Breakfast with Vinnie! - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I like how you focus on the positive character qualities of individuals and how that transcends the music business or any other business we the listeners are engaged in. I love drumming, but the content of your podcast makes me want to be the best fruit cutter at Publix Supermarkets that I can be while being disciplined at practicing my snare drum at home. Thank you for sharing your experiences as a top notch drummer and the interactions with those in the music industry, and connecting the dots for us.

This podcast is what a podcast can ideally be: a host talking about whatever he wants to talk about, because he’s earned the right to do so. When he sticks to music, in particular drumming, and things related either directly or indirectly to the music business, “Breakfast With Vinnie” is a very insightful listen. Some episodes, in particular the shorter ones which are essentially thought-pieces or topical essays, can be astoundingly insightful, if not touching. His tribute to Chick Corea stands out in that way. It’s worth listening to more than once.

When Vinnie and his guests veer into politics, philosophy and social issues, however, it’s anybody’s guess what’s about to happen. At times it can get a bit awkward, if not cringeworthy, in its simplicity and naïveté. This can happen, for example, when subjects like the US Constitution come up (no, it’s not the best thing out there, and its inherent 18th-century flaws are one of the reasons why the American political system, and American society more generally, are now ungovernable and the US is quickly reaching a pre-revolutionary state of disorder and disintegration).

The recent interview with David Wolfe is an example of this freewheeling format veering off the road and dangerously close to a ditch. There was exactly zero self-interrogation or questioning of what Wolfe thinks about the way the world works, neither by himself nor Vinnie. While Wolfe obviously knows a lot about health and nutrition, he started to sound like Bill Maher after a few joints and a shot of vinegar when he left his wheelhouse. Vinnie’s relatable, small-town Pennsylvania-boy style usually keeps him from becoming overbearing or straying too far, but that’s also likely what keeps him from challenging people who occasionally spout obvious nonsense.

Maybe Vinnie should do a little exploring by finding a political scientist, sociologist, or historian who also plays the drums so they can mix it up a little bit with more valuable insights on things not related to music and drumming, while letting Vinnie shine while talking about what he knows best. Then get back to the podcast’s sweet-spot by talking about music and the musician’s life with people like John McLaughlin and Gary Chafee…

Real talk about life, music, art. The Terrace Martin interview is a beautiful piece about our “love range”, unity, hope and kindness through this art from we love. Check that out. Next level stuff.

I found out about Vinnie’s podcast just a few days ago and I couldn’t stop playing the episodes back to back. I’ll be revisiting these often to ponder on the many, many important subjects Vinnie presents. It’s no wonder why this man can express himself so beautifully on a musical level when you can clearly hear how, in a similar way, he can express his thoughts through this podcast. Go Vinnie!!!