Does anyone else feel like we've crashed a private conversation between two friends? Well done fellas!

Real people, free of ego having a conversation is enlightening and educational

The word that come to mind after watching this is “Heartwarming”. After seeing Mike and Neal working together quite a few times, you just know their relationship is a special one.

Could listen to you guys all week. Neal Morse seems like a great guy

That was funny, gentle, heart- warming and full of mutual respect. I loved the bit where Mike says that being around Neal and the other guys in the band somehow make him a better person.

Don't forget that Rush was putting out great Prog stuff up through Permanent Waves (which was released in 1980). In my opinion, Hemispheres (released in 1978) was their apex.

Mike you don't have a clue, how important you have been in all neals Projects, even thought you wouldnt 100% believe in those Things. Trust me, i'm Christian, and i cannot imagine anyone else "drumming" all those masterpieces. And thanks to you, a couple of years ago i discovered one of the greatest composers in our era. I cant thank you enough! Great job Guys, keep doing because youre doing IT right and its worth it. Greetings from Slovakia.

70's prog is just as much a "style" of music as 50's rockabilly or 60's surf music, and bands are still playing those genres of music today and no one accuses them of regressing or rehashing old ground, but that sometimes happens with modern prog, i.e. "you're not PROGRESSING"... I was ecstatic when I got on the internet in 1999 and found out that prog had had a rebirth. Some bands took the 70's template and expanded it (progressed, if you will) while others stuck with a retro sound paying homage to the originals... either way, I was thrilled to hear this STYLE of music again and I thank the guys in TRANSATLANTIC for being part of it!!!

Back in 2013 I joined my church band playing drums. I was a huge prog fan and was into Dream Theater, Transatlantic and other such bands. After a couple years of playing, the music I was playing felt stale to me. I really wanted to hear progressive Christian music. I looked it up on google and was surprised to find Neal Morse Testimony. I started to listen on KZfaq, and I was 99% sure that I was hearing Mike Portnoy on drums. When I found out for sure, I knew I found something special. That first Testimony album is very special to me.

I love these dudes. Just love em.

I'm watching this with my Christmas sweater and cup of coffee

This is so awesome! I love getting a look on their personalities away from music. You should have every member from The Neal Morse Band on eventually.

Love you guys. I Just wished it was 3 or more hours. I’ve followed Mike’s music since the early 90s. Now I’m following Neal also. I Love every minute of the podcast!! Thanks!!

Love you guys. Great listen

I love watching these and just pause and listen to the songs they talk about.

you thank god for having us, we thank god for having you. you're amazing musicians and you keep on touching my soul with every piece of music you write.

Neal seen you and Mike live a few years back great show. Everything you and Mike have been part of is great. You both have such deep and wonderful catalogs of music together and apart. Thank you both.

How could anyone fall asleep with Mike and Neal on stage?

I saw you guys on the Testimony 2 tour in Denver at the Soiled Dove Underground. My wife went with me. She's not a prog wife either! I think she fell asleep during the show. We had VIP tickets and met you guys backstage. Still one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you for the music and the memories, and stay safe!

"I Am Willing" from Testimony still makes the hairs on my arm stand up. Good chat! I also appreciated the conversation about how hard it is to get new music heard, as a one-man-band home-studio producer myself.

I hope they will continue doing these videos. ❤

Gents, true fans will always buy your albums, regardless of format, Vynil, CD or Lossless paid download. Big thanks for your high spirit and devotion! Waiting for new albums!

I simply love you with all my heart. Your music have been guiding me through all these years. Thanks so much!

They made a good point. When is the last time we saw a music genre explosion on a wide scale? Maybe the last was the early 90's with Nirvana and the other Seattle bands. Prog has always been there through the bad years of disco, girl bands, big hair, logger shirts and rap. Alot of it because of these two dudes. Thank you both for your years of devotion to music.

Two of my favorite musicians, but more importantly: two of my favorite people. Well done, guys! Love you and look forward to many live shows and new music ahead!

What a great musical partnership, thankful we all get to listen to your musical creations and now the great friendship. You both are very inspirational and great examples of what friendship and mutual respect is. Look forward to the next live event watching your magic!

A discussion between Mike and Neal is the greatest thing ever. Love you guys :)

Great stuff!

This is the best “interview” with Mike I’ve ever seen, Neal! Thank you! I needed this for reasons I can’t express. ♥️

Great to here you both talk and laugh! It was also good to listen to Mike talk about his spirit mind! We love you Mike, and are totally behind you...... we love you too Neal 😎

Great talk Neal & Mike. And for those who where wondering. That tour manager was not me! ;) I did The Whirlwind tour.

Simply awesome. I wish I had a friendship with someone like the one these guys have....so cool.

I'm mildly terrified at how a guy like Neal only has 18.5K subs. It really is a testament against the world and its lack of understanding and taste. Not sure if Neal will ever see this but I first found out about him through a friend that was into Spocks Beard. He had mistakenly got two copies of their last album 'Octane' and gave me one. I was into Dream Theater at the time so I decided to give it a go, the song 'There was a time' was and still is, a very special song to me. He also mentioned that the leader of the band had become a Christian (something I was struggling to do at the time) and was now making Christian prog rock, as he understood it. He mentioned that the music was awesome. Since then, I've amassed the entire catalog of material and some of these songs are some of my favorite songs I've ever heard while on earth. The musical skill never stops astounding me...but its the simple songs like Alleluia that really got to my soul and caused me to pray and seek GOD even more. Its working, BIG TIME. GOD promises that if you strive towards him, he'll come to you...he DOES! JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD to the GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER!!

A couple of weeks ago I had no idea there was a Neal Morse ...and just accidentally found your talk with Michael Omartian. Now I have delved into the richness of your work, and both impressed and touched by the excellence and depth of the whole thing...wow! And to top it off I found out about the Morsefest in London in january....and got tickets for my wife and myself :) And this talk is so close to heart....I am a contemporary to you guys, and have had a career in music for almost 37 years, and grew up with all the prog bands of the seventies. I feel like this is me and a couple of friends talking ...even the part of one being a christian and the other not, but still having this really close friendship and appreciation of each other. That is just as it should be...you love and value people, not their meanings or convictions ...and you wan't to embrace all of what they are because they are your friends. And Mike is such a gem ...so generous with himself and his playing. I saw him here in Copenhagen a couple of months ago with Winery Dogs...and he just brought a smile on my face! Such an amazing player...but so engaged and happy to be there...it was contagious. Also love his Beatles quizzes with you and his daughter...and that he is such a fan of all the other musicians. Just a volcano of a personality :) Anyway...just wanted to voice my appreciation, and looking forward to seeing the band in January. God bless!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the Morse and Portnoy families! Thank you for comfort, inspiration, motivation and being such a blessing to this old guy the past 5 years or so. You guys do make a difference in this world, one person at a time.

I don't know why I find these conversations so interesting. But I do.

I grew up with Genesis, Yes, Oldfield, but also with Spock's Beard and later Transatlantic, Dream Theater (and many more). So thank you for that! I really learned drumming with your music.

This stuff is precious and priceless. Loved every second. Would love if you would delve more into the costs of making a record. That part of the conversation when you and MIke discussed the costs of making Sola Gratia was so interesting and a part of the industry that most of us have no connection or understanding of. LOVE IT! Music people talking music for an hour?? SIGN ME UP!!

Great talk! It was so fascinating listening to the two of you talk, I loved it! Can’t wait for the next one 🙂 Happy new year, Neal and Mike!

“Surrendered” such a great and intriguing word!

So glad I carved out time to listen to this great conversation between two close friends.

When the Holy Spirit moves you CAN'T deny it. Thanks for this I really enjoyed it!

I love Mike's room, filled with all sorts of music related stuff!! thumbs up for Neal on doing this show

Simplemente hermosos! I love you guys!

Awesome podcast Both of you ! thank you!!!

Should totally call this podcast "On the Upbeat". Musicians being positive and sharing.

It's so amazing to listen to two great musicians, that are so renown, have such a typical conversation. If I ever ran into one of them, I'd probably wouldn't be able to keep a conversation like this with them. Neal and Mike, you guys are SO AMAZING!

so far this first episode has a perfect score of 0 dislikes!

Loved it! I am a bigger fan now after watching this. Please keep doing these. Honestly I could just watch Neal and Mike talk lol.

Modern day prog heroes and genuinely good people. Thanks to you guys for everything.

Thanks for letting me be a fly on the wall. Best wishes for 2021.

This was hilarious! Throughly enjoyed this. Can't wait for more episodes!

Soon: Neal Morse The Food Album, a Prog Odyssey...

I would absolutely love one of these with Al!

This was a great conversation. I have just watched the Bee Gees documentary. So, that has been on my mind. This series of subjects from food to music to faith and spirituality. I've often wondered about Mike's faith too considering how much he contributes to your music. Thanks Neal.

My husband and I are both prog heads. When we were in a prog band, the band leader booked a gig at a Mom and Pop coffee shop. Our band took up the left half of the coffee house. 20 minute songs for an hour and a half. The audience was used to singer songwriter 3 minute songs. They were she'll shocked with us lol.

Oh man I was at that London Astoria gig on the Testimony tour. Blown away.

Well, that was great! I would like to hear much more of you guys. It was so inspiring conversation. 🙏 Bless you guys.

Neal, you remind me so much of one of my best friends, in your demeanor, musicianship, and commitment to creating quality work. I've worked on projects with him where he hires string and horn players and our live concerts have been amazing. His ability to play pretty much any instrument as well as his ability to write and arrange is mind blowing. Singing with him has always been an amazing blessing. I'm sure the musicians working with you feel the same way. God bless you Neal, family and Friends. May 2021 be the best year ever for all of you

Loving the Haken T-shirt MP!

Awesome job! New follower and fan. I can say as a daughter of a professional studio musician, my more favorite memories were sitting quietly and listening to stories shared with other musician buddies. You all have captured the real ness, here. Well done, guys!

Great show! Really enjoyed this! Bring Pete Trewavas on sometime!

Mike's religion story matches mine to a T, must be something in the Long Island water.

These changes in music or literature you discuss are present elsewhere, too. In science we call it "paradigm shifts". It's usually not planned but just happens.

You tube sucks. Please put this on Apple podcast or Spotify. This was a great talk.

So AWESOME! I really enjoyed this!! Neal, please! We want more!

I have to agree with both Neal and Mike on recording at home. In general, production skills are dying out as the people that helped record the classic albums are getting old, but there is some pretty high quality stuff out there. It's easier than ever to record, edit, and produce yourself.

i love you guys! thanks a lot for that!

Really enjoyed that! Thanks guys!

Thanks a million for such a nice talk!

This is great - looking forward to more.

Interview ideas: Phil Keaggy, Steve Morse and Kerry Livgren. Rick Wakeman would be pretty darn cool too!

Love this concept! Can't wait to see more episodes!

Neal, we need more of these interviews! Great work both of you.

Enjoyed this conversation immensely!

Excellent podcast. Loved the laid back feel.

I loved this sooooo much!! I want a second part! :P

I've been through the entire (well, almost) Morse/Portnoy catalog these last weeks so this is a perfect follow up. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Neal Morse!!! 2021 is looking better already!!!!

This was amazing. God bless you both

They say that the best Prog came out from 1970-1974, but I would argue that the beat Prog came out from 1992-present day, in large part due to these two geniuses

Love this! Can’t wait to see who is next

Thanks for that, guys. Great fun.

This is wonderful. Do more of these please :)

Good conversation.

Brilliant Neal. Great job both of you, hoping to see many more.

Great stuff, Neal and Mike! You are two of my greatest influences, warm hugs from Bucharest! :)

Wow..love it..😍🤩😍🤩

This was great insight from both of you guys. Thank you for this! Looking forward to more.

Not able to tell how much I love these guys.

Looking forward to listening while I drive tomorrow!

Thanks for sharing this conversation. So good to learn a bit more about you both. Keep playing good things.

Awesome idea for a podcast !!!!

very good neal and mike from italy. your music is exciting

I was at the whirlwind tour in both Philly and New York. I think I had seats for the gramercy show. For the TLA show a group of us were on line in the front to get upstairs and get the balcony seats.

Cheers Neal, great Christmas gift. Met you at the little York (UK) gig you did, always in my memories. Merry Christmas

amazing work as usual! keep it up i take a lot of inspiration when i make my own podcasts

Hey, great podcast! Cool and relaxing energy through it all. Looking forward to the next one! :)

Love you guys😍❤️ thanks for the chat ! Love from Holland and can’t wait to see you again🙏😘

I think this was great! The respect and love that these two men have for each other is so evident here, in case you have missed it somewhere else. Great opening for the podcast series, and it’s going to be a hard one to follow, from the emotional aspect, that is.