Heartdea13r w/ chr1stoph3r g0nda
V13 Media Group
For 20+ years, Christopher Gonda has been building platforms that celebrate music, culture & storytelling. Through V13 Media Group, he aims to amplify unique voices, bridging the underground and the iconic. The heartdea13r Podcast is his way of gathering and sharing knowledge from some of the brightest minds and most passionate voices across the entertainment industry. It’s a space for conversations about artistry, mental health, entrepreneurship, and everything that fuels a life driven by creativity, passion, and balance—love & logic.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 2, 2026 • 55min
Brian McShea on Good Terms, Teamwork, Vulnerability, Resilience & Rebuilding After Burnout // #058
Brian McShea, lead vocalist and guitarist of Good Terms, shares tales from touring, songwriting inspired by personal relationships, and the grind of wearing many hats in music. He talks about building a supportive team, recovering from burnout and a life-changing house fire, quitting cannabis for his voice, and daily habits that keep creativity and resilience alive.
Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 16min
Garnet Willis on Generative Chaos, Instrument Design, Creative Flow & the Science of Sound // #057
Garnet Willis, artist, designer and instrument builder known for experimental electroacoustic work. He discusses hands-on tinkering, systems thinking, and seeking surprises in materials. He talks about generative chaos, unpredictable instrument design like Clusterflex, and balancing planning with openness. Conversations touch on collaboration, flow states, and learning through playful failure.
Feb 23, 2026 • 1h 3min
Ryan Roxie on Alice Cooper, His 3 Ps, Enjoying the Ride & Rock Star Longevity // #056
Ryan Roxie, solo artist and longtime Alice Cooper guitarist, shares stories from touring, songwriting and his System 12 'three Ps' mantra (practice, persistence, patience). He talks about band cohesion, the new Cooper/Criss Angel show, balancing family with life on the road, staying grounded for rock longevity, and why enjoying the ride matters.
Feb 21, 2026 • 54min
Dave Bidini on The Rheostatics, Gord Downie, The Great Lakes Suite & Independent Media // #055
Dave Bidini, musician, writer and publisher known for The Rheostatics and The Great Lakes Suite. He discusses balancing parenthood with creative life. He recalls early punk-scene journalism, the improvisational making of The Great Lakes Suite, launching a community newspaper, and the recurring water imagery that ties his work together.
13 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 57min
Miist on Cancer Survival, Motherhood, Mental Health, Ikigai, Forgiveness & Meaningful Music // #054
Conversation covers surviving cancer and the medical choices that saved a life. They touch on motherhood, homeschooling, and how parenting exposes old wounds. Music and podcasting are framed as tools for healing and connection. Topics include ikigai, forgiveness, cultural empathy, and simple acts like smiling to rebuild kindness.
11 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 46min
Bruce McCulloch: “I care way more about the world than what the world thinks of me.”
Bruce McCulloch, writer, actor, comedian and musician from The Kids in the Hall, reflects on punk roots and the power of live performance. He talks about finding confidence through improv, using humour to face loss, and creating compassionate shows that connect people. Conversations touch on gratitude, resilience, and keeping creative rituals alive.
13 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 1h 3min
Steven Blush: “Living on your own terms is the ultimate freedom.”
Steven Blush, author and cultural historian who chronicled punk and hardcore, reflects on discovering punk in England and building a life around music and writing. He recounts D.C. hardcore, his trilogy on genre crossovers, lifelong bonds in the scene, and balancing fatherhood with a career rooted in authenticity and passion.
21 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 1h 20min
Keith Dion on Jimi Hendrix, Royalties, Artist Rights, Contracts & Music Industry Corruption // #051
Keith Dion, singer-songwriter, producer and Jimi Hendrix historian who co-owns the estates of Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, discusses royalty fights and artist rights. He recounts Hendrix stories, corruption in the music business, historical vs. digital royalty tracking, legal battles to recover performers’ payments, and how AI and metadata could change fairness for legacy musicians.
21 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 55min
Jake Gold: “I don’t live my life with a rear view mirror.”
Jake Gold, veteran Canadian artist manager who guided acts like The Tragically Hip, shares stories from decades in music. He talks about taking risks early, using new tech for promotion, and why resilience and integrity matter. He explains roster strategy, spotting live charisma, when to move on, and the long game of relationship-building in the industry.
11 snips
Jan 15, 2026 • 1h 5min
Brett Boland (Astronoid): “Authenticity needs to be number one.”
Brett Boland, musician and founder of Astronoid who balances broadcast engineering with leading the band. He talks about the band’s organic beginnings, sci‑fi influences and lyrical themes, the importance of authenticity in creating music, coping with family illness while writing Star God, and how touring with Blink-182 validated their path.
