If you could go back in time and give advice to the younger version of yourself—the one just starting out in music production—what would you say?

In this episode, we get honest about the lessons we learned the hard way. From arrangement mistakes to gear addiction, from music theory regrets to what “pro” really means, we’re unpacking the biggest takeaways we’d love to hand off to the past versions of ourselves.

Plus, a few laughs about beard sniffing, beef tallow, and the strange but beautiful journey of the modern home studio musician.

🎯 Why a good arrangement is the real secret to a great mix
🎯 What music theory knowledge we wish we’d learned earlier
🎯 The misunderstood role of gear—and when it actually matters
🎯 How we define being a “professional” in audio (spoiler: it’s not about the Grammys)
🎯 Why mixing is just volume control (seriously)

🔥 The beard-sniffing church guy and the magical beef tallow
🔥 Why both of us feel imposter syndrome as musicians and engineers
🔥 How renting gear helped shape our early careers
🔥 The myth of “the pro”—and why it's time to ignore it
🔥 What makes a mix “mix itself” and how arrangement drives every decision

We tackle a comment from YouTube: “I love when a non-pro tells people what the pros do…” and unpack what it actually means to be a professional in the music industry.

A great song, a smart arrangement, and a confident mix approach beat expensive gear and elusive titles any day. If it moves someone? You’re doing it right.

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We’ll answer as many as we can in upcoming shows.