Pretty Good Vibrations

Latest Episodes:

The Album Cycle: Emery Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I am back with another Album Cycle episode, focusing on the high's and low's of the three main phases of professional musician life: writing, recording, and performing or touring. Bassist Devin Shelton of the post-hardcore band Emery is my guest today.

"You have to write quicker, you have to record quicker, you have to get on the road and tour. It's like everything becomes a part of a cog in the wheel of this machine that you've created, and if you slow down, you're gonna get forgotten or get in trouble."

09:56 – Writing

24:00 – Recording

48:24 – Touring

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Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

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Underoath - "Young and Aspiring" (The Emo Diaries) Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

After a long absence, I finally edited the most recent recording of an Emo Diaries episode -- my apologies, especially to Thomas!

I'm joined by fellow therapist Thomas Cho for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's one of the all-time album openers in heavy music: "Young and Aspiring" by Florida Exvangelical poster boys Underoath.

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Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dashboard Confessional - "Hands Down" (The Emo Diaries) *Fixed* Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

An earlier version of this episode was edited very poorly (automatically -- it was my fault!), so please listen to this fixed version.

I'm joined by psychologist Daryl Van Tongeren for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's the white whale of 2000s emo: "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional.

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brand New - "Jesus Christ" (The Emo Diaries) Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I'm joined by best friend of the pod Jed Payne (Screamo & Post-Hardcore tournament episodes) for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Jesus Christ" by Brand New. Discussion of the song and band begins in earnest around 30:00.

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blink-182 - "Adam's Song" (The Emo Diaries) Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I'm joined by fellow therapist and buddy Chris White for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Adam's Song" by Blink-182 -- and yes, we know they are not an emo band. We unpack how humor, adolescent angst, and grief intersect in the band’s work, and how this anthemic ballad helped normalize talking about depression. Expect music nerd tangents, production breakdowns, and psychological insight into why dark lyrics can be healing.

[02:00] Why Chris Chose This Song
[06:30] From Dude Ranch to Enema of the State
[11:30] Blink’s Humor and Dual Voices
[21:00] Jerry Finn, Loss & Grief
[33:00] Listening & Emotions
[41:00] Dark Lyrics & Healing
[56:00] Production Nerd-Out & Wrap-Up

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foo Fighters - "Everlong" (The Emo Diaries) Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I'm joined by Sherwood's own Joe Greenetz for another Emo Diaries, a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Everlong" by Foo Fighters -- and yes, we know they are not an emo band.

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pedro the Lion - "Magazine" (The Emo Diaries) Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I'm joined by my friend Evan Rosa for an in-depth installment of The Emo Diaries (named after the legendary compilation series of the same name), a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "Magazine" by Pedro the Lion.

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Death Cab for Cutie - "The New Year" (The Emo Diaries) Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I'm joined by returning guest Lindsay Strannigan for our next installment of The Emo Diaries (named after the legendary compilation series of the same name), a segment-based show that gets in its feelings about one great emo song per episode. This week, it's "The New Year" by Death Cab for Cutie, from their album Transatlanticism. Join us as we travel back, quite specifically, to January 1st, 2003.

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: dankochwords.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Top 10 Relient K Songs Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

I am back making Pretty Good Vibrations episodes, including some new ongoing series like this one: a "B-side" episode of The Album Cycle. Joe Greenetz (Sherwood) and I discuss our time on the road with Relient K, their unique strengths as a band, and each of our Top 5 RK songs.

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Episode playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0LY3FCNjcEUg5eZ3jWdsL4?si=e6f885383d4444bc

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NEW SERIES: The Album Cycle w/Relient K's Jon Schneck Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

** Telehealth therapy with Dan in 43 US states: dankochclients (at) gmail.com **

The boys are back in town!

I am back making Pretty Good Vibrations episodes, including some new ongoing series like this one: The Album Cycle. These interview-based episodes will focus on the high's and low's of the three main phases of professional musician life: writing, recording, and performing or touring. This inaugural episode features Jon Schneck, guitarist for midwestern pop-punk-and-more legends Relient K.

“The most interesting thing about recording is just making something that will be around forever.”

04:16 – Domain 1: Performing & Touring

45:29 – Domain 2: Recording

56:24 – Domain 3: Writing

Jon on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonschneck

___________________________

Dan is accepting WA state therapy clients and coaching/consulting clients from everywhere: religiononthemind.com

Email Dan: prettygoodvibrationspodcast@gmail.com

IG: www.instagram.com/prettygoodvibespod/

Artwork: https://www.nickryanluevano.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices