The Max Ross Podcast

#20 - Kale Platt - Growth, Creativity & Love

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Kale Platt—someone I’ve known since our days growing up at Kula Elementary. We take a trip back through some of our childhood memories and reflect on how those early years shaped who we are today. We get into our creative paths—his journey with hip hop music and mine with art—and what’s kept us both committed to sticking with our passions over time. Kale shares insight into his mindset, including his phrase, “I’m grateful. I’m happy to be here. It’s a beautiful day,” which really speaks to how he approaches life and creativity. We also talk about his latest album, FIRE HORSE, which just dropped on Spotify. I’ve had it on repeat, and it was dope getting to hear more about the process behind it. Overall, this was a real, full-circle conversation about growth, creativity, and continuing to show up for what you love.

#19 - Brooks Maguire - Music, Faith & Service

In this episode, I sit down with my good friend Brooks — a musician originally from Texas, now living in Maui, Hawai’i — who has been a strong part of my journey through nearly seven years of sobriety. Brooks shares his story growing up, the path and persistence it took to become a full-time musician, and a powerful near-death experience that changed everything. We dive into faith, trusting a higher power, and what it really means to put in the work while surrendering control. This one is about resilience, purpose, and staying grounded through it all.

#18 - Miles Lilledahl & Galen Goode - Life, Gratitude & Progress

In this episode, Miles, Galen, and I got in a weekend bros barbecue sesh to hang out and chill. We talk about our careers, passions, sobriety, and much more. We also got to listen to a new song that Miles and our friend Thomas put together recently. This was also a one-year anniversary for the creation of this podcast and my first recording in about five months. Feels good to be back, reminding myself to trust the process and search for gratitude.

#17 - Dylan Lopez - Rhythm, Recovery & Trust

In this episode, I sit down with Los Angeles-based drummer Dylan Lopez, whose story is a mix of rhythm, resilience, and redemption. Dylan opens up about overcoming addiction, balancing his music career with a demanding work schedule, and maintaining deep connections with his friends—especially his brother-like bond with Memo. His honesty and self-awareness reveal the daily grind behind chasing passion while staying grounded in recovery. What started as a simple interview turned into one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve had. Recorded inside a creative studio on the edge of Skid Row, this episode dives into gratitude, purpose, and the power of faith—reminding me that growth doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built one beat, one breath, and one step at a time.

#16 - Kyler "Ube" & Francisco "Chamoy" - Reconnection, Memories & Growth

In this episode, I had the chance to sit down with two of my former students from six years ago, Kyler “Ube” and Francisco “Chamoy.” Back then, I was just a long-term substitute teacher still figuring out if I even had what it took to be in the classroom full-time. We clicked right away though, and reconnecting with them now in front of microphones felt surreal. We talked about how much we’ve all changed, the lessons we’ve picked up along the way, and the impact we’ve had on one another. This episode is full of laughs, honesty, and reflection. It brought back memories of those early teaching days, reminded me why I keep doing this work, and gave me motivation to push forward with my dreams. Out of all the conversations I’ve recorded so far, this one stands out as a favorite — a reminder that growth is real and that sometimes the best help you get really does come from helping others.