What does it look like to trade the spotlight for a calling?

In Episode 7, Gary Barss and Todd Sherman welcome Doug Early — Presbyterian minister, author, and poet — to the Reverb Podcast. Doug was headed for an acting career before a single audition weekend changed everything. What followed was a year in China, two years in a small California town called Weed, and nearly three decades leading a tight-knit congregation on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle.

In this conversation, Doug opens up about:

• Leaving behind dreams of acting to pursue a life of faith and service
• How loneliness has become a modern epidemic — and what the church is doing about it
• The surprising ways pastors are just as human as everyone else
• What 30 years of walking alongside people through births, deaths, and everything
• in between teaches you about what truly matters
• His definition of success — and why it has nothing to do with money
• Why he'd choose Vincent Van Gogh as his dream dinner companion

This is a conversation about reinvention, resilience, community, and living with intention.

If you've ever wrestled with purpose, belonging, or what it means to lead a life well-lived — this episode is for you.

Reverb Podcast drops new episodes twice a month. Subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find conversations like this one.

Episode 6: From Howard Stern's Studio to Wall Street — with Mitch Slater

What do you get when you combine a college radio intern, Howard Stern's first morning at DC 101, a stint producing for Larry King, 312 Bruce Springsteen concerts, and a career pivot into wealth management? You get Mitch Slater — and one of the most entertaining conversations we've ever had on Reverb.

In this episode, Gary and Todd sit down with Mitch to trace a journey that defies every conventional career script. Mitch didn't take a business class in college. He had the lowest math SAT scores in New Jersey history (his words). But he had something Larry King told him was worth more than any degree: the ability to communicate, handle rejection, and truly listen.

What we cover:

• The morning Howard Stern walked into DC 101 — and why Mitch was the only one there
• What it was like to produce Larry King's late-night radio show at 21
• The lesson that shaped Mitch's entire career: "You never learn anything with your mouth open"
• 312 Springsteen concerts, and what a true passion looks like
• The unexpected connection between entertainment skills and financial advising
• Advice for college graduates and career changers: don't worry about your 20s

Guest: Mitch Slater

Hosts: Gary Barss & Todd Sherman

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Subscribe so you never miss a new episode of Reverb. You may also visit our website at www.reverbpodcast.net

Episode 5: We talk with mental performance coach David Elaimy about what it really takes to perform at a high level in sports, business, and life.

David has worked with elite athletes, surgeons, executives, and entrepreneurs, helping them identify and eliminate the mental “interference” that holds them back.

His approach goes beyond traditional coaching by focusing on awareness, presence, and aligning actions with a clear personal vision.

This conversation explores:

• The mental side of performance and why it matters more than mechanics
• How “interference” impacts results and consistency
• The role of awareness in unlocking peak performance
• Lessons from coaching high-level athletes and professionals
• Why success is more about how you live than what you achieve

Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone looking to improve your mindset, this episode offers practical insights to help you perform better and live more intentionally.

Key Topics Discussed:

Mental performance vs. physical mechanics

Identifying and eliminating “interference”

Building awareness and presence

Consistency and high-level performance

Insights from elite coaching experiences

Redefining success and intentional living

Guest: David Elaimy

Hosts: Gary Barss & Todd Sherman

Follow us:

▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/f27gp4_LqiE

📸 Instagram: @podcast.reverb

🎵 TikTok: @reverb.podcast

👍 Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3n8tvnrz

Subscribe so you never miss a new episode of Reverb. You may also visit our website at www.reverbpodcast.net