Monday Morning Podcast – Episode Summary:
Episode: Dave Elitch | Thursday Afternoon Monday Morning Podcast 10-9-25
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Bill Burr (All Things Comedy)
Guest: Dave Elitch (drummer & drum educator)
Main Topics: Drumming technique, longevity as a musician, health and body mechanics, sports, relationships, addiction, and sports gambling
Tone: Candid, humorous, riff-heavy, and full of strong opinions and friendly ball-busting
Episode Overview
This episode features Bill Burr hosting drummer and educator Dave Elitch. They dig into drum technique, physical health for musicians, growing out of imitation as a musician, and the realities of learning from the internet versus real instruction. The conversation meanders through cigars, addiction, body health, favorite gear, the Illuminati, sports, and betting, with distinctive comedic tangents involving podcast regulars Paul Versey, Mike, and Jake the Snake. Second half covers sports recaps, relationship advice, and classic Burr-style rants.
Key Discussion Points
1. Drumming, Health & Technique
[00:20–14:37]
- Dave Elitch's Instructional Videos:
- “Getting Out of Your Own Way,” “Staying Out of Your Own Way,” and most recently “Your Mind’s Ear.”
- Burr describes them as authentic and useful for drummers at any level, praising Elitch for teaching efficiency without erasing individuality:
"You don't change what the person plays. You just make what the person plays easier and more efficient." — Bill Burr [02:03]
- Videos ensure consistent information versus YouTube’s “convoluted garbage.” [03:55]
- Physical Longevity as a Player:
- Discussion of health issues from bad drumming/gym technique (sciatica, rotator cuff) and lack of stretching.
- Emphasis on gains in Burr’s endurance and decreased injury thanks to Elitch’s methods.
- Elitch’s approach: integrate healthy use of the body and self-care for a sustainable career.
"You're teaching them how to have a long career..." — Bill Burr [06:36]
- Tuning & Drum Gear:
- Elitch breaks down his course, which starts with identifying what sounds you love, then covers tuning (by feel, not just pattern), and finally gear anatomy.
"There's a bunch of amazing drummers who don't know anything about gear... but it really helps when you know a little bit." — Dave Elitch [14:04]
- Burr shares analogies from home repair to car maintenance, emphasizing practical knowledge.
- Elitch breaks down his course, which starts with identifying what sounds you love, then covers tuning (by feel, not just pattern), and finally gear anatomy.
2. Music, Growth & Finding Your Voice as a Player
[22:00–26:52]
- Anecdotes about trying to emulate John Bonham, owning his drum setup, and ultimately realizing the importance of developing your own musical voice:
"If Bonham was still alive... he would be like, 'All right, mate', and slowly back down like, this dude is a psycho." — Bill Burr [23:13]
- Elitch encourages breaking away from hero worship to find your own sound.
- Kit and cymbal choices are personal; musicians should move beyond solely copying their idols.
3. Addiction, Vices & Living Healthier
[07:30–09:56; 26:52–44:48]
- Burr and Elitch riff on cigars, day-drinking, and the “addiction spectrum.”
- Burr celebrates his liver’s recovery, jokingly compares alone cigars to drinking alone:
“Once you cross into the alone cigar, which is amazing…” — Bill Burr [08:22]
- Burr celebrates his liver’s recovery, jokingly compares alone cigars to drinking alone:
- Both men reflect humorously on the struggle with sugar and food discipline.
“Fat shaming really gets a bad rap... it gets results.” — Bill Burr [42:17]
- Choosing raw cashews or frozen blueberries over sweets proves how tough, and dull, recovery choices can sound.
4. Bodywork, Mobility & Drummers’ Health
[37:02–41:18]
- Both discuss importance of stretching, mobility, and ergonomic posture for drummers — and office workers.
“You can apply all the same... So many people are collapsed into themselves. They have sciatica... understanding how to expand your body up and out...” — Dave Elitch [38:13]
- Stories about stretching routines, hip flexors, and mimicking their late masseuse Diana’s advice about expansion versus collapse.
5. Espresso & Gear Chat
[33:16–36:00]
- The guys geek out over high-end espresso machines and grinders.
- Burr reveals his coffee snobbery:
“I'm such a snob now that when I use other people's espresso machines and when they go to like, you know, stain the milk... like, what the f*** is this?” — Bill Burr [34:43]
- Elitch compares upgrading coffee equipment to working your way up in drums.
6. Classic Burr Rants, Illuminati & Sports Talk
[31:54–33:05; sporadically throughout]
- Brief Illuminati jokes; story about high-end booze and caviar as metaphors for over-the-top gluttony.
- Burr and regulars shift into sports talk:
- Gators/LSU football recap, stadium anecdotes, and musings on sports fans’ behavior [55:06+].
- Relationship debates — “Do you believe in destiny?” — and Burr’s skepticism [72:36+].
- Extended riffing on aging, physical decline, nostalgia for old venues and teams.
- Notable:
“This podcast is stupid s*** that doesn’t matter. And then listen to me…” — Bill Burr [57:21]
- Illuminati:
“You know, like these Illuminati guys just have like chalices of this.” — Bill Burr [32:13]
7. Relationship & Life Advice (Advice Mailbag)
[86:03–116:03]
- Burr reads and riffs on listener questions about:
- A young man's mom's boyfriend almost moving in – Burr imparts the importance of not cutting out family, learning forgiveness, and using life’s trauma as motivation.
- Living with a sister post-family tragedy, while a girlfriend pushes for cohabitation; Burr weighs both sides with trademark empathy and raunchy humor.
"She's not wrong for being mad at me. And I'm also not wrong for taking care of my sister..." — Bill Burr [95:44]
- Marriage dilemmas, careers across continents, communication, and how to process major life decisions.
- Classic banter with Nia about relationships, the Coast Guard, and “cops of the water.”
"Aren't they like the cops of the water? …Can they arrest you, the Coast Guard?" — Nia [143:11]
8. Sports Betting Segment (“Anything Better” Podcast Crossover)
[118:22–163:28]
- Paul Versey, Jake the Snake, Bill Burr, and guests make their NFL picks (week 6).
- Joking analysis of winning/losing streaks.
- Conspiratorial takes on game balls, officials, and changing dynamics in football (longer kicks, betting lines).
- Banter about diehard sports fans and the psychology of fandom, featuring a Nick Turturro Yankees anecdote.
“He delivers a pizza to you, and I literally said... I am actually concerned about your health.” — Bill Burr [157:41]
- Old-school sports nostalgia: talk of jerseys, stadiums, and guttural sports heartbreak.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On individualized drum technique:
"What I've always told people is... you don't change what the person plays. You just make what the person plays easier and more efficient." — Bill Burr [02:03]
-
On the dangers of self-taught macho attitude:
"There was a thing when I was coming up—I'm like 'Self-taught, man... I play from here.'” — Bill Burr [02:00]
-
On body mechanics for longevity:
"You're teaching somebody how to have a long career..." — Bill Burr [06:36]
-
On YouTube music education:
"There's no rules of libel or slander...anybody can essentially do a TED Talk." — Bill Burr [03:58]
-
On the addiction spectrum:
"I am on the addiction spectrum." — Bill Burr [27:02]
-
On health choices:
“Fat shaming... gets results.” — Bill Burr [42:17]
-
Cigar & booze excess:
“Some guy... I order that [caviar] shit lining. It comes to me in a bucket. I eat it with a giant spoon watching TV.” — Bill Burr [32:13]
-
On copying your heroes:
“You would never do that type of thing with comedy, right?... So, after we had that thing, I was like, let’s do that with drumming.” — Dave Elitch [25:25]
Top Timestamps (Sample)
- Drum technique and online learning: [01:03–04:16]
- Physical health in drumming/longevity: [05:52–07:08]
- Drum tuning & gear: [11:03–14:41]
- Personalizing your drum kit, not copying heroes: [23:01–26:02]
- Addiction, vices, body health: [07:30–09:56]
- Coffee snobbery: [33:16–36:00]
- Bodywork/mobility for non-musicians: [38:13–41:18]
- Advice mailbag & relationship problems: [86:03–116:03]
- Sports betting & fan talk: [118:22–163:28]
Final Thoughts
This episode perfectly encapsulates the Monday Morning Podcast’s multifaceted charm: expert insights (via Dave Elitch’s drumming wisdom), poignant but deeply funny looks at health, aging, and self-improvement, relationship rants, and sports fanaticism. Burr’s honesty, willingness to skewer himself, and blend of practical and emotional advice make for a ride that’s both hilarious and unexpectedly heartening.
If you’re a drummer, a sports nut, or just like listening to unfiltered, self-aware comedy, this is a packed episode—not to mention a showcase of how drumming technique can spark conversations about, well, everything.
Your mind's ear available at DaveElitch.com.