Today’s episode is a bit of a full-circle moment for me, because my guest is Dave Varriale — the host of I’d Hit That Podcast… one of the reasons this show exists.

Back in the day, Dave and his guests on Id Hit That were my companions on every drive to and from gigs — and it was the DIY magic of it: the handheld Zoom recorder, the in-person, unprepared hangs, and yeah… the legendary 2005 Ford Escape mobile recording unit.

But here’s the twist: this time, we’re flipping the mic. Dave’s been the guy asking the questions for years… and now it’s my turn to throw them at Dave.

We get into his story: New York, Spain, LA, and now Austin, Texas — where he says he “was thinking about escaping Shawshank, LA,” and the music took him toward real Texas blues and the shuffle.

And of course, because it’s Dave… we also get into the stuff nobody says out loud — why “most guys… play it safe,” why the best stories come out when “the recorder stops recording,” and why he still believes audio-only is its own artform.

This conversation was recorded 16th January 2026. Stevie in Sydney - Dave in Austin, Texas.

More info on Dave and I'd Hit That podcast, check out I'd Hit That on YouTube and Instagram, and book a haircut and shave with Dave at Cedar Park Barber Shop

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The Gig Life Podcast

My guest today is guitarist Adam Miller — one of Australia’s most quietly brilliant musicians.

We talk about seeing the guitar like a piano, opening for Tommy Emmanuel as a teenager, touring the US as a fully self-managed artist, capturing music live in the room and much much more.

Plus, we dive into his new album Timing and the Neumann Sessions, recorded at the Foo Fighters’ Studio 606.

This conversation was recorded 14th Decemember 2025.

More info and music, check out Adam's website, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube channel.

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The Gig Life Podcast

My guest today is Michael Paynter — Singer, songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist with a voice you’ve heard everywhere, even if you didn’t know it.

From touring with Jimmy Barnes, ICEHOUSE, and The Veronicas, to that viral Jesus Christ Superstar performance that blew everyone away.

We talk about the long game of music — session life, solo careers, theatre, and what it really takes to stay consistent over the decades.

For more on Michael, check out his website michaelpaynter.com

This conversation was recorded 19th Decemember 2025.

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The Gig Life Podcast