 |
The Worship Drummer Podcast - Putting The #HeartBeforeBeatAuthor: Jon Manna
Hosted by Jon Manna, the Worship Drummer Podcast is dedicated to introducing you to influential Christian drummers and drum companies who are striving to perfect their craft while still putting the heart before beat! Language: en-us Genres: Christianity, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Phil Wickham’s Drummer for 20 Years: Joel Plotnik on Consistency, Career Pivots, and Coding | Episode 054
Friday, 13 February, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with Joel Plotnik, the longtime drummer for Phil Wickham. Joel shares his incredible journey from the early days of youth group to playing on the biggest worship stages in the world. We dive deep into the realities of being a "hired gun" in Los Angeles, why he decided to pursue a career in software engineering while still touring, and how to maintain a heart of humility when the spotlight is on you.🕒 TIMESTAMPS02:15 – The 20-Year Journey: How Joel got started with Phil Wickham (and the brother-in-law connection).12:40 – The LA "Hired Gun" Life: Touring with secular acts, the Disney gig, and facing industry burnout.24:55 – The Great Pivot: Why Joel went back to school for 5 years to become a Software Engineer.36:20 – Musical Influences: Why worship drummers need to listen to music outside of the church.45:10 – Staying Grounded: Navigating ego, humility, and the importance of the local church volunteer.💡 KEY TAKEAWAYSExcellence is a Tool: Joel explains how technical preparation allows you to be spiritually "present" during a set.Diverse Listening: To find your "voice" as a drummer, Joel recommends studying players like John Bonham and bands like Death Cab for Cutie.Sustainability: How to balance a 9-to-5 corporate career with a high-level touring schedule.The Local Church: Encouragement for the volunteer drummer—your role is just as vital as those on the big stage.🔵 FREE DRUM LESSONS WITH DRUMEO FOR 30 DAYShttp://lp.musora.com/worship-drummer?oid=24&affid=54🥁🎥 WD's SWEETWATER GEAR SHOPhttps://www.sweetwater.com/shop/worship-drummer/🥁 DRUM SAMPLES FOR WORSHIPhttps://worshipdrumsamples.com/🎤 📷 🎥 GET OUR GEAR LIST https://worshipdrummer.ck.page/gear🎙️ THE WORSHIP DRUMMER PODCASTApple: https://apple.co/3ofPXImSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3HdLmiG👋 CONNECT WITH USJoel Plotnik: https://instagram.com/joelplotnikJon Manna: https://instagram.com/jonmannaWorship Drummer: https://instagram.com/worshipdrummer Some of the links are affiliate links. Affiliate links mean I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support my channel at no additional cost to you. #worshipdrummer #HeartBeforeBeart #worship #PhilWickham #JoelPlotnick #Drumming #MusicCareer #SoftwareEngineer #ChristianMusic #Podcast #BehindTheScenes #TourLife
