In the final installment of Sara J's conversation with jazz saxophonist Dan Wallace, the focus shifts to his band, The 11th Hour, and their phenomenal cover of Tool's "Sober." Dan also shares his aspirations for a live album and the story of his friendship with musician Marc Shapiro, who was the catalyst for Dan's guest spot here on the show. Dan shares his experiences in the Baltimore music scene, his college days in New Orleans, and gives props to the artists who influenced the musicians we lo...
Aug 12, 2025•48 min•Ep. 301
This week marks a very special moment here at the podcast — it’s our 300th episode 🎉 AND I just celebrated my 41st birthday on August 4th! So I had to jump into your feed with a quick bonus episode to reflect, celebrate, and say a huge heartfelt thank you. In this mini milestone episode, I talk about: The wild journey from a tiny podcast to a full-blown media brand The growth and expansion of DATC Media over the past year The power of community — especially over on Patreon How YOU can get invol...
Aug 05, 2025•20 min•Ep. 300
🎷 In this captivating first installment of another epic two-parter, host Sara J. is joined by Baltimore-area jazz saxophonist Dan Wallace for a raw, real, and wide-ranging conversation—true to Dropped Among This Crowd form. Things leap off with Dan sharing the absolutely fascinating story of local legend Daryl Davis—a blues pianist who, through conversation and courage, convinced dozens of white supremacist leaders to denounce their ideology and leave their hate groups behind. From there, Dan r...
Jul 29, 2025•59 min•Ep. 299
In this mid-summer solo episode, host Sara J checks in with listeners after a transformative few months both personally and professionally. She shares updates on DATC Media Company, upcoming collaborations, and exciting projects in the works—plus a little behind-the-scenes from a recent cross-border adventure. Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support Give the gift of Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift The DATC Media Podcast Family: https://datcmediac...
Jul 15, 2025•21 min•Ep. 298
“I’m a deep cuts person — the hits get you there, but the album cuts keep you.” Perfectly timed for Canada Day, this episode wraps up Sara J and Darrin’s epic two-part conversation with a deep dive into their shared love for The Tragically Hip. Sara shares the recent rediscovery of a 2003 Gord Downie solo show in Buffalo, while Darrin traces how learning to code sparked his journey into archiving live music—starting with Boston indie band Wheat, and later expanding to The Spoons, Rheostatics, Bo...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 297
In part one of this epic two-part conversation, Darrin and Sara J dive deep into a rich and winding musical landscape. They explore the power of thoughtful feedback—from trusted sources—and how it can support the musicians in your life, and the importance of staying open to it yourself. Darrin reflects on his lifelong love affair with music, tracing it back to the nostalgic albums his parents played—records that have become part of his DNA. Born at a time when some of the most iconic music was n...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 296
In the conclusion of Sara J's epic two-part conversation with RoughGauge’s Featured Artist for June 2025, Marc Shapiro, we pick up right where we left off—diving back into the gear talk and Marc’s love for integrating the Jake blade into his setup. Marc shares what makes the Jake blade a standout addition to his arsenal, and how RoughGauge’s legendary customer service ensured every detail was custom-fit—right down to accommodating his unique whammy bar setup and left-handed play style. From ther...
Jun 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 295
In this part one of another epic two-parter, Sara J is joined by the RoughGauge June 2025 featured artist, Marc Shapiro. Marc takes us through his influences and how Slash and Appetite for Destruction played a major role. Marc shares his love for digging into his favorite guitar player’s heroes, going down a rabbit hole that includes a dive into how John Frusciante has a lot of Hendrix in his playing. Marc shares the eclecticness of what he listens to, and how watching MTV after school when he w...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 294
In the thrilling conclusion of Sara J’s deep dive with Kirk, the two pick up right where they left off—unpacking the heart and soul behind Discovering Downie, an 11-part passion project from Dewvre Podcasts & Such, exploring the solo work of Gord Downie, the legendary frontman of The Tragically Hip. Kirk shares how the series, which just celebrated its first anniversary, sparked not just insight but connection, bringing together four strangers whose shared love for Downie’s artistry led them...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 293
This week on the show, host Sara J is joined by musician, podcast host, and producer Kirk Lane for an epic two-part episode you won’t want to miss. In Part One, Sara and Kirk dive deep into the idea of finding your "inner fame," the wisdom of Linda Wolf’s book Tribute, and Kirk's love for the Grateful Dead. They chat about the magic of seeing shows at The Sphere, the spark that led Kirk to pick up a guitar, and his journey through his first originals band. Kirk shares stories from the thousands ...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 292
This week on the show, Sara J. sits down with RoughGauge’s May 2025 Featured Artist, Ben Kays. They dive into the guitarists who’ve shaped his sound, the pros and cons of being a left-handed player, and the rhythm guitarist he turns to for inspiration. Ben opens up about his songwriting process, the emotional and mental role music plays in his life, and what it means to be a well-rounded musician. He shares how his dad influenced his journey into guitar playing and gigging, and reveals the first...
May 06, 2025•33 min•Ep. 291
This week on the show, host Sara J is joined by Canadian woodworker and artist Ashley Dawes, the creative force behind Willow & Ash Designs. Ashley shares how she unexpectedly found her way into woodworking, how life as part of a military family shaped her journey, and what draws her to a craft that demands such precision and patience. She also opens up about the therapeutic power of woodworking and how it has become more than just a creative outlet. In this inspiring conversation, Ashley di...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 290
This week on the show, Sara J. sits down with RoughGauge’s April 2025 Featured Artist, Bill Hyland, for an honest, inspiring, and wide-ranging conversation that goes deep into the heart of music and creativity. Bill opens up about his first guitar god and the surprising instrument that kickstarted his musical journey — the accordion. From there, we follow his path through early influences, humbling experiences that challenged him to grow, and the transformative power of staying open to always le...
Apr 15, 2025•55 min•Ep. 289
This week on the show, host Sara J is joined by music industry pioneer and visionary leader Ralph Tashjian for an incredibly captivating conversation. With a career spanning over four decades, Ralph has worked alongside some of the most iconic artists of our time, and trust me, his stories are just as legendary! From backstage moments to pivotal shifts in the industry, he shares it all with a wisdom only time can grant. In this episode, Ralph takes us on a journey through 40 years of music indus...
Apr 08, 2025•54 min•Ep. 288
This week on the podcast, host Sara J. gets into the nitty-gritty of guitar gear with Dan Keclik the mastermind behind DK Pedals. They dive into Dan’s love for amps, the sparks of inspiration behind his pedal creations, and the transformative effects of audio therapy. Plus, Dan takes Sara on a tour and shares stories about his guitar collection. It’s an episode packed with insights and creativity, all in celebration of Dan being named RoughGauge's March 2025 Featured Artist. Where you can find t...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 287
The dynamic duo is back! Celebrate International Women's Day with the powerhouse ladies behind DATC Media, CEO Sara J. and Editor-in-Chief Nancy Weil! In this special episode, they dive deep into the legendary female musicians they're spotlighting this month on Patreon, sharing how these trailblazing icons have shaped and inspired the world of DATC Media. But that’s not all—Sara and Nancy also dish on Brian Eno and Bette A’s groundbreaking new book What Art Does, along with their latest adventur...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 286
This week on the show, host Sara J. chats all things guitars, gear, and Jake blade with Justin Behn, guitarist for The Textures. This conversation is in conjunction with Justin being named RoughGauge's February 2025 Featured Artist.
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 285
This week on the show, host Sara J is joined by DATC Media team member Nancy Weil for an exciting and wide-ranging conversation! They dive into everything—music, journalism, and highlights from Nancy’s eclectic career, including some of the incredible people she’s interviewed. Nancy also shares her journey as a percussionist, how she built her impressive collection of instruments, and the story behind her decade as a lay minister at the oldest and longest-running congregation in North America—ye...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 284
Sara J is back in your podcast feed, checking in and updating you on all things happening at DATC Media! Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support Give the gift of Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift The DATC Media Podcast Family: https://datcmediacompany.com/podcasts Would you or someone you know like to be a RoughGauge Featured Artist? Send an email to saraj@roughgaugellc.com All things RoughGauge and Jake Blade: roughgaugellc.com (use my promo code ...
Feb 05, 2025•13 min•Ep. 283
This week on the show, host Sara J. chats all things guitars, gear and Jake blade with Mosey Beat guitarist, and RoughGauge loyalist, Taylor O'Connor. This conversation is in conjunction with Taylor being named RoughGauge's Featured Artist for the month of January. You can read his Q&A mentioned in this episode and more here: https://www.roughgaugellc.com/featured-artists Would you or someone you know like to be a RoughGauge Featured Artist? Send an email to saraj@roughgaugellc.com All thing...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 282
Happy 2025! 🎉 Sara J. is kicking off the new year with an incredible first episode! This week, she sits down with jD from Toronto, a mental health advocate, podcast host, producer, and the newest member of the DATC Media family! Together, they explore jD’s inspiring podcast journey, finding incredible success with "The Dew Over", an Academy Awards-themed podcast that climbed to #1 on the iTunes Canada movie charts and ranked in the top twenty in the U.S. jD opens up about his mental health stru...
Jan 07, 2025•58 min•Ep. 281
Join host Sara J for the final episode of 2024! Catch up on the past few weeks and get an exclusive sneak peek at the exciting plans in store for Dropped Among This Crowd Podcast and DATC Media in 2025! Donate to DATC Media Company: https://datcmediacompany.com/support Give the gift of Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Datcmediacompany/gift The DATC Media Podcast Family: https://datcmediacompany.com/podcasts Shop my promo codes -> https://linktr.ee/sarajlinks Let's Collab! https://datcmediacom...
Dec 17, 2024•29 min•Ep. 280
