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After 6 years and 212 episodes, Eddy and I are officially pressing pause on the DRUM with Mike & Eddy podcast. This episode isn't a recap; it’s a massive "thank you." To everyone who has tuned in, supported us on Patreon, shared screenshots, or sent us messages since we started this journey in August 2020: we appreciate you more than you know. You got us through a pandemic and gave us a reason to show up and talk drums every single week. Our final lesson to you is the one we are living right now: when an opportunity arises, and the iron is hot, you have to go all in. Both of our professional lives are demanding our full attention right now, and we have to practice what we preach. Please know our friendship is stronger than ever, and we will definitely still be doing things together in the future, but for now, the weekly podcast is hitting the pause button. We would love to hear from you one last time. Send us a DM and let us know your favorite episode or moment from the show. Keep practicing, and we'll see you when we see you! Mike & Eddy! Support the show

Welcome to Episode 211 of DRUM with Mike & Eddy! This week, we are looking back at the exact turning points that shaped our careers as professional drummers. We’re skipping the "hustle culture" buzzwords and getting straight into the reality of what it actually takes to build a life around the kit. Here is what we get into this week: Grail Gear Guilt: Eddy scores a legendary pair of Joey Jordison sticks, and I break down why I couldn't resist dropping my own cash on a 1970s stop-sign badge Gretsch bop kit.The Return of NAMM: Why the drum industry is finally getting its pre-pandemic vibe back and the magic of experiencing gear in person.The Year That Changed Everything: We break down the specific years we had to go all-in. Eddy talks about his intense 2017–2018 transition, and I take it back to 2005–2006—late-night coding, the "two-shake rule" with Amber, and building a 99-cent online lesson site from the ground up.Staying Authentic: Why doubling down on real, honest connection is the only way forward in an AI-heavy world.Enjoy - Mike J www.mikeslessons.com Support the show

In this episode, we get into what it really takes to prepare to record, and why “jamming to a song” and tracking a song for an artist are two totally different worlds. Eddy shares how he practices and preps parts (often without writing anything down), why e-kits can be a secret weapon for learning technical material, and how to identify the non-negotiables in a drum part when a demo already has programmed drums. We also talk about fighting muscle memory, why simple pop parts can be harder than complex chops, the “less is more” mindset, listening back with ruthless honesty, and the ultimate litmus test: did your drumming make the song better, or did it pull the listener out of it? Plus: the courage to “dare to suck” during the process… because that’s where the magic shows up. Enjoy - Mike J Support the show

In this episode, Eddy and I realized that without physical drum magazines sitting around our studios, we’ve totally lost touch with what the major brands, besides our endorsements, are doing. So, we decided to fix that by taking a deep dive into companies that we are not sponsored by, starting with Pearl Drums! We answer the internet's most googled questions about the brand (Is Pearl actually good? Pearl vs. Tama?), and then—with an unlimited imaginary budget—we build our absolute dream Pearl kits from scratch. In this episode, we cover: The Dream Builds: I go with a Reference One and the Matt Halpern Signature Snare, while Eddy leans into nostalgia with a Maple/Gum kit and the Joey Jordison Signature Snare.The "Magazine Problem": Why it’s so much harder to understand gear specs and innovation in the age of Instagram reels.Studio Update: I share the unfortunate news that my studio flooded on Christmas Day and that renovations are currently underway.Mentioned in this Episode: Pearl Reference One SeriesPearl Masters Maple/GumMatt Halpern Signature SnareJoey Jordison Signature SnareSupport the show

Happy Monday, EVERYONE! This week, Eddy and I are geeking out on one of our favorite topics: drum fills. But we aren’t just talking about the fastest or choppiest fills; we’re talking about the ones that involve PRO-level choices. We break down some absolute genius moments from Aaron Sterling, The RH Factor, Paramore, and Mark Guiliana to figure out exactly why those specific choices elevated the music so perfectly. We also decided to put ourselves in the hot seat. We each brought in a track from our own discographies. Eddy with a Busted track and me with a vintage Simon Says track, to analyze our own decision-making processes in the studio. We realized that whether it’s a simple snare hit or a complex linear chop, the best drum fills are rarely about the drumming; they’re about the choices. Hope you guys enjoy this deep dive! Enjoy - Mike J Support the show

Every year, Eddy and I do a Christmas episode, but this one turned into something way bigger than we expected. We ended up going deep on what we’re calling our grail gear. The sticks, cymbals, snares, and full drum kits that shaped us, inspired us, and flat-out made us fall in love with the drums in the first place. From Joey Jordison's blood-red sticks and Dave Weckl hero worship, to wild discontinued cymbals, one-of-a-kind snares, and the drum kits that literally made us want to play, this episode is pure nostalgia mixed with real perspective on how gear influences creativity. Along the way, we talk about why change feels uncomfortable (even when it’s good), how our brains resist new ideas, and why, when it’s healthy, obsession often pushes us to practice more, play more, and grow. This episode is for anyone who remembers staring at drum catalogs, trusting the drum shop guy, saving every dollar, and dreaming big. It’s a Christmas special, a gear episode, and a reminder of why we started doing this in the first place. A Merry Happy Christmas to you all - Mike J Support the show

What makes the drumming community so special? In this episode, Eddy and I sit down with our good friend Kim Lee from Music Workshop in Bath, England, to talk about building communities—and why drummers seem to do it better than anyone else. We share stories about our first music communities, from my early days printing Simon Says merch on thrift store shirts to Eddy's touring experiences and Kim's unexpected journey through rave culture. We get into why shared struggles bond us more than shared wins, and how the best communities aren't built on purpose—they happen when you genuinely care about making people feel less alone. If you've ever felt like an outcast but found your people through drumming, this conversation is for you. Plus, we somehow manage to talk about eggs, sweets, and why there's no UK Saxophone Show, yet :) Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy In episode 205, Eddy and I chat about our experiences with private lessons, both as students and as teachers. We discuss the importance of teaching drums not as a means to showcase what students can'tt do, but rather to identify and address the barriers preventing them from achieving their drumming goals. We throw a tad bit of shade at the rare instance when teachers try to establish dominance by showcasing their skills, and instead advocate for a more empowering approach that focuses on student needs and growth. Basically, don't be a jerk. LOL.  We hope you enjoy this episode! Mike & Eddy Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy In this episode, Eddy and I explore the complex relationship between effort and reward in creative endeavors and where routine fits into it all. We chat about the emotional struggles artists face when their hard work does not yield the recognition or success they expected. Basically, you'll hear us, in real time, struggle with what it's like to care deeply about our craft while facing the reality of unpredictable rewards. - Mike J Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy Creating a drum fill that connects with everyone, not just drummers, is tough. Creating a signature fill that becomes iconic for an entire generation? That’s damn near impossible. In this week’s episode, Eddy and I break down how to think about the song first instead of worrying about what other drummers might think. We talk about musical responsibility, writing “hooks” on the drums, and how to craft fills that actually elevate the music instead of cluttering it. And yes… somewhere along the way we also dive into the global matcha shortage (because, of course we do). LOL.  Enjoy - Mike J Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy In this episode of DRUM with Mike & Eddy, we dive into something every drummer and musician deals with but rarely talks about: the gap between who you are on the kit when you’re alone and who you are when it really counts—on stage, in the studio, at a clinic, or even just filming content for social media. We start with life on tour, questionable hotel hygiene, and why the perception of “rockstar life” is hilariously different from the reality of chasing a decent bathtub and clean sheets. From there, we get into the real heart of it: nerves, imposter syndrome, and why playing in front of drummers feels so different than playing for a regular audience. Eddy shares how arenas, drum shows, and that Busted drum feature with Harry can be a mental challenge, and I talk about why recording sessions and drum clinics have historically been the biggest mental battles for me. We break down the idea of closing the gap through reps, preparation, accepting that you’ll always feel a little different in high-pressure situations, and understanding your role in every musical setting. If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I play like I do at home when it matters most?”, this one’s for you. Take a screenshot while you’re listening, throw it in your stories, and tag us @mikeslessons and @eddythrower so we know you’re out there hanging with us! Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy In this episode, we dive into the art, no, the chaos, no, the journey... ya, the journey of creating your own UNIQUE drum chops. We all have access to the same rudiments, sticking patterns, and vocabulary, but it's what we do with that information that makes it ART! We hope you enjoy this episode - Mike J Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy We are BACK!!! I can’t believe we’ve hit 200 episodes! In this one, Eddy and I look back on the wild ride this podcast has been — the laughs, the lessons, and everything we’ve learned from the drumming community along the way. We get real about what touring actually feels like, why musical performance will always matter more than raw speed, and how to keep your audience locked in without losing your soul behind the kit. Mostly though, it’s about friendship, support, and what it really means to be part of this AMAZING drumming community! Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy Settle in folks, it's story time. In this episode, Eddy and I will share how specific songs from our past unlocked thousands of other songs for us to play in our future. I genuinely hope this concept resonates with you and gets you excited to tackle learning a new song or starting Sessions on the site.  Support the show

Support this podcast https://www.patreon.com/drumwithmikeandeddy Heads up ya'll, there is WAY too much matcha talk in this one, lol. Once you fast forward through all of that, Eddy and I will chat about how we give constructive criticism to others and how we have trained ourselves to get the most out of the critiques that are given to us! I hope this episode helps, and thanks for listening :) Support the show