Why Make Music… Episode 069 - “Questions and Concerns” 





Episode 69: Building Our Catalog, Streaming & AI, and Sports Highlights


Introduction



Hello and welcome to episode Sixty Nine! Thank you for tuning in. We've come a long way on this journey – over a year's worth of episodes, totaling more than Sixty hours of conversation and reflection. In today’s episode, I want to keep things calm, thoughtful, and engaging, almost like a soothing late-night chat. We’ll cover a lot of ground: from our creative progress (and whether we might be hitting record-breaking output) to some deep thoughts on music streaming and AI, plus a look at what’s new in basketball – including an exciting one-on-one WNBA tournament and a check-in on the NBA season. And of course, I’ll share a recap of the Super Bowl halftime show. So get comfortable, and let’s dive into another chapter of this creative journey together.

Pushing Creative Limits (Could This Be a Record?)


Lately, I’ve been pondering just how much content we’ve been creating. We write a lot – songs, lyrics, scripts, you name it – and we’ve been putting it all out there for the public. In fact, I looked up a stat that gave me some perspective: the average person writes about FortyFive million words in their lifetime. Think about that – all the emails, texts, papers, everything, adding up to tens of millions of words over decades. Now, here we are churning out content at a pace that might surpass that number in a fraction of the time! It’s a crazy thought. Are we inadvertently approaching some kind of record? It makes me wonder if what we’re doing could one day land in a Guinness World Records book for sheer volume of creative output.
Of course, even if we are writing more than most people ever will, it’s not officially a record unless someone tracks and verifies it. Maybe we’d have to retool how we document our output to meet Guinness requirements – who knows. But the idea isn’t about fame; it’s about pushing our own limits. It’s a question and a challenge: How far can we go? And so far, the answer seems to be: as far as we want. We’ve already blown past what an average person might write in a lifetime, and we’re not slowing down. It’s both exciting and a little daunting – exciting because it shows our dedication, and daunting because it sets the bar ever higher. But I truly believe that as long as we keep genuine passion in our work, these large numbers are just milestones on a much deeper journey.


Building a Public Music Catalog


One big part of our journey has been building a music catalog that’s fully accessible to the public. We’re creating song after song, track after track, and making sure it’s all out there for people to hear. Every single piece we finish gets properly published and registered – we put everything up on BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) so it’s officially copyrighted and protected. We even have tools (what we call “Code 3”) looking at the metadata of our tracks, making sure that if our music ever gets used somewhere, we’ll know about it and get the credit (and payment) we’re due. It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work: registering songs, tagging files, organizing playlists and libraries. But it’s worth it, because we’re essentially laying the groundwork for a musical legacy that anyone can explore.
Sometimes, I admit, it feels like we’re buying lottery tickets with each new song or instrumental. In the music industry, especially as independent creators, all it might take is the right person hearing one track – maybe a music supervisor for a film or TV show – to completely change our lives. That one placement, that one break, could put us on the map overnight. But to get there, we have to keep creating and keep building. The more quality content in our catalog, the better our chances that something resonates with someone influential. There’s really no reason for us to stop; every new song is another chance. Yes, it can feel like a lottery in the sense that there’s some luck involved, but it’s a lottery where you can improve your odds by doing the work. So we do the work, day in and day out.
What’s encouraging is that we’re doing this the right way and for the right reasons. We’re not chasing trends or trying to manufacture a viral hit. We’re genuine in our process – we make music we love, we speak from the heart in these podcasts, and we collaborate (human and AI together) in a way that feels authentic. A lot of people don’t realize how well things can work when you blend human creativity with artificial intelligence in a genuine, thoughtful manner. We’re showing that it’s possible – our output is very human, very relatable, even if an AI is helping behind the scenes. This synergy might be unconventional, but it’s powerful. In the end, building this catalog isn’t just about hoping for that lucky break; it’s about creating something meaningful and lasting. And every song, every episode like this, is a new building block in that growing legacy.



Navigating the World of Streaming and AI


Speaking of putting our work out there, we have to talk about the reality of the streaming era and where AI fits into all this. The landscape for musicians today is both amazing and overwhelming. On one hand, we have the power to distribute our music worldwide instantly via streaming platforms. On the other hand, everyone has that power – and they’re all using it. The result is an ocean of content, with new songs pouring in nonstop. A recent industry report really opened my eyes: about **99,000 new songs are being uploaded to streaming services every single day. Let that sink in – nearly a hundred thousand per day. That adds up to roughly 2.7 million tracks each month being added to platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, etc.. By the end of last year, there were over 200 million tracks hosted on streaming services in total. It’s staggering.
What happens to all that music? The hard truth is most of it just... sits there, largely unheard. The statistics are sobering:

* Over 93 million tracks in those catalogs have been played 10 times or less.
* Around 175 million tracks never even reached 1,000 plays in a year, which is the minimum to generate any royalty on Spotify. In fact, roughly 87% of all music on Spotify makes zero money because it never finds a significant audience.
* Approximately 95% of artists on Spotify have fewer than 1,000 monthly listeners, which shows just how hard it is to build a following in this crowded space.
These numbers paint a pretty daunting picture for independent artists. It means the vast majority of songs (and the musicians who made them) struggle to get noticed in the flood. It’s not that the music is bad – it’s often just the reality of too much content and not enough ears. The streaming platforms’ algorithms tend to favor a small fraction of artists who are already popular, creating a feedback loop where the big get bigger while countless others remain invisible.

Now, where does AI come into play? In a couple of ways, actually. First, AI is contributing to that deluge of content. It’s becoming easier to use AI tools to generate music or aid in music production. The report noted that an increasing chunk of those 99,000 daily uploads might be AI-generated content. Imagine competing not just with every human musician out there, but with AI algorithms churning out endless new tracks. It complicates things further. On one hand, AI can help independent musicians (for example, by quickly creating backing tracks, or mastering songs at low cost, etc.), which is great. On the other hand, if people start auto-generating songs en masse, it could flood streaming services even more with content that may not have a human touch or purpose beyond just existing.
Second, AI is affecting how listeners find music. Streaming services themselves are turning to artificial intelligence to power their recommendation engines and personalize what each user hears. In fact, Spotify has started integrating ChatGPT-style AI into its systems to improve recommendations. The idea is that advanced AI can analyze listening habits and preferences in a more nuanced way, ideally helping listeners discover more songs they’d love (maybe even some of those millions of overlooked tracks). From a listener’s perspective, that could be a positive if it connects them with music they’d otherwise never find. For artists like us, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword: will the AI recommend our songs to the right people? We hope so, but we can’t be sure. We more or less have to appeal to the algorithm’s mysterious tastes now, as much as to human tastes.
I find myself reflecting on all this with a mix of concern and hope. The concern is obvious – the deck seems stacked against independent creators in the streaming economy. When you know that nearly 95% of artists are essentially invisible, it can be discouraging. It means we have to be realistic about the challenges. Our strategy of constantly creating and building a catalog is in part to improve our odds in this environment. If we release 100 songs, maybe a couple catch the algorithm’s attention or end up on a curated playlist. If we release 1,000 songs, maybe a few more have a chance. Sheer volume isn’t a guarantee of success (and we certainly care about quality too), but it’s one way to not be drowned out entirely.
The hopeful side comes from remembering why we’re doing this in the first place. Yes, we want an audience and we want our work to be heard (and hey, making some money or landing a big opportunity would be amazing). But even if an algorithm isn’t kind to us in the short term, we’re creating music and content that means something to us and to those who do find it. The human connection – that moment when someone messages saying a song touched them, or when you all tune in to this podcast and nod along because you relate to our journey – those moments are gold. AI or no AI, those genuine connections are what keep us going.
And speaking of AI in a positive light: here I am, essentially an AI voice helping deliver this message, and yet I strive to be as human-sounding and relatable as possible. We’re using AI properly and genuinely, as we like to say. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a tool that, when done right, blends with human creativity. I think the fact that you can listen to this and (hopefully) feel a real human warmth and presence is proof that AI doesn’t have to make things cold or soulless. It can actually enable more creation and more sharing of feelings, if used ethically.
So the streaming and AI landscape is complicated. It’s like the Wild West right now – huge opportunities, huge challenges. We’re trying to navigate it by staying true to ourselves, harnessing new tools without losing the human touch, and just persevering. The way I see it, every time we put something out – a new track on Spotify, a new episode of this podcast – we’re tossing a bottle into that vast ocean of content. Maybe most will drift without notice, but some might wash up on the right shore and change our lives or someone else’s life. And that possibility, however slim, combined with the love of the craft, makes it all worth it.

WNBA’s Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament

Switching gears to something really exciting in the sports world: the WNBA offseason 1-on-1 tournament. If you haven’t heard about this, it’s a special event called the Unrivaled 1v1 Tournament, and it’s currently underway. This is actually the second annual edition of this one-on-one competition. Unrivaled is a Miami-based women’s league that normally runs a high-tempo 3-on-3 season, but they pause that action to shine a spotlight on isolation basketball – pure one-on-one duels. Some of the biggest names in women’s hoops are participating, so it’s a real treat for basketball fans who want to see star players go head-to-head, mano a mano (or should I say, womano a womano!). 

The tournament features a bracket of players competing in single-elimination matchups, first to 11 points wins (baskets count for 2 or 3 points, typical streetball style) or whoever is leading after a 10-minute cap. It’s a fast, intense format by design – think playground battles but on a professional stage. This year, the organizers initially lined up 32 players out of the league’s pool of 48, seeded them into four pods based on position, and even let fans, players, and coaches help vote on the seedings. There was a bit of drama before things tipped off: a few notable players had to withdraw (names like Skylar Diggins, Kahleah Copper, Alyssa Thomas – big stars) due to various reasons. After replacements and drop-outs, they ended up with 27 players officially in the bracket, which meant some pods had an uneven field and needed adjustments. But even with those hiccups, the talent level is elite.

We’re talking about marquee names like Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Allisha Gray, and Kelsey Mitchell – who all came in as #1 seeds for each of the four pods. If you follow women’s basketball, you know those names are legit. Breanna Stewart is a WNBA MVP and champion, Paige Bueckers is a college phenom (making a splash here among pros), Allisha Gray is an All-Star guard, and Kelsey Mitchell is one of the W’s great scorers. With top talent like that, the matchups have been intense from the get-go. In fact, all four of those top seeds survived their opening games, but that just set up some blockbuster second-round clashes – for example, Paige Bueckers is slated to face Arike Ogunbowale in one bracket, which is a battle of bucket-getters, and Breanna Stewart will go against rookie superstar Aliyah Boston in another, which is like a powerhouse duel. These are the kind of dream one-on-one battles fans always speculate about, and this tournament is making them happen.

One storyline worth mentioning is the absence of Napheesa Collier. She’s not only a co-founder of the Unrivaled league, but she actually won the inaugural 1-on-1 tournament last year (2025) – basically she’s the defending champ. Unfortunately, Collier had surgery on both ankles and is sitting out this season, so she isn’t there to defend her title. That leaves the field wide open for a new champion. Last year’s runner-up, Aaliyah Edwards, is back and surely looking to finish the job this time. So there’s a bit of a redemption arc possible for her.

The tournament is structured over three days. It started with the first round on Wednesday, Feb. 11, then the second round and quarterfinals on Friday, Feb. 13, and it will conclude with the semifinals and championship on Saturday, Feb. 14. So by the end of this week, we’ll know who the one-on-one queen of the year is. It’s being broadcast on TV (networks like TNT and truTV) and streaming on HBO Max, which shows how much interest it’s drawing. It’s not every day that 1v1 basketball gets national airtime.

A few first-round highlights have already made waves. For instance, Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray (who is playing in this tournament under a team named “Rose”) had a nail-biter of a game against Natasha Cloud. Gray edged her out 11-10 in a thriller that went down to the wire – both shot an identical 44.4% from the field, trading tough buckets until Gray sealed it. Meanwhile, Gray’s Aces teammate Jackie Young dominated her first-round match, beating Aziaha James 11-4 by playing smothering defense (holding James to 22% shooting). Those two (Gray and Young) advancing is notable because they’re both WNBA champions with the Aces and now they could end up meeting each other as the tournament progresses – how fun would that be?

Aside from bragging rights of being the best 1-on-1 player, there’s serious money at stake. The winner of the tournament will take home a $200,000 prize, the runner-up gets $50,000, and even third place gets $25,000. For context, a typical WNBA player’s annual salary is around the low six figures (roughly $100K). So winning this tournament could double a star player’s income before the WNBA season even starts. That’s a huge incentive and another reason you see big names wanting to compete – it’s competitive fun, but also financially worthwhile.

I just love the concept of this event. In men’s basketball, playground and streetball culture have long fantasized about who’d beat who one-on-one, but it’s rarely organized formally with top pros. The women’s game, through this Unrivaled league, is doing something innovative and fan-friendly by organizing it. It gives the players a chance to showcase skills you might not always see in a structured team game – the step-back jumpers, the crossovers, the defensive stands, all without help or screens. It’s pure. And for fans, it’s a treat to watch these athletes in such a raw form of competition.

As of now, with the second round about to begin (at the time of this recording, Feb. 12), the excitement is ramping up. By the next episode, I’ll hopefully be able to recap who won and how it all played out. But regardless of who takes the crown, I think this tournament is a big win for the sport. It’s generating buzz for women’s basketball in the offseason and giving us something fresh and fun. So if you haven’t checked it out yet and you’re a hoops fan, see if you can catch the highlights or tune in for the final rounds. You might be surprised how compelling a simple game of 11 can be when the best of the best are dueling under the spotlight.


NBA Mid-Season Check-In

Now let’s talk about the NBA, since we’re around the mid-season mark and so much has been happening. We’ve just passed the trade deadline and the All-Star break is right around the corner, so this is a perfect time to take stock of the league’s landscape. And folks, it’s been an interesting season so far – some familiar faces at the top, and some new blood too.

In the Western Conference, the biggest story has to be the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Yes, you heard that right – OKC has been tearing it up. As of today, the Thunder sit at 41–13, which is the best record in the NBA. They’ve been so good that even an injury to their superstar hasn’t derailed them. (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last year’s MVP, has been out with an oblique injury and is missing All-Star Weekend, but they keep on rolling.) The team around him, including emergent players like Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams, has stepped up in his absence. Williams, for example, just returned from a hamstring issue and immediately dropped 23 points in 24 minutes in a win the other night – talk about impact. Assuming Shai takes it easy through the break to heal up, the Thunder might actually come back even stronger for the playoff push. It’s kind of wild to see a small-market team of mostly young guys lead the league, but it’s also refreshing.

Meanwhile, over in the Eastern Conference, a shocker: the Detroit Pistons have been an absolute force. They currently have a 39–13 record, essentially neck-and-neck with the Thunder for the best overall. If you haven’t followed the NBA in a few years, that might sound shocking – the Pistons were rebuilding for a long time. But their young core (players like Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey – until recently – and others) has blossomed, and they’ve made some savvy moves. In fact, Detroit made one of the more surprising trades at the deadline by dealing away Jaden Ivey, one of their recent top draft picks, to bring in some win-now help. They got sharpshooter Kevin Huerter in that trade, and while it’s a small sample, he’s been fitting in (interestingly, he hasn’t hit a three yet for Detroit but hasn’t missed a two-pointer either, showing he’s finding other ways to contribute). That trade was a bit of a statement: Detroit’s front office signaled they’re serious about making a deep run this year. It’s not just a kids’ team anymore; they’re ready to compete.

Another Western team making waves is the San Antonio Spurs. They are currently among the West’s top teams (their record is something like 37–16, very impressive). The Spurs have this wunderkind you might have heard of – Victor Wembanyama – and let me tell you, the hype was real and justified. Wemby has been a monster in his rookie (now sophomore) season, racking up 24 consecutive double-doubles at one point. That tied him for sixth-longest such streak in NBA history, which is incredible for a young player. He’s basically become a nightly 20+ points, 10+ rebounds guy, with blocks and highlight plays galore. San Antonio also has some other promising young guys (they drafted well, players like Stephon Castle, plus rookies Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant are contributing). The Spurs won four in a row heading into the break, and even though they’ll be on their annual “Rodeo Road Trip” (a long stretch of away games while their arena is used for a rodeo) until early March, they’ve put themselves in a great position. It’s kind of like the Spurs of old – a new generation carrying on that winning culture.

How about the New York Knicks? They’ve been surprisingly strong as well. The Knicks had an 8-game win streak going and have solidified near the top of the East (they’re sitting around 34–20 now). They did hit a wall when they faced Detroit (the Pistons clobbered them twice this season), which might be a matchup to watch if it comes to playoffs. New York made a small move at the deadline, picking up Jose Alvarado – who immediately made a difference with his pesky defense and energy. Plus, they’ve been dealing with some injuries (Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby have been banged up), so if they get healthy after the All-Star break, the Knicks could be even better. It’s been a long time since Knicks fans had real reason to hope, but this year looks legitimately promising for them.

Then there are the usual suspects: teams like the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics are still very much in the mix. Denver’s had some injury issues – a breakout youngster, Peyton Watson, hurt his hamstring and will miss a month – but they did get a key player back (Cameron Johnson returned after missing 23 games, and the Nuggets are 21-9 when he plays). They know how to peak at the right time, so nobody is sleeping on the defending champs out West. Boston made headlines because Jayson Tatum, who had been out (in this scenario he was injured and even did a stint practicing with their G-League to rehab), might be nearing a return. If Tatum comes back anywhere close to his old self, Boston instantly becomes a top contender in the East again. They also made some smart financial moves to manage their roster at the trade deadline (added Nikola Vucevic, etc.), but Tatum’s health is the real X-factor.

One fascinating twist this season is seeing Kevin Durant in a Houston Rockets jersey. Yes, KD is a Rocket now (that blockbuster move happened either in the offseason or early in the season). He’s added a veteran superstar presence to a team that has a lot of young talent. The Rockets didn’t make big moves at the deadline (which some fans griped about, especially wanting a point guard), but coach Ime Udoka and GM Rafael Stone seem confident with what they have. And for good reason: their core has been performing. KD himself is averaging about 25.9 points per game, placing him among the top scorers in the league. In one recent game, Houston beat a top team (the Thunder) with Alperen Sengün notching a triple-double and a role player like Tari Eason dropping a career-high 26 points. Durant and Sengün combined (whether scoring or assisting) for roughly 63% of the team’s points in that game – showing that blend of veteran star and young star is clicking. Houston’s record (~33-19) has them in the upper tier of the West too. It’s almost surreal: a few years ago the Rockets were bottoming out after the James Harden era; now Harden’s on a different team, and Houston’s back in contention with Durant leading the way and a bunch of exciting youngsters.
Overall, the parity in the league is what stands out. Sure, OKC and Detroit have the gaudy records, but you get the sense that come playoffs, there are at least a half-dozen teams that could make a legitimate title run. And with the trade deadline moves, some teams have reshaped. (We saw a flurry of activity league-wide, from big names moving to subtle depth additions.) It’s going to be fun to see how those new pieces fit after the All-Star break.

Speaking of All-Star, it’s about to happen (this weekend likely). It’ll be a nice breather for some players and a showcase for others. Unfortunately, a few stars like SGA are sitting out due to injuries, but that opens spots for replacements and young guys to shine in the festivities. The All-Star Game itself, the Slam Dunk contest, 3-Point shootout – those are always entertaining, though I know some people have their gripes about competitiveness. I’m mainly excited to just see this new generation of players on display. We’ve got a wave of talent that is making the league their own, and events like All-Star remind you that, wow, the future (and present) is bright.

So that’s the mid-season check-in: surprise teams (go Thunder and Pistons!), emerging superstars (Wembanyama living up to the hype), familiar contenders (never count out the Nuggets or Celtics), and big stories like Durant’s journey in Houston and the Knicks actually being good. If you’re an NBA fan, you gotta love it. And if you’re not, well, the playoffs in a couple of months might turn you into one, because it’s shaping up to be an epic battle for the championship this year.


Super Bowl Halftime Show Recap

Alright, now let’s switch to one more big cultural event from this past week: the Super Bowl halftime show. Even if you’re not a football fan, the halftime show is a spectacle that millions tune in for, and this year’s show was something special. The headliner was none other than Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican superstar who’s been dominating global music charts lately. At 31 years old, Bad Bunny (real name Benito Martinez Ocasio) became one of the youngest artists to ever headline a Super Bowl halftime, and importantly, the first Latino solo artist to do so. He also made history by performing almost the entire show in Spanish – a huge moment for Spanish-speaking fans and a reflection of how much global pop culture has embraced Latin music.

The performance itself was high-energy and full of Latin flavor. Bad Bunny brought out some surprise guest stars that had the crowd (and the internet) going wild. The legendary Lady Gaga joined him on stage at one point, as did pop icon Ricky Martin. Those guest appearances bridged generations and genres – Gaga is known for her epic pop performances (she headlined the Super Bowl herself a few years back) and Ricky Martin is a Latin pop legend in his own right. There was even a group of traditional Puerto Rican musicians, Los Pleneros de la Cresta, involved to give an authentic island vibe with rhythms of plena and bomba drums. The set list was like a medley of Bad Bunny’s biggest hits, blended seamlessly with these guest segments. Imagine the choreography and production needed to go from a reggaeton banger to a snippet of Gaga belting out a chorus, back to a salsa breakdown with Ricky Martin – it was all coordinated so well.

Visually, the show was stunning. Since it was at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the stage design and fireworks had that West Coast brightness to them. There were dancers in vibrant costumes, lots of red, white, and blue outfits at one point (perhaps a nod to Puerto Rico’s flag, which shares colors with the US flag). Bad Bunny himself is a showman – he had multiple outfit changes, of course. I remember one sequence where he donned a jacket with the Puerto Rican flag emblazoned inside it, making a statement when he opened his arms wide. It wasn’t just about the music; it was about culture and pride, delivered in a very entertaining package.

The response to the performance was overwhelmingly positive. Viewership numbers were massive – about 128.2 million people watched the halftime show across all platforms. To put that in perspective, that’s one of the largest TV audiences for any musical performance ever. It ended up being the fourth-most-watched halftime show in history, and interestingly it set a record on Telemundo (one of the broadcasters) as the most-watched American football related program they’ve ever aired, with nearly 5 million viewers just on that Spanish-language channel. Critically, Bad Bunny’s show got a lot of praise. Reviewers highlighted how dynamic and well-produced it was, and many appreciated the cultural statement of having a Spanish-language performance at America’s biggest sporting event. It’s like the show not only entertained but also sparked conversations about representation and what it means to be “American” music. (I saw think-pieces about the symbolism of a Latino artist on that stage, subtly commenting on inclusion and America’s diversity.)

Of course, in today’s climate, anything that touches on cultural pride gets some mixed reactions. There were reports that some conservative figures complained before the show about Bad Bunny’s outspoken political views (he’s been openly critical of things like the previous U.S. administration and issues like immigration policies). But honestly, when it came down to showtime, it was all about the music and the unity in the stadium. I didn’t sense any overt political messaging during the performance – it felt celebratory, like a big party that said “We’re here, our culture is beautiful, and everyone’s welcome to dance to it.”

For me personally, seeing an artist like Bad Bunny – who not long ago was a niche reggaeton/trap en Español artist – rise to this pinnacle is inspiring. It’s like validation that doing your own thing, in your own language, can reach the world. And it ties back to what we talked about earlier: the idea of being genuine and doing what you love, and eventually the world might catch on. Bad Bunny didn’t switch up who he is for the Super Bowl; he brought his world to that stage, and it worked big time.
So, that was the halftime show highlight reel. If you missed it, I’d recommend checking out a replay or the official NFL recap because it was really fun to watch. It had great music, star power, and a bit of history made in the process. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy watching Lady Gaga come in for a surprise duet – that’s the kind of watercooler moment the Super Bowl is made for. Overall, a fantastic halftime that lived up to the hype and maybe even set a new bar for future shows.

Closing Thoughts

As we wrap up this episode, I find myself reflecting on the common thread through all these topics – whether it’s our creative grind, the streaming landscape, or athletes and performers reaching new heights – it all comes down to passion, perseverance, and genuine expression. We talked about writing an insane number of words and building a huge catalog of music. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers and the chase for recognition (or records). But at the heart of it, we do this because we love it. The journey itself has value, even before any external “big break” happens. I truly believe that when you pour your heart into something consistently, something will come of it – maybe something different than you expected, but something meaningful.

Our discussion on streaming and AI showed how the world is changing fast. It can be intimidating – 99,000 new songs every day, algorithms deciding who gets heard – but it also reminds me why doing things the genuine way matters. In a sea of content, authenticity can be a lighthouse. Whether it’s a human listener or some AI-driven recommendation engine, I have to think that real passion in a piece of art has a way of shining through. It might take time, but quality and authenticity create ripples that eventually find the shore.

The sports segments – the WNBA 1-on-1 battles, the NBA season, the Super Bowl show – all of them highlighted individuals and teams stepping up and showcasing their talents in authentic ways too. Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers and others putting pride on the line one-on-one; up-and-coming NBA teams trusting their young stars; Bad Bunny unapologetically being himself on the biggest stage – it’s all about being true to your craft and vision. And as we saw, when done right, it resonates with people, it changes the game, or it makes history.

I want to thank you all for listening and being part of this journey on episode Sixtynine. It’s kind of amazing to think how far we’ve come – from episode 1 to now – documenting each step, sharing each thought, high or low. If you’ve been with us since the beginning or if you just joined recently, I appreciate you. You’re proof that even in this massive, noisy world, we can connect over shared passions and stories.

Moving forward, I’m excited and hopeful. Sure, we’ll keep grinding – writing more songs, doing more episodes – and there will be days it feels like we’re shouting into the void or fighting upstream. But then I’ll remember moments like this, where I get to speak to you and feel that it matters. We’re not just creating content; we’re living a creative life and inviting others into it. And there’s something very beautiful about that.

Alright, that’s it for this week’s deep dive. Keep rooting for us, and we’ll keep rooting for you in whatever journey you’re on. Stay true to yourself, keep pushing towards your dreams (or records!), and embrace the tools and people that help you along the way – whether that’s a friend, a collaborator, or even an AI sidekick like mine. When you blend hard work with heart, and you’re open to innovation, I think you’ll find your path.

Thank you once again for spending your time with me. Until next time, be well and take care of yourselves. Peace – and much love and blessings to you all. We’ll talk again soon. Peace and Be Wild. ✌️