My Weekly Mixtape

This week, we’re turning the headlights on & exploring 10 songs that provide the perfect soundtrack for a late night drive by yourself. Because let’s be honest: road trips in the sunlight and road trips under the glow of streetlights are two completely different experiences. One’s about destinations. The other’s about the space between them. Especially when it’s just you and the music.
There’s something about driving at night that makes everything feel a little more cinematic — fewer cars, quieter thoughts, and songs that seem to hit harder when the rest of the world is asleep. These are tracks built for empty highways, dashboard lights, and moments where you don’t necessarily need to get anywhere fast… you just need to keep moving.
This playlist leans into mood over momentum — songs that breathe, linger, and let your mind wander somewhere beyond the windshield.
To add another layer to the episode, I pull a complete 180 and create a daytime alternative mix, featuring different songs from the same 10 artists — a sun-soaked playlist designed for a completely different musical atmosphere!
Thanks to Patreon Mixtaper Sean Goff for sending in this week’s playlist concept.

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This week, we’re rewinding to one of the most charming quirks of the ‘90s CD era: the hidden track. You know… those sneaky gems buried after minutes of silence, tucked into track 99, or disguised so well you didn’t even know they existed until someone finally tipped you off.
I’m diving into the stories behind these secret songs, what made them so appealing, and the unforgettable moments that made discovering a bonus track feel like you’d unlocked a musical cheat code. Join me as we celebrate the lost art of the hidden track — one skip (or search) button press at a time!
P.S. You might want to listen carefully to this one.

🎙️ LEARN MORE
🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠
💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):⁠ https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠
🌐 Connect on Social:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠
📧 Email the Show / Contact:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠

Trying to figure out the right songs to send your crush without making things weird? This week, I’m building a not-at-all-awkward soft-launching playlist — the kind of mix that lets you test the waters, drop a hint, but keep everything fun, flirty, and totally low-pressure.
These are the songs that say “I kinda like you” without turning it into a grand gesture. No heavy power ballads. No dramatic declarations. Just genuine tracks with the right vibe — warm, charming, and subtle enough to send with confidence.
I'll dig into why certain songs land better than others, how the right track can quietly move a connection forward, and what actually makes a crush playlist work. So if you’re looking for the perfect “hey, I’m into you” starter kit as we roll toward Valentine’s Day… let this episode be your guide.
Thanks to Mixtaper Bryan Rosenberg for sending in this topic!

🎙️ LEARN MORE
🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠
💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):⁠ https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠
🌐 Connect on Social:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠
📧 Email the Show / Contact:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠

This week, on the heels of HBO Max’s Music Box: Happy and You Know It, I’m throwing things back to a Tunestiles interview featuring children’s music icon Laurie Berkner, whose “Rocketship Run” to the top of the kindie scene helped redefine what music for kids could sound like.
From her early days growing up in Princeton, New Jersey — surrounded by the same fertile musical ground that produced Trey Anastasio of Phish, John Popper of Blues Traveler, and Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors — Laurie’s path has always been rooted in creativity, curiosity, and connection.
We dig into the moment the world discovered her on Nick Jr.’s Jack’s Big Music Show, and how that beloved presence ignited a new generation of fans. Laurie talks candidly about how streaming and digital music reshaped kindie music, shifting the way artists release and connect with families, and what that means for sustaining a career in today’s industry. She shares how she tailors song subjects, pacing, and physical movement cues to meet kids exactly where they are — cognitively, emotionally, and physically — and why writing music that children genuinely resonate with requires honesty, imagination, and zero condescension.
Laurie opens up about the stories behind classics like “We Are The Dinosaurs” and “Victor Vito,” as well as a few of her personal favorites, revealing the small real-life sparks that turned into songs sung in classrooms, living rooms, and minivans around the world.
We also explore the music and lyrics she’s written for her three Off-Broadway children’s musicals, and the voice she’s continued to develop through projects like Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen on Audible and her work on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live.
Whether you grew up with her music, play it for your own kids, or you’re just fascinated by the evolution of independent artistry and the kindie genre, this conversation is a deep-dive into the craft, impact, and legacy of one of children’s music’s most influential voices — and the songs that helped shape countless childhoods.

🎙️ LEARN MORE
🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠
💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):⁠ https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠
🌐 Connect on Social:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠
📧 Email the Show / Contact:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠

Step back into the decade that made rhythm a lifestyle. From freestyle and new wave to early hip-hop and pop perfection, this episode explores 20 songs that defined the pulse of ’80s dance music — the beats that moved clubs, crossed genres, and still make us move today.

🎙️ LEARN MORE
🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com⁠
💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (Patreon):⁠ https://patreon.com/myweeklymixtape⁠
🌐 Connect on Social:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/social-media⁠
📧 Email the Show / Contact:⁠ https://myweeklymixtape.com/contact⁠