Headliner Mindset – Details, episodes & analysis

After 2.5 years and 106 episodes of the Headliner Podcast, we are officially complete!

Thank you SO MUCH to all of the guests that took time out of their lives to share their energy, inspiration and wisdom with us. And thank you to all of YOU for listening, sharing and supporting over the years.

My heart is FILLED with gratitude as I wrap up this Hero's Journey and move on to the next chapter and adventure. Wishing you all the best as you continue to create, express, share and grow :)

-Nik

In this episode of the Headliner Mindset Podcast, Rave Jesus joins the show for an expansive, honest conversation about faith, creativity, and the deeper spiritual current running through dance music culture.

The discussion traces Rave Jesus’ journey from touring internationally and releasing music on major labels to following an unexpected calling that reshaped both his career and identity. Rather than stepping away from rave culture, the conversation explores how electronic music, community, and worship intersect — and why those worlds aren’t as separate as they’re often made out to be.

Topics include:

• The spiritual hunger behind rave culture and dance music
• Creativity as a form of listening, intuition, and surrender
• Letting go of control, ego, and industry expectations
• Faith, worship, and authenticity in electronic music
• Why silence, stillness, and trust are essential for creative flow

The episode also dives into the realities of success, burnout, and reinvention — and how following a deeper calling can lead to a more aligned and sustainable creative life.

Nostalgix is the definition of a multi-talented artist—producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and performer—and she’s here to share the REAL story behind her rise.

We dive deep into:

• How she went from bedroom DJ to touring globally (without even planning on becoming an artist)
• The mindset shifts that took her from just having fun to fully committing to her craft
• Why burning out every week was part of the process—and how she finally learned to manage it
• Her journey to finding community, mentorship and her team
• The truth about building your own universe as an artist
• How her fans helped support through her darkest times

Whether you’re just starting out or already on tour, this one is packed with gems about grinding, leveling up, and staying connected to your WHY.

Tune in for a powerful reminder: You can do anything you set your mind to—but you can’t skip the steps.

Follow Nostalgix here:
https://www.instagram.com/nostalgixmusic

Follow Nik Cherwink here:
https://www.instagram.com/nikcherwink

And visit my site to join the mailing list or book a free coaching call:
https://www.nikcherwink.com

Chis White is the co-founder of The Cult Creatives, a branding and marketing agency that helps artists establish their identity and make their mark in the music industry by cutting through the noise with incredible brands and campaigns. He was an artist, DJ and event promoter for many years, running one of LA's most successful weekly parties (Control) for over a decade where he was the first to book dozens of artists who are household names today.

For more information on The Cult Creatives:
https://thecultcreatives.com

And visit my website for more artist resources:
https://www.nikcherwink.com

Fredy Lane is one of the fastest rising stars in the tech house scene. In less than one year of launching her artist project, she has already played massive festivals like EDC and Beyond Wonderland and some of the biggest nightclubs in Southern California. In this episode we talk about how she bet on herself, put in the work and has driven her career forward so quickly.

Follow her here:
www.instagram.com/iamfredylane
www.twitter.com/iamfredylane
www.tiktok.com/@fredylane

And visit my website for more artist resources:
www.nikcherwink.com 

HVDES is a powerhouse producer, singer, songwriter and DJ who is bridging the worlds of electronic and rock music and playing huge shows all over the country. Fresh off her first appearance at EDC, she talks about her journey through sobriety, staying healthy and getting back in touch with her early musical influences.

Follow her here:
www.instagram.com/_hvdes_
www.tiktok.com/@hvdesmusic
www.twitter.com/hvdesmusic

And visit my site for more artist resources:
www.nikcherwink.com

Henry Fong is a household name in the dance music community. He has been in the scene since 2009 when he started throwing his own parties as a DJ in college. Since then he has gone on to tour the world multiple times, collaborate with some of the biggest artists in EDM and release on massive labels. In this episode he shares a wealth of knowledge about how to navigate the business, become a headliner and stay in the game for the long run.

Follow him here:
www.instagram.com/djhenryfong
www.twitter.com/henryfong
www.soundcloud.com/HENRYFONG

And visit my site for more artist resources:
www.nikcherwink.com

Bryce Smith is a CrossFit coach at one of the best gyms in the world, CrossFit Invictus. He runs the Invictus Mindset podcast and regularly interviews some of the most successful athletes, coaches and business owners in the fitness space. As a former professional athlete and powerful storyteller, he shares a wealth of wisdom and perspective around high performance, creativity and how to live your best life.

Follow him here:
www.instagram.com/therealbrycesmith

Check out the "Invictus Mindset" podcast on all platforms:
www.youtube.com/@InvictusFitness_

And visit my site for more artist resources:
www.nikcherwink.com

Sippy is an internationally touring DJ and music producer from Australia who is playing some of the biggest shows, collaborating with some the biggest artists and releasing on some the biggest labels in the bass music scene. We talked about her move to America, what it took to become a full-time artist and the challenges she's faced along the way.

Follow her here:
www.instagram.com/sippyau
www.twitter.com/sippyau
www.tiktok.com/@sippyau

And visit my site for more artist resources:
www.nikcherwink.com

In a music industry that never stops moving, how do you stay grounded, intentional, and actually enjoy the journey?

This week I’m joined by Dr. Sunni, a licensed psychologist and coach for DJs and creatives, whose work sits at the intersection of mental health and the electronic music industry. We dive into the deep end of artist mindset — from burnout and comparison to self-worth, imposter syndrome, and the hustle culture that keeps so many artists stuck.

We get into:

• How to stay connected to your purpose when social media takes over
• The trap of chasing external validation (and how to break free from it)
• The common challenge of imposter syndrome 
• Simple tools to rewire your brain and create lasting mindset shifts
• Why mindfulness is the antidote to burnout — and how to actually practice it

Whether you’re trying to grow your brand, build momentum, or just keep your sanity intact, this one’s full of grounded wisdom and real talk.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and share it with a friend who needs it.

Follow Dr. Sunni here:
https://www.instagram.com/shaping_success

Follow Nik Cherwink here:
https://www.instagram.com/nikcherwink

And visit my site to join the mailing list or book a free coaching call:
https://www.nikcherwink.com