This week on the podcast, Travis talks with Kay Goutos, a stand-up comic from Glens Falls, about getting started in comedy, what it really feels like to bomb on stage, and the mindset it takes to keep going when things don’t land. They dig into confidence, self-doubt, and the uncomfortable moments that come with trying something new in front of people.

A candid conversation about creative risk, learning in public, and figuring it out as you go.

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

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