Chocolate Croissants

The pastry show rolls on!  *Recorded Dec 30, 2020* We picked back up in 2020 as a direct result to quarantine in March.  This led to weekly chats throughout most of the year with some of our favorite people working in music, pro wrestling, food, science, and more. After a couple months away, we check in (without a plan) for our own New Year's celebration chat. We start by deconstructing Unnecessary Conversations, @JordanBeatwell's absurdist weekly IG Live series. This leads to a broader conversation about the ways in which we are always trying to become more like ourselves. We explore earlier professional experiences in which we each felt like we had to dress a certain way, hide aspects of our personalities, or take someone else's advice, in our attempts to succeed. We ask about Matt's drum-off video production with his Jeep Trackhawk, and why it was fully embraced by Periphery. He also shares about the v-neck and baseball cap look that took on a life of its own. Justin has adapted to a new professional r

Caleb Shomo has spent his adult life on the road as a musician. Now he's stuck at home...being a musician. The Beartooth frontman joins Matt and Jordan from his home studio to chat about adapting this year, rediscovering his passion for music production, some philosophy on making the most of our time here, and much more, some of which is documented in the bullet points below! • Writing an album's worth of new music • What he learned from Slipknot • Caleb and Matt meeting on Warped Tour • Touring with Every Time I Die • Relationship building in the music business • The "presence" of golf • Thoughts on performing again • Difficulties adapting to the pandemic • Designing a long-term career in music • Moving to LA to work with John Feldmann • Creating culture on the road • "Picking people" in business • Learning to negotiate and sticking to his vision   You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our

Brandan Fokken is a man of integrity, vision, and values. He also eats more peanut butter than you. Brandan joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin from his Fokken Nuts office for an inspiring chat on the power of generosity. Brandan knows who he is and what he desires to be, and it's these traits that define his brand of peanut butter. He shares how this informs how the company expresses itself and interacts with others in the world. We cover a lot more, and some of the topics are listed next...WITH BULLET POINTSSSS: • Eating a jar of peanut butter a day • His humble beginnings and peanut butter origin story • The "first step" in launching Fokken Nuts • Your brand is more than your logo • Advice from a key mentor • Joy in giving gifts • Matt's suggested peanut butter flavor in development • The value in over-delivering • A Fokken offer for CC members in our Facebook Group   You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with

Neil Westfall keeps moving. Although much of his ADTR plans were put on hold, including a North American tour with Slipknot, he has quickly built a thriving, music-based Twitch community (and the computer to support it), and is close to launching a restaurant with his wife, Mary. Neil joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin from Orlando, Florida, in his beautifully lit and professionally shot studio. Get ready for the bullet points, baybeeee!!! • The importance and evolution of ADTR's live production • If the band is considering live concert streams • How the band strategically invested in themselves early on • Understanding the strengths of each member to make the whole stronger • The importance of community building on Twitch and for bands • Providing fans access and experiences he desired from his favorite musicians • His passion for building computers • Taking advantage of our time during the pandemic • Meeting his wife on tour with blink-182 • The process of opening a new vegan-based restaurant with hi

Brian Tsao is #NotYourTypicalChef. He's beaten Bobby Flay, built a music studio in his NYC home, and streams weekly on Twitch. Chef Brian joins Matt, Jordan, (and eventually) Justin in a fun chat that somehow devolves into THE GREAT CHEESE DEBATE! There's more too: • Creating the menu for his new sandwich shop  • The joy of cooking at home • His love for teaching others how to cook • How everyone can improve their home cooking • His FAVORITE meal to eat   Connect with Chef Brian: Twitch Facebook YouTube Twitter   You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creatives from around the world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chocolatecroissants/ or search "Chocolate Croissants" in Groups.   Instagram: @chocolatepod @mattperiphery @jordanbeatwell @justinblakegoodman @chefbriantsao   ChocolateCroissants.com

Plini joins Matt and Jordan from his home in Sydney, Australia. He leads a band in his namesake and is a REALLY GOOD guitar player and a NICE guy too! Watch out…a bullet point list is coming up: • Updates on the next Plini record • Stories of Plini and Periphery on tour • Albums vs Singles • Halloween in Australia • Haunted hayrides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania • Marketing new music in a global pandemic • Taking “play” seriously • Innovating as a professional creative • Coffee in Australia You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creatives from around the world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chocolatecroissants/ or search "Chocolate Croissants" in Groups. Instagram: @chocolatepod @mattperiphery @jordanbeatwell @justinblakegoodman @plini ChocolateCroissants.com

Jordan dates on FaceTime, Matt has gone all in on contrast therapy, and Justin built himself a sauna. What does it mean to "feel good" and how does this inform daily routines? Matt and Justin chat about ice baths and Jordan offers a theory on deprivation float tanks which seems to go nowhere so he pivots to riffing on VH1's Love and Hip Hop. Please be kind to yourself! You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creatives from around the world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chocolatecroissants/ or search "Chocolate Croissants" in Groups. Instagram: @chocolatecroissantspodcast @mattperiphery @jordanbeatwell @justinblakegoodman ChocolateCroissants.com

Chardelle Moore is a lightworker. She infuses light and spirit into every person or creative project she encounters. She shares her gifts as an artist, motivational speaker, and founder of the multimedia and communications company, Motivational Moore. Chardelle spent five years on air at FOX45 Baltimore, working in the same building that houses Ring of Honor Wrestling. In March 2019, Jordan was consulting a wrestler who was featured on the show Chardelle hosted and willed into existence, BMORE Lifestyle. Even though this podcast was on hiatus, Jordan knew Chardelle needed to be a guest. Chardelle joins Jordan and Justin from her home in Washington D.C. for perhaps our most lively and uplifting episode yet. They explore human potential from different perspectives, including its shadow side of fear. This is a conversation about personal power, freedom, expression, creativity, connection and so much more. Come ride Chardelle's wave with us. It's a testament to the miracle of simply being human. Motivational

Wai Ting is a professional, professional wrestling podcaster. Wai is the owner, operator, and host of Post Wrestling with his partner and friend, John Pollock. Jordan has been a listener and supporter of theirs for the better part of a decade. (He claims to have only strived for a leadership position at Ring of Honor Wrestling in hopes of one day being a guest on the Post Wrestling Christmas Show.) Jordan, Matt, and Justin dig into a wide-ranging chat with Wai from his home studio in Toronto, Ontario. Here are some of the topics they cover in a classic bullet point format: • His experience of being let go from The Fight Network and launching Post Wrestling • His process of choosing a university major and career path • Navigating important issues such as racism and sexual harassment within pro wrestling  • The foundations of transparency and community that helped build Post Wrestling • What it means to be a "risk taker" in career and life • Responding to criticism and trolling as a content creator •

Greg Kelley is the subject of Showtime's 5-part documentary "Outcry," owner and operator of Tomahawk Targets, and a world-class athlete and football player. Greg joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin from Texas for one of their most powerful conversations. This served as a reunion of sorts for Greg and Justin who first met at the Onnit Academy in Austin. Some of the topics the guys cover with Greg in this deeply personal and revealing chat include: • What it means to be the "hardest worker in the room" • How he maintained physical, mental, spiritual, and nutritional health in prison • Dealing with public perception • The necessity of discipline, motivation, and routine in accomplishing goals • Developing positive self talk • What helps him deal with anxiety • The evolution of faith and religion in his life • The origin and rapid growth of Tomahawk Targets   You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants   We want to connect with you! Join our

Mike Johnston revolutionized drum education. He leveraged technology and social media early, and became a world-renowned presence throughout the global drumming community. And to think, he almost pivoted away from drum education altogether just prior to the pandemic. Mike, perhaps to his surprise, shares this deeply personal story for the first time publicly with Matt and Jordan. He takes us through his thought process and what ultimately led him to becoming more energized than ever about serving his loyal drumming community. Mike and Matt discuss their Common Thread Clinic tour with previous CC guest, JP Bouvet. They share its origins, highlights from the road, and what it meant to "pull the rip cord." Jordan is curious about self awareness and acceptance as it relates to Mike's experience of himself as a drummer in the world. It's a spirited and fun chat that left all three more energized and inspired by the end. Join in and take some of that good energy for yourself! You can look at our faces while l

Lauren returns! Much has changed since she last chatted with us in November 2017. She moved to Boston. Her band, Sharptooth, played the final full US run of Warped Tour and traveled the world. And they have a new record out this week on Pure Noise Records! She joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin to chat about all of that and more. Although Matt and Lauren made eggs together on Warped Tour and grew up in a hyperlocal Baltimore County music community, this is their first official meeting. Jordan and Justin go way back with Lauren to the days in which she'd be the one starting non-generic mosh pits at their mid aughts shows. What else is covered? Great question! • what her transition is like physically and emotionally before and after sets • her feelings about being a representative for women in her music community • developing skills and career opportunities outside of music • what it's like releasing a new album during a global pandemic • what she wants people to take away most from the new record • Sharpto

No guest. No plan. The guys plug in and play. Matt, Jordan, and Justin have a 4pm, Sunday conversation. They chat about: • ice baths + saunas • the various roles of stress in life and how we can best relate to it • cultivating self awareness for what we need each day • the power of bands creating culture + community  • Jordan becoming ordained + officiating a quarantine wedding • Matt's first drum masterclass on Zoom • the significance of "Be Kind To Yourself" You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! https://www.youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creatives from around the world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chocolatecroissants/ or search "Chocolate Croissants" in Groups. Instagram: @chocolatecroissantspodcast @mattperiphery @jordanbeatwell @justinblakegoodman

Leah Elson is a star in every sense of the word. She walks her talk, and her talk is impressive and articulate. Leah joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a chat that spans peanut butter to biotech. Although she was achieving success in sports broadcasting, her dad's health issues inspired her to make a hard pivot toward studying science and medicine at Harvard. We explore more generally the process of changing our life trajectory and knowing when it's time.   She explains how education become her escape route as a kid and how that set her up for academic success long-term, which has included programs at Johns Hopkins and now USC. Leah also works full-time, creates compelling content, and is a competitive athlete. She walks us through her marathon-length days of school, work, training, and more...all while finding time to compete at the NBC Titan Games combine. What else can you look forward to in this chat: We ask if she knows what she'll win the Nobel Prize for. She takes us

Aaron "Bubble" Patrick understands the importance of cultivating intentional community. This is why he stepped up as tour manager in a previous band. Bubble joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin from Orlando, FL to tell the story of how tour managing put himself in a position to become the bassist of one of metal's most enduring bands, All That Remains. Bubble is an open book and shares some of the highs and lows on his adult journey. He recounts a tour accident in which the van and trailer flipped four times, and the panic attacks that came as a result. We explore the ways in which he navigated and overcame these events. We dig into his passion for fitness, the many responsibilities of a tour manager, relationship building with brands on social media, the connections between pro wrestling and music, and more. Bubble brings a warm, kinetic energy to the chat. Just the kind of dude that would welcome you to the tour bus party with a smile and a steak taco. You can look at our faces while listening to this convers

Educators! This is the episode for you. Chris Allison is perhaps best known for touring the world as drummer of Plini, but he's both a highly skilled student and educator. Chris brewed his morning coffee and joined Matt, Jordan, and Justin from his home in Sydney, Australia. The front half of this conversation explores philosophies and methods of music education. But like most concepts the guys explore, the lessons can be extended far beyond music. Chris also shares about the ways he learned to adapt in his transition from educator at home to performer traveling the globe. Some of these concepts have more recently been applied to adapting to life in quarantine. The guys also dig into active listening, communication in relationships, learning to cook, having a purpose to get up in the morning, "and more." Spoiler Alert: Chris is also awarded "Best Mustache." You can look at our faces while listening to this conversation! youtube.com/chocolatecroissants We want to connect with you! Join our private, support

Mike Silberman has an incredible family, home, hobbies, and mission-driven business. He's come a hell of a long way from heroin addiction and almost having his arm amputated. Mike joins Jordan, Justin, and Joe (congrats on that new house, Matt!) to share his inspiring story. Mike found success as a teen as frontman of VooDoo Blue, a band that would play shows with Matt's first band in Baltimore. He performed at both RFK Stadium and Lollapalooza. But he soon found himself kicked out of the band and in a South Florida rehab. Mike not only committed to his recovery, but successfully started and operated multiple businesses. He is currently COO of Amatus Recovery Centers which has a presence throughout the US. He shares with us his setbacks and lessons of learning business from scratch. We explore the role of identity in our lives and the ways in which Mike honors his role as husband, father, boss, and massive fan of pop culture and horror collectables. Mike was a legitimate hero to Jordan and Justin as kids.

Ronnie Young is used to being on the road, ensuring your favorite bands (Animals As Leaders, Plini, Periphery) sound good in the room. Now, like most of us, he's safely at home. But this hasn't stopped him from finding ways to be creative, productive, and social. Ronnie joins the entire CC crew from the UK and shares his process for finding success in the touring industry. We cover self awareness and the ability to "read the room" in different social situations, especially on tour with different bands. Ronnie has even helped Matt break out of his shell on tour and they share the details. The guys explore their evolving perspectives on remaining safe while engaging in public in May 2020, both in the UK and the US. Our audio experts (Ronnie and Joe) are asked, "What's your favorite sound?" There is a DEEP dive into brewing coffee at home. And toward the end the guys share one quarantine recommendation for everyone at home. We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creati

Donnie Wahlberg is on a mission to spread to love others. But he wisely understands that everything starts within.   He generously dives deep with Matt, Jordan, and Justin on the many ways in which he practices becoming more “awake,” or cultivating a present-moment awareness. He shares why he starts his day with gratitude, the importance of offering his full attention to whomever he’s with, imposter syndrome, his definition of and the ways he responds to his ego, the active work to deepen his marriage with Jenny McCarthy, the ways we unconsciously project our own shit onto others and his strategy for responding to this, and still...so much more.   It’s not too often we come across an A-list celebrity with the generosity, wisdom, humility, kindness, and enthusiasm that Donnie shares on this episode. We’re all better for these 75 minutes.     Referenced by Donnie in this episode: Eckhart Tolle Byron Katie (The Work) Louise Hay (You Can Heal Your Life)   "House Party" music video (proceeds benefit No Kid Hungry)

Mario met Matt at a Five Guys in Buffalo before a gig. He and his dog said hello. Now, Mario makes his podcast debut on Chocolate Croissants. Life is what you make of it, GUYS! Mario spent just about his entire adult life (20 years!) in the US Air Force. He's traveled the globe dismantling bombs and helping others heal. He's a true man of service. He joins Matt, Jordan, and Justin as they explore the experiences and lessons Mario earned on the field and in the pit. He shares about connecting with soldiers after war and connecting with his children over music. He's a special man and this is a special episode. We want to connect with you! Join our private, supportive Facebook group full of creatives from around the world: facebook.com/groups/chocolatecroissants or search "Chocolate Croissants" in Groups. Mario has been one of the more active and engaging members in there! Instagram: @chocolatecroissantspodcast @mattperiphery @jordanbeatwell @justinblakegoodman @sloprod49