Vessel | Festivyl Unfiltered

Vessel | Festivyl Unfiltered

Beyoncé shut down Coachella. Jay-Z dropped a verse that nobody talked about. And somehow, that's how Festivyl was born. Episode 10 is here, and we are NOT holding back. Zach breaks down the Beychella origin story (yes, there was a last-minute Uber and a Geico commercial involved). Then the guys go deep on Burning Man: the naked sauna, the basketball court in the middle of the playa, and why this "music festival" is actually something way bigger. Then, Zach performs and breaks down Vessel — his most personal record — bar by bar. What do Jay-Z's forgotten verse on Power, Pharrell's philosophy on ideas, and Lauryn Hill's warning about humiliation all have in common? This episode. Plus, we're reading TikTok comments, including the one with 1,374 likes. It's season 1 finale time. We go out swinging and preview what's ahead. Stream Vessel + all our music on Spotify & Apple Music — search Festivyl Follow along: @Festivyl on TikTok, IG & YouTube

Best Bro | Festivyl Unfiltered

In this episode of Festivyl Unfiltered, Zach and Bryce sit down to talk about sports, identity, and the story behind the song “Best Bro.” Zach shares what it was like navigating college as a closeted athlete—balancing team culture, locker room expectations, and the constant fear of being found out. From awkward encounters with girls in college to secret online conversations just to feel understood, he opens up about the emotional weight of hiding a major part of himself. Bryce reflects on growing up hyper-competitive, winning championships, and eventually making a professional soccer team in Seattle, while also dealing with team politics and pressure to perform. Together, they unpack how sports shape identity, why teamwork requires learning to check your ego, and how the Festivyl motto “Sometimes you, sometimes me, always we” became the foundation of both their friendship and their creative partnership. And of course,  a competitive beer pong showdown to determine who’s really the athlete of the duo. The conversation ends with the story behind “Best Bro,” a song about loyalty, gratitude, and recognizing the people who support you when you're chasing something bigger than yourself. 🎧 Listen to Festivyl on Spotify & Apple Music 📲 Follow @Festivyl on YouTube, Instagram & TikTok

Hoop, Yoga, Flow | Festivyl Unfiltered

In this episode of Festivyl Unfiltered, Zach and Bryce sit on the ground—literally—to talk about the story behind the song “Hoop, Yoga, Flow.” Zach shares a pivotal moment in New York: bombing a performance, running out of money, and sleeping under the Brooklyn Bridge. From that low point, yoga became the practice that helped him rebuild focus, discipline, and creative momentum. They break down how yoga helped manage ADHD, anxiety, and physical pain, why getting into your body is the fastest way out of your head, and how combining basketball, yoga, and solitude led to the flow state that inspired the song. Zach walks through the lyrics of Flow, explains why learning to be alone was essential to growth, and reflects on the teachers who shaped his journey—ending with a reminder that still guides everything: Ain’t no elevatin’ if ya hatin’. If you’re an artist, athlete, or anyone trying to move forward when things feel stuck, this episode is for you.  Listen to Festivyl on Spotify & Apple Music  Follow @Festivyl on YouTube, Instagram & TikTok

Free Spirit | Festivyl Unfiltered

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. Please take care of yourself and skip ahead if needed. In this deeply personal episode of Festivyl Unfiltered, Zach shares the story behind his song “Free Spirit”—and the experiences that shaped it. From growing up closeted in the church, questioning faith, and surviving a suicide attempt at a young age, to redefining spirituality, healing through music, and reclaiming joy, this conversation explores what it really means to feel free in your body, spirit, and identity. Zach and Bryce unpack inherited fear, religious trauma, self-love after heartbreak, creative rebirth, and the power of alignment. They also discuss how pain can become a portal, why spirituality doesn’t require a middleman, and how community, music, and play can help rebuild what was broken. This episode covers: * Mental health, suicide survival, and healing * Sexuality, faith, and redefining spirituality * “Free Spirit” and the meaning behind the lyrics * Pain as a portal to growth * Letting go of fear, shame, and external expectations * Building safe, joyful, creative community If you’ve ever felt disconnected from faith, trapped by expectation, or like something about you was “wrong”—this episode is for you. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Change | Festivyl Unfiltered

Change is the only constant—but how you respond to it defines everything. In this episode of Festivyl Unfiltered, Zach and Bryce break down the story and meaning behind Zach’s song “Change” and use it as a springboard to talk about evolution, creativity, mindset, and personal growth. From spiritual awakenings and learning to be alone, to reprogramming habits, embracing technology (including AI), and letting go of what no longer serves you, this conversation explores what it really means to keep moving forward when life shifts—financially, emotionally, and creatively. This episode covers: * Why resistance to change is a losing battle * How creativity becomes a tool for healing and clarity * Using meditation, affirmations, and intention to reshape mindset * AI, evolution, and why fear holds people back * Redefining success as movement, not numbers If you’re navigating transition, questioning your direction, or trying to evolve without losing yourself, this episode will resonate.