Don’t Be a Critic, Be a Curator | Dave Nadig on Finding What Moves You

28/10/2025 47 min

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Zeigler welcomes back Dave Nadig for a conversation about music discovery, community, and the art of curation. The two explore how radio, mixtapes, blogs, and the internet have shaped the way we find and share music across generations. From college radio stations to TikTok, from Dr. Demento to The Cramps revival, they discuss how music connects people, defines eras of life, and captures fleeting cultural moments. This episode is a nostalgic yet forward-looking exploration of how community forms around sound, and how documenting what we love keeps the signal alive.Main topics covered:Radio as a community builder and discovery engineThe evolution of music discovery from cassettes to streamingCollege radio, mixtapes, and the importance of shared curationNostalgia, generational shifts, and the persistence of new musicMusic blogging, Substack, and finding filters in a world of abundanceTemporary communities formed around concerts and festivalsThe art of documenting musical eras through playlistsWhy music remains one of the strongest cultural anchors in the age of AITimestamps:00:00 Introduction and setup04:58 Dave’s return to ETF.com and community building06:47 The Laurie Kaye and Kevin Alexander radio clip09:46 Dave’s early radio memories and Dr. Demento nostalgia13:05 Cassette trading, hot takes, and early musical opinions15:00 College radio and discovering community through sound17:44 From radio to live shows and finding local scenes20:00 Early internet and the dawn of digital music discovery22:00 Record store culture and physical community24:00 Music as a personal act versus a shared experience27:00 Curiosity for new music and why discovery never ends29:00 TikTok, subcultures, and modern discovery engines31:00 Communities, fandoms, and cultural tentpoles34:00 Playlists as time capsules and memory markers37:00 Pandemic music and anchoring moments in time39:00 Temporary communities and the concert experience43:00 Finding meaning through curation and connection46:00 Closing thoughts, shoutouts, and where to find Dave

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