Circling The Drain Podcast

Podcast with hosts John Bozeman (Johnny B) @bozemanworld and @JayHarperVO about music, entertainment, and radio!

[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Is "family harmony" possible when you are not technically "family"?

@LarryStewart_ thinks so! 🎹🎼

#podcast #podcasting @RestlessHeart__ @JayHarperVO @bozemanworld @JimMcCarthyVOs

[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Ep. 39 - Circling the Drain Podcast with Johnny B & Jay Harper::Larry Stewart of Restless Heart: The Frontmen, 80s/90s Country, AI & The Future Of Music

Larry Stewart, the voice of Restless Heart and member of The Frontmen, joins Circling The Drain to talk about breaking through in 80s and 90s country, early resistance from Music Row, touring with Alabama, and how one phone call changed his life.

Larry shares the origin stories of Restless Heart and The Frontmen, the realities of road life, raising a family while constantly touring, and why today’s country boom feels bigger than ever.

The crew also digs into modern country (Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley), how AI is already reshaping the music business, why live shows are more important than ever, and what it really takes to stay married 40+ years in this industry.

If you love 90s country, harmony-driven bands, and real behind-the-scenes stories, this one’s loaded.

00:00 Restless Heart’s sound vs 80s “twangy” country and early Music Row pushback
02:24 Six straight number ones, becoming “road dogs,” and the Wheels era
03:36 Why radio embraced Restless Heart before the industry did
04:37 How a Belmont kid working at the Country Music Hall of Fame became the lead singer
05:45 Recording the first album, getting married, signing to RCA, and “the rest is history”
08:06 Harmony magic: how five voices created the Restless Heart sound
11:20 Where the songs came from and the role of Tim DuBois and Alabama
12:24 First big tour with Alabama, stage fright, and playing for 15–18,000 a night
14:13 Band chemistry, breakups, reunions, and outlasting most marriages
16:39 Growing up in Kentucky, gospel roots, piano, and choosing music over baseball
20:44 From JUCO ball to Belmont: the crazy path that led Larry to Nashville
25:20 Naming Restless Heart and the terrible band names that didn’t make the cut
25:27 How The Frontmen started with a lobby conversation and a wild idea
26:54 Randy Owen, early Frontmen shows, and taking the act to the troops
28:20 Performing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on aircraft carriers – bonding through USO-style tours
29:39 COVID shutdowns, livestreaming Fridays at Five, and doubling down on The Frontmen
32:27 Building The Frontmen as a business: LLC, trademark, and brand strategy
33:31 Putting the band together in Nashville and finding the right players
35:46 Modern country: Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Ella Langley and the 90s influence
37:40 Why country that “hits a nerve” is connecting with massive audiences
38:36 How Restless Heart finally landed on their name (and why “Lazy River Boys” didn’t happen)
41:54 Guilty pleasures, Broadway tunes, Taylor Swift, and not listening to much music anymore
43:01 42 years of marriage, missing family time, and coaching his kids to make up for the road
45:21 Kids, grandkids, and why none of them went into music
48:16 AI, demo singers, and why live music is becoming even more valuable
49:12 Can AI build an artist’s entire image and album from scratch?
51:45 Tracks vs live: how The Frontmen actually run their show
55:13 Where to see The Frontmen live and how Larry stays out of trouble on social media
56:10 Closing: gratitude, future shows, and where to find Circling The Drain online

#LarryStewart, #RestlessHeart, #TheFrontmen, #CirclingTheDrain, #CountryMusic, #90sCountry, #80sCountry, #Nashville, #MusicPodcast, #CountryLegends, #LiveMusic, #AIAndMusic, #MorganWallen, #LukeCombs, #JellyRoll, #EllaLangley, #MusicIndustry, #Songwriting, #TourLife
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[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Today on Circling The Drain, veteran broadcaster Johnny B and Jim McCarthy get brutally honest about the state of radio, bad management, and rebuilding a life in podcasting after nearly 50 years on the air. They talk about: – Getting let go over Zoom after decades in the business – Losing friends and mentors like Phil Valentine and Dave White – Depression, grief, and finding purpose again behind a different kind of mic – Why radio is “circling the drain” – and how it could still be saved Special guest: longtime radio host John David Wells joins by phone to lay out the four things every radio company must give its talent: money, opportunity, training, and respect.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Cold open – The four things radio talent really needs
1:25 Welcome to Circling The Drain, where’s Jay?
2:10 Losing Phil Valentine, Dave White, and radio
4:29 Radio as an abusive ex-wife
8:59 Fired over Zoom and strange management comments
14:25 Ratings success without respect
16:33 Depression after losing radio and Phil
17:53 How the podcast became purpose
18:52 Radio vs. podcasts and fractured audiences 29:59 Jesse Jackson on Radio Row: “Johnny B, you the man”
33:02 Trump, politics, and WWE-style media
43:11 Mourning radio, not just bashing it
46:01 Call-in with John David Wells
46:48 Money, opportunity, training, respect
48:28 How big groups could still save radio
51:02 Dad’s prediction about deregulation
52:00 Why personality still matters more than ever 53:08 Gratitude for Jay Harper and the future of the show

Subscribe for more conversations about radio, music, and entertainment before it all goes down the disposal.

Listen to the podcast:

Visit the site: https://t.co/Gb8rAyY6U9

[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Ep. 31 - Circling the Drain Podcast with johnny B & Jay Harper

From Radio Accidents To European Fans: Scott Southworth On Faith, Country, And Going Indie

On this episode of Circling The Drain, John Bozeman and Jim McCarthy sit down with traditional country artist and former radio host Scott Southworth for a hilarious and heartfelt deep-dive into music, radio, and real life.

Scott talks about:
– Growing up around music and secretly writing country while playing rock, reggae, and blues
– Accidentally landing a radio show on WLAC and interviewing legends like Dolly Parton, Little Richard, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and more
– Why most musicians are not living the superstar dream (and why that set him free)
– Leaning into traditional, fiddle-and-steel country instead of chasing bro country trends
– How a 2016 album suddenly took off in Europe and turned him into a “hillbilly rock star” overseas
– The story behind fan favorites like “Granny Used To Honky Tonk,” “Middle Finger First,” and “Cicada Enchilada”
– His philosophy on keeping politics off stage and making his shows a break from the 24/7 firehose of information
– Finding a forgotten 2022 live recording in Dropbox and turning it into his new live album, “Scott Southworth and the Honky Tonk Anonymous Band”

You’ll also hear great stories about:
– Merle Haggard at the Ryman and how to (not) behave at a show
– Meeting Aaron Neville and accidentally oversharing a newlywed story
– Dolly Parton holding his hand during an interview
– John Prine recognizing The Music Row Show in an airport line

If you’re into traditional country, real songwriting, radio war stories, and practical, grounded indie-artist wisdom, you’ll want to watch this one all the way through.

Links
Scott’s website: https://t.co/PpkxMtrowD
Circling The Drain site: https://t.co/6nmAHy7W9p

Subscribe for more conversations with artists, songwriters, and entertainers, and drop a comment with your favorite moment from this episode.

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Ep. 30 - Circling the Drain with Johnny B & Jay Harper

Beat the Odds: Rock Drummer Sandy Gennaro on The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett & Life Lessons

What do The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Queen, Bo Diddley, Jason Aldean, and a random fan named Dave in a backstage doorway all have in common?

Sandy Gennaro.

In this episode of Circling the Drain, John and Jim sit down with veteran rock drummer Sandy Gennaro, a man whose career has taken him from watching The Beatles on TV as a kid to playing arenas around the world and speaking to Fortune 500 companies about leadership, gratitude, and beating the odds.

Sandy shares:

- How seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan at age 11 made him decide his life’s path, and why he literally taped a photo of a drummer to his bathroom mirror and told himself, “That’s going to be you.”

- Stories from his early band Blackjack with a pre–solo career Michael Bolton and guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS, Billy Squier, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk).

- Touring and recording stories with Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Bo Diddley, and a 3‑month European tour opening for Queen.

- His powerful Dave in the Doorway story, a five-minute interaction with a fan that changed his entire life and career.

- Why he believes recognition, gratitude, and lifting others up are the real measures of success, on stage and in business.

- How a chance connection with Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean’s drummer) and his daughter’s college search led him to Nashville at exactly the right time.

This one is packed with rock & roll history, road stories, and surprisingly deep lessons about leadership, humility, and the power of small choices.

Topics & Themes:

- Visualization, mindset, and “no Plan B” careers

- Working with major artists (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Queen)

- How artists treat their fans, good and bad

- The drummer’s role as the CEO of the band

- Why recognition (from roadies to CEOs) is fuel for performance

- Moving to Nashville and reinventing yourself later in life

- Sandy’s book Beat the Odds in Business & in Life

Connect with Sandy: - Website: https://t.co/OcJL8kQkOk

- Email: [email protected]

- Book: Beat the Odds in Business and in Life (available on Amazon)

If you love music, behind-the-scenes tour stories, and real talk about life and work, this episode is for you.

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Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co https://t.co/GL5mQJgaI6

[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Ep. 29 - Circling the Drain with Johnny B & Jay Harper

Ron Allen on 20 Years of Jack FM, Y’all Country, and Whether Radio Still Has a Future

In this conversation we cover:

– 20 years of 96.3 Jack FM and how a simple, fun billboard can beat bloated branding
– Why radio culture feels so different now compared to the 80s and 90s
– How cost cutting, AI, and national voice tracking are reshaping local radio
– Why young talent struggles to break in and where the “farm teams” went
– The real value of personalities like Moose and Taylor in a Spotify world
– Jack FM, Y’all, iHeart, HD Radio, Big D & Bubba, and the battle for country in Nashville
Highlights to watch for
0:00 Why having sponsors as “guests” wrecks credibility
2:31 Jack FM hits 20 years in Nashville
6:37 How radio companies changed from product-first to cost-cutting mode
9:43 Why college kids are being warned away from traditional radio
16:16 What actually sells: spots vs digital
18:16 Why you still cannot automate genuine local personality
20:21 Ice storm, dead signals, and the risk of being off the air
33:17 When social media posts turn into spam
34:21 Remembering Phil Valentine’s no-nonsense honesty
36:17 Radio’s edge over Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music
42:12 The birth of Y’all and the 90s country lane nobody was serving
50:00 The Big D & Bubba move and what listeners were never told
54:48 Ron’s favorite formats to program and why they still excite him

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Ep.28 - Circling the Drain with Johnny B & Jay Harper :: Hauntings in Nashville: Hank Williams’ House, Ghost Cats, and Messages from Beyond

From Phil Valentine’s haunted cabin to eerie nights in the Hank Williams house and a terrifying stay in an Arizona hotel, this episode of Circling The Drain is packed with real-life ghost stories and emotional encounters with the other side.

Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy share:

– Hauntings tied to Civil War battlefields and Middle Tennessee history
– Strange events in Hank and Audrey Williams’ Franklin Road home
– Ghostly music, freezing rooms, and footsteps where no one should be
– A ghost cat, a child’s disembodied “Mom,” and hotel encounters in Arizona
– Dreams and visitations from parents, friends, and radio legends
– Ley lines, New Orleans voodoo, and why some places never feel empty

Chapters
00:00 Kansas, South Carolina, and America’s haunted history
01:17 Welcome to Circling The Drain
03:06 Phil Valentine’s haunted cabin
06:43 Inside the Hank Williams house
14:30 Ghost cat and the “Mom” voice in Gallatin
17:20 Haunted hotels in Arizona
23:13 Summoning Hank Williams and “The Ride”
25:53 Haunted office on Music Row
27:19 Jim’s haunted Nashville apartment
31:08 Northeast vs Southern hauntings
32:23 New Orleans, Charleston, and voodoo
35:48 Ley lines in Kansas, Nashville, and beyond
37:18 Family, psychics, and dreams after death
40:30 A mother asking permission to die
43:10 A last visit with Dad
49:50 Dreams that feel like real visits
53:13 Phil checking on his son in a dream
55:39 Vegas mob stories and bodies in barrels
59:00 The Godfather, real mob pressure, and “The Offer”
1:00:59 Haunted bungalows and nervous dogs in Chattanooga
1:04:04 Like, subscribe, or be haunted

Subscribe for more stories from the edge of life, death, music, and everything in between.

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Ep. 27 - Circling the Drain Podcast with Johnny B & Jay Harper :: Bennie Ray Shipley: From Small-Town Radio to Country Music Legends

Radio veteran and voiceover pro Bennie Ray Shipley joins Jay Harper, Johnny B, and Jim McCarthy for a deep dive into the golden age of radio, the rise of country music superstars, and the evolving world of voiceover in the age of AI.

Starting as a 15-year-old kid at WLCK in Scottsville, Kentucky, Bennie went on to WCDS, became a hometown celebrity in high school, and eventually made the massive leap to powerhouse Nashville station WSM. Along the way he worked alongside legends like Hairl Hensley, Ralph Emery, Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell, Alabama, Reba McEntire, and many more.

Bennie shares hilarious and heartfelt behind-the-scenes stories: stars tossing pebbles at the studio window to get on the air, Marty Robbins prank-calling the station, early days of Alabama before their first hits, and the creative chaos of producing a full “Country Christmas Carol” with country stars on reel-to-reel tape.

He also opens up about building a successful national voiceover career, losing part of his vocal range, rebuilding it with help from Vanderbilt’s voice clinic, landing a huge McDonald’s campaign, and his honest take on how AI is impacting human voice talent today.

If you love classic country, radio history, behind-the-scenes music industry stories, and real talk about the future of voiceover, this episode is for you.

Timed Highlights (for chapter markers / descriptions)

0:00 – Opening banter and intro to “Circling the Drain” with guest Bennie Ray Shipley
2:30 – Growing up in Scottsville, Kentucky and starting in radio at 15
3:40 – Becoming popular in high school after landing a job at WCDS
4:50 – First radio paycheck, buying a color TV, and early radio memories
6:00 – Glasgow days, part-time to full-time, and a generous station owner
7:20 – Landing at WSM in Nashville and working with Hairl Hensley
10:30 – Culture shock: small-town kid meets big-city country stars
12:00 – Marty Robbins stories, late-night calls, and emotional listener reactions
14:00 – Waylon, Willie, and Kristofferson at the door… and one unforgettable “no”
16:00 – Lefty Frizzell’s praise, friendship, and a heartbreaking last phone call
17:30 – Discovering Alabama before they were famous and spinning “I Want to Come Over”
19:20 – Early visits from “The Alabama Band” and watching their rise
21:00 – Music director days at WSIX and getting in trouble for playing unknown artists
22:30 – Programming battles and ultimately being proven right about Alabama
23:30 – Working with Jerry House, Jerry Minshall, and legendary Nashville radio voices
26:00 – WSM moves, Music Country Radio Network, and working with Charlie Douglas
28:30 – Creating a full “Country Christmas Carol” with country stars
30:00 – Producing on reel-to-reel: razor blades, tape, and homemade sound effects
31:40 – The Country Music Hall of Fame archives and the lost master tape
33:10 – Theater of the mind and why radio was magical before cameras
35:00 – Transitioning from radio to serious voiceover work
37:00 – Early feedback, blunt advice on appearance, and refining the “whole package”
39:10 – Breaking into studio work at Sound Shop and earning respect the hard way
41:20 – Losing vocal range and the scary moment in a session you can’t deliver
42:50 – Vanderbilt voice clinic, scopes, therapy, and rebuilding the voice
44:30 – Strange but effective vocal exercises: water, straws, and “curly” sounds
45:40 – Rethinking delivery: moving out of “radio voice” into higher, lighter reads
46:40 – Landing a major McDonald’s national campaign and how it changed his life
48:20 – Paying off debt, buying a condo, and the chain of events that led to meeting his wife
49:50 – Gratitude for songwriter/producer Milton Blackford and “Me and My RC”
50:50 – Reflecting on a full career and the importance of documenting radio history
53:10 – Being called a “legend,” radio luncheons, and old connections resurfacing
54:30 – AI, radio’s future, and what today’s tech is missing: human nuance
55:30 – Why authenticity, vinyl, and real voices still matter to younger audiences
56:30 – Wrap-up, where to find “Circling the Drain,” and closing thoughts with Bennie

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Ep. 26 - Circling the Drain Podcast with Johnny B & Jay Harper :: Radio Sales Gone Wild, Groupies, and Legendary Local Ads

Ever had a salesperson barge into the studio mid-break, bring coke to the limo, or send you out in a bug costume for a promo you never got paid for?

In this episode of Circling the Drain, Johnny B, Jay Harper, and James Patrick McCarthy swap real-life stories from the glory days of radio:

– The sales rep with “attributes” pressed against the studio glass in 1983
– A Dolly Parton impersonator who fooled a whole sales staff
– The “human highlighter” sales rep and her impossible spot request
– Award-winning mulch commercials and why repetition works
– Local ad legends like Price LeBlanc, Darrell Waltrip, Emma’s Florist, and the Watson’s girl

Highlights
Welcome to Circling the Drain
Mary Garland, bug suits, and the giant cockroach “message”
Linda Biggers and studio-glass distractions
Salespeople who ignore every boundary
How a mulch company spot won an award
Car dealer catchphrases you will not forget
Christopher Walken sells you a car

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@TheGTSNetwork

Listen now on your favorite podcast app and at https://t.co/6nmAHy7W9p, and then tell us in the comments: what is the craziest radio or sales story you have ever seen firsthand?

[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Ep. 25 - Circling the Drain with Johnny B & Jay Harper

In CTD Episode 25, the4 guys go deep on how media has changed – and where it is heading next. From radio and network TV to podcasts, YouTube, and streaming, they unpack what’s dying, what’s booming, and why authenticity beats corporate polish.

In this episode:
- Joe Rogan-style long-form podcasting and why three hours can fly by
- How podcasts outshine radio for real, unfiltered conversation
- Nashville stories from the worlds of music, radio, and TV
- Politicians and celebrities using media to look “relatable”
- The decline of movie theaters, Marvel crowd moments, and streaming habits
- The rise of niche podcasts, from business shows to redfishing
- How to think about sponsors, networks, and staying independent

Chapters:
00:00 – Why long-form podcasts work and the Joe Rogan effect
01:00 – Welcome back, follower milestones, and live event talk
03:10 – Podcasts vs radio and why audiences want “real”
06:50 – Nashville guests, stories, and preserving history
10:19 – Trump, Rogan, Clinton, Obama, and the “cool factor”
13:55 – Mainstream media edits vs unfiltered podcasts
18:30 – Releases, legal gray areas, and Howard Stern lessons
21:25 – Do you really need video to win in podcasting?
24:20 – The niche and interest-based future of content
27:15 – Are movie theaters dying? Covid, cost, and crowd behavior
28:50 – Marvel, Star Wars, and unforgettable audience reactions
33:45 – What we lose when we lose the shared theater experience
34:55 – YouTubers like Markiplier vs old Hollywood
38:00 – How “Nashville” and 911: Nashville depict Music City
45:00 – Early Reese Witherspoon memories on Music Row
50:20 – Network TV fatigue, Law & Order, and aging out
51:40 – Schitt’s Creek, Christopher Guest films, and Spinal Tap 2
53:00 – What the guys actually listen to (podcast recs)
55:20 – Gary V, airchecking, and getting better on the mic
58:45 – New niche show: “Setting The Hook” redfishing podcast
1:00:46 – Why most podcasts fizzle and how to avoid it
1:06:08 – Why these stories matter and where to find Circling The Drain

Listen or watch on:
- Website: https://t.co/6nmAHy7W9p
- Spotify (with video)
- Apple Podcasts
- Amazon Music
- Facebook, YouTube, and X

#podcast #Nashville #radiovspodcasting #CirclingTheDrain]

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Ep. 24 - Circling the Drain Podcast with Johnny B & Jay Harper::Ice Storms, Airwaves And Radio Wars

Fresh off a nasty Nashville ice storm, Johnny B, Jay, and Jim unpack winter chaos, government blame, and why people still run to live talk radio when things get dangerous. From Phil Valentine tornado stories and Sheryl Crow calling out NES, to THC cookie misadventures, potholes, the Cherokee Nation fixing roads, and the slow death of music radio, this one is equal parts war story and radio therapy.

Highlights:
– Ice storms, tornadoes, and staying on the air when everyone else is stuck
– Sheryl Crow vs NES, cloud-seeding conspiracies, and Trump as scapegoat
– TDOT, busted axles, and how a tribe fixed what a city wouldn’t
– THC cookies, on-air paranoia, and learning your limits
– Being undervalued by management and realizing your leverage in radio
– Why talk radio may be the last moat left in broadcasting

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Ep. 23 - Circling the Drain Podcast with Johnny B & Jay Harper :: Brenda Golden on Divorce, Nashville, and “Now What?”

Description:
What happens when your life flips upside down at 50? Former Oak Ridge Boys insider and Nashville industry pro Brenda Golden joins Circling the Drain to talk about starting over in her golden years.

Brenda shares how a painful divorce, a cross-country move to Austin, and a complete career reboot led to her new book, “Now What?”. Along the way, she pulls back the curtain on life with William Lee Golden, working around Garth Brooks at his peak, the impact of Pam Lewis and Lib Hatcher (Elizabeth Travis), and how a little movie called “God’s Not Dead” became a turning point.

If you’ve ever lost a job, a marriage, or a sense of who you are and thought, “Now what?”, this conversation is for you.

Timed highlights:
0:00 Circling the Drain opens and welcomes Brenda Golden
1:10 Brenda’s book origin story and turning 50 in chaos
2:40 Moving from Nashville to Austin and finding an arts-first city
3:55 South by Southwest and representing artists at the festival
5:10 Brenda’s early music-business days and Nashville connections
6:40 How she met William Lee Golden and joined the Oak Ridge Boys
8:30 Marriage, family life, and their son Solomon’s path to medicine
9:40 Why Solomon chose EMT/paramedic work over music
11:55 Ongoing ties with the Oak Ridge Boys and concern for Richard Sterban
13:20 Joe Bonsall’s passing and helping him land his first book deal
14:30 Crossing paths with Jay at MCA in the mid-80s
15:10 Becoming William’s personal assistant and the MCA solo record
16:00 Meeting powerhouse publicist/manager Pam Lewis
17:30 Hitting rock bottom financially and asking Pam for a job
19:00 “Do you want a career or a paycheck?” – Pam’s tough-love moment
20:10 Learning PR, marketing, and sponsorships around Garth Brooks
21:35 How that mentorship permanently changed Brenda’s career
22:30 Reinventing at 50 and reaching out to Lib Hatcher (Elizabeth Travis)
24:00 Lib’s advice: “You’re going to have to reinvent yourself”
25:40 The film “God’s Not Dead” and its unexpected impact on Brenda
28:00 Feeling seen by God in the middle of a breakdown
30:30 Lib’s own reinvention and success in film and Pure Flix
32:40 Moving to Austin, turning 62, and what life looks like now
34:10 Meeting and briefly working with Frank Stallone
36:40 Longstanding friendships and business ties back in Nashville
38:30 Why Brenda wrote “Now What?” and who it’s really for
40:40 Finding hope, purpose, and community after major life changes
42:40 Two-stepping in Texas, strong dance partners, and playful banter
43:40 Wrap-up, where to find “Now What?”, and Circling the Drain outro

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Deborah Allen: From “Baby I Lied” to Elvis’ Bus and Back Again :: Ep 20 Circling the Drain Podcast

Country star and hit songwriter Deborah Allen joins Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy on Circling the Drain for an episode packed with stories, heart, and a whole lot of country music history.

Deborah talks about the making and impact of her signature hit “Baby I Lied,” what it was like sleeping on Elvis’ tour bus as a kid, cutting groundbreaking overdub duets with Jim Reeves, getting a custom song from Prince, and surviving a serious cancer scare with her smile (and faith) intact.

Along the way you’ll hear about:

*Touring Russia with Tennessee Ernie Ford
*Songwriting mentorship from Shel Silverstein
*Memphis roots with Willie Mitchell, Al Green, and the Hodges brothers
*Her 100-year-old mom, her mom’s younger boyfriend Ed, and longtime partner Raymond
*Why Deborah believes every person you meet is a gift

🎧 Timestamps

0:40 – Meet Deborah Allen & the story behind “Baby I Lied”
7:35 – Opryland, Russia tour & becoming a songwriter with Shel Silverstein’s push
18:39 – Elvis’ bus in the driveway: “I slept in Elvis’ bed… but I was three”
23:10 – The “Mystery Girl”: overdub duets with Jim Reeves
35:06 – A song from Prince: basketball court meet-cute at Sunset Sound
50:12 – Cancer scare, Vanderbilt surgery & “the devil’s not stealing my smile”
1:01:22 – Every person is a gift: how old connections helped save her life

#DeborahAllen #BabyILied #CountryMusic #ElvisPresley #JimReeves #Prince #Nashville #Songwriter #CirclingTheDrainPodcast

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Shannon McCombs On Nashville Radio, Rock To Country, And Industry War Stories :: Ep 19 Circling the Drain Podcast

Legendary Nashville broadcaster Shannon McCombs joins Johnny B, Jay Harper, and Jim McCarthy for a fast-moving tour through rock and country radio history. From being yelled at by Sebastian Bach and an enraged artist at XM, to co-hosting a Buddy Holly birthday bash at the request of Paul McCartney, Shannon shares candid, funny, and sometimes cringeworthy stories from decades behind the mic.

She talks about breaking into a male‑dominated Nashville radio scene in the mid‑80s, surviving multiple format flips and firings, building country relationships through XM and Fan Fair/CMA Fest, producing Kix Brooks’ countdown, and why radio people share the same bizarre “dead air” nightmares. Along the way you’ll hear about Travis Tritt’s oversharing, Lee Greenwood’s Speedo moment, cat rescues, and why Shannon never chased the artist/songwriter dream in Music City.

Highlights
0:00:00 Skid Row backstage disaster and Sebastian Bach meltdown
0:01:30 Show open: Circling The Drain welcomes first female guest
0:03:00 Shannon’s move from Kentucky to Nashville and landing at KDF
0:07:50 Getting fired (twice) from KDF during format and staff overhauls
0:09:30 Working with Carl P. Mayfield, Slats, and returning to KDF for country
0:10:50 Transition to country, syndicated “Shannon’s Country News,” and Bill Anderson documentary
0:12:10 Shooting Bill Anderson’s writing session and interviewing Billy Bob Thornton
0:13:40 Linda Ronstadt interview goes sideways thanks to a forbidden Jerry Brown question
0:14:50 Co‑hosting Paul McCartney’s Buddy Holly birthday bash livestream in New York
0:16:15 Being briefed on how to approach “Sir Paul” and what not to ask
0:17:10 Buddy Holly’s widow and early internet-era red carpet streaming
0:18:10 Favorite country interviews: Eddie Arnold, John Conlee, and Hall of Fame drop‑ins at XM
0:20:00 Becoming XM’s unofficial engineer with a toolbox and a phone to DC
0:21:10 Breaking Nashville resistance to XM by going through publicists, not promotion
0:22:20 Fan Fair/CMA Fest bus and Ford Theater sessions, pairing Charlie Louvin with Dierks Bentley
0:25:20 The infamous live XM moment: skipping CD, furious star, and a security check
0:28:30 Naming names: the Sebastian Bach listener insult story revisited
0:30:30 Country vs rock backstage behavior; Randy Owen and Lee Greenwood in a Speedo
0:33:00 Trying to break into WSM, seeing Kathy Martindale, and realizing “it’s possible” for women
0:34:30 How stations refused to put women on daytime air shifts in the 80s
0:36:30 Remembering trailblazers: Mary Glenn Lassiter, Diana Lynn Bracey, Patty Murray
0:38:50 The great T‑shirt rebellion: refusing unflattering station swag
0:39:45 Travis Tritt and the “I’m not wearing underwear now” TV moment
0:41:00 Aaron Tippin’s measurements and producer‑provoked “stupid questions” that get great answers
0:41:50 Cat stories: Cheeto Willie Mae, rescuing family pets, and severe pet allergies
0:46:30 Kix Brooks as “best boss ever,” producing and co‑writing his countdown show
0:48:30 The infamous leopard‑print couch and building a basketball court for a radio show
0:50:00 Meeting Shannon at Deborah Evans Price’s house and trading off‑air war stories
0:50:45 Radio people turn the tables: Shannon interviews the hosts about their best guests
0:55:00 Favorite interviews: Dan Seals, Reggie Hamm, Penn Jillette, Charlie Benante, Rob O’Neill
0:58:30 Navy SEAL wisdom: “If you’re going to quit, quit tomorrow”
1:00:15 Why Shannon never wanted to be an artist or songwriter in Nashville
1:01:20 Being able to interview Motley Crüe and Randy Travis in the same day
1:01:50 Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, Shannon’s induction, and John’s nomination role
1:02:40 Where to find Shannon online and the “He Stopped Loving Her Today” Halloween costume gag
1:03:30 Closing: love all around and the idea of using “Circling The Drain” as the show’s theme song

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Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co
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[Circling The Drain Podcast @DrainPodcast]

Thanksgiving & Holiday Rewinds: Movies, Music, and Memories – Ep 14 Circling The Drain

Join the Circling the Drain crew for a festive Thanksgiving episode filled with laughs, nostalgia, and plenty of holiday spirit.

From debating the best (and worst) Christmas movies and songs, to trading stories about working long shifts during the holidays, the hosts open up about meaningful traditions, family memories, and radio life’s quirks.

Listen in for reflections on "It's a Wonderful Life," holiday music pet peeves, behind-the-scenes radio tales, and some lively debates about whether "Die Hard" is truly a Christmas movie.

Whether you love classic holiday films or quirky Christmas songs, this episode brings warmth and wit to your holiday season.

Timed Highlights:
- [00:00:00] Reflecting on "It's a Wonderful Life" and personal connections to the film
- [00:02:51] Holiday music gripes: Elvis, Porky Pig, and radio playlist woes
- [00:04:09] Stories from working Christmas and New Year's shifts in radio
- [00:07:26] Country radio tales and "smoking with Willie" stories
- [00:10:00] The Christmas Song Countdown: Least favorite tunes and radio parodies
- [00:14:04] Holiday movie tropes and poking fun at Hallmark plots
- [00:17:30] Christmas TV specials and Bing Crosby's surreal team-ups
- [00:24:02] "Four Christmases" and the reality of family holidays
- [00:38:13] The ongoing debate: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?
- [00:43:40] Family food traditions: Ravioli and homemade noodles on Christmas Eve
- [00:47:35] Wrapping up with holiday wishes and where to find the show and merch

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Circling The Drain is produced by It's Your Show dot Co
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