Some conversations leave you buzzing long after they’re over, and this one with Derek Phillips is exactly that. Derek has spent his life behind the drums, from jazz clubs in New York to studio sessions with Mumford & Sons and Little Big Town, and now to creating from his own home studio in Nashville. But what makes this episode special isn’t just the music—it’s Derek’s honesty about the struggles, lessons, and healing that have shaped him as a husband, father, and artist .

He talks about the hustle of taking $25 gigs while raising babies, the hard truth of growing up while trying to grow a marriage, and the deeper work that pulled him through shame and back toward love and authenticity. Derek doesn’t shy away from the messy parts, and that’s exactly what makes this conversation so full of heart.

And if you’ve been following us a while, you’ll recognize the last name: Derek is the dad of comedian Zavior Phillips, one of our past guests. Hearing how their creative worlds overlap; jokes and rhythms, timing and flow. It all makes this story even richer.

This is one of those episodes that feels like sitting with a friend who tells the truth in a way that makes you want to do the same.

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We loved this episode so much that we are re-releasing it for all of our listeners! You can access 16 episodes and counting just like this one by becoming a paid subscriber!

In this deeply honest episode, Amber and Melanie crack open the complicated relationships we have with our moms. From laughing about cough-sneezing in public to exploring how childhood wounds show up in adulthood, this conversation gets real. Melanie shares how therapy and psychedelic experiences helped her shift from resentment to empathy, and Amber reflects on what it means to love your mother fully, even after realizing she’s not perfect.

We talk emotional connection (or lack thereof), navigating boundaries with toxic or distant parents, and the grief that comes with letting go of the fantasy mom. Whether you have a strained relationship, an idealized one, or you’re somewhere in between, this episode invites you to look at your own “mom stuff” without shame.

If you liked this episode, share it with someone who’s got a complicated mom story too.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to join us on Substack at imfineitsfine.substack.com for bonus content, behind-the-scenes chaos, and more ways to support the show.

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Lee Kimbrell is back, and he’s glowing. Not with sweat, but with impending fatherhood panic, marital bliss, and just the right amount of self-aware spiraling. In this episode, we talk about what it means to shift from main character energy to background dad vibes, how childhood friend wounds show up in green rooms, and why being a chill guy isn’t always chill on the inside.

Lee shares stories about meeting his now-wife on the open mic circuit, navigating male friendships, watching her hips literally move to make room for their daughter (hi Frankie!), and questioning how comedy fits into this next chapter. It’s sweet, funny, a little existential, and filled with the kind of grounded energy that makes you want to be a better person or at least finally call your mom back.

If you’ve ever worried about who you’ll be on the other side of a big life change, or if you just love a good love story with jokes, this one’s for you.

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💌 Subscribe to the pod on Substack: imfineitsfine.substack.com

📸 Instagram: @imfineitsfinepodcast

🎤 Follow Amber: @amberautrycomedy

🧠 Follow Melanie: @traumatherapynashville @melaniereeselmft