Author Tom Sturges on “Men Explained, Finally”

“I ran away in the middle of the night to reclaim my life and reclaim my dignity. That was the greatest challenge I ever faced.”

Welcome Tom Sturges:

We’re joined on the Starline by a music executive, educator, speaker, author, mentor, giver and most importantly dad. He signed Smashing Pumpkins, 50 Cent, the Foo Fighters and more in his career. His latest book for his second career is “Men Explained, Finally”. We welcome Tom Sturges.

Tom, let’s go Beyond the Mic. You’ve served as a mentor for both the Manhattan Beach and LA school districts. Why was it important for to you to breakdown the 14 year old caveman aka men living inside all of us to the world?

How did you go from studying music composition and conducting at UC Davis to breaking down the code of men?

Which of your truths you break down like “men love forever” or “men are heroes” are you most guilty of?

Was there a truth you broke out that you left out?

The Rockin’ 8:

“Men Explained, Finally” is the book, Author Tom Sturges joins us Beyond the Mic. It’s time for the Rockin’ 8, 8 random questions, answer with the first thing that comes to your mind. There is no Pressure.

1. Best Lakers game you’ve ever attended live?

2. Last TV Series you’ve binge watched?

3. Best thing you found on the side of the road in a middle of a rainstorm?

4. The one chore that you had to remind your sons growing up to do? 

5. Your favorite of all your father’s films?

6. Which actor do you believe is underappreciated? ?

7. Favorite artist that never made it the way you thought they should have?

8. Your book “Every Idea is a Good Idea” talks about creativity. What was the subject of your last great idea?

Sneaking in A Couple More:

You said once “Guiding a creative mind requires incredible patience and understanding, and willingness and flexibility, and very often, privacy.” Who guided you to be the way you are today?

You believe in being a giver. Why is it important to help others?

What do you want people to take away from this book?

One Big Question:

You talk about how we “stumble ourselves out of almost every problem”. What was the biggest problem you stumbled out of? How lucky were you?

The Wrap:

His mom joined a cult growing up. met his wife in a rainstorm, and wants you to read his powerful book “Men Explained, Finally”. Tom Sturges thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today.

I’ll see you down the road. And that my friends is Beyond the Mic Short Cut.

Listen to other Beyond the Mic episodes with authors here.

Find out more about Tom Sturges here.

About Tom Sturges:
Tom Sturges is a veteran music executive, author, mentor, educator, inventor, and public speaker. Over his more than thirty-five years in the music industry, he served as president of Chrysalis Music, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and VP/GM of Shaquille O’Neal’s TWIsM Records. He is the son of the Academy Award-winning writer/director Preston Sturges.

Tom Sturges is a veteran music executive, author, mentor, educator, inventor, and public speaker. Over his more than thirty-five years in the music industry, he served as president of Chrysalis Music, EVP and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group, and VP/GM of Shaquille O’Neal’s TWIsM Records. He is the son of the Academy Award-winning writer/director Preston Sturges.

With fellow professors Jeff Jampol, Steve Berman, and Lenny Beer, Tom created The Music Business Now at UCLA, a required class in the Music Business degree program.  Over 2000 students have taken the class over the years.