On this episode, we’re diving into what it really takes to build something from the ground up—creatively, consistently, and without a roadmap.

Joining me is my good friend Mike McGinnis, a veteran of the South Jersey and Philly hardcore scene. Mike is the founder of Knife Hits Records and Heavy Claw Shipping, two self-made businesses rooted in the same DIY mentality that shaped him through years in the punk and hardcore scenes.

Mike’s one of those people who just does the thing, and this convo pulls back the curtain on what it actually looks like to be your own boss, navigate self-doubt, make messy progress, and build something sustainable while staying true to who you are.

He also shares how perfectionism might be the reason you’re stuck, and why just talking about your big idea isn’t the same as actually doing the damn thing. We also talk about the power of taking breaks, what to do when self-doubt creeps in, and how beating a rented video game in 36 hours (yes, really) might have been early training for the kind of grit it takes to run a business.

Follow Mike and check out his work:

• knifehitsrecords.com
• heavyclaw.com
• Rid of Me on Spotify
• Fight Amp on Spotify

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT:

• The origin stories behind Knife Hits Records & Heavy Claw Shipping
• Owning your self-doubt without letting it run the show
• How urgency culture and outside pressure can sabotage your decision-making
• The power of small steps
• How music + DIY ethics shaped his work ethic
• Practical ways to reset your brain when you’re stuck
• Why talking about ideas can be a sneaky trap

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• Chrissy Duffin
• Sean Downing

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