: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniver92/   Follow Leo & Cygnus: https://leoandcygnus.com   Sponsor: Cult Classic Brewing https://cultclassicbrewing.com https://www.instagram.com/cultclassicbrewing/   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: theshiftwithmikeandjoe@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com   Connect with Mike & Joe: Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media. https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

    Daniel Alvarez on Spilling Pictures Studio, Music, Videography, Photography, AI + Building a Creative Life - EP 37  The Shift with Mike & Joe
  5. Jun 4 ·  Video

    Lee Priddy on Building Priddy Music Academy, Student Bands, Guitar, Family + Community - EP 36

    In Episode 36 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with guitarist, teacher, bandleader, and Priddy Music Academy owner Lee Priddy to talk about building a life around music, teaching, family, and community.   Lee shares how he first got hooked on guitar after hearing Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio,” how players like Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth, and Guthrie Govan shaped his playing, and how years of lessons, gigging, touring, and teaching eventually led him to build one of the area’s most performance-focused music schools.   We also talk about the growth of Priddy Music Academy, from private guitar lessons to a full music academy in Millersville with multiple teachers, student bands, adult bands, showcases, charity events, and real-world performance opportunities. Lee breaks down what students can’t learn from YouTube, why fundamentals still matter, how band programs build confidence and responsibility, and what it takes to manage 20-plus bands.   The conversation also covers Lee’s family band Honey Sol, PRS guitars, pedalboards, live tone, performance anxiety, music education, charity events, sound production, and the community that has grown around Priddy Music Academy.   Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life?   Connect with Lee Priddy / Priddy Music Academy: Priddy Music Academy: https://priddymusicacademy.com Lessons & Bands: https://priddymusicacademy.com/music-lessons Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priddymusicacademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priddymusicacademy/   Honey Sol: Website: https://www.honey-sol.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeysolband/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeysolband/   Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350   The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

    Lee Priddy on Building Priddy Music Academy, Student Bands, Guitar, Family + Community - EP 36
  6. May 20 ·  Video

    John Haywood on Nashville Songwriting, Outlaw Country, Stage Fright + Chasing Something Real - EP 35

    John Haywood on Nashville Songwriting, Outlaw Country, Stage Fright + Chasing Something Real - EP 35 In Episode 35 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Maryland-born country artist and songwriter John Haywood to talk about his path from writing novels and short stories to chasing songs in Nashville. John shares how a trip through Music City sparked the idea for a book about Nashville’s songwriting scene, only for that project to eventually turn into a much bigger shift toward writing and performing music himself. We get into his early days playing open mics at places like Cult Classic, the confidence he found through learning guitar, his battle with stage fright, and what it was like moving to Nashville as a shy person trying to break into one of the most competitive songwriter communities in the country. John also breaks down the reality of Nashville writers rounds, bar gigs, networking, recording music on a budget, touring after losing his day job, and building a career around original songs without chasing the more polished, radio-friendly version of country music. We talk about his outlaw and gothic country influences, his Maryland roots, his time performing overseas in Scotland and England, his appearance as lead singer of Gamblers in the Neon on AXS TV’s Banded: The Musician Competition, and the mindset behind wanting to become one of the best writers of his time. It’s a conversation about music, confidence, discomfort, old-school country, creative ambition, and the strange but necessary process of becoming the person you always hoped you could be. Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life? In this episode, we talk about John’s Maryland roots, moving to Nashville, writers rounds, stage fright, outlaw country, recording music independently, touring overseas, appearing on Banded: The Musician Competition, and what it means to chase something real instead of settling. Support The Shift with Mike & Joe Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: theshiftwithmikeandjoe@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com Connect with John Haywood Website: https://johnhaywood.info Tour Dates: https://johnhaywood.info/tour EPK / One Sheet: https://johnhaywood.info/epk-onesheet Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Heyhaywood Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyhaywood/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyhaywood/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg1gXUaZjNSBU_lL5sy2E9A Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yQUEBrCLsgRvH8ceG7TTM Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/john-haywood/1694806429 Connect with Mike & Joe Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media.

  7. May 6 ·  Video

    Jay Fleming on Documenting the Dying Waterman Industry + Preserving Chesapeake Bay Culture - EP 34

    Jay Fleming on Documenting the Dying Waterman Industry + Preserving Chesapeake Bay Culture - EP 34 In Episode 34 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Maryland photographer Jay Fleming to talk about his career documenting the Chesapeake Bay, the seafood industry, and the people whose lives are tied to the water. Jay shares how growing up around photography through his father, former National Geographic photographer Kevin Fleming, shaped his eye from an early age. He also talks about early wildlife photography, fisheries work, Maryland seafood marketing, and how those experiences led him toward his first major book, Working the Water. What starts as a conversation about photography becomes a deeper look at the changing reality of the Chesapeake Bay’s watermen, the economics of local seafood, and why so much of this culture is disappearing so quickly. We also get into Jay’s self-published books, his sold-out Smith Island photography workshops, documenting Tangier and Smith Island for Island Life, boat bow photography, underwater images of blue crabs and rockfish, AI’s impact on photography, his next book Atlantic Harvest, and the realities of working inside small island communities. It’s a conversation about photography, preservation, local identity, and what it means to capture a way of life before it changes forever. Question for you: What shift have you experienced in your life? In this episode, we talk about: • Jay Fleming growing up around photography • Kevin Fleming’s National Geographic work • Learning photography on film with an old Nikon • Winning an EPA photo contest as a teenager • Working with DNR, Yellowstone fisheries, and seafood marketing • How Jay connected to the waterman industry • Creating Working the Water • Self-publishing, printing overseas, and taking a $40,000 risk • Selling books directly and building a local business • Island Life and documenting Smith and Tangier Islands • Chesapeake Bay island communities changing fast • The decline of the waterman industry • Rising costs, regulations, imports, and younger generations leaving the work • Luke McFadden and the new model for modern watermen • Local seafood vs. imported seafood • Crab meat, restaurants, and what people may not realize they’re eating • Jay’s sold-out Smith Island workshops • Bringing business and positive attention to island communities • The Tangier Island boat vandalism story • Boat bow photography and Jay’s fine-art print business • Next book project, Atlantic Harvest • Photographing commercial fishing from Canada to Cuba • Offshore fishing boats, rough seas, and dangerous conditions • Underwater photography in the Chesapeake Bay • Drone photography with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro • Jay’s editing philosophy and keeping images authentic • Adobe Bridge, Camera Raw, and Photoshop instead of Lightroom • AI, authenticity, and avoiding heavy manipulation • Email newsletters, open houses, and building a direct audience • Preserving local history before it disappears Connect with Jay Fleming: Website: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayflemingphotography/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayFlemingPhoto/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JayPennFleming Workshops: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/workshops Shop / Books / Prints: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop Working the Water: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop/the-book-workingthewater Island Life: https://www.jayflemingphotography.com/shop/islandlife Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: theshiftwithmikeandjoe@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com Connect with Mike & Joe: Image & Sound Media: https://imagesoundmedia.com Joe Bryan Music: https://www.joebryanmusic.com Kent Island Academy of Music: https://kentislandacademyofmusic.com Michael Waskey Music: https://www.michaelwaskey.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

  8. Apr 22 ·  Video

    From College TV Show to Global Cooking Classes + Why Chef Egg Still Wants to Be a Rock Star - EP 33

    From College TV Show to Global Cooking Classes + Why Chef Egg Still Wants to Be a Rock Star - EP 33 In Episode 33 of The Shift with Mike & Joe, we sit down with Eric Berlin, better known as Chef Egg, to talk about the unconventional career he built by teaching people how to cook. What starts as a conversation about culinary school and restaurant life quickly turns into a much bigger story about performance, education, and connection. Eric breaks down how he carved out a lane far outside the traditional kitchen: teaching hands-on cooking classes at colleges, working with health departments and veterans groups, appearing on Baltimore and DC television, traveling internationally with the military, and helping people overcome the fear that keeps them from cooking for themselves in the first place. We also get into the origin of the name “Chef Egg,” his early public-access cooking show, how relationships and follow-through created major opportunities in Baltimore, and why he still sees himself as a musician at heart. The conversation also touches on virtual cooking classes, Chef Egg soap, trying to turn creativity into income, and the 25-year journey of writing his first novel. This is an episode about making things, staying open to unexpected opportunities, and chasing the kind of work that makes you feel most alive. In this episode, we talk about: Reconnecting after college What Chef Egg actually does Why restaurant life wasn’t the right fit Cooking classes at colleges, schools, and community events Teaching knife skills, sautéing, and kitchen confidence Why people are scared to cook Food habits, health, and convenience culture Making healthier food without making it miserable The origin of the name “Chef Egg” The first Cooking with Egg show Public-access TV and building creative projects with no money Live TV cooking segments in Baltimore and DC Farmers markets, festivals, and word-of-mouth growth Music, performance, and the overlap between cooking and entertaining Traveling gigs with the military in Egypt, Germany, and beyond Hands-on classes and virtual cooking instruction Why passive-income ideas never fully clicked Chef Egg soap and unusual branding that actually worked Tallow, bone broth, and whole-animal cooking Time, priorities, and the real reason people say they don’t cook Creativity, discipline, and accepting you can’t force people to change Parenting, work ethic, and teaching kids responsibility Curiosity, opportunity, and learning from other people’s work Writing a novel 25 years in the making Current music projects and still wanting to be a rock star Performance mindset, preparation, and not fearing mistakes Connect with Chef Egg: Website: https://chefegg.com/ Book Chef Egg: https://chefegg.com/booking/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefegg/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefEgg/ Support The Shift with Mike & Joe: Website: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com Donate: https://www.theshiftwithmikeandjoe.com/giving-page-2-1 Email: theshiftwithmikeandjoe@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheShiftwithMikeandJoe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshiftwithmikeandjoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61574975860350 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-shift-with-mike-joe/id1813198065 Podbean: https://joer7.podbean.com The Shift with Mike & Joe is fully produced by Image & Sound Media: https://www.imagesoundmedia.com

About

Welcome to ”The Shift with Mike and Joe,” the podcast that takes you on a journey into the world of entrepreneurship with your hosts, Mike and Joe! Mike is an 9-year veteran of the self-employment game and Joe is a recent entrepreneur who kicked off his journey about 3 years ago. Both hosts are not only business-savvy but also talented musicians, adding a unique twist to the entrepreneurial conversation. Mike runs the ”Kent Island Academy of Music,” a successful music school, while Joe operates ”Image & Sound Media,” a thriving photography and videography business. Beyond their entrepreneurial endeavors, these dynamic individuals are also solo musicians who occasionally team up in Joe’s band, ”Heavy Fred.” ”The Shift” strives for biweekly episodes filled with insights, advice, and real talk about breaking free from the traditional 9-5 job and making your own path in the business world. Mike and Joe will cover a variety of topics related to entrepreneurship, including the highs and lows of their own journeys, lessons learned, and tips for success. Beyond the world of business, the podcast will dive into various aspects of their lives, from hobbies and self-care to the adventures of fatherhood. Expect a mix of valuable insights and lighthearted banter as they share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, just starting out, or simply curious about the entrepreneurial lifestyle, ”The Shift with Mike and Joe” is your go-to podcast for inspiration and entertainment. Don’t miss out on the fun—subscribe now and join them every two weeks for a dose of wisdom, laughter, and the occasional dose of nonsense! #TheShiftPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTalk #mikeandjoeshow