Thirty days of posting more taught me a few things—and chasing every successful post isn’t how I want to build this.

This week, I’m talking about the social media experiment, the frustration of inconsistent results, and why my rehearsal rig needs to get simpler so I can spend more time singing and playing.

Plus: house repairs, finding an off switch for content creation, and discovering that Hallmark ornaments have a secret society. Apparently, buying my wife a tiny reindeer requires insider connections.

It’s another week of building Five IV and figuring out what works for me.

Subscribe and come along for the ride.

Free Backstage Pass and early podcast access:
https://stevieshred.com

#MusicianLife #ContentCreation #WorkLifeBalance

I called Van Halen hair metal. The comments went about how you’d expect. But did all that debating actually help?

For the 30th episode of The Chronicles of Shred, I’m back at the desk with a better studio setup, six weeks of gym consistency and nearly 15 pounds down. I’m also catching a familiar pattern: things start working, and I immediately want to go overboard—including with vocal practice.

Plus, a potential light show purchase turns into an urgent $1,000 loan request, people are asking to be guests on the podcast, and apparently I’m a hockey fan now.

Another week of building FIVE IV and figuring things out as I go.

Would you like to see occasional guests on the show? Let me know in the comments.

🎸 Free Backstage Pass and early episode access:
https://stevieshred.com

CHAPTERS
00:00 Back at the desk
00:30 Episode 30—and the Van Halen hot take
04:06 Content progress and the studio reset
06:21 Six weeks in the gym
09:45 The same pattern in vocal practice
10:32 A light show deal takes a turn
13:28 Should this podcast have guests?
14:38 Becoming a Columbus Blue Jackets fan
16:47 FIVE IV update and Backstage Pass

#VanHalen #RockMusic #MusicianLife

Six weeks of consistency, a studio setup finally coming together, progress in the gym, and a reminder that sometimes the boring work really does start to pay off.

This week on The Chronicles of Shred, I’m talking about what happens when the little things start stacking up and the rebuild starts feeling real.

#Podcast #MusicianLife #CreativeJourney #MusicPodcast #HomeStudio #FitnessJourney #Consistency #BehindTheScenes

The playback rig failed in the middle of rehearsal—and it exposed exactly what still needs to be bulletproof before Five IV can hit the stage.

In Episode 3, I break down what went wrong with the live rig, what I learned during a two-day home-recording workshop at Sweetwater, the Andy LaRocque LTD that followed me home, and the mindset shift helping me move everything forward.

Want the complete rig rundown, rehearsal footage, behind-the-scenes updates and early podcast access? Join the free Backstage Pass at:

https://stevieshred.com

Sometimes the right opportunity is still the wrong fit.

In Episode 2, I tell the story of entering—and ultimately withdrawing from—the audition process for one of Columbus’s busiest cover bands. The opportunity was exciting, but the expectations made me realize that accepting it could mean sacrificing Red Reign, this podcast, and the band I’m building myself.

That decision led to an unexpected milestone: learning the solo from Autograph’s “Turn Up the Radio,” recognizing how differently I’m approaching familiar crossroads, and choosing my own vision this time.

I also explain how one predictably shitty internet comment inspired the upcoming Backstage Pass at StevieShred.com—a free members-only space for rehearsal footage, livestreams, early podcast access, and the imperfect parts of building this thing from scratch.

Finally, the riddle from Episode 1 is answered—and the new band name and logo are revealed.

Follow the journey: https://stevieshred.com

#StevieShred #ChroniclesOfShred #BuildingABand

Season 2 starts here.

This season is about the rebuild: the music, the systems, the gear, the setbacks, the wins, and what it actually looks like to build the next version of this whole thing in real time.

Episode 1 is about where things stand now, what changed, and why I’m not done moving.

New episodes Tuesdays at 5 AM ET.

#TheChroniclesOfShred #StevieShred #Season2 #MusicianLife #BehindTheScenes #MusicCreator #Podcast

Twenty-five episodes ago, I started The Chronicles of Shred with a simple idea:

Document the journey of rebuilding a music career from scratch after moving to Ohio.

Along the way, this podcast became something more. I've talked about motivation, discipline, self-doubt, burnout, perfectionism, consistency, and all the mental battles that come with chasing a dream.

But lately I've been asking myself a difficult question:

Is this the show I intended to make?

Between family challenges, personal responsibilities, upcoming shows, and the general chaos of life, I've realized it's time to pause and take a hard look at what this podcast is, what it's supposed to be, and where it goes from here.

So this is the end of Season One.

Not because I'm quitting.

Not because I've given up.

Because it's time to reflect, retool, and come back with a clearer vision.

The journey isn't over.

This is just an intermission.

Thank you for listening, commenting, supporting, and following along through the first 25 episodes.

I'll see you in Season Two.

🎙️ The Chronicles of Shred

This week I realized something that probably should have been obvious.

I spent most of the weekend feeling like I hadn't accomplished much. My wife was in town, we took it easy, saw a local band, relaxed, and just enjoyed some time together.

But when I actually looked back at the week, I had played a show with Red Reign, traveled, worked on a potential set list, practiced for upcoming shows, recorded a gear video, and spent quality time with the people who matter most.

The problem wasn't that I wasn't doing enough.

The problem was that my definition of "enough" keeps moving.

In this episode, I talk about productivity, burnout, chasing goals, and learning that building a music career shouldn't come at the expense of enjoying the life you're trying to create.

Sometimes enough is enough.

🎙️ The Chronicles of Shred
A real-time journey of rebuilding a music career, finding my voice, and creating a life on my own terms.