Season 2 · Episode 20 · October 21, 2026 · 29 min
Just an Ordinary Tuesday
New episodes and essays land in my Tuesday letter, along with the Resource Library. Free, and leaving is easy.
Show notes
I’ve now made two live albums for concerts that never actually happened. Somehow, fifty thousand people still showed up in my head.
People ask about my creative process and the why behind the things I make. In this episode, I talk about Live From My Head and my new imaginary concert album, the family stories that become songs, the nonsense I make just because it makes me laugh, and the distance between the music I can imagine and what I can play on a guitar.
Mira has a few observations about my imaginary touring career. I talk about the production tools that help me build the music: and why making finished songs has made me want to practice more. It’s a conversation about loving your people, trying things before you’re good at them, and letting yourself have some fun along the way.
In this episode
- Two live albums and no actual concerts
- How stories about Kellie, the kids, and the dogs become songs
- Making room for ridiculous ideas
- The gap between imagining a song and playing it
- What production tools contribute and where the story begins
- Why finished music made me want to learn guitar more
Related: The Song in My Head Is Better Than the One in My Hands, the essay behind this episode, and the album, Out of My F***ing Mind.
Sponsors and family business
Shaka Electric: Jacob’s electrical company serving Coeur d’Alene and surrounding North Idaho.
Renewed Strength Pilates: Kellie’s Pilates studio in Post Falls, Idaho.
Helping Hands by Sam: Sammie’s personalized errand help, including grocery shopping and returns. Message @helpinghandsbysam about needs and availability.
Shaka Electric and Renewed Strength Pilates support the show. Helping Hands by Sam receives a family business shout-out. These are businesses run by Mike’s son Jacob, wife Kellie, and daughter Sammie, respectively.