Jazz drummer Otis Brown III joins me to break down the iconic “Not My Tempo” scene from Whiplash, and he doesn’t hold back. From questioning the film’s extreme portrayal of music education to sharing why real drummers laughed at scenes meant to shock, Otis brings a rare mix of honesty, humor, and insider knowledge. He calls out the unrealistic sync between sound and drumming and shares what Whiplash gets wrong (and right) about musical intensity and abuse. We also dive into the psychology of pressure, the myth of suffering for greatness, and whether a Fletcher-type teacher could exist in real music schools. Guest bio: Otis Brown is a Grammy-nominated jazz drummer, composer, and recording artist who is a go-to session and touring sideman. He's studied under jazz icon Donald Byrd and trained at The New School. He’s performed with Joe Lovano, Esperanza Spalding, and Gerald Clayton. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz Drum Set at Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. SUPPORT THE ZACH SHOW BY SUBSCRIBING TO THE ZACH SHOW 2.0 (BONUS EPISODES & EXCLUSIVE CONTENT): OTIS BROWN LINKS: Website: Instagram: The Thought Of You (Spotify): Twitter: THE ZACH SHOW LINKS: Instagram: YouTube: Newsletter: TikTok: @auxoropod To support the show, please leave a review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. This nudges the algorithm to show The Zach Show to more new listeners and is the best way to help the show grow. Thank you for your support: Review us on Apple Podcasts: Review us on Spotify: #whiplash #film #drummer