In this episode, I take you back to the summer of 1996, when I was just a 14-year-old skater in Monterey, dreaming of bigger things. One fateful encounter with two guys in their twenties would change everything and introduce me to the world of music that I now live and breathe. Among them was Gabe, a guitarist who ignited a fire within me the moment he picked up his Ibanez and started shredding.

That night, Gabe played me Joe Satriani’s G3: Live in Concert—a moment that set me on a path I never could have imagined. Satriani’s music resonated with me on a deep, personal level, and from that moment, I knew I wanted to play guitar and follow in his footsteps. What followed was a journey of obsession, practice, and growth as I worked tirelessly to master the instrument and bring my dreams to life.

But the road wasn’t always smooth. I faced challenges, grew up in a difficult home, and eventually came to realize that my path wouldn’t lead me to rock stardom as I had originally envisioned. However, my love for music never wavered. Instead, it led me to a fulfilling career in music production, and eventually, to a reunion with Joe Satriani—a moment that only deepened my admiration for him and his music.

Join me as I share the story of how a simple encounter with a guitarist on a summer day changed my life and led me down a path I never could have expected. This episode is a reminder that dreams evolve, and success isn’t always what we expect—it’s what we make of it.

If you’re someone who feels like your dreams have taken a different direction, don’t be discouraged. Keep playing, keep creating, and always believe in the music that’s inside you.