Safe In Sound

Walter Schreifels is behind some of THE most influential bands in the Hardcore, Post-Hardcore, and emo scene. He is a founding member of Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, and Rival Schools, and played bass in Youth of Today. Personally, he is one of my favorite musicians out there. In this episode, we talk with Walter about his early life, his connection to spirituality, how he copes with the stress of just being human, and how Rival Schools took the name of a video game and managed not to get sued. 

Mike Reed is the guitarist and lead singer for the bands Small Brown Bike and 84 Tigers. Mike and I talk about his upbringing in a small town in Michigan, starting Small Brown Bike with his brother and childhood friends, transitioning out of touring, parenting, and confronting grief after the passing of bandmate and friend Travis Dopp and several other friends. 

Matt Pryor is the lead singer of the iconic band The Get Up Kids. Matt has been touring as a musician for over 30 years, and while the life of a touring musician may seem like the greatest gig ever, for Matt, it has been full of ups and downs. After finding himself lonely, depressed, and anxious on tours in his later years, Matt realized he had been turning to alcohol to self-medicate. After finding himself in the ER, at risk for a stroke due to drinking, Matt decided it was time to get sober. Listen as Matt and I discuss his views on spirituality, sobriety, and life as a touring musician.  

Erin Tate is the former drummer for Minus the Bear. For 14 years, Erin played, wrote, and created with Minus the Bear, but after alcohol and substance use took over his life, he hit rock bottom. Erin lost everything: his marriage, his kid, and his band. After getting sober through AA, Erin has tried to make amends for the harm he has caused and keep himself accountable.  Erin is now the site manager for a permanent supportive housing non-profit that helps homeless people transition from the street into housing. This is Erin's story as he has lived it. 

In this episode, Jim Ward and I talk about Jim's music career, his non-profit "You Rock," and how anxiety, ADHD, and substance use have all affected his life.  We also go over Jim's views on his own therapy journey, and how careful he is not to talk about mental health as some badge of honor he wears. 

Bailey Pope is a comedian, social media personality, and lover of music. Listen as Bailey talks about growing up Christian, discovering punk, emo, and hardcore, and taking the brave step into living into who she truly is even when it cost her everything. 

Dan Weyandt is the lead singer for the band ZAO. Behind that powerhouse of vocals is a Dad, Husband, Tattoo artist, and someone who suffers with severe anxiety, panic, and OCD. This episode is less about his band ZAO and more about Dan as a person and his struggle with his own mental health.  Through the interview, listen as Dan and I discuss the anxiety that binds us and the ways we deal with it.   

What Safe In Sound is all about. 

Rachael Dietkus is a social worker, designer, and founder of Social Workers Who Design, an organization that helps and teaches designers to create from a trauma-informed lens. Rachael was also a part of the late 90's and early 2000's Midwest emo scene, as part of the skate scene and playing violin in the band Very Secretary with Braid's first drummer, Roy Ewing. Listen as we talk about Rachael's time in the band and her career as a social worker, designer and how she melded the two into something special. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Dan Didier, drummer for the legendary Midwest emo band The Promise Ring. Dan sits down with us for a conversation that’s equal parts funny and refreshingly honest as we dive into drumming, recording, and the creative process behind the kit.
We also get into something deeper — how playing drums became an outlet for managing anxiety and stress, and the role music can play in mental health. Dan opens up about his experiences with vulnerability, creativity, and finding balance both on and off stage, including his work with Maritime.
It’s a conversation full of laughs, real talk, and plenty of insight for musicians, fans, and anyone who’s ever used music to cope.