Shows
The Business of You with Rachel Gogos236 | The Visibility Shift That Helps Founders Grow FasterIf "you" online isn't the same you who shows up in person, you're not alone. Most founders haven't taken the time to align their personal identity with how they present themselves online. But that clarity–on the inside and out–is what gives your brand staying power. This is a special episode where I joined Jesse Paliotto on FastSpring's Growth Stage podcast to talk about personal branding, founder identity, and why branding from the inside out is the only way to build a business that lasts. The SOULiD Framework Every founder alrea...
2025-09-1639 minThe Business of You with Rachel Gogos236 | The Visibility Shift That Helps Founders Grow FasterIf "you" online isn't the same you who shows up in person, you're not alone. Most founders haven't taken the time to align their personal identity with how they present themselves online. But that clarity–on the inside and out–is what gives your brand staying power. This is a special episode where I joined Jesse Paliotto on FastSpring's Growth Stage podcast to talk about personal branding, founder identity, and why branding from the inside out is the only way to build a business that lasts. The SOULiD Framework Every founder alrea...
2025-09-1639 min
The Guitar JournalEP 16: Mike Dawes on Fingerstyle Microtechniques, Covers as Creativity, & The Algorithm GameIn this episode of The Guitar Journal Podcast, we’re joined by fingerstyle virtuoso Mike Dawes—an innovator known for his percussive techniques, creative arrangements, and collaborations with legends like Tommy Emmanuel. Mike breaks down how he builds layered acoustic compositions using “microtechniques,” and why arranging cover songs is both a creative exercise and a career catalyst.We also dive into the realities of modern music distribution—how the algorithm shapes what we hear, why Spotify can feel like a double-edged sword for independent artists, and how Mike navigates the balance between artistic integrity and digital reach.If yo...
2025-07-0753 min
The Guitar JournalEP15: Andrea Valeri on Groove, Guitar Tone, and Chasing Curiosity as a ComposerIn this episode of The Guitar Journal Podcast, I'm joined by Andrea Valeri, an internationally acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist who has graced stages around the world alongside legends like Tommy Emmanuel and Guthrie Govan. With nearly 20 years of professional performance and recording under his belt, Andrea brings a unique voice that seamlessly blends thumb picking, finger picking, and flat picking techniques into something entirely his own.We dive deep into Andrea's philosophy on tone and dynamics—what he calls the "fourth dimension" of music that you can actually hear and feel. He shares fascinating insights about his decade-long qu...
2025-06-1157 min
The Guitar JournalEP 14: Sean McGowan on Fingerstyle Jazz, Crafting the Music, and The Holistic Guitarist [New Book]In this episode of The Guitar Journal Podcast, I’m joined by acclaimed fingerstyle jazz guitarist Sean McGowan. Known for his rich harmonic approach and inventive solo arrangements, Sean blends classical influences, jazz sophistication, and fingerstyle nuance into a deeply expressive style all his own.We talk through Sean’s musical journey—from discovering Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges as a teen to developing his signature technique and arranging process. He shares how he approaches solo guitar like composing for ensembles, why he sketches musical ideas away from the instrument, and how a cappella music and brass ensemb...
2025-05-2653 min
The Guitar JournalEP 13: Adam Levy on Songwriting, Musical Curiosity, and Making AlbumsIn this episode of The Guitar Journal podcast, I sit down with the incomparable Adam Levy—guitarist, songwriter, educator, and all-around creative force. You’ve likely heard Adam’s playing on Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me, or in collaborations with Tracy Chapman, Vulfpeck, or Liz Wright. Beyond his impressive credits, Adam has carved out a unique artistic voice that spans genres and mediums, from deeply personal solo records to his widely followed YouTube lessons and Patreon community.We cover a lot of ground in this conversation: from Adam’s thoughtful reflections on genre fluidity and songwriting practice...
2025-05-191h 16The Guitar JournalEP12: Can Guitar Amps Be Furniture? Mike Nopper Says Yes.In this episode of The Guitar Journal podcast, host Jesse Paliotto sits down with Mike Nopper, founder of Sonoforma, a company reimagining guitar gear through the lens of high-end furniture design. Mike shares his journey from engineering and pro audio to custom fabrication, explaining how Sonoforma's elegant furniture-quality guitar cabinets bridge the gap between musical function and sophisticated interior design.The conversation explores the philosophy behind creating guitar gear that looks beautiful in your living space while maintaining excellent sound quality. Mike details the development process of Sonoforma's flagship model, the Serenada, featuring teak hardwood construction...
2025-04-0843 minThe Guitar JournalEP11: Alex Misko on Pushing Guitar Boundaries, Creative Collaboration, and Finding BalanceIn this episode of The Guitar Journal podcast, host Jesse Paliotto sits down with modern fingerstyle prodigy Alex Misko to explore the boundaries of acoustic guitar innovation. Alex shares his journey from classical training to developing his unique approach to the instrument, including his custom "Frankenstein guitar" with triple detuning systems and creative percussion modifications. The conversation takes fascinating turns as they discuss the balance between technical experimentation and musical expression, the role of cover songs in building an audience, and the importance of collaborative projects within the fingerstyle community.Alex opens up about the challenges of...
2025-03-281h 14The Guitar JournalEP10: Jon Gomm on Songwriting, Musical Storytelling, and Writing Your Own RulesThe Guitar Journal podcast returns with a new episode featuring the extraordinary Jon Gomm, acclaimed singer-songwriter and virtuoso acoustic guitarist from Yorkshire, UK. In this wide-ranging conversation, host Jesse Paliotto and Jon explore fascinating insights into the guitarist's creative process—from developing song concepts before touching the guitar to his approach to alternate tunings and performance techniques. The discussion covers everything from the challenges of touring the US to Jon's unique method of handling online critics (hint: it involves his mom). This episode gets into both technical wisdom and some deep artistic philosophy.Also, check out Jon de...
2025-03-061h 04The Guitar JournalEP 9: Trevor Gordon Hall on Structured Spontaneity, Collaboration, & AI's Creative RoleJoin us for a chat with Trevor Gordon Hall, a guitarist and composer who's taken acoustic guitar into uncharted territory. Trevor breaks down his unique "structured spontaneity" practice approach, opens up about his recent trio work with Andy McKee and Callum Graham, and shares some real talk about making music in a digital world. We dig into the nuts and bolts of his reverb stacking experiments, his thoughts on AI in music, and what it takes to keep the creative fire burning.If you've ever wondered how to keep your practice sessions meaningful or how to embrace...
2025-02-221h 13The Guitar JournalEP 8: Chris Parks on The Barry Harris Method and Rethinking Jazz Guitar(Note: Reuploaded Feb 2 with improved audio so you can hear Chris's guitar.)Jazz guitarist Chris Parks discusses his musical journey, focusing on the Barry Harris method and its influence on his playing. He shares practice tips, explores learning fundamentals, and emphasizes community learning through platforms like Open Studio while developing individual style.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Chris Parks and His Journey05:08 Discovering Jazz and the Barry Harris Method10:05 Understanding the Barry Harris Methodology15:10 Integrating Barry Harris Concepts with Other Approaches19:57 The Freedom of Scales Over Chords25:11 The Unique Perspective of Harmony in Jazz37:01 Transforming Simplicity into...
2025-02-011h 08The Guitar JournalEP 7: Jocelyn Gould on Starting Late, Jazz Fundamentals, and Crafting Your SoundIn this episode of the Guitar Journal podcast, Juno award-winning jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould explores her journey into jazz guitar, the importance of transcription, and the role of live experience in jazz. Jocelyn shares insights on jazz theory, right-hand techniques, and her approach to gear and tone. The conversation also touches on current listening habits and favorite jazz standards, providing a comprehensive look at the world of jazz guitar.Chapters00:00 Navigating the Jazz Landscape10:12 The Art of Transcription 13:20 Understanding Jazz Theory16:24 The Barry Harris Method19:21 Right-Hand Techniques in Jazz Guitar22:17 Tone and Gear for Jazz Guitar25:26 E...
2025-01-1840 minThe Guitar JournalEP 6: Maneli Jamal on Songwriting, Guitar Journaling, Practice Tips, and AIFingerstyle virtuoso Maneli Jamal joins Jesse Paliotto to share his musical journey, insights on practice routines, songwriting, improvisation, and his Fingerstyle Pro course. They explore digital collaboration, AI's role in music, and Maneli's upcoming projects. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Maneli Jamal and His Journey05:56 The Role of Improvisation in Composition12:07 The Four Pillars of Practice17:59 The Future of Collaboration in Music27:02 Optimizing Practice Techniques33:45 The Role of Improvisation in Music Creation40:10 The Impact of AI on Music Creation48:44 Final Thoughts and Upcoming ProjectsLinksManeliJamal.comFingerstylepro.com Maneli's online teaching masterclassDon RossDon Ross Video Course7 P...
2025-01-1150 minThe Guitar JournalEP 5: Will McNicol on Composing, Tone, and Orchestral Collaborations in Fingerstyle GuitarIn this episode of The Guitar Journal podcast, classical fingerstyle guitarist Will McNicol shares his musical journey, blending classical and contemporary styles. He discusses tone production, the evolution of fingerstyle guitar, and his "four hats" model for composition. Will and Jesse explore collaboration, community in music education, innovative teaching methods, and the psychological aspects of practice. The conversation touches on Will's Innotet project, his approach to composition, and the future of guitar design and live performance, emphasizing the value of original acoustic compositions.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Will McNichol and His Journey03:09 The Evolution of Guitar Playing...
2025-01-031h 32The Guitar JournalEP 4: Neff Irizarry on Latin Jazz, Artistic Growth, and the Power of TranscriptionsIn this episode of The Guitar Journal, Latin jazz guitarist Neff Irizarry discusses his journey from Virginia to Berklee, his album Cambio, and the importance of mentorship, style fusion, and transcriptions in music. Neff reflects on artistic integrity and musical connections across generations.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Neff Irizarry and His Journey02:57 The Roots of Latin Jazz and Personal Influences05:52 Education and Mentorship at Berklee08:52 The Fusion of Cultures in Music11:51 The Importance of Mentorship and Learning14:58 Studying with Steve Kahn and Musical Development18:03 The Role of Elders in Music20:56 The Connection Between Musicians23:56 Recording and Reflecting...
2024-12-271h 05The Guitar JournalEP3: Adam Rafferty's Wild Journey to Fingerstyle Guitar, Groove, & Building a Sustainable Music CareerFingerstyle guitarist Adam Rafferty shares his journey from jazz roots to hip-hop influences and fingerstyle mastery. He discusses groove, mentorship, and the challenges of building a sustainable music career, with insights from legends like Tommy Emmanuel and Wes Montgomery.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Adam Rafferty and His Journey00:48 Early Musical Influences and Beginnings06:02 Transitioning to Jazz and Classical Guitar12:08 The Hip-Hop Experience and Its Impact18:02 The Unexpected Success of 'Edelweiss'21:58 Finding a New Path in Jazz30:09 Navigating the Jazz Scene in New York33:39 Crossing Musical Boundaries36:57 The Power of Blues38:41 The Essence of Live Performance41:54 The Groove...
2024-12-201h 35The Guitar JournalEP 2: Emil Ernebro on Building Fingerstyle Guitar Technique, Creative Influences, Production & PerformingJesse Paliotto interviews fingerstyle guitarist Emil Ernebro about his journey, influences, and techniques. They discuss blending styles, Pro Guitar education, modern recording, and tips on improvisation and practice.For show notes and other guests on The Guitar Journal, please visit https://theguitarjournal.com/emil-ernebroFollow The Guitar Journal:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguitarjournalSoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/theguitarjournalChapters:00:00 Introduction to Fingerstyle Guitar and Emil Ernebro02:54 Emil's Musical Journey and Influences05:42 Developing Fingerstyle Technique08:50 The Impact of Tommy...
2024-12-141h 26The Guitar JournalEP 1: Tim Lerch on Fingerstyle Mastery, Musical Journeys, and Navigating the Digital AgeJesse Paliotto chats with Tim Lerch about his journey, fingerstyle guitar, Ted Greene's impact, his new platform TimsGuitarWorkshop.com, and navigating music in the digital age. Discover insights on artistry, emotional connection, and the quest for the perfect guitar.For show notes and other guests on The Guitar Journal, please visit https://theguitarjournal.com/tim-lerchFollow The Guitar Journal:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguitarjournalSoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/theguitarjournalChapters00:00 - Introduction to Tim Lerch and His Journey09:04 - The...
2024-12-061h 25