Most people chase the spotlight. Michelle Delamor learned how to own it.

This week on Unglossy, we sit down with the former American Idol standout turned founder, studio executive, and creator of Amazon Prime’s 60 Day Hustle to unpack what really happens after the cameras stop rolling. From auditioning alongside 110,000 hopefuls to navigating the machine of the music industry, Michelle shares how she turned early exposure into long-term ownership—and why building your own platform is the real endgame.

We get into the psychology of reality TV, the business behind entertainment, and the hard pivot from artist to entrepreneur. Plus, she breaks down how 60 Day Hustle is flipping the script on competition shows—proving that real pressure, real stakes, and real growth don’t need to be manufactured.

Because in this game, talent gets you seen… but ownership changes everything.

Unglossy is produced by Merrick Studios and hosted by Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge and Tom Frank. Join the conversation on Instagram @UnglossyPod and get early access plus live events, additional content and more at Merrick Studios+

On this episode of Unglossy, we sit down with legendary producer Don Vito for a wide-ranging conversation about hustle, reinvention, and the long road behind the hits.

From growing up in Gary, Indiana, to serving in the Marine Corps, to finding his way into Atlanta’s exploding music scene, Don shares the unconventional path that led him to work with artists like Nelly, Ciara, Bow Wow, Cherish, and Kandi Burruss. Along the way, he breaks down the realities of the music business, the difference between making beats and making records, and why some artists reach the top while others sabotage their own success.

But Don’s story doesn’t stop with hit records. After navigating the highs and shifts of the music industry, he pivoted into podcasting, digital media, and content strategy, earning the nickname “The Podfather.” In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how creators can turn podcasts into real businesses—and why most people are approaching it the wrong way.

It’s a conversation full of industry war stories, hard lessons, and unexpected insights about building something that lasts in an industry that’s constantly changing.

If you care about music, media, entrepreneurship, or the future of podcasting, this is one you don’t want to miss.

Unglossy is a Merrick Studios podcast hosted by Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge and Tom Frank.

Where you’re from doesn’t just shape you — it frames how you understand power, loyalty, and loss. Bun B is Houston to the core. Jeffrey Sledge carries New York City wherever he goes. And for Tom Frank, everything starts in State College, Pennsylvania — a town where fall Saturdays felt sacred, Penn State football felt pure, and Happy Valley felt like a place untouched by the rest of the world. Today's guest, Jay Paterno, grew up at the center of that belief system. As a former Penn State assistant coach, trustee, writer, and the son of the late Joe Paterno, Jay lived inside one of the most revered cultures in college sports — and then watched it unravel in public. He speaks openly about legacy, leadership, media narratives, and what it costs to stand inside a storm you can’t control. Not from a distance, but from inside his own family. This isn’t just a backward-looking conversation. Jay takes the same clear-eyed approach to the modern game — NIL, the transfer portal, revenue sharing, gambling, donor influence — and explains why college athletics is no longer what it pretends to be. His new book - BLITZED! The All-Out Pressure of College Football's New Era - pulls back the curtain on a system stretched to its limits, where pressure, money, and identity collide every Saturday. This episode isn’t about defending the past. It’s about context, consequence, and where the game is headed.

"Unglossy" is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio and hosted by Bun B, Tom Frank and Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to hear this thought-provoking discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at https://wearemerrickstudios.com/unglossy-pod.

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