In this episode, I sit down with Rich Derbyshire, bass player for Wild Adriatic/ Andy Frasco and the UN, for a grounded, honest conversation about musicianship, taste, and what it actually means to jam.

We talk about why real jamming isn’t about showing off chops, but about listening, understanding the room, and knowing when less is more. Rich breaks down how knowing your instrument — and knowing your role — shapes better musicians and better bands.

We also get into:

• The difference between playing at music and playing with people
• Why taste and restraint matter more than speed
• Learning to hear genres, keys, and feel in real time
• Growing as a bass player and a bandmate
• Choosing a life in music when stability was an option

Rough Pumpkins- real stories from people who should have gotten real jobs.

🎧 New episodes every Thursday

📍 Recorded in Upstate New York

https://youtube.com/@roughpumpkinspodcast?si=D0hwyyaWNi2mrCwI

This episode is a little different.

Travis sits down with his wife for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to build a creative life together. They talk about anxiety, uncertainty, and the quieter forms of support that don’t always get recognized — the emotional labor, the patience, and the work that happens offstage.

It’s a real discussion about partnership, communication, and navigating a life that doesn’t follow a traditional path. No advice, no platitudes — just two people trying to understand what support actually looks like when creativity and real life collide.

https://youtube.com/@roughpumpkinspodcast?si=D0hwyyaWNi2mrCwI

In this episode of Rough Pumpkins, Travis sits down with Hannah Williams, a mural artist based in Glens Falls, to talk about the deeper realities of living a creative life.

Hannah shares what it’s like to paint murals in public spaces, where the work doesn’t happen in isolation and the community becomes part of the process. The conversation explores creative identity, purpose, and what happens when art isn’t just something you do — it’s part of how you survive, connect, and make sense of the world.

They talk about staying rooted, showing up in real life, and why putting yourself out there still matters long after the paint dries.

This episode is for artists, musicians, and creatives who think about who they are without their work — and whether that’s even possible.

🎨 Topics include:

• Painting murals in public spaces
• Art as identity, not just a career
• Community connection and word-of-mouth
• Creative purpose and longevity
• What it means to truly “show up” as an artist

www.hwilliamsart.com for Hannah's Full collection

🎧 New episodes every week of Rough Pumpkins.

https://youtube.com/@roughpumpkinspodcast?si=D0hwyyaWNi2mrCwI