This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @TheDisco_Nect (@DJWS, @PartyWithStrategy_, and @CautionItsHeavy) to share their journey and vision for disco’s revival. At (02:34), White Shadow recalls meeting Strategy and Heavy during a Will Ferrell event that bonded them through disco, leading to their takeover of @CelesteChicago. By (10:57), Crooked introduces the idea of the “working class DJ,” sparking candid talk about burnout, money struggles, and questioning whether DJing was worth it. The crew reflects on DJs struggling to see themselves as artists (11:20), the evolution of Chicago’s house scene, and how nightlife has shifted from ticket sales to social media clout. At (23:50), they debate whether open format is oversaturated, with White Shadow emphasizing musical identity and Crooked calling it “the most selfless job.” Strategy shares his moves between Chicago and Houston (32:30) before the trio break down curating disco nights, creating edits, and fully committing to Disco-Nect with four weekly residencies at Celeste (40:01). By (54:01), White Shadow explains why he asked his partners to quit other gigs, outlining the crew’s roles (1:06:10) and how Strategy has never been happier DJing (1:08:15). The episode closes with a discussion on staying relevant across genres (1:09:13) and a critique of bookers’ misplaced priorities (1:28:01), reinforcing Disco-Nect’s belief that the DJ remains the centerpiece of nightlife.

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Related Post: R.O.A.D. Podcast – SIDEPIECE: 6 Years Strong & Sober

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew chops it up with Grammy-nominated duo Sidepiece (@partyfavor + @nitti). At 01:51, they share how they came together, the story behind their name, and their dynamic in the studio. The duo gets candid about testing tracks in the club (17:20), early support from @Diplo, and Nitti’s production work on 200 MPH by @BadBunnyPr (36:01). They reminisce on the Mad Decent era, and break down releasing hits like Cash Out, A Milli, and On My Mind while resisting industry trends (41:01). At 49:10, they discuss re-igniting tech house, facing criticism for sampling, and the challenges of pushing original music in a short-attention-span culture. The fellas reflect on evolving their sound (56:35), Dylan’s late start in production, and Ricky’s roots in Haiti (59:01). They close by revealing why holding back unreleased bootlegs, like their sought-after Cry For You edit, keeps their live sets unique (1:17:14).

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Related Post: R.O.A.D. Podcast – THE BEAT JUNKIES: Why DJs Need a Retirement Plan

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DjMeloD, @DJDStyles, and @DJ4Real24 to talk about their careers, @theBeatJunkies, and their Cali pizza spot @MadeFromSkratchPizza. They kick things off with Melo-D gives flowers to @DJAngieVee’s “Yer Not Down,” and D-Styles celebrates the iconic “Low End Theory” party that helped launch artists like @FlyingLotus, @Tokimonsta, and @Daedelus (03:55). The crew also reflects on how today’s DJ competitions differ from the Beat Junkies era (18:45). Jaime introduces the Beat Junkies Institute of Sound as “the Avengers teaching you how to be superheroes,” while the fellas joke about bad DJ habits, online instruction, and even a ROAD discount code. D-Styles on “Phantasmagoria” (20:01) and Suneel sharing how he first met the Junkies (39:45). The junkies revisit how the pizza concept was born at Icon LA, tracing its roots to the legendary “Red Cup Sundays” (40:20). By (44:55), the fellas dive into how the idea took shape: three years of persistence, unexpected obstacles like finding an old gun in the concrete, and the vision of turning it into a retirement plan for DJs (1:01:01). They break down the musically inspired menu, the goal of franchising (1:13:10), and the hurdles of navigating city rules (26:01). The conversation then shifts to DJ culture: Suneel shares how he built the sound at Made From Skratch (1:18:45).

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Related Post: R.O.A.D. Podcast – DON DIABLO: The Visionary of Future House on Imposter Syndrome & Humanizing A.I.

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with future house pioneer @DonDiablo for a deep and personal conversation. At 01:55, Don talks about running on little sleep before his Pier 19 show and why NYC remains his biggest market. By 06:55, he explains why he avoids repeating sets, preferring Tomorrowland’s smaller, darker stages over the main stage. At 12:20, Don reflects on his teenage years in the Dutch scene, from being taken advantage of as a young producer to being labeled a “weirdo” by peers. He admits that sometimes he hates being Don Diablo, finding true acceptance only through his fans. At 18:10, he recalls his production roots and the joy of creating purely for fun. By 24:55, the tone shifts as Don shares a powerful story about his father’s illness, the lessons from their final conversations, and how this shaped his outlook on time, purpose, and music. He recalls writing songs like “The Artist Inside” as a tribute to his father, and performing it at his funeral, the most difficult moment of his career. At 37:55, Don speaks on the therapeutic nature of songwriting, before offering his perspective on AI at 44:01, viewing it not as a threat, but as a tool to make creativity even more human. Closing out at 1:01:44, Don dives into his Hexagon label, the video for “Anytime”, and the contracts he gave artists. At 1:05:01, he shouts out @BeatsourceOfficial, and at 1:18:45, leaves us with a quote to remember: “The devil works hard, but the DJ works harder.”

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Related Post: R.O.A.D. Podcast – DJ TRAUMA: From ATL to Dave Chappelle, Navigating the Celebrity DJ Scene

This week on @RoadPodcast, the crew sits down with @DJTrauma to reflect on his journey from New York to Atlanta and beyond. At (00:55), Trauma recalls growing up in Manhattan and how his DJ name came from a friend’s little brother. By (04:30), he’s reminiscing about partying in the Meatpacking District and what it meant to be “outside.” He explains what it means to be a “vibe DJ” (07:15). He compares the craft of DJing to stand-up comedy (10:35). Trauma then shares how a free event unexpectedly led him to working with @DaveChappelle (12:52), and a relationship that grew into legendary gigs like First Avenue in Minneapolis and Radio City Music Hall in NYC (15:56). The conversation dives into Trauma’s reputation as “Chappelle’s DJ” (30:01), @PhifeForever performing at his 21st birthday, and the rise of Atlanta’s unified scene with @Outkast, @GoodieMob, and @JermaineDupri (34:40). He speaks on the epic Freaknik parties (45:55), the power of ATL DJs (1:03:40), and throwing LA house parties where @mr_Camron once performed in his living room (1:20:20). Trauma also reflects on early trips to Africa, how Chappelle’s Retreat and Summer Camp shaped his career (1:35:01), and why soulful events like Soul in the Horn keep him grounded in the music that matters.

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Related Post: R.O.A.D. Podcast – WALSHY FIRE: On Major Lazor, Black Chiney, & ‘The Art Of Dancehall’