Their Own Drum

# 13 - Their Own Drum x Alyx Effron (Compulsive Collecting and Spending)

In this episode, Alyx Effron, Founder of Collectors MD, shares his own lived experience with the collecting world, breaks down why these environments can be so uniquely difficult to recognize as harmful, and explains how Collectors MD is working to fill a gap in the recovery space that has existed for far too long. They cover the psychology behind box breaks and why they sit somewhere between collecting and gambling, how technology has removed the friction that once kept impulsive spending in check, the role of algorithms in shaping, and sometimes distorting collector behavior, and what guardrails actually look like for people navigating these spaces. Whether you collect, love someone who does, or work in recovery, this one is worth your time. Find more about Collectors MD at collectorsmd.com and check out their National Call to Action petition under News and Announcements. Collectors MD [https://collectorsmd.com/]

# 12 - Their Own Drum x Sean O'Keefe

I had the honor of sitting down with music producer Sean O'Keefe. The first place I ever saw Sean's name was written next to the words "produced by" on my favorite album of all time, Fall Out Boy's 2003 debut record, Take This to Your Grave. Sean played a vital role in not only that record, but an incredible amount of music that changed people's lives, including my own. It was surreal getting to have this conversation. Sean is a brilliant creative mind and one of the kindest souls you'll ever meet. I can't wait for you all to hear this one.

# 11 - Their Own Drum x David Koechner

I had the honor and privilege of sitting down with the beautiful and brilliant David Koechner. We talked about growing up in the small town of Tipton, Missouri, the years he spent getting his comedy and acting reps right here in Chicago, how a combination of his upbringing and early political aspirations shaped a lifelong, deeply socially conscious worldview,  and so much more. I am so excited for you all to hear this one. David is performing at the Den Theatre in Chicago May 22nd & 23rd. Get your tickets TODAY! Tickets → dentheater.com Tour info → david-koechner.com/tour Also — David’s is making music you need to hear. Find him → instagram.com/sargento_official

# 10 - Their Own Drum x Dr. Robin Gurwitch: On Crisis Intervention

Dr. Robin Gurwitch was a young psychologist in Oklahoma City on April 19th, 1995. Less than a mile from the Murrah Federal Building, she felt the blast, and within hours was on the ground helping families navigate something nobody had a playbook for. That day set the course for the next thirty years of her career. A Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Duke University, Dr. Gurwitch has spent three decades responding to mass violence, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism around the world, and has become one of the leading voices in disaster mental health and trauma care for children. In this conversation she talks about what we've learned since Oklahoma City, how children process collective trauma differently than adults, why talking to your kids about scary events is always better than silence, and the free community training  she's bringing to cities across the country. It's a heavy topic delivered with remarkable warmth.

# 9 - Their Own Drum x Kyle Cubr (Music Box Theatre)

On Episode 9 of Their Own Drum, I sat down with Kyle Cubr, the Senior Operations Director at The Music Box Theatre.  Kyle Cubr has worked at Chicago's beloved Music Box Theatre for over a decade, climbing from front of house to Senior Operations Manager. But before any of that, he was a kid from Brighton, Michigan who saw Jurassic Park at age three and never forgot it.  In this episode, Kyle talks about choosing his neighborhood based on proximity to a movie theater, the wildly unexpected detour touring Europe with Rodriguez, and what it felt like to finally program the Godzilla festival he'd been pitching for six years. Plus: the state of independent cinema, the Music Box's exciting expansion, and why Gen-Z might just save the moviegoing experience.