Episode 8 – To Infinity and Beyond

By /

To Infinity and Beyond

Layer By Layer GO! – Episode 8
📅 Released: July 27, 2025
🎙️ Host: Don
🎧 Listen now on:
Buzzsprout | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

⭐ Listen on Your Favorite Platform

This one’s for the reinventors. The ones who’ve crashed, burned, and come back swinging. Episode 8 takes the phrase “To Infinity and Beyond” and spins it into a life framework — featuring the outlaw anthem The Highwayman, a next-level brunch recipe, and a 12-point bonus plan to get your music heard. Let’s go.

🕐 Timestamps

  • 00:00 – Intro: Why we’re stealing back Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase
  • 01:55 – Song Spotlight: The Highwayman & the infinity mindset
  • 04:34 – Jimmy Webb: The genius behind the verses
  • 05:34 – A Lesson on Infinity: You are the next verse
  • 06:38 – ✍️ Flip-It Drill: Rewrite your regret, reclaim your future
  • 09:48 – Real Example: Aaron and the tour that never was
  • 11:46 – 🥣 Recipe: Eggs Benedict Florentine (with the double boiler tip!)
  • 13:57 – (Quick Egg Hack: Test your eggs for freshness)
  • 17:22 – Growth on a muffin: Reflections from the kitchen
  • 18:41 – 🎧 Music Marketing Pt. 3: Visibility without selling out
  • 21:43 – 💡 This week’s journal prompt
  • 22:33 – 🎯 BONUS: 12 things you can do today to get your music heard
  • 28:35 – Closing + Episode 9 teaser: Songs Don’t Die

🍳 Recipe: Eggs Benedict Florentine

Eggs Benedict Florentine

Poached eggs, buttery hollandaise, sautéed spinach, and a seared slice of Canadian bacon — stacked on a toasted English muffin. Brunch victory, achieved.

📝 Ingredients:

  • 2 English muffins, split and toasted
  • 4 fresh eggs
  • 4 slices Canadian bacon or ham
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: pinch of nutmeg

🍋 Hollandaise Sauce:

  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter
  • Salt
  • Dash of cayenne or paprika

👨‍🍳 Instructions:

  1. Wilt the Spinach: Sauté spinach in olive oil or butter until just wilted. Season lightly.
  2. Sear the Bacon: Warm Canadian bacon slices in a skillet until edges are browned.
  3. Toast the Muffins: Toast until golden and crisp.
  4. Make the Hollandaise: Use a double boiler. Whisk egg yolks and lemon juice until thickened over gentle heat. Slowly drizzle in melted butter while whisking. Season to taste.
  5. Poach the Eggs: Add vinegar to simmering water. Crack eggs into small bowls, lower gently. Cook 3–4 minutes. Or use this handy egg poacher insert for perfect results.
  6. Stack It: Muffin, spinach, bacon, egg, hollandaise. Garnish with cracked pepper, chives, or edible flowers if you’re feeling fancy.

🥚 Quick Egg Freshness Tip:

Drop an egg in cold water:

  • Sinks and lays flat = super fresh
  • Sinks but stands upright = usable
  • Floats = toss it

💡 This Week’s Journal Prompt

If someone discovers me today, what’s the one thing I want them to know right away?

🎯 BONUS: 12 Things You Can Do Today to Get Your Music Heard

  • 🎧 Create a clean link page (ToneDen, Hypeddit, Linktree)
  • 📲 Text one fellow artist your latest song
  • 🖼️ Post a behind-the-song story instead of just “New track out now”
  • 💌 Start a 3-name contact list (DJs, podcasters, mic hosts)
  • 🎯 Upload one track to a licensing site like Pond5 or AudioJungle
  • 📸 Record a 15-sec selfie clip and post it
  • 🔗 Embed your best track on your website (2 clicks max)
  • 💿 Give a track away for free — podcast, film, credit it
  • 🧠 Be human in a forum before sharing links
  • 📝 Pitch a niche podcast, newsletter, or blog
  • 🖨️ Print a QR code and slap it on something people see
  • 🥁 Host a “Coffee & Tracks” mini livestream

🎵 Featured Song

The Highwayman – The Highwaymen (YouTube)

🧰 Tools & Resources from This Episode

👉 Be sure to visit the full Tools page for all our favorite kitchen and creator gear.

☕ Support the Show

If you loved this episode and want to fuel the next one, you can Buy Me a Coffee — and unlock some exclusive thank-you gifts while you’re at it:

  • 💿 $25+: Free CD – A World Of Our Own
  • 📘 $50+: CD + signed companion journal
  • 🎥 $100+: All of the above + a personal thank-you video

🔮 Coming Up Next – Episode 9

Songs Don’t Die
We dive into the true story behind Don’s original track “I Found Your 45s” — a tribute to family, memory, and the magic of music that lasts. Paired with “Vincent” by Don McLean. This one’s gonna land in your chest.

Scroll to Top